Chapter 197: Accelerator on the Receiving End
"Controlling iron sand to attack… with this kind of power, is she the same clone that escaped yesterday, or the original?"
Accelerator's expression changed instantly when he saw Misaka Mikoto easily split a shipping container in two.
Misaka Mikoto dispersed her electromagnetic chainsaw, transforming it into a storm of high-speed vibrating iron sand that enveloped Accelerator in a full 360-degree assault. At the same time, she pulled out a coin and launched it at three times the speed of sound, unleashing her most powerful Railgun.
"Does it matter whether I'm a clone or the original? Why take part in such an experiment? You've killed so many people. Don't you think you've been too cruel?"
"You're not a clone. Even if the one who escaped yesterday was, she didn't have this level of power. You're the original."
Accelerator waved his hand, forcibly dispersing the energy from the iron sand. At the same time, his surface reflection ability activated, blocking Misaka Mikoto's full-powered Railgun strike.
Once he confirmed she wasn't a clone, a hint of relief actually crept into his heart.
"Don't make me sound so cruel. I merely disposed of some knockoffs that appear at the press of a button."
"Even if they are copies, they are still living beings with flesh and blood!"
Because she already knew about Accelerator's abilities, Misaka Mikoto, though shocked that her trump card had no effect, didn't hesitate or give up. Instead, she launched her next move.
"Come forth—Thunder Giant!"
Violent electromagnetic force erupted from her body, forcibly drawing out the iron sand and dust from the ground, gradually forming a terrifying thunder giant over a hundred meters tall.
Iron sand and dust constantly rubbed inside the thunder giant, with terrifying electric light rampaging through its body.
"This attack… even a mountain would be destroyed. Face your judgment!"
Misaka Mikoto stood atop the thunder giant, holding Misaka Clone No. 9982, pointing down at Accelerator.
Seeing this, Accelerator covered his face and burst into manic laughter:
"Judgment? Fine by me! This boring experiment is dragging on. I'm already growing impatient. Defeating you, the original, should greatly shorten the time!"
He slowly rose into the air with the wind, spreading his arms:
"Show me what your attack can do!"
"Go!"
Misaka Mikoto unleashed all her electromagnetic power. A terrifying electric force exploded from the Thunder Giant's hand, dragging countless iron sand particles as they shot toward Accelerator.
This was essentially a magnified version of her Super Railgun.
"Not bad at all."
At that moment, George, who was stealthily approaching Accelerator, couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the Thunder Giant attack.
In Misaka Clone No. 9981's records, Misaka Mikoto had never used this move. It must be a new technique she developed based on her abilities.
In terms of power, George thought it was quite formidable.
She decided to learn this move from Mikoto after this was over.
The Railgun, now several meters thick, struck Accelerator perfectly, but unfortunately, it couldn't break through his defense—it just remained in a stalemate.
Obviously, Accelerator's defense was far stronger than Misaka Mikoto had anticipated.
At the same time, a business car screeched to a halt in the middle of a bridge near the dock. Four girls stepped out of the vehicle.
"So this is the Railgun… not that impressive."
The tallest of the group, a brown-haired girl, looked at Misaka Mikoto standing atop the Thunder Giant and smirked with disdain.
"Just for show."
As another Level 5 esper, Mugino Shizuri—known as "Meltdowner"—possessed the ability of atomic destruction, which prevented electrons from forming particles or waves, instead keeping them in a pure electronic state.
Because her powers also belonged to the electro-control category, she was often compared to Misaka Mikoto. Being ranked just one position lower always annoyed her, even though she had never met Misaka Mikoto in person.
"She could never compare to our queen, the strongest among the Tools!"
The blonde loli beside her giggled.
Meanwhile, the hooded girl shook her head:
"She's facing the number one ranked esper. Don't underestimate her so easily."
"Alright, our mission this time is to capture Clone No. 9981. Takitsubo, is the injured one she's holding our target?"
The leader, Mugino, turned to the quiet black-haired girl.
The black-haired girl weakly shook her head:
"Based on the intel, that one should be Clone No. 9982. Clone No. 9981 supposedly has stealth abilities. I'm currently scanning for other force fields nearby…
There it is, I've found an additional force field signature!"
She pointed behind Accelerator, where seemingly nothing was there.
Just then, Misaka Mikoto's power began to run dry. As the sustained Super Railgun ended and Accelerator relaxed, preparing to taunt her, George revealed himself and activated his magic.
"Soul Extraction!"
The soul-removing curse pierced through Accelerator's reflection defense and struck him, bringing a blissful smile to his face.
"Disable defenses."
George pressed Accelerator down to the ground.
Due to the curse's effects, Accelerator cooperatively deactivated his reflection defense.
"Condense!"
George used his ability to gather nearby iron sand into fine wires, manipulating them to pierce through Accelerator's body and tightly bind him.
At that moment, clarity returned to Accelerator's eyes.
The soul-removing curse had little effect on those with firm willpower. For a Level 5 esper like Accelerator, with an exceptional brain processing ability, it was even less effective.
But George hadn't planned to rely on it to control Accelerator indefinitely.
"You'd better not activate your power. Those wires have pierced several of your vital organs. If you try to use your ability and pull them out, you'll likely die on the spot."
"You're not the original… You're a clone too?"
Accelerator coughed up a mouthful of blood and looked at George, his pupils suddenly shrinking.
The original had just dispersed the Thunder Giant and was being supported by the clone from the earlier battle. So this new attacker who bypassed his reflection must also be a clone.
"That's right. I'm the one who almost died by your hand last night—Misaka 9981."
George shrugged and turned to ask the original Misaka Mikoto:
"How are you holding up?"
"Out of power. I'll recover after a night's rest."
Misaka Mikoto nodded weakly. She hadn't expected Clone No. 9981 to be this strong—to actually subdue Accelerator using some unknown method.
"How… how is this possible? You're just a clone… Why are you just like a normal human?"
Accelerator looked at George's expressive face and began to tremble.
It wasn't because George had broken through his reflection defense.
It was because George, a clone, acted just like a normal person.
Did that mean… all those clones he had killed before were the same?
(End of Chapter)