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X❖X
Russian Demo — Moscow — III
X❖X
Two students were vising the McDonalds store in downtown Moscow.
The news was rehashing the interview of the so-called Esper that was yesterday on national television.
Two grad students who majored in Electrical engineering were eating at the fast-food joint. Two burgers each, one only ate chicken while the other ate meat and vegan at the same time. It was a weird preference, but that guy liked the taste of the vegan patty too.
The two entered a discussion as they shared the chicken nuggets with sauce. Their discussion focusing on the Esper. A girl of about 14-years of age, dressing in a low-cut white dress and having beautiful Asian features. She appeared so mature in the interview but was still a teen, too young for college grads like these two. Not to mention they had girlfriends as well.
"If her powers are real, then wouldn't it be interesting to go visit this Academy City place?"
"It doesn't matter. If you want to get enrolled in Academy City itself then you need to be younger than ten years old or else they don't let you go in."
"Huh, why is that? Doesn't Academy City accept people of all ethnicities to study there? Why have an age restriction for new students like that?"
"I don't know, maybe it messes up with the so-called Power Development they have there. Or maybe it's because the younger you are, the easier it is to learn a new language."
Learning a language.
That was one of the reasons why Academy City itself did not accept people older than 9 years old.
Academy City operated in two languages.
Japanese for everyday use for students, teachers, and the administration. And a bit of English used by researchers sometimes in their scientific papers.
Academy City accepted children of all ethnicities and focused a lot of money on language development classes. The younger you are, the faster you learn a new language.
And while the city boasted of multiculturalism, it preferred that its population used only one language.
This was step one in brainwashing its population.
Of course, you need to be aware of researchers and teachers, most of them still came from outside the city. The city has only been around for thirty years after all.
However, Academy City prized itself on one thing:
An extremely strict selection process for researchers and teachers.
That meant it only selected the cream of the crop.
The most intelligent people on the planet to make up the ranks of researchers and teachers. Therefore many of these individuals had no issue in learning Japanese.
Foreign investment and billionaires a lot of times did not learn the language, but they had aides that did so for them. These people were dazzled by another thing entirely.
The second step was introducing a utopia of technology and the development of the young minds of its children. To the researchers and teachers, it was a dream come true. A city that put everything it had on development, development, development. To the billionaires, banks, and investors, it was a money-making marvel. A city uniquely designed to dazzle them with pleasure and greed that could not be found anywhere else.
The third step was the difficulty of going outside its walls for everyone. The more you see of the holy grail of technological marvel, and the less you see of the old world. The more entrenched you become in its roots.
It inevitably created a sense of nationalism in the minds of young people. Not only that, but it also created this feeling on even the top brass of the city itself.
The board of directors even started being brainwashed by the same plan they, themselves, created.
Nothing was better than Academy City.
The world outside did not matter.
Therefore a feeling of xenophobia and hatred of the outside was born from the people living there. To citizens of that city, the world outside was trash and not worth living. Even Japan, especially Japan. A country that had allowed that city to flourish, was hated.
To the board of directors, Japan was something to be abhorred of.
That was how bad things really were, deep down.
"Do you think she can control real lightning?" asked the grad.
"I don't know. The professors were really excited for the past few weeks."
"Oh, I remember. They did a whole revision of currents, electrons, and so much stuff."
"The chat group for our year was filled with so many YouTube videos of theories about Espers."
"I mean how does that work. Doesn't she get electrocuted herself?"
"I guess there's some bullshit explanation about how she's immune to voltage and amperage of her own abilities or something."
"Even so, if she gets to a powerful enough current, won't it start producing heat instead? How does she not get burned then?"
"I don't know."
The discussion continued on that fast food place as they waited for coverage for the demonstration. Last night's interview tempered their expectations a bit. The Esper did not display any single power on that interview, casting doubts on the veracity of what an Esper was.
Personal Reality was a term that these two had no clue about. As the name implies, it was a type of reality that every person who has undergone the power development program and had developed powers, possessed.
It was the source of the Espers power.
Personal Reality was the delusion of Espers, they imposed their reality upon the world itself, giving them powers.
Say you believe that you can shoot a fireball from your hands, that power would manifest itself.
However, that belief was not just something easy as to wish upon your conscious mind that you can do such things.
Just chanting on your mind that you can manipulate heat won't make you have it.
It was something more intrinsic to the person.
It was not the conscious mind; It was every neuron of the unconscious brain. Every single cell of the nervous system hard-coded to believe that you could manipulate fire.
The delusion was not such a simple thing that everyone could just think one day and have powers. Therefore the power development did not work as well for adult minds.
It was much better applied to children who barely knew how the world worked. And their powers and delusion would naturally develop from there. Being boosted by the adolescent stage of mind, where the brunt of emotional development and hormonal development happened.
There was a reason children were chosen.
Because most of them would naturally delude themselves to obtain a Personal Reality.
Many Espers were hurt by their own power. Some Pyromancers burned themselves with their power. Some Teleporters messed up and teleported things or themselves to places that could not fit them.
However, a Level 5 was different. Their own power, produced by them, couldn't hurt them. It could affect them, but not hurt them in the normal sense.
The stronger the delusion, the stronger the Esper. They dominated reality itself with their own vision. Bending the laws to allow their power to work.
Mikoto could not be shocked by electrical currents?
Of course not, the strongest Electromaster could not be shocked. In fiction, the most powerful electrical users were never affected by their powers or were even immune to people who used the same powers. It was the same here. Mikoto's cells intrinsically believed that she was slated to become the strongest electrical user to ever exist.
If she wasn't the strongest already.
It didn't matter if it was a million volts. Billion volts. Trillion volts. Quadrillion volts. Because her cells, because of the reality imposed by her, believed such things, her body was immune to lightning.
Therefore.
Mikoto was completely immune.
The electrical currents produced heat. Lightning itself was a plasma that was hotter than the surface of the sun?
Her own Personal Reality arrived at the conclusion that Mikoto must be immune to heat.
Therefore.
Mikoto was completely immune.
This was how a Level 5 operated. This was how they differed from Level 4s. A level 5 could never be hurt by their own powers unless they allowed it to.
Complete monsters.
X❖X
Russia was a large country indeed.
Its landmass had no equal other than Elizalina if you counted all of the countries under the alliance.
Russia's population was also big. Having 150 million inhabitants.
However it wasn't as big as it could be, the reason being a high death rate and a low birth rate compared to countries elsewhere. It also had a massive problem in attracting immigrants, and conversely, there was a brain drain problem.
A brain drain is where there is migration towards other countries gets accelerated as people with highly-educated backgrounds and skilled professionals, or even children with that potential emigrate out of your country seek better job opportunities a better social security net, and a better future in other countries.
Russia has had that problem ever since the Soviet Union.
Their population mostly emigrated towards the European Union and its rich western countries of Europe.
However recently there has been a net loss of children because of the presence of Academy City.
And with Academy City condemning the energy sectors of Russia. Building their Institute and encroaching upon the sovereignty of Russia.
As well as aggression and tensions between Russia, Elizalina, and China.
While the world police with the biggest military might in the world, the U.S watched with scathing eyes over the tension.
There was no way to know what lied in the future of Russia.
And now an event orchestrated by the Russian Church would drive the problem even worse for them. A demonstration of the powers of an Esper. One who lived in the normal world would liken an Esper to a mage.
Using powerful spells to do all these things. Misaka Mikoto generated and manipulated lightning itself. She had that power ever since she arrived in Academy City and she had reached Level 5 when she was but 11-years-old. By the time she was 13, she had been the third most powerful Esper that existed currently.
And now that her mindset about her powers has been stabilized, her growth was exponentially accelerated and there was no clue of where that power would go next. A person who had godlike control over electromagnetism could generate and control 95% of the entire universe.
That was the kind of person she was.
Real-life was not an action manga where powers are built up and fights are even where both opponents can get their licks in.
No, the world did not work like that.
In a world of cold facts and systematic rules. More often than not, fights were quick and with brutal consequences.
A person cannot receive a powerful electrical current in their body and expect to get up after that.
Muscles seize, organs get burned and the blood boils inside.
That's the consequence of fighting someone like Misaka Mikoto.
There was no semblance of fantasy.
Only brutality of real-life.
That's the kind of Personal Reality based on science that the Esper created. Therefore they were extremely different from what fantasy books display about magic systems.
The children of Russia, who lived in the cities and had wealthy parents, were playing on their tablets. Operating such a marvel of technology gave them access to streaming sites.
Their young minds clicked on the videos being recommended to them.
And the ones circulating were live events.
Events of the highly anticipated Russian Demonstration in Moscow.
All news outlets were there in the Stadium. To televise a show that was as highly watched as the Olympics. News outlets from around the world, with their foreign correspondents, were there. From the Americas to Eurasia to Africa.
This event was truly international news.
Young people used the internet. Old people used televisions.
In the countryside, people used radio so they wouldn't be able to truly witness Mikoto's power.
But that was fine.
Academy City itself did not want to attract low-income parents. If they wanted poor children, they got it through the Child Error program. It was harsh and pervasive with its evil, but this was reality. Children of rich people could go live in a paradisiacal city. It was true about Mikoto who had a famous and rich papa. It was true about Touma who also had a rich father.
There was a reason Academy City, despite its size and infrastructure only boasted of about 4.9 million people in its population. Despite Tokyo itself having more than 40 million people living there.
Academy City was extremely selective when it came to choosing children.
And while the city accepted orphans of all kinds as Child Errors. Those children had a short life-span. Some joined the normal Esper development, some went missing, most of them participated in unethical experiments for the sake of progress and died off.
Academy City had its cemeteries. Some were skyscrapers, some were underground buildings with many floors.
And they were filled to the brim with the names and ashes of forgotten Child Errors.
As of right now, Russia itself was glued to whatever screen they could find.
And that was partially due to Academy City's internal efforts of misinformation, astroturfing, and building up a narrative over the internet. That Academy City was the best place for your child and your money.
Some billionaires who lived in Moscow were also watching with interested eyes. Some had already invested in Academy City and its returns on investment were miraculous. Some were thinking of creating their own business inside of Academy City. However, most were definitely cynical about the so-called Esper development.
A couple who were window shopping in Russian's biggest malls were discussing such things.
"Academy City might be a great place to visit."
"Pity, they don't actually accept normal tourists there. Only business visits."
"Huh, But I heard they have some festival or whatever that lets outsiders visit, right?"
"Oh that, I only heard they let the parents in for free. I heard it cost a lot of money to tour the festival for people without children there."
They were discussing the Daihasei Festival that was soon arriving. They watched the television all around showing the Moscow Stadium in all its glory. The last time it was used was during the World Cup. It was a big investment that hasn't yielded positive results. To the couple, it was just a waste of Government money as usual. The Prime Minister had opposed such a project, but it was carried through regardless.
Sometimes the population felt that only the Prime Minister was in their corner and wished for the best of Russia. However, he was just a member of the Cabinet and could only nod to those above him, such as the President and the Russian Orthodoxy.
Many of the younger population liked the Prime Minister and wanted him to run for President in the future. Prime Minister Afon P. Sorokin was a well-liked and bright young man. That the young felt he could lead Russia towards a better economic and social future.
However, he did not have the approval of the State Duma nor the Russian Orthodoxy.
And there was a contentious tension building up that would make the poor young man crumble. The younger population that supported him felt indignant because of it.
Why did such a bright young man have to suffer the brunt of the corrupt high society of Russia when he did his job so well and only wanted the best for Russia?
At least the Federation Council, the Upper House, was indifferent or even supported him from behind the scenes.
However, Sashura V. Makarova.
The Chairwoman of the Upper House. Sashura was completely indifferent towards the Executive branch's plight.
Sashura was a complete moderate centrist who bridged the gap between them all. She was the one who decided to pass legislation in the country. Sashura was a woman who styled herself as the rival of Olay Blueshake. The so-called Media Queen who completely controlled the U.S political system.
Sashura was responsible for even Vetoing the President of Russia and a lot of times canceling the President's Veto. Because she had complete overwhelming support in the Upper House. The Federation Council.
Any piece of legislation was controlled by Sashura herself with no single opponent to face her.
Instead of the President.
It was the Patriarch, the Chairwoman, and the Defense Minister who were the most powerful people in Russia when talking about politics.
One was a child who had progressive views. The other was a 50-year old who hasn't aged one day since 20-years-old and was a centrist. The last one was a ghoul in human skin and a legendary drunkard who had a conservative extremist view.
This did not give many people hope for the future. Especially when the most powerful political person was a boy of ten-years-old and walked in the great shadow of the previous Patriarch. A child with feet too small to fit in the shoes of the old one.
There were many different opinions worldwide going into this demonstration. News outlets casting doubts on Mikoto's supposed power. College students and teachers criticizing the impossibility of Espers controlling electricity. Experts ranting on both sides of the argument when it came to the Esper Development Program and its feasibility.
However, it could not be disputed that all eyes were looking forward to it. There was not a single person who was bored.
An Esper coming from the enigmatic Academy City, now that was something to behold.
And that's exactly what the misinformation A.I machine run by Academy City and its top brass wanted.
Mikoto-chan produced amazing results as always.
X❖X
Artyom arrived on top of the ceiling of Moscow's famous stadium.
He was with his partner there as his partner build a scope to help him track the Esper in the demo. The Russian agencies were doubtful of the powers of an Esper.
Artyom was a leader of a squad of 150 soldiers for this mission alone.
Tonight they were going to infiltrate the Monastery with the help of some priest and gun down the Esper.
He was a seasoned soldier that has been in assassination missions since after the Cold War. He was an expert in knives and rifles bar to none in skill. He had large log-like arms that were pretty muscular and could crack the neck of a normal person.
He gathered the parts of his rifle from the duffel bag and assembled it. Putting it in position to snipe at the stage. However, he wasn't about to put a bullet in the little girl yet. This was all so he could confidently say that he could assassinate her. This was all a test to see if she would notice the threat of a rifle pointed at her eyes. If she did not notice it then the plan would go ahead.
Reports from yesterday showed that she was pretty wide open in her guard when she was being escorted by Artyom's men in the Airport.
"We're ready here, comrade Timofey."
"Great, carry on the mission. Don't forget to put some traces of Elizalina's involvement in the shooting at the monastery. Hopefully, the little girl's death will cause a big enough diplomatic incident to incite a war. Do God's work, comrade Artyom."
Artyom closed the call with their unofficial leader. The Defense Minister. Most of the agencies and armed groups of the country were indebted to Timofey F. Stanislav. He had been there protecting Russia since the Soviet Union. His calls were always right and true enough, Elizalina and Academy City were great threats to the sovereignty of Russia itself.
The other government heads were just not aggressive enough to truly protect Russia.
So Artyom and the agencies had to get their hands dirty to make things truly better.
Even causing a war if need be.
The situation was dire. And the woman called Elizalina, who named the Alliance of Nations after her, was a complete and utter demon of a person. Elizalina was the most disastrous dictator of the 21st century and needed to be dealt with. Her control over the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea was disastrous for Russia. She invaded and controlled Turkey back in the 2000s who was historically an enemy of Elizalina. And now she was encroaching on Bulgaria and the E.U let her be because she had an alliance with the U.S and Israel.
And now there were hidden plans to assault both Iran and Afghanistan to hold some semblance of control over the Persian Gulf. Elizalina was about to make enemies with most of the destabilized region of the Middle East just for her own greed. She also had plans of attacking Ukraine and then Belarus.
That woman was literally insane.
That terrible woman needed to be stopped. However, assassination attempts always failed. The Russians needed to bring a war to their doorstep and hope that Turkey rebels against her dictatorship.
Iran, Syria Afghanistan as well as China, and Pakistan need to follow suit in attacking from the south while Russia attacks from the north. Only then that miserable dictator would get her just desserts.
X❖X
Erica arrived at the Stadium.
The lines were long, but thankfully she brought her trusty umbrella to ward off the sun. The Russian summer was running a bit on the hotter side this year especially. Hopefully, that signaled a cold and harsh winter ahead. Perfect conditions for someone like Erica.
"Ah, it wouldn't kill for winter to arrive faster would it?"
She had blue hair and was a slender woman. She was in the range of thirty-five-years old. She had a white sleeveless coat and a small beige shirt and black skirt that showed off her legs.
She carried five popsicles that she had just bought on the stands outside. She arrived on her seat still twirling her umbrella. Her partner arrived after her. A kid of about 16-years-old with brown hair and green eyes. He was her apprentice of sorts.
She pulled out a plastic ring and blew soap bubbles in it as they flew. She saw some families down from where she was sitting, all had brats with phones and tablets, all glued on the so-called social medias of today.
"So many kids using their tablets or whatever now. Back in my days, it was soap bubbles, dolls, and kites flying in my backyard."
Her partner next to her pulled out a device, a so-called portable console, and started playing those useless games.
"Hey, not you too!"
She tried to grab the kid's console but he expertly flipped it between his hands.
"Stop causing a scene, Erica." Her disciple replied.
"But it's those devil devices that burn the brains of the younger generation. We already have damn televisions in the monastery. And ever since that child took the helm, he actually installed a room full of those nasty computers there. There are even Wi-Fi waves burning our brains as we sleep in there!"
Erica replied with her usual hatred of technology while she started opening up the popsicles from their plastic wraps.
"While everyone dislikes the new Patriarch. Putting that computer room and putting Wi-Fi on the monastery was a great move in my opinion."
"Oh no, you've been corrupted! As I always say those things are tools that cause the devil's addiction!"
Erica continued to criticize technology and the internet. Then she saw her disciple losing in the JRPG fight.
"Hey brat, that's not how you do it, back in my day games were actually hard. Give me here!"
She grabbed the console and beat the boss with her incredibly crafted skills. Then as the victory screen appeared, she puffed her non-existent chest, a sign of failure for a mature woman such as her. She gave back the console where she perfectly played and beat a game that was somewhat considered tough for modern standards.
"Are you sure your technology hating shtick isn't just a cool fad you're following?"
"Guh." Erica took major damage from a 16-year-old brat.
"And you buy the new generation smartphone every year and just hide it in your nun clothes, don't you?"
"Gah-ha."
"I saw you texting your family and sending cat videos on religious service. A lot of your subordinates saw it."
"Goh-ho."
Erica by this point was dead in her seat, completely crushed by her subordinate's words. She was blowing her bubbles as she signaled defeat.
"…"
A few moments passed in silence as Erica opened three of the popsicles, while offering the other two popsicles to her younger subordinate. He took it as he continued playing on his console.
She looked at the three opened cold popsicles and bit all three of them, chewing and biting off more and more until they were completely eaten. She ate them this fast because she was feeling the heat of summer and she disliked it, she ate the popsicles so she could cool off her interior. Erica felt a pleasant breeze inside of her muscles. As a cold chilly air flew from her lips. She blew the soap bubbles again, but this time there were crystallized particles of water in them. She watched them float away with a serene but creepy smile. There were some teeth marks on the wooden stick.
"The new Patriarch is earnest and serious about progressive ideas of our Church."
Erica spoke to her younger colleague. It was something to be admired, truly. The Patriarch wanted to bring around change in his church's teachings and truly fight for better protection of the clergy body. It would stand to reason many of the younger generations would rally behind such a person.
Hell, Erica would readily do too despite her fad of following conspiracy theories on social media about how tech is bad, and Wi-Fi fries your brain.
An earnest and uncorrupt leader, the new Patriarch was.
It seemed that it was a dream come true.
However, it was nothing but a dream.
The reality and the state of things in the Russian Orthodox Church was a nightmare.
"How great would it be. If we truly got an earnest leader that fights for us."
Erica kept blowing her soap bubbles as her colleague listened, or maybe he didn't, and continued playing on his console.
"But we got evil instead. There is a monster among us in the church. And her name is Vasilisa. The leader of our great branch, Annihilatus!"
Erica smirked in self-mocking and sadness.
Vasilisa was a monster within their halls. She was a plague that had arrived recently, and after that everything bad started happening to their great Church.
Vasilisa today was just 18-years-old.
Her history was that she was an orphan of two Ukrainian parents who abandoned her when she was about seven years old. Vasilisa had been living in the streets of Moscow. She arrived at the Church one day, looking for shelter. Of course, a priest and a nun helped her. And her charisma carried her to earn an apprentice position. Vasilisa took the teachings and rose within their ranks.
When she was eleven, she was recognized by the old Patriarch and went on to learn magic under his direct tutelage or so the story went.
That was the first warning flag…
How does an eleven-year-old girl get direct tutelage from the highest position within the Church so easily and quickly?
When so many other immensely talented children went through their halls and a girl like that was picked with no actual reason?
The other red-flag came a year later when Vasilisa was suddenly appointed as the head of Annihilatus.
At twelve-years-old by the Patriarch, without a reason once again.
After that, the old Patriarch fell ill and had retreated to his chambers and was being treated by the nuns, day in and out.
The Russian Orthodox Church's Patriarch was a cunning and sly old man. An old man who built his political power on simple diplomacy and grass-roots movements.
There were dirty transactions, there were killings, but the Old Patriarch was always intelligent and garnered support from both inside of the Church as well as the Russian population.
He was essential in transitioning from the Soviet Union to the government they had today.
He was the single reason that the Russian economy had grown in the 2000s.
He used the power of Annihilatus to good use, by eliminating outside elements. And using their powers as magicians to good use for the Russian population.
The old Patriarch was admired by all for his political expertise, charismatic diplomacy, and use of force when strictly necessary.
He never used Annihilatus to end Russian lives.
Annihilatus under Vasilisa was a completely different thing after that appointment.
A girl of about twelve ordering to kill kill kill, destroy destroy destroy.
"You were supposed to be the leader of Annihilatus, Erica." Her subordinate replied. He was too young when it happened, but even he knew that the state of things was all wrong.
"…I know."
Erica said it with a sad sigh.
She was an accomplished magician that was supremely talented and had been serving under Annihilatus in the 2000s. She held so many different accolades and achievements and was recognized in her organization as well as the highest Bishops as a fierce and kind warrior who was loyal to the teachings of the Church.
And yet, strangely, Erica was passed by to a psychotic girl of about twelve, who had studied magic for about a year and never did a single mission for Annihilatus as a member.
Annihilatus became a murder-squad under Vasilisa.
Erica was fine if it meant that their dirty work could help Russia and the Church. Even if it meant killing Russian lives, something Erica hadn't done before.
Erica was fine if the people they were slaughtering with their magic were truly evil and irredeemable.
But that wasn't the case.
Vasilisa ordered them to kill any Russian she had a slight problem with. Vasilisa ordered Russian lives to be slaughtered for little to no reason. Erica and her precious comrades had no choice but to follow. Erica truly thought that was the first time the old Patriarch ever made a mistake. Vasilisa not only killed normal Russians but also defectors of the Church with extreme prejudice. This was not how the Church was supposed to operate, the Church was supposed to be an organization of hard-hitting diplomacy. Intelligent compromises. And slow-buildup of support from simple everyday folk. As well as insidious political maneuvering. And in rare cases, dirty dealings and executions.
However, under Vasilisa, it was all scorched-earth strategy.
There was no sign of the intelligent and politically powerful Church anymore.
A couple of years ago the Patriarch passed, but before he could, he put his own son, Krans R. Tsarskiy to the seat of the new Patriarch. That was the second mistake the old Patriarch ever committed. Ignoring due process and electing a child of about 8-years-old to the seat.
Patriarch Krans R. Tsarskiy was sincere and progressive and that was wonderful. It was a different strategy from the previous snake-like administration. Perhaps it could have led to another wonderful future for the Church.
However, the brightest lights caused the biggest shadows.
That woman. Vasilisa, that vile woman was there from the very beginning by the child's side. With a demented smirk as she looked at the Church.
In the end, a child was a child.
And the Patriarch chose the vile woman as his mentor. Perhaps there wasn't even a choice, perhaps Vasilisa just inserted herself as the only choice, as always.
No matter how bright and no matter how good the future would seem.
Reality did not play out that way.
Vasilisa continued her endless destruction of Russian lives right under the new Patriarch's nose.
"So many of my comrades left as the years passed."
Erica sighed. Many within Annihilatus looked at the blue-haired slender woman as the rightful leader of Annihilatus. Many of them urged her to take the step forward. To truly challenge Vasilisa's rule. But Erica was a fair and kind woman who couldn't do such things as to just betray the Church she had been born to.
Many of her more vocal comrades eventually gave up and deserted from the Church.
The number of defected magicians had grown to 68 members in an organization of about 5000 members. Many still looked at Erica, pleading for her to just take courage and face that vile woman, Vasilisa.
It was her fault that her comrades had fled. If only she had gritted her teeth and not have been a coward before. If only she stood for what was right and challenged the Old Patriarch's decision.
Then maybe Erica would not have so many regrets today.
The reality was that both Erica and her comrades had stained their hands with innocent Russian lives under Vasilisa. Some left because they could not bear their talents and their faith to be used in such a despicable manner.
However, with the help of Bishop Lazar K. Rostya, one of the most celebrated members of the Church, Erica would finally get her retribution. It might be too late now, but Erica still wanted to save the newer generation of the Russian Orthodoxy from going down a darker path.
It might have been a little late, but she now had the courage to face that monster at the helm of the Church. She would be committing the sin of killing a child tonight. Patriarch Krans R. Tsarskiy was a symptom of the problem, he was probably another victim of Vasilisa, and for that Erica was sorry.
Bishop Lazar K. Rostya was a progressive person who would help the younger generation of their faith, while also having the political expertise of the old Patriarch. Erica was putting her faith and the future of her beloved religion in his capable hands. Bishop Lazar even offered to handle Vasilisa tonight. He held a similar hatred towards Vasilisa as Erica did.
Their views were aligned.
Bishop Lazar even promised to Erica and her close confidants that Annihilatus would not be used to end Russian lives any further.
Erica would deal with the Esper and the Patriarch with the help of some soldiers coming from the agencies...
"I still don't like the idea of inviting soldiers into our monastery, especially with that old ghoul at the helm." Her younger subordinate complained.
"I completely understand. However this is all a political masterpiece by Bishop Lazar. We'll let the operatives get their licks in then we'll strike and kill both the soldiers and the little Esper. This will be the last day Annihilatus kills Russians, so we need to do a clean sweep. Timofey F. Stanislav is a cancerous plague upon our nation. He will be the last Russian we'll ever kill."
Timofey F. Stanislav ordered to kill even more Russians than Vasilisa did, this alliance was just on the surface. Bishop Lazar intended to deal with both problems at the same time.
Tonight they would be fixing the major problems within their Church and return to normalcy and decency. And if they had to get their hands dirty, they would. They had already been disgraced as Vasilisa's personal death squad. Many of her comrades had already defected. Erica was tired of all of this.
So tonight. Erica and twenty of her closest confidants would kill the Patriarch and the Esper. Then go on to kill the Minster of Defense.
"Here. For you Erica."
Her coworker was eating one of the popsicles she had given him. He returned the other. Erica opened it and bit on it like a woman possessed, using her teeth to crush the sweet popsicle, not even caring about brain freezes.
"You're a cute brat sometimes, you know that?" Erica said.
Erica ate the popsicle with some embarrassment as she twirled her umbrella to shield her from the intense summer heat.
"As for the Esper. Academy City is a monster that has been allowed to thrive in our world. It needs to be destroyed. Both it, and its symbol, the Esper population. They are a blasphemy that blights the world."
Magicians like Erica drew their power from faith itself. They saw their powers as being justified by a higher power than them. Because they followed their faith, their power was granted as a blessing. That's how magicians like Erica saw how the world worked. Academy City which mass-produced Espers through the use of blasphemous methods that did not align with God were evil in her eyes.
Erica saw the little sniper on top of the Stadium and scoffed. What are they even doing? She completely held the soldiers of Russia in contempt for being willingly complicit to Timofey F. Stanislav. At least Annihilatus was unwilling to follow Vasilisa when it came to morality.
That was the difference between the two groups.
They were here today in Moscow Stadium to get a grasp on what an Esper could do. They were told that the little girl who was in the monastery yesterday was one of the most powerful Espers that the city had to offer.
Erica needed to see it for herself.
What kind of a threat an Esper posed.
What kind of a threat Academy City itself posed.
Erica blew the soap bubbles in the air around Moscow Stadium, with a content look.
"Let's see what the little girl is capable of, shall we?"
X❖X
Beyond the crevices — IV
X❖X
Prime Minister Afon P. Sorokin took his seat in the best place in the Stadium, a private room full of security for him.
He would be watching what was going to happen today in the demonstration. He was a bright young man who worked hard for the new generation of Russians, always focusing on areas to improve on the economy and areas to improve on safety and infrastructure development.
He was the rare incorruptible politician.
The best man for the job of administrating the cabinet.
But there were some contentions elements in his cabinet. Mainly the Minister of Defense, Timofey F. Stanislav. A lauded man that has protected the Russians during the Soviet rule and has done nothing but the best for the armed forces of Russia. Timofey F. Stanislav worked well, however, there were some bad allegations of an abusive home back in the 1990s against him. Not to mention his hardline Warhawk attitude.
Russia right now was not prepared to go to war with the Elizalina Alliance of Independent Nations in central Asia.
Both the U.S and the E.U would side with Elizalina since that woman had great ties with those economic blocks.
Not to mention they also had nuclear development under the wraps, ready to be aimed at both China and Russia if anything goes out of rails. Prime Minister Afon P. Sorokin would prefer a more diplomatic approach to handling the whole Elizalina issue encroaching on Ukraine and Belarus after that woman dominated and took control of Turkey.
Prime Minister Afon P. Sorokin ruffed in his seat. The President was not here. That snake-like man was probably watching the show from his desk. The President had an unnatural hatred of Academy City since the City-state pulled the wool out of Russia after the war and had effectively won the technology race, no matter how the U.S tried to spin it.
Russia right now was a corpse of a superpower. Resting on its laurels, not knowing that rot was settling in its shine.
Eventually, the market in this country would crash. Since Russia was so dependent on oil production and exportation to other countries it was also susceptible to its own hubris.
Elizalina eclipsed Russia's oil production twicefold and it wasn't even the main moneymaker there. While Academy City pressured the world to move to more efficient methods of energy production.
Russia was deadlocked into a bad situation for sure. And the President secretly blamed Academy City for it.
Prime Minister Afon P. Sorokin remembered that in the President's previous terms, the President had allowed Academy City to mount its own Institute in Eastern Russia in the hopes of Academy City's technology slowly trickling down to Russian society.
That gamble hadn't paid off.
The Institute formed its own Government and guarded its technology harder than a dragon did. It was Academy City 2.0 right on Russian lands, with Russian citizens and Russian board members filling the city, and yet they had essentially betrayed Russia itself and closed its doors without letting any technological advancement through to help Moscow.
Prime Minister Afon P. Sorokin had to wonder what happened in the technological walls of the Russian Institute, the greatest Shopping Mall of the World.
That was the main reason the President hated Academy City with all his gut. His gamble failed.
Other members of the High Government were not here. The Minister of Defense Timofey F. Stanislav was grumpily staying in his home. Not even wanting to see the 'blasphemous' Esper.
The Chairman of State Duma, the lower house was also here in Moscow. Probably watching the news from a distance.
However the Chairwoman of the Federation Council, the upper house had left Moscow yesterday and went to rest on her palace in St. Petersburg. That woman had completely washed her hands off this whole demonstration business and wanted nothing to do with it. She was a contentious member that did not like the Church's influence in politics and she blamed this whole demonstration on them.
Prime Minister Afon P. Sorokin had to agree with her. Russia was moving to a more secular society. And while he was a follower of the Church's teachings. In no way did he let his faith dominate his decisions for Russia and its population.
But unfortunately, he was powerless.
Russia right now was a car going off a cliff in slow motion. And he had no way of stopping it. The Geopolitics of Asia and the Middle East were reaching a boiling point.
It was all centered around the Elizalina Alliance of Independent Nations as always.
China hated the alliance.
Russia hated the alliance.
The Middle East hated the alliance.
North Korea hated Russia, the alliance, Japan, Academy City, and South Korea.
The E.U was secretly in love with the alliance.
The Commonwealth had ties with the alliance.
The U.S openly loved the alliance.
Israel openly supported the alliance.
Academy City had deep economic ties with the alliance.
India hated China.
The U.S hated China and Russia.
Pakistan and Bangladesh hated everyone in the region.
The Middle East hated the E.U and the alliance.
The E.U hated the Middle East.
So much tension all concentrated in Asia. It was a melting pot of lava ready to burst open.
If the Elizalina Alliance of Independent Nations were removed from the equation, everything would simmer down eventually but the ways things were going there would be an all-out war in the next few years. Prime Minister Afon P. Sorokin had no way of predicting when the first shot would be made.
And he had little support to do what was right, currently. What he needed was to amass power and support from the people.
But it was too late to stop anything right now.
If only he had been born a decade earlier, right now he was too young and inexperienced to truly do what was right. Members of the Government were happy to stew in their own corruption and desire, while others incited even more tension, believing in the might of the weapons built in the Soviet era.
When everything blew over, he knew the overall loser would be Russia in the end.
Prime Minister Afon P. Sorokin hoped that he could pick up the shards of the car crash that was Russia and truly lead this country of the future.
If only he had been born a decade earlier.
Prime Minister Afon P. Sorokin was a little too earnest and too hardworking sometimes.
But that's why he was so well-liked.
X❖X
Artyom saw the Esper take center stage, she was wearing the same dress as yesterday.
And then, her presence washed over the entire stadium.
Something was different.
Something had to be different.
Artyom did not know what the shift in the mood signified, there was no evil or good intent in the air, it was just pure intent. As if her whole body was calling the people gathered here to pay attention.
She used the microphone and gave an energetic speech. She displayed her spirited personality very well and coupled with her young outlook and well-meaning words made a very well-done speech. However just as she drew in the younger generation.
Mikoto spouted divisive rhetoric with a smirk, praising Academy City to high-heavens and essentially insulting the Russian Government, its economy, and its future as a society. Saying that Academy City could solve the problems that the younger generation currently faced.
All beneath pretty words and politeness.
Artyom was surprised.
The girl was a natural-born populist.
Most of the older generation would look at her and snort with derision, but her words were carried through. It was not a lukewarm speech at all, it was very divisive and controversial. However, it definitely stuck within the minds of the older generation. Artyom did not even deign to look at the younger generation. They were already raving about her brash personality and energetic words on social media.
Divisiveness, populism, and beauty.
The girl was certainly polarizing, and that was why she was dangerous.
Artyom aimed his sniper and was surprised. The girl was so… so unguarded, there was not a hint of tension.
One of the most powerful Espers was this susceptible to assassination?
Then…
Then the demonstration happened.
X❖X
An Esper, something so foreign and out of place. Most Russians did not know what to think about when it came to it. Academy City has certainly been in people's minds since its inception, it was in the history books, there were some mentions about it in classes and there were exchange programs created for the richer households. On the internet, you could find articles and videos explaining it and theorizing about it.
However, when it came down to it, Academy City did not feel like a real place for a lot of people.
Especially when it touted something so foreign as actual supernatural powers developed by science.
How could you believe that someone in the real world had superhero powers?
That single line made people thrown themselves for a loop.
And most Russians were no different now that someone claiming to be an Esper arrived on their borders, speaking fluent Russian. First of all, she was still a child in a lot of people's eyes, a 14-year-old girl who appeared to be experienced in showbiz by the way she conducted herself in the interview last night. Second of all, the whole Academy City business might be a brainwashing scheme for children to believe they had supernatural powers that humans did not have, that was a prevalent theory and has been passed down through social media, forums, and messaging apps. Echo chambers touting misinformation was born, passing down a complex web by groups interested in meddling with the public's perception.
Was Misaka Mikoto just a brainwashed child thinking she had incredible power?
Or…
Did Misaka Mikoto have powers only seen in comic books and films that defied logic and created a horror-scenario in real life?
If a teenage girl really has fantastical powers like that, then for the average person that made their anxieties soar to new heights.
What does a superpower in real life entail?
How does that affect the mental state of people who would witness it for the first time?
What does a superpower in real life really entail?
X❖X
Sparks of bluish-white spread out all over the stage, the light enhanced her skin and she looked like something out o this world. The lightning danced in her palm it danced in her arms circling around like a snake. Then it sparked and formed patterns behind her back.
Fairy wings made out of lightning itself that was crackling loudly.
Then she walked slowly and up.
Circular pillars were made to be steps, those pillars were made of lightning coming from the earth.
She climbed until she was up forty meters off the ground and she looked around at the crowd with incomprehensible looks, with their jaws on the floor, with commentators with their mouths shut.
The wings of lighting kept changing their pattern, turning into artistic things that came off her back, as though the wings were just a prop to be changed. Then she started floating off those pillars of lightning. Then a show in the air started.
She danced over the stands and over the people watching her as if she were a fairly that controlled lightning. Her show was gripping and frightening to normal people. Dark clouds gathered as strong lighting danced through the clouds as she soared higher and higher. Then she grasped the clouds and literally pulled the cloud towards the earth.
A human grabbed the heavens and dragged it down to their level.
How symbolic.
Then the cloud concentrated and was vacuumed into the girl's hands as she dropped to the stage again.
An intense smell of rain washed over the audience as they riveted on what was about to happen.
Four little whirlpools leaked out from the cloud she grasped.
Then each of them formed a mini tornado of lighting, pure dark storm that was shooting and coalescing inside of an invisible barrier that reached until the stratosphere, going up and up the lighting went.
Four little mini-tornadoes, not of wind but of stormy clouds, ozone, and lightning itself.
Then she made another dance in the air as the four tornadoes of lighting coalesced all around her. All while holding a spherical ball in her hands, that was the concentrated cloud that she had grabbed. From her hands, sparks of storms started raining down on the stage as each of them made dark jewels on the massive Moscow arena.
All of it was true, why?
Because every single person in the stands had their hair raised up, their bodies could feel the static swirling around the place. And as that fairy girl floated again, this time only ten meters up the air, in the center of the stadium, she did something that made everyone fear and respect her and what she represented.
She extended her hand forward, with her palms facing the heavens, then she pointed her index finger up.
Reality itself did not make any sense after that.
A pillar of twenty meters in diameter enveloped Mikoto, this time a large tornado of lightning was born, a tube of an invisible barrier did not let any current pass through so its only choice was to go up or down, however down wasn't an option because the invisible membrane was there. So the currents went up, in an invisible space elevator, that's how long the pillar formed was. The attraction of stormy dark lights was seen all throughout Moscow. Even looking outside of it, you would see a thin pillar of light. Even after the horizon, you could still see it because it was so overly long it went outside the planet itself.
And the girl, Misaka Mikoto was in the eye of the storm, people in the audience could still see the shadow of the girl inside. A normal person would have been nothing more than a melted piece of flesh, however, Mikoto was not even affected by it.
This was a demonstration of pure, unadulterated power.
The pillar of lighting was gone after five whole minutes, not because Misaka Mikoto had run out of power. No, she was not even winded. Misaka Mikoto knew that showing that for more than that would bore viewers.
But this was the end of her demonstration in Moscow Stadium. A full sixty-minute dance of power.
Her pretty sandals softly arrived on the green grass.
Then she looked up.
With narrowed eyes of intimidation.
Looking straight at the audience.
Her eyes were stone cold her features were more defined than a stone marble, her presence washed over all who were watching here and from the cameras and live streams.
She was staring directly into Russia itself.
"As I've said before, my name is Misaka Mikoto, an Esper hailing from Academy City. It is nice to meet you."
Mikoto said in fluent Russian without emotion, with her microphone still on hand. Her expression was like a stone marble with gritted teeth, no smiles or pleasantness were emanating from her anymore, only a look of pure passion.
The audience was shocked and catatonic.
The reporters were shocked and catatonic.
The translators of international networks were catatonic.
Everyone was.
It did not matter if you feared her, it did not matter if you hated her, it did not matter if you worshipped her. All eyes were on her, Misaka Mikoto knew exactly how to grab an audience by their emotions.
And now she had the attention of the whole wide world.
81,000 seats filled to the brim with people falling over themselves to see her fail on the big stage, after all, people paid big money to see someone getting humiliated.
643+ million concurrent viewers scattered through normal T.V and internet throughout the world.
From T.V networks who had nothing else to do and were showing the event with a translator for different languages and countries. Irritated workers on their phones getting notifications from their friends and family. Messaging apps with groups of over a hundred people sharing the links to the live streams. Amateur commentators who styled themselves more knowledgeable than experts, criticizing her and what she represented. Professors and students alike seeing what humanity has culminated to. Children who were envious of her power and wanted in. Parents who looked at her and started comparing her to their children and finding them wanting.
After all, who doesn't want a superpower to call their own?
Just come to Academy City and go through the Power Development Program, its easy, right?
Of course, Academy City only accepted children of the ages of 0-9, anyone older than that was rejected to be a student there. No matter how much attention she gave to Academy City, it would only choose a select few children to come there. Rich parents, under the age of 9, good to great education, and many more criteria.
Academy City was extremely selective, but that was fine.
The city did not need to have millions and millions of citizens coming in, in droves. It was a City-state that contained over 4.9 million citizens. If only one percent of the next generation would be stolen from Russia over the next decade then it was more than enough. Academy City was not the size of a country, it did not need over 140 million citizens as Russia and Elizalina did.
Academy City needed exceptionally talented children that had malleable brains for a higher level of education, the earlier the better for them.
Academy City needed children that were Guinea pigs for its Esper development program. Academy City needed children that were young enough that a sense of nationalism would be born. Academy City needed highly intelligent children who would eventually be added to the roster of incredible researchers as they grew up.
And that was achieved by Mikoto.
Academy City needed money, the city drew many foreign investors and built up a financial system that trapped them unknowingly to the City. With a highly developed field of automation, being a complete tax heaven and having a highly consumeristic social capitalist society made it a wonderful playground for billionaires and enterprises to establish their roots there. Most tech companies in the world had their roots built-in that single city. The U.S had created the internet itself, but the center of it was inside Academy City. Every top 100 sites that were most visited in the world had their main servers there. It made perfect sense from a technical standpoint when your storage technology is one hundred times faster, one million times bigger and more stable, and cheaper than anywhere else with their quantum state drives.
Where else would you go if you maximized profits and wanted a leg-up to competitors?
Therefore Academy City was the center of Big Data. Therefore Academy City was the highest spreader of misinformation in the world. Therefore Academy City knew the world's happenings through the lenses of their corporations. And by drawing the big money to Academy City, it could also invest in more research, in more development, and in more advances and progress that it kept hidden from other countries.
But Academy City could not attract this without a sweet honey scent to attract them all there, to its jaws.
The beautifully sweet honey that addicted the world. Its name was Misaka Mikoto, now the #2 Level 5 Esper, her moniker was the Railgun.
The most studied Level 5, the most well-known Level 5.
The racing car on display for the world to salivate over. The kid with a shiny toy called Esper powers that young children envied and wanted.
Mikoto was a mannequin on a window with beautiful jewelry, promising a better world. A world where men and women could grasp the heavens.
A world with unfathomable light.
And untamable darkness.
Academy City.
Mikoto-chan did her job so well…
Didn't she?
X❖X
Artyom carefully disassembled his sniper rifle, while the other guy in watching kept his terrified body locked in place. Artyom squatted on the ground as he filed the duffel bag.
Artyom picked up his communicator and conveyed his message through all channels that were there.
"Comrade Timofey was right. Academy City is a major threat that should not be allowed to exist. The reports say that this girl is the third strongest Esper in that godforsaken city. I shudder to think there are people above that. For the sake of Russia's future as a superpower and as a nation with presence in the Geopolitical stage, Academy City needs to be destroyed."
Timofey F. Stanislav must have been also hearing his monologue through the channels. Artyom continued his monologue.
"We have observed the demonstration and have concluded that the Esper, Misaka Mikoto is a much more dangerous target than previously forecasted by our experts. In conclusion, the only way we'll be able to deal with her is through a surprise attack and assassination."
Artyom was a professional old man that has been in conflict for the better part of his life, a devout follower of the Stoicism philosophy.
"I suggest a two-pronged trap. If the surprise firing squad in the inner sanctum does not work, then the other larger group will fire her down from where the escape route is. We do this fast and quick with no time for any reaction on her part."
An Esper was an existence with incomprehensible power, that show demonstrated that.
A human grabbing a cloud?
A pillar of lightning that reached the stratosphere?
All of that was incomprehensible and ridiculous, but it did happen.
He felt the loudness of thunder it in his bones still. His hair was standing up until now. Static electricity was permeating his very skin. None of it was fake, the existence of an Esper was confirmed without any time for his mind to deny what he'd seen, heard and felt.
However Misaka Mikoto was still a human and would die like a human, with a bullet to the back.
Artyom was a complete professional, he never let his emotions drive his body. He was always stoic, calm and collected. Able to do his missions, no matter the sacrifices to him or his group.
Artyom put every single piece of equipment in his duffel bag slowly. Then he breathed out, and grabbed the zipper of the bag with his index and thumb, he pulled the zipper up but it was caught on the beginning portion, making a loud noise.
"…Huh?"
Artyom tried closing it again, but it only went halfway.
Why couldn't he close a single zipper?
"…ah…"
Artyom's hands were trembling.
How many years has it been since he felt so much fear?
Nevertheless, he would carry it out. Because that was the hallmark of a great professional in his field of black ops operation. He was the leader; he was the commander.
He could not get cold feet now.
X❖X
"Academy City is more of a threat than I realized. Bishop Lazar was right about that heretical place all along." Erica said.
Erica sighed as she splayed her body on the bench outside of the stadium, there was a big festival happening here after the demonstration.
Her body was just tired.
Her bones were still rattling due to the thunderous lightning that was gratuitously displayed in that demonstration.
"Are you really going to face that monster head-on?"
Her subordinate expressed with his selective showing of emotion. He was just a 16-year-old cheeky brat that was too high-strung sometimes.
"To safeguard a future where the Russian Orthodoxy, my family, survives and thrives without fear. We must get rid of Vasilisa at all cost."
Bishop Lazar had identified Vasilisa as the bigger threat, he was going to deal with her tonight alone. While Erica and her group would ambush the Esper and the Patriarch.
However now everything was muddled, perhaps they had been underestimating what Academy City had wrought into the world.
The girl Misaka Mikoto had displayed a lot of power, however now she must have tired herself, she probably wouldn't be able to display such strength in tonight's sudden ambush. Erica wasn't hopeful about the little soldiers of the state coming to gun both of them down, but they would be great fodder to distract the little bylat.
"We need to put more runes." Her little subordinate complained. "Do you really really have to fight, Erica?"
Erica blew more bubbles with her blue bangs covering her eyes. Her next words decided her actions.
"The opponent has graciously displayed her cards on the first move, even if she doesn't know it. What else is there to do but fight?"
If Erica did not face Vasilisa and the evil of the Russian Orthodoxy tonight, she would get cold feet before long. Erica refused to be subservient to a madwoman.
No more.
Erica finally got her strength to stand up to that vile woman with the help of Bishop Lazar.
If Erica ran away now, she would be shaming all of her current loyal subordinates and she wouldn't be able to face those that believed her for so long only to desert their affiliation to the Church due to not wanting to be used as murder tools for that vile woman anymore.
Erica was the rightful leader of Annihilatus, not Vasilisa.
No matter how others saw her actions, Erica was working to safeguard the young new generation of her beloved Church that has given place and meaning to her. Her enemies were a heretical beast coming from a heretical place and she was called Misaka Mikoto, as well as a murderous vile sludge who wore the skin of a pure and innocent nun who had doomed the future of the church with her sins and she was called Vasilisa.
Patriarch Krans R. Tsarskiy was an unfortunate victim caught in a bad place, but Erica had resolved herself.
It was time to change the doomed course of the Russian Orthodox Church.
No matter the cost.
Erica blew more soap bubbles.
Her bubbles contained ice crystals inside.
"Don't make that face, little brat. I'll be fine."
"That's a big death flag, Erica." He sighed with sad eyes as he continued playing on his portable console.
Erica gave him a smile. She did not know who that smile reassured.
"We'll win this, I believe in our bonds! With the power of friendship, we'll live to smile another day!"
Erica enthusiastically spelled out protagonist-lines that she studied, preparing for this day.
"Now that's more like it, Erica. Maybe now you'll have plot armor or something."
He smiled at her this time. He was such a cheeky brat.
She smiled again; her eyes were somewhat wet.
Erica was so scared.
But she had to do it. If not now, then when?
Erica was a coward that ran away from her problems for over six years now.
Erica did not want to be a coward anymore; she was tired of her comrades and dear friends leaving her.
Her trembling fingers raised her plastic ring with soap in it.
However, her trembling lips could only blow uneven bubbles.
X❖X
Review Corner
X❖X
GlassyHades
Thank you man, I hope you continue reading it. I really like your perspectives.
Aminadab Brulle
As for Kuroko, she's too much into Lawful Good territory for her to let Mikoto go free if she ever finds out. Yes, she might understand why she did it(for her sisters) but still Kuroko would want to send Mikoto to prison even if she could sympathize. The break-up will be because of many unfortunate situations and Kuroko's own insecurities.
I literally researched the Founder, and I was like: Huh... He's considered to be a Saint in real life and in-universe Saints are super powerful from birth. And then he had Saints as children as well. And his 'granddaughter'(allegedly) was also a Saint and the Queen of Scotland and has royal British blood. And I was like… Holy shit I can add this to my story!
As for this: standards of eastern middle (press) and upper (Leery Six) echelons. Can you explain what you mean, I tried researching these terms on google and it came empty. Anyways this arc is structured with 3 setup chapters 1 intermission chapter and 2 climax chapters. (Right now we have completed the setup chapters, next is an intermission with tragedy and lots of suffering galore and then the climax with betrayals and gore and more.)
The ants, so you noticed. Hehehe… Remember that Mikoto ate an orange in the plane? Hehehe… I can't wait.
And while Mikoto did not notice the sniper she made them reconsider their life-choices with what she presented. It's a 'Oh-shit I have to fight that monster?' Kind of feeling instead of 'Oh-shit she noticed me.' This was all to show that even being herself she can still make enemies who are ready to sacrifice their lives reconsider. I really liked your Omake though.
CodeTalker69
Don't worry, these are still setup chapters so it's hard to get excited when there is no action. But the climax of this arc is going to be amazing with some big reveals. There is still an intermission to go through but that one is filled with tragedy and the first chapter of the story where I poke into the characters and start torturing them.
As for your questions:
— Yes, Ayu is still doing surveillance and keeping her distance. She's even more mad that Seria got to him first and let him become such a philanderer. But she's in the shadows and in a really bad place emotionally to even care.
—Without imagine breaker Touma would be as half as strong or even less as he is right now. Part of his strength comes from something that I won't reveal right now but it is only possible if he has the arm. So if he never had Imagine Breaker since birth, he would only be half. or even less, as strong as he is. There is a delicate balance of his power that I won't go into depth right now, you'll haver to wait until Daihasei Festival.
There are 5 factors influencing his strength. One of them is Imagine Breaker, the other is Invisible Thing. However they are not the main reason why he's so strong.
—She won't get a disability, it's impossible for this Mikoto to have a physical disability even if you shoot her in the head. But the consequences might be harsher. But Mikoto doesn't care, she would protect her sisters even if she was a lump of flesh. Last Order's arc will make Mikoto lose a lot of things. But she will gain something important from it.
— Mostly identical to canon, only Misaki will be more powerful. However she is still chaotic neutral, she only does things that benefit her friends and lovers.
—Mikoto probably will meet many more busty women but she will only have eyes for Misaki and Touma. She will be an enthusiastic dom when it comes to sexual things. Misaki was made to be bullied in my opinion.
Galgemesh
Yes, Sasha(Who is being controlled by Misha/Gabriel) will be an important factor and will have a lemon on Angel Fall arc. So Touma will be effectively banging an archangel. But that arc will be quite more horrifying than canon ever was. It will make this fic truly earn the horror tag.
Don't forget to leave your review on the latest chapter if you want questions answered or engagement with the author on the next chapter.
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Author's notes
X❖X
I really liked writing about Erica, she's a fun OC.
I hope you liked that the conflict building up isn't so cut and dry, there is a lot of grey here.
There are real motivations and strong opinions on how to make Russia better from a lot of different points of view, and that's what I wanted to convey. Everyone has an opinion on their ideal Russia and everyone has their way of going on about it.
Mikoto is an unfortunate outsider caught in their web of politics and she will get her hands really dirty. Vasilisa isn't so kind as she initially appeared, however she's still Mikoto's friend and she doesn't care what Vasilisa does to Russians, else Mikoto would be an irredeemable hypocrite.
Artyom's group of soldiers and Erica's group of magicians have their work cut out for them. But they will do their best against Mikoto, I hope you are rooting for them. Both leaders will have really interesting ways of fighting.
The last chapter of setup has been made.
What's left of this arc is an intermission where Kuroko, Ruiko and Kazari suffer a lot and is the first chapter where I really torture the characters mentally. With some great worldbuilding for the Child Errors as well as some side-effects of what's currently happening in Okinawa.
The consequences of that arc as its currently happening are very dire.
Then two climax chapters where the action happens and truths are revealed about the top brass of Russia.
After that will be Elizalina(Will be just one intermission chapter, but a bit important for WWIII and NT) And Shopping Mall(Many chapters with Lessar being an integral part).
Then the Russian saga will be over for now.
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