"Is it time for the experiment already?" Accelerator grinned, her expression impatient and restless.
"Yes. Misaka's serial number is 8914," the Misaka Sisters replied. "However, to confirm that you are the designated participant in this experiment, Misaka proposes that we verify the password first," she added in an emotionless tone while looking at Accelerator sitting atop the massive sealed steel container.
"Tch. This is beyond irritating." Accelerator clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Did the researchers not inform these mass produced clones about the modification to the experimental parameters?
Even if I remain completely still, the clones that charge at me will still be shredded like fragile tofu. Damn it.
I thought the plan had been altered and I would no longer need to kill these disposable replicas, but it seems nothing has changed. I have slaughtered nearly ten thousand of them already. The repetition alone makes me sick.
Sometimes, even after eating, recalling that sensation makes me feel nauseated.
"Passwords are irrelevant now. I have killed you nearly ten thousand times. Ten thousand repetitions of identical memories, yet you remain this calm. Do you have nothing to say to me?"
Accelerator lazily observed the unchanged Misaka Sister, the corner of her lips twitching slightly. "Tch. Why do I even feel like talking to them? To frighten them?"
"Misaka cannot comprehend the meaning of 'I have something to say to you.' Misaka confirms once more that there is one minute remaining until the experiment begins. Are you prepared?"
They were simple words, yet the thought process behind them was hollow. Any interpretation had to be retrieved from a database rather than emotion.
"I cannot understand why you cooperate so readily in this experiment. You display no instinctive biological fear. At the same time, you show no gratitude toward the person who saved you. And what is your assessment of him? Is it different from mine?"
When Accelerator mentioned that person, her crimson pupils flared with distorted killing intent.
"Misaka cannot comprehend Mr. Arata's actions, nor can she fully interpret your question," Misaka responded. "Mr. Arata used his singular life to oppose you, the strongest Level 5 esper, and removed Misaka, who could be recreated with the press of a button. From a statistical standpoint, this is an unequal exchange."
The Misaka Sister stared blankly as she delivered her deduction.
"Misaka cannot comprehend Mr. Arata's reasoning. Every Misaka must survive. Every Misaka is an individual existence. Please proceed."
The Misaka Sisters did not know that Accelerator had already been completely defeated during their previous confrontation.
Upon hearing this, Accelerator radiated an oppressive aura. She slowly rose from her seated position and spoke coldly from above.
"The strongest esper. Each puppet is an individual existence, and all of them must survive."
"What a joke. That bastard, the strongest? Heh. To be honest, being called the strongest only invites challengers. He makes others believe he can be surpassed, and that makes him entertaining to oppose. Any fool can stand before me waving some cheap weapon."
"That is far from sufficient. Being the strongest is tedious. What I seek is absolute invincibility. A state where everyone believes challenging me is pointless, where I am so overwhelmingly powerful that no one even dares to resist."
Accelerator revealed a cruel smile and extended her hand toward the Misaka Sister.
"Therefore, no matter how many of you die, I will accept it without hesitation."
"Misaka confirms once again. At 20:39:30, with thirty seconds remaining before commencement, the 8914th trial of the Level 6 Shift Project will begin. 'Test subject, Accelerator, please assume your position,' Misaka transmits."
The Misaka Sister raised her rifle calmly and aimed at Accelerator without emotion.
"Tch. I truly cannot communicate with inferior specimens like you." Accelerator clicked her tongue impatiently. She had repeated this kind of meaningless exchange countless times, yet the only response she ever received was procedural acknowledgment of the experiment.
She stepped off the sealed steel container and used vector control to reduce the impact force, descending gently to the ground.
"Although today's main course is not you, you defective copy, I will entertain myself with you first. When that bastard arrives, all he will find is scattered remains on the ground."
Accelerator's smile turned savage, her laughter low and chilling.
The Misaka Sister quietly adjusted her night vision goggles. A one sided massacre was about to begin.
"Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap."
Applause suddenly echoed across the open lot, shattering the suffocating tension in the darkness.
Accelerator's expression instantly darkened. Only the corners of her mouth continued to rise, her killing intent reaching its peak.
Arata walked forward slowly, clapping his hands. His footsteps rang clearly across the empty industrial grounds as he spoke with a relaxed smile.
"It seems I arrived at exactly the right moment. Accelerator, it appears you have not harmed my people yet. Were you waiting for me?"
He had heard their entire exchange. Although her words were not entirely false, they concealed a longing for a place within the light. Years of continuous slaughter had twisted her personality.
She reacts violently to even the slightest hostility. The moment she perceives someone as an enemy, she does not hesitate to activate her ability. She is reckless, ruthless, and harbors a deeply negative view of life.
"Heh. Arrived at the right moment? I only need to shift a single vector to crush any clone here. As for waiting for you, I have always been waiting for you, you piece of trash."
Accelerator kept her hands in her pockets as she slowly turned around, distorted killing intent radiating from her body. This time, however, she did not immediately attack.
"If that is true, then why is she still completely unharmed? You are not the merciful type, are you?" Arata said with a faint smirk as he slowly approached the Misaka Sister.
"Your nonsense grows more amusing each time, you lowlife. This time, you will not walk away so easily. Heh. Hehehe…" Accelerator's smile widened viciously as she clenched her fist.
"I was merely asking casually. This time, I will not let you off easily either. I may need to try something new on you, so I specifically asked the doctor to prepare some anesthetic. Do not be too furious when you wake up, or it will be troublesome for me."
Arata smiled brightly, completely unfazed by her threat. He casually retrieved a small vial of liquid from his spatial storage ring and lightly shook it in front of her.
...
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