Hello again everyone. I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. I've been quite nervous to release this one, but hopefully you'll all like it. Sorry this one took a bit to come out, I've not been too well the past couple weeks, and writing is hard when you can't concentrate properly. I'd rather delay a release than release something sub-par. What you're looking at right now is the third version of this chapter, I just couldn't get it right.

Something I should quickly mention is the fact that I'd read up to the end of NT when I started planning this; I didn't even know that the next series had come out. Future books threw a wrench in the creation of this series, and at this point it was making me depressed thinking about how I needed to remake the entire arc around Last Order, but I'm sure I can work with it and keep it pretty much the same. Still upsetting though.

Anyways, as for the chapters, as I write more and get more comfortable with this, I'll likely increase chapter length (eventually), so look forward to that.

Oh, one more thing. I still really appreciate all the positive feedback. This is the first time I've ever put my work out to the public, so seeing people enjoy my story is a very nice feeling. I truly do appreciate all your nice words, and your questions. They mean a lot to me.

Welp, enough delaying.

Edit: This chapter isn't great, and I'm going to rewrite it sometime in the future, to show off some more positive parts of Last Order's character. After a few more chapters are written, I will start it again from scratch. Hopefully I won't assassinate her character next time!

Dark May

District 7 was the second largest district in Academy City. It was a hub for student dorms and schools, and also contained the Windowless Building. Both Touma and Mikoto lived there during their school days. As it had the highest population density in the city, it also had one of the highest crime rates, much higher than that of District 22.

Sirens could be heard near the border between District 7 and District 22, as ambulances rushed to the scene of the destruction caused by Last Order. The clone stood at the entrance to another particular alley, looking around in it. She took a deep breath. "Definitely in this District, I can tell, says Misaka as Misaka feels it out. I'm just not sure where..."

Mikoto stood a few feet away, hands on her hips, impatiently tapping her feet. "Well, how long are you gonna be? We're busy, and we don't exactly have the time to screw around here doing nothing." Touma stood behind her, unsure of what to even say to the clone.

She shut her eyes, ignoring her older sister. "That's an interesting result..." she mumbled a quick Misaka as Misaka, focussing. "Something should come through any second now... any-"

A shockwave shook the ground as a loud crash resounded throughout the district, and both Touma and Mikoto's radios immediately started up. "Angel, did you feel that?"

Mikoto had jumped on to a wall the moment she felt it, and she looked over to Touma to see him taking out his radio, regaining his balance. "Yeah, Commander, I definitely felt that one. Either it's an earthquake, or that was very near to us."

Mikoto spoke into her radio. "Commander Yomikawa, is there any way that you can figure out where it's originating from?"

Yomikawa sighed. There was a lot of noise over her end. "I'm getting a lot of reports, but they're all jumbled up. A whole load of different locations and esper powers are being described. I'm trying to compile the results to see which ones are the most common, but with the constant influx it'll take some time."

"Hold on a moment. Where are you right now, Yomikawa?"

"Huh? I'm driving over, obviously."

Touma chimed in. "That sounds incredibly irresponsible, Commander."

"Yeah, well, it doesn't matter. I'm too busy to wait. I'll be over to you in a few minutes, so just stay put."

Last Order brushed her hair out of her eyes as she wandered over. "Don't bother, says Misaka as Misaka is dismissive."

Yomikawa didn't answer for a moment. "That couldn't be... Is that you, Last Order?"

The clone sighed. "Hello, you traitorous bitch. How are you feeling after ruining my life, says Misaka as Misaka is filled with malice?"

"Last Order, I-" Static cut off the rest of the sentence as a jamming frequency emanated from the girl.

"I don't want to talk to her any longer. I can find where this is all coming from and tell you how to get there under one condition, says Misaka as Misaka sets up an arrangement."

Mikoto looked sceptical. "And that is?"

"I want to come with you to the source, says Misaka as Misaka confirms her side of the deal. I've got some business there."

The Level 5 thought for a moment. "I'll let you come with us, if you tell us this tale you were going to spin."

She nodded as she reached behind her left ear and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, and a high pitched sound rang out for a moment as the air around them became filled with static. Electricity began arcing off the girl, to the floor and the walls, and between the pipes, forming a constantly expanding web of sorts, with her at the centre. Then, as suddenly as it started, it just faded away, and Last Order fell sideways against a wall. It had only lasted about 20 seconds, but sweat covered her forehead and her eyes were unfocused, and she was breathing so heavily it was as if she had been running a marathon.

Mikoto stood there in awe. "That was an ability on scale of a Level 5! How did you manage that!?"

Last Order waited a few moments to catch her breath. "I have an electrode... that connects to my brain... and the Network... says Misaka as Misaka is exhausted... from pushing herself over her limit..." She took a few more breaths, and her eyes slowly regained their sharp glare. "It acts similarly to a drug called body crystal, amplifying my ability without any of the toxic aftereffects, supplementing some of the work onto the Misaka Network, says Misaka as Misaka explains herself. I really shouldn't use it unless I absolutely have to, because it massively pushes me over my limit. Supercharging my Radio Silence isn't exactly healthy." She picked herself up, and began to walk down the alley. "Follow me, I know exactly where to go."

Mikoto and Touma glanced at each other, before cautiously following the clone. She meticulously made her way through alleys, completely silent. Once she came to a an unavoidable public area, she ran up to the road and leapt over it using her ability, before vanishing into the opposite alley. It took a moment for them to catch up, since Touma didn't have the luxury to simply ignore traffic, thanks to Imagine Breaker.

By the time they got across, Last Order was already gripping some woman's collar. "The hell did you say to me, says Misaka as Misaka warns you?"

Moro sprung into action. "Get off her, or I'll be forced to take you in!"

The clone clicked her tongue, letting the woman go. She brushed herself off, angrily strutting away. "Damn doll, thinking it's a person. She'll be-"

Mikoto stood in front of the woman, a smile on her face. "Sorry ma'am, but I just need to take your name."

"O-oh, of course. It's Asa. Asa Tanaka." She gave off a little smirk. "Make sure you document how that dumb doll attacked me. These things don't belong out of their labs. Makes me sick."

Touma looked as if he was about to step in for a fight, but hesitated when he saw that Mikoto had a very sweet smile on her face. "Of course. I'll document how you called my younger sister a doll." Asa's face fell as she realised who she was speaking to. "I'll document all about how you tripped and broke your nose on the pavement too."

Asa backed away slowly. "I haven't broken my nose though! If you're going to hit me, that's not-"

The Level 5 laughed. "On the contrary, my friend." She reared back her fist, electricity sparking around it, and her smile disappeared. "You did this to yourself."

The punch landed with a satisfying crunch, Asa's body being thrown back into the wall, where she crumpled over and didn't move.

"Woo, that felt great! I need to hit someone terrible every now and then. Definitely makes me feel better after a bad night."

Touma checked Asa, to make sure she wasn't dead. "That was one hell of a punch, Mikoto."

She cracked her knuckles. "I-I have been working out."

He laughed, before turning to Last Order. "How did she know you were a clone?"

Last Order raised an eyebrow. "Because it's public information, says Misaka as Misaka is confused?"

The Angel duo froze. "What?!"

"Level 6 Shift went public over 4 years ago, a little after the April 22nd incident, says Misaka as Misaka looks at you both in a concerned manner."

Touma tilted his head. "I'm sorry, the April 22nd incident?"

Last Order continued further into the alley, and the pair followed her. "I don't know too much about it myself, but there was a hostage situation in District 15, and Misaka 10046 got caught up in it. She was very fond of Accelerator, says Misaka as Misaka remarks on her uniqueness. Accelerator showed up to stop it, and he hesitated when he saw that they had her." She shook her head. "That was 10046's last memory... I don't know what happened after that. Accelerator refuses to tell me, says as Misaka as Misaka laments her loss." She took a deep breath. "I've been separated from the Network for a few years now, so even if one of the other Misaka's know, I don't. I suspect that if you ask that traitor you call a commander about the April 22nd incident, she'll be able to answer your questions, says Misaka as Misaka hates relying on that woman."

Mikoto was left speechless. She knew that Accelerator had been let out of prison to actively combat any darkness that formed in the city, but she had no idea it would have led to that. "I... I'm so sorry that happened, Last Order..."

Touma nodded. "I really wish I knew. I'm sorry I couldn't stop them..."

She stopped for a moment, putting some money into a nearby vending machine. "If you were sorry, you would've been there, says Misaka as Misaka tells you how she really feels." She cracked open the can of lumpy pomegranate coffee. "If you cared, you wouldn't have deserted me. Especially you, oh-so-caring Big Sister." She took a quick sip, shifting her gaze to Touma. "Now I understand why Accelerator mockingly calls you Hero, says Misaka as Misaka wishes you weren't such hypocrites."

Touma looked genuinely hurt. "You... you could've asked for help at any point..."

She laughed dryly. "Yeah right. As if you'd give a damn about us when we were wanted fugitives, says Misaka as Misaka sees through your lie. I'm sure you tell yourself that to feel better, but let's be real. Neither of you would want to help a wanted murderer. You'd much rather help the traitor or that damned teleporter turn me in." She clicked her tongue. "You're just like the rest of them, says Misaka as Misaka reveals your true intentions."

Mikoto stood there silently, unable to respond. She knew that over the last few years she'd neglected her Sisters when they needed her. The very reason she joined Angel was to try to make up for that. But had Last Order come to her for help, and Yomikawa has asked to take her in, she would have handed her over to the commander. The same was true for Kuroko, wherever she was these days. She would have thought that it was the right thing to do, instead of sheltering a wanted criminal. Judging by Touma's silence, it was safe to say that he felt the same way. She had no doubt that he would want to help her, but as for whether he would put Index in danger to help Last Order evade justice was another matter entirely.

The clone approached the wall where the alley took a sharp turn, and beckoned the pair over, keeping a finger over her lips to indicate them to be silent. "I suggest you don't go any further, says Misaka as Misaka gives you a warning."

Mikoto peaked around the corner, where she saw several people in a uniform she didn't recognise, all with guns in their hands. "What is this place?"

"This is where the clash of powers came from, says Misaka as Misaka point over to the tall building nearby."

Mikoto tooted her head. "Are you sure? I don't see any signs of a fight."

Last Order clicked her tongue. "They've done a good job at cleaning it up, so you don't see anything wrong if you don't know what the tells are, says Misaka as Misaka understands your confusion. I guess that if you don't live in the darkness then you don't recognise these things."

Mikoto froze up. How much had she missed as a member of Angel? How much had been covered up by the darkness? There would have been so many crimes reported that are simply ignored because of clean up jobs like these. Something that simply wouldn't be recognised, like how Antiskill never picked up on Level 6 Shift despite the number of deaths. How many people had she left to die because she-

A warm feeling took her away from her swarming thoughts as Touma pulled her in for a hug. "Don't worry. I'm sure that we've helped plenty of people. Even if we have missed some things, I reckon that we still help people just by being there." He let out a little giggle. "You are quite the deterrent, after all."

"If I could shock you right now, I would," she pouted.

"Are you two done, says Misaka as Misaka groans at your public display of affection?" She took a deep breath. "It's for the best that you don't know what you miss. Sometimes, it's better not knowing. Especially if you're powerless to do anything about it. People on the street, cars on the road... You notice things everywhere, and you can't do anything about them, says Misaka as Misaka laments her situation."

Touma peeked out at the guards. More and more of them were exiting a tall building. Despite the fact that its walls were mostly glass, he couldn't see in. "This looks like it's getting out of hand. Shouldn't we engage before it gets too much to handle at once?"

Mikoto nodded. "My magnetic shield only lasts so long, so it won't work in an extended fight. Even with all the insulation cut down on my armour, it still doesn't last for a long time."

"You shouldn't engage with this, says Misaka as Misaka declines your offer." She took a deep breath. "This is a battle between people in the darkness. If you get involved, you'll get swallowed up, and you'll never be able to escape, says Misaka as Misaka gives you a genuine warning. The darkness is not somewhere you want to be." Her ahoge twitched, and she shut her eyes. "Brace."

A huge shockwave came from the top of the buildings as the windows near the top shattered, glass raining down from above. Last Order stepped out into the open, taking what seemed to be a bullet from a pocket in her shorts, her unkempt hair waving in the wind.

Mikoto began to reach out for her, but Touma pulled her back. The Level 5 tried to break away from his grip, but to no avail. "What the hell are you doing?! She's going to get herself killed!"

"What the hell are you doing?! You're going to get us killed! You heard what she said!" He loosened his grip as he felt her will to fight leave her. "Besides, I trust that she knows what she's doing."

She threw the bullet into the air, before punching it forward, and it vanished. A guard cried out as his chest practically exploded and he fell to the ground, dead.

All eyes were immediately on the clone as she continued forward as if she were on an evening stroll. The guards simply watched in stunned silence as she took out another bullet.

"Fire at will!"

Mikoto shut her eyes tight as the girl was peppered with bullets. There was no way she could survive that kind of assault.

But the shooting didn't stop.

"Woah..." Touma was in awe.

Mikoto cracked open one of her eyes, to see an incredible sight. Last Order was simply strolling through No Man's Land, firing off bullets of her own. Whatever came at her, be it bullet, grenade or shrapnel, just seemed to divert. The buildings around her were being destroyed, but not even dust touched her clothes. She simply walked towards the door of the building, before stopping for a moment. Some of the guards were shooting each other via the redirection from Last Order's Radio Silence.

"The Dark May Project..." Touma muttered a familiar phrase to Mikoto. "A project run by researchers to try to copy the way that Accelerator thinks to other espers, to replicate his Personal Reality. As far as I was aware, it failed..."

Mikoto watched Last Order shift her weight around. "Clearly there are different results when it's being taught by Accelerator himself." Blood was starting to pool in the area as more and more people died, and her feelings of awe turned to horror. "They just won't stop..."

A smirk formed on Last Order's lips, and another shockwave emanated from the building. The ground shook and the guards lost their balance. She started forward to enter the tower, and-

A huge explosion came from the top floor as a black tornado came from the side of the building, crashing into the bottom just metres away from Touma and Mikoto. The top floor began to collapse, and the rest of the building followed suit, and Last Order was swallowed up by the dust and debris. Mikoto followed the tornado, and found her mouth being covered by Touma's hand as Accelerator appeared from the centre of it, holding on to a beaten and bloody man. His long, unkempt messy hair was blown around by the wind from his wings. "Where is she?"

The man was clearly panicking. "I-I don't know what you're talking about, I swear!"

Accelerator clicked his tongue, and one of the two black wings on his back tapped the man's arm. Mikoto head the sound of bones shattering as the man screamed, and she moved further behind the wall, cutting off her vision of the scene, Touma quickly following suit.

"Where the hell is she?! I know your group has been following her! Did you not think I picked up on that?!"

"Okay, okay! We were following her, but my group went silent about 15 minutes ago! I don't know what happened to them!"

Accelerator remained silent for a moment. "So you're telling me that you're useless to me now?"

"H-huh?"

Accelerator clicked his tongue. "Goodbye, Hideyo."

The man screamed before the sound of rushing wind and tearing flesh drowned it out, and then everything fell silent.

Mikoto slowly slid down the wall, before leaning against Touma. In front of her was a part of that man's arm, with shards of bone all around. There was blood everywhere, some had even got on her foot. She swallowed the vomit that rose from her stomach, and did all she could to not look at it.

"So then, you bastards." Accelerator addressed the crowd of guards before him. "Who knows where Last Order is? If you don't know, tell me someone who does." She heard him chuckle. "I will tear this entire city apart looking for her unless somebody tells me, so you'd best get talking."

The guards all started making noise at once. Some of them were begging for mercy, some of them were talking to fill the space, and a couple were simply crying. Anything to stop the monster from killing them. She heard him move forward slowly, his cane tapping on the ground. "Anyone going to come forward?"

"Accelerator, I found you, says Misaka as Misaka tries to escape the rubble!" What sounded like a large rock grinding against the ground was followed by wet footsteps quickly getting closer.

Accelerator whispered to her. "Are you okay? You aren't hurt, are you?"

She kicked something aside, and pressed up against him. "I'm fine, don't worry, says Misaka as Misaka hugs you in relief. These guys kept on following me, and I even got attacked twice, so I stuck with Angel for the rest of the morning."

"I see." Accelerator was silent for a moment. "Thank goodness you're okay... Thank goodness... I was worried sick about you..."

"I'm fine, don't worry. Those goons were useless when it comes to capture, but it was very unnerving being stalked all day."

"Mmm."

Mikoto glanced at Touma, and he squeezed Mikoto's hand. She was unsure whether he was doing that for her or himself.

"Well then..." Accelerator spoke up. "Looks like you're all useless to me now." Mikoto's blood went cold. "I can't have you blabbing to anyone, now can I?" Cruelty oozed from his voice, but something else made her freeze up.

A rush of wind. Screams of pain. Tearing flesh. Silence.

Mikoto and Touma remained there for a minute, unmoving. They couldn't hear anything, but the blood had began to pool up to the two of them as their shoes and pants got soaked. They slowly got up, and built up the courage to look around the corner, as it was their job. They couldn't just leave the crime scene. She nodded to Touma, and they took the step together.

And she immediately regretted it. There was blood that seemed to go ankle deep on the ground, coating all the walls, and dripping off every exposed area. Bits of human flesh and bone were scattered throughout the area, creating was seemed to be some twisted piece of art. The stench of iron was so strong that it permeated her nostrils. What she had witnessed was not the result of an altercation or a fight, but a one-sided massacre.

Misaka Mikoto doubled over, covering her head with her hands.

And she screamed.