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Misaka Mikoto's punch landed like thunder—charged with hatred and frustration. It smashed several of Azali's teeth loose, painting his face with blood and sending him reeling, stars dancing in his eyes.
But even that couldn't compare to the overwhelming despair and gnawing self-blame Misaka Mikoto had endured over the past few days.
"These aren't your fault, Mikoto," Shen He said gently, trying to soothe her turbulent emotions.
In his hand, he still held the Holy Grail. Unfortunately, its magic reserves had already been exhausted. If it weren't, he might have been able to alter the tides of this war instantly through its divine authority.
Just then, Qi Mu Nanxiong read Azali's memories and pinpointed the location of the external data drive hidden within the ruins. Without hesitation, he used his vast psychic power to retrieve it. Shen He swept his eyes across the distant battlefield, where black lightning continued to erupt like a storm. There was no more time to waste.
"We need to move. Regroup with the Misaka sisters and retreat," Shen He calculated quickly. "Break through the remaining perimeter, contact the outside world, and assess the global situation. If this is a full-scale world war…"
He didn't finish the sentence. He simply shook his head. Speaking prematurely would only invite panic.
Following Shen He's command, the Misaka Network rapidly coordinated. All operational Misaka sisters began converging on their position in perfect synchronization.
Despite everything, Shen He had been bracing for Aleister to appear and obstruct them. But no interference came. That silence confirmed his suspicion.
The true power of Academy City had never been the visible ones—the espers or even Mikoto Alter. The true foundation had always been Aleister's plans layered over decades. He allowed the war to unfold, even the destruction of Academy City, because it ultimately served a greater objective.
After all, once one understood the original purpose behind the creation of the Misaka sisters, Aleister's aim became clear.
To use the espers as seeds—to propagate superpower technology across the world.
—Imaginary Number District: Five Elements Organization.
An artificial realm woven through the AIM dispersion fields of millions of espers. Once completed, it would unravel the foundations of magic itself.
Aleister's strategy hinged on the failure of the Level 6 Shift Project. Once that collapsed, he refocused the Misaka Network not just on adjusting defects but on converting the AIM field into a global structure. Misaka Mikoto Alter's emergence only solidified a new method: ignite a war, push espers into the wider world, and let the war itself spread the technology.
That's why the students were being pulled back. Why the city had sealed itself off.
Aleister needed to maintain the core AIM field within Academy City—one last bastion to keep the magic side at bay.
"Mikoto," Shen He said as they withdrew, his expression contemplative. "How are espers viewed internationally? I mean, the Academy City isn't even a few decades old, yet you've developed this far. Eventually, most of you will graduate. You can't all stay within one city forever."
Indeed, the eventual scattering of espers across the globe was inevitable. Aleister wouldn't have the patience to wait twenty years.
"But… but there's no real work for espers," Mikoto replied, her voice uncertain.
As a second-year middle schooler, she had never seriously thought about the future. She still had years of education ahead, but even now, most of her time was already consumed by research projects and cooperative institutions.
If not for the war, she likely would've stayed in Academy City after graduation. No other place could offer her power a meaningful use.
"…I see," Shen He murmured, finally understanding.
Being an esper sounded impressive on the surface. But ultimately, their value revolved around combat or research. Most espers had powers that were either too dangerous or too niche to be of use in everyday life. Tasks they could perform were often done more efficiently with modern technology.
And worse—many of their abilities were destructive by nature.
Once the first graduating class dispersed, what would the world do with them? Most governments would see them as unstable elements. Countries might refuse to admit them. Misaka sisters, still denied personhood and human rights, would be treated even worse—like weapons or prisoners of war.
In the end, Aleister didn't care if espers found jobs or were turned into lab rats.
All that mattered was the diffusion of the AIM field.
And then… Shen He thought of the Marvel World.
Inhumans, mutants… the moment they came to mind, he could already feel the headache brewing.
He recalled an idealist he'd once met in that universe—a mutant fanboy advocating for superheroes to erase the rift between mutants and humans. But reality was harsher. Most mutants didn't have the moral compass or control to become heroes. Many had powers that endangered others or were simply useless.
Without strict oversight and social support, no one should expect the average superpowered population to trend toward virtue.
"Master, we've broken through," Jeanne d'Arc's voice cut through his thoughts.
Already?
Only then did Shen He realize they'd crossed the outermost perimeter. The interception squad had briefly tried to stop them—but Qi Mu Nanxiong had casually flicked them aside like pebbles.
"Shili, Miqin, can you access the external network?" Shen He turned to the pair of cyberwarfare specialists.
"U-uh, y-yeah, give me a moment," Uiharu Shiri stammered, still shy around unfamiliar older men.
Mikoto, however, was already jamming signals and rebooting her satellite comms. Her tone was sharp and cold.
Once outside Academy City's electronic blockade, connecting to the global net via satellite wasn't hard.
"This is super bad!" Misaka Mikoto yelled as she stared at her phone. "Japan's officially declared war on the United States! It's now a world-scale alliance war! The U.S. and Russia are leading one side, and Japan, the U.K., and Academy City are on the other! Even China's spoken out—they've condemned U.S. aggression and promised to send troops if necessary…"
A world war had begun.
And in a conflict like this, there were no true heroes. Only stakeholders.
The U.S.-Russia Alliance had abandoned diplomatic protocols. But China wasn't going to let its rivals casually seize the science of Academy City. Nor would European neighbors stand idle while their region destabilized. In time, the flames of war would consume every corner of the planet.
At this point… even Misaka Mikoto Alter's actions seemed secondary.
She hadn't created the war. She had merely accelerated its inevitability.
"You've all heard the news," Shen He addressed the gathered students gravely. "Originally, Chaldea's mission was to extract you from the battlefield. But now, the entire world is the battlefield."
His eyes swept across the young faces before him—each one burdened with a power they never asked for.
"You have two options: Go home, if you still have one… or follow the Misaka Network."
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