Judgment Branch 177.
"She was supposed to be just a researcher! How is she fighting Anti-Skill—and using multiple abilities on top of that?!" Konori Mii's voice trembled in disbelief as she stared at the footage on her monitor. Her eyes widened, full of shock and confusion.
"Kiyama Harumi..." she murmured softly before turning toward Selene with a serious look. "What exactly is going on here?"
"It looks similar to multi-skill usage," Selene replied calmly, her gaze fixed on the surveillance feed. Despite Kiyama's overwhelming power display, Selene's expression remained neutral.
"Multi-skill?! That's impossible!" Konori gasped, shaking her head in disbelief. "Theoretically, a person can't possess more than one ability—it contradicts everything we know! Everyone should only have a single ability type!"
"Besides, there's no record in the [Bank] showing that Kiyama Harumi ever underwent any kind of ability development," Konori added quickly while typing furiously on her keyboard. "And as far as I know, researchers are forbidden from undergoing esper development in the first place!"
"Not exactly," Selene said softly, patient as ever despite Konori's agitation. "That's why I said it only resembles multi-skill usage."
"What do you mean? What's the difference?" Konori asked, frowning deeply.
After a brief pause for thought, Selene decided to share a portion of what she knew.
"Kiyama Harumi's ability to use multiple powers isn't her own. She's borrowing them."
"Borrowing... them?"
"Yes. She's channeling the powers of [Level Upper] users through the network. By linking herself to it, she can temporarily access every ability used by those connected to [Level Upper]. Their collective brainpower amplifies each ability she manifests."
This ability—known as Multi-Skill—was the name Kiyama herself had given it. It was a technique taught to her by Kihara Gensei, who had also once used it to gain multiple abilities, such as Mental Out and certain clairvoyance-type powers.
...
Meanwhile, using a borrowed phone, Shirai Kuroko and Misaka Mikoto studied the same data, their expressions growing increasingly grim.
By the time the two arrived on scene, the elevated highway had become a war zone. Dust and debris covered the cracked surface.
The pavement was scorched and cratered. Two Anti-Skill vehicles lay overturned, their hulls dented and sparking with residual electricity—utterly destroyed.
Broken Security Robot parts littered the ground. The Anti-Skill officers lay motionless, breathing faintly—barely alive. The scene was nothing short of catastrophic.
"Anti-Skill... lost?" Kuroko whispered in disbelief.
Though surprised, the report from Selene explained everything. With the [Level Upper] network uniting over ten thousand brains, Kiyama Harumi had essentially become a pseudo-multi-skill esper. That Anti-Skill had been wiped out wasn't entirely unexpected.
Then, Kuroko spotted something—or rather, someone—slumped over the Lamborghini's hood.
"Uiharu!" she cried out, rushing over. "Uiharu, what happened?!"
"Relax," came a weary female voice from within the dissipating smoke. "She only fainted from the shockwave. Her life isn't in danger."
A sudden gust of wind swept through, blowing away the smoke. Standing before them was Kiyama Harumi—her white lab coat fluttering, brown wavy hair flowing freely in the wind.
"Misaka Mikoto, one of Academy City's eight Level 5s, ranked fourth. Shirai Kuroko, Judgment officer from District 7, Level 4 teleporter."
As Kiyama turned to face them, her tone remained calm, but the crimson glow in her eyes made her look almost inhuman—beautiful, yet terrifying.
Facing the two girls glaring back at her, Kiyama spoke softly but with chilling certainty. "Even a Level 5 and a Judgment officer have never faced someone like me before. Surely you don't think the two of you alone can stop someone wielding the power of over ten thousand minds?"
"You actually dare say 'stop me,' huh?" Hearing those words, Misaka Mikoto lowered her head slightly, her body trembling. That taunt—she was taking it personally.
"You... you used us!" Shirai Kuroko shouted furiously as she carried Uiharu Kazari out of the car. Seeing Kiyama Harumi standing there so calmly after manipulating them all, her anger flared uncontrollably. "And you're still acting so arrogant..."
"Kuroko! I'm going in. Take Uiharu somewhere safe first!" Misaka called out sharply. The moment she raised her head, countless pale-blue sparks erupted across her body, crackling through the air. A blinding bolt of electricity roared forth toward Kiyama.
BOOM!
"It's useless," Kiyama said flatly as a shimmering barrier appeared before her, completely nullifying the attack. Extending one finger, she pointed toward Misaka—instantly, the ground beneath the Railgun's feet collapsed.
"So, you really can use multiple abilities..." Misaka leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the sinkhole—only for an explosion to erupt right where she landed, engulfing her in smoke.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning cut through the haze, slamming toward Kiyama once again. From within the smoke emerged Misaka, unharmed and resolute. "I don't believe you can use several abilities at the same time... ugh—!"
BANG!
"Oh? Is that what you think? My ability doesn't operate under the same principles as those theoretical limitations." Kiyama smirked as she simultaneously blocked Misaka's strike. With a flick of her wrist, multiple elemental attacks burst forth toward her opponent. "I call it—Multi-Skill."
"Tch..." In just that brief exchange, Misaka had already seen her wield abilities spanning natural phenomenon types, physical manipulation types, and even biological enhancement types.
It was troublesome, sure—but not enough to overwhelm her. After all, compared to Selene, this level of pressure was manageable. With a few quick steps and well-timed lightning bursts, Misaka neutralized the incoming attacks with precision.
"You can call it whatever you want—it doesn't matter. I just need to take you down!" Misaka shouted, launching another lightning spear toward Kiyama.
"Unfortunately, you lack the power to arrest me." Repeating the same futile attacks over and over began to irritate Kiyama. She waved her hand, and with a thunderous crack, the elevated highway split apart down the middle.
Then, with another gesture, she shattered one of the supporting pillars. Massive chunks of concrete plummeted, crashing down on Misaka.
"What a disappointment... so this is all a Level 5 can do?" Kiyama sighed amid the rising smoke. "Let's end this, shall we? I only came to uncover the truth."
Despite her words, Kiyama hadn't aimed to kill—just as Misaka had been holding back as well. Both were restrained by their own conscience.
"Heh... don't joke with me! Do you really think you can still talk about not sacrificing anyone after dragging so many people into this mess?!" Misaka's angry voice echoed from beneath the rubble. "You're delusional!"
She slammed her palm against the ground. The earth quaked violently—and from the cracked asphalt, countless strands of dark iron sand began to rise, swirling around her like a storm of blades.
Iron Sand Swords!
"Right now, all I know is—I'm taking you down!" Misaka roared, sending a torrent of black blades hurtling toward Kiyama.
Kiyama pressed a hand to her temple, exasperated. "I knew it... You may be a Level 5, but in the end, you're still just a naive little girl. There's no point in reasoning with you."
Her voice grew colder. If words wouldn't work, she'd fight it out instead. With a sharp wave of her hand, hardened stone fragments flew forward—colliding with and shattering the iron blades before slamming toward Misaka. "Sorry, but I don't have time for this!"
No matter what—it's my duty to save my children!
By now, the flower-haired girl should've reached safety. That thought steeled Kiyama's resolve. Her attacks intensified.
As Misaka dodged the previous barrage, Kiyama launched another assault—this time, an entire garbage bin full of aluminum cans exploded apart. A storm of metal cans filled Misaka's vision.
"So that's it..." Misaka's expression hardened. She'd seen this technique before—Graviton Bombings. She knew exactly how destructive aluminum detonations could be.
And this time, there were hundreds of cans. If they all went off together, even she couldn't take it lightly.
No time to hesitate. Uiharu was safe now—so she could finally fight without restraint.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!
Crackle crackle—! The air crackled and screamed like a thousand birds as explosions and lightning intertwined. Flames and blinding blue-white arcs engulfed the entire area beneath the overpass.
The already damaged structure groaned under the assault, fissures spreading rapidly across its supports.
The surviving Anti-Skill officers, their faces pale with terror, grabbed their injured comrades and began a desperate retreat. They made it just in time—seconds later, the overpass gave a thunderous roar.
With a deafening crash, a fifty-meter section of the elevated highway collapsed in a cloud of dust and flame.
And amidst the ruin, the two figures—Misaka Mikoto and Kiyama Harumi—continued their fierce battle, unshaken by the devastation around them.