Fierce Battle

At the 177th Judgement branch.

"Wasn't she just an ordinary researcher? How could she be fighting Anti-Skill, and using multiple abilities!"

Kongou Mitsuko stared in disbelief at the computer monitor in front of her, her eyes trembling with shock.

"Kiyama Harumi..." Kongou Mitsuko muttered softly to herself before slowly turning to Selene and asking, her voice slightly heavy, "What's going on here...?"

"It resembles having multiple abilities." Staring at the surveillance footage on the screen, Selene appeared calm regarding Kiyama Harumi's sudden display of supernatural abilities.

"Multiple abilities?! ...That's impossible. In theory, possessing more than one ability shouldn't be possible." Hearing this, Kongou Mitsuko was stunned, finding it hard to believe. This idea completely contradicted everything she had learned until now. "Isn't a person supposed to have only one ability?"

"Moreover, there's no record in the database of Kiyama Harumi ever undergoing ability development," she continued, not pausing her work, typing rapidly on the keyboard, her voice urgent. "And as far as I know, being a researcher, it's impossible for her to have undergone ability development."

"It's not, which is why I said it's similar," Selene responded patiently to the anxious Kongou Mitsuko.

"What do you mean? What's the difference from having multiple abilities?" Kongou Mitsuko asked, still puzzled by Selene's explanation.

After thinking for a moment, Selene decided to selectively share what she knew with Kongou Mitsuko.

"Kiyama Harumi can manipulate various supernatural abilities, but these are not her inherent powers. She is likely borrowing them."

"Borrowing?"

"Yes, borrowing! Kiyama Harumi likely gained this ability after connecting to the [Level Upper] network. It enables her to use the abilities of all [Level Upper] users and enhance her powers by aggregating the computing power of all users' brains."

Kiyama Harumi named this capability "Talent Ability." This method was taught to her by Gensei Kihara, who also used it to acquire various abilities, such as mind control and a type of clairvoyance.

...

On the other side, using a phone to gather intelligence about Kiyama Harumi, Shirai Kuroko and Misaka Mikoto's expressions became grim.

When they arrived at the scene, the overpass was in ruins, covered with dust and debris.

The surface of the overpass was charred and pitted with craters. Two large Anti-Skill vehicles were overturned on the road, their bodies dented and sparking with arcs of electricity, almost completely wrecked.

Scattered on the ground were the remains of disabled security robots. Anti-Skill officers lay on the ground, barely breathing, their faintly rising chests the only sign of life, making for a harrowing scene.

"Anti-Skill actually...failed?"

Though surprising, with the intelligence provided by Selene, Kiyama Harumi, having integrated over ten thousand brains through the [Level Upper] network, had become a multi-ability user. It wasn't hard to understand how Anti-Skill was annihilated.

Shirai Kuroko then discovered Uiharu Kazari, who was slumped over the sports car, unconscious, and quickly rushed over to check on her. "Uiharu! Are you alright?"

"Don't worry." A voice filled with apparent weariness came from the smoke left by the battle, "She fainted due to the aftermath of the fight and is not in any life-threatening condition."

As these words were spoken, a gust of wind swept away the smoke, revealing Kiyama Harumi's back clad in a white lab coat, her brown wavy hair fluttering in the breeze.

"Misaka Mikoto, one of the only eight Level 5s in Academy City, ranked fourth. Shirai Kuroko, a Judgement member from the 7th District, Level 4 teleportation ability user."

As she spoke, Kiyama Harumi turned around. Although her tone was still as calm as ever, the increasingly crimson and fierce eyes made her appear extraordinarily manic.

Glaring at the two people facing her with hostility, Kiyama Harumi said, "However, even as a Level 5 and a Judgement member, you've never faced an opponent like me, have you? Do you really think you two can stop me, someone who controls the minds of thousands?"

"You dare say 'stop'." Upon hearing this, Misaka Mikoto lowered her head slightly, her body trembling—she was ready to accept the challenge.

"You actually used us!" Meanwhile, carrying Uiharu Kazari, Shirai Kuroko emerged from the sports car.

Staring at the calm Kiyama Harumi in front of her, Shirai Kuroko's anger flared, knowing they'd been played like fools. "And you're still so arrogant..."

"Kuroko! I'm going to attack! You take Uiharu to safety first." With those words, Misaka Mikoto raised her head sharply, and in the next instant, countless pale blue arcs of electricity surged from her body, crashing toward Kiyama Harumi!

Boom!

"It won't work." A "film" appeared out of nowhere, blocking the electric attack, Kiyama Harumi said blandly. She pointed a finger, causing the ground beneath Misaka Mikoto to collapse.

"As expected, you can use multiple abilities." Misaka Mikoto leaped, dodging the collapsing area, but a subsequent explosion enveloped her.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning cut through the smoke, striking at Kiyama Harumi. Misaka Mikoto emerged unharmed, "I refuse to believe you can use multiple abilities simultaneously... Uh..."

Bang!

"Oh? Is that what you think? My abilities are not the same as the theoretically impossible kind."

After simultaneously using multiple abilities to fend off the attack, Kiyama Harumi laughed softly at the incredulous Misaka Mikoto. She waved her hand, sending several elemental attacks toward Misaka Mikoto. "I call it 'Talent Ability.'"

"Tch..." From the brief and intense clash, Misaka Mikoto had encountered abilities from the three main categories: natural phenomena, physical principles, and human physiology.

Although somewhat troublesome, it wasn't enough to overwhelm Misaka Mikoto. After all, battling Selene had been far more oppressive. A few quick dodges and electrical attacks easily neutralized Kiyama Harumi's assault.

"I don't care what it's called, as long as I capture you." A bolt of lightning shot toward Kiyama Harumi.

"Unfortunately, you lack the power to capture me." Repeating the same futile attacks, Kiyama Harumi grew impatient. With another ability, she shattered the overpass in half.

She then used her abilities to demolish the support pillars, sending large chunks of concrete tumbling onto Misaka Mikoto below.

"How disappointing, Level 5 is not so impressive after all." Amid the smoke, Kiyama Harumi sighed with boredom, "Shall we end it here? I just want to investigate something."

Ultimately, Kiyama Harumi did not go all out, just as Misaka Mikoto held back. Both had reservations.

"Cough cough... Don't joke around. Do you think you can still do that?" Misaka Mikoto's voice, tinged with low fury, emanated from beneath the rubble. "No one will be sacrificed? After dragging so many into this, you're still spouting such nonsense! This..."

She slammed her hand onto the ground in anger. Instantly, the earth trembled, and countless black iron sand grains slowly rose from beneath, swirling around her like dark weapons, blades, or whips.

Iron Sand Sword!

"All I know is that I'm going to capture you now!" Misaka Mikoto shouted, and in the next moment, countless blades of dark iron sand flew directly at Kiyama Harumi!

Witnessing this, Kiyama Harumi clutched her head in exasperation. "I see, even though you're a Level 5 ability user, you're just an inexperienced young lady. Why am I reasoning with you..."

Unable to reason with her, Kiyama Harumi's tone gradually cooled. When reasoning fails, let actions speak. She waved her hand, sending hardened stone blocks flying toward Misaka Mikoto, intercepting the incoming Iron Sand Swords while also striking Misaka Mikoto. "Sorry!"

No matter what, I must save my students!

Fortunately, the girl with flowers on her head should have reached safety. With no more reservations, Kiyama Harumi's attacks intensified.

As Misaka Mikoto dodged the first wave of stone block attacks, Kiyama Harumi's next assault had already begun.

A trash can full of aluminum cans burst open, filling Misaka Mikoto's entire field of vision with aluminum cans.

"As expected, she's behind this." Misaka Mikoto grimaced, aware of the power of "Empty Space Bombings" and knowing how powerful aluminum can explosions could be.

With so many flying toward her at once, if they exploded simultaneously, holding back would leave her unable to withstand the force.

Though going all out meant Misaka Mikoto could no longer control her electricity's power, there was no time to hesitate. With Uiharu safely away, it was time to go all out!

Boom, boom, boom—

Crackle, crackle—

Explosions and the continuous chirping of electricity like a thousand birds rang out, while fiery explosions and blue-white lightning engulfed the area beneath the overpass.

The already unstable bridge support suffered another massive blow!

Watching the road surface crack and sway, the remaining Anti-Skill officers on the overpass showed fear in their eyes. Supporting their injured companions, they quickly retreated. At the last moment, accompanied by the screeching of the bridge structure under strain, all personnel managed to evacuate.

With a resounding crash, accompanied by a cloud of dust reaching the sky, more than 50 meters of the overpass collapsed.

However, as the instigators of the chaos, the two combatants seemed unaffected, continuing their battle amid the rubble.