Imaginary Beast ×, Imaginary Honkai Beast √

Kiyama Harumi's AIM diffusion field slowly rose above her head, forming a murky, translucent pillar of light, gradually coalescing into a substance that appeared both solid and liquid.

In the slightly terrified gazes of Misaka Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko, the mysterious object gradually ascended, taking on the shape of an embryo.

As the "embryo" suddenly exploded, a creature resembling a fetus emerged, its head disproportionately large, making up almost half its body size, with shriveled limbs and fully formed facial features. From beneath it, umbilical cord-like tendrils connected to Kiyama Harumi's head. Its eyes remained closed, and a halo floated serenely above its head.

Ultimately, what appeared to be an evil embodiment of a deformed fetus manifested before the two girls, with the halo atop its head only adding a sense of eerie contradiction rather than sanctity.

The "Imaginary Beast" had been born!

"What... what is that thing?" Misaka Mikoto gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. "A fetus? I've never heard of an ability like this!"

Suddenly, as if sensing Misaka Mikoto's astonishment, the fetus opened its eyes, its blood-red sclera and wandering pupils exuding an unsettling, eerie vibe.

Then, the "Imaginary Beast" opened its mouth filled with sharp teeth, unleashing a scream that echoed across the sky!

In the next moment, as if it had absorbed enough nourishment from Kiyama Harumi, all its "umbilical cords" detached from her head in an instant, spreading out like tentacles and thrashing wildly.

"Watch out!" Misaka Mikoto grabbed Shirai Kuroko, pulling her behind herself, taking the frontline position with a determined gleam in her brown eyes.

Misaka Mikoto could sense that this entity was far more dangerous than Kiyama Harumi, who had held back.

"Kuroko, get Kiyama Harumi to safety first!" Misaka instructed, squinting her eyes. Though she sympathized with Harumi's situation, there was something more pressing at hand.

Based on Mikoto's assessment, Harumi's AIM diffusion field aura had dissipated, suggesting she could no longer maintain control over the vast network of ten thousand minds, which had likely caused her to lose control in the first place.

"... Okay." Shirai Kuroko knew that staying wouldn't help much. She decided to evacuate the unconscious perpetrator, though she couldn't help but look back with concern. "Be careful, Onee-sama!"

"Don't worry!" Misaka Mikoto chuckled, her eyes fixed on the roaring "Imaginary Beast." "I'll hold it off here. And even if I can't beat it, I can escape. Hurry up and get Selene over here. I should have brought her with us from the start."

"Sigh, I'm really regretting it now." After speaking, Misaka Mikoto slowly lifted her head, and in an instant, any previous hesitation in her gaze was replaced by determination. "Let's do this!"

Crackle!

Numerous blue-white electrical currents surged from Misaka Mikoto's fingertips, the high-voltage and high-current electricity tracing a blurred path through the air before slamming into the "Imaginary Beast."

The beast howled in agony, its formerly pale skin turning a vivid shade of lobster red as if cooked.

But there was no joy in Mikoto's eyes because her attack had been ineffective.

Although her lightning had obliterated most of the "Imaginary Beast's" body, it quickly regenerated. Moreover, she noticed that beneath its skin wasn't the empty husk she expected.

Instead, it was a muscle-like substance, entirely white, with tiny patches of pink scattered across it. This discovery perplexed Misaka Mikoto. "What is that?"

Suddenly, with a loud bang, the outer skin of the "Imaginary Beast" shattered completely, and the creature inside, a pink-and-white amalgamation, burst free from its constraints, expanding rapidly at an abnormal rate.

Before long, a colossal white monstrosity stood atop the ruined overpass, its body adorned with glowing pink sections. Its head had been restructured by honkai energy, forming a helmet-like structure reminiscent of medieval knights, wielding a spear and shield, with wings extending from its back.

Its enormous stature shattered the overhead bridge, forcing Misaka Mikoto to dodge the falling concrete while contemplating a strategy. "Damn it... what the heck is this thing?"

Today had been a day of shattered expectations for Mikoto. The "Imaginary Beast" had first appeared as a fetus, and now it had transformed into this gigantic monstrosity. It was overwhelming.

If Selene were present, she would have recognized it instantly. This was no ordinary "Imaginary Beast"; it was more akin to an "Imaginary Honkai Beast."

Its form unmistakably resembled that of a Templar-Class Honkai Beast!

Though the monstrous being had not unleashed any ranged energy attacks, its massive size alone caused considerable destruction. While the creature attacked without restraint, Misaka Mikoto had to consider the safety of those nearby and the potential for damage, preventing her from unleashing her full power. With this disadvantage, Mikoto found herself being overwhelmed.

After narrowly avoiding another falling concrete slab, Mikoto gasped for air. She needed to draw the creature into an open space.

Determined to act, Mikoto began attacking while leading the "Imaginary Honkai Beast" toward a clearing beside the overpass.

Meanwhile, on a nearby intact section of the bridge, the Anti-Skill officers had witnessed the scene unfolding.

"This is bad!" Anti-Skill Commander Yomikawa Aiho's expression was grim. That well-meaning "civilian" was leading the creature toward a nuclear reactor facility.

"Help her out! Everyone who can still move, get ready!" Yomikawa Aiho shouted through a loudspeaker, her voice echoing over the chaos. "Don't lead the creature toward the plant! There's a nuclear reactor there!"

Simultaneously, the Anti-Skill officers struggled to their feet, loading their weapons.

"Open fire! Try to draw its attention!" Dozens of guns roared to life.

Though they knew their small-caliber weapons couldn't harm the monster, they had no choice but to try to divert its focus.

Hearing Yomikawa's warning, Misaka Mikoto realized she had made a blunder. If the nuclear reactor went critical, not only Academy City but all of Tokyo would be doomed. She had to redirect the creature's path.

But just as she formulated a new plan, a stray piece of debris caught her foot, tripping her.

"Not good!"

As Mikoto struggled to her feet, she realized she was already in the shadow of the colossal "Imaginary Honkai Beast." Looking back, she saw it had caught up with her.

The triumphant beast let out a delighted roar, raising its spear high before thrusting it down at Mikoto.

Boom!

The spot where Mikoto stood erupted into a storm of sand and rubble.

Meanwhile, Shirai Kuroko had just met up with Uiharu Kazari, having secured Kiyama Harumi. Seeing Mikoto's predicament from afar, she knew she couldn't reach her in time and could only watch helplessly as the giant creature loomed over her.

"Onee-sama!"

Driven by desperation, Shirai Kuroko ignored her fatigue, focusing her energy to teleport repeatedly to the site of the explosion, placing herself within the "Imaginary Honkai Beast's" range of attack.

"Onee-sama! Cough, Onee-sama!... Huh?!" Despite the choking dust, Kuroko stubbornly searched for any sign of Misaka Mikoto.

Swish!

Through the air, a meticulously crafted gauntlet sliced through the smoke, dispelling the dust and clearing away the heavy gloom over everyone's hearts.

A tall figure with white hair and red eyes stood protectively in front of an unharmed Misaka Mikoto.

"Tsk, tsk... Is Misaka-san in such a predicament?"