Does this guy really think this is my true strength? The Railgun is just the most straightforward and efficient way I use my power.
Misaka Mikoto held a game coin between her fingers. With a light flick, it shot upward with a metallic clang. The coin spun midair before naturally returning to her thumb. This was simple electromagnetic control, something that required almost no effort for her. Of course, if she got distracted, she might forget to use magnetism properly.
Judging from his expression, he clearly wasn't taking this seriously.
"They're coming."
Arata's heart tightened as his pupils glowed faintly red. His ability allowed him to perceive events two seconds into the future. The Railgun wasn't aimed at him. It would only graze past.
In other words, Misaka Mikoto had never truly intended to hit anyone with the Railgun, and she never would.
It always feels like I'm bullying someone.
The thought had barely formed when an orange-yellow beam, like a blazing spear, shot past him. Because it exceeded three times the speed of sound, the explosive boom followed a moment later.
The scorching blast slammed into the esper barrier, producing a sharp, grating screech. The airflow generated by the Railgun was comparable to that of a powerful Level 4 Aero Hand user.
The ground trembled as the stands behind him took damage. Wherever the beam passed, the rubberized surface had already begun to melt at over 720 degrees Celsius, releasing a harsh, burnt smell.
"..." Uiharu Kazari stared at the scene in stunned silence.
"Railgun. This is Onee-sama's ultimate move. No one in Academy City can withstand it. That gorilla is probably too shocked to react." Shirai Kuroko said proudly, peeking at her stunned friend with one eye half-open.
This was Tokiwadai Middle School's ace.
The one and only Railgun.
"What an incredible attack. My blood's actually boiling. My pride won't let me sit this out." Sogiita Gunha muttered with his arms crossed. After spending so long in Academy City, this was the first time he had encountered another Level 5 with such overwhelming presence.
"The Third Ranked Level 5, Railgun. And the Eighth is telekinesis, just like mine."
"But… what do we do about this?" Shirai Kuroko glanced at the damaged stadium floor and instinctively covered her cheek, looking troubled. Even with the privileges granted to a Level 5, causing this kind of destruction to public facilities would definitely result in disciplinary action.
"So this is the Railgun. Launching a coin at over three times the speed of sound. The power isn't bad. Think you can handle being hit by one?"
Seeing Arata standing still, Misaka Mikoto assumed he was intimidated. She casually pulled another coin from her pocket and spoke with relaxed confidence.
"Hmm." Arata stroked his chin and smiled faintly. "I didn't dodge because you weren't aiming at me in the first place."
"Oh? So you think you can dodge it? Hehe, you'll regret showing off like that." Misaka Mikoto replied, firing another Railgun. This time, the orange beam was aimed directly at his side.
Arata raised his hand and casually slapped toward it.
In that instant, his ability activated.
The orange beam reversed at its original velocity, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
"Clang!"
A coin dropped to the ground at Misaka Mikoto's feet.
She froze.
Where's my Railgun?
Her gaze fell slowly to the coin.
"Huh?" Sogiita Gunha rubbed his eyes in disbelief. What just happened? His vision hadn't even kept up. Misaka Mikoto's Railgun had simply vanished. Was it neutralized?
"How is that possible?" Shirai Kuroko shouted, as if she had just seen something impossible. "Onee-sama's Railgun disappeared? That ape just… erased it with his hand? That makes no sense!"
"Ah" Uiharu gasped, her mouth hanging open. Everything she thought she understood about esper abilities had just been overturned.
"What did you do? My Railgun just… disappeared!" Misaka Mikoto demanded, staring at Arata as her thoughts spiraled.
"Why not fire again and watch carefully this time?" Arata said with a faint smile.
Misaka Mikoto's expression turned serious. Her pride as a Level 5 wouldn't allow her to accept that someone had just nullified her Railgun so casually.
Clang.
Another coin launched forward, transforming into a blazing orange beam aimed directly at Arata.
He smiled lightly and repeated the same motion, casually slapping at the incoming attack.
To him alone, the flow of time became visible.
The moment his ability took effect, the beam began to rewind, returning to its state from three seconds earlier.
Clang!
The sound of a coin hitting the ground echoed again.
Misaka Mikoto stared at the empty space in front of her, then at Arata, who still held his hand out as if he had just struck something.
"How… is this possible? What just happened?" she exclaimed, her usual confidence completely gone as she looked at the second coin at her feet.
Is this the same coin I just fired?
What is going on?
The boy rubbed his eyes again, harder this time. He hadn't seen it clearly the first time, and the second time was no better. All he caught was the orange beam suddenly reversing, followed by the coin dropping.
"It disappeared again… what is happening?" Shirai Kuroko muttered, biting her thumb in frustration.
Index sat quietly in the audience, blinking in confusion. She didn't understand esper abilities at all, and even after watching, she still didn't.
"What's wrong with all of you? That tea-haired girl's attack just got erased by Arata, right? Why are you all acting like it's impossible?"
"It's impossible because it's Onee-sama's Railgun!" Shirai Kuroko snapped. "What's your relationship with that guy? Do you know what he did?"
"Arata? My relationship with Arata…" Index tilted her head, thinking. "He saved me, so he should feed me and give me a place to stay, right?"
"What the hell just happened? What did you do?" Misaka Mikoto pointed at Arata, her voice rising. For the first time, there was clear panic in her tone. Her invincible Railgun had vanished without a trace.
"Where did it go? Heh." Arata narrowed his eyes as he slowly approached her, a teasing smile forming. At some point, he had started enjoying this. Watching Misaka Mikoto lose her composure was unexpectedly entertaining.
It was probably a side effect of "Words of Infinite Deception".
"Misaka-senpai… are you curious about what just happened?"
...
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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