novelDestruction will open up a wider path (1)
| ← Ch.146 | Ch.148 → |
Part 1
Accelerator and the others got back to the limo.
The atmosphere was incredibly tense.
Though there hadn't been anything like an atmosphere of them getting along to begin with, now it was at the point they would bare fangs at each other. It was at the point small animals would die of fright.
"... In the end, everything went as that Shiokishi bastard planned."
Accelerator said as if cursing.
"Anyone that wanted to know the truth of 'Dragon' has been eliminated. Guess the ones we captured at Hula Hoop are probably no longer in the same world as us."
"You mentioned Sugitani earlier, right?"
Tsuchimikado leaned on the wall, and spoke as if he was deep in thought.
"Indeed, when he was talking to us earlier via video conferencing, he mentioned the names of two subordinates—Sugitani and Minobe—when they adjusted the camera."
"So what."
Musujime said tiredly while playing absentmindedly with her hair.
"In the end, just what exactly is this Dragon anyway?"
If that could be answered, none of us would need to work this hard. She probably subconsciously asked that.
Unabara glanced specifically at Tsuchimikado's expression.
Seeing as Tsuchimikado, who was also a 'magician' like him, didn't respond in any way he decided to cut into the conversation.
"... Different to your science side, if you want an opinion from someone like me from the magic side, the term 'Dragon' easily makes people think of religious metaphors. Such as... something like Angels."
"!!"
After hearing that, Accelerator involuntarily shuddered.
September 30th.
On that night where surrounding Last Order, Accelerator had fought with the Hound Dogs and Kihara Amata in a fight to the death, he had seen something similar to that. That was a flurry of wings made of light. Though there were still things he didn't understand about that incident, Accelerator had done some investigating and found out some things.
The emergence of those wings of light was connected to Kihara Amata and Last Order.
Also, the virus Kihara had used at the time was called ANGEL.
It didn't matter if it was magic or the occult... Academy City wouldn't just give up on them because of that.
Unabara's opinion could still be mistaken, and for all they knew, all that had nothing to do with Dragon... but if 'Angel' and Dragon could be linked, then it wouldn't be unconnected. That way, Last Order would be connected with Dragon, the most important secret of Academy City.
(... Just what has been hidden?)
Originally, Last Order and other Sisters were materials created for Accelerator's 'Experiment'. However, with the ending of the 'Experiment', these materials which were supposed to no longer be useful, now had a deep connection with the dark side of Academy City.
With that, it couldn't help but to give people thoughts to overturn the basic premises their thoughts were based on.
In other words, were there more plots inside the 'Level 6 Shift' project?
If everything was just the results somebody had planned, then had that 'Experiment' been created to fail from the beginning?
(... Just what did me and that brat get dragged into while we weren't noticing?)
Accelerator didn't know what Spark Signal planned to do when they took over the private salon. It was just that the fact where just changing sides could get you closer to Dragon had been completely blocked out made him feel powerless and nauseated.
"Anyway, "
Unabara stated to speak,
"This series of events that started from Hula Hoop is now over, so should we now... leave?"
"Then what about Dragon?"
Accelerator had barbs in his words.
"You want to run away with your tails between your legs without any clues from all this?"
"... Then from what you are saying, we should sneak into Shiokishi's stronghold?"
Tsuchimikado said exasperatedly.
"For Shiokishi who wears a powered suit 24 hours a day, his vigilance is the real deal. His stronghold is also on the same level of a nuclear shelter, it's not easy to break through.... Because it was designed to handle scenarios where people like us rebel against them."
Then, Accelerator wordlessly shifted his glance towards Musujime.
She could use Move Point, a method of moving that ignored the limits of three-dimensions.
But, Musujime just shrugged.
"This isn't a problem about what method to use."
"What do you mean?"
"No matter what method we use, attacking head on and charging right into a fortress of that level is impossible. In the end that guy is someone, where even in Academy City, there is only 12 of. Truth be told, if we don't have the resolve to do a terrorist attack on the level of what happened at Hula Hoop, we can't even start."
"... On the same level, in other words if we can get an official member of the board of directors to become our ally, or to give him pressure politically, then we might be able to make him tell the truth."
"But first we'd need that kind of ally to begin with, " Unabara added.
Accelerator, Tsuchimikado Motoharu, Musujime Awaki, and Unabara Mitsuki; all four of these people had someone that they needed to protect. Since that was the case, using terrorist attacks to forcibly find out the secret to Dragon was not the best plan.
The #1 of Academy City recalled that little girl, and while doing so his sight drifted to the window of the limo... then, he blankly muttered,
"... Guess we don't have time to leisurely discuss anymore."
"?"
For Tsuchimikado and others who hadn't understood what those words meant, they looked together towards outside the window to see what Accelerator had seen.
Right after that,
Boom!!
The limo was hit by a portable anti-tank missile and turned into scrap metal along with the fiery explosion.
Of course, with only something like that Accelerator and others wouldn't die.
The limo had several exits prepared. Tsuchimikado and Unabara jumped out using different exits, Musujime escaped using Move Point, and as for Accelerator he used his ability to forcibly rip apart the walls to escape out the side opposite of where the missile was coming from.
The four of them regrouping and then fighting off the new enemy——that didn't happen.
They separately kept themselves alive and separately escaped. This was how Accelerator and others of Group did things.
(... That bastard Shiokishi. After that time, for us who know too much about Dragon, we became targets as well?)
He jumped into a smaller side street while appropriately approximating the reasons.
(... If that's the case, the possibility of forming a strike team with the scenario that they know my 'weakness' is very high. Not aiming to kill me using the shortest and quickest method possible, but to just to use a drawn out method of battling that will drain the batteries of my electrode. Then if I just charge in I'll only be toyed with and then die. )
In an instant, he remembered the driver of the limo, but Accelerator didn't put too much thought into it. Before or after the explosion he hadn't heard any screams. That driver had most likely been one of their people, and had run off before the attack.
(... Then again, there is no need to run away like an idiot. Ascertaining the identity of the enemy will be good. At least it would be better than not knowing who we are fighting. Finding out how the other side is deploying their forces, and then striking swiftly at the 'blind spot' that will lead to their destruction the quickest, will be alright. )
To accomplish that tactic it would be better to first confuse the enemy's sight. Accelerator went around them, and planned to observe their deployment.
Suddenly,
Accelerator's electrode somehow had its capability taken away.
(—?!)
Losing the leg strength gained from manipulating vectors, Accelerator smashed brutally into the ground. This wasn't a problem with the flesh only. Inside his brain... more specifically in the deepest part of his psyche, a slight sense of numbness filled everything.
It was just like being extremely drunk or still not quite awake after just getting up, his thoughts became fragmented and shattered, and lost connection to one another. Though he could understand he was lying on the ground, he could not plan to do anything about it.
Attacking Accelerator as he was curled up like a worm would be easy.
The switch for the electrode had been remotely controlled by someone else far away.
How he could still be affected even deep inside the alley meant it was probably a wide-area electromagnetic wave used for long distance controlling.
Accelerator's ability was reliant on the electromagnetic network composed of nearly ten thousand military-use clones, so by shattering that network he could not use his ability.
If it was the usual Accelerator, he would have reached this conclusion immediately and then made a counter-strategy.
But now, even his brain for 'making plans' had been robbed from him.
"..."
On the ground and clenching his teeth, Accelerator looked in the direction of his right hand.
It was the specially-made crutch designed for situations like this.
Though it had things like motors and motion sensors attached onto it, in the end it could not maintain the movement faculty Accelerator had lost. For Accelerator who was lying on the ground, the most pressing problem was he couldn't stand up even if he wanted to.
At this time, the sounds of footsteps came from the shadows of the alley.
He could somehow tell he was in danger, but specific thoughts like 'what to do in this situation' could not be recalled no matter what.
"..."
The sounds of footsteps came from the other direction as well, and there was the exit to this alley. Though enemies were coming in from all sides, Accelerator could not even think properly. His wrist was grabbed and then he was chucked into the seat next to the driver's of a sports car. There was nothing he could do about it. The sports car started immediately, and swiftly moved onto the night road.
It was probably because the distance had increased between him and Shiokishi's strike force, the long distance jamming electromagnetic waves were getting weaker. Accelerator was gradually recovering his senses. He turned the electrode back to the normal mode, and looked at the crutch that he had made. Then, he looked at the driver's face.
"... You."
He looked familiar.
He was the man that looked to be around the age of a high school student who had been dragged into the explosion at District 3. He should have gone with the injured pregnant woman to District 7...
"You must be surprised at the sudden events."
The high school student lowered the speed of the sports car to the speed limit and said,
"However, once something happens my body will move by itself. Thanks to that I managed to let my life-saver... no, the person who saved something I care about more than my own life avoid death."
The high school student's face was smiling widely.
But Accelerator pulled out his gun from his pant's pockets and unhesitatingly pointed it at the high school student.
"... In this piece of shit world at least a few things can be learned."
He said disdainfully.
"You didn't get there just in time to save me on a coincidence. No matter what, that was an attack plan made by Shiokishi, one of the board of directors; there's no way someone familiar would be on scene."
"..."
"You're like me, another one of the residents of the dark side. Who put you up to this? Is this a double trap set up by Shiokishi?"
The high school student who had a gun pointed at him only stared straight ahead, not looking at Accelerator.
"That's right..."
The tone of the high school student's voice sounded like it was coming out of gritted teeth.
"I'm someone that has the same scent as you. But, our level is vastly different. My job is to support big-shots like you. Basically like those grunts you'd see a dime a dozen."
"However, " he continued to say,
"... No matter how filthy I am, it doesn't change the fact you saved somebody that I value above my own life. And, I'm not that far gone to leave people like you for dead."
"..."
"This isn't something as simple as give and take. This is nothing on that level. This is a debt. Please let me repay that debt. If you don't like that then you can go ahead and pull the trigger, it doesn't matter."
Accelerator stared at the high school student's face for a short time.
He didn't turn around even once.
He probably was sure that he wouldn't be shot.
Accelerator scowled, and then moved the gun away from the high school student's face.
"Keep driving."
"Where do you want to go?"
The high school student holding onto the driving wheel asked while smiling.
Accelerator answered offhandedly without giving much thought,
"I'm going to butcher that bastard Shiokishi."
To completely seal all information on Dragon, Shiokishi of the board of directors had bared his fangs towards Accelerator and others. If Shiokishi found out his first wave of attack didn't manage to get rid of his targets, he would probably attack 'the most effective weak point'.
In other words, the hostage 'Last Order'.
Accelerator estimated that the current situation was not severe enough to force Shiokishi to play that card. Otherwise he would have prepared hostages in the beginning, to limit Accelerator and others' movements.
They had to finish this before Shiokishi moved onto his second plan.
Do they go on the attack or on the defense?
Immediately go back to Last Order and start a life on the run... though this choice was available, Accelerator thought this was not the best move. That was not an option. Because what he needed to protect was not just one girl, but the world that the girl loved. Yomikawa Aiho, Yoshikawa Kikyou; to protect everything around that girl while fighting, even for Accelerator that would be too difficult.
Then, what should he do?
Considering all this, Accelerator let off an extremely evil smile.
What needed to be done was simple.
Strike first.
Take down the enemy before he takes you down.
What was coming up next was a speed battle to see who could kill off the other team first.
(... mah, that's everything. )
Ha, the #1 of Academy City couldn't help but to laugh, and thought in the depth of his heart,
(... For a guy like me who's covered in blood, this method is the most suitable one!!)
Part 2
Kinuhata Saiai had a dull throbbing pain in her head.
Stephanie's light machine shotgun was causing severe damage even through Kinuhata's Offense Armor. Without that power, Kinuhata was just a frail girl (or so she insisted). If the bullets kept coming, she could easily receive a fatal injury.
(... Ow. Taking more than 7 shots in a row at a range of less than 5 meters would be super bad!!)
Kinuhata made a rough analysis from the damage she had taken.
She dived away from the large District 3 road and towards a slope leading underground.
Due to the terrorists, the underground mall seemed to be blocked off.
"Nya ha ha!"
Using both hands to carry a hunk of steel over a meter long, Stephanie laughed.
She spoke while holding that large weapon that looked out of place in that Japanese cityscape.
"Isn't that escape route a little too straight for escaping bullets?"
"!?"
The gunfire started without hesitation.
The mass of noise started sounding like one continuous noise rather than a shorter noise repeated at quick intervals.
Stephanie was aiming for Kinuhata from above the slope. That meant the ground should have made a thick barrier of asphalt and concrete between them.
Nevertheless, the rain of bullets continued after Kinuhata.
It was almost like a landslide.
The light machine shotgun had enough power to turn an armored vehicle into a sponge in 3 seconds. It took Kinuhata a few seconds to realize it was merely blowing straight through the artificial ground. And in that time, a large number of bullets struck her small frame.
She was slammed into the ground once and then bounced back up almost like a basketball. She balled up her body and rolled across the ground to avoid a concentrated attack. Because the concrete that made up the ceiling of the underground mall and the ground of the surface had been destroyed, a car parked on the street fell down.
(!!)
Kinuhata did not hesitate.
She grabbed the car that was falling towards her head with one hand. The area around the door where her small palm touched it bent in making a horrible noise. Almost like when grabbing a cushion, a number of "wrinkles" raced along the metal car.
Kinuhata had grabbed that 500 kilogram mass but not so she could use it as a shield.
She was going to throw it as a weapon to crush Stephanie.
That was the exact same time Stephanie Gorgeouspalace stepped onto the remains of the destroyed concrete and headed down into the underground mall.
Her footing was unstable, so she was not in a situation where she could immediately jump to the side to avoid it.
And Kinuhata intended to throw it with all her strength so it would kill Stephanie.
(Super blow her away!!)
She twisted her upper body to gather strength and then swung the car around. She just had to let go to send an attack straight towards Stephanie that was on the level of the giant wrecking balls used to destroy houses.
A soldier or mercenary from outside the city could not stand up to an Academy City Level 4.
Or so Kinuhata had thought.
Stephanie's light machine shotgun accurately shot the car's gas tank.
It was just before Kinuhata was about to let go.
(Wha—?)
The back of the car transformed into what looked like a burst soda can and the large amount of liquid stored inside the tank exploded like a bomb.
Sound disappeared.
A brilliant flash filled her vision.
Kinuhata's body was knocked aside by the blast. The underground mall usually had limited light, but intense light and heat overflowed in the area and black smoke crawled up to the ceiling.
Her means of turning the fight around had been sealed by yet another counter attack.
But Kinuhata was not simply surprised by Stephanie's cleverness and speed.
She was surprised by the foundation that supported it.
(She's... used to this? She's a super outsider, but she's super well versed in the theory of how to fight against an esper like me... ?)
Normally, that couldn't be.
Even in Academy City where espers were a fact of life, not many people could handle a Level 4 like Kinuhata so easily. It was ridiculous to think there was someone from outside who could keep up with Kinuhata using only tactics and technology from outside.
"It couldn't be..."
Having thought that far, Kinuhata unsteadily raised her head.
Carrying her light machine shotgun, Stephanie stepped down from the rubble into the underground mall.
"Are you... ?"
"So you finally realized it. Before I became a mercenary, I was a civilian in a peaceful country. I decided to go help the people caught up in war because I felt guilty happily enjoying peace while others suffered and lived in fear of guns, bombs, and mines." The blonde woman smiled as she pointed the barrel that was wrapped in heat towards Kinuhata."Yes, I was originally from Academy City. The sniper Sunazara-san must have thought I was odd indeed to use Anti-Skill apprehension techniques to kill."
That was why Stephanie Gorgeouspalace was well versed in how to kill an esper.
"I believe you use the nitrogen in the air to guard against my attacks." She moved the barrel of her light machine shotgun away from Kinuhata to a completely different spot."Then I'll start by messing that up. Luckily, this underground mall seems to have plenty of delicious restaurants.... There sure are a lot of propane tanks, aren't there?"
She pulled the trigger.
Part 3
Accelerator took a ride in the high school student's sports car, traveling on the road in the night. He had managed to contact Tsuchimikado using his cell phone, and like he thought the other members of Group were still on the run.
"Very good. Looks like you are the first one to escape the encirclement by Shiokishi's strike force. You go on directly to District 21, there's an observatory in the mountains."
"Huh? You're saying his stronghold is in the mountains?"
"That's not it. If we want to strike at Shiokishi who is one of the official members of the board of directors, we need the necessary political preparations... it means, we need a backer that has the equivalent power of one of the Directors on the Board. The members of the Twelve Directors are all eccentric people to say the least. The only one who would help us is probably that person who is there at this time."
"Kaizumi Tsugutoshi can also count as a good person, but the high school girl he has for an advisor—Kumokawa Seria——is too smart, so we can't count on him, " Tsuchimikado said helplessly.
"Come to think of it, who's this person that can possibly help us?"
"Oyafune Monaka."
Tsuchimikado answered immediately.
"She's the one that is holding a charity astronomy trip for the kids that were captured during the Hula Hoop incident... the number one good person in the board of directors. Though I don't like to do this, she owes us. If we just ask her this one time in our lives, there's possibly still room for negotiations."
And with that, the sports car that Accelerator was in set its course towards District 21.
This district was the only mountainous region in all of Academy City.... Having said that, it was only relative to the other districts. The tallest mountain at the top was only 200 meters high. While this district was most well known for being the research center of water, plants and animals, at the same time it was also quite famous for its astronomy observatories.
Small antennas that were a meter in diameter and might have been radio telescopes were lined up on the slopes, with one after another some set distance apart. The car that Accelerator was in was moving along this road that deliberately did not have much artificial lighting. Tire tracks were everywhere on this incredibly twisting road. Maybe, there are unofficial races here on the weekends.
The observatory was half way up the mountain.
Pressing against the slope of the mountain was a flattened artificially leveled surface made of cement. As the sports car entered the parking lot, Accelerator saw a small bus. There was nobody on the bus. From the looks of it, the kids that had previously been captured by Spark Signal, were now enjoying their scheduled activity.
"You can leave now after letting me off here."
Accelerator opened his door and said that while his crutch was holding onto the asphalt.
The high school student that was the impromptu driver hastily disagreed.
"W-wait. I've already said I want to repay my debt. Even a grunt like me can understand that you've been dragged into something troublesome. How can I just stop half way?"
"I haven't done anything that's that over-the-top. If I accept any more help from you I'd be the one owing you."
Accelerator stood in the parking lot leaning on his crutch and said simply.
"... Plus, if you get in any deeper you might end up as a target as well. I don't give a damn about a grunt like you, but if that pregnant woman that was finally saved became a hostage, I wouldn't be able to sleep soundly."
"You..."
"If I really need help I'll contact you. You go lie low and wait for the time being. Hiding pawns that can move freely is also an important tactic in survival. Let me use you that way."
"Understood. Oi, let us exchange our cell phone numbers. If there's any danger definitely contact me!"
The both of them operated their phones and using the infrared communication function to exchange numbers.
After that was done, the high school student reluctantly left the observatory with his sports car.
(... Now, )
Accelerator sighed a small breath.
The number he had given him was just a randomly made-up fake number. His own cell phone had also rejected the number that the high school student sent to him.
With that, the connection between the two of them was completely gone. This was how Accelerator did things.
From the parking lot he looked up at the observatory's large building.
One of the members on the board of directors—Oyafune Monaka was there. A VIP that could allow them to accomplish the operation to eliminate Shiokishi who was also one of the Directors.
The number one good person on the board of directors, in other words someone that was completely opposite to someone like Accelerator.
Though they had never communicated with each other, Oyafune owed Accelerator on two occasions.
One was what Tsuchimikado had just mentioned, how they had saved the kids at Hula Hoop.
Two, during the battle between the five organizations Group, Item, School, Block and Member, they had thwarted a plan to snipe Oyafune Monaka.
The devious Tsuchimikado was telling him to focus on those incidents and get her cooperation no matter what... But looking at Accelerator's actions up to this point, it was easy to understand there was probably no other job that was more unsuitable for him.
(... Now this will be troublesome. )
Accelerator scratched his head and walked towards the observatory aided by his crutch.
Either way, if they couldn't meet face to face they couldn't continue with their plan. However...
"Please go back."
As soon as I get here I run into difficulties, Accelerator thought.
Incidentally, the one that rejected him at the parking lot close to the observatory wasn't Oyafune Monaka herself. It was a small man that looked like her secretary. The small man, whose ranking among the who-knew-how-many secretaries a Director needed was unknown, stood in front of Accelerator as if he was crazy. He stared at Accelerator as if to block off his path to Oyafune Monaka.
"Well, Director Oyafune in the past does indeed have her ways. Her specialty is negotiating without needing to use force to back it up. It has even been called 'peaceful invasion' by some people. She's someone feared by all of the ambassadors from other countries."
The small secretary waved his fists that had never punched someone, and continued on.
"But, she no longer does that anymore. She's tired of the life which goes to and fro between Light and Darkness. You're someone that looks at the peaceful world from the darkness' viewpoint, can you not understand how difficult it is to throw all that away, and how important it is to treasure that? Or, have you fallen to the point that you can no longer understand those kinds of things?"
Che, Accelerator couldn't help but scowl.
He was now extremely angry, but it was not directed at the small man's attitude.
(... That bastard Tsuchimikado. What 'The only person that can help us'? In the end it turned out to be the most troublesome outcome anyway. How dare you send me on an errand like one of those normal small-fries. If I don't give you five rounds rapid the next time I see you I won't be able to breathe right. )
Accelerator felt like his stomach was boiling right now, but he didn't show it.
"Sorry to intrude."
"... You're, willing to give up?"
"Didn't you want things to turn out this way? Or do you want to set up our forces to slaughter each other to our hearts' content?"
"Even if that happens, it won't change what I have to do."
For the small secretary that finally realized the possibility it could have turned out that way, his face started to go blue. Looking at the secretary that wouldn't move aside even if that happened, Accelerator asked,
"One last question. Just what happened to that Oyafune bastard?"
"... It's her daughter."
The small secretary answered straightforwardly.
"When the board of directors were setting up regulations to export weapons to the 'outside', Director Oyafune who is on the side against military exports gained the upper hand using her negotiation skills. Because she truly dislikes wars. At that time, Director Oyafune's office received an envelope. Inside was a photo of her daughter and a large-caliber handgun that hadn't been used before.... Though nothing has happened, I think it was probably Shiokishi of the pro-military-export faction's actions."
"..."
Accelerator's brows creased. Though it was only for an instant, but they definitely had moved.
The small secretary had probably approved the '#1 of Academy City' that he was trying to chase away. He shifted his gaze away from him and continued to say,
"From then on, Director Oyafune stepped down from negotiations. Live while not touching the darkness of this city, but limit their actions inside the darkness without them knowing by working on areas outside their attention... She has tried to live that kind of life as her goal. That kind of delicate balance is a golden ratio that only Oyafune Monaka, who's an expert in 'negotiations' can create... If you people intervene this balance will crumble. Her daughter and ones around her will be targeted once more."
So that's it, Accelerator mumbled in a low voice.
As the small secretary turned away, Oyafune Monaka finally noticed their small argument. The old woman jogged towards Accelerator and the secretary. Though the look on the secretary's face changed drastically, she didn't seem to notice.
"And you... are?"
Oyafune looked at Accelerator with a strange expression. Accelerator had once saved her life from a sniper behind the scenes, but because it had been behind the scenes she did not know about him.
"... It's nothing."
He didn't want to especially show that incident off.
Tsuchimikado had told him to use that, but he felt from the bottom of his heart that if he was going to be that shameless, he was better off falling straight into hell.
"I'm just asking for directions."
After saying what needed to be said, Accelerator turned away from Oyafune and her secretary.
This time, it was the small secretary that asked something,
"... Just what exactly has happened on your end? Those things that cannot be talked about above the table, I can guess what it is about somewhat. Even so, you came here. One last question, just what has happened to you?"
"What will it do even if you know about it?"
Accelerator answered as if he was bored.
"For something that's already rejected, if you ask further it will only lead to more burdens. The troubles between me and that Shiokishi bastard are better off not being known by you."
"Ah."
That short conversation made the secretary's face change dramatically.
Ignoring the details the secretary could at least tell what had happened as a whole. The other side for some reason had to fight against one of the Directors, and they needed help from Oyafune who was also one of the Directors. Without her help they probably could not win against Shiokishi, and even if they did win they would be treated as terrorists.
He subconsciously moved his eyes off of Accelerator.
"... I'm sorry."
"That's my problem. You don't need to know about it."
Accelerator said as if he was bored.
"If I had known this would happen I would have settled this myself. Though things would get troublesome, at least you people don't have to deal with it."
After the battle with Shiokishi, Accelerator would probably be treated as a terrorist.
He would lose all support and would no longer be able to live the life he had lived so far. He would never be able to see Last Order again. If there was a conflict of interest, he might even have Tsuchimikado Motoharu, Unabara Mitsuki and Musujime Awaki as his enemies.
But,
But so what.
After all, weren't all these what he had decided on? Even if he had to become the enemy with Last Order that he needed to protect, he would fight for protecting Last Order. If so, then there was only one thing left to do. Even if he didn't especially bring Oyafune into this, the path he needed to take was right there in front of him.
"Sorry to intrude. Forget everything that I have just said. I'll handle that bastard myself."
Without waiting for an answer, this time Accelerator turned completely away.
At this time,
"What are you doing?"
A new voice brusquely entered his ears.
It was a voice coming from a boy who wasn't even ten years old. It was a voice from one of the primary school students who was there for a charity observatory field trip. At the same time, this was the voice of the hostage that Accelerator had saved at Hula Hoop at the last second.
"You're the hero from that time right? What are you doing here?"
"... Nothing."
"I heard what you were talking about before."
Those words made Accelerator and the small secretary look towards the young boy. At this time, the boy walked towards them. Unhesitatingly, towards the monster who was the #1 of Academy City.
Because he had been saved by him before, the young boy was not on guard at all.
"Though I don't know what has happened, but you are going to battle right? You're going to save people like how I was back at that time, right?"
The young boy looked directly at Accelerator, and said,
"If that's the case then I'm coming too."
... What kind of ridiculous joke is this? Accelerator subconsciously face-palmed.
"Stop joking, you damn brat. Who, is going to battle alongside who?"
"Then, are you saying you are going to let those people die without going to help?"
Of these three people that were being pointed at, the one that was most shocked was Oyafune Monaka.
The small secretary had an idea what would happen, and was gritting his teeth behind their view.
"I know, you won't go fight for insignificant things. I also know you are going somewhere incredibly dangerous. I know there are more people like me who are in trouble, so I want to fight with you."
He completely didn't understand what was going on, but still talked that way.
Looking at their battle capabilities was enough to immediately understand this was such a laughable and unrealistic opinion.
Even so, Accelerator didn't ignore all that and just turn to leave. Though it was looking down from above to the other side, he was replying seriously to answer his serious question.
"... It won't be necessary."
"But—"
"Wasn't I by myself back at Hula Hoop? That time, with those boring terrorists, did you see if they were a threat to me?"
"I was blindfolded so I don't know."
"Is that so. Then I'll tell you now: there was no threat. This time is the same."
That was not the case.
Not just Accelerator who was at the pinnacle of the world of darkness, even Oyafune Monaka and the small man who was her secretary understand.
Accelerator was indeed powerful.
But, he was able to use his power fully in the darkness because of those from up to the board of directors, and down to various departments and facilities providing assistance to him. Losing all that and even turning them into his enemies, turning the entire military force of Academy City into his enemies had an unrivaled great danger.
This was no longer just Accelerator's problem.
This was a problem that would affect everyone that he wanted to protect.
The switch on his electrode would be remotely controlled, his enemy would turn off his ability whenever they wanted. Just like the battle with Kihara Amata and the Hound Dogs, a struggle where he had to battle in a chaotic situation was unavoidable.
Even so,
"I'm the Strongest Level 5, I don't need brats worrying about me."
Accelerator didn't mention any of those things.
There was no reason to let the young boy know any of those things.
To make sure the young boy didn't get dragged further into the darkness, without giving any hints the danger he would be facing, Accelerator said,
"Listen up. Even if there are people being hurt in front of you, those who take up weapons unhesitatingly to take down the bad guys are villains that are no better than them. Not considering other's thoughts, not giving them a chance to change their ways, the one that kills for their own reasons is definitely not a good person. You don't need to become someone like that. That's my specialty. Only I have to do something like that."
This kind of courage and insight, probably only the person that knew everything that had happened so far could understand.
Oyafune Monaka and her small secretary probably could only understand a small portion of it.
"I'm enough by myself, people like you don't need to show up."
"... I don't want to."
Faced with the words that wanted to kill off any kindness, the young boy tried talk back in a small voice,
"I can fight as well."
Lifting his head and looking at the strongest Level 5 of Academy City, the young boy yelled with all his strength,
"I don't want to hand Academy City to those despicable people!"
Maybe it was because they had finally noticed the commotion.
Oyafune's other secretaries, or maybe private security forces... either way, several men came over and placed their hands on the young boy's shoulders. Though their actions were kind, in reality it was to force the boy to step away from Oyafune. Though his body was being forced, the young boy's eyes never left Accelerator. Until the teacher finally arrived, until that last moment, he stared at Accelerator's face.
Accelerator looked in the direction where the boy was being taken back to his classmates and back to the field trip long after he left.
The ones who did so was not just him.
As one of the official members of the board of directors of Academy City, Oyafune Monaka was the same. She too looked over in that direction.
"... You mentioned Shiokishi earlier right?"
"Director Oyafune!"
The small man who was a secretary tried to interject, but Oyafune kept staring at Accelerator's face.
Oyafune Monaka, from that incident with her daughter, knew just how frightening Shiokishi was in politics.
And, she also knew just how dangerous it would be for Accelerator who was going to fight one of the official members of the board of directors.
On the other hand, Accelerator actually replied her using a tone of rejection,
"You don't need to worry about it."
"From how this looks... Just like how that boy said, you plan to fight."
At this point, Oyafune sighed a small sigh.
She was probably recalling the words that boy had spoken at the end.
—don't want to hand Academy City to those despicable people.
Though the boy could not imagine the specific looks of the enemy, but the so-called 'despicable people' was probably the vaguest impression for the darkness that lurked in this city.
But, it was because of that, that Oyafune Monaka thought,
Though she knew about the darkness in this city, she had given up on fighting it; was she one of those 'despicable people' that the boy was talking about?
Oyafune Monaka, an old woman that didn't use force and only used her negotiation skills who challenged the world with her rule of not shedding blood; when she heard the term 'despicable people' she could not hold her chest high and argue against that term.
"... What, should I do?"
"Hell if I know."
Faced with Oyafune who was talking to herself, Accelerator scowled while replying in a bored manner,
"It's your life, your choice."
At these words that sounded like a reproach, Oyafune couldn't help but to laugh.
To be able to say that straight away was probably because Accelerator had lived his life that way.
And, now it was the same; to protect something.
Oyafune Monaka placed her hand on something nearby.
It was the black bulletproof car that Oyafune rode in.
She placed her right hand first on the top of the limo, and then her left hand. With that, as she was currently parallel to her vehicle,
Don!
She slammed her own fists hard onto the bulletproof car.
Director Oyafune! The small secretary cried out.
But, Oyafune Monaka herself didn't care. So long, it had been so long. Oyafune Monaka retrieved with her own hands the feeling when something was hurt. The negative emotions inside of her seem to have been swept away. With that expression, she turned once more to look at Accelerator's face.
"... I've finally awakened."
"Stop talking nonsense. I've decided to do this myself."
"It's my life, my choice."
Facing Accelerator who was ascertaining the situation, Oyafune immediately replied.
"When I received the photo of my daughter and that large-caliber handgun, I thought dulling my edge was the best way to protect those that I care about."
"..."
"But, why didn't I think this way? My daughter was targeted because I was being looked down on by others. If I do not destroy the source of this evil, no matter how much time passes, the ones important to me won't be able to escape from danger."
Oyafune Monaka stood in front of Academy City's strongest Level 5.
At this time, the standing between the two of them was finally equal.
On a different dimension to common grunts who relied on strength alone, at the core of their hearts, the two of them stood on equal positions.
Accelerator had seen people with that look in their eyes before.
Anti-Skill member Yomikawa Aiho, and ex-researcher Yoshikawa Kikyou.
"Let us go to Shiokishi's place. That's the best plan. His stronghold, regardless of it being physically or politically attacked, is rock solid. But if someone like me who also has the power of a member of the board of directors joins the fighting, the latter problem can be solved."
"Che, " Accelerator scowled.
But, the small secretary could not just let it go.
"Director Oyafune!! But, this method... !!"
"This is something that I have decided myself. Even if he left, I would fight Shiokishi alone. If that's the case, wouldn't the best method be to work together?"
At this time, the small man who was a secretary that had felt the strength of her will glared viciously at Accelerator. He had just said something like he wouldn't drag Oyafune into all of this.
"He only told me to 'make my own choice'. He didn't demand anything. I have only just decided on my own path. There is no reason to blame him. He already gave me consideration to the largest extent."
"Damn it... !!"
The small secretary let out cursing that he would never normally use. Then, he opened the door to the black bulletproof car, rummaged around the glovebox, and brought out a gun.
It wasn't something he brought out to point at Accelerator or Oyafune Monaka.
Quite the opposite.
"For someone as outstanding as Director Monaka she cannot possibly be allowed to die for something as boring as this. For someone like her, she should use her skills in a broader territory, as she has the potential to make a lot more people happy."
While he checked the bullets in the gun with a skill that made it obvious he was not familiar with it, the secretary glared at Accelerator.
"Oi. If you are here asking for cooperation then do the minimum of your duty! Protect her with all your might! If you let Director Monaka die I'll turn you into a beehive with bullets!"
"That's rather impressive of you. You're suited to become a villain."
"Please don't say scary things like that with a praising tone."
In their exchange of words, Accelerator, Oyafune Monaka and the small secretary got into the black bulletproof limo.
The destination this time was the dark side of the board of directors—Shiokishi's stronghold.
Taking the history's strongest villain with her, the board of directors' negotiator—Oyafune Monaka, was making her comeback!
Part 4
It seemed something had happened to Kinuhata Saiai.
That was what Hamazura and Takitsubo finally realized after the terrorist attack was over and they had snuck out of the private salon building while Anti-Skill was investigating.
"... I have an email from Kinuhata on my phone."
Takitsubo had shown Hamazura the email on the screen of her cutely designed cell phone. It said, "I'm going to help you escape, so stay where you are for a bit." It had been some time since the email had been sent, but they had seen no sign of any action taken by Kinuhata.
In the end, the two of them had escaped the private salon building on their own.
"Hey, have you contacted her yet? I hope she didn't go in there and we missed her."
"I've been calling Kinuhata, but I can't get through."
Takitsubo was staring at her phone with a vacant look in her eyes.
Hamazura couldn't be sure if it was due to the lingering effects of the Body Crystal or if that was just how she always was because she had already been using Body Crystal when he had first met her.
"Hamazura, what do we do now?"
"Well, Kinuhata is a Level 4 and she's tougher than both of us. She did send us that email, so it might be best to stay put and wait for her to contact us. It would take something really insane to kill someone like—"
Hamazura trailed off because an area of District 3 suddenly exploded.
It wasn't a building that was blown away. It came from underground. The ground a distance away suddenly split open and crimson flames spewed up from beneath.
It wasn't just one explosion.
As more explosions followed, more and more flames came up from within the earth. The asphalt was ripped apart and cars parked on the street were swallowed up. Luckily, very few people were around due to the terrorists at the private salon, so it didn't look like any people were swallowed up.
To Hamazura, it somehow looked like the explosions were slowly approaching them.
His trembling lips moved as he watched it.
"Oh, come on!! Why does something 'really insane' have to happen now!?"
He had no proof that Kinuhata was involved with those explosions, but it was likely that something like that involved the people from the city's darkness that Hamazura and Takitsubo had once been part of.
"And what's exploding anyway?"
"Hamazura, it might be the underground mall."
Takitsubo pointed over towards a large crowd coming from a department store. They seemed to be frantically trying to flee due to the black smoke coming up from underground.
Hamazura looked around and found the entrance to the underground mall that was connected with the ticket gate for the subway. He headed down the stairs that was spewing black smoke like a smokestack and he found an orange light down blow.
It was like the fires of hell.
The area Hamazura was in had not been enveloped by flames yet, but the blazing orange light from further in was being reflected off the tile floor and ceiling as well as the glass walls making a thick barrier of light. The air itself was unusually hot, so it felt like he was inside a giant oven.
He didn't know exactly what had happened and he had no proof that Kinuhata was there.
He faltered.
That storm of flames was much too dangerous to enter in order to search for someone who might not even be in there. However, it would all be for naught if he became surrounded by flames before he even decided what to do.
(What do I do? Do I go on or head back... ?)
"Hamazura, over there!!"
Takitsubo pointed towards something on the other side of the orange flames. It was a human form. The small figure was stuck where it was due to a wall of flames blocking its path.
Seeing that, Hamazura shouted the figure's name.
"Kinuhata!!"
Hearing that, Kinuhata looked over towards Hamazura in shock. She was not relieved upon seeing his face and yelled back looking even tenser than before.
"You need to super get down!! Just getting behind cover isn't enough!!"
As soon as he heard that, Hamazura noticed a much taller figure beyond the flames along with Kinuhata.
That figure held something long and narrow. It looked something like a machine gun and the figure was turning it in his direction.
"!!"
Hamazura jumped over at Takitsubo knocking her to the floor. The heated tiles burned them, but that was the least of their worries.
A large number of bullets flew from the other side of the flames.
They cut across a horizontal line at about the height of a human waist. And it seemed the bullets were not normal rifle bullets. They didn't just tear through the glass walls; they tore through the concrete pillars near the stairs, too.
"Nya ha ha!"
After a few seconds, the gunfire stopped.
That storm of destruction had not actually been meant to kill Hamazura and Kinuhata. The tall figure's target was probably Kinuhata. The tall figure—most likely a woman—aimed the large gun at Kinuhata and spoke.
"You use nitrogen to create a barrier, so I thought I could seal that by doing something about the air. Getting rid of nitrogen is rather difficult though because it makes up 70% of the air."
(Did she do this... ?)
Lying on the floor, Hamazura tried to collect as much information as he could. She may have used the propane gas at the surrounding restaurants to turn the underground mall into the sea of flames it currently was.
The way she held the gun reminded him a bit of the Anti-Skill members he had seen in his more delinquent days.
However, Anti-Skill fought to protect the children so they would not go that far to fight an esper.
(Is she part of the city's darkness like us? That giant gun is clearly different from the more easily hidden submachine guns the terrorists used... )
The enemy knew what Kinuhata's power was and she was trying to take advantage of a weakness in it.
Hamazura pulled out his small handgun.
It was easy to carry around, but its small size meant it had poor accuracy at longer ranges. To make sure he hit, he needed to be no more than 30 meters away.
(Her machine gun is clearly the better gun. If she notices me trying to shoot, she'll send a stream of bullets this way truly intending to kill me. What should I do? How do I get closer without her noticing?)
The woman did not wait for him to think it all out.
"But if an explosion is triggered with certain requirements met, it can create vacuum-like circumstances for an instant. Of course, it's an exceedingly local phenomenon. It's only a hole a few dozen centimeters across."
"!? Hamazura, super get away!!"
"If I fire a bullet through that hole, you won't be able to use that shield of yours, will you?"
Multiple explosions occurred at the same time.
They seemed to be surrounding Kinuhata's small frame. The overwhelming flash of light filled Hamazura's vision and the shockwave headed towards him and Takitsubo like it was moving through a tube.
Hamazura immediately covered Takitsubo's mouth and nose with his hands and clenched his own eyes shut. Breathing in that wave of heat would destroy one's throat and organs.
After the scorching wind passed by, Hamazura finally opened his eyes.
Beyond the flames, the tall figure was pointing its machine gun at Kinuhata.
According to the enemy, Kinuhata Saiai could not surround herself with her shield in a local vacuum. If a bullet were shot through that hole, it would tear through her defenseless body.
"Kinuhata!!"
No response came.
All he heard was the dreadful repeated sound of gunfire coming from the tall figure's machine gun.
Part 5
Accelerator and others met up once again.
The location was District 2. It was a district filled with facilities that were linked with things that made a huge amount of noise, such as cars and explosives. This district was surrounded by a soundproof wall, and had equipment which fired out specially tuned sound waves that caused destructive interference[1] and lowered ambient noise.
"It's probably a trait of this district, there's not many people here... there is a lot of military-related facilities though. For Shiokishi who's good at designing weapons this sure looks like his home."
Tsuchimikado said in a half-mocking voice.
They were at a fuel station which also doubled as a fastfood stop. It felt just like a service area on the highways.
"So we've found the stronghold of this Shiokishi guy?"
"According to Oyafune, he's in one of the experimental shelters inside this district."
Accelerator said while cursing.
"This district uses explosives a lot right? That's because they make models of shelters here, and then bombard it using shock waves from all directions to test its durability. Shiokishi hides his strongest fortress in the background with all the rest of them as cover."
"That Oyafune..."
Tsuchimikado turned around and found an old lady responding to him with a smile. Except now her clothes were that of a suit.
She felt Tsuchimikado's gaze on her and briefly explained,
"Hm. The preparations are complete."
"That secretary did say he'd wait at a 'safe place' right?"
Tsuchimikado said while shrugging.
Accelerator on the other hand looked at Oyafune and said,
"That secretary actually agreed to this."
"Mah~ he just didn't want to do anything risky."
Whether this counted as an answer or not, Oyafune only replied ambiguously.
Tsuchimikado clapped twice.
"We have everything we need now, so let's settle this quickly. We're not people that are the kind who talk face to face about everyday things."
On the other side was Shiokishi, one of the 12 members of the board of directors for Academy City, and his face was tightly wound up.
The space inside of the tunnel-like structure made of special armor may have been spacious, but the furnishings were quite plain. As a whole, it felt like being inside a warship or an aircraft carrier. Only from various places like the luxurious cabinets and chairs could anyone find the tastes of the one who lived there.
For Shiokishi, 'safety' was the greatest luxury, and this was the result of his massive efforts and large amounts of money. In reality, the costs of setting up this aggregation of military secrets was much greater than what would be needed to purchase a European medieval castle.
But now,
The 'safety' that this tycoon favored to the extreme was being shaken right to its foundations.
"... We are both members of the board of directors, so it's necessary to implement the observation system between those with the same powers..."
Between the twelve of them, they did have that kind of agreement.
Among the official members of the board of directors, they needed to have equal power between them at all times. To prevent one of them standing out and disrupting the balance of power, the committee needed to look at the opinions of any of the twelve Directors equally. For Academy City to work democratically, this was a necessary setup... this was the widely known, agreed, and discussed goal.
Of course, all that was merely superficial acting.
These twelve people had all built up strength in areas they were most proficient in, looking for opportunities to take down their rivals, and make Academy City work to the direction most beneficial for themselves; even if it was for just one tiny bit.
For someone to actually use this setup that was merely for decoration purposes, it should have been impossible.
(... Can this be somehow brushed off?)
Shiokishi considered. Normally speaking, just handling something like this perfunctorily would be enough.
But that wouldn't work this time.
Once again he sought out confirmation using the network for Directors' use only, and found between the twelve members there were indeed many agreements that didn't have much impact. Though any one of these agreements didn't have any great powers in themselves, amazingly every one of them was linked to the observation system between members that had equal powers. If he tried to seal one, another would get in the way. Trying to completely do away with another would also lead to conflict with other agreements. The persistent feeling was like someone had spent countless years weaving a spider net and finally herded their target into a dead end.
"That vixen... I had thought this was no more than a tiresome peace agreement after she had lost her power, but she had actually planned this from the start!"
Thinking about this kind of persistence, and the fact he didn't even see through this trap until this day it activated, Shiokishi felt afraid. All this time he was supposed to have been the one that was putting Oyafune Monaka under his surveillance.
"Please decide on the course of action."
The assassin he had raised with his own hands, who was currently standing by next to him - Sugitani said directly.
"This shelter has political and physical functions to prevent a third party invading, but because Oyafune Monaka has invoked the observation system between members that have equal powers the political defense functions are now useless. Also..."
"If the information from the cameras are accurate, Oyafune now has Group that's led by Accelerator as her pawns, or a relationship like a battle alliance. Even if we deny her inspection and defend ourselves inside this shelter it can't be called 'safe'.... No matter how well prepared we are, if I am assassinated then everything is over. As they are right now, even if they are classed as having combat value above that of nuclear warheads it wouldn't be too much of an exaggeration."
Shiokishi, who was completely covered in the powered suit, was wringing his hands as if on the verge of going into hysterics. In contrast to him, Sugitani standing at the side seemed as unruffled as usual.
"... However, would they really use the forceful method? Even if they have the excuse of 'the inspection was denied' and can legitimately attack us, if they really attack us it will lead to a war between the members of the board of directors."
"... They will definitely attack."
Shiokishi said as he paced around the room, lifting his feet that were covered in Western-esque armor.
"Because this is about Dragon, even if there's a slight trace about it they will come."
"Not taking into account those four of Group, Oyafune Monaka probably doesn't have that kind of thoughts."
"On the subject of motivation, that woman is the most troublesome. Don't be fooled by how meek she is now, the Oyafune Monaka of the past was someone that would go head on against a country just because of a child she didn't know personally cried. No matter what kind of political techniques were used it could not stop her. If she has started to move now then we can only fight back using force."
"Take control of her daughter Oyafune Suama?"
"That might work against Oyafune but it would be useless against Group. Is this the time to waste resources on unnecessary things?"
Maybe because he had already ran through this scenario in his head countless times, Shiokishi immediately said,
"Split up our forces to take hostages, what will happen if the shelter was taken while that happens? Even if the hostage is finally captured, there's no meaning if I have a knife pressed to my neck as well while we are at it. That cannot possibly be the basis of 'safety'."
... as long as the enemy's important thing was under his control, even if there was a gun pointed at his head there should still be room for negotiations... that was something out of the question for Shiokishi. Even as a joke, he would never risk his life in the battle plans.
With that, Shiokishi finally decided.
"We'll take them on here."
Sugitani didn't raise any objections. He only followed orders.
Knowing that his attitude was for giving him a sense of security, Shiokishi steadied his tone and continued,
"This is the final battle. Assemble all the forces sent out to attack Group and the ones sent to take the hostage back here. Let the forces inside the shelter withstand Group's attack at first, and then let the others come from outside and surround Group. Flank them and then destroy them."
"And about the issue where Oyafune has the right to attack?"
"We can't just shrug them off. Get the information analyzing department to completely go through their request documents. Even saying something like 'the seal is blurred' is alright, as long as the organization cannot process their documents and reasons it would be our victory."
Shiokishi who was completely covered by the thick powered suit swiftly thought.
His brain worked the fastest whenever 'safety' was involved.
"The 'reasons for action' always have their own interests involved. Putting aside those 'righteousness' that is merely a sham for those up to no good, all that is left is using force to settle everything. Then, as long as we win, convincing the other members of the board of directors will be easier.... Up to now we've managed to win using this method, and we will continue to do so from now on."
"Then, "
"Let us begin. No matter what, if I don't take down Oyafune Monaka and Group, I won't be able to rest properly."
At one corner of another similar circular shelter, Accelerator and the rest of them that got to this point stopped in their path.
Behind the parked vehicles, around the corner of buildings, under the eaves of factories.
In this view which looked plain at first glance, professional armed forces wearing special bullet-proof clothes and wielding rifles and submachine guns were hidden.
They were Shiokishi's underlings.
Accelerator and the rest of them stopped to give them a sign.
They were not giving up, they were not surrendering.
Rather, it was a declaration they would fight to the end.
Powered suits almost 7m tall jumped down from buildings one by one. They instantly started to set up armored vehicles and barricades. On top of the suits and armored vehicles were cannons like those of tanks.
Tsuchimikado couldn't help but laugh.
"Shiokishi is part of the military faction, alright. Even the weapons he gives to his underlings are this over-the-top."
"... What do you people think? Since it's one of the Directors, they should know normal battle forces won't work against Accelerator."
"Haven't you noticed?"
Accelerator who was holding a crutch pointed up with his chin. At the top of the circular shelter that Shiokishi was trying to hold, was a metal sphere like a basketball that was just like an omnidirectional radar.
"That's a device used to disrupt AIM diffusion fields. The main body is probably part of the dome. At the Youth Correction Center of this city, isn't there AIM disruption devices to prevent people using their ability to escape? The one above us is the board of directors' special edition, and the setting right now is probably most targeted at you. For a shelter that can withstand nuclear attacks, the ones they are most afraid of are those with the 'Teleport' type ability that can ignore 3-dimensional defenses."
Having heard that, Musujime took out her military-use flashlight from her belt and waved it around a few times in her hand. She then furrowed her brows.
"... Though my ability can still work, it feels like it's been forcefully redirected. Even if we teleport we'll probably be buried underground."
"As a member of the board of directors, and also as a weapons specialist, he should understand my military value. Then he should know the underlings of that standard cannot possibly take me down."
Accelerator said with a bored voice disdainfully.
"But, if they got a sample of my AIM diffusion field from previous battles, they could reverse calculate from the data and then send out disruptive electrical waves. With the progress from the data analysis they could at least force our abilities to go berserk and take me and Musujime down. That's the plan of those bastards."
"Then what do we do?"
Oyafune Monaka's expression seemed slightly tense, and she asked with a voice that should be far removed from battle.
"Isn't that obvious?"
In contrast, Accelerator twisted his neck and made some cracking sounds. He placed his hands on his neck.
There was the switch for the electrode on his neck.
"We'll break through head on."
Part 6
As one of the official members of the board of directors, Shiokishi was well-known for being well-protected. That was apparent from the fact that he covered himself in a powered suit almost 24 hours a day. Of course, his stronghold was also quite robust. Mixed in with other buildings in District 2, the tunnel style building was 200m in diameter and was said to be able to withstand even tactical weapons.
It was just that,
"That level of strength is still not enough."
Accelerator's low voice was carried off by the winds.
"When facing a place that boasts to be able to withstand even nuclear strikes, you'll have to use something like this."
Boom!! An explosion rang out.
The front half of the tunnel had one third of it smashed apart, and debris flew through the air.
What Accelerator had done was very simple. He picked up a parked car close to him with one hand, and then threw it hard at the target. There was nothing special about the laws of physics involved, and the items used weren't any kind of special materials. But, with just 'controlling all vectors' added into the mix, a simple throw could bring the results of shattering the shelter.
"Let's go."
| ← Ch. 146 | Ch. 148 → |