Rei Ao didn't answer directly; he merely looked on as the newly awakened Sisters tested their bodies.
"Of course. I never claim anything I can't do."
"And this is just the beginning." He snapped his fingers. "Crack!"
It was as if space itself shattered like glass. The next second, all of them found themselves standing on a wide-open field.
"This is the abandoned test grounds in District 23?" Shokuhou recognized the location at once. She'd grown used to Rei Ao's terrifying spatial manipulation. Right now she was more curious about why Rei Ao had brought them here.
Before she could speak, Rei Ao walked a few steps, then looked satisfied.
"This place is wide enough. Let's begin."
He raised his arms. The sky seemed to darken. Clouds churned as though stirred by an unseen hand, forming a massive vortex. The ground trembled, grass rippled without wind. Countless points of light flickered in the air, converging and gradually taking on human shape.
"In the name of a Magic God, I cross the boundary of life and death."
Rei Ao's voice sounded ethereal and mighty, as though a million voices spoke at once.
"Return, those whose lives were taken."
The motes of light formed physical bodiesone, ten, a hundred, a thousandand in no time, the entire grassy field was filled with girls wearing the same uniform, all with tea-brown hair, identical faces.
"Misaka Network connection confirmed, identifying individual serials"
"Memory data intact, last record is experiment termination signal"
"Life reaction online, Misaka #20001 says in confusion"
A cacophony of voices buzzed like bees in Shokuhou's ears.
"???"
She was thoroughly befuddled now. Kanzaki Kaori looked equally stunned. If what they had seen earlier was a miracle, this was a divine phenomenon. Index simply fell to her knees with hands folded, as though praying.
~~~
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Chapter 696: 20,000 Misaka Misaka's Confession!
Rei Ao had resurrected the dead often enough to do it out of habit. But sensing something, he frowned and muttered quietly:
"Tch. This world's pushback is a real pain."
Everyone in the world occupies the place they're meant to be. A change in that arrangement can spark a butterfly effect. Resurrecting all these Misaka Sisters who'd died in those experiments was causing a major impacta disturbance in the phases.
Rumble!
The earth lurched, and high above, a colossal crack tore across the sky, revealing a chaotic void beyond. The ground twisted, gravity fluctuating between strong and weakominous signs that the world was on the brink of disaster.
Kanzaki Kaori's face tightened grimly.
"Rei Ao-san, the rules are distorting!"
She was sure it was connected to Rei Ao's displayed miracle.
"I know. Keep quiet,"
Rei Ao retorted, flicking his left hand casually.
Pop!
In that instant of stillness, all abnormal phenomena vanishedlike erasing pencil marks from paper. The sky returned to its clear state, the earth to serenity, as if the earlier chaos had never happened.
"Alright, nothing to worry about now."
Rei Ao turned back to the three women, open-mouthed in shock.
"A total of 20,000 Misaka Sisters, including all who died in the experiment."
"D-died?"
Shokuhou finally managed, her voice faint.
"9,982 souls have returned," Rei Ao said with a nod.
Right then, a small figure came dashing out from among the crowd. She was tinier than the rest, with short tea-brown hair bouncing as she ran.
"Last Order is here, Misaka Misaka reports excitedly!"
She rushed up to Rei Ao without hesitation, hugging him around the waist.
"Thanks for saving everyone, Oniisan, Misaka Misaka expresses her sincerest gratitude on behalf of the entire network!"
And then, something even more stunning occurred:
All 20,000 Misaka Sisters paused at once, simultaneously taking a step forward. In perfect unison, they declared:
"Thank you for saving every member of the Misaka network, Misaka says gratefully."
Before Index, who was in shock, could register what was happening, a new development blew their minds:
"After analyzing our emotional module, we define this feeling as 'love,' Misaka #10032 confesses with a red face."
"Asking Rei Ao-sama to form a relationship beyond mere rescuer and rescued, Misaka #10086 boldly proposes."
"The Misaka network unanimously passes the 'love motion,' Misaka #20001 announces on everyone's behalf."
"?"
Rei Ao froze.
He glanced down at the Last Order clinging to his waist. She smiled happily, "Ehehe, Oniisan, this is the network's love confession, Misaka Misaka says joyfully."
He was faced with 20,000 expectant faces. Rei Ao, rarely, was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, confronted with a mass confession from 20,000 Sisters.
"Wellthat'sunexpected."
"A confession from 20,000 of them?"
Kanzaki murmured, eyes widening. Index tilted her head. "Index doesn't understand. Why would they all love Rei Ao at the same time?"
"Because he gave them life and a future," Shokuhou answered softly, watching with complicated feelings in her starry eyes. Suddenly thinking of something, she began searching through the resurrected crowd in agitation.
Rei Ao noticed her distress.
"Looking for someone?"
Shokuhou's body stiffened. She turned slowly, starlit eyes flickering with uncertainty.
"Dolly. She's not among them, right?"
Rei Ao gazed at her in silence, his iridescent pupils unfathomable.
"DollyMisaka Clone #0, the very first Sister," he introduced as though reading from a file.
Shokuhou's breathing grew rapid. With trembling fingers, she clutched her skirt.
"Butbut you can revive her, right? Like you did the others?"
He didn't answer immediately, gently tapping Last Order's head. The girl obediently let go and rejoined the other Sisters.
"Yes," Rei Ao replied at last.
Shokuhou's starry eyes brimmed with tears. The proud Mental Out, Academy City's strongest psychic, now wept like an ordinary girl.
"Please"
"I'll give anythingmy power, my memories, my lifewhatever it takes to bring Dolly back"
She trembled, opening the chat group interface to send a trade request:
[Ding! Shokuhou Misaki has initiated a trade request!]
[Trade Content: Revive Dolly!]
[Ding! Please select trade conditions!]
""
Rei Ao wore a strange expression.
"You seem to misunderstand something. I never said she wasn't here."
From the start, his intention was to bring back all the Sisters, so what was one more? Especially that unique No.0. At his words, he beckoned slightly, and a single Sister approached from a short distance away. Like the others, she resembled Mikoto, but wore something akin to a hospital gown. Her eyes were shining with intense emotion at the sight of Shokuhou.
"Shokuhou? Is that you?"
Her tone was uncertain, speaking to a Shokuhou who looked similar but more mature than the one she remembered.
Hearing the voice, Shokuhou snapped her gaze upward. The moment their eyes met, she couldn't look away again.
"Dolly"
Shokuhou lost control, rushing forward and hugging Dolly tightly. Tears poured forth, drenching the hospital gown. Dolly confirmed that the older Shokuhou was the grown-up "little Shokuhou" she recalled. Gently stroking Shokuhou's golden hair, she murmured:
"What's wrong, Shokuhou?"
"I had such a long dreamlike I drifted somewhere far away"
Dolly spoke softly, "But now I'm back, so don't cry, okay?"
Shokuhou looked up, tears shining in her eyes, and nodded earnestly.
"O-Okay!"
Chapter 697: Only Survivor — Nunotaba Shinobu
Shokuhou Misaki had a lot she wanted to say to the newly resurrected Dolly, but right now, she felt she should thank Rei Ao even more. Yet no words could properly express it in this moment.
She pursed her lips. Determined not to remain indebted, she made her decision:
[Ding! Shokuhou Misaki has sent you a trade request!]
[Trade Content]: "A token of thanks!"
[Ding! Please choose the trade condition!]
"Huh?"
This new trade request from Shokuhou took Rei Ao by surprise. "What's the meaning of this?"
He gave her a questioning look.
Shokuhou folded her arms and looked away.
"Hmph. I'm not someone who just owes others without paying them back. The literal meaning: my gratitude. Don't overthink it!"
"?"
Dolly, who wasn't in the chat group, had no idea what the two were talking about.
"Fine, if you say soI won't refuse a gift,"
Rei Ao replied lightly.
[Ding! Your trade request has been accepted!]
[Trade Content]: "Psychic Mastery" & "One-time Body Usage"
[Ding! Confirm this trade?]
""
Shokuhou stiffened all over as soon as she saw the notification. She never expected Rei Ao to bluntly choose that trade condition without the slightest reservation.
The image of Mikoto's earlier condition flashed through her mind. Realizing she might end up the same way made her entire body heat up.
"Shokuhou, your body feels so hot, and your face is bright redare you okay?" asked Dolly, worried.
"I-I'm fine."
Shokuhou tried brushing off her unnatural blush. She shot Rei Ao, who was smiling meaningfully, a furious glare, then gritted her teeth and accepted the trade in her mind. She'd said itlike water thrown out, she couldn't take it back. However bitter the fruit, she'd have to swallow it.
[Ding! The trade begins!]
[Trade Target]: Shokuhou Misaki
[Trade Content]: "A token of thanks!"
[Trade Condition]: "Psychic Mastery," "One-time Body Usage"
Now Shokuhou felt a wave of regret, but it was too late.
Kanzaki Kaori walked up to Rei Ao.
"Casually interfering with life and death like thatare you sure it's okay?"
In Rei Ao's iridescent eyes, a deep light flickered.
"For a Magic God, the so-called 'laws' are little more than malleable clay. Besides"
He glanced toward the Sisters who were curiously taking in this "new world."
"Some mistakes ought to be corrected."
Suddenly, Index tugged at the sleeve of Rei Ao's clothes.
"With so many people, we'll need a lot of food, right?"
Rei Ao paused, then burst into laughter.
"You're right. Then"
With a snap of his fingers, a long dining table appeared on the grass, covered in all sorts of delicacies.
"Here's your first feast after resurrection!"
Two thousand or so Misaka Sisters blinked for a second before bursting into cheers that shook the air. Dolly, equally amazed by the spread, pushed Shokuhou toward the table, stars in her eyes at the sight of the food. Seeing Dolly so animated, Shokuhou shelved her embarrassment, her face showing a rare, relaxed smile.
Elsewhere, inside a deserted laboratory:
A black-haired woman in a white lab coat sat slumped against the wall, her finger hovering over her phone screen for a full ten seconds.
That brief message about ending the experiment felt like a red-hot brand searing itself into her retinas.
The overhead fluorescent tubes gave off a faint buzzing, shining on her pale face and casting a lonely shadow.
"It's over?"
She mumbled, voice dry as bones in a desert.
Not long ago, all the key researchers of the Level 6 Shift plan started disappearing one after another. Not a normal resignation or transfersimplygone. Their homes were left untouched with all signs of daily life; PCs still running unfinished papers, coffee cups yet to cool. Yet the people had been wiped from existence as if erased by a giant eraser.
Meanwhile, every Misaka Sister in that lab also vanished without a trace.
Yet she, Nunotaba Shinobu, one of those aware of the Level 6 Shift plan, survived.
She reflexively touched her neck, as if to confirm she was still alive. Perhaps she should've been terrified, but after so long participating in dark experiments, her nerves were dull. Maybe she'd be nextand strangely, that brought her a hint of relief.
"You seem calmer than I'd expected."
A stranger's voice suddenly echoed through the empty lab.
Nunotaba snapped her head up, pupils contracting. Two figures appeared about three meters away, with no sign of space warping or doors openinglike they'd always been there.
The black-haired young man radiated a suffocating aura, his iridescent pupils swirling with a light like a galaxy.
Nunotaba had no idea who he wasbut she recognized the person behind him: the Queen of Tokiwadai, Shokuhou Misaki! Yet what truly shocked Nunotaba was seeing that normally proud, haughty psychic standing there with her head slightly bowed, almost subdued.
"You?"
Nunotaba's hand crept toward an emergency button beneath the desk.
"No need for that. You're the only living person left in this facility."
Rei Ao smiled, and that smile sent a chill up her spine.
"I am Rei Ao, Academy City's new Superintendent."
"As for the Level 6 Shift plan"
He snapped his fingers.
Dozens of holographic images appeared out of thin air, each showing a different researcher's final moment.
"All that trash has been cleared away by me."
Nunotaba watched her former colleagues, faces she knew, silently disintegrate into motes of light in the recordings. She felt her stomach churn, fear gnawing at every corner of her being. She forced herself to meet Rei Ao's gaze.
"Whywhy didn't you kill me?"
"Because you're still useful."
Shokuhou Misaki suddenly spoke, her voice lacking its usual sweet tone, replaced by something more solemn.
"Your talents."
After briefly arranging matters for the Misaka Sisters, Rei Ao had explained to her why they'd come.
~~~
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Chapter 698: Laura, Coronzon, the Great Demon!
Rei Ao took a step forward.
Nunotaba Shinobu immediately felt an invisible pressure weigh down on her entire body. Her knees buckled of their own accord, and she collapsed to the floor. It wasn't just psychological fearevery cell in her body seemed to be prostrating before a higher-dimensional being, compelled to worship.
"Become one of my subordinates, or vanish like the others."
Rei Ao's voice was soft, yet it exploded like thunder inside her mind.
"Choose."
Nunotaba's throat tightened. She once thought she'd lost her will to live, but now, truly facing the threat of death, she realized a part of her still clung to life. What shocked her most was that this man, calling himself the Superintendent, emanated an aura far beyond any "esper" she'd ever imagined.
