Arata shook his head and dismissed the two star character card from his mind. The character cards refreshed their available tasks every day. It would not disappear.
This one was even more troublesome than the card that had appeared on Teacher Komoe.
He followed Harumi Kiyama into the testing facility. The interior space was comparable in size to a gymnasium.
Various instruments and measuring devices used for telekinesis testing had already been prepared.
"Director, the subject has arrived," Kiyama said, rubbing her tired eyes.
"Level 4 telekinesis. One of the twenty six strongest telekinetic espers currently registered in Academy City. Let us hope your data is impressive, kid."
A dignified middle aged woman approached and patted Arata on the shoulder.
"Thank you for the encouragement." Arata raised an eyebrow. The director seemed straightforward and decisive.
"If there is nothing else, I will return to my research," Kiyama said with visible reluctance.
The experiment she was working on could be completed within a few days. If her theory proved correct, the computing power available might be enough to produce a breakthrough.
"Kiyama, why not review the data first? You were the one who accepted this case."
"There is no need." Kiyama shook her head and left without hesitation.
The director sighed.
"Researcher Kiyama is excellent in every respect, except that she is too obsessed with her research. I only hope her passion does not lead her down the wrong path."
Although she held the title of director, she was primarily an investor rather than a scientist. She had witnessed too many researchers lose themselves.
Arata silently thought that what Kiyama was pursuing directly opposed the upper echelons of Academy City.
"All right. Let us begin by testing the fundamental properties of your telekinesis."
There were numerous testing modules prepared. Telekinesis was one of the most versatile categories of esper ability.
The first phase involved moving lead blocks of increasing mass to determine maximum load and effective range.
At first, the lead blocks were the size of basketballs. Gradually, they increased to half human height. Finally, Arata attempted to move a 1.4 meter cubic lead block. Beyond that weight, further movement became impossible.
"Maximum load, 6.7 tons. Maximum effective range, 375.3 meters. Maximum precision error, 32 centimeters. These are currently the strongest telekinetic metrics recorded," a researcher reported in surprise.
"Next, we will evaluate the number of objects you can simultaneously manipulate and the velocity of control."
A large container, roughly half the height of a person, was filled with iron rods as thin as chopsticks.
Arata extended his telekinesis. The iron rods shot forward in rapid succession toward the reinforced testing wall. To the naked eye, they appeared as a dense series of afterimages.
The testing chamber echoed with a continuous barrage of impacts, resembling the firing of a Gatling gun.
"Maximum number of controlled units, 136. Maximum velocity, Mach 1.2. Equivalent kinetic force comparable to small caliber firearm projectiles."
The director's expression grew increasingly astonished.
"These statistics are already the strongest among registered telekinetic espers, excluding the seventh ranked Level 5, Sogiita Gunha, whose ability is classified as a Gemstone and does not conform to standard telekinetic models."
She looked at Arata expectantly.
"Do you possess additional derived applications such as telekinetic cutting, telekinetic ignition, telekinetic barriers, vacuum isolation, silence fields, or optical interference?"
"Yes." Arata smiled with satisfaction at the foundational data. Telekinesis, at its core, was the ability to exert force upon matter through mental output.
His applications were broad. Although he had only recently advanced, he already understood that he could perform cutting, impact projection, and remote object manipulation.
"Then we will proceed."
"Telekinetic cutting. Maximum range 375.3 meters. Maximum linear cutting extension 125.8 meters. Maximum steel plate penetration thickness 12.7 centimeters."
"Telekinetic ignition. Maximum temperature 236.9 degrees Celsius. Effective radius 23 centimeters."
For defensive evaluation, Arata was transferred to a sealed testing chamber. Ping pong ball sized lead projectiles were launched toward him at varying velocities.
"The telekinetic barrier has a maximum coverage radius of 375.3 meters and maximum load resistance of 5.2 tons. It can withstand the explosive force of conventional thermal weapons. Electrical resistance threshold measured at 460 million volts. It can isolate atmospheric gases to create vacuum conditions and regulate thermal transfer."
"Telekinetic impact projection achieved maximum range 375.3 meters, with an effective destructive radius of 57.9 meters, penetrating a three meter reinforced concrete wall."
"Telekinetic flight. Maximum altitude 236 meters. Maximum speed 105.2 meters per second."
Time passed steadily. After an entire afternoon of testing, the evaluation was finally complete.
Arata rubbed his temples. It was no wonder that schools with large numbers of high level espers often required multiple research institutes to conduct joint evaluations. The workload for a single institute was immense.
"Well, Director? My data is fairly impressive, right?" Arata smiled at the director, who was holding a thick stack of evaluation reports.
He had not expected his ability parameters to have grown so significantly overnight. It was an unexpected development.
"Impressive? You call this merely impressive?" The director's shocked expression shifted into open excitement.
"Do you understand what this data represents?"
"The strongest telekinetic esper," Arata replied calmly. He was confident that aside from Sogiita Gunha, no one surpassed him in raw telekinetic metrics.
"You believe your ability is still Level 4?"
"Could it possibly be Level 5?" Arata raised an eyebrow, surprised by her incredulous expression. The data was powerful, but it did not seem sufficient to reach Level 5.
"So you truly thought you were only Level 4. I have heard you advanced from Level 1 overnight. The process of reaching Level 5 often defies conventional scientific explanation."
"Are you saying I am Level 5? Has Academy City lowered the threshold?" Arata asked skeptically.
The director considered her words carefully.
"Academy City's baseline definition for Level 5 is simple. An esper must be capable of single handedly defeating a fully armed force of one thousand soldiers and escaping without fatal injury."
"With your current parameters, that outcome is entirely feasible. Furthermore, your telekinetic load and range values have already reached the theoretical boundary proposed for Level 5 telekinesis. Sogiita Gunha is a Gemstone and does not fit within the standard developmental classification."
"In theoretical terms, telekinesis qualifies as Level 5 when its range exceeds 300 meters, maximum controlled mass surpasses 5 tons, and it demonstrates at least three distinct advanced applications at equivalent strength."
"Am I really that powerful?" Arata inwardly called out to the system.
System, confirm. Has my telekinesis truly reached Level 5?
["No. The host's telekinesis remains Level 4, though it is extremely close to Level 5. True Level 5 telekinesis would permit control of objects exceeding ten tons within a range of one kilometer."]
Arata understood immediately.
"Hahaha. I never imagined our institute would produce a Level 5 candidate." The director burst into laughter.
Research funding within Academy City was allocated based on research output. Data related to Level 5 espers was of immeasurable value.
If this institute could claim responsibility for cultivating a Level 5, it would undoubtedly rise to the forefront of Academy City's research hierarchy.
"Kid, allow our institute to oversee the continued development of your ability."
The atmosphere in the laboratory shifted subtly. A new possibility had emerged within Academy City.
...
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