The Multi-Skill esper is a genius concept, representing a potential path for esper development.
This type of esper, emerging from technologies like brainwave tuning and AIM diffusion field interference, can achieve the goals of assimilating brainwaves and hijacking the computational resources of designated targets.
They can even use the abilities of others, making them even more aggressive than the famously powerful Mental Out-san.
Theoretically, the upper limit of such a Multi-Skill esper is absurdly high. Its strength lies in the number of other espers it can assimilate.
If it gathered all the espers in Academy City, it could undoubtedly reach a level that would baffle even the Level 5s.
And according to Kiyama-sensei's current explanation, Kihara Gensei had long since mastered related technologies like brainwave tuning.
Creating something like the Level Upper was merely a matter of whether he wanted to or not. Combined with some of his actions, it's entirely possible he could become a Multi-Skill esper.
"A Multi-Skill esper, huh? Sounds pretty impressive. That old man really is a tough customer."
Resting her chin in her hand, Natsume-san fell into thought, taking a moment to recall what a Multi-Skill esper was.
It was probably similar to a multi-ability user, but where a multi-ability user's abilities are all extensions of their core power—like Misaka-senpai generating magnetism after producing electricity—a Multi-Skill esper would be equivalent to directly possessing an ability like magnetism.
No wonder Shokuhou-senpai was so stressed. With researchers of that caliber, their trump cards were truly unpredictable.
"While a Multi-Skill esper is powerful, it isn't the mainstream path for esper development within Academy City. Even if someone could become that unprecedented Level 6, it doesn't necessarily mean a true Multi-Skill esper would appear. The existing Multi-Skill espers are just incredibly crude imitations."
"Using the special leverage formed by the AIM diffusion field to pry into others' abilities, even the calculations for applying the formulas are handled by other people's brains. But the Multi-Skill esper itself lacks the Personal Reality that matches the abilities; it's just a fake Personal Reality cobbled together by the Level Upper."
"Forcibly using this false, chaotic Personal Reality to generate abilities would inevitably cause indescribable damage to the brain. It simply cannot be maintained for long periods."
Kiyama Harumi shook her head silently, a trace of emotion flashing across her face. She understood the limitations of the Multi-Skill esper all too well.
This was the 'fate' of the false Multi-Skill esper.
Their Personal Reality was inevitably influenced by those they assimilated; otherwise, they couldn't use the various abilities derived from the Personal Realities of others.
This cobbled-together Personal Reality could also generate a new AIM diffusion field, but it was more like a mixture of other people's AIM fields. A single misstep could even create a monster known as an AIM Burst.
Back then, to help Natsume-san gain control over Reiko, Kiyama-sensei had specifically suppressed the physical abilities inherent to Reiko's body, forcibly guiding Natsume-san's Temperature Control ability to manifest in Reiko.
Otherwise, Natsume-san's own Personal Reality would have suffered some degree of interference.
Espers of the same origin naturally didn't have such worries. They could borrow computational power peacefully without affecting their own abilities.
However, they also couldn't possess other abilities, making them equivalent to a physically castrated version of the false Multi-Skill esper.
As for a true Multi-Skill esper, that was likely a mountain so high that even the legendary Level 6 would find it difficult to climb.
Even if a legendary Level 6 could effortlessly alter terrain, move mountains and fill seas, and with some effort perhaps even sink an island, they would still, at most, be operating within the confines of their own ability.
It wasn't possible for a Level 6 to simply awaken other abilities. It was more like their capability in one specific aspect had reached the peak of the physical world.
No matter how strong Accelerator-san was, the development direction of his ability remained solely Vector Control. Natsume-san also focused her efforts solely on Temperature Control.
Based on Natsume-san's current understanding, combined with her previous superficial views on the principles of esper abilities...
A true Multi-Skill esper would possess a Personal Reality capable of accommodating multiple, or even all, abilities, allowing them to use other powers as if they were their original ones.
'All abilities' here included not only those already developed in Academy City, but also all abilities that could possibly manifest.
Personal Reality was essentially the esper's personal view of how the world operates. A true Multi-Skill esper would be equivalent to observing and understanding part, or even all, of the operating principles of the microscopic world.
The prerequisite for unlimited observation and understanding of the microscopic world was possessing sufficient computational power and means of observation.
Viewed this way, the Level 6 seemed to be just one component of the true Multi-Skill esper, with the two concepts including and relating to each other.
If one truly mastered the operation of the entire microscopic world, they would have basically unified the four fundamental forces, possessing the massive computational power needed to support such consumption.
Turning stone to gold would be a basic trick; converting between energy and matter would be as easy as eating or drinking.
And at that level, one certainly couldn't be called Level 7 anymore. Or rather, labeling them an 'esper' would be far too narrow. They would be a being entirely beyond espers.
(A/N: After reaching Level 6, by observing the microscopic world, developing other abilities, growing continuously stronger, increasing computational power until mastering the microscopic world... I'm not concerned anymore about whether the original work described what comes after Level 6. After all, being a patchwork fan who only follows the anime already means I've strayed from the source material.)
(A/N: Even if it still seems far inferior to Aleister's weapon-amplified tenfold universe big bang, it should roughly be at the peak of what's possible for a human in the Toaruverse. If it's not, then this story simply can't be written. Of course, there's no need to compare to Magic Gods like the True Gremlins.)
But getting back on track, Natsume-san's focus returned to the mature woman before her. It felt like her thoughts had been wandering for a long time.
"However, Kihara Gensei is, after all, a senior in the field of ability research. Even if this type of Multi-Skill esper has significant flaws, he could reduce the chaos in his own false Personal Reality by limiting the number of Level Upper users and selecting for higher quality, allowing his brain to barely support it for a period of time."
Pausing for a moment, Kiyama-sensei continued, her tone growing somewhat heavier.
Kihara Gensei had long been engaged in the development of various abilities.
Once he loaded ability 'plugins,' he might be even more proficient than the original espers he assimilated. Of course, with fewer people, the amount of computational power he could borrow would also be less.
"So that's why Kihara Gensei took several Level 3s and Level 4s from the juvenile correctional facility."
Natsume-san nodded thoughtfully, immediately understanding.
He was absolutely cherry-picking abilities to use. Otherwise, there was no need to take those specific individuals from the correctional facility.
Leaving with a pile of product samples in her arms, Natsume-san walked down the street in a daze, a strange expression on her face.
She could roughly guess what that old man was planning now.
Yet she still found it somewhat odd. Even if he became this so-called Multi-Skill esper, it didn't pose an overwhelming threat to the three of them—just a bit more troublesome.
Still, this trip's harvest was quite good. At the very least, they had reclaimed some of their disadvantages in the intelligence department.
Information… you could never have too much of that.
And Natsume-san had also incidentally solved a minor question in her heart.
"So, for Reiko, I'm a living 'Testament'."
The petite figure in the tracksuit muttered to herself by the roadside, hovering in the air like a ghost.
The original purpose of the Testament was to rapidly form a practical personality by simulating the five senses and sending massive amounts of information to the brain.
Right now, Natsume-san was essentially transmitting various kinds of information, sourced from her own five senses, to Reiko. This caused Reiko to unconsciously develop in a direction similar to her, potentially becoming another version of herself.
However, their work efficiency was worlds apart. The amount of information Natsume-san input daily was minimal and wouldn't cause Reiko to rapidly form a personality.
Instead, it would be continuously diluted by Reiko's daily life, its proportion decreasing as Reiko grew up. So, in the end, Reiko would only bear a strong resemblance to Natsume-san.
'If you want Reiko to become a good girl, Natsume-san, you must lead by example. You can't be so lazy anymore, or think about strange things. Exercise more every day, maintain a healthy diet, don't get addicted to games or manga...'
It was as if she could hear Kiyama-sensei's admonishments. The bun-girl made a bitter face. This wasn't quite what she had imagined.
It's not like she was that terrible. She went to and from school on time every day, and worked hard to complete her studies.
Why did Kiyama-sensei think she would be a bad influence on Reiko? Who leaked the information?
--+--
With a mere thought, she tossed a roadside can into the trash bin. Natsume-san was still very environmentally conscious today, not feeling she had stolen the cleaning robot's job in the slightest.
Raising her head, she saw the building provided by Shokuhou-senpai. Having finished her errands, Natsume-san had come back immediately. She was the Sisters' crucial safeguard now, and she also had to make dinner.
Fortunately, the building was stocked with plenty of canned food, so she didn't need to buy ingredients outside. She couldn't afford ingredients for so many people anyway.
Guests?
Two uninvited guests stood in front of the building.
Natsume Sonoko's steps halted dozens of meters away, the hand holding her new access card trembling slightly.
This went beyond just looking familiar. Natsume-san recognized their appearances at first glance.
Although she had detected their presence from a hundred meters away, she had come closer, refusing to believe it. Now, the bun-girl instantly felt a wave of tension.
"Hey, brat, is this really the place? Storing the clones in a building like this is way too conspicuous."
The white-haired freak in the black-and-white short-sleeve had an impatient look on his face, but his body was honestly scrutinizing the building before him.
"Hmph! The most dangerous place is the safest place. Misaka Misaka believes this logic is very sound."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.