Did I say 2-3 weeks? My bad, I actually mean 4-6 weeks XD

Apologizes for not uploading sooners. My other class was a lot harder than expected, so I also had to focus on that. Still, with that out of the way, I can focus a lot more attention on this story.

Another thing that delayed the release was the writing and editing, you will soon see why.

ManuelCastellanos: Not exactly. No spoilers tho.

NSGCommando: Funny, you managed to hit one of the reasons for the delay. I will talk about it in the afternotes.

Anyways, hope all of you enjoy!

Disclaimer: The To Aru Series is owned by Kazuma Kamachi.

"Jealousy is the dragon in paradise; the hell of heaven; and the most bitter of the emotions because associated with the sweetest."

― Afred Richard Orange

"This is the right train! I can feel the master's handiwork present inside."

"That's not saying much. Any specific details?"

"No," Qliphah mumbled sheepishly.

Accelerator clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tch,"

As the low-flying clouds dissipated from the periphery, the esper and the artificial demon could make out the London-Manchester-Edinburgh train chugging monotonously along the UK countryside.

Intercepting the train was the easy part. Since martial law was still in place, it didn't take a lot of effort for the duo to pinpoint which specific train Hamazura Shiage was supposedly on.

Flying straight towards it at subsonic speeds, the two found the train halfway across its journey towards the connection stop – Manchester. Their first step was complete.

The next step was to break into the train. That was also not too difficult. In a move reminiscent of a common trope found in old unrealistic western cowboy movies, Accelerator planted his feet on the ground, did a quick calculation, and proceeded to jump straight through an open window into one of the cargo cars.

Qliphah soon followed up by simply phasing through one of the walls. "Was that really necessary?"

The artificial demon asked as she stuck her tongue out at Accelerator's somewhat dramatic entrance.

The esper simply rolled his eyes at Qliphah's childish behavior.

Despite the numerous first-class chairs and tables and the well-lit atmosphere in the carriage, the railcar was also completely empty. Luckily, this meant no one was present to see the two break in…or argue.

Well, the first part of the plan was completed, but what would happen next? Accelerator was supposed to confront Hamazura for more information regarding Aleister's plan, but as he made his way through the different sections of the train, even the stone-faced esper was starting to get a little cold-footed.

Why was Hamazura this far apart from the rest of the band? Could this be a trap set by Aleister to draw him out? Certainly, the genius magician had to have at least some clue that his 'greatest weapon' had gone rogue.

"The presence of my master's handwork is straight ahead," Qliphah once again stated as she pointed to the door leading to the last carriage just outside the conductor's room.

So Coronzon's impact could be felt here too, but all that did was raise further questions.

With a slight shake of his hand that was very much out of character for the world's strongest esper, Accelerator slowly opened the door to the carriage.

Unsurprisingly, there was another person in the carriage. The dirty blond hair and slightly lanky figure indicated that it was none other than Hamazura.

Rattle! Rattle! Rattle!

"Let me in, LET ME INNN!"

Surprisingly, however, it seemed that the esper's nervousness was reciprocal. Instead of the blonde level 0 waiting for Accelerator or preparing to fight him, Hamazura was trying to make his way into the conductor's room by continuously rattling the doorknob.

Unfortunately for Hamazura, the door seemed to be completely locked shut.

Instantly realizing that someone was behind him, the blonde level 0 turned around in sudden shock, his arms raised as if preparing to fight for his life.

However, Hamazura quickly returned them back once he realized who it was.

"Accelerator!" the teenager shouted. It appeared that Hamazura was relieved to see him... or perhaps the blond level 0 felt that the alternatives were worse.

"Oh, I thought someone bad was chasing me." Hamazura finally exclaimed, "Good to see it's only you!"

Despite the blond level 0 new excitement, the esper could tell Hamazura wasn't holding up well. His clothes were crumpled and dirty, and the teenager had small bags under his eyes, indicating that he had slept well for a while - obviously being kept up by worry.

In some ways, it was like the esper was looking at a mirror.

"You really are alive; I can't believe it!" Hamazura continued after getting over his shock. "You survived your battle with Coronzon… but how?"

"Did you expect anything else from me?" Accelerator asked rhetorically as he pretended to give out an aura of control. "But if you want to know the most important detail of the situation, Coronzon is still trapped inside the city without any means of escape."

"Oh, is that so," Hamazura murmured in a way the esper couldn't differentiate. "That's great news!"

Accelerator glared at Hamazura as the esper prepared to turn the tables. "Enough about me, though; the bigger question now is why the fuck are you here alone? Where is Aleister and the damn hero?"

"I'm on my way to Edinburgh… like you, right?" Hamazura murmured as he quickly swallowed the bile creeping up his throat.

The blonde level 0 was stalling. Hamazura may have been separated from the band in London, but that didn't explain why he couldn't find them now that the fighting was over.

Unless...

"That doesn't explain why you are so far away from the group. Mather's body is in Edinburgh; yes, but why didn't you try to find them after the battle of London was over?"

"Well, we kinda got split up first at Dover, so we just promised to rendezvous and meet up at Edinburgh castle. Heh, Heh."

Hamazura was definitely lying.

The two academy city residents stared at each other quietly. The silence between them was only broken by the rhythmic sound of the train's wheels gliding on the steel track.

It didn't take a genius mind for the both of them to understand that their situation was about to rapidly dissolve into a fight.

Hamazura wasn't going to tell him the truth, and Accelerator wasn't about to let the issue slide.

"You're not telling me the whole truth, are you?" The esper finally stated, blunting.

"Oh, what makes you say that?" Hamazura threw back the accusation with a finger point. "As far as I know, you are not even supposed to be here; how do I know you are the one that hasn't turned to Coronzon's side?"

Funnily enough, Accelerator had, but the esper had never mentioned the idea of being treasonous whatsoever in their conversation. Only the blonde level 0 had brought it up unexpectedly.

"I never said anything about turning, did I?" Accelerator replied bluntly.

Hamazura tensed. He silently cursed Level 5 for being so astute but also at himself for being careless.

"Look, here me out…." The blonde level 0 tried to reason with Accelerator, but even he now knew this was futile. The interrogation was over.

The esper was going to kill him for siding with a certain someone, but ironically for the exact opposite reason Hamazura knew why.

"And who exactly are you taking orders from?" The esper demanded harshly. A new feeling of negative emotions was whirling inside his chest. Hamazura froze fearfully at Accelerator. He had never seen the albino so angry before, not at him or anyone else.

The blonde level 0 tried to open his mouth one last time to salvage the situation, but no sound came out.

It didn't matter either way. The esper already had his answer.

Coronzon.

"Envy, not jealously." The demon stated matter-of-factly. "There is a difference."

The minor comment Coronzon had once spoken to the esper was now looped in his head, splintering his mind again into a thousand different thoughts.

But what exactly was the difference between envy and jealousy?

In simple terms, envy is the feeling of longing for what someone else has. Jealousy, meanwhile, is the feeling of insecurity. That something or someone could be taken away from you.

For someone like Accelerator, those definitions would have been enough. Nothing more, nothing less. The esper couldn't care less if envy and jealousy were different or, in fact, the same thing. Perhaps, the past Accelerator would have even once scoffed at such notions. After all, these feelings would seem too irrational to the controlled world's strongest esper.

Hypocritical by the esper, one could say. After all, it was not too long ago that Accelerator had confessed to Coronzon about this envy towards Touma. Of course, he would never admit this feeling to anyone else, but it was still an undeniable fact.

Accelerator was envious of Touma's ability to create the purest of smiles from anyone the hero encountered.

However, after his conversion with the demon, the esper started to live with this. Touma's ability wasn't something that he needed to emulate. Last Order… Worst… the rest of his family might never smile for him, but the fact that they would be safe would be enough for him.

And after a little more fighting, he would even have Coronzon to look forward to afterward. He sacrificed his status quo for her attempt…no, for both their attempts to break free from the cycles that had chained them for so long.

He was selfless enough to not need anything else…

Right?

So, why in the world did Coronzon recruit Hamazura? Without telling him? After everything the esper had promised her, why was the blonde level 0 even needed?

Was he not enough?

Jealousy. That was the only emotion that Accelerator felt now.

The esper splintered mind was now reforming itself. Any contradictory ideas the first-ranked esper held on to were now merging into one conviction.

KILL

Accelerator rushed forward, ready to tear Hamazura into a million pieces…

Only to be somehow flung backward to where he started.

"To so easily attempt to sacrifice someone in order to quell your own rage. Is this cruel act such a necessity?"

The esper quickly used his powers to ground himself to the train floor, but his bloodlust was now momentarily replaced by a great amount of confusion.

The mystery, however, was solved by itself once a certain heterochromia-eyed tan-skinned female materialized right in front of his eyes.

Accelerator had been stopped by this woman who was now guarding the shaken Hamazura.

But 'woman' was perhaps not the right word. Despite being of the opposite system, even the esper could tell that the entity was seeping in magic, far more than any standard magician. It almost seemed godlike.

She was a god. A magic god, to be precise. Powerful beings who dwelled in the Keter and were the pinnacle of what magic could achieve.

Most had been exiled to the 'new world,' but apparently, two had escaped during the chaos of Coronzon's rampage.

Now, one of the escapees was on this exact train, saving a certain blonde level 0's life.

Nephthys – the Egyptian goddess of death.

"Well, isn't this a strange little confrontation?" The magic god remarked. "Still, to have bloodshed now, wouldn't that only leave tears?"

The magic god looked like she was about to cry, causing the esper to instantly tense up.

It seemed like a strange reaction, but Accelerator was experienced enough in combating magic to know that powerful spells could come from anywhere… or anything.

Nevertheless, their current situation mirrored the confrontation before with just Accelerator and Hamazura. Everyone in the room knew the current situation couldn't be maintained.

Nephthys didn't look like she wanted to hurt or even fight the esper, but none of that mattered to Accelerator. It didn't even matter that the person in front of him was a magic god, one of the few entities of superior power compared to even him.

All Accelerator could think about was killing the blonde level 0 to get rid of the awful feeling in his chest.

"Get the fuck out of the way!" The esper finally roared at the Egyptian goddess.

Accelerator once again launched himself forward, now intending to also slaughter the new but unwelcomed guest.

However, before the esper could reach Nephthys, the environment in his sight suddenly changed.

Accelerator was now facing the open countryside, not the painted walls of the carriage.

Somehow, he had been teleported outside the carriage.

"Attacking a crying woman, not very gentlemen-like." A feminine voice suddenly echoed into his ears.

Moments later, Nephthys once again appeared in his peripheral on the other end of the train.

The magic god was toying with him, and it was starting to piss him off.

Still, he had to get past her if he wanted to get his dues with Hamazura. With every second wasted with Nephthys, there was no doubt that Hamazura was, at the very least, finding ways to escape.

Thus, the esper tried again, charging at the magic god in another attempt to obliterate her. This time prepared for any magical tricks the magic god has in store.

Or so he thought. Despite the astonishing fast speed of the esper, the Egyptian magic god simply shifted her body slightly sideways before raising her right leg…

Accelerator was momentarily stunned as he felt the weight of a kick, before being sent flying into the air.

"Did she just kick me!?" Accelerator yelled internally as he realized that his vector shield had somehow failed to redirect the blow.

Fortunately for the esper, he managed to once again plant his feet on solid ground. This time on the train's hood.

And once again, Accelerator found himself staring at Nephthys in confusion. His bloodlust temporarily dilated.

Nephthys had a noticeable injury now present on her leg, which meant that the esper's powers hadn't been fully compromised. Still, the damage dealt was superficial, as the magic god's wound quickly healed with the help of the bandages wrapped around her.

The tension in the area – or at least the esper's – was cut short as the emergency exit of the carriage was suddenly opened, and a translucent head popped out of it.

It was Qliphah. "Mister! Are you alright?"

"Qliphah…" The esper's attention suddenly focused on the artificial demon. In his argument with Hamazura and fight with Nephthys, he had all but forgotten about his traveling companion.

"Oh, what do we have here?" Nephthys asked as she, too, was now focused on Qliphah. "A little girl… say, aren't you supposed Coronzon's pet? What are you doing following his gentleman?"

The artificial demon was about to retort but quickly stayed silent once Accelerator glared at her.

"Speak nothing," The esper telegraphed silently.

The silent message wasn't received by the magic god, but Nephthys wasn't particularly interested in the content, just the implication.

"Oh! I can feel a bond between you, wonderful! Have you two established a contract?!"

"Makes me so happy." The magic god continued as tears of joy started to seem to fall down her cheeks.

Those tears…

He had no understanding of Nephthys' magic, but even then, he could tell that something bad was about to occur.

Evidently, the artificial demon agreed. "Watch out, mister!" Qliphah cried out, but by then, it was too late. The two had seen her cry.

"Target: Qliphah Puzzle 545 – Boost."

It was a spell that amplified the strength of any magic Nephthys targeted. Either to increase its power or to send it out of control.

In this case, the magic target was Qliphah and her maddening existence. A magical power that could affect the entirety of Britain.

But what effect would it have now? Qliphah's maddening existence being amplified wasn't a problem for the esper. After all, whatever Qliphah was meant to be, she would never be something incomprehensible to Accelerator.

Nephthys didn't know this, but she would surely understand once nothing would happen.

As the spell instantly took hold, Qliphah's madness did in fact not affect the esper... but 'nothing' didn't happen either.

Instead, something stranger occurred.

Unexpected by Nephthys, Accelerator, or Qliphah herself, the artificial demon appeared to have been suddenly picked up by an invisible force before being fired straight at the esper like a homing missile.

Unlike every other time where Qliphah would phase straight through him, the artificial demon instead hit Accelerator like a bag of bricks, nearly knocking the both of them off the train.

Either way, his vector control had once again been overridden. Completely this time. The esper was on his knees, only barely conscious.

Holding on to the now corporeal artificial demon, Accelerator attempted to stand back up…

Only to once again fall back down on his knees.

Nephthys frown at the sequence of events. That was unexpected, but if the magic god had any thoughts about her spell not working as intended, she didn't show it.

"Surely this isn't all that Aleister's best handiwork has to offer…" Nephthys wondered as she stared down Accelerator's condition. Even as a magic god, she was surprised at how easily the esper was defeated.

However, any disappointment was short-lived as Nephthys mouth morphed into a slight smirk.

"But perhaps this situation was a bit unfair; after all, you certainly weren't expecting me…" The magic god droned.

"…Or perhaps you weren't in a sound of mind."

"So, how about another chance, hmm? If you want to rechallenge me, I will be on the Queen Britannia waiting for the final battle!"

Nephthys froze for a moment at her own statement. Queen Britannia? Nobody had told her about this ship, so why was it important enough for her to issue her challenge there?

"..."

It had happened again. Someone or something was once again whispering in the magic god's ear, guiding her toward every situation she was experiencing right now.

Sure, she had acted on Hamazura's behalf due to finding the boy's conviction on saving a certain girl quite interesting, but it was only now that Nephthys realized how unusual the situation was.

Why was Dion Fortune the only one of the reproduced Golden Dawn members to revert back into a tarot card?

When did Hamazura get a chance to speak with the great demon? Was she not still trapped in the Scientific City?

What did Coronzon even want from the boy? If she wanted a pawn to free her, surely there were more powerful individuals that would serve her goal better.

And finally, what was he doing here? Nephthys muttered this thought out loud as she gave one last glance at the still struggling Accelerator. She had heard about the esper's foolish idea of refusing Aleister Crowley and returning to fight Coronzon alone.

By all accounts, he shouldn't be alive. Coronzon could have killed him a thousand times over if he had really challenged the great demon. Had he also turned by promises made by Coronzon?

No. She felt no such influence on the esper, only the slight magical residues of a contract.

But she had also felt identical magical residues on Qliphah. This contract was surely forged by him and the artifact demon, not Coronzon.

Right?

For once in her existence as a magic god, Nephthys had more questions than answers, and a part of her wanted to lash out for this very reason. To kill Hamazura and the esper as if such actions would once again bring her serenity.

Serenity – Away from the DISCORD she was now experiencing.

Nephthys shook her head. No need to make such dramatic moves. She was going to get her answers one way or another once the esper rechallenged her.

Without fanfare, Nephthys simply disappeared before the esper's eyes.

About 3.2K words. This chapter was also supposed to include another part, but that got a little too wordy for this story structure.

I wanted to write the train fight scene, but to the readers of NT, you might have obviously noticed that the actual train fight between Accel and Nephthys was actual from Edinburgh to Glasgow, not from London to Edinburgh.

This can seem very confusing, and was one of reasons why I had to remap this story a bit. Obviously the event prior (In Edinburgh castle) to the canon train fight could never happen due to the nature of this story, and the band is still nowhere near the castle yet.

Perhaps this is one of the limitions for trying to condense this AU of Coronzon arc through just one of the hero's lenses.

Hopefully, I can explain most of the differences by the next chapter.

On a final note, Accelerator is obviously a lot more OOC now. It's very hard trying to write Accelerator in a emotion that he has never experience before, so review and criticism on it is very much appreciated.