The underground experimental base of the Seventh Pharmaceutical Research Center was filled with dense pipelines and electronic equipment, aside from designated sections. The space was extremely vast, divided into three layers, each roughly the size of a football field.
Under normal circumstances, this research facility housed at least two hundred researchers and maintenance personnel. However, due to the forced interference with the "Level 6 Shift Project" and the unclear stance of the Board of Directors, many experiments had been suspended. Nearly one-third of the researchers had been reassigned, leaving only those responsible for maintaining basic operations.
The director of this research facility, Amata Kihara, was so anxious that his hair was beginning to turn white.
His life had been nothing but misfortune. After proposing the "Mass Production Ability User Project," he had invested enormous resources into creating the third clone, only to discover that its ability could reach merely Level 3. That single result had nearly bankrupted him.
Just when he thought all hope was lost, the Board of Directors approached him and used the Misaka Sisters to initiate the "Level 6 Shift Project." He believed that once the experiment succeeded and a Level 6 was born within Academy City, he would ascend into the upper ranks as one of the project's key contributors.
Yet everything had been completely disrupted by the sudden emergence of an eighth Level 5 esper, that cursed individual.
The Board of Directors had no effective way to deal with him. After all, a Level 5 was invaluable research material. Eliminating one meant permanently losing a critical asset. There was no way they would expend such effort to eliminate the eighth.
Even that monster, Accelerator, had chosen to compromise under the pressure brought by the eighth Level 5. With the project stalled, the only option left was to halt progress entirely.
Amata Kihara harbored deep resentment toward the Board of Directors. As the head of this facility, he had taken massive loans from international financial institutions to fund the creation of the Misaka Sisters.
Now that the project had collapsed, everything he had hoped to gain, both wealth and prestige, had been destroyed by the eighth Level 5 and the Board itself.
He was drowning in debt, with no future left.
"The Board of Directors, that eighth Level 5, and Accelerator... before I escape Academy City, I will make you all pay. Just you wait... Ahh!" Amata Kihara snarled viciously. Before he could finish, a sudden explosion shook the facility, causing him to fall to the ground in shock.
Like an enraged rooster, he immediately rushed out of the lounge.
"Those idiots... causing an explosion at a time like this?"
Researchers working within the massive Misaka Sister production and cultivation chamber were startled.
"What happened? An explosion?"
This was a high-security laboratory. Every material, from sterilization agents to volatile substances, was strictly controlled. An explosion should have been impossible.
Panicked, the researchers abandoned their tasks and rushed out.
"An explosion? What is going on?" Nunotaba Shinobu, who had been preparing to input emotional data into the Misaka Network during her break, was startled and hurried out of the laboratory. At that moment, the facility's alarm system activated.
Waaaaah... beep beep beep beep...
Arata had already blasted open the entrance to the underground elevator and descended slowly. The opening was nearly five meters wide, clearly designed for transporting large equipment.
The corridor was brightly lit, filled with a futuristic atmosphere, and extended into a T-shaped intersection, with wide passageways branching on both sides.
"Access not recognized. Access not recognized. Access not recognized."
Accompanied by a piercing alarm, numerous cylindrical security robots emerged from storage compartments, completely blocking the corridor.
"Access not recognized. Please leave this facility immediately."
"For a facility of this scale, relying on automated security units alone... not bad. It saves me some effort."
Arata let out a quiet chuckle, his eyes half-lidded, as he raised his hand toward the robots blocking his path.
An invisible force instantly crushed them together, as if giant hands were kneading clay.
Bzzzt... Boom!
The machines were crushed and exploded, filling the corridor with thick, acrid smoke.
"Ahh! Aaaaah!"
The staff who had rushed over to investigate screamed in terror at the sight, collapsing to the ground as they stared at the figure emerging from the smoke.
"Hehe... hello." Arata looked down at them with a faint smile, his eyes narrowed.
"Ahhh! I know you... you are the Level 5... the eighth one!"
The staff were completely terrified and scrambled toward the interior of the facility.
Within Academy City's Dark Side, the incident of the eighth Level 5 destroying a research facility and killing numerous researchers had already spread widely. Almost everyone knew about it.
"Ahem. Good day, dear researchers. I am Arata, the eighth Level 5 esper of Academy City. I had some free time today, so I decided to visit your facility. I hope you will provide me with a pleasant reception."
Arata smiled faintly as he spoke, using telekinesis to amplify his voice throughout the entire facility.
"As your guest, I expect a proper welcome. All researchers are to gather immediately in the equipment testing area to greet me."
Researchers in every section felt the voice echo directly beside their ears, and fear spread instantly.
The eighth Level 5.
And that same individual had destroyed an entire facility just days ago, killing dozens of researchers.
It was obvious why he had come. It had to be for the Misaka Sisters.
"Ahhh! Is he... is he here to kill us?" One researcher collapsed, trembling uncontrollably.
"No... no... if I had known, I would have resigned long ago." A female researcher cried, her body shaking.
"Arata..." Nunotaba Shinobu froze upon hearing the voice, her expression turning serious. Was he planning to take over this research facility?
Since that incident, she had come to understand that although he usually appeared gentle and approachable, once angered, he could become terrifying. That had been his first time killing, yet he had already destroyed multiple facilities in one go.
"The eighth Level 5..." Amata Kihara's face turned pale with fear, as if he had heard the name of a demon, his entire body trembling.
"Of course, do not underestimate my patience. Everyone must be present. If anyone fails to appear, their head may mysteriously vanish."
The calm voice echoed again, yet it carried a chilling threat that nearly caused everyone to collapse in fear.
"Hmm. Let us do it this way. I will count to sixty. Anyone who has not arrived by then will be torn apart."
"One."
"Two."
At that moment, no one dared to disobey. All the researchers rushed desperately toward the equipment testing area.
A Level 5 telekinetic could slice through objects without regard for obstacles.
"Is he serious?" Nunotaba Shinobu ran forward in panic.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
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