Trinity of Tokiwadai

by Engineer4Ever

Three very different girls. Each a powerful Esper in the miraculous city of superhumans, Academy City. Together these heroines and their friends explore the wonder and mystery of their City and its Dark Side as the Trinity of Tokiwadai.

122. Chapter 122

Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto or Toaru Kagaku no Railgun/Toaru Majutsu no Index

The Trinity of Tokiwadai

Chapter One Hundred Twenty Two: Magic God Othinus - Scattered in Tokyo

---

Mikoto gritted her teeth as she leapt out of the crashing suborbital plane, deploying her parachute with well-practiced ease. The action felt automatic by now. All that airborne training she'd been going through as part of her general combat regimen after becoming an official Dark Sider was really paying off. As she floated down, she expertly adjusted the parachute's cords, tilting her body just so to control her descent with precision. She twisted slightly, feeling the air resistance shift under her, moving herself further away from the spiraling wreckage of the plane.

She glanced over at Ruiko, catching a glimpse of her friend just as she obliterated the massive dragon she was fighting with a devastating attack. The dragon, presumably the Gremlin creation responsible for taking down their plane, disintegrated into a burst of light. But before Mikoto could fully appreciate the sight, the dark red threads that were the dragon's remains began to weave themselves in the air, reforming the dragon once again.

"I am sick of you cookie-cutter dragons!" Ruiko's shout echoed through the sky as she charged straight at the massive flying lizard. Mikoto watched as Ruiko relentlessly engaged the constantly reforming creature, firing off a brutal combination of attacks to keep it at bay.

Satisfied that Ruiko had things under control, Mikoto glanced around to check on the rest of her team. From what she could see, everyone else seemed to be handling the situation well enough. Even Kamijou looked like he was coming in for a landing - though, in typical fashion, his parachute seemed destined to get snagged on the arm of a crane at a construction site for some skyscraper.

Of course, Mikoto thought with a sigh. That's just his luck.

Besides that, everything seemed fine, until her eyes landed on Index-san. The Magician was chaotically spinning through the air, her parachute a tangled mess flapping uselessly behind her. It seemed she had at least tried to deploy it, but with one arm clutching her cat tightly, the chute had gotten hopelessly tangled, leaving her in freefall. With her only one free hand, Index-san desperately tried to untangle the cords, her wide-eyed panic reflecting the terror of both herself and the cat she held close.

Of all the things to bring on a mission, a cat? Mikoto rolled her eyes before realizing that Index-san had absolutely no clue how to use the parachute.

Without hesitation, Mikoto pressed the emergency release on her own chute, letting it detach as she dived headfirst toward the flailing Magician. The wind whipped past her face as she quickly caught up to Index-san, grabbing hold of her mid-air. With a sharp focus, Mikoto summoned carefully controlled and concentrated bolts of electricity, using them to slice through the tangled cords binding Index-san's parachute. As the chute fell away, Index-san gasped in shock, but Mikoto snapped. "Shut up! I'm saving your life!"

Gripping the nun tightly, Mikoto focused, manipulating the electromagnetic fields around her. She pulled them both towards the nearest building, using the fields to bleed off their fall's momentum as quickly and safely as possible. The force pulled them towards the towering structure, but Mikoto was careful to keep their descent steady.

As they neared the building, some giant train station, Mikoto carefully adjusted their trajectory, allowing them to land vertically against the wall. She held onto Index-san firmly as her shoes made contact with the building's surface, her manipulated electromagnetic fields stabilizing them both. Now, they were stuck to the side of the building, safe for the moment, with Index-san clutching her cat tightly, her eyes wide in disbelief. Index-san squealed in alarm as she realized that they were sticking to the side of a building, while her cat, in contrast, took everything in stride, barely reacting.

The Magician's cat is handling this better than she is. Mikoto thought in exasperation. It hasn't even meowed once! Seriously, how useless is this nun?

Mikoto exhaled sharply, feeling the adrenaline surge through her veins as she assessed the situation. Ignoring the panicking Index-san, she looked down and was dumbfounded by the sheer number of people packed below. The crowd was so dense that she couldn't even see the sidewalk beneath them.

As she observed the chaotic scene, Mikoto realized that the civilians below were packed together like sardines in a can, desperately trying to squeeze into the train station. It dawned on her that they were likely attempting to flee Tokyo, presumably in response to the city becoming a battlefield.

Index-san, after finally managing to calm herself, took a deep breath and turned toward Mikoto. Her earlier panic had faded, and she seemed more composed now, her usual poise returning.

"The tsunami of panicking civilians... It's Gremlin's doing. I can sense some mind-altering magic in effect." She said, her voice now steady despite the chaos around them.

Mikoto frowned, her brow furrowing as she surveyed the frantic crowds below. The sheer chaos of it all was almost overwhelming, and it was easy to see how things had spiraled out of control so quickly.

"Honestly, it probably didn't need to do much work. A battle in the middle of Tokyo without so much as a response by the JSDF (Japan Self-Defense Forces)? Anyone would panic at that." She added dryly, understanding that the absence of a military presence would only add to the hysteria.

Suddenly, a massive shadow passed over them, and both girls looked up as the dragon Ruiko had been fighting soared overhead, its serpentine form weaving through the sky. Ruiko, in her radiant Angel Mode, teleported behind the beast, her glowing wings leaving trails of prismatic light in their wake. With effortless strength, she grabbed the dragon by its tail and hurled it with a powerful swing. The dragon crashed into the already spiraling wreckage of their suborbital plane, just seconds before it could crash into Tokyo.

Without missing a beat, Ruiko summoned a swirling mass of destructive energy in her palm and launched it at the debris and the dragon. The spiraling energy slammed into both targets, disintegrating them entirely in a brilliant flash of light.

But before Mikoto could even consider celebrating, she watched with frustration as the dark red threads reappeared, stitching together into a new iteration of the dragon out of thin air. Ruiko didn't hesitate, already charging at the newly-formed beast, her wings blazing with power.

Mikoto clenched her fists, her entire body tensing as she watched Ruiko battle the dragon. The urge to jump in and help her friend was overwhelming, her feet nearly shifting into action. But before she could make a move, she felt a gentle hand on her arm. It was Index-san.

"It's better that we go reinforce Touma instead. You wouldn't be able to help her much here... not when you can't fly." Even her cat, cradled in her arms, gave a soft, supportive meow, almost as if backing up its owner's argument.

Mikoto let out a long, resigned sigh, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. Her gaze flickered to Ruiko, still locked in her intense battle.

"You're right." She finally admitted, though the words felt heavy. She cast one last glance at her friend before turning toward the direction they needed to head next.

"Let's go." She added, her voice filled with determination as they began moving towards Tokyo Bay by leaping across the city's skyline with the aid of her Electromastery and the command of electromagnetic fields it granted her.

Even as she did, she used the free hand she wasn't using to hold on to the deadweight of Index-san to fish her phone out of her pocket whilst simultaneously using her Electromastery to manipulate its systems to try and get in touch with her teammates or allies. Every attempt she made, whether it was a group call or calling them individually or a text message, ended in failure and the same pre-recorded message.

"We're sorry, but due to high network traffic, your call/message cannot be completed at this time. Please try again later."

"Damnit!" Mikoto hissed in frustration as she pocketed her phone. "We should've distributed proper comms before the plane was taken down."

"Yeah, we should've." Index-san said with a shrug. "But we didn't and hindsight is always twenty-twenty."

Mikoto sighed as she leapt from the roof of one skyscraper to start running along the side of the upper floors of another. "I know. The cellular network being down must've contributed to all the people in the streets. It'll definitely heighten the panic and the desire to get out of the city. Damn Gremlin! Why couldn't they have just attacked Academy City directly or destroyed Tokyo because it was in their way?"

"That's be-"

"You don't need to say it." Mikoto said, cutting the nun off with a shake of her head. "This is better for Gremlin. This way, its opponents will be divided as at least some of them would have to prioritize defending the people."

"Exactly." Index-san said, nodding in agreement. "Which is why we fell for their trap."

"Don't worry. We won't keep dancing to their tune." Mikoto assured her. "We're heading towards the Sargasso. Kamijou and everyone else in the task force will probably head there too."

"That's a good bet."

Index-san had just finished speaking, and Mikoto had barely landed from her latest leap onto the side of another high-rise building when the nun's cat let out an angry yowl. Almost at the same time, its owner shouted her own warning. "Incoming!"

As soon as she did, hundreds of chunks of frozen earth appeared floating ahead of them, merging into ice and stone giants that each stood twice the height of an adult human. The giants were composed of jagged stone, encased in thick layers of ice that gleamed in the light. Their crystalline wings, made of sharp, translucent ice shards, fanned out from their backs, giving them a commanding and almost regal presence. The surface of their bodies was lined with frozen spikes, each sharp edge glinting as though sculpted directly from a glacier. Muscular arms and large fists hinted at their immense strength, while an icy mist surrounded them, adding a chilling aura of power. With every subtle movement, shards of ice broke away from their bodies, only to be quickly regenerated by the surrounding frost. They hovered in front of the pair, carried by roaring gales that swirled beneath them, despite their massive, stone-like forms.

"The Jötunnrise spell?" The living magic encyclopedia said as she observed the constructs' formation. "I suppose that fits with Gremlin's Norse theme."

"Don't know, don't care." Mikoto replied, as electricity crackled around her. She briefly considered drawing Worochi-no-Aramasa (蛇之麁正, Rough and True Blade of the Serpent), but with one hand occupied holding the nun and her cat, it was impossible. Despite her recent training, she was still a novice with the sword, and drawing it, let alone wielding it, in these circumstances was beyond her at this moment. "I just need to beat these damn things."

"Yes, yes, you uncultured barbarian." Index-san said haughtily.

Mikoto was tempted to snap back at her for speaking that way, but she had no time as the Jötunnrise ice giants launched their attack. They conjured frozen boulders and lances of ice, likely by freezing the gasses in the air, hurling the projectiles straight at her. Meanwhile, others chose to buffet her and her irritating passenger with powerful gusts of frigid wind, created by the forceful beats of their crystalline wings.

Attacks that Mikoto evaded by manipulating the electromagnetic fields around her, allowing her to stick to the side of the skyscraper while deftly dodging the incoming projectiles. With Index-san and her cat still in tow, Mikoto used quick bursts of electricity to zap the ice lances out of the air, all while making sure to maintain her grip on the building's surface.

"Why are we fighting on the side of a building?! This is crazy!" Index-san whined.

"Not like the constructs are going to let me switch to somewhere better, are they?" Mikoto replied.

As if to drive the point home, the Jötunnrise ice giants escalated their assault by closing the distance, their wings flaring wide as they moved in for melee combat. Two of the giants swung their massive icy fists in unison, aiming to crush Mikoto against the side of the building. She had however anticipated this move, and with a surge of electricity, she jumped up a few stories, dodging the blows. In a quick counter, she sent an arc of lightning at one giant, shattering it into icy shards.

"Just to check, can these things keep reinforcing their numbers like the dragon keeps coming back?" Mikoto asked Index-san, the resident expert, as another giant lunged at her and she used an electromagnetic pulse to repel it, causing the giant to miss its strike and slam into the building.

"No, they don't." Index-san responded. "But Gremlin could recast the spell if needed, and given their capabilities, it shouldn't be too difficult for them."

"I see." Mikoto replied as she launched a counterattack by unleashing a wave of electric bolts from her free hand, which arced between the nearby giants.

Her electric counterattack sliced effortlessly through the ice, and a few giants crumbled under her assault. However, seemingly in response to their losses, the remaining Jötunnrise ice giants began deliberately targeting the crowded streets below. Growling in frustration, she was forced to divert her focus toward protecting the civilians. With precise lightning bolts, she intercepted the projectiles headed towards the innocents below, disintegrating them into harmless showers of snow or, at worst, hail. She considered using her Electromastery to pull metal debris from nearby construction sites to form barriers, as she would've typically done to defend herself, but refrained, knowing that the debris created should these barriers fail would pose a danger to the very people she was trying to protect.

After successfully intercepting the giants' attack on the civilians, Mikoto turned to retaliate. She unleashed a wide, sweeping arc of electricity, crackling with immense power. The bolts surged across the side of the skyscraper, where the battle raged, striking the nearest group of giants with pinpoint precision. As the electricity coursed through their frozen forms, the ice giants shuddered violently before shattering into thousands of crystalline shards. The remnants scattered along the building's surface, falling like glittering ice dust into the air and leaving only empty space where they once loomed menacingly.

"Short Hair! Behind you!" Index-san shouted in warning.

"I see it!" Mikoto shouted back as she swiftly dodged the attack, manipulating the magnetic fields around her to swing herself around the corner of the skyscraper. In the same fluid motion, she counterattacked with a precise bolt of electricity, striking the attacking giant square in the chest. The impact froze the construct in place for a brief moment before it shattered into shards of ice.

"Looks like there's only four left." Mikoto noted as she did a quick count on her remaining enemies as they followed after her around the corner of the high rise.

"Don't get cocky! They're still dangerous!" Index-san warned.

As if to prove this point, the remaining giants, seemingly realizing that their numbers had greatly thinned, responded by intensifying their attacks. Massive ice lances and frozen boulders flew toward Mikoto as she moved swiftly along the side of the skyscraper. Under this covering barrage, one of the giants charged, swinging a massive ice hammer that it had conjured out of the air, but Mikoto dodged by leaping to a lower section of the building.

"I don't think they're slowing down!" Index-san commented even as Mikoto countered with a concentrated bolt of lightning, which struck the giant's head, causing it to disintegrate into icy fragments.

A giant tried to corner her by launching a barrage of frozen boulders. In response, Mikoto spun mid-air, using her electromagnetic abilities to glide across the building's surface and responded with a quick burst of electricity, shattering the boulders mid-air before sending a powerful surge into the giant's chest.

"Watch out, they're trying to flank you!" Index-san warned as the giant that Mikoto had just defeated turned into a shower of ice.

The aforementioned giant was coming at her from the side whilst sending gusts of frigid wind her way to slow her down. Mikoto, however, leaped to the opposite side of the building, and with a swipe of her hand, a precise arc of lightning crackled through the air, striking the giant's core and reducing it to ice shards.

"The last one is still coming!"

"Index-san, shut up! I've got this handled!" Mikoto shouted, so loudly she managed to drown out the last giant's roar as it lunged at her with its massive fists poised to smash her.

Unintimidated by this display, Mikoto unleashed a devastating lightning storm that surged across the battlefield. The intense electrical discharge ripped through the giant, disintegrating it entirely, leaving only the crackling remnants of her victory scattered across the skyscraper's side.

"Okay, that's dealt with." Mikoto said, watching as the last remnants of the ice giants fell as soft snow over the crowds below. "Any sign of Gremlin summoning another wave?"

"Nope." Index-san replied, her voice steady. "We're safe to keep going."

Mikoto gave a nod. "Alright, then let's keep moving."

"Can we detour to meet up with Touma on the way to the Sargasso?" Index asked hopefully.

"If he's on the way or if he looks like he needs help." Mikoto allowed as they continued their journey across Tokyo's skyline, heading toward Tokyo Bay.

---

Naru and Kashiwagi Mai materialized in Hibiya Park, their sudden arrival causing a rush of displaced air. Naru's teleportation was as seamless as always, with no fanfare to accompany her sudden appearance. In contrast, Kashiwagi-san's entrance was far more dramatic, flames exploding around her as she materialized with a fiery burst. The heat from her arrival singed the grass and sent a wave of warmth into the cool evening air.

The park, normally filled with people, was eerily calm. All the civilians had already fled in search of safety, leaving behind an unnatural stillness. Despite the quiet surroundings, the distant sounds of panic from the city echoed through the air. The only sign of the chaos above was the occasional piece of debris falling from their downed suborbital plane, plummeting toward the ground and leaving small craters in the earth. Naru felt the tension, knowing that while they were temporarily removed from immediate danger, the battle raging overhead was far from over.

As she and Kashiwagi-san unbuckled and discarded their unused parachutes, Naru's gaze instinctively shifted to the sky. Above, Rui-chan was locked in a fierce battle with Gremlin's dragon, her Angel Mode lighting up the twilight like a radiant beacon. Suddenly, Ruiko teleported behind the massive beast, her wings leaving trails of prismatic light through the air as she grabbed the dragon by its tail. Naru watched in awe as her bestie, with effortless strength, hurled the enormous creature into the spiraling wreckage of their suborbital plane, just seconds before it could crash into Tokyo. Without missing a beat, Ruiko conjured a swirling mass of destructive energy in her palm and hurled it at both the dragon and the debris. The spiraling force collided with its targets, and in a brilliant flash of light, the dragon and wreckage were obliterated entirely.

Naru could see the frustration etched on Ruiko's face, despite how easily she had dealt with the dragon. She's clearly fed up... Just for that, I'll give her a pass for aping my Spiral Force attack.

Yeah. Give her a break. Kurama's voice echoed in her mind, his tone both bold and sympathetic.

Naru winced as, once again, the familiar dark red threads appeared in the air, swirling and coalescing into another iteration of the dragon. It formed quickly, as if summoned from nowhere, its massive serpentine body rising into the sky. Without hesitation, the newly spawned dragon lunged at Ruiko, its claws extended and wings beating furiously. The endless cycle of respawning was relentless, and Naru couldn't help but feel a deep frustration on behalf of her friend as the battle continued yet again.

Yeah... she deserves a break. Naru thought with a sigh, feeling a pang of sympathy for her friend dealing with such an irritating, persistent opponent.

Without looking away from her bestie's fight, Naru addressed Kashiwagi-san. "We should begin teleporting in the direction of the Sargasso. I'm sure that's where everyone is heading."

"Yes, I'm sure that's what everyone thinks and it's a good plan." Kashiwagi-san agreed. "However, we'll need to deal with the obstacles that our enemy has thrown at us first."

The Incarnation is cheating! Kurama said with a growl. She must be!

Huh? What are you talking about? Naru began only as the answer to her question presented itself in the form of motes of light that suddenly appeared out of nowhere all around them and began to coalesce together. Oh!

Yes! That ! She must be cheating! How else did she detect the shift in the ambient magic before me?

You're just being salty. Naru told him with a mental roll of her eyes. Maybe it's because of her being a dedicated Magician whereas you only learned about magic after you ended up in this world.

Shut up! Kurama snapped, a frustrated pout forming on his face.

Naru smirked at her partner's childishness but had no time to dwell on it as the motes of light finished coalescing into radiant constructs. The humanoid figures, with elongated ears, shimmered with golden energy as they hovered in the air. Some had insectoid wings, others had feathered wings, and a few even had both, giving them an otherworldly presence. Their smooth, faceless heads and sleek, weightless bodies added to their ethereal grace. Some wielded luminous swords, while others held glowing bows, arrows nocked and aimed.

"The Álfheimr spell?" Kashiwagi-san snorted. "I suppose that's in keeping with Gremlin's Norse theme at least."

"Ah, geez." Naru let out a soft sigh. She examined them with a hum. "At least there aren't any civvies around this time."

"Agreed. They were probably sent running for shelter or are trying to flee in the wake of all this fighting."

"Let's get this done, shall we?" Naru said, sending a powerful blast of wind toward a group of constructs. They scattered briefly before quickly reforming and retaliating with homing arrows of light.

Kashiwagi-san responded with a fiery burst of teleportation, disappearing in a flash of flame as the light arrows whizzed past where she had been standing. She reappeared behind one of the constructs with a surge of heat, her hand wreathed in fire as she slashed through the glowing form with effortless precision. The radiant being flickered briefly before disintegrating into a burst of light, unable to withstand the sheer force of her fiery strike.

"These things are weak," She muttered, her usually calm voice now tinged with growing intensity as she tapped deeper into her magic.

In contrast, Naru created a wall of water to block the searing arrows before retaliating with chakra-enhanced punches that sent shockwaves rippling through the park. A counterattack that Kashiwagi-san supported by teleporting again with a wave of flames to appear midair to launch a barrage of fireballs at the constructs.

"Yeah. But there are a lot of them," Naru muttered, frustrated that their combined attack had only taken out a few of the radiant beings. "We need to pick up the pace."

"I know," Kashiwagi-san replied, conjuring flames to propel herself toward the next group of enemies, ready to engage them in melee.

At the same time, Naru swiftly dodged a radiant sword slash from one of the constructs that had blitzed toward her, the glowing blade slicing through the air just inches from her. She moved with quick precision, sidestepping and twisting her body to avoid the construct's relentless attacks. Each strike came faster than the last, but Naru remained focused, her reflexes keeping her one step ahead of the glowing swordsman as she looked for an opening to counter.

We really are lucky this park is empty. Protecting civilians while fighting these things would be a nightmare. She thought, throwing a raw burst of chakra at the construct, causing it to flicker and dissipate.

We've got Gremlin to thank for that. They're doing something to send everyone in Tokyo into a panic. I can sense their magic in the air. Kurama replied.

I thought as much. Naru muttered as she blasted another construct with a shockwave of chakra. It's probably messing with the military responses from the Japanese, Americans, and the City too.

Probably, Kurama agreed.

A construct switched from its bow to a sword mid-attack, slashing at Kashiwagi-san with a precise swing of its radiant blade. She deflected it with a fiery shield, her face now showing a flicker of frustration. "Persistent little things."

Naru channeled raw chakra into her legs, leaping high and smashing her fist into the ground as she landed, creating an earthquake-like shockwave that destabilized several constructs mid-air. "Got you now!"

Kashiwagi-san, growing more emotional, roared as she unleashed a massive wave of flames that incinerated two constructs. Her expression hardened, now bordering on fury. "Let's burn them all!"

"Easy, Kashiwagi-san!" Naru warned, noticing the emotional shift as she sent a wind blade through another construct.

The last group of constructs launched homing arrows, but Naru surrounded herself with a vortex of air, causing the arrows to veer off course. She followed up by launching a concentrated burst of chakra, disintegrating the remaining light constructs.

"Not bad." Kashiwagi-san murmured, her voice now tinged with emotion as she barely restrained a bloodthirsty grin, letting the flames in her hands die down.

"Thank you." Naru replied with an exaggerated, dramatic bow.

Kashiwagi-san snorted at her theatrics.

"Shall we continue with the mission?" The Incarnation asked, her tone regaining a more serious edge.

Naru nodded and, in an instant, teleported toward Tokyo Bay, followed closely by Kashiwagi-san in a fiery explosion.

---

As Accel manipulated the winds with precision, he ensured both he and Frenda landed smoothly atop a high-rise in Tokyo. The gusts of air bent to his will, cushioning their descent until their feet touched the rooftop. Frenda swiftly unbuckled and discarded her used parachute, while Accel did the same with his unused one, having relied entirely on his power to control their fall.

His crimson gaze immediately shifted toward the sky, where Ruiko was locked in combat with the massive dragon that had taken down their plane. Her Angel Mode illuminated the darkening sky, her prismatic wings trailing radiant light as she battled the beast. Accel watched as she teleported behind the dragon, effortlessly grabbing it by its tail. With immense strength, Ruiko hurled the massive creature straight into the spiraling wreckage of the suborbital plane, mere seconds before it would have crashed into Tokyo.

Without hesitation, she conjured a spiraling mass of destructive energy in her palm and unleashed it at both the dragon and the debris. In a flash of brilliant light, both were obliterated. However, even as Accel observed, he could see her frustration radiating from her as the dragon reformed almost instantly, attacking her once again.

Shaking his head, Accel glanced at Frenda. "With how pissed off that dragon's making her, getting involved in that fight is just asking to get caught in some friendly fire."

Frenda sighed, watching the fierce battle unfold above them. "Yeah, probably better to just let Ruiko vent. She'll be fine."

The Number 1, suddenly sensing a subtle shift in the air, narrowed his eyes and scanned the area with a critical gaze. He wasn't sure what was causing the disturbance, but the energy was unmistakable. The strange sensation rippled through the atmosphere, and his instincts kicked in, sharpening his awareness to whatever was in motion around them.

What is this? It definitely isn't Telesma, Accel thought, comparing the magical energy he was sensing to the energy of the Christian heaven he commanded when in his Angel Mode. Tch! Whatever!

His body tensed like a coiled spring, ready to strike at any moment. Turning abruptly to Frenda, he barked out the warning. "We've got incoming!"

His blonde girlfriend nodded, preparing herself as the incoming spell manifested in a flurry of snowflakes that drifted down onto the rooftop where they had landed. Almost instantly, the flakes began to pile up and become humanoid figures before Accel's eyes. They were made entirely of ice, sculpted to resemble frozen flesh and bone, their pale, icy blue skin coated in frost. Each one wore ancient Viking armor, encrusted with ice and icicles, heightening their already menacing appearance. Their skeletal faces were twisted into snarls, and empty eye sockets glowed faintly with an eerie blue light. Long, frost-covered beards and hair draped from some of the figures, while others had jagged icicles protruding from their armor. Armed with Viking-style axes and swords, also covered in frost, they moved as though resurrected from a frozen grave, their cold, lifeless forms exuding a chilling, unnatural energy. All in all, Accel could only describe them as zombies made of ice.

"You gotta be kidding me." Frenda bemoaned. "Why can't I just fight regular people anymore?"

"Eh, you get used to it." Accel said as the group of ice zombies, weapons raised, charged at them.

He tapped a loose piece of gravel on the rooftop of the high-rise, now their battlefield, with the tip of his shoe. Using his Vector Control, he sent it hurtling into the advancing horde with unnatural speed, blowing holes through several of their heads in quick succession. As their icy bodies crumbled into slush, the rest of the horde trampled over the fallen.

Alright, so blunt force works. Accelerator concluded with a nod.

Frenda, meanwhile, pulled out her pistol and was swapping out its clip. "Stupid zombies."

As soon as she was done, she began to fire with expert marksmanship. Each bullet struck a zombie's head with pinpoint accuracy, igniting it instantly. The intense heat melted the icy skulls, reducing them to smoldering puddles one by one. She must have been using Pyro bullets. Smart.

As they got closer, he stomped the ground, causing it to rise under their feet. It tripped a majority of them up though some seemed to have jumped over the bad footing he had just created.

"What in sweet Science are these?" Frenda grunted as she fired shot after shot, tagging the ones that were down on the ground and setting them on fire. The attack not only took out the fallen zombies but also forced the advancing ones to pass through the flames, causing them to start melting as they pressed forward.

"It's a spell. Since Gremlin uses Norse magic, why wouldn't they use Viking ice zombies? Think they got some ice place called Niflheim or something? Goes with the theme they all dry hump."

An idea tickled his thought processing and he decided to hobble forward and raised his arm brace cane and swung at the closest zombie to him. With some help of his Vector Control, it crashed through the icy zombie and turned it into chunky ice cubes. He grasped the chunks with his ability and had them act as shrapnel and blast the ones behind it.

Hey! This actually works. Accel mused with amusement, bashing the zombies with his cane. He swung it like an irate old man, though he stumbled a few times when he overextended during some of his swings.

"What in the world are you doing?" Frenda asked with a laugh that made the pale young man blush with annoyance.

"What?" He argued, swinging his cane again and killing a few more of the zombies. "It works, right?"

"Y-You're... l-like a k-kid... H-Haha! W-With a b-big st-stick! H-Hahaha! I-It's h-hilarious! H-Hahaha!" Frenda laughed, her amusement growing as she spoke. Having seemingly run out of Pyro bullets, she switched to tossing a few small bombs, each one blowing up the advancing zombies in bursts of flames.

Embarrassed by her teasing, he scowled and turned his focus to the remaining ice zombies. Snarling in irritation, Accel used his Vector Control to create friction in the air around the enemies. A small yet controlled explosion followed, instantly vaporizing the rest of the zombies.

"There! Done!" He grunted and eyed Frenda, who had a teasing smile on her face. He turned away. Ugh! He would have to get her back for this teasing later!

As the last of the ice zombies disintegrated into puddles of slush, Frenda exhaled a satisfied sigh and glanced over at Accel, a gleam of anticipation in her eyes.

"So, where to next?" She asked, her tone casual but eager for their next move.

"We should head to the Sargasso, I bet that's where everyone is headed."

"True. That's probably the case."

Before they could go anywhere however, Ruiko descended from the sky with her usual grace, the prismatic shimmer of her wings casting a faint rainbow in the air. Accel couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked in that Angel Mode, her glowing wings and radiant presence making her seem almost ethereal. She was already beautiful, both of his girlfriends were, but when Ruiko activated her Angel Mode, there was something especially captivating about her. And yet, in that moment, he felt lucky, not because of the power she wielded, but because she was one of his girlfriends.

A news helicopter from Nihon News Network (NNN) hovered close by, its rotors beating loudly against the air, as if trying to capture every moment. The camera was trained on them, but neither Accel nor the girls paid it any attention. The press could wait; they had far bigger concerns. For now, all eyes were on Ruiko as she descended, her form glowing in the evening light. As she touched down beside them, the radiance of her Angel Mode faded, her wings dissolving in a soft shimmer. She met their gaze with a calm, steady nod, showing no signs of fatigue despite the fierce battle she had just fought.

"You're right," Ruiko said, her voice even and composed. "I've seen from up high that everyone in the Task Force is heading toward the Sargasso."

"Oh, Ruiko! Is that flying purse dead for good now?" Frenda asked and she shook her head.

"No, it just stopped reappearing and attacking me." Ruiko huffed, her nostrils flaring in annoyance.

Typical Ruiko. Accel thought with a shake of his head. If she didn't get to land the final blow and finish off her foe, she never felt satisfied. Then again, dealing with a respawning dragon would frustrate anyone. The constant reappearance of the beast must have been grating. Still, as he thought about it, a respawning enemy brought an interesting idea to mind.

"If it keeps reappearing, shouldn't the summoner be nearby or something? There's gotta be a range to it after all." He proposed to his first girlfriend.

"Yeah, that makes sense." Ruiko nodded, looking pleased to drop this sucker dead for putting the rest of the team in danger earlier.

"Oh, oh! Should we head over and help whoever the Magician turned that dragon on?" Frenda suggested.

"Nah." Accelerator said, twisting some vectors to summon a tornado and picked both him and Frenda up. "Whoever is dealing with it can handle it. Everyone else in the Task Force should easily be able to handle that much."

"Even the civilian?" Frenda pressed.

"Even her." Accel confirmed with an eye roll. "The Hero trusted that she could handle herself and I'll trust his judgment."

"Yeah, I guess so," Ruiko reluctantly agreed, her tone betraying her frustration. With a quiet sigh, she telekinetically lifted herself into the air, floating with ease as she prepared to follow after Accel and Frenda.

"Right. So let's start heading to Tokyo Bay."

Ruiko and Frenda exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them before they both nodded in agreement. There was no point in arguing with him. His mind was set, and trying to push back would only waste time. They knew each other well enough to realize when a situation called for action rather than debate. With that unspoken decision made, the throuple, without another word, took off together, flying toward the Sargasso, ready to face whatever awaited them.

---

Mikoto and Index-san made their way toward the Sargasso in Tokyo Bay and as they advanced through the city, the unmistakable sound of roaring jets filled the air. Both of them instinctively looked up, eyes narrowing as they spotted a squadron of the City's supersonic bombers slicing through the sky, their sleek forms headed directly for the Sargasso. The bombers' engines screamed, echoing across the city, signaling their intent to strike. However, before they could finish closing the distance to their target, a massive shadow swept across the sky. A giant eagle, wings spanning the heavens, intercepted the squadron with startling speed, its enormous form dwarfing the jets as it moved in for the attack.

"Hræsvelgr." Index-san gasped.

The creature, spanning thirty meters in length, was an awe-inspiring and ethereal sight. Its entire form was intricately woven from red thread, creating a sleek and streamlined appearance. The threads stretched seamlessly across its powerful wings and body, giving it a fluid, otherworldly grace. With its piercing gaze and razor-sharp talons, the eagle moved as though the threads themselves were alive, undulating and shifting as it flew. Quickly picking up speed, Hræsvelgr shot through the ranks of the bombers, tearing through them with ease and destroying them in droves.

Watching as the City's supersonic bombers clashed with the massive eagle summoned by Gremlin, Mikoto's frown deepened. The sky above Tokyo was a chaotic battlefield of explosions and flashes of light, with the bombers retaliating by launching missile after missile at the giant eagle. Yet, despite their best efforts, the eagle dodged or withstood the attacks, tearing through the formation with ruthless efficiency. Her voice subdued, she muttered. "A fight like this… It's going to make the Japanese hate Academy City."

"Yeah, it will." Index-san agreed, her tone neutral but it carried a hint of sadness with it. "The people will rationalize that the creatures flying around Tokyo did not bother them or attack until Academy City intervened."

Mikoto let out a gusty sigh, rubbing the back of her head in frustration. "Geez! The public won't even realize how much the City is holding back, honoring the treaty with Japan by refraining from using its strategic weapons like cruise missiles or orbital strikes."

Index nodded thoughtfully, adding, "Exactly. Sadly, as a whole, the public tends to just be an ignorant mob, oblivious to the bigger picture."

"Sadly." Mikoto agreed. "But that just means that Gremlin still has the upperhand."

Instead of replying, a gasp escaped Index-san and she pointed some distance away. "Look! Touma!"

Turning her head to where the short nun was pointing, Mikoto could see Kamijou riding on top of a train of all things out of a subway tunnel. Yet, he wasn't alone. No, like always, his luck sucked and he was fighting some souped up version of the dragon Ruiko was repeatedly slaying earlier.

His luck really sucks. Mikoto thought as she watched how exiting from the tunnel and the sudden exposure to sunlight had blinded Kamijou, leaving him disorientated. An opening that his opponent exploited by charging towards him, wrecking several train cars as it moved, including the one he was standing upon.

Acting quickly, Mikoto harnessed her Electromastery, propelling herself toward the speeding train with a burst of electricity. Pushing the limits of her control, she shot through the air, moving faster than she ever had before. In a precise maneuver, she managed to grab Kamijou just before he plummeted to his death. With him securely in her grasp, along with Index-san and the nun's cat, Mikoto used another surge of her power to shift her momentum. Redirecting the force, she guided them safely onto the roof of one of the two remaining train cars, landing with a controlled skid as sparks danced around her.

Once they were safe, the trio quickly moved into position. Index-san calmly stood in front and to Kamijou's right, her serene expression unchanged as she clasped her hands together in front of her. Kamijou, in contrast, crouched behind both Index-san and Mikoto, ready for action with his typical determination. Mikoto, eager for the fight ahead, positioned herself in front and to Kamijou's left, cracking her knuckles as electricity sparked around her, her eyes full of focus and anticipation.

"What the heck, you idiot! Just because cellphones don't work, doesn't mean you can run off on your own and get cornered!" She looked at Kamijou over her shoulder as she gave him the stink eye. "Remember, you only have one life. No matter what kind of power you have. If you get in trouble, signal for help! Use smoke signals if you have to! Don't go fighting alone!."

"Hey hey! Touma will not change even if you say that, Short Hair. We have to compromise for him." Index-san said, looking annoyed, but then sheepish. "Ah, sorry Touma for interfering. But I'm not going to back down either."

Seeing the arrival of the two girls, their foe glowered, her expression darkening. With a wave of her hand, she commanded the dragon to freeze, halting its attack mid-air. Her eyes narrowed, warily assessing them, clearly considering the new threat they posed and recalculating her approach before pressing the fight. The opponent, a pregnant blonde caught between girlhood and womanhood, had fair skin and striking red eyes. Her short, wavy hair was neatly held in place by a headband. She wore a pink maternity dress paired with matching sandals and black pantyhose, exuding an almost serene air despite the palpable tension. In her hand, she held a long golden chain, intricately adorned with embedded jewels of various types that Mikoto reasoned must be her magical focus.

Suddenly, amidst the tension of the train roof and their precarious situation, something small and metallic clattered onto the surface at their feet. Mikoto glanced down and saw that Kamijou's cellphone had fallen from his pocket, sliding across the uneven roof of the train before stopping next to his shoe. Before any of them could react, the phone, as if triggered by the jostling, began playing a voicemail.

"Touma-kun, Anata… I hope you're both okay. Don't worry about me, I'm safe, despite everything that's happening in Tokyo. You know I can handle myself, right? Just focus on staying safe too. We'll see each other soon, I'm sure of it. I love you both, take care."

The message from Kamijou's mother, her voice strained but reassuring, hung in the air like a weight. Mikoto glanced up, seeing the hardened expression on Kamijou's face, but it couldn't hide the emotion she knew was swirling behind his eyes. She could tell that hearing his mother's voice, trying to stay strong despite the chaos, was gnawing at him. She could empathize, her Mama was in Tokyo too. However, unlike Kamijou-san, who was a civilian, Mikoto knew Mama could take care of herself. One did not run an underground railroad for Gemstones whilst not knowing how to handle herself in a fight if the need arose.

Kamijou clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as though he was physically trying to hold back the overwhelming sense of unfairness pressing down on him. His frustration was palpable, and Mikoto could practically feel the weight of it as she watched the storm of emotions flicker behind his eyes.

He must be thinking that he can't save her. She thought, but before the full weight of the thought could settle in, he shook his head, swallowing hard, forcing himself to push through the hopelessness as he spoke.

"Misaka-san, Index-san, I need to tell you something," Kamijou started, his voice low but steady. "The Magician I've been fighting, the one we're up against… Her name's Freyja. But the thing is… Freyja isn't actually the mother. She's the child inside the womb."

Mikoto blinked in surprise, and Kamijou continued, his voice weighed with a burden of understanding. "Two years ago, her mother conceived her. But the child, Freyja, developed magic while still in the womb. She took control of her mother's body to protect her from some kind of attack, and now they're both trapped in a situation where the mother can't survive without Freyja keeping her alive. Freyja… She joined Gremlin because she was desperate. She thought the Magic God could help her find a way to save her mother, to fix this mess."

A deep sigh escaped Mikoto's lips, her shoulders sagging slightly. She could feel the frustration building inside her at facing someone who wasn't just an enemy but also a victim, struggling to survive just like everyone else.

"I hate fighting enemies I can sympathize with." She muttered, shaking her head.

Kamijou nodded, his expression softening. "I know. I hate it too. But… I want to save Freyja."

Index-san chimed in, her voice calm and unwavering. "Of course you do."

Kamijou gave a small, resigned shrug, looking between them both. "So… Can you help me save her?"

"Obviously." She said with hesitation, her gaze locking with his, determination rising within her. Index-san nodded in agreement, her expression resolute.

Together, they would find a way.

"I will win, no matter how many of you stand against me!" Freyja declared as she finished her assessment of them, her eyes gleamed with grim determination, her voice echoing through the chaotic scene. With a swift motion, she summoned a massive red boar, which Mikoto quickly identified as Hildisvíni from Norse myth. The beast appeared below her, cushioning her fall as she leapt off the speeding train. As she fell, Freyja gave a final order to her conjured dragon, her voice sharp and commanding. "Destroy them!"

The bulked-up dragon charged toward them with terrifying speed and intensity, its massive form barreling across the tracks. Meanwhile, Freyja rode off on Hildisvíni, the great red boar galloping through the Tokyo streets and keeping pace with the train. Without hesitating, Mikoto sprang into action to deal with the dragon.

"Not on my watch!" She growled, propelling herself forward with a burst of electricity. She shot toward the dragon, closing the distance in an instant.

Let's see you handle this. With a fierce determination, Mikoto unleashed a barrage of railgun shots at point-blank range, each one leaving a trail of plasma as the Dark Matter coin she used as her ammunition cut through the air. The first coin she flicked tore into the dragon's hide like a bullet, sending a shockwave through its body. The next two shots hit their marks in rapid succession, drilling through the creature's form and filling the air with the sharp crackle of electricity. At such close range, the dragon didn't stand a chance. Its once fearsome charge faltered, and in an instant, it was blasted apart by the sheer power of Mikoto's attack.

The creature's body disintegrated into the dark red threads that had conjured it, the strands swirling in the air before vanishing completely. Freyja's eyes widened in shock at seeing her dragon obliterated in a matter of seconds. Mikoto smirked, feeling the satisfying thrill of victory course through her.

But her moment of triumph was short-lived as the train, still speeding away, left her standing on the tracks, watching as Kamijou and Index-san leapt off and chased after Freyja. Mikoto narrowed her eyes, frustration bubbling up.

Great, now I'm playing catch-up. She thought with a frown.

She watched as Freyja summoned more monsters from her seemingly endless supply of dark red thread. Two creatures materialized in front of Kamijou and Index-san, standing defensively between them and the Gremlin Magician. The first creature was a massive bird of prey, its wings spread wide, each feather intricately woven from the red thread, giving it a sleek yet powerful appearance. Its sharp beak and focused gaze, also crafted from thread, gave it a regal yet dangerous aura. The second creature was smaller but just as striking. It resembled a nimble mammal, its body compact and agile, with a long, curled tail that seemed ready to spring into action at any moment. Both constructs stood firm, exuding an almost lifelike energy against the backdrop of the desolate cityscape.

Kamijou wasted no time. He charged forward, eyes focused, fists clenched, ready to take on the monstrous creations. As the bird swooped down, talons outstretched, Kamijou raised his right hand. The moment his Imagine Breaker made contact, the bird's form unraveled instantly. The red threads that made up its body twisted and writhed in the air before disintegrating into nothing, leaving no trace of the once-menacing construct.

The giant squirrel lunged next, aiming to knock Kamijou off balance, but he ducked just in time. With a swift counter, his hand grazed the squirrel's flank. The moment he touched it, the magic holding the creature together unraveled, the dark red thread twisting into the air before vanishing, much like the bird.

As Kamijou dealt with Freyja's summons, Index-san calmly turned to their summoner. Her voice was sharp and clear, chanting what Mikoto could only describe as magic words. Each sound was precise, carrying a sense of power as Index-san's eyes glowed with determination.

Mikoto's focus briefly shifted to Index-san as she worked her magic. The Spell Intercept technique, one of the few spells that the nun could actually cast according to her Bank profile, was a complex and impressive move. It targeted the core structure of the Magician's spell, breaking down the magical components at their most fundamental level. Mikoto watched as Index-san's precise chanting severed the connections between Freyja's spells and their intended effects, disrupting the flow of energy that sustained them. Freyja's porcine mount, Hildisvíni, began to unravel, its form disintegrating into dark red thread as the spell collapsed, leaving Freyja stranded as her magic faltered.

Worse for the Magician, her body visibly stiffened, her movements becoming sluggish as she struggled to continue her summoning. Despite her efforts, she seemingly couldn't overcome Index-san's spell weaving, her magic faltering as she was rendered unable to call forth new creatures to defend herself. But then, Mikoto felt a shift. What now?

Her eyes flicked to Freyja just in time to see the Magician, though unable to summon anything else to attack Kamijou and Index-san, conjure another monster - this time for her. The air around Mikoto shimmered as a new creature appeared, immediately charging towards her. It was Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse from Norse myth.

"Sleipnir, huh?" Mikoto muttered to herself, smirking as she realized that Freyja must have considered her the bigger threat.

I'll take that as a compliment, she thought, feeling a surge of pride.

The towering horse stood before her, its dark coat shimmering under the city's lights, each of its eight muscular legs pawing at the ground with impatience. Its size and speed were intimidating, as it created flickering afterimages of its head simply from the creature moving it from side to side.

This one's going to be tough, Mikoto thought, her body tensing in anticipation as the creature charged forward.

But Mikoto was ready.

"Bring it on!" She shouted, electricity crackling around her as she prepared to face the legendary beast.

Mikoto gritted her teeth as she fired off another railgun shot, the coin propelled by a surge of electricity at incredible speed. She aimed carefully at Sleipnir, but the creature was too fast and all she managed to hit was one of its afterimages. It weaved in and out of the narrow Tokyo streets with impossible agility, its eight powerful legs a blur as it galloped past buildings and around corners. Each time Mikoto fired, the dark red thread that occasionally showed through its sleek form - the telltale sign of a wound - flickered, only to vanish as Sleipnir continued moving, making it impossible to pin down.

Building up speed, Sleipnir began circling her position on the raised train tracks. Its velocity created powerful gusts of wind that surged through the streets, swirling around her and gathering force. Within seconds, Mikoto found herself at the center of a growing tornado. The wind howled, tossing debris and shaking the street signs below. Her hair whipped around her face as she fired off more railgun shots, but the monster's speed and the chaotic winds made it hard to get a clear shot. The occasional glimpse of red thread told her that she was hitting it, but was not doing enough damage to stop the beast.

"Seriously?!" Mikoto growled as the tornado tightened around her, trapping her in the eye of the storm. Sparks crackled around her as she prepared her next move. "Fine! Let's do this!"

With a burst of energy, she unleashed a massive wave of electricity, sending arcs of lightning in every direction. The crackling energy ripped through the swirling winds, dispelling the tornado in an instant. The force of the blast even swept over Sleipnir, causing it to whinny in pain as it was forced to back off. Mikoto smirked at the sight. "Got you, didn't I?"

Seeing her opening, Mikoto pressed forward with a barrage of electrical strikes, sending bolt after bolt of lightning towards the beast. However, Sleipnir darted through the streets, leaving afterimages in its wake as it evaded her attacks with frustrating ease. The streets of Tokyo, lined with neon signs, tall office buildings, and parked cars, became a maze that Sleipnir used to its advantage. The few hits Mikoto scored revealed more of the dark red thread within its form, but it wasn't enough to slow it down.

Frustration gnawed at her as Mikoto noticed a sudden shift in Sleipnir's tactics. Unlike before, the creature was deliberately creating gusts of wind aimed at the sparse crowds below, sending civilians stumbling and scattering in panic. Street signs and loose debris were caught up in the powerful blasts, threatening to cause further chaos. Mikoto gritted her teeth, realizing she now had to divide her focus between attacking the monster and protecting the helpless civilians from the dangerous winds it was conjuring.

"What the hell?!" Mikoto's eyes widened as she processed the change in strategy. It hadn't been doing that before.

Cursing under her breath, Mikoto took action, refusing to let the creature get away with this. With a quick burst of her Electromastery, she pulled metal debris from nearby structures, forming makeshift barriers to block the worst of the wind. Sparks crackled around her as she used precise bolts of electricity to deflect smaller objects, ensuring the crowds below remained safe.

"Why don't they run?!" Mikoto muttered as she glanced at the civilians. Unlike Academy City's well-prepared residents, the people here in Tokyo seemed to lack any sense of self-preservation. Instead of fleeing to safety, many stood frozen in place or wandered aimlessly, forcing her to protect them while fighting off Sleipnir. "This is making my life so much harder!"

Another barrage of lightning bolts surged toward Sleipnir, each one fired with pinpoint accuracy. The few hits she managed to land revealed more of the dark red thread that held the creature together. But Sleipnir mostly evaded her attacks again, and with a powerful charge, it sent another violent gust of wind toward her. Mikoto reacted quickly, pulling more metallic debris from the surroundings and forming a protective barrier to shield herself from the full brunt of the attack.

"I'm getting nowhere holding back." She muttered in frustration. Her eyes narrowed as she reached for the hilt of the blade on her back. "Time to bring out the big guns."

Worochi-no-Aramasa gleamed as Mikoto drew it from its sheath, the blade catching the ambient city light. She wasted no time, channeling the lightning generated by the sword into powerful bolts of electricity. To her surprise, the strikes connected with Sleipnir - something her conventional lightning had failed to achieve.

"Anti-monster properties, huh?" Mikoto guessed, her mind racing as she remembered the legend of Susanoo-no-Mikoto slaying Yamata-no-Orochi using an iteration of her weapon. "Looks like this sword has more tricks up its sleeve than I thought."

Taking advantage of Sleipnir's momentary vulnerability, Mikoto stabbed Worochi-no-Aramasa into the ground and unleashed her next attack.

"Inazuma (稲妻, Lightning Cage)!" she called out as bolts of lightning formed a cage around the monster. The electrical barrier crackled as it boxed Sleipnir in, trapping it within a ten-foot area. The beast whinnied and thrashed, trying to escape, but the lightning cage held firm.

Mikoto's eyes gleamed with determination as she prepared to finish it off.

"Orochisen (オロチ閃, Orochi Flash)!" She shouted, pulling off a quick-draw strike with the blade. Eight serpentine dragons of lightning erupted from the sword, their electrical forms slithering through the air toward Sleipnir. The dragons struck from all sides, tearing into the monster's form.

Sleipnir, made of dark red thread, disintegrated under the assault. The threads that held it together unraveled, twisting and writhing before they faded into nothingness. Mikoto breathed a sigh of relief as the last remnants of the monster disappeared into the air. No new iteration of Sleipnir appeared, and she assumed that Kamijou and Index-san had managed to deal with the Magician that had summoned it.

"Finally," Mikoto muttered, sheathing Worochi-no-Aramasa and glancing further down the train line where Kamijou and Index-san had been fighting Freyja. It seemed that while she had been occupied with Sleipnir, they had already dealt with the Magician and moved on. It was time to catch up with the others and finish this.

As she finished sheathing Worochi-no-Aramasa with a sharp click, the residual sparks of lightning fading from the blade as it settled into its scabbard. Her gaze turned towards Tokyo Bay, narrowing in determination. The immediate threat of Sleipnir was behind her, and now, she needed to focus on rejoining the fight and assisting the others as they made their way toward the Sargasso.

"Time to catch up with everyone." She muttered before launching herself back into the air, her powers propelling her toward the Sargasso with renewed purpose.

---

Naru and Kashiwagi-san materialized on the waterfront of Tokyo Bay, the familiar salty breeze brushing against their skin. They had zeroed in on this part of the waterfront after spotting Kamijou and Index-san from a distance while teleporting. Now, as they stood near the river mouth, Naru's gaze fell on Kamijou, who was, to her surprise, carrying a pregnant blonde woman. She blinked in confusion, her brow furrowing.

"What the hell are you doing with a pregnant woman?" Naru asked, her voice laced with exasperation.

Kamijou, looking a bit sheepish, hastily explained, "She's a Magician. She joined Gremlin because of… her situation. We saved her after defeating her."

Naru shook her head, letting out a sigh. "Only you, Kamijou. Only you."

Kashiwagi-san nodded in agreement. "If it were me, I'd have killed Freyja's Incarnation on sight. Only a hero like Kamijou-sama would go so far as to save an opponent."

At that, Index-san gasped. "Freyja's an Incarnation? Of course! It all makes sense now."

Kashiwagi-san nodded, her voice calm. "Yes, she's the Incarnation of the Norse goddess whose name she adopted."

Before they could dwell on that, a motorboat sped into view, carrying Birdway-san, Lessar-san, and Kumokawa-san. Spotting them, the girls quickly maneuvered the boat that they'd somehow acquired around and pulled up to the waterfront beside them. "Before anyone could speak, Mikoto-senpai descended gracefully from the sky and perched on a nearby section the metal railing that bordered the bayside like a poised dancer, using her magnetism to steady herself.

"You asked me for help, Kamijou, and then you just left me behind?" The [Railgun] scolded, her eyes narrowing as she shot Kamijou a sharp, disapproving look. Her tone was a mix of frustration and reproach, clearly not amused by his actions.

Birdway-san's eyes flicked to the pregnant woman in Kamijou's arms, and she shot him an accusing look. Naru quickly cut in before things could escalate. "She's a rescued Gremlin Magician."

"Rescued?" Kumokawa-san asked, clearly confused.

"Yes, rescued," Rui-chan confirmed as she landed beside them with her partners following behind her, her eyes glaring at Kamijou. "Kamijou's such a hero that he'd even save his enemies."

Naru sighed and mentally reached out to Kurama. Rui-chan's really holding a grudge, huh?

Of course she is. Kurama replied. Have you forgotten what your bestie is like?

No. Naru thought back. I'm just exasperated.

As they debated what to do with Freyja, Kashiwagi-san's voice cut through the discussion. "The enemy is attacking again."

As she spoke, dark smoke materialized from thin air, swirling and coalescing into humanoid figures made of dense, swirling shadows. Their forms emerged as intricate automata with clockwork mechanisms embedded throughout their bodies. Gears, cogs, and chains were interwoven with the wispy shadows, giving the impression they were powered by some dark, mechanical force. Their glowing eyes and inner cores pulsed with a faint orange light, illuminating the otherwise shadowy mass that made up their forms. Each one was armed with large, menacing weapons like axes and hammers, also forged from the same shadowy material, adding to their ominous presence.

The majority of the constructs charged toward them, seemingly intent on using their melee weapons. Some, armed with pikes, however lowered their polearms and fired bolts of shadow in a volley of suppressive fire to support their charging fellows. A charge that they met head on.

Without hesitation, Naru summoned the water from the bay in powerful waves that crashed into the advancing constructs, knocking them off their feet and destabilizing their formations. She followed up by feeding chilling chakra into the water, freezing it mid-motion and forming massive, jagged spears of ice that pierced through the ranks of the constructs. Still not done, she manipulated the frozen water to create sharp, crystalline spikes that shot out like projectiles, shattering even more of the enemy constructs in droves.

Not to be outdone, Mikoto-senpai unleashed a devastating storm of lightning bolts, each one crackling with precision as they shot through the air. Her Electromastery allowed her to control the flow of electricity with pinpoint accuracy, and each bolt targeted multiple constructs simultaneously. The constructs stood no chance against this and as the lightning hit them, their glowing orange eyes flickered before extinguishing, their forms shuddering under the electrical surge. The gears, chains, and cogs that powered their bodies melted and twisted under the immense heat, causing the constructs to collapse into heaps of smoldering, shadowy remains. Their large, shadow-forged weapons fell from their hands, dissolving into dark mist as the constructs were obliterated by the relentless storm of electricity.

Wrapping up the Trinity's contribution to the fight, Rui-chan unleashed a precise barrage of particle beams. The concentrated energy sliced through the air with laser-like precision, intercepting every incoming shadow bolt fired by the ranged constructs. As her beams collided with the bolts, there was a brilliant clash of opposing forces. Each impact resulted in a brief flash of light, the energy from Rui-chan's particle beams neutralizing the shadow bolts. Both forces dissolved mid-air, canceling each other out and leaving nothing but faint traces of dissipating energy in their wake.

The other non-Trinity members of the task force weren't slouches either as demonstrated by Kashiwagi-san, who raised her hand, summoning a massive volley of fire bolts. The searing flames shot forward in rapid succession, each one hitting its target with devastating accuracy. The constructs, unable to withstand the intense heat, collapsed under the pressure of the attack, their shadowy forms consumed by the fiery inferno, leaving nothing but molten remnants.

From where he stood next to Rui-chan, Accel slammed his cane into the ground and activated his vector manipulation that sent a shockwave rippling outward, snaking along the pavement as the very earth tore apart beneath it. The constructs caught in its path were shredded instantly, their mechanical bodies crushed and ripped asunder by the overwhelming force, gears and chains scattering into the air.

Their British allies contributed as well, with Birdway-san wielding her Symbolic Weapon in sword mode. With expert precision, she swung the blade, releasing razor-sharp vacuum blades that effortlessly sliced through the constructs. Each vacuum blade that made contact with a shadowy automata, cut it cleanly in half. As the intricate clockwork mechanisms and glowing eyes of the constructs flickered out, their forms disintegrated, leaving nothing but fragments in their wake.

At the same time, Lessar-san swung her polearm, chanting, "Fire of the right and water of the back, mix the colors of your directions with the wind. The wind of the back right that contrarily holds both the active and the passive becomes that which indicates calamity and a turning point!"

In tandem with her chant, she flourished a small bag towards the enemy, releasing its contents of spices into the air. The spices swirled, forming a complex magic circle above the advancing constructs. With a bright flash, the circle detonated, unleashing a surge of wind that tore through the enemy ranks. The powerful gust ripped apart the shadowy figures, scattering their mechanical remnants like leaves in the wind.

As those capable of ranged attacks continued to thin the enemy's ranks, Kumokawa-san leapt from the boat, preparing to engage the constructs in close combat. Her movements were sharp and precise, her body tensing in anticipation as the constructs drew closer. Kamijou-san mirrored her readiness, standing by with his Imagine Breaker at the ready, prepared to neutralize any constructs that made it past the barrage of ranged attacks. Together, they formed a strong defensive front, ready to take on any adversaries that broke through.

And where was Index-san in all this? She was being a smart aleck, that's what!

"This is the Svartálfa spell." The nun informed them, a satisfied look on her face as if the information was super useful.

Naru's eyebrow twitched as she observed the chaos unfolding around them. Sure, identifying the spell was mildly helpful, but with constructs still charging toward them, their glowing orange eyes filled with malice, it wasn't exactly a game-changer.

Not exactly helpful. Naru thought to herself.

Tch, useless as ever. Kurama's voice grumbled in Naru's mind, clearly annoyed. Just identifying spells doesn't get rid of them. You'd think the nun could be more helpful.

Exactly. She thought back as she mentally sighed in agreement before she snapped her attention back to the incoming constructs, readying herself for another round of combat.

Just then, Frenda-chan's voice cut through the air as she fired off two Handheld Anti-Tank Missile Warheads, her voice thick with frustration. "I don't care what the spell's called! I'm tired of dealing with all these damned summons!"

Just as the missiles hit their marks, exploding in the midst of the advancing constructs and shattering their shadowy forms into swirling debris of gears and chains, a figure suddenly leapt into the battlefield from seemingly out of nowhere. He was a rather tall man, with a lean, almost androgynous build. His sharp, black eyes and short, somewhat spiky black hair gave him an intense, focused look. He wore a white coat that flowed over his body, cinched at the waist with a belt that featured a buckle embossed with a dragon. Black gloves and shoes completed his outfit, giving him an aura of both mystery and control as he landed amidst the chaos.

With a flash of blue, the man blitzed into the enemy ranks, moving with incredible speed. The blue light came from a bluish laser sword that crackled to life, extending from his middle and index fingers. This sword, glowing with ethereal energy, seemed almost alive as it hummed with power. It stretched several meters from his hand, slicing through the shadowy constructs effortlessly. Each time the blade made contact, the shadowy forms disintegrated into nothingness, leaving only scattered mechanical gears and cogs, which quickly disappeared entirely.

Meanwhile, Kamijou charged forward, his right hand outstretched, his gaze fixed on a construct that had slipped past the team's barrage of attacks. The moment his Imagine Breaker connected with the construct, the magic animating it was dispelled instantly. The shadowy figure disintegrated with a sound reminiscent of shattering glass, vanishing into thin air as though it had never existed, leaving no trace behind.

Not far from Kamijou, Kumokawa-san showcased her martial prowess as she engaged another construct. She swiftly dodged its heavy, shadow-forged weapon with fluid grace, sidestepping with barely a sound. In a single fluid motion, she struck its torso with a precise palm strike, the force of her blow shattering the construct's clockwork mechanisms. It collapsed in a heap of malfunctioning gears and cogs at her feet. As she stood straight, her eyes flickered to the mysterious newcomer. The shock was evident on her face as recognition dawned.

"Kihara Kagun-sensei!" She gasped, her voice filled with both disbelief and cautious hope.

Naru's eyes flicked toward the supposed Kihara as well, her mind recalling the details from his intel file. The man certainly matched the description. Kihara Kagun, if she remembered correctly, had been Kumokawa-san's Student Keeper, someone responsible for guiding troubled Academy City students back to a stable school life. If anyone would recognize him, it would be Kumokawa-san. After all, his sudden disappearance had left unfinished business between them.

Looks like Kumokawa's decision to join this mission paid off. Kurama commented with a trace of disbelief.

Seems so. Naru mentally replied. Damn, guess fate can be kind at times.

Yeah, it can. Kurama mused. Fate may be a bitch most of the time, but every now and then, she throws us mortals a bone.

Seemingly ignoring Kumokawa-san, Kihara Kagun moved with eerie precision. His laser sword, crackling with blue energy, cut through dozens of constructs with ease. Each time the glowing edge made contact, the constructs dissolved into nothingness, their gears and chains scattering momentarily before vanishing. Despite the ongoing chaos, Kihara maintained an unsettling calm, his swift, efficient strikes showing his complete control over himself whilst in battle.

Meanwhile, Lessar-san had moved to stand beside the seemingly useless Index-san, her polearm glinting in the battlefield's dim light. The unique weapon, with blades shaped like a four-digit hand, parried the oversized ax of a charging construct. The force of her block sent the construct stumbling back, giving her the perfect opening. With a swift and precise movement, she gutted the shadowy figure, her polearm cutting through its mechanical innards. The construct crumbled into a mass of swirling shadows, its gears and chains clattering uselessly to the ground before disintegrating.

At the same time, Birdway-san faced her own construct, expertly breaking its guard with a flurry of calculated strikes. She thrust her Symbolic Weapon deep into the construct's chest. In that instant, spiraling winds, sheathed around the blade, erupted from the point of contact. The violent winds tore through the construct from the inside out, ripping apart its shadowy form as its gears, cogs, and orange-lit core shattered into a whirlwind of debris.

In that exact moment, as Kihara Kagun's weapon cleaved through another construct with ease, both Birdway and Index-san instinctively identified the sword. Their voices merged into an unrehearsed chorus.

"Whitting!" They both declared, recognizing the legendary weapon that Kagun wielded with such ruthless efficiency.

A tense glare passed between the two girls, but Index-san smirked knowingly. With Birdway forced to focus on the battlefield, she had no choice but to abandon the moment of rivalry. Especially as a trio of smaller, nimbler shadow automatons rushed at Birdway, attempting to overwhelm her with sheer numbers. Birdway moved with precision, her attention fully on defending herself, leaving the nun free to explain Whitting's secrets without interruption. This opening was all Index-san needed, and she smugly took over the explanation.

How impure. Naru commented as she pulled a wave of water from Tokyo Bay. The torrent surged forward, washing over and drowning dozens of the shadowy constructs, their gears and cogs grinding to a halt before they were swept away.

You're the pot calling the kettle black, aren't you? Kurama retorted with a snort.

Kurama~! Hush! Naru whined, embarrassed at being called out.

Her vulpine partner just broke out into a laugh.

As Naru had her conversation with her partner, Index-san, a smug smile on her face, explained in a tone that dripped with satisfaction, as if imparting invaluable wisdom to the group. "Whitting is based on the sword of Bersi from the Icelandic sagas. Its ability is that the more attacks are launched at its user, the more powerful the sword becomes."

Naru's gaze flicked over to Kihara Kagun, watching as the laser sword in his hand glowed even brighter with each failed attempt on his life.

That's probably why, she thought, the sword's glow gets more intense with every attack he dodges.

With every shadowy construct that lunged at him, Whitting's glow and strength grew in intensity, allowing Kagun to decimate even larger groups with fewer strikes. The constructs fell apart as his offensive surged, the glowing blade cleaving through them as if they were nothing more than shadows.

That sword sounds like cheating. Naru mentally noted.

You and your friends have powers others would call cheating too. Kurama retorted dryly.

Naru conceded with a slight mental chuckle before focusing back on the battlefield. Drawing upon her chakra, she pulled a vast quantity of water from Tokyo Bay and shaped it into towering walls of ice. The barriers shimmered in the sunlight as they rapidly formed, standing strong between the team and the incoming volleys of shadow bolts from the constructs. The frozen barricades shattered the bolts on impact, protecting both the team and Kihara Kagun from the ranged attack.

Rui-chan, freed from the duty of intercepting incoming shadow bolts, wasted no time in launching her own offensive. She conjured an armory's worth of lances of strange matter using her emulated Dark Matter ability. These lances shot through the air with deadly precision, each one spearing through multiple constructs. Some of the lances pierced three or even four shadowy figures in a single shot, disintegrating them upon contact, leaving behind only faint traces of swirling shadow.

Not to be outdone by either of her kohai, the ever-competitive Mikoto-senpai unleashed a barrage of low-yield railgun shots. Each electrically charged projectile ripped through multiple constructs just as effectively as Rui-chan's Dark Matter spears. The shadowy figures shattered upon impact, their glowing orange eyes flickering briefly before extinguishing completely. As the constructs crumbled, their mechanical bodies disintegrated into nothingness.

For his part, Accel tapped the ground lightly with his cane, unleashing his vector control with precise intent. From the point of impact, a web of shockwaves snaked across the ground, tearing through the constructs' mechanical frames effortlessly. The shockwaves circled a large group of constructs, closing in on them like a tightening noose. Just as the constructs realized their peril, the ground beneath them erupted violently, the force of the explosion obliterating dozens of the shadowy figures in one massive, devastating blow.

With a bloodthirsty smile and a soft giggle of enjoyment at the destruction she was unleashing, Kashiwagi-san's usual stoic nature was slipping away, a clear sign of the immense magic she was tapping into. As an Incarnation, her emotions were typically sealed off, but the surge of power allowed her access to the raw emotions she normally couldn't feel. Conjuring a massive fire tornado, she sent it spiraling into the heart of the enemy constructs' ranks. The swirling flames engulfed them, incinerating the shadowy figures entirely and leaving behind only scorched fragments of gears and cogs scattered in the charred aftermath.

Even Frenda-chan, who, no offense to her, was the weakest member of the task force, was more than pulling her weight in this battle. She fired off a salvo of four Handheld Anti-Tank Missile Warheads with one hand, each explosion rocking the battlefield and blowing up several of the shadowy constructs. The dark forms disintegrated under the sheer force of the blasts, their mechanical gears and chains scattering into nothingness. Simultaneously, she used her other hand to fire shots from her pistol, each round loaded with High Explosive bullets that riddled any construct daring to get too close, blowing them up from the inside.

Then there were their pure melee fighters, Kamijou and Kumokawa-san. Kamijou moved through the swarming masses of constructs with the gracelessness of a drunk, stumbling and dodging attacks with sheer luck or perhaps an instinct honed by constant peril. Despite his awkward movements, he either narrowly avoided every attack headed his way or nullified them with his right hand. Each time his Imagine Breaker made contact, the construct that had dared to attack him dissolved into wisps of shadow and mechanical debris, leaving him unscathed. Kumokawa-san, on the other hand, moved with a sharp, focused precision, her martial arts devastating the constructs around her. Even though she was visibly distracted by Kihara Kagun's presence, her eyes constantly flicking toward him, her strikes never missed their mark. With seamless grace, she smashed through any construct that entered her range, her body moving like a well-oiled machine, effortlessly destroying the shadowy enemies with every fluid motion.

The relentless attacks from the team overwhelmed the shadowy constructs. Their once menacing forms, crafted from dense, swirling shadows interwoven with intricate clockwork mechanisms, crumbled under the barrage. Each strike from Naru, Rui-chan, Mikoto-senpai, and the others caused the constructs' glowing orange eyes to flicker out as their shadowy bodies and weapons began to dissolve. Gears, cogs, and shattered fragments seemed to remain for mere moments before they too were swept away, fading into nothingness as the shadows from which they'd been forged dissipated into the air. With every hit, the constructs vanished entirely, leaving no trace of their presence.

As the remaining enemies dwindled, Kihara Kagun made his final move. Dashing forward in a blur of speed, he swung Whitting in a wide arc. The overwhelming power of the sword vaporized the last group of Svartálfa constructs instantly. All traces of their forms, from their shadowy bodies to the lingering debris, dissolved into darkness and faded completely from the battlefield. In mere seconds, the battlefield was cleared, the once-dominating shadows now gone, leaving only the empty space where they had fought.

As the battle concluded, Kihara Kagun dismissed Whitting, the ethereal blue energy fading from his fingertips. He moved calmly to join the group, passing by Kumokawa-san. With a small nod, he acknowledged her, and she returned his greeting with a smile. But as he walked past, her eyes widened in sudden alarm.

"Wait! Where did you get that!?" She exclaimed, pointing at his back. "Isn't that directly over your spinal column?!"

Naru, curious at Kumokawa-san's outburst, turned to look. A slight scar was visible at the back of Kihara Kagun's neck, barely noticeable at first but all too obvious now that it was pointed out.

Kihara Kagun, his voice steady and calm, explained the truth. "I am, in fact, dead. Gremlin used their magic to resurrect me as an Einherjar, a puppet under Othinus's control. However, before my death, I embedded a chip beneath this scar. It follows a programmed list of actions - things I would 'actually do,' actions that are 'true to me.' This ensures that even in death, I cannot be forced to act against my will."

Kashiwagi-san nodded, unfazed by this grim revelation. "That explains why you could help us despite being one of the enemy's pawns."

Kihara Kagun returned her nod as if they were discussing something far more mundane. The two of them were either truly insane or just utterly broken as people.

My money's on the latter. Kurama piped up, his tone dry and unimpressed.

Kurama! Hush! Naru scolded internally.

Kumokawa-san, however, seemed completely resolute. She stepped closer to Kagun and addressed the rest of the task force with a calm but firm tone. "This is where I part ways. I'm staying with him. If for no other reason than to stop him from doing more crazy, stupid things."

Everyone exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of how to respond to Kumokawa-san's declaration. But Kashiwagi-san didn't hesitate. She calmly took the Incarnation of Freyja's unconscious body from Kamijou, who had just picked her back up now that the battle had concluded after having set her down next to Index-san during the fight, and handed her over to Kumokawa-san without missing a beat. "Good luck."

The team shot her disbelieving looks, with everyone momentarily pausing in surprise. Kamijou, in particular, seemed especially taken aback, blinking in confusion as if trying and failing to comprehend Kashiwagi-san's casual handling of the situation. The sheer nonchalance with which she passed the pregnant Gremlin Magician over to Kumokawa-san, given everything that had just transpired, left them all briefly stunned.

"It's the logical thing to do." Kashiwagi-san said with a nonchalant shrug. "From a tactical perspective, it makes sense since Kumokawa-san is a civilian, and it removes a potential liability from the battlefield. Plus, it's clear this is what she wants, so there's no point in forcing her to stay."

No one could dispute her reasoning, and after a moment of silence, Kumokawa-san nodded in agreement, her gaze steady as she surveyed the task force. Passing Freyja over to Kihara Kagun, she crossed her arms and addressed them with a firm voice. "Kashiwagi-san's right. This is my choice, and it makes the most sense."

"They're right." Accel added with a snort, crossing his own arms and flashing a half-smirk. His tone was blunt, but there was no mistaking the agreement behind his words. He clearly saw the logic in the decision, even if his usual attitude didn't fully show it.

Reluctantly, one by one, the team agreed, despite the unease that lingered. Kurama's voice echoed in Naru's mind with a bemused tone. For all their reputations as badasses, they're just a bunch of bleeding hearts.

Shut up, Naru replied telepathically, her exasperation clear.

"All right, that's settled. Everyone on the motorboat." Rui-chan said firmly, her voice cutting through the lingering uncertainty. There was no hesitation in her tone, only the practical drive to get the mission moving again. It was typical of Rui-chan to keep things moving forward, her eyes always set on the next goal.

As they complied, Naru couldn't help but glance back, watching Kumokawa-san, now holding Freyja again, follow Kihara Kagun into the distance. A strange sense of finality hung in the air. She knew that after this Incident, they would be hunted, but she silently wished that Kumokawa-san and Kihara Kagun could find some peace together.

Let's hope they find happiness, even with all odds against them. She thought, genuinely wishing them well. As far as she knew, Kagun seemed like one of the rare Kiharas who could actually be considered decent - as far as a Kihara could ever be. And Kumokawa-san seemed like a reasonable person too. She really hoped they could find a way to make it work, despite everything they were up against.

The Incident isn't over yet, Naru. Kurama reminded her, his tone firm but not unkind as he broke her from her thoughts. Save those thoughts for later.

You're right, She responded mentally and offered him a mental nod. Turning away from the scene behind her, she set her eyes on the Sargasso in Tokyo Bay that they were motoring toward.

It was an eerie sight, a massive, chaotic graveyard of maritime debris where the remains of countless ships - fishing boats, transport vessels, passenger liners, and even military ships - were stacked haphazardly. The wreckage formed a sprawling, jagged mountain of rusted metal and broken wood, with some ships still partially afloat while others were wedged deep into the pile.

In the fading evening light, the wreckage cast long shadows across the bay, giving the scene a ghostly, almost apocalyptic feeling. Shattered hulls and splintered decks rose ominously from the mass, their twisted beams reaching out like skeletal hands grasping for the sky. The landscape was unstable and treacherous, a reminder of the countless lives and stories buried beneath the waves, forgotten in the depths of the ocean's embrace.

Gazing at the ominous, almost melancholic sight of the Sargasso, Naru couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. This massive graveyard of ships, piled high with forgotten wreckage, would be the stage for their latest, perhaps final, showdown with Gremlin. The sight stirred something deep inside her, a sense of determination surging through her veins, reminding her that this was it - the culmination of all their war with Gremlin. With that conviction fueling her, she clenched her fists, her gaze unwavering as she declared with absolute resolve, "It's time to end this!"

---

Done and done! Thanks to Nameless as always!

Woooo! Talk about a chapter. It gets right into the excitement of the whole thing, huh? And can I say that Touma's luck is utter garbage? Like, who in this group even let him have a chance to fight a pregnant woman?! It's like the author just has it out for him when it comes to his morals, huh?

Nameless: Apologies if you guys wanted us to write out what happened to Leivinia and co. or Touma's full fight with Freyja. Unfortunately, as we've said before, we're not rewriting canon and nothing much changed in those events from canon. Plus those events also didn't really influence what happens in what we did choose to show. Hence, we chose not to show them. If you want to read what happened, please do give canon a read instead.

Mostly enjoyed the interaction between Mikoto and Index as they worked to support Touma. It was cute even if they are 'bitter' rivals. Naru's fight with her current partner was a blast too! Hope you enjoyed all the original content!

Nameless: Like E4E said, I hope everyone liked the original content we introduced into this set of canon events. We made some creative twists to existing scenes, even if they were minor. Did you appreciate how we expanded beyond the Muspell constructs from canon, adding other variants from different Norse Realms? I also hope you guys liked the original scenes. For example, was Mikoto's battle with Sleipnir as thrilling as we aimed for it to be? We'd love to hear your thoughts, whether it's about the changes or anything else, so please consider leaving a comment/review!

You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!