The sin

[ACMI: Anger]

Academy City, a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the Tokyo Metropolitan Employment Area. It had some of the most advanced technology in the world, a feat accomplished through their dedication to science.

Some though would take this dedication too far, thinking of everything as just something to experiment on.

Therestina Kihara Lifeline was one such person. She had been in prison for almost a month since causing the Poltergeist incident.

She awaited the person she knew was coming soon. As she waited she finally heard the guard call to her "Therestina, you have a guest."

She sat in her cell with a smile on her face. She hadn't recieved many visitors in that time. She had hoped Railgun might show up but she never did.

She heard the footsteps walking towards her cell and smiled, it was him.

Her grandfather, Kihara Gensei, had come to see her.

The two of them talked for fifteen minutes, in that time Therestina explained what she had attempted to do. He had smiled at her as she explained, surely feeling pride over what his granddaughter had managed to do.

In the end he sighed wearily.

"Therestina, your mistake was underestimating a level 5. Most of them do hold back during power testing after all, even when we try to bring out their best."

Therestina snarled "It wasn't just Railgun, it was that other girl too. Somehow she was able to use her power even while capacity down was playing."

He chuckled at that "Ah yes, the diva. She truely is a wonder. While you have been here she has shown off a new ability, the ability to create a telepathic network much like the level-upper."

"She what?" Therestina was shocked "I thought she was only a level 3?"

"She's been added to the candidate list. Her partner too."

Therestina gave a slight chuckle as her head dropped "Even if she was that strong how did she resist capacity down, it doesn't make sense."

"I intend to find out." Gensei quietly commented "She is important after all."

Therestina looked up with curiosity "You have a plan for her then? What are you going to do about Railgun and her other friends?"

Gensei smiled "They are leaving Academy City as we speak, they are boarding the flight to Liberal Arts City as part of the exchange program."

Therestina smiled "You have finished your prep work then? What did you need me for?"

"Oh, nothing important." Gensei laughed "No, no I have hired a few people already. I came here to give you a warning."

"A warning?" Therestina parroted.

"Yes, I need to warn you to not get involved anything else for a while. Stay in prison till I come and get you."

Therestina sighed dramtically "I had hoped you were getting me out today."

Gensei laughed again "No, not at all. There is too much happening right now for that. It seems that we're all working on some project or another. If you escaped it might cause an issue. I'll come and get you before the end of the year, that is the best I can offer."

Therestina sighed before nodding.

"Very well."

Gensei nodded to her once more before turning to leave. Therestina was about to ask him something but thought better, she respected her grandfather too much.

[ACMI: Despair]

Within a few hours, an old rumour resurfaced.

"The level-upper exists, a device that can increase your level exists!"

It was a lie of course. If only a partial one.

Gensei had indeed recreated the level-upper. But his version wasn't kind. After only five minutes of use it would send the listener into a coma. He also didn't make a treatment program. The sleepers would never awaken.

He had many powers he planned to take but he didn't want it to become obvious. He only released small amounts of it in targetted locations.

He used those he had hired to do it. Of the two teams he hired he gave the job to Aves as he didn't want it to be traced back to him.

The other team, Ars, had been sent to begin the first step of his plan. He wasn't going all in yet, a distraction was needed first.

He had read over the failed attack by REVEAL and had made plans. Regardless of what happened, the fact that he planned it would be impossible to discover. Neither of the teams knew his true identity after all.

Level 6, the ultimate goal. With this he would get one step closer to creating it.

[ACMI: Omen]

As night fell on the 3rd a pair of texts were sent out. Each was from a different person and to a different person.

Gunvolt read the first as Joule tried to make supper. She was trying her hardest to make noodle soup and so far it seemed that she was doing quiet well.

Elsewhere another text arrived. The boy who received it was eating a very small supper as his friend had already eaten the rest of it.

The first text just said "Be careful, beware the return of the level-upper"

The second held a set of coordinates and the simple phrase "Save them."

End of chapter.

And we have come to what I am calling "The Joule Arc" or "The Diva Arc"

Honestly, more than any previous chapter, this one is going to be hard for me to write.

The movie will likely still be harder but this will be the hardest to write so far.