Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Toaru Majutsu no Index/Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, please support the official release.
AN: Hey guys, sorry for the long wait, but my laptop needed to get fixed as every time I tried to play a Youtube video and an anime site video at the same time, it would just crash on me. Of course there were a few other things that needed to be done, like a cleanup with both software and hardware, but it just really needed a fine tuning is all. It came back all shiny and it even had that new laptop smell to it~
More great news! I found someone who is doing an image picture for this fic, thank zenon the overlord for being so awesome! Naru-tan gives you a big hug and your sister too~
Big thanks to TenchiSaWaDa for helping me out this chapter! As always, you rock.
You know, I've been thinking of what Naruko's voice would sound like. So I've decided, her voice sounds like Illya from Fate/Stay Night. It holds that loli factor but can be cold and murderous, but still cute all at the same time. I think it's perfect.
Now, the thrilling conclusion to the Level Upper Arc and the continuation of the Index Arc, yay!
Beta'd by Snipa
0
It was always mocking.
Harsh words of reality, the voice of an enlightened one someone could say.
The blunt truth that she wished to deny.
"You just chase around the dream to be a hero, why? For all that blood on those tiny hands of yours, you wish to be known as a savior, even though, no matter what, you will be seen as a destroyer."
She cried, the cold harsh truth, it stung, more than any test, any experiment, any fight.
It just hurt so much.
Mocking.
Mocking away at something she could never achieve.
She tried to fight it.
Impossible.
She tried to ignore it.
Unfeasible.
All she could do was hear the mocking jests towards her person…and do nothing.
For once in her life, she had never felt so helpless.
All due to a DRAGON.
0 July 21st, Late Evening 0
"Konichiwa Komoe-sensei~!" Naruko said with a beaming smile on her face.
"Ara? Namikaze-chan, what are you doing here?" the pink haired teacher asked as she had returned from the supermarket with bags in hand for her guests staying in her apartment.
Naruko just laughed, "Touma-nii's gotten in over his head again. So, he decided to call in the muscle." she said as she flexed her tiny arm, which surprisingly had some muscle on it for a 12 year old girl her size.
Komoe nodded with a giggle, "That's good. Will you be staying here?" she asked
Naruko bobbed her head, "Yep~! I need you to call the dorm mistress though." Naruko said with a small shiver, "I don't wanna get in trouble." She said with teary eyes of pure fright.
Yes, the dorm mistress was that scary.
"Of course Namikaze-chan." Komoe said as she pulled out her cellphone and dialed the Tokiwadai dorm.
It rang for a few seconds until it was picked up on the other line, "Yes, hello? It's Tsukuyomi Komoe. I have to borrow Namikaze-chan for a few days." She said in an apologetic tone, "I know, but I'm working on a new teaching style and Namikaze-chan had dropped by to talk about Pyrokinesis and we lost track of time since she was helping me with it. The poor dear's so tuckered out, I just don't have the heart to shoo her away. So it would just help in the long run if she stays here." she said as she nodded, "Yes, yes, I understand, thank you very much. She'll be back within her dorm room in a week tops, promise. Have a pleasant evening, goodnight." She said in a happy tone as she hung up her cellphone.
Naruko was clapping at Komoe with stars in her eyes, "Komoe-sensei, you're so awesome!" she cheered, "To be even able to talk to the dorm mistress like that, it's amazing." She said
Komoe just puffed out her flat chest with pride and nodded, "Desu."
After a wholesome dinner by Komoe-sensei, both her and Index went to clean the dishes.
Leaving Naruko and Touma alone.
"Who are you exactly?" Touma asked as he stared at the blonde girl. Normally, he would let this slide, not wanting to involve himself in troublesome things but this... this was something else.
Naruko just gave him a cold look back, "I am, who I am, Kamijou…that's all you really need to know." She said tersely as she turned to walk away. Cut him off now, don't let him talk. If you shut him down now, he won't get curious. He won't involve himself with that side.
"No way!" Touma said in a slightly risen towards Naruko, "You don't act like this! So what the hell is going on with you?" he demanded with narrowed eyes.
Naruko glared at him, why did his damn Hero-Complex have to involve her? Just focus on that damned nun of yours baka, "You want to know?" she asked and Touma nodded, "Fine. You want someone to blame? Blame Railgun." The blonde spat out. It was all her fault.
Touma blinked in surprise, those two were friends, right? He knew that much, heck almost all of AC knew that, but now the blonde seemed so hostile to her fellow Level 5.
"I don't hate her." Naruko pointed out as if reading his mind, "And no, I'm not reading your mind." She added
Okay, starting to freak out here!
"I was emotionless as a child." Naruko said with a shrug, "Then in comes Railgun like some kinda knight in shining armor and bam! A few years later I'm a 'normal' girl, but those were only all my positive emotions…where do you think all my negative emotions went?" she asked
Touma blinked, the human mind was not his strong suit.
Naruko rolled her eyes as if expecting this.
Ouch.
"My goody little two shoes self couldn't handle all the stuff we've done when we didn't have emotions, so I was born from that." Naruko pointed out, "All the hate, anger, sorrow, etc. are the things I'm made of…so the reason why I'M here, is because of Railgun."
Touma blinked once more, he understood that, but…but for someone like Naruko to have such a thing like that happening to her…it saddened him. She's such a good girl, always seeing the best in people and helping others, but then comes along this whole new persona…and now his whole view of her had somewhat shattered from what it once was.
"I'm sor-" he tried to say, but Naruko cut him off with a glare, a very very cold one at that.
"I do NOT need your pity Kamijou. Just let me do my job and I can get the hell out of here. Being around that little Magician wannabe is testing my patience as is." The Level 5 said.
Touma looked down; it seemed it was just going to be one of those days.
Fukou da.
0 July 24th, Late Morning 0
Naruko had her hair untied while it cascaded down her back to the back of her knees like an elegant wave of golden silk as she, Touma, and Index played a round of poker. The three were sitting around Komoe-sensei's house, waiting for whatever next move Necessarius' had planned when all of a sudden a happy 8-bit melody filled the room. Naruko's reached into her pocket and she smiled at who the caller ID said it was, "Hey Saten-chan, what's up?" she asked in her usual upbeat attitude as she held her cellphone to her head.
A hollowed chuckle came from the other end, "That's Namikaze-san, always upbeat." Saten said in a sadden tone, "I'm sorry." She said with a small sob. "Saten-chan?" Naruko asked in worry as she held her phone with two hands now. "I messed up; I ignored your warning and messed up. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. All I do is mess up."
"Saten-chan, what's wrong? Tell me!" Naruko demanded, "I feel so tired…do you think…if I wake up…we can still have that lesson?" Saten asked in a weak voice. "Of course! Only if you promise to stay awake!" Naruko shouted into the phone with fear crawling into her tone.
"Heh…you sound like Uiharu…I'm really sorry for being such a baka…even when Namikaze-san told me she wished to be like me…I still do something so stupid…sorry." Saten finished weakly as the sound of the phone disconnected was all that was heard by the blonde.
"Naruko?" Touma asked in worry as something had clearly happened.
"Stay here." Said the cold voice of CERBERUS as she turned to the two and her ice cold glare was in full power, "Someone…someone is going to pay…stay here." She ordered as she opened the window and jumped out of it as she flew in the air via jet propulsion.
While in the air, she called Uiharu. "Uiharu." She greeted while she heard sirens in the background. "Namikaze-san! Saten-san, Saten-san…" the girl trailed off with a sob. "I know. You're with her." Naruko stated "Yes…how did you know?" Uiharu asked, "The sirens…she called me after you I guess…she kept saying she was sorry." Naruko said solemnly. Uiharu sobbed from the other line. "I promise Uiharu, they will pay…with blood." She said seriously as she flew towards the hospital.
"Synesthesia! Namikaze-san, it's synesthesia! Obtaining more than one sensory input from a single stimulus! Level Upper stimulates one sensory organ and in turn stimulates another one. It's using sound to stimulate all five senses in order to achieve the same effect as Testament!"
Naruko's eyes widened in surprise, "Of course, if it does that…dammit, who created this?!" she asked, as for someone to make something like this was a true genius, evil yes, but an amazing genius, "Uiharu, I'll meet you there." She said as she hung up and flew faster to the hospital.
0 Hospital, District 7 0
Naruko was standing outside of the room that Ruiko occupied, looking at the comatose girl, who was in a pink hospital gown, lying in bed with machines hooked up to her. Kuroko and Mikoto were sitting on a bench next to the room.
"So Saten-san used the Level Upper too." Mikoto said with a frown.
"Yes…" Kuroko said solemnly, "Uiharu took off for Kiyama-sensei's place. She said she was going to analyze the data and save Saten-san."
"I see." Mikoto said as she folded her fingers together and looked at Naruko, who had a steely look in her eyes; a look she knew only surfaced when the blonde was truly angry.
"I warned her dammit, I did." The blonde said in a guilty tone while looking down at her shoes.
"I know Naruko, we'll fix this." The chestnut haired girl said to her friend with a reassuring look.
"There's going to blood for this…I promise you that." Naruko said menacingly with clinched hands.
"Take it easy for now Naruko." Mikoto said sternly to her friend as she stood up.
"She was scared Mikoto-nee…scared! I told her what a Level 5 meant…telling her that being normal isn't so bad…I should have done more, I should have started her lesson earlier, maybe this wouldn't have happened." Naruko said blaming herself as leaned against the wall and looked at Ruiko. Her anger rising again, she slammed the bottom of her fist against the wall, creating a small crater. Which resulted in gasps from the bystanders walking down the hallway.
"Naruko." Mikoto said in a reprimanding tone as she moved towards her friend. Naruko was about to argue back, but an old man's voice cut her off.
"I would be thankful if you didn't break my hospital's wall Naruko."
They turned to see a bald-headed elderly man with what remaining hair he had was grey. He wore a doctor's outfit and was slightly fat. His face looked similar to a frog. "I would like a minute with you young ladies." He said
"Ah! A real Gekota!" Mikoto said in excitement and sparkles in her eyes as she clasped her hands. "Onee-sama, he isn't one." Kuroko said waving off her assumption. "Heaven Canceller." Naruko said with a curt nod, one the doctor returned.
"Follow me please." He said as they entered an office with a computer in it and he promptly sat down in the wheelie chair and started to type. Graphs with wave patterns appeared on the screen.
"These are the brain wave patterns of the Level Upper victims." He said to the girls, "Brain waves generally differ by person; in other words, there's no common pattern." He said going through all the patterns, "However, all of the Level Upper victims indeed share one." He stated
"What do you mean?" Kuroko asked with her arms crossed.
The doctor enlarged one of the graphs, "If one's brain was to be manipulated by another brain wave pattern, then their body would suffer grave physical harm." He answered
"So the victims fell unconscious after the Level Upper manipulated their brain waves directly?" Mikoto asked as she peered forward. "Who would do that? And why?" Kuroko asked in shock. Naruko remained silent as her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"I'm a doctor." Heaven Canceller stated as he turned around to the girls, "You're the ones who are supposed to find out the answers to those questions, right?" he asked as Mikoto and Kuroko nodded as they left the room, but Naruko lingered behind.
"You know who it is." The blonde stated as she slowly walked to the door.
The doctor shrugged, "Perhaps, but as a doctor, I've taken an oath not to speak about my patients." He stated and Naruko said nothing as she continued to leave. "You know." He said, getting her to a stop, "You make a good hero my dear." He said with a small smile.
The blonde haired girl paused, turning slightly to look at the older man. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance, "A hero saves, I just burn." She stated as she left the room, but in a more rigid fashion.
"You may not in your opinion, but I certainly do see you as one." He said to himself as he shook his head and returned to his work.
0 The 177th Branch of Judgment 0
"If we know the brain wave of a specific person…" Mikoto said as she stood behind Kuroko who was typing on a computer. "We can have Uiharu search the Bank for them." The Teleporter concluded. "And she isn't here." Naruko pointed out, getting Kuroko to facepalm. Mikoto held her head, "That's right…" she trailed off. "Geez…what's with all the racket?" asked the voice of Konori.
"Oh, Konori-sempai." Kuroko said in surprise. "We need some help." Mikoto said and Kuroko invited Konori to the computer, who started to type with a brief explanation at what was happening. "I see. If that's the case, then we should be granted permission to access the Bank." Konori said
"What if their data isn't in the Bank?" Mikoto asked in slight worry, "The Bank has data on not only students, but on adults too." Naruko stated with a knowing look, "But…why would the Level Upper output the brain waves of a single person?" Mikoto asked further. "And why would that make their Level increase?" Kuroko asked in return as she rubbed the back of her head, "I don't get it." She admitted
"Computers don't improve their performance through software. However, connecting to a network is a different matter." Konori stated
"Connecting to a network improves performance?" Kuroko asked
"Well, the performance of the individual units won't increase. However, if you connect many computers in parallel, you can increase their overall processing power." Konori said
"Almost like a hive-mind." Naruko stated, "It's a possibility." Konori said with a small shrug as she continued typing. "But how would they connect everyone's brains?" Mikoto asked with her hands on her hips. Konori looked down, "The only plausible explanation would be…the AIM diffusion field. Ability users emit power subconsciously. If those fields were to be connected…" she trailed off as she narrowed her eyes.
"Remember, though, they're unconscious." Mikoto reminded the older girl, "To continue the computer analogy, each of us is running a different operating system. Even if we're connected, there's no guarantee that it'll work." She stated
"Computer networks have computers with different operating systems. They use different languages too. However, they share a common protocol, so they are all able to utilize the network." Konori stated
"Basically, a specific person's brain wave pattern is acting as the protocol here." Naruko stated to which Konori nodded, "It is just speculation though, like I said…" she stated
Mikoto cupped her chin, "However, if they did manage to connect brains in parallel like that…they'd be able to perform an enormous amount of calculations." She concluded and Konori nodded to this.
"Even if they only have a weak ability on their own, if they integrate with the network, the processing power of their ability will increase. They'll also become able to use their ability more efficiently, due to sharing the logic patterns of similar types of abilities. So basically a hive-mind situation like Naruko said." Mikoto theorized
"I assume that the unconscious victims are having all of their brains' processing power utilized by this 'network,' then." Konori said as she hit one final key on the laptop and got a ping, "The results came in!" she announced as the girls surrounded her to see.
"Their brain wave patterns are 99% similar!" the older girl said in astonishment and they all gasped at who popped up.
"T-This is…" Kuroko trailed off in shock.
"Her registered name is…Kiyama Harumi!" Mikoto said in shock as well.
"Uiharu/-san/-chan!" The Tokiwadai girls said in fear.
"What about her?" Konori asked, "She went to see Kiyama!" Naruko pointed out as Kuroko dialed her cellphone. "What?!" Konori said in shock. The line picked up and Kuroko shouted, "Uiharu?!" but only got the recording. She tsk'd in annoyance and turned to the others, "We can't get in touch with her!"
Konori sat up and pointed to Kuroko, "Call Anti-Skill!" the sempai ordered, "Have them capture Kiyama Harumi! Tell them she might be taking hostages."
"Yes ma'am!" Kuroko responded and started to dial again. Mikoto turned to the girls, "I'm going out too." She stated, "Same here…the 'good' doctor and I have some things to 'discuss.'" Naruko said menacingly with a murderous gleam in her eye.
Konori crossed her arms, "I don't want to get civilians involved, but…Not only would one Level 5 be helpful, but two? Our chances would increase greatly." She said and Mikoto nodded as she turned to Naruko who nodded at her. The two then rushed out of the room.
"Onee-sama, Naruko-san!" Kuroko called out as she ran out of the room and closed the door behind her, causing Mikoto to look over her shoulder and Naruko to turn around.
The Teleporter dashed over to them, "Uiharu is a member of Judgment, after all. When the going gets rough, she'll use her ability to…" she paused and made a face, "Probably…somehow…" she trailed off trying to convince herself, "If she's lucky…"
Mikoto didn't look really convinced either, neither did Naruko. Uiharu was a more behind the scenes kinda gal.
"Furthermore, Kiyama is just a single scientist. There's no way she can beat all of the Anti-Skill!" Kuroko stated further.
Mikoto turned to face Kuroko, "She has the lives of thousands of unconscious ability users in her hands!" she said as she cupped her chin in thought, "And…I have a bad feeling about this…" she trailed off.
"Then that's all the more reason!" Kuroko shouted, "A member of Judgment would…" she started, but was interrupted when Mikoto put her hand on her wounded shoulder, getting an 'urk' noise from the auburn haired girl, who seized in pain.
Naruko giggled quietly a bit at seeing this, but refrained from talking. This was a Mikoto-nee/Kuro-chan moment. While she usually had Mikoto-nee's attention, she was willing to share it with Kuro-chan and this was one of those times. In the meantime, she would call a taxi, it was best she save her strength if a fight happened.
So no flying…for now~
Mikoto closed one of her eyes and looked at Kuroko, "Man, you really are persistent, trying to move in that state…" Kuroko held her pained shoulder with small little tears in the corner of her eyes from her previous pain, "Onee-sama, you realized it?" she asked as she didn't want to worry her Onee-sama.
"Of course." Mikoto answered as she poked Kuroko on the forehead, "You're my kohai, so you can rely on me in times like this." She said with a warming smile and a wink that made Kuroko feel weak in the knees.
"Onee-sama…" she trailed off.
"Mikoto-nee, time to go." Naruko as the taxi she called pulled up. Mikoto nodded and hurried downstairs.
Naruko turned to Kuroko, "No worries Kuro-chan, I'll keep her safe." She said as she pounded her chest with her fist and hurried down as well.
Kuroko smiled, "You be safe as well, Naruko-san." She muttered to herself as she wished for both her friends' safety.
0 A 20 Minute Taxi Ride Later 0
A large explosion could be seen from the highway up ahead and Mikoto ordered for the cab to stop. Naruko threw the door open and hoped out while Mikoto jumped out as well as she threw some money at the man.
"Keep the change!" Mikoto said, "And get out of here immediately!" she ordered and the man nodded, not being needed to be told twice, as he bolted.
Mikoto had her cellphone out on speaker and was talking to Kuroko as the two made their way up to the road.
"Kuroko, how's the situation?" the Railgun asked the Teleporter who was back at the 177th Branch looking at the video feeds to relay information to them, "Kuroko?"
"Kiyama is fighting Anti-Skill! And she is even using abilities!"
"She was an ability user?" Mikoto asked in shock.
Konori answered, "According to the Bank, there is no data saying Kiyama had any ability development. However…This is apparently an ability and it looks as if she is using more than one at that." The older girl stated.
"No way!" Mikoto shouted in surprise as the two were in front of a gate and Naruko grabbed Mikoto and jumped over it and placed her friend down as they ran up the stairs, "It's the basic rule that one person has only one ability. There are no other exceptions other than Naruko who's the only Dual-Skill user!" she argued
"It has to be Level Upper!" Naruko shouted
"It has to be!" Kuroko answered, "That system where 10,000 ability users' are connected through a network of synapse, you can call it a huge brain. If she could control that, she could cause things that are impossible for a human brain. If this hypothesis is right, Kiyama now is…a dreamlike existence that is said to be impossible to make reality, something beyond Naruko-san who is a Dual-Skill user, a Multi-Skill user!" the Teleporter concluded as the two girls made it to the top.
And they saw it, the wreckage of all the Anti-Skill security drones, the trucks, and the personal, all over the ground. "The Anti-Skill was completely annihilated?" Mikoto questioned in shock. "Uiharu!" Naruko shouted and Mikoto turned to see said girl in a blue sports car, and they rushed over to her. "Get yourself together!" Mikoto said as she went to open the door.
-Play: Greatest Battle Music Of All Time : Sinister Intent-
"Do not worry." A dull voice said, making the girls turn to see Kiyama, who was dressed in her usual lab garb, but the only difference in her was that her left sclera was red, "She only lost consciousness from the after-effects of the battle." She stated to the Level 5's, "She'll survive."
"Misaka Mikoto," she said while looking at her, "Namikaze Naruko," she said as she turned to the blonde, "Two of the only 8 Level 5's in Academy City. Even you two have not fought with someone like me before. Can you stop me, the one who is the master of 10,000 brains?" she asked mockingly.
"'Can you stop me,' you ask?" Mikoto asked mockingly, "Of course!" she shouted in anger as she rushed at Kiyama.
"Mikoto-nee!" Naruko called out as rushing at the woman was foolhardy.
In the middle of the Railgun's run, the ground under her caved in, making her trip, but luckily, she caught herself. Only for Kiyama to extend her hand at her and blasted a wave of wind towards the older girl.
A second later, Naruko landed in front of the blasted area with Mikoto in her arms, and set her friend down, "Don't rush at her." Naruko chided and Mikoto blushed a little, but saw the serious glint in her friends' eyes.
"I'm surprised! You really can use multiple skills. A Multi-Skill user, sounds fun." Mikoto said as she got ready to fight once again.
"Yes, I'm not like the impossibility that is Namikaze-san. A Multi-Skill user…I like that." She said as she clinched her hand and a wave of high pressured wind cut through the ground like a blade and Mikoto side-stepped.
In a second, Naruko was over Kiyama and swung her leg down for an axe kick, who narrowly evaded it due to limited Precognition and Enhanced Speed. Naruko's created a 5 meter wide crater that was half a meter deep. The blonde disappeared in blinding speed and was next to Kiyama in a millisecond and went for a punch with fire expelling from her fist, but Kiyama dodged and sent a wave of water from the moisture in the air towards the blonde as just as she unleashed a stream of fire to follow-up her last attack.
"You can't win!" Kiyama shouted to the blonde as she launched a Psychokinetic blast, sending the blonde reeling back as she planted her feet into the ground and grabbed the ground with her fingers as she was forced back 10 meters, with track marks of her feet and fingers etched into the ground.
"Yes we can!" Naruko shouted, "You may have 10,000 abilities, but I doubt an egghead like you has any real combat experience. A master with a stick will always beat a novice with sword!" she declared as Mikoto launched a wave of lightning and Kiyama created a protective dome around her that grounded the lightning.
Naruko was next to her once again as soon as the dome faded and jumped in the air while performing a spin kick. Her right leg launched a fire arc and her left leg followed the same motion. As she was landing, she released another kick with her right leg, making a third arc of fire.
Kiyama used Hydrokinesis to block the fire attacks, which made steam, obstructing her vision.
A thing that lead to her near downfall.
A punch to the gut made her double over, followed by a series of powerful jabs to her chest, and kick to her chin sent her flying towards Mikoto who launched a bolt of lightning from her forehead, which shocked the scientist. She fell to the ground with an audible grunt.
She pushed herself up and felt she had multiple cracked ribs a fractured jaw, but she endured, she needed too!
"Enough!" Kiyama shouted as she slammed her hand into the ground which sent out a pulse of energy, that made a large which caused the ground to cave in, and make the Level 5's and herself fall to the ground under the highway.
Kiyama used Telekinesis to land safely while Mikoto used her Magnetism to land on the support beam of the highway. Naruko jumped from the falling rubble and jumped towards the same support beam as Mikoto and used her Gem Stone ability to stick to it (1).
'What a person…to use her abilities without fear of getting caught in them.' Mikoto thought
"Heh." Kiyama said as she spat out some blood from her previous assault, "Is this the standards of Level 5's?" she asked mockingly, no doubt trying to get a rise out of them, "Let alone those in the top half of them…I expected much more from the famed #2." She said with a shrug.
Mikoto growled at her, but before she could act, a cold voice rang out.
-End: Greatest Battle Music Of All Time : Sinister Intent-
"Very well…kid gloves are off then."
A giant gold hand with its palm out slammed down on Kiyama, who barely had enough time to make a protective dome. The hand slammed the dome into the ground, creating a tremor as it hit the ground.
As the giant hand moved, the scientist raised her dome after seeing Naruko in her famed Golden Shroud and he hand open, reflecting the giant arm connected to it.
While she was surprised, Mikoto launched another wave of lightning at her, which the scientist countered as quickly as she could by using Telekinesis to pull up a wall of earth, blunting the damage as it destroyed the rock and caused the rubble to hit Kiyama.
Kiyama grunted from the blunt objects hitting her, but pointed her finger at them, causing the pillar they were stuck on to pull them off as a cylinder of earth launched them off to the ground.
As soon as Naruko hit the ground she disappeared and Kiyama surrounded herself in a protective dome; from her experience of Naruko's blows, She had best defend against them.
Naruko moved rapidly while throwing fast, hard punches in a random pattern creating afterimages in the process. The dome started to crack from the pressure of all the attacks and shattered and quickly used Enhanced Speed to get away from the final attack that Naruko was going to hit her with.
"Listen." Kiyama said getting their attention, "I only wanted to research about something. After that's finished, I will release everyone. I won't sacrifice anyone, I promise." She said with a bow of her head, to show that she was sincere.
"Urasai!" Mikoto yelled out as she stood up while holding her arm, "You won't sacrifice anyone you say? After getting all these people involved like that…playing with people's feelings!"
"You attacked their insecurities, the things that made them feel so vulnerable, you gave them false hope, but as soon as you did, you put them in the hospital!" Naruko said in cold anger, "You hurt Saten-chan…and I promised blood, so, I intend to get it."
"Exactly, how the hell are we just supposed to ignore that?" Mikoto asked Kiyama.
Kiyama hand her hand through her hair, "Even though you're Level 5's, you still are just some little Ojou-sama's who don't understand how society works…no, that would be more towards #4…#2 understands it…more than most really."
Mikoto gained a tic mark, "You're the only one I don't want to hear that from!" she shouted
"Mikoto-nee, stop letting her get you riled up." Naruko scolded, seriously, the chestnut haired girl needed some form of getting her anger under control.
"The ability development you undergo every day, do you think it's humane and safe?" Kiyama asked, "The higher ups in Academy City are hiding something important about abilities. Without knowing that, the teachers in this city are 'developing' the brains of students every day. You should know how dangerous that is." Kiyama stated
Naruko couldn't help but roll her orange eyes, "Welcome to Academy City, we lack morals all in the name of science."
Mikoto took a glance at her friend and saw a glint of sadness in them, perhaps it was because something like that had happened to her, Mikoto thought as she knelt down and made a surge of electricity, "All in the name of science huh? Well, I'll just investigate that later since I'll have plenty of time to do so after we catch you!" she shouted as using her magnetism, she created a wave of iron sand and sent bladed tendrils of it towards Kiyama.
Kiyama once again brought up the earth to shield her from harm, "Sorry, but I can't be captured right now." She said as she waved her hand and a trashcan full of drink cans flew in the air, and the cans scattered in the air, blanketing the sky above them.
"Mikoto-nee!" Naruko shouted as she was next to Mikoto and held out her hand knowing what was going to happen. Mikoto, figuring out the same, held out her hand and the two let loose a stream of gold fire and a wave of blue electricity that blended together to destroy the Graviton cans all at once as they exploded in the air.
"Nice one Naruko." Mikoto said with a thumbs up. Naruko nodded with a grin.
"Amazing." Kiyama said as she held one can, "but…" she trailed off as it Teleported from her hand. Naruko, sensing danger, got behind Mikoto and covered her from the blast that followed from the dangerous feeling a second later.
As a large amount of debris was picked up from the blast, Kiyama walked forward, seeing Mikoto under all the dirt and rubble, "I thought I would get more trouble." She said, "But I guess, Level 5's are only this-" she said, but was cut off as a large gold hand held her in place, "What?!" she shouted in shock.
"Surprise!" Mikoto shouted as she blew the debris off her with a blast of electricity and rushed towards Kiyama and hugged her by the waist tightly as the gold hand let go.
"Gotcha! Naruko shielded me from the blast and I played possum to catch you off guard as she used her energy arm to go from underground to grab you. Now, a close contact electric shock…do you think it hurts?" Mikoto asked as she let loose a large build of electricity to Kiyama, who screamed in pain as she blacked out.
"I did try to limit myself though." Mikoto stated as she heard a whisper in her mind.
Sensei!
"What is this?" Mikoto asked as Naruko walked out from the rubble and with her Shroud still on. "They're coming directly from my head." The Electro-Master said.
"Mikoto-nee?" Naruko asked in concern.
"Is this…Kiyama Harumi's memory? A circuit was built between Kiyama and me using electricity as the medium…" Mikoto muttered to herself.
"Mikoto-nee, what's wrong?" Naruko asked in worry.
The Railgun was seeing…visions?
No, it was like…past memories.
A teacher.
Her students.
An experiment.
A failure.
And sorrow.
All heavy emotions weighing on her mind as Mikoto let go of Kiyama and the older woman fell to the ground, face first. Mikoto swayed a bit from what she had just seen, "What was that…" she asked as Naruko rushed to her side to make sure she didn't fall over.
Kiyama pushed herself up to look at the Level 5's, "You saw it?" she asked as she held her head in pain and looked towards the ground while grunting in pain loudly.
"Why?!" Mikoto asked, "Why did such a thing…" she trailed off.
"What?" Naruko asked, but was given no answer.
Kiyama stood up with a bit of sway while holding her head, "That was the publicly considered an experiment for controlling AIM diffusion fields." She said as she gripped her hair hard, "But in reality, it was a controlled explosion to analyze the laws out-of-control abilities." She stated
"Huh?" Mikoto said as Naruko felt out of the loop.
"The real purpose was to stimulate the AIM diffusion field and to understand the conditions of going 'out-of-control.'"
"Then…" Mikoto concluded in shock.
"They were intended to go out-of-control…I only realized that only later though…" Kiyama answered
"Human testing…" Mikoto said in shock as she gave Naruko a glance and shivered and remembered the video she had seen. What else had they made Naruko do? What had they done to others? She forced down the bile welling in her stomach and focused.
"Those children never woke up, and still are asleep now!" Kiyama said as she turned to face them, "We used them as disposable guinea pigs!" she shouted in fury and sorrow.
"But…if something like that happened, you could have contacted Anti-Skill-" Mikoto said but was cut off.
"23 times." Kiyama said, getting a surprised look from Mikoto, but Naruko was wearing a look of understanding, "To seek recovery for those children, and to make simulations to understand why the accident happened, that's the number of times I asked for the use of Tree Diagram." Her red sclera eye glaring at them, "If I could use the processing ability of Tree Diagram, I should have been able to save them. I would have been able to let them run under the sun once again! Yet they declined all 23 times!" she shouted with rage, "Huh? The Administrative Committee is behind it! There's no way Anti-Skill would budge!"
"Because, they considered the experiment you're talking about as a failure…why would they waste Tree Diagram on a bunch of Child Errors from a failed experiment." Naruko stated in a sadden tone as she looked towards the ground, she remembered which experiment the woman was talking about now.
Kiyama sneered at Naruko, "Of course you would know that CERBERUS, the ever faithful watchdog, aren't you?" she said in a hostile tone. Mikoto blinked and wondered what she meant by that.
Naruko looked up towards the scientist, as if not insulted at all, "Yet for all you've seen from Academy City's dark side you would stoop so low as to do the same as them?" Naruko asked harshly back.
-Play: Greatest Battle Music Of All Time : Apologize From the Sentinel-
"Silence! I will do anything to save those children. Even if I have to make this entire city my enemy, I can't stop!" she shouted to the heavens and she felt a spike pulse through her and gripped her head in pain.
"Hey!" Mikoto said in surprise.
"The Network is going out of control?" Kiyama asked herself in a painful grunt and fell to her knees, "This is…" she said as she landed face first on the ground.
Then, that was when all hell broke loose.
A green wisp of some sorts began to rise from Kiyama's back. It began to grow and morph into…a thing. It looked as though it was a giant levitating fetus with a halo upon its head and tentacles; its body was bluish in color and was covered in a nearly transparent brown layer.
Mikoto's eyes dilated in surprise, she didn't understand, what in the 9 levels of hell was this thing.
Uiharu ran down towards her friends and stopped, "What is that?!" she asked in shock.
"A fetus?" Mikoto asked to no one.
Its eyes opened, showing its red sclera and yellow eyes that spun around in and turned straight to look at Naruko and Mikoto. It then let out the most inhumane screech.
To Naruko, it was worse. Her mind reeling, trying to understand what was before her.
Not human, false, not real, does not compute. All these words and many others of similar nature stormed around in the young blonde's mind.
It was like that thing, that one thing she had only met once. This was similar in nature to that thing, but only smaller, simpler, inferior, basic. But it was like the very thing that put the fear of God itself in Naruko. Her knees were shaking and her breathe became labored while her eyes dilated and sweat dripped from her face.
Does not compute. Delete, delete, DELETE! Remove, burn, kill, Kill, KILL! Does not belong, does not exist, is not real!
Angel.
Demon.
Monster.
Thing.
The blonde took a step back from the screeching creature, seeing the creature's eyes leer at Mikoto-nee, fear swelled inside her, no, please no, leave her alone!
Why?
How?
What could make this, this thing appear?!
Her eyes traveled towards Kiyama. It was her! The fool! Messing with things that are not meant to be meddled with by mortal hands!
But that wasn't all, no, no nononononono NO!
In seconds, it was as if millions of needles penetrated Naruko's mind.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Naruko shouted to the heavens as she fell to her knees clinching her head as her Shroud started reacting erratically.
"Naruko!" Mikoto shouted in worry and as she ran over to her friend, she ducked under an erratic energy arm that nearly hit her head, "Naruko?!" she spattered, wondered why she was almost hit!
Naruko continued to scream as she stood up and started to sway wildly and literally banged her head on some nearby rubble and her energy arms kept shooting out wildly.
"Naruko!" Mikoto shouted as she tried to get close.
10,000.
All those negative emotions.
All at once.
Anger.
Hate.
Fear.
Sorrow.
Self pity.
Solitude.
Each and more of these emotions pounding in her mind as if a chisel was on top her mind and someone was banging it down in quick rapid movements.
This was happening due to one thing.
Her Shroud.
While in her Shroud, Naruko had the ability to use Empathic, the ability to sense the emotions of others. But her Empathic ability was different; she could only sense negative emotions.
Normally, when she sensed them, it was like the drip of a faucet to a steady flow of water into a paper cup. But what was happening now was far different. Due to the 10,000 negative emotions of all the victims of Level Upper coming from that thing, it was as if someone was trying to fill the paper cup with a firehose. It was just too much for her brain to handle all at once.
-End: Greatest Battle Music Of All Time : Apologize From the Sentinel-
The creature let out another screech, letting loose a shockwave.
"Naruko!" Mikoto shouted as she moved to her friend and dodged another energy arm as she tackled her friend to the ground and threw up her hand to bring up a metallic wall via magnetism.
As Naruko's brain continued to overload, she managed to finally turn off her Shroud from a preset program within her mind: if her brain could not sustain the constant stream of negative emotions it would shut down; which it did so and she blacked out.
"Uiharu-san! Take Naruko!" Mikoto ordered as she dropped her wall and threw a wave of lightning at the creature, taking a chunk of its skin off. Suddenly the skin regenerated and the creature grew a pair of arms for the newly grown area.
"What?!" Mikoto said in surprise.
Uiharu took her chance and ran over to Naruko and pick her up by throwing the blonde's arm over her shoulder.
The creature started to grow.
"What on earth? It's getting bigger…" Mikoto said as it set its sights on her and in a second, four large pillars of ice grew in the air and launched themselves at the Railgun, who proceeded to dodge them like crazy by running away…very fast.
As another volley came towards her, she fired a lightning spear from her forehead to destroy them, ripping up the ground and dirt from the kickback of the two powers colliding.
Mikoto grew some electricity in her finger tips, ready to fight it, but the creature turned away from, causing her to stop, "It's not coming after me? Is it just rampaging aimlessly?" she asked herself.
It…It almost seemed as though it was in…pain?
Suddenly, Anti-Skill fired upon the beast, drawing its attention. But the creature just continued to grow at a rapid rate for any damage it took. Taking this time, Mikoto ran over to Uiharu and helped her carry Naruko to safety.
Kiyama, who had awake, with her eye back to normal, was leaning against a support beam while letting out a hollowed chuckle and losing her lab coat, truly her own plan back firing to such an extent, priceless, truly, "Amazing…" she said as she held a hand on her face, "I'd never imagine a monster like that would be born…I'd get rewarded if I reported this to the scientific community." She stated to herself, "The network's already out of my control, and any hope of bringing back and curing those kids is gone." She said as her arms slacked to her sides, "This is the end."
"Don't give up!" a voice shouted at her, causing the scientist to turn and see Uiharu carrying Naruko with Mikoto.
Uiharu laid Naruko down as Mikoto sat down and used her lap as a pillow for the blonde.
"Oh no." Mikoto muttered as she took out her handkerchief and wiped the blood that was coming from Naruko's nose, no doubt from her overload.
"What happened to Namikaze-san? She was fine until that monster came out." Uiharu asked with worry in her tone.
Mikoto sighed as she continued to clean Naruko's face as best she could, "While using her Golden Shroud, Naruko gains Empathic abilities, though she can only sense negative emotions." The Railgun stated
Uiharu blinked, "What? But, how does Namikaze-san have another power?" she asked
"Namikaze-san is a Dual Skill user as well as a Gem Stone, a natural born Esper. She is one of the only two Level 5 Gem Stone's in the world, the other one is the #8 Level 5." Kiyama stated
Mikoto nodded to that, "Yep. Most people confuse Naruko's epithet for her gold fire, but it really comes from her Shroud, her gemstone skill. She has other Gem Stone powers, you know, like enhanced speed, strength, endurance and so on with a few other things like being able to stick to surfaces and walk on water. They still haven't figured out all she can do yet. She also has some form of regeneration too, so that should be helping her." The chestnut haired girl said.
"To answer your question as to what's wrong, my guess it would most likely be all the negative emotions from that creature hit her all at once. That's the only thing I can think of. 10,000 negative minds opening up at once hits her at point blank. That would break lesser minds in an instant." Kiyama stated plainly.
Uiharu looked at the downed blonde in worry. As while a small part of her mind was jealous of the fact that Namikaze-san had literally been born a Level 5 and could use two skills one having numerous applications, she was still worried about how the girls brain took the damage.
Kiyama sighed, "AIM diffusion fields." she said
"AIM diffusion fields?" Mikoto asked
"It's probably some kind of aggregation. That's right…I guess we can call it an 'AIM Burst'. The AIM diffusion fields of 10,000 people merged together through the Level Upper network, and form a beast of subconscious thoughts with those fields. In other words, it's a mass of the thoughts of 10,000 children." Kiyama stated as the creature shrieked once again.
"It seems almost…pitiful." Uiharu said as she looked at the creature with sadness.
Mikoto clinched her fists and laid Naruko gentle on the ground as she stood up while looking at Kiyama, "Is there any way to stop that thing?" she asked
"You're asking me?" Kiyama asked sarcastically, "No matter what I say, you'd never belie-" she started but was cut off by Uiharu who held her hands in front of Kiyama. "You undid my handcuffs didn't you, Kiyama-sensei?" the flower girl asked. "Huh?" Mikoto said and Kiyama just stared at the girl, gave a huff, and turned her head away, "I just felt like it." She said, "There's no way you can trust me on that basis."
Uiharu just got into her face, "Besides…" she said with a smile, "You want to save those kids, so you wouldn't lie to us." She said, causing Kiyama to look slightly surprised, but the real kicker was what the Level 1 said next.
"I believe in you!"
I believe in you!
That very sentence echoed through their minds.
"You heard that?" Mikoto asked and Uiharu turned towards her and gave a nod.
Kiyama looked down, "Geez…" she said getting the attention of the two girls, "The AIM Burst is a monster born from the Level Upper network. If you can destroy the network, you might be able to stop it." Uiharu gasped as she shuffled through her pockets quickly and pulled out a program chip, "The Level Upper treatment program!" she said
"It's worth a try." Kiyama said.
Mikoto turned to the beast and narrowed her eyes and took a quick glance at Naruko. This was it, she could help her now, protect her, just like she should, "I'll do something about that thing. Uiharu-san, take that to Anti-Skill." Uiharu grasped the chip tightly in her fist and turned to Mikoto, "Understood!" she stated as the Railgun turn to the scientist. "Kiyama-sensei…look after Naruko for me." Mikoto said as she gave the doctor a dangerous look, "Got that?" she asked/demanded.
Kiyama nodded, not really caring about the threat from the Level 5. With one final nod, the girls split up and headed to do what they had to.
Kiyama gave them a look as they ran and sighed, "Seriously…" she said as she knelt down to Naruko, looking her over, "You have some really trusting friends, it somewhat bothers me that they are so trusting without evidence."
Mikoto ran up the stairs to help Anti-Skill fend off the creature and saw it smack one of the officers away as a tentacle went towards another one and it grew an eye with little hands on it…creepy. A gravity force hit the place the green haired Anti-Skill was, but luckily Mikoto magnetized a piece of metal near the woman, pulling her back, "Why were you just standing there?" she reprimanded, "You could have gotten killed you know!" she shouted with an angry look.
"Ahh." The woman said startled at seeing her, "Wh-Who are you?" she asked, getting a clueless look from Mikoto, "What's a civilian doing here?" the woman demanded.
Mikoto tsk'd in annoyance as she let out as sigh while putting her hands on her hips, "Geez, it's always civilians this, civilians that…" she muttered to herself.
"Either way, you need to get out of h-" the woman started but was cut off as Mikoto grabbed her by her collar and moved, just as a tentacle went to release another gravity field. Mikoto quickly turned and fired another lightning spear from her forehead, destroying the tentacle, "You're the one who needs to get out of here!" Mikoto shouted at her, "That thing won't fight back unless you attack it first." She stated
"Even so…" Yomikawa said as she held her pain and winced while propped against the railing, "We can't afford to leave it alone." She stated as she lifted her hand and pointed to the beast, "Do you know what that is?" she asked as the beast was moving towards some kind of facility, "It's an experimental nuclear energy facility."
Mikoto gasped, "Seriously?" she asked and gritted her teeth, okay, this got a whole lot more complicated than it already was. Who thought that was even possible?
"What's that kid doing?" the green haired woman shouted, causing Mikoto to turn her head towards the stairs to see Uiharu running up them.
"That's…Kiyama's hostage?" Yomikawa said in surprise as she tsk'd, "She didn't manage to get away?" she questioned, "Noo…" said Mikoto, getting the older officers attention, "Uiharu-san isn't a hostage or trying to escape." Mikoto said as she wrung her wrists as she turned to face them, "I have a request." She asked as she explained the plan and jumped down towards the beast to distract it long enough for Uiharu to do her thing.
Uiharu was running up the stairs to get to the Anti-Skill truck, but the creature fired a beam of light at her that destroyed parts of the staircase and knocked her down the remaining stairs.
"Ahuu." Uiharu groaned as she stood up rather shakily and looked into her at the program chip as she sighed in relief, "Thank goodness it's okay." She muttered to herself as she moved up the broken stairs, 'I have to do my best. I'm a member of Judgment too after all.' She thought as she grabbed the railing to hoist herself up while ignoring her pain, 'For Saten-san!' she thought as she made it to the top and rushed to the Anti-Skill truck.
Another blast happened and knocked her down once again, she moved to stand when a voice spoke, "Are you alright?" "Geez, kids these days need to be less reckless." The Anti-Skill said as she held a blast shield to protect Uiharu while her subordinate used her back to support her superior, "Do you have the treatment program?" the green haired woman asked.
"It's unharmed!" Uiharu answered, getting a smile from the woman, "I'll cover you." Yomikawa stated as the creature screamed again as it charged another blast, "Dammit! Again?" the officer cursed, what was with this thing? Take a damn break!
But the charged shot was struck by lightning thanks to a certain Railgun.
Kiyama watched the fight from the distance with a resting Naruko, "Broadcasting the vaccine software throughout Academy City will destroy the Level Upper network. If that flower girl manages that, it should be possible to stop the AIM Burst's rampage. However…" she trialed off to herself as Naruko stirred awake, "Ah, welcome back to the land of the living Namikaze-san." She greeted, only to get a punch to the face, "Gahh!" the doctor shouted as she jumped back and held her nose. Was it broken? No, just dislocated, but ow that hurt! "Thank you." Kiyama stated with a twitching eye as she held her bleeding bent nose.
Naruko sat up while promptly ignoring the woman and her eyes widened in fear, seeing the hideous creature had grown and began to hyperventilate once more. Just then, a rough guitarish sound boomed throughout the area, getting the beast to stop. Of course this did nothing to ease Naruko's fear of the thing.
But Kiyama knew, it wasn't over. Even if the network was destroyed, it was still a mass of 10,000 thoughts in an AIM diffusion field. So it was still going to move! Which it did, promptly freaking Mikoto out. Maybe she should have mentioned that earlier…her bad.
Uiharu came running towards the two, "I did it, but why is it still moving?" she asked while panting with her hands on her knees.
-Play: World's Greatest Battle OSTs Ever: Birth of a Hero-
"It still has the thoughts of 10,000 in an AIM diffusion field." Kiyama stated as she bent her nose back into place with a pained grunt, "Misaka-san may need some help."
"Of course!" Uiharu said as she turned to the awaken Namikaze-san but…why was she freaking out? "Namikaze-san?" she asked as she walked towards the girl and placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her a bit, "Come on, you need to help Misaka-san!" she said in a loud voice.
"No, please no. Get it away, get it away." The blonde whimpered as tears, yes tears, fell from her face, "I can't, I can't." she said in a frightened tone.
"Namikaze-san!"
"No!"
"Come on!"
"NO! No, I don't want t-"
*Slap*
Naruko's head turned sharply to the left side as her right cheek had been struck by the open palm of normally sweet tempered Uiharu.
"Namikaze-san! You're #2! You can't be afraid, you can't! With you and Misaka-san working together, you can do anything!" the girl shouted towards her friend.
No.
You cannot fight that thing.
She couldn't fight it.
Between fight or flight, she would choose flight every time against this thing.
The memory of her frightful body from the last time she had encountered something such as this caused a whimper of fear tumble out of her mouth.
Run, never fight.
Hide, never fight.
Plea, never fight.
"Misaka-san needs your help!" Uiharu shouted in the blonde's face and turned her head to see Mikoto-nee fending off the creature, "If you don't, she could die!"
Die.
Die?
No.
Not Mikoto-nee.
All she knew was death from the start until Mikoto-nee…her light…she made the blood on her finger tips feel less then there really was.
If she lost her…
She had to fight, had too, but, that thing, it was strong…but…not DRAGON strong…it was young.
It was an infant.
Nothing compared to that other thing.
It was in its weakest form!
Snip it, snip it in the bud now while you can!
"Uiharu." Naruko muttered as she stood up with a bit of a sway and her long hair covering the right part of her face, only exposing her bright blue eye to the Level 1, "Arigato." She said as flames started to lick around her body as she walked towards the battle.
"Namikaze-san." Uiharu muttered with wide eyes.
-End: World's Greatest Battle OSTs Ever: Birth of a Hero-
"You need to go for the core!" Kiyama shouted, getting a nod from Naruko, "You think they can win?" she asked the flower girl by her as she too watched the blonde walk away from them.
Uiharu turned to give the brain scientist a smile, "I'm sure they can, after all, they are the Ace and Star of Tokiwadai." She said beaming as she held confidence in the two Level 5's. After all, what would be able to stop the Electric Princess and the Inferno Empress when they work together?
-Play: Most Wondrous Battle OSTs Ever: Fire At Will-
Mikoto did a back flip to avoid a shot of acid. Yes, acid. Who the hell has an ability like that?!
Then, it happened.
A large fist made of pure gold fire collided with the AIM Burst, sending it tumbling away.
Mikoto turned her head to see what did that and she did not, I repeat, did NOT 'eep.'
The arm was connected to a 60 meter tall egg shaped creature that was made of fire. It had two hollowed eyes and three horns on its head in a V shape with a frowning mouth. It had a pair of short legs for movement, but the arms of the being were almost as large as itself (2). And right there, smack dab in the middle of the fiery belly of personification made of the element was Naruko, with her arms crossed.
"Say Hi to Salamandra." The blonde said as if it was a normal everyday thing.
…When could she do that?! The #4 was never told that she could literally make a giant fire monster! What the hell?! Oh! We are going to have a big talk after this Naruko, I mean it young lady!
"RAAAA!" Naruko shouted as Salamandra roared as well and charged at the creature with a tackle. The Burst fired off energy blasts, but even though they hit, Salamandra easily reformed and nailed its tackle, pushing the enemy to the ground.
The Burst got up and fired a large volume of water with pillars of ice aiding it.
"Tsunami." Naruko commanded and Salamandra inhaled and spewed out a wide wave of deadly fire, burning up the ground as it went. It collided with the water and ice, creating a giant hot cloud of steam.
Mikoto held her arm over her eyes and jumped back a bit to avoid getting hit. While she knew Naruko would do her best to avoid her, it was just for the best to get out of the way of two giant monsters fighting.
Seriously! What was this? Some kind of Godzilla rip-off? Even if they were in Japan, this was just ridiculous!
With the steam blinding the AIM Burst, it didn't see the two whips of fire snapping through the cloud, lashing it with its harsh flames.
"GRAAAH!" The Burst screamed as Salamandra came through the evaporating cloud of steam holding two whips of fire, no doubt used for close range combat.
"Queen's Whips." Naruko stated calmly.
Salamandra kept lashing out its whips, getting the Burst more and more to cry out as with a mere twitch of her fingers the flame construction lashed out one more time and ensnared the Burst. It raised its arms in the air, bringing the Burst up too as it then swung down, slamming the Burst into the ground.
While on the ground, the Burst fired a large volume of water, dousing Salamandra, but the creation was too hot and the water only doused a little bit of it, but still staggered back a bit. The Burst took its chance and fired a few beams of light at Salamandra, but aimed at the center of it, specifically Naruko. The blonde moved in her construction to avoid being hit and made her monster run towards the Burst.
Salamandra punched with its right fist and followed up with its left, but put all of its weight into the punch, sending the AIM Burst moving back, but Salamandra using its egg shape to roll forward from the punch and came out of the roll with both arms in the air as it slammed them down at the creature, making a crater from the strength behind the blow.
Salamandra then wrapped the AIM Burst into a hug, burning its flesh at a fast rate, weakening it.
"Mikoto-nee!" Naruko shouted as she blasted through the head of her construction and into the air for safety. Knowing what she did, Mikoto smiled as she looked at the bound beast.
"You were trying your hardest. You just have to try again, right? So quit mopping around, stand on your own, and make everyone who doubted you eat their words!" Mikoto shouted as the coin descended towards her thumb and she flicked, creating the roaring blast of her epithet at the very core of the beast before her, launching it into the sky and shattering it into thousands of pieces.
"GRAAAWHHH!" the AIM Burst screeched as it fell to the ground and dissipated into a green wisp into the air.
A calming breeze filled the area as Naruko landed and with a wave of her hand, dissolved Salamandra.
-End: Most Wondrous Battle OSTs Ever: Fire At Will-
Naruko and Mikoto smiled at one another while Uiharu and Kiyama looked amazed with the remaining Anti-Skill in the area.
Level 5's…truly beings to be feared.
With the incident at an end, Naruko walked away with the group, never noticing woman smiling at the scene as she instructed the cleanup.
The girls had escorted Kiyama Harumi to the Anti-Skill truck and watched as the cuffs were put on her.
"Um…" Mikoto said looking down at her feet, getting Kiyama's attention, "What are you going to do about the kids?" she asked in a worrying tone getting a sigh and a soft smile from Kiyama.
"I'm not giving up on them, of course." She said getting surprised looks from the girls, "I'll start over once more, whether I'm in prison or not at the ends of the earth…I'll always have my brain, after all." She said with a smile along with satisfied looks from the girls, "However…" she stated, "I'll still do anything it takes." She said as she turned around and walked into the truck, "If you don't like that, you can come and stop me again." She offered challengingly, getting looks of annoyance from Mikoto, a smile from Uiharu, and playful narrowed eyes from Naruko. With that, the rear entrance of the truck slammed shut and drove off.
"Good grief…" Mikoto said as she ran her hand through her hair, "That teacher never learns." She stated with a smile as a taxi drove over to them and screeched to a halt with the door flying open. Gracing the girls with Kuroko.
"Onee-sama~!" she shouted as she ran towards her 'love interest' and tackled her to the ground via a surprise teleport and a wince form both Naruko and Uiharu, "I was so worried!" The Teleporter cried out as she straddled and snuggled the Level 5, "My heart was in pain!" she said as she looked over Mikoto with a critical eye, "Disheveled hair! Countless scratches on your flawless skin!" she stated as she grew a blush and cackled evilly.
"It seems you have no power left to electrocute me…" she said with a perverse chuckle and wiggling fingers as she clasped in her hands and turned them to the side as she looked adoringly towards Mikoto with a bit of drool coming from the corner of her mouth, "It looks like I'll have to clean and heal every part of your body!" she announced but calmed down, "Ah, that's right…" she said as she turned towards Uiharu, "I was contacted by the hospital not long ago. The Level Upper victims are regaining consciousness." Getting big smiles from Uiharu and Naruko, "Thanks to you, Uiharu."
"And on that note, Onee-sama~" Kuroko said as she turned back towards the downed Level 5 with a perverse tone.
Mhuuuuu!
And just like that, Kuroko's head was on fire.
"Ahhhh!" Kuroko wailed as she stood up, stopped, dropped, and rolled…frantically.
"Did you just set her on fire?" Mikoto asked as she propped up on her elbows from the ground.
"It's a greeting~!" Naruko cheered with a smile.
"Why?"
There was a brief pause.
"…Why not?" the blonde countered.
0 District 7, Hospital rooftop 0
Saten was standing there in her pink gown as the twilight of the day shined. She looked at her hands with some sadness, but smiled none the less as the door to the roof opened.
"Saten-san!" the voice of Uiharu called out, causing said her to blink as she turned to see her friend.
Saten smiled and waved, "Yo, Uiharu!" she said in her usual cheerful way.
"Don't 'yo' me!" Uiharu shouted as she stormed over to her friend, "You weren't in your room so I had to go and look for you! Should you be walking around like that?" she asked, "Are you still injured anywhere?" she continued in her usual worried way.
Saten stood up straight and placed her hands on her hips letting out a carefree laugh, "I was just sleeping for a bit." She said dismissively, "I'm already back to normal. I can't use powers anymore either." She answered, getting Uiharu to look down as that was what her friend really wanted. Saten looked at her friends injuries and felt bad.
"Well, I did say I would teach you, remember?" the playful voice of Naruko asked from above.
"Huh?" said both girls as they looked up to see Naruko hovering above them with her arms crossed.
Saten held her chin and supported said arm with by the elbow with her other hand while looking up, "Oh, dark purple with frills, very bold Namikaze-san." The spunky girl commented with a nod in approval.
"Ah! Saten-san, don't look up Namikaze-san's skirt~!" Uiharu cried out.
"Ah, but Uiharu, you looked up too." Saten said as she pointed at the girl as if stating the obvious and smiled as Uiharu flailed her arms around saying she didn't mean it.
Naruko landed and looked at Saten with a blank face, getting the girl to shuffle in the spot she was standing, "Um, Namikaze-san-" but a flick to her nose stopped her, "Ow!" she yelped as she rubbed her sore nose, "Hey! Sick person here!" she shouted as she stomped her foot in mock anger with shaking arms, but stopped as she was hugged by the smaller girl.
"No more stupid stuff, I'll have to keep watch over you if you continue." Naruko said with a hidden sniffle. Saten grimaced and hugged back as a few tears dripped from her eyes, "Yeah, promise." Uiharu was sniffling too and joined the hug as the girls for the joyous return of their friend.
Saten wiped her eyes and smiled, "Ah, I almost forgot." She pointed out, and lifted her arms in the air, "I'm back!" she announced, lifting Uiharu's skirt in the process.
Uiharu turned red as she puffed her cheeks and cried out in embarrassment, "Even when you're sick! What are you doing!" the flower girl complained.
Naruko blinked and scrunched her face in thought and gained a smile as she too lifted her arms in the air, lifting Uiharu's skirt up, "Uhh!" she shouted with a smile.
"Ah!" Uiharu shouted as she turned to Naruko, "Namikaze-san, why?!" she questioned frantically as Saten laughed with tears in her eyes while holding her stomach, but lifted Uiharu's skirt again, "Ah! Saten-san, stop!" she begged, but Naruko did it again, causing Uiharu to keep turning around to each of her skirts offenders as her face was scarlet now while they continued to do lift it.
By the stairwell stood Mikoto and Kuroko as they watched the exchange.
"And with this, the case is closed…though it seems Naruko-san has picked up Saten-san's skirt flipping habit." Kuroko pointed out amusingly.
Mikoto crossed her arms and scrunched her face, "I'll discipline Saten-san once she recovers for teaching Naruko something inappropriate, but yeah…" she said while looking down.
Kuroko noticed this and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Eh?" Mikoto said in surprise but brushed it off, "No, nothing."
Kuroko sighed, but smiled all the same, "'I wonder if the Level Upper users were really wrong? We ignored their feelings, so doesn't that make us Espers the real culprits this time?' Might you have been thinking something like that?" she asked knowingly.
Mikoto turned a bit red and turned her head to the side, "Don't read me like that." She muttered, "It's disturbing."
Kuroko's eyes softened, "That kindness is just like you Onee-sama." She said as Mikoto grew more red as her cheeks puffed, "Speaking of kindness, there's something else I'd like you to notice." She asked sweetly as Mikoto turned to her, "That would be…" she stated as she made a kissy face and moved towards Mikoto, "My f-e-e-l-i-n-g-s~" she said in a sing song tone, but Mikoto covered her mouth with her hand.
"Thanks, Kuroko." Mikoto said as she held out her free hand, "Your usual pervertedness has recharged my powers." She stated menacingly as sparks danced around her freehand all with a sweet smile on her face, "You little…!" she shouted as she shocked Kuroko, getting the attention of the other girls as they looked each other and smiled.
Some things just never change~
They ran towards them smiling to mess around with them.
0 Later with the Magic Side 0
"Bath-tub~! Bath-tub~! Bath-tub~!" Index sang as she, Touma, and Naruko walked down the street to the bathhouse.
The blonde really needed it after today.
Of course her injuries raised questions from Touma-nii, due to his Hero-Complex, but the blonde assured him that she was fine and got into a 'scuffle'…yes…a 'scuffle.'
Index hummed her happy little tune as she walked ahead of the group with a bath bucket with soaps and such in it.
Really, for being hunted down like a dog she sure had a carefree personality.
She turned around and faced the two Academy City students, "Touma! Touma! Touma!"
"Hm?" Touma asked with a small smile.
"Nothing!" Index admitted with a giggle, "It's kind of fun to call someone's name without any purpose. Right, Touma?" she asked
Naruko puffed her cheeks, she was the loli in Touma-nii's life, how dare this arrogant nun act all lovey dovey like that?
Nun's took a vow of chastity didn't they?
What was it? No romantic relationships, right?
Seems someone doesn't take that vow very seriously!
"I want to ask you something." Index asked further, before Touma could even answer the first question.
"Komoe mentioned that in Japanese public baths, there's this thing called coffee milk. And, and you got to put your hand on your hip and drink high in the air! What's this coffee milk anyway? Is it like a cappuccino?" Index asked
Naruko snorted, "Don't confuse the two Index-san as they are so far apart, it's like calling beef jerky and flaminyon." The blonde stated, "I mean, this is just a public bathhouse, not even a private one. That's where you get a cappuccino. Along with other things like massages, mud baths, acupuncture…" she said as she continued to list more things.
Touma sighed, leave it to the little Ojou-sama to point those things out. And really, a cappuccino in a private bathhouse? Is this what our tax dollars are going to? Wait?! Did she just mention a chocolate bath?! With high class chocolate?! Man, that was just unfair.
"True, I bet you'll experience a bit of a culture shock when you see the large bath though." Touma added, "They've got nothing but narrow bathtubs in England, right?" he asked the silver haired girl.
Index hummed in thought, "I actually don't know." She admitted
"Why not?" Touma asked
Yes, why not? Naruko thought, you lived there until now.
Index looked forward, "Because, I was in Japan before I realized it. I'm not really sure about anything from England."
"No wonder you speak Japanese so fluently." Touma admitted
Touma-nii…don't tell me you didn't hear anything wrong in that sentence, if so, hm, you need more training~
"No, that's not what I meant." Index said, ah, she'll clear it up now. Touma-nii, pay attention, "I was born in London and apparently was brought up inside St. George's Church. I came here about a year ago, I think."
There it is!
"You think?" Touma asked
Good boy Touma-nii, you get a cookie~
"Yeah, because my memories keep disappearing." Index stated
"Wait, what?" Naruko said, "I understand if you forgot your memories, but they keep disappearing? I know magic can do that, but why are they repeating it?" the blonde asked.
Yes, why where they crippling an asset like Index, let alone lose her in the first place?
"When I first awakened, I didn't even know who I was. I couldn't even recall what I ate the night before, but I knew about Magicians, Index, Necessarius…knowledge like that kept popping up…I was really scared…"
"So, they keep wiping your memory?" Touma asked as he had heard Naruko's question.
Index shrugged, "I don't know, maybe." She answered
How the hell was she being so callous to this?
"And, you are, just okay with the fact that your own Organization in making you a crippling baby with only basic knowledge that you need to function…wow, you're dumb." Naruko stated freely.
Touma was following the same thoughts, except that he didn't view Index as dumb, just a victim.
Index rounded on Naruko, "Well, what am I suppose to do?" Index shouted at the blonde.
"Oi!" Naruko shouted back as she bumped heads with Index, "Don't yell at me! I'm the one keeping you in one piece."
"I can make it on my own!"
Naruko scuffed, "Oh please, who was the one who landed on a balcony and asked a complete stranger for food? You don't even know what it means to survive on your own. What, are you going to ask every person around to hear your sob story and give you stuff? Heh, guess Magicians are really ignorant on how the real world works outside their little cults."
Index huffed and turned to Touma, "What do you think?" she asked, but noticed his face, "Are you angry?" she asked
Touma turned his head to the side, "Not really." He answered
Index frowned, "You look angry though." She pointed out.
Naruko rolled her eyes, of course he is, his Hero-Complex is kicking in again.
"What? Are you going through puberty or something?" Index asked
Naruko guffawed, telling a teenage boy that, really? Lack of tact seems to be all the rage in foreigners these days.
"I really don't want to hear about 'puberty' from someone with a pedo body like you." Touma pointed out blankly.
"Gosh, what is that suppose to mean?" Index asked with a pout.
"He means that he doesn't want to hear about puberty from a girl like you since you look like a ten year old." Naruko pointed out openly.
"Oh, and what about you? You look barely over ten!" Index shouted in anger as she raised her arms in the air.
"I'm twelve and proud of my loliness." The blonde said as she puffed out her small chest and looked at Index, "How old are you~?" she teased
Index blushed and held her bucket in front of her face while muttering her age.
15!
Naruko laughed lady-like into the back of her hand, giving herself a haughty appearance, "You talk about puberty and you're like that when you're only fifteen!" the blonde said, "I think I'm even bigger then you are." the blonde stated.
And from what Touma could see and remember as he had accidentally, accidentally he would like to reinforce, to the max, he had seen Naruko naked once… ACCIDENTALLY! Also from the, ehem, robes of combustion incident, he had seen Index naked as well…completely unwilling of course.
Let's just say that Naruko was bigger, by 1 centimeter…Damn, he was hanging out with Aogami way too long if he knew that from just a glance.
Index's face turned red as she turned around and ran off in her, clear lack of a comeback, anger.
"Ah!" Touma shouted, "Index!" he said, but the girl didn't turn around and kept running.
Naruko sighed, okay, maybe she was taking this a bit too personally, but, it was just that she was always the loli-figure in Touma-nii's life. Then this upstart just lands on his balcony? No fair! He belonged to her!
Who else was going to buy her ice cream for doing their H.W. for them?
"C'mon Naruko." Touma said with a sigh and hung his arms, "Let's go get her…can't have her hit by a car now." He said as he started jogging after her.
Well, technically they could…but Touma-nii's Hero-Complex wouldn't allow it sadly.
"Fine~" Naruko whined as she followed, but as they ran, Naruko felt a strange pulse, one that was shared by Touma.
They glanced around and saw no one.
"Damn." Naruko said as she realized they walked right into a Rune Array.
An Opila Rune ᛟ; to create an area that no one enters outside the intended targets.
Guess that meant they were the targets.
"There's…no one." Touma said as he looked around.
Footsteps could be heard in the distance as the two turned to see a woman.
A rather tall woman at that, about 170 centimeters tall with long black hair tied up in a ponytail that reaches her hips along with an attractive body. She wore a short white T-shirt tied into a knot at the bottom, revealing her navel; a pair of jeans below with one side sawed off, revealing her thigh and a pair of cowboy boots. Because her T-shirt was tied down, her breasts were much more noticeable. All that with a two-meter-long Nodachi attached to her hip.
"It's just a Rune." The newcomer stated.
"A halfway decent one from the ones I've seen." Naruko admitted, "But to use an Opila just to see us, I'm flattered, really. But you could have just used a phone…you do know what that is right?" Naruko asked mockingly.
"You're…" Touma trailed off as Naruko stepped in front of him to protect him.
"Kanzaki Kaori is my name." Kanzaki said, "So, who are you?" the long haired beauty asked to the blonde girl that stepped in front of the boy taking care of her target.
Naruko grinned and pointed to herself, "Well some people call me the space cowgirl, other people call me the gangster of love," she shrugged her shoulders playfully and stuffed her hands into her pockets, "But you can call me CERBURUS and you're about to get your butt whooped by eighty pounds of sheer loli~" she finished with an angelic smile.
"Kamijou!" Naruko said getting the boy's attention, "Go find the girl and get back to Komoe-sensei's home, I got this." The blonde said in a serious tone.
"Naruko! I can't leave you alone-" Touma started, but Naruko cut him off.
"She's a SAINT! Consider her the equivalence of a Level 5 on the Magic Side." The Pyro stated, causing Touma to pale.
'A Level 5 Magician?!' He thought in a frenzy, 'They have those?!'
"Be careful." He said, he didn't want to leave her, but she was #2 for a reason, I mean, how could this Saint even beat her? He questioned as he left to look for Index.
"Well now that he's gone, shall we get down to business?" Naruko asked with a grin that promised pain.
"Let's..." She said as she gripped her sword's handle.
Naruko raised an eyebrow, "Not going to give me your Sorcery Name?" she asked with curiosity.
Kaori scuffed, "I have no need to kill you child, it would only end badly for us if I did." She said in confidence, as even if the child was one of the famed Level 5's that she had heard about, she knew she could win.
Naruko grinned and pulled out a calligraphy brush from her pocket that had carvings on it, "Well if you're not..." Naruko trailed off as she held the brush in the air.
Kaori's eyes went wide as she felt a Mana spike and saw the girl drawing in the air with fire, but not with her with Pyrokinesis that she had learned about, but with actual magical fire!
In the air was written:
Ignis999
"The will that burns through falsehood." Naruko said with a smug smile.
As thus, the battle had begun.
0
(1)- Naruko's Gem Stone ability is an unknown energy, which is listed as Chakra by Naruko. As to why she knows this, it will be told later on.
(2)- Check my profile page for the picture of Salamandra.
0
Okay, Level Upper Arc is done, yay! Next we continue the epic battle between Level 5 and Saint. How can Naruko know magic you ask? Well, you'll see in the beginning flashback in the next chapter to answer that.
R&R, no flames, peace off!
0 Omake: Super Moe and Generic Loli 0
As the group of Mikoto, Naruko, Kuroko, Ruiko, and Kazari were walking around, Naruko started to hum a song.
"POMF POMF! KIMOCHI~" Naruko sang as she listened to her ipod.
Mikoto raised an eyebrow at the cheerful tune her friend was listening to, "What are you listening to Naruko?" she asked
Naruko blinked and took off one of her earbuds, "It's called POMFPOMFPOMF =3, it's really catchy and it talks about a generic loli, like me~!" she cheered with a skip in her step.
"Oh, let me hear." Mikoto said in interest, but Ruiko, who knew far more about internet memes, went to stop her, but was too late.
As Mikoto listened, her face started to turn red in embarrassment and then twisted in angry, but masked it quickly with a smile on her face that was extremely forced, "Naruko…where did you get this song from?" she asked in a sweet tone and gritted teeth.
Naruko blinked and got into a thinking position, "Hm, oh! I got it from Tsuchimikado-sensei." The loli declared.
"Maika-san?!" Mikoto questioned loudly, oh that Maid-in-training was so going to get it!
"No, Maika-chan's step-brother. He's friends with Touma-nii!" Naruko declared with a smile.
…Kamijou Touma…for introducing this, this deviant to my sweet little Naruko…you will die by RUSTY CHAINSAW…COVERED IN ELECTRICITY!
You AND your friend!
At that time, both Kamijou Touma and Tsuchimikado Motoharu sneezed and a shiver ran down their spines.
"Nee Ui-chan, what's the Pop-Up Pirate game?" Naruko asked, causing Uiharu to faint at the very question.
"Oh no, Ui-chan!" Naruko gasped, "Call the paramedics!" she cried out until Saten rested her hands on the blonde's shoulders.
"She's fine; just…don't ask that question to any guy…EVER. I think Misaka-san may kill them if you do." Saten said as she looked like she just went twenty rounds in the ring with a rhino.
Naruko nodded her head like the good imouto she was, but didn't really understand. She then tilted her head to the side in thought.
What smelt like salty coins and milk anyway?