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[ACMItM: Destroy the core]

Index drifted down the corridor after Touma and Kaori. They were in a area of Endymion where they couldn't feel the pull of the earth.

Touma looked back as he prepared to turn a corner "Have you figured out anything yet?"

Index shook her head "Nothing major. Whatever it's doing likely isn't using the tower's physical structure. We'll need to head towards the top to find the spell's core."

Kaori nodded and pointed "That way."

"How can you tell?" Touma asked.

"I've been keeping track of our turns and the layout to try and spot things too. There will likely be a way up that way that can take us closer to the core."

They turned as she directed and found a hole in the roof with a ladder that they didn't need.

As they floated up, Touma turned to Index. Before she could reply though, they heard something and turned to see a man dressed in black floating above them.

He just stared towards them without speaking.

Kaori went for her sword as the man drifted towards them.

"Touma, take index and go back down."

As soon as she finished speaking the battle began.

[ACMI: That Which Emerges from Obscurity]

The man began to fall like a thunderbolt and Kaori drew her sword in time to parry his first strike.

Following her orders, Touma grabbed Index who didn't argue as she was pulled down.

"Which way do we need to go in order to go around?

Kanzaki cursed as she swung her sword again. This guy was too fast and strong to be a normal person.

The man ducked and threw an uppercut that only her own superhuman reflexes could have dodged.

So what was he then? He was entirely silent as he fought her and he seemed used to the near-zero gravity environment.

What did her instincts tell her?

She dodged some more punches. They were mechanical in how they were thrown. It could be described as a "Perfect punch".

Ok, so it lacked a proper will, it was probably an "it" rather than a "he".

She swung for it's legs before blocking a haymaker thrown in response.

Ok, so; Clone, robot or magic device?

Damn, it got a hit in throwing her down the tunnel. The impact against the floor didn't really hurt but the fact they were now closer to Touma and Index was a problem.

Tsuchimikado had told her about the clones that Academy city had made. They could talk though, if a little mechanically. Was it being ordered not to talk to enemies?

She dodged back into the hall to her right as she shook her head. It couldn't be that. It wasn't that this guy was being silent, he lacked something important that would let him. It probably could talk but there was never a reason for it to talk to a foe.

So it wasn't a clone. Now Robot or Magic device?

As it chased her she cut for it's neck which it caught at the cost of damaging it's hand. There, an opening.

She twisted, her sword still held and tossed a small ball behind her. Odd sounds came from the ball as she dodged back into the hall.

"Come at me if you dare. You face my seven flashes, anyone of which could spell your end!"

[ACMItM: Destroy the core]

"I'm back."

Touma and Index were surprised as Kanzaki arrived back to them.

"You defeated him then?" Touma asked.

"It, it was a puppet. And yes, it's been destroyed. I wasted a wire ball though."

Index nodded after she mentioned it was a puppet and closed her eyes.

Touma nodded but was curious "When you say puppet, what do you mean? Something like a golem?"

The saint shook her head and explained "No, I checked it's workings after cutting it up but it was mechanical, magical clockwork."

Index nodded "That's an old spell. If Ladylee is truly an ancient mage, it's possible that she made servants to aid her. Also, I've just got in contact with Joule they've just got to an outer section like us."

Touma checked his watch "We've almost hit half an hour. Are they getting close at least?"

Index shrugged "They don't know."

Kanzaki shook her head "They're too far away from us now. If we went to help them find Arisa we'd lose our chance to go after the spell."

Touma nodded "Let's keep going then."

They kicked off and kept going up the shaft they were following before.

"Attention; We are now temporarily shutting down the network to adjust the relay circuits for the ceremony. Please wait a moment for service to resume."

The voice spoke over the intercom and Touma nodded "We do need to hurry."

A few minutes later, Index stopped as she heard a very quick knock at the mental door that Joule had given her. She let her in and Joule spoke quickly over the telepathic link.

"Things have gone very poorly over here. We've all been caught red handed by Ladylee. She plans to take everyone here hostage to force Arisa to sing."

Index passed in on to the others and while Touma was horrified, Kaori hardened her face.

"We can't get to them now without going a long way back. I'm sorry but we need to hurry."

"They are in danger though!" Touma raised his voice. Kanzaki just shook her head.

"You think I don't know? Of course I know but right now it doesn't matter. We need to get to the core of the spell in order to disarm it. If Arisa is being forced to sing, we should at least ensure that the song won't do anything for Ladylee."

Touma was angry but he saw her point. They had to move on.

Someone had to help them though. He didn't know who or how but someone needed to do it.

Elsewhere, two people got out of a rapid ascent elevator car. Those things were only meant to fit a single person.

"Oww." The woman complained and cursed as the boy drifted out into the bay "You could have been more careful. We could also have taken different cars.

The boy looked back to her "You did agree to help when I got you out. Besides, these cars still take fifteen minutes up and then the same down. We couldn't waste that much time."

The woman didn't say anything at first but she did nod.

"Let's go then."

A butterfly landed on the boy's hand and he nodded to.

"I know where, follow me."

He kicked off a wall and was soon followed by the woman.

End of chapter.