Guess who's back!

Now why would I, who have had this story be on hiatus for so long, suddenly update? It's definitely not because of the reddit post with all the memes created about this story. When I started this story, I told myself I wanted to make a long epic adventure and actually finish. How many stories start, go dozens and dozens of chapters, only to end without a satisfying conclusion? To many, that's what. Finishing the story is a challenge to myself. The ending is done and ready, but I need to get there. The climax is about to begin and soon, this story will end. How many chapters? I haven't decided yet. Still several left to go. I'm not going to rush it.

Thanks to UrsaMajor for betaing.

If you enjoy my stories and feel like tossing a few bucks my way, please see my P a treon below.

P a treon . com (Slash) Darkbetrayer.

Disclaimer: Random people do not own Toaru Majutsu no Index or any of the characters. Reading this story may cause you to burst out in laughter or start yelling at fictional characters. This may cause nearby people to assume you have gone crazy. Please read responsibly.

Rising above the sprawling urban landscape, Accelerator's figure cut through the skyline, his crimson gaze sweeping across the cityscape in a frantic search for any trace of Last Order. A string of curses escaped his lips as regret clawed at his conscience. How could he have been so blind? Jason's temporary act of sealing Last Order's vampirism rather than eradicating it had eluded his consideration entirely. Now, with Jason's demise and his arsenal falling into Eve's hands, the dire consequences became painfully evident.

The looming threat of Cain, still lurking within the shadows of Academy City after their previous confrontation, intensified the urgency. Last Order, a mere puppet in Cain's machinations, held the key to their adversary's grasp over them all. She was not only a vulnerable child but also a potent bargaining chip in Cain's twisted game.

Accelerator's thoughts churned with turmoil as he grappled with the moral dilemma before him. The majority of his allies were ill-equipped to harm an innocent, especially one under the clutches of mind control. Yet, inaction was not an option. The stakes were too high, and the cost of failure was too grave.

A bitter taste filled his mouth.

Deep down, he knew he couldn't bring himself to harm her, either. Though knocking her out seemed like a practical solution, the mere idea of raising a hand against her churned his stomach with guilt. His solemn vow to protect the Sister Clones now haunted him, the weight of its consequences bearing down heavily upon his shoulders. With a fervent gaze, he scanned the rooftops, his heart racing with the desperate hope that Last Order hadn't strayed too far.

"Shit…"

The realization hit him like a freight train–he had blundered by venturing out alone. His abilities, formidable as they were, lacked the finesse required to track down Last Order. Vector manipulation had its limits, he silently acknowledged, begrudgingly accepting that it couldn't solve every problem. Tracking, he understood now, was beyond the scope of his powers. All he could hope to do was discern the direction in which Last Order had fled and give chase. Yet, the looming obstacles – the maze of buildings, the possibility of Last Order changing course – threatened to thwart his pursuit at every turn.

"ACCELERATOR! TO THE RIGHT!"

A wave of relief washed over Accelerator as the familiar voice of his girlfriend echoed from below. With a swift adjustment of his trajectory, he descended towards the ground where Bayloupe was in motion. Her hurried steps along the street contrasted with the determined grip on the Steel Glove in one hand, while her other hand deftly manipulated a spinning piece of paper.

"She went that way!" Bayloupe's urgency punctuated her gesture, indicating the direction of their pursuit of an adjacent alley. Accelerator's gaze lingered on her for a moment before she prompted him. "What are you waiting for? Go! I'll catch up."

Time was of the essence.

"What are… woah!"

Accelerator had levitated over to her, just a foot or two above the ground as wind whipped around from his tornado wings. With a single fluid motion, he grabbed Bayloupe and lifted her into his arms. She never had a chance to struggle.

"You're right. Time is of the essence." Accelerator agreed, taking off into the air. "Lead the way."

Bayloupe didn't argue and simply nodded. Holding out her hand, the folded piece of paper kept adjusting like a compass. Cain's power was one of the magic signatures she had attuned her wards to and while Last Order wasn't the first vampire, her magic signature was now identical to Cain's. That was the curse of being a thrall. She wasn't a magician or her own vampire. Merely an extension of Cain's power. Had he made her a true vampire, she would have her own personality and signature. She only showed her own personality when Cain's magic waned after his first defeat.

"She's close!" Bayloupe's voice cut through the howling winds as Accelerator soared through the city's canyon of buildings. The paper in her hand ascended slightly in its spinning motion. "She's heading for the roof!"

"She's not getting away." Accelerator growled as he followed his navigator.

The wind whistled around him as blood pounded in his ears. This time, he was going to make sure that Cain didn't come back. If he had to throw his remains into the deepest recesses of space, he would. Maybe he could calculate a trajectory to toss Cain into the sun. Once he was outside earth's gravitational pull, it would be easy enough as he wouldn't stop moving at that point. Even if he was immortal, floating around frozen in space was a hell of a punishment.

As Accelerator glided above the towering structures, his sharp gaze caught sight of several figures perched atop one of the buildings. Bayloupe didn't have to gesture for him to notice them; his eyes narrowed dangerously as he descended rapidly. With a furious intensity, his foot crashed onto the rooftop, causing it to crack under the weight of his anger. Setting Bayloupe down, the swirling tornados dissipated in a sudden gust of wind, dispersing as if they were mere balloons deflating.

"I didn't think you were stupid enough to want to be torn apart by me again." Accelerator stepped forward, his hand reaching out. "No one's been so persistent in being killed by me."

His eyes were focused purely on the tall man with black and gray hair.

"Heh, you've already proven you can't kill me," Cain retorted, sounding amused. "And that mistake is what gave me the opportunity to snatch away what's most precious to you." He crouched behind Last Order, who remained eerily still, and traced a finger down her face. "You wouldn't want anything to happen to her, would you?"

Accelerator's footsteps faltered as he stood there, his hands clenched into fists.

"That's what I thought." Cain's voice was mocking him. "With a single order, she'll take her own life. Such devotion is quite useful, is it not? Maybe you shouldn't have gotten so overconfident."

"Coward!" Bayloupe shouted at him. "Hiding behind a child!"

"Oh, others have committed far worse atrocities," Cain countered simply, his voice laced with a chilling nonchalance. "Throughout the annals of history, people have exploited children to further their own agendas. You're well aware of that, aren't you, young magician girl?"

Bayloupe fell silent, her expression darkening with a mixture of anger and sorrow.

"Hand her over, and I might consider granting you a swift, albeit painful, demise."

"Don't you mean—" Cain began with a smirk.

"I know precisely what I said," Accelerator replied, his tone dripping with derision. The ground beneath him groaned, cracks spreading ominously as his barely contained rage threatened to erupt.

"Now, now, Cain," interjected a mature female voice, tinged with her own strands of amusement. "We're not here to instigate a brawl."

"And who are you?" Bayloupe demanded, turning her attention to a cloaked figure standing nearby.

"You forgot me already?" The woman chuckled as her hands pulled her hood back. "I only grew up a few years and you don't recognize me?" Bayloupe gasped and Accelerator's scowl grew.

It was Eve.

But no longer the young giggly girl they were used to. Aged up, Eve was now a full woman estimated to appear to be around 20. Her hair was a richer blonde, almost like spun gold. Her eyes were flicking as multiple shades of different colors seemed to be vying for control. A green and yellow dress hung to her developed body that was only revealed when the cloak was opened.

"You've changed." Bayloupe commented stiffly.

"Just a side effect of Adam being reincarnated." Eve dismissed playfully with a wave of her hand. "I'll return to normal when he's born. My power just fluctuates a little without full balance."

"What do you want with her?" Bayloupe demanded, stepping forward so she could try to stop Accelerator doing anything rash. Which really would be impossible, but they exchanged glances momentarily, coming to that silent agreement. If anyone cared about Last Order enough for the boy to trust them, it was her. "She's done nothing!" They already sort of knew about Last Order's connection with the Imaginary District, though Bayloupe didn't fully understand it. It was information passed on to them by Touma.

"I'm going to use her to help us get the last wing." Eve replied simply. "That's it. After we're done with her, I'll unvampire her and return her to you safe and sound."

"BULLSHIT!" Accelerator snarled, not believing that for a moment.

"Don't act rashly." Bayloupe begged under her breath and then addressed Eve. "We can't trust that. For all we know, you won't keep your promise."

"I always keep my promise." Eve corrected her. "Sometimes you just misconstrue what my promise is. You want her back, alive and not a vampire, while we need her to reach the last wing. I can do both."

"You turned her into one in the first place!" Bayloupe shouted angrily.

"Yes, but she's still alive… in a manner of speaking." Eve shrugged. "I think I'm being more than fair here. As I've told you before, I hate unnecessary death. All my plans may be a little more complicated to accommodate that belief."

"You'll still kill people."

"So will you two. Are you saying I'm like you or you're like me?"

"SHUT UP!" Accelerator reached his breaking point. "Give her back or I swear you both will wish death could come for you!" From his back, beams of light in the form of wings began to emerge. Somehow, he could temper his anger momentarily, taking a silent breath to steady himself. His wings seemed to push away the overwhelming scorn surging through his veins. Still, he wasn't going to show any mercy. Cain and Eve dared to kidnap that child and they were going to be punished for that.

"So that's the power that defeated you, Cain." Eve tilted her head as she observed it. "Hmm, interesting. I see what he was going for, but if that's it… it won't do much in the end."

"Who?" Accelerator couldn't resist asking.

"Why, your close friend of course." Eve's smile grew but lost all its amusement. Bayloupe and Accelerator felt the air grow cold. "He knew you would come."

"Wha-...?"

Clang, clang, clang.

A metal orb fell on the ground in front of Accelerator and Bayloupe. Bayloupe reacted first and swung her steel glove as the explosion went off.

BOOM!

"Let's go dear." Eve took Last Order's hand. "Cain will handle this." The girl looked up at her 'master' and the man nodded for her to follow. Eve led her to the side of the building. Without even bending their knees to jump, the two girls just stepped off the side and let gravity carry them down to the ground.

A roar of wind like a storm surrounded the roof of the building as Cain stood there, his arms crossed. His hair blew back as he sighed.

"Kids sure like to throw tantrums."

"I'll show you a tantrum!" Thundered Accelerator as the ground beneath him exploded from his rocket start.

The boy outstretched a hand toward the vampire and was preparing to tear him apart. His white wings would make sure his regeneration wouldn't be enough to keep up.

Suddenly, darkness enveloped him, extinguishing all surrounding light.

In the midst of the oppressive blackness, he felt suffocated, and with a decisive flick of his wings forged from radiant energy, the darkness recoiled, shattered by his formidable power. Yet, the manner in which it fractured, rather than dispersing, stirred a sense of unease within Accelerator. Coming to a halt, he surveyed his surroundings with a growing sense of apprehension. His gaze settled on Bayloupe, who stood motionless, her attention fixed on the edge of the rooftop. Following her line of sight, Accelerator's eyes widened momentarily before narrowing with simmering fury.

"Miss me?"

Perched casually on the ledge, Jason Kagere grinned tauntingly at him.

"Where do we go!?" Touma's voice echoed with urgency as he, Mikoto, and Kuroko ventured out into the streets of Academy City.

"Does it help if I say downtown?" Lessar responded from his phone, her voice tinged in a slight anxiety, as if preparing herself to be reprimanded. She was clearly heard by everyone there as Touma had set her on speaker.

After Last Order fled Accelerator's apartment and Bayloupe had warned Lessar and Itsuwa, calls ran out to all their allies, including a certain unlucky boy. Kuroko and Mikoto were still at his place, unsure what to do with themselves. Kuroko just didn't want to do much, or just didn't know what to do. Uiharu ran off in anger and hadn't returned any phone calls. In fact, her phone had been off all evening and they were getting worried. As night began to fall, Mikoto was already debating whether to go out looking for her.

Until the call came.

It didn't take much persuading to get them to leave.

"NO?!"

"Thought you would say that." Lessar sighed. "I really don't expect they will continue to head north-east from where Accelerator lives. Bayloupe ran off with him to chase down Last Order. Itsuwa ran off with her forces, but Birdway is currently working on something in the other room. She's playing defense."

"Keep us updated; we'll try to figure out where to go from here," Touma sighed, a sense of responsibility underlying his words. "We'll head to the general vicinity."

"Got it!" Lessar's response echoed with a mixture of determination and youthful enthusiasm, the mental image of her saluting lingering in his mind.

"So we're going in blind?" Mikoto questioned as they sprinted down the sidewalk.

"Yeah, pretty much," Touma acknowledged with a resigned sigh. "Nothing new there for me."

"We can go ahead and scout it out," Kuroko suggested, her tone carrying a practical edge. "Onee-sama and I can travel faster than you can."

"You do know it's a trap," Touma pointed out, a note of caution in his voice.

"Well, duh," Mikoto rolled her eyes. "But we don't have a choice. Last Order is in danger."

"Okay, but keep me updated and don't do anything stupid... which is weird when I say it," Touma mused, realizing the unusual nature of his own advice.

"Karma," Mikoto smiled at him. "We'll stop Eve, Touma. Promise."

"Uh... guys?" Kuroko skidded to a stop and gestured to the distant sky. Touma and Mikoto turned their gaze in the direction she was pointing, anticipation filling the air.

From the city center, countless streams of light were shooting into the sky, like weird tree branches. The air around them felt heavy as the world seemed to shimmer in the distance. The ground began to shake, causing them to stumble while more and more lights began to appear, all originating from the same point. The darkening sky was lit up as the world seemed to be pushed back by this strange event. It wasn't the first time something like this happened and Touma gritted his teeth.

"Kazakiri…" The boy muttered. "She's in trouble."

"This happened once before, didn't it?" Mikoto remembered too.

"Yeah, though this might also mean magicians might have some problems using magic." Touma also recalled. "Lessar! Can you relay that to everyone?"

"I'll try, but if Eve's running wild, we might not have a choice." Lessar's voice replied, sounding as anxious as he felt.

"It will have to do, but at least we're aware." Touma finally hung up on her as he turned to Mikoto and Kuroko. "At least we know where to go."

"Assuming Eve let's us approach." Kuroko spat out.

"With how she's always ten steps ahead of us, I wouldn't doubt it." Mikoto agreed with a nod, her face determined. "But it hasn't stopped us before."

"Let's go." Touma started running forward down the street with Mikoto and Kuroko right behind him.

The streets were empty and quiet, unusually so. Not that they weren't used to stuff like that by now. Magicians loved people clearing fields to keep unwanted individuals out. Sometimes, Touma wished he could do that too to prevent innocent people from getting wrapped up in things, but there was no point in dwelling on the impossible. With his hand, magic and abilities were out of his reach, no pun intended. All he could do was make the most of what he had. While the Imagine Breaker caused him no end of misfortune, it had managed to use it to save many people.

Now another of his friends was in trouble and he had promised to protect her.

"Watch out!"

Touma took the warning to heart and jumped back as an arrow whizzed through the air and sunk itself deep into the cement below. A clear warning sign to anyone with the slightest bit of intelligence when a bow and arrow could do more damage than a bullet.

Emerging from roof tops and alleyways in front of them, multiple familiar masked individuals appeared. Similar to what they encountered in England when Eve was causing problems. A platoon of paper dolls that she'd made into the shape of humans. All of whom were carrying weapons.

"Of course she's not making this easy for us." Mikoto growled, electricity flickering around her. "Not that they are a match for us."

"Eve's trying to slow us down while she completes her goal!" Touma reminded her. "We can't waste time."

Mikoto's face grew stern.

"Leave it to Kuroko and me." Brown eyes turned to him, full of determination. "We can handle them quickly and catch up."

"Yeah, I can't teleport you, but I can with Onee-sama." Kuroko caught on fast. "We won't be far behind."

"Are you sure?" Touma looked between both girls as Mikoto stepped forward. She raised her hand with a coin propped between her fingers and flipped it. As the metal rose into the air, things seemed to move in slow motion before the object fell down. The boy automatically covered his ears to protect them, knowing what was to come.

BOOM!

An explosion rocketed the moment her thumb flicked the coin. The imitation railgun flew forward at high speeds like a canon, eradicating the soldiers in front of it. If they had been real people, there would have been a much greater mess. Instead, the charred strips of paper flew in every direction before vanishing into dust. In only a moment, a path had been cleared.

No words needed to be said as Touma darted forward.

He trusted Mikoto and Kuroko to watch his back as he made his way to Eve. Whatever Eve was doing to Kazakiri would be stopped. They all knew his hand was the ultimate weapon against magic rituals. Even Lucifer's old body in Australia was instantly vaporized when he touched the core. Enough fights had shown that while he could block attacks, unless he negated the source of the power, most magical rituals wouldn't stop. No matter how many of those puppets he destroyed, Eve would just make more. Touma knew he had to strike Eve directly under those lights.

Of course, he wasn't a skilled enough fighter to defeat countless people with weapons. Maybe in a fist fight if he drew them into an alleyway so he only had to fight those in front of him. But that would take time, time he didn't have. So all he could do was run and trust the others to watch his back.

Electricity flickered on either side of him, knocking the human puppets back, but he didn't stop to get a good look. One puppet leaped in front of him, holding a spear, only for Kuroko to appear out of nowhere above it, touch the fighter, and teleport it away.

In no time, he was through the line, running at a slight zigzag to dodge a couple of stray arrows that managed to get through.

It pained Touma to leave his friends behind, but they all knew why it had to be done. Kazakiri was in pain the last time the imaginary number distract was opened and she had begged for help when Eve started to go after her. Somehow, she must have been caught and Touma was going to do anything possible to save her. The others were behind him too. The sound of combat behind him began to dull as he bolted down the street, looking up at the sky where the blue tendrils of light were reaching. The source didn't seem that far away, but for some reason, he didn't feel like he was getting closer.

Five minutes of running, he finally skidded to a stop.

"I'm definitely not getting closer." Touma muttered, looking around and taking in the details. "I'm sure I passed that sign before." His eyes narrowed on the poster of some new phone model that he would never be able to afford. "Wait…"

This wouldn't be the first time something like this happened. Using magic to trap people in a loop wasn't the most unusual thing he had encountered in his life. Something this big though? Covering a large section of a city? That showed it was probably someone powerful. Adam had trapped him and Carissa under Australia using a similar spell. Speaking of Carissa, with Eve openly operating, Touma expects the princess to rush forward with her knights in a siege. Perhaps this spell was meant mostly for them to limit who could reach Eve so she didn't have to deal with them.

And of course, he got caught in it.

"Such misfortune." The boy muttered and thought about what to do next. Running forward blindly wouldn't do anything if he was trapped. He needed to find a source and negate it to break the barrier. Like in Australia, if he touched the edges of tunnels, the magic would be negated until they found the right path. There was just one problem right now. "I'm running along a big open street…"

Stepping off the street and onto the sidewalk, he examined the buildings, benches, light posts, anything that might have a magical symbol on them. Nothing stood out and it wasn't like he could thoroughly inspect everything. Kazakiri and Last Order were in danger and time was of the essence. The most he could do was run his hand along anything within reach that might act as a boundary. If he heard the sound of breaking glass, then he had found something. Picking up his pace again, he ran while touching anything he could on the street.

Still nothing and he wasn't getting closer to the source of the lights.

"This isn't working!" Touma shouted, balling a fist against a wall of a building. "I'm not getting anywhere!"

How he wished he could go back to the old days where he could charge forward and knock some sense into people with a straight right hook. Thinking back though, most of those fights he won because people didn't understand his right hand. The Imagine Breaker tended to shock most magicians and ability users. Those that knew about it tended to cause more problems, like Adam. In a one on one fight with him, the guy kicked his ass. Eve was in the same league, maybe even higher. If he wanted to beat them, he had to surprise them with something they wouldn't expect. To prevent him from doing just that, they kept him stuck in a loop.

"Okay, if the sides aren't where the boundaries are…" Touma looked up. "There's nothing I can touch up there… so my last chance is…" His eyes turned to the ground. "Bingo." Stepping off the sidewalk and into the road, he reached down with one hand and touched the hard asphalt.

The sound of breaking glass echoed around him.

Eyes widening, Touma spun around. Nothing really changed, but a slight weight felt like it had been lifted. Maybe it was just his imagination though. The thing is, he learned to trust his instincts long ago. Realizing that something changed, the boy charged forward toward the lights. This time the lights began to draw closer and he was only a couple streets away. It had definitely been the road. Anyone who used them to get to Eve would find themselves trapped in that repeating loop. It was designed for large groups it seemed, but worked just as well on individuals. Carissa's forces probably got stuck in it, because Touma was positive she wouldn't sit back and watch Eve operate without a challenge.

It looked like he would make it first and if he could interrupt her magic, it might free anyone else stuck in it to regroup and back him up. The thought warmed him up a little. Working with others definitely had its perks over being by himself. The downside was they were risking themselves too. Touma was never sure what he would feel if one of his friends died trying to help him. At the same time, he knew how someone like Mikoto and Misaki would feel if he vanished.

The air felt warm and his arm moved automatically as if he knew what was about to happen.

A laser shot through the air and collided with his hand.

"Mugino…. No, it's not her!" Skidding to a stop, Touma looked to see a large white beetle floating in the air on the far side of the street. It looked both real and at the same time, inorganic, made out of a material that didn't quite look like flesh. "What the heck is that?" As more white beetles appeared, he stepped back, keeping his right hand raised. "Did Eve make these?"

"No, they are mine."

A cold voice drew Touma's attention as a boy lowered himself. Though his skin was paler than before, there was no way he couldn't recognize him. After all, he was there when he and Shizuri fought each other.

"Kakine..." Touma's voice trailed off, heavy with a mixture of apprehension and unresolved history.

"Didn't expect to see me, did you?" Teitoku smirked. "I didn't expect you to get through that magical defense so easily, but since you did, I can have my rematch."

"Why are you working for Eve?!" Touma demanded. "Don't you know what she's doing? She's just using you!"

"You really know nothing, do you?" Teitoku scoffed. "To think an idiot like you could cause so much trouble to those above you."

"Not the first time I've heard that." Touma brushed off the insult. "Move! I have a friend I need to save."

"Right, the person Eve's after." Teitoku gleaned back at the gloving rays of light shooting into the sky. "I would love to see what's happening there, but orders are orders. I'm supposed to guard this area." His fierce gaze returned to the raven-haired boy. "I'm also interested in that right hand of yours."

"Who told you about it?" Touma asked. "Ricane?"

"No, that fool wasn't interested in you." A sneer formed on the boy's face. "I suppose I can tell you before you die." The even grin stretched out further, a crescent shape that no human could replicate. "Your friend told me, Jason Kagere."

Touma's heart stopped for a moment.

It seemed as if every sign kept showing Jason betrayed them. Making a fist, Touma took a deep breath as Teitoku reveled in his internal turmoil. For now, he should proceed as if Jason did betray him. Whether it was by his own will, mind control, double agent, or for some bargain remained to be seen. Either way, he was getting punched in the face at the absolute minimum. Right after Touma knocked out Teitoku. Though, this guy was the Number Two Level 5. He could create matter and energy, including clones. Not only that, he knew about Touma's hand.

The biggest advantage Touma had was gone.

Worse, the beetles which were already surrounding him could fire deadly lasers.

He couldn't block them all at the same time.

"Go ahead and die," Teitoku sneered, his disdain dripping from every syllable as he raised his hand.

Dozens of green lasers sliced through the air, but they didn't emanate from Teitoku's signature white beetles. Instead, a barrage of beams erupted from behind Touma, shredding through the beetles and reducing them to vapor. Teitoku raised an eyebrow in surprise as Touma spun around to see the unexpected source of the onslaught. There, striding confidently towards them with a phone in hand, was none other than Shizuri Mugino. Her eyes glinted with determination as she continued to advance, surrounded by swirling green orbs of power.

"You know, I was searching for Eve, but I suppose settling for this bastard as a consolation prize will have to do," Shizuri declared darkly, her voice laced with venom.

"Mugino?!" Touma exclaimed in disbelief. "How did you get here?"

"I have my own ways of tracking magicians now." Shizuri rolled her eyes and pocketed her phone. "Leave him to me and go do whatever you were going to do. I have a score to settle with this bastard."

"You couldn't beat me last time by yourself, and I've only gotten more powerful." Teitoku scoffed, not shaken by Shizuri any longer. "The only one who can challenge me is Acc-..."

The snob never got to finish his sentence, as a green orb fired a laser beam straight through his head. An explosion followed, causing the entire appendage to vanish, along with a good chunk of his upper body. Touma stared at the destruction in horror before spinning around. He didn't get a chance to say anything either, before Shizuri shut him down.

"Relax, idiot. He's just a clone. The coward won't reveal himself when there's a chance he'll lose."

As if stimulated by her words, white goo began to bubble around the top of Teitoku's remains. The intensity increased as it began to grow in size, shaping itself magically into a head. The facial features formed next, before color started to emerge. The entire process only took a few seconds. When it finished, Teitoku was back, looking completely fine. Not even his clothes were singed. He dusted himself off and shook his head.

"You haven't changed, still with that short temper." Six white wings grew from his back. From each of them, more beetles began to appear, forming from white blobs dripping off..

"If you handle the beetles, I'll take Kakine down." Touma muttered to Shizuri, as she drew close. The intense look she gave him made him feel like he said something stupid and insulting.

"Do you have shit in your ears?" Shizuri demanded, her punch landing harder on Touma's shoulder than necessary. "I told you to get going and I'll handle him. Don't make me tell you again."

"But—"

A small laser scorched the surface by Touma's feet.

"Right... got it. Cover me, since he'll likely attack when I try to get by."

Shizuri didn't respond verbally, but turned her attention back to Teitoku. More orbs materialized around her, their number surpassing anything Touma had ever seen before. Then, an eerie transformation swept over her. Her body began to emit a radiant radioactive green glow, casting an ominous aura around her. The ground beneath her began to bubble and warp, while waves of intense heat washed over Touma. Shizuri's hair floated around her as if defying gravity, and her eyes blazed with a dark, menacing green light. Four of the orbs behind her stretched out, forming diamond-shaped petals that converged into an ominous X-shape. The green glow surrounding her intensified, seemingly solidifying on her hands and arms like a liquid metal. Her hand, wrists, and lower arms were now engulfed in an ethereal shade of green, radiating power and danger.

Touma had heard about the transformations and even saw some of them, so he knew what was happening. That didn't mean he wasn't momentarily surprised that Shizuri could control it to this degree. She literally was ascending past Level 5, or so they believed. Teitoku could create almost any kind of matter and energy, including clones that could use magic as they weren't his real body so the backlash didn't trigger. Depending on how much of that he knew, even Shizuri's raw power increase probably couldn't take him on directly.

The smell of burning air filled his nostril as countless beams flew from the girl.

Most of the beetles were obliterated in an instant. A couple managed to fire their own lasers out of their mouths, but Shizuri's energy just blew theirs away. Taking the opportunity, Touma darted forward, past Teitoku, who merely glanced at him. One of those white, inorganic looking wings flew at him like a rain of blades, but another lazer blew it into pieces, followed by an explosion that blocked the line of sight between the two boys. Shizuri had angled an attack to hit the asphalt of the road and make a smoke screen for Touma to use to escape. The mission was always the most important thing to her.

"Hmm, it seems Kagere has boosted her ability more than I thought."

Touma almost stopped right there, but forced himself to keep going. There was no time to try to get Teitoku to explain himself. Even if he had time, there was no proof he would tell them the truth. The first priority was to stop Eve and save Kazakiri and Last Order. Then he can focus on figuring out what the hell Jason has been doing. No matter how curious and desperate to know he was. Keeping his eyes on the prize, he focused on the glowing lights, now only a short distance away. The explosions behind him started up again as Teitoku and Shizuri started their battle.

Turning a corner, he finally reached his destination.

His eyes went wide as he saw the situation. Kazakiri was floating a couple feet off the ground, wearing her uniform while a soft glow surrounded her. Above her head, a shimmering incandescent halo was floating. Those blue tendrils of pure light reaching high into the sky were originating from her back. A couple were laying on the ground, wrapped around her and two other figures. The first Touma recognized as Last Order, who was standing there and looking up at Kazakiri with a blank expression. Black electricity was crackling around her, but not seemingly targeted at anything. In fact, a woman stood behind her with a hand resting on the kid's shoulder.

It took a moment for Touma to recognize her. It was Eve, but not the one he knew. He was used to her being a young teen girl, while acting like one to get people to drop their guard. Now an adult with her hair made of spun gold over just a bright blonde hue. A green and yellow dress clung to her curvy body that would have drawn second looks from the boy if he hadn't known who she was. Even growing up, the same core of Eve was visible. Her appearance was almost ethereal but not quite. Like simultaneously being a person and being something above a person.

Pushing his thoughts to the side, Touma had more pressing matters than to contemplate her appearance.

"Let them go!" The boy shouted, charging forward.

Eve's head swerved to the side and stared at him, her face passive. Happiness was devoid from her expression. If anything, she looked a little sad. As if she wasn't enjoying the situation. Sighing, she pointed a single finger at Touma. Expecting something, he raised his hand in response to block whatever attack was coming at him. Something washed over him, but was instantly negated by his hand as he heard the familiar sound. However, Eve understood him and knew how to bait him.

As he reacted to her presence, the true attack was masked.

"Ahhhh!"

A vine burst from the ground and wrapped around his ankle, hoisting Touma high into the air. Before he could even register the attack, he was dangling upside down, several stories in the air. His hand reached for the vine to get rid of it, but stopped as he realized it would be a fatal mistake. Currently, Touma found himself dangled above the road. Falling at this high would at least break a bone or two. Depending on the landing, it might even be fatal. Touma wasn't an idiot, even if he had a hard time recognizing certain social situations. Fighting though? He had a lot of experience. While he knew he could survive, he wouldn't be in fighting shape right now. There were limits.

And Eve wouldn't kill without reason.

She said as much and he hoped that was the case.

"Wait there for a moment." Eve's voice washed over him and he stopped struggling. Not willingly, but it was like all the desire to fight faded from him for a moment. That voice was just so… angelic wasn't the right word… but it felt somewhat divine and beautiful. His determination came back a moment later, probably thanks to his hand, but it gave him a moment of clarity. "If you don't struggle, no one will have to die."

"D-Don't!" Kazakiri gasped and Touma's eyes widened. She was still conscious!

"Fight it!" Touma called out. "Just like the last time, you're strong enough to resist her control!" Of course, Touma didn't know how Eve was using Last Order to control Kazakiri, but there was no doubt that the girl was the key. However, when Touma fought Vento in Academy City before, Kazakiri managed to protect innocent people due to her nature.

"I… can't!" The girl yelled out. "She's not letting me go and if I break free, she's going to kill Last Order!"

"It's simple," Eve's voice was cheerful, calm, and completely different than one would expect in this situation. "All you have to do is reach into this Imaginary District and collect the jewel that should not be there. Once you do, you're free to go and I'll even let this girl go."

"Don't trust her!" Touma struggled a little, but unless he wanted to fall a couple stories on his head, he couldn't touch the vine. "It's the last piece she needs for her plan to revive the devil Lucifer!"

"If you had helped me before when I asked, no one would have to suffer." Eve sighed and gestured to Last Order. "I was forced to have Cain turn her so we could use her. This is all your fault, Kazakiri. No one else's, yours. If you refuse to help, more people will get hurt."

"You're the one who's hurting people…" Kazakiri gasped.

"Only because you force me." Eve dismissed with a wave of her hand. "If you push someone into a corner, you can't be upset if they lash out. I tried to reason with you multiple times, but you kept running away. Now I have no choice." Her hand gripped Last Order's shoulder tightly. "Give me the wing or I will let Cain and his thralls loose in the city…"

Touma's blood ran cold as he imagined that. Worse than that, Eve said it all in a lighthearted manner. She hated death, but was willing to commit mass murder to achieve her goal.

"...and you'll never see Index or Last Order again."

Kazakiri slowly raised up her arm.

"Don't!" Touma tried again, this time, knowing he had no choice. Reaching up at the vine, he grabbed it with his right hand. The material instantly crumbled under his hand, the squishy vegetation transforming back into paper. As he began to fall, Touma used his left hand to grab the vine below where he had crushed it with the Imagine Breaker. That leverage gave him just enough movement, to hook his leg around it before sliding down the thick vine. His feet hit the ground as a glowing orb began to appear in Kazakiri's hand. "You can't give her what she wants!"

It was too late.

Eve reached out and grasped the gem in the palm of her hand.

"At last…" Eve's voice finally had more emotions than her fake giddiness and happiness. Shock disbelief mixed in with her other emotions. "The last piece!" She raised it in the air and twirled away from Last Order. "Our journey is almost over, Adam!"

"You said you would let Last Order go." Kazakiri panted, her eyes becoming more focused.

"I did indeed… and I always keep my word." Eve summoned her book in her open hand. "I'll even remove the vampire affliction on her." Her voice seemed like it was an automatic reaction to the demand, as if she was barely paying attention.

Papers began to tear out of the book and spun around in the air like a twister. Each one individually began to slap against the motionless Last Order, covering her like a cocoon mold. Once she was completely covered, the papers began to turn deep blood red from their normal white color. Once Last order was completely wrapped in the red wrapping, the pages began to collapse and disappear into dust. Last Order stood there, not seeming different from Touma's perspective, though he did notice she didn't seem to have any fangs.

And the black electricity was gone.

The blue light tendrils were also fading away, as Eve had what she wanted. Last Order began to sway back and forth, her eyes rolling back into her head. She started to fall forward and Kazakiri caught her before Touma could reach them. When he did, he stood between them and Eve, glancing back and forth to keep an eye on them all.

"Is she okay?" The boy asked urgently.

"She's unconscious, but breathing and seems to be fine." Kazakiri sounded relieved as the halo made of light above her head broke apart and vanished. The dense air seemed to lighten up as the connection to the Imaginary Distract faded. It was so weird how easily it was pulled out, or maybe how quickly Eve was able to access it. Kazakiri was born in that district, while Last Order was the key due to that Network she was attached to. Touma didn't know the details, nor did he think he would understand the specifics. What he did know was that Eve knew about it.

Which meant the worst case was true.

"Can you get Last Order out of here?" Touma whispered. "I need to stay and end this."

"I'll get her home." Kazakiri promised, lifting the girl up in her arms. "Please… be careful. That girl… she's not human."

"I know she isn't, not anymore." Touma assured her, stepping forward as Kazakiri fled.

Eve was currently holding up the small gem that glowed like a sapphire in the air, staring at it as if it might vanish into nothingness. It wasn't the first wing she found, Touma remembered meeting her and Adam for the first time in Rome, but she hadn't acted like this. Sort of like solving a puzzle. A couple pieces in the middle of putting it together wasn't important, but the last piece was always the best part. And now, Eve had just gotten the final piece in place.

"You have all the wings right?" Touma called out to her. "So now what?" He had to stall for time until backup arrived. His friends, the city, Carissa's knights, anything. As he learned with Adam, he couldn't take her on by himself, but he could delay her.

As if his question snapped Eve back to reality, the girl or woman now, slowly turned to look at him. Her eyes shimmering with countless colors. For a brief moment, Touma almost got lost in them. Her smile faded away for a moment and she looked almost… regretful.

"We will piece Lucifer back together and provide him with a suitable body," Eve answered. "One I can't create for him. The Telesma sealed in his wings is one thing, but no material in this world can truly contain his power. Even if we use a human, they wouldn't last more than a short while."

They needed material not of this world.

Dark Matter.

"Kakine…" Touma realized as the weight fell on him. "That's why he's on your side. You're using him to create Lucifer's body. Adam had me destroy the old body in Australia… Was it so his soul would attach to the new body?"

"Indeed, you're quite apt at putting pieces together. too" A giggle escaped her lips, sounding more like the Eve he knew. "I knew you weren't unintelligent on important matters, even if you are oblivious to other things. Of course, he wasn't strong enough, so we needed to give him some lessons in magic to evolve his ability. Now he's at a position to provide the building materials and Lucifer will do the rest."

"You used Ricane at the start to get the information you needed to do that and use Last Order to capture Kazakiri." Touma accused. "Then blackmailed Jason somehow to work for you. Capturing Juliet?"

Laughter rang out as Eve put a hand over her mouth to dull the sound. A crystal clear sound, like pure bells and completely unlike the manipulator before him. It didn't fit her and yet did. Touma hated how conflicting she was and having those conflicts make perfect sense at the same time.

"You and your friends learned a lot, didn't you?" Eve smiled as she stood back up straight. "I gave you a lot of information, but putting it together was all you. Congratulations."

"Quit the mockery and talk." Touma cut her off with a wave of her hand. "What did you do to Jason? Was it blackmail?"

"Only at first." Eve raised a finger and shook it at him like she was scolding a child. "He didn't realize his purpose, but once I awakened him with this, he came willingly." Out of her sleeve, she pulled out a pelt that looked like it could have belonged to a sheep or a ram. The main difference? It seemed to be spun of pure gold like Eve's hair. "The catalyst to the knowledge we kept secret from Aleister."

Aleister, the Superintendent of Academy City. Someone Touma never met though he heard Accelerator mention him before.

"What is that?" Touma had ever seen it before.

"You really don't know?" Eve raised an eyebrow. "Seriously, is there something wrong with this city's education? It may be a magical item, but it had plenty of historical mythology events involved with it."

"They teach facts, not myths here."

"I'm holding it in front of you, so it's real." Eve pointed out, shutting Touma's argument down. "Let's just say it represents a certain knowledge that's stored in it. Memories of a past life. Ask your little friend Index for more." She put the pelt away. "It let your friend realize why he was created in the first place."

"Created…" Touma's throat went dry. "You're not saying…"

"Were you told my magic name?" Eve asked instead, changing the subject abruptly.

"No?" Not that he could recall.

"It's Genus000," Eve declared. "The one who allowed mankind to thrive." The woman shook her head. "Creating a simple paper puppet that resembles a man is easy, but making a true human with a soul takes some work. At least a soul real enough to get through that man's detection." Shrugging, Eve smiled and looked up toward the nearby buildings like she was scouring for someone. "I personally created him to serve a purpose."

"YOU'RE HIS MOM?!"

Okay, Touma felt like a moron the moment those words left his mouth, but the way Eve was saying that, it sort of made him think that was the case. Thinking back, it probably wasn't, but with how many times the magic side threw him curve balls, there was still that possibility. He noticed Eve staring at him and didn't blame her. That was a really stupid thing to say. If she wasn't an enemy, he might have apologized.

"In a way, yes."

A little vomit welled up within Touma's throat. The person who mentally tormented Jason with Juliet was his mom? What kind of parent would do that?

"I made him in a more ordinary way." Eve continued, as if the reveal wasn't making Touma sick. "It was the only way he could bypass Academy City's detection. Of course, with some modifications. To draw the city's interest, I needed to make him desirable. I upped his intelligence and granted him his natural ability before he was born. Making a 'perfect' human so the city would take him in. Of course, if he was too perfect, Aleister would destroy him to be sure he wasn't a threat, so I made a few minor flaws. For fun, I made him enjoy puns." Another laugh escaped her. "That one little defect made him all the more normal."

"Everything was planned…?" Touma's voice was raspy, as the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. "Even the torture he went through when you nearly killed him with some ritual when he and Juliet were kids?"

"Indeed, his ability changed to the one we needed him to have," Eve confirmed, her smile fading from her face. "A necessary sacrifice, though if the city had prepared them better, fewer would have died."

"And you think that makes it okay?!"

"No, but again, there was no other way. Aleister would never give up the wing willingly." Even sighed and actually looked like she had some regrets. "But the memories were needed. He drew on that knowledge while moving up through the city."

"Memories?" Touma's eyes narrowed.

"Oh, nothing you need to concern yourself with." Eve brushed off his question. "Jason Kagere did his part and was subconsciously doing what we needed him to do, even if he had his own objectives and goals. Though, once he met us and figured things out, I brought back his original soul. The fleece you saw had the memories of an old fling of mine, so many years ago. His soul was inside your friend, which is why he was never affected by the Imagine Breaker of yours. If I had used an artificial soul, he would have."

"So you stole the soul of someone in the past and used them to make… a kid to get what you want?!" Touma spluttered. "Toying with so many people's hearts?"

"He always was a player." Weirdly, Eve's tone had a trace of fondness in him. "We can't help who we fall in love with. The longer you live, the more people you realize are important to you. At the time, I went by Medea… still love that name by the way. I should have introduced myself to you as that."

"So what, you used that pelt to store his memories and then give them back to him when Jason was no longer useful to you?"

"Exactly."

The word was cold, even if her voice was light. Touma shivered as the force washed over him. This was the true Eve. An old being who wanted to end her curse and finally had the steps to do it. The Jason that he and his friends knew was nothing more than a puppet created by Eve. Someone designed to complete her mission. Now it all made sense. Why Jason was so knowledgeable, had powerful abilities, and was the center of everything. Even if he was unaware of his actions, he was dancing to her tune. A person trapped within the role forced upon them.

Touma's hand made a fist.

"And now he will keep your friend, Accelerator, in place along with Cain." Eve continued. "Until I finish. Kakine, dear! I'm ready for you."

The flutter of wings and a blast of wind caused Touma to look up to see Teitoku floating down toward her. His arms were crossed and he looked annoyed.

"Your fake cheer is rather annoying, Eve." He replied, landing effortlessly next to her. "Seriously, can you cut the act?"

"I don't know what you mean." Eve giggled.

"What happened to Mugino!" Touma shouted, interrupting them. "There's no way you beat her…"

"Ever the hero." Teitoku scoffed. "I have clones dealing with her. Though, the number I've lost is rather unsettling. Kagere caused her ability to increase more than I realized. I might have to go there personally to defeat her."

"Focus on the task at hand." Eve directed seriously. "We're too close to worry about your pathetic grudges."

"Yeah, yeah, not like I have a choice."

"Jason increased their abilities to make sure we stood a chance against you." Touma told him. "And Mugino is incredibly stubborn. She's not going to lose to your clones and then she's coming here for you."

"Oh, I know she won't die." Eve brushed his warning. "First, there's no reason for her, and I told you countless times I don't like unnecessary deaths. Kakine is under orders to avoid killing her. Second, and far more importantly, she's needed for what comes next."

"She's needed?" Touma narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"All of your friends are needed for what's to come." Eve held out her arms. "Do you think God and his minions will sit back and let Lucifer return to heaven?"

"We aren't going to help you fight him." Touma snapped back. "No matter what you say."

"It's not like you'll have much of a choice." Eve put a hand on her cheek. "Tell me, do you know why Jason Kagere was helping your friends ascend beyond their current limits?"

"To beat you." Blurted out Touma, causing Teitoku to laugh.

"Hahaha, no one is that selfless! Everyone has their own reasons for helping others. Doesn't matter if it's because your goals align, you want to use them, or it's just to feel superior, there's always a reason."

"True, only Saints will help people without one." Eve nodded. "Even then, it's debatable. It's like how people won't go to the same lengths to help a stranger rather than a friend or loved one."

"I help people without expecting anything." Touma cut his hand forward as he argued with her.

"Hmmm…" Eve stared at him and tilted her head slightly, causing the boy to shiver. Touma felt like she was learning everything about him. "I wonder what your reason is. Do you feel good helping others or is there something you're after?"

"NO!"

"Haha, we'll see. Time always reveals secrets, child." Eve shook her head slowly. "But we digress. Jason Kagere had several tasks assigned to him, but anything he was supposed to do, he had to rationalize to fit his cover as a dedicated individual of this city. From what I understood, all the people who run this city were happy to see him work on making more powerful Level 5s. So everyone was happy."

"Then what's the reason you wanted him to make us stronger?" Touma asked, his eyes narrowing in anger. "When we oppose everything you are trying to do."

"You seem to think just because you oppose us, that others who also oppose us will form an alliance with you." Eve's laugh was light and mused. "You underestimate God's anger. The moment Lucifer is revived, the world will shake and heaven will descend."

The girl stopped and stared at Touma.

"The Rapture will begin and no one will be spared from the cleansing."

Touma did in fact know about the Rapture. While Academy City didn't dive into religion and myths in school, prefering to deal with scientific facts, it wasn't an uncommon plot in movies and stories on the internet. Index had also mentioned it before. In short, the Rapture was supposed to be the sign of the end time, the final battle of good versus evil. All the true Christians were supposed to be saved while everyone else would be left behind in the world to witness the battle. In many stories, it was supposed to be the Son of God versus the AntiChrist.

"Explain yourself!" Touma demanded, knowing he was sounding childish. Part of him didn't expect Eve to tell him, but the other part knew she enjoyed explaining things in ways to trick and confuse him. The main reason to delay her was in hopes other people managed to arrive before she could flee. "Why would Heaven cleanse us over stopping Lucifer?"

"Because the power of Heaven doesn't discriminate," Eve sighed, looking up at the sky. "It sees us all impure in a corrupted world. Maybe the Saints can survive, but they won't be in any position to save others. You saw what happened to the Saint, Kaori Kanzaki, when the Judgment of God fell on her."

"That was because of you!" Touma's anger overwhelmed him as he stepped forward, only for a blast of wind to knock him back on his ass. One of Teitoku's multiple inorganic white wings had created a blast of air at him.

"Imagine what will happen when Heaven opens and releases waves of Telesma over all living things on earth." Eve continued, as if Touma hadn't been interrupted. "As God's security will be threatened, he'll release all four of the most powerful angels to render judgment."

Blood flowed from Touma's pale face as he understood what that meant. Archangels were powerful, even incomplete ones. Gabriel had the power to destroy half the world, even being incomplete. If all four came out, how many lives would be lost? A couple people could use Angel Class spells, like the Queen with Curtana, and maybe Leivinia if she had time to prepare. Kaori and Acqua might be able to stand against them as Saints, but one had been petrified and the other he had no way of contacting.

"But… you hate death!" Touma protested, scrambling to his feet. "If you let Lucifer revive…"

"There is no other option." Eve's smile faded and she actually looked depressed. "We tried everything else. As long as God exists, we can't die for good. We'll always be reborn. The torture will end and he will pay for his sin." Her hand not clutching the jewel made a fist for a moment. "But hopefully, your friends will be a line of defense that can withstand the onslaught."

"Line… of defense?" Touma blinked as the gears in his brain slowly turned. "You expect their transformations to withstand Archangels?"

"That was the plan." Eve confirmed. "Though, it's not entirely for selfless reasons."

"Told you." Teitoku interjected, earning an annoyed glance from Eve.

"If Lucifer was alone, the Archangels would attack him first and he would be forced to use most of his power to battle them. To have a chance against God, he needs to conserve his power."

Everything clicked into place.

"The reason you wanted Jason to increase their power wasn't to stop you, but for them to act as distractions for the Archangels!" Touma stared at her. "We wouldn't have a choice if they arrived because of their indiscriminate slaughter!"

"Precisely. I'm glad you caught on so quickly." Eve complimented mildly. "Angels' programming is pretty simple, at least until they get corrupted with free will. Then things get complicated and orders get twisted." A smile graced her lips. "But do not fret, the moment Lucifer strikes God, heaven will darken and the angels will deactivate. The Telesma covering Earth will cease and no more lives will be lost."

"But how many will die before then?!"

"That depends on how well your friends, the Churches, and Academy City fight back." Came the response. "What happens with the fall out will have to be mitigated by you all. Though, with all those artificial angels your city is making, as that Imaginary District seems to have an adverse effect on magic, I think you all can do pretty well. I believe in you!"

That last line really pissed Touma off. She was creating a mess and expecting them to clean it up. If it had only been that, Touma wouldn't have been that upset, but Eve was willing to risk the world's population on a gamble.

"How are you sure we can stand against archangels?" The words were forced out of the boy's mouth.

"I don't, but I always believed in humanity's ability to overcome all odds." Eve responded, causing Teitoku to scoff. "It's true. I never underestimate people. In fact, I always assume they will exceed any expectations I put on them. It has served me well all these years. Just like how we knew you would be able to create the matter and energy we need to fuse with Shadow Metal to reform Lucifer's body. Speaking off, how's that going?"

"It's synthesized and ready to be shaped." Teitoku answered. "As much as I hate being bound to follow you all, creating that thing was kind of inspiring."

"See, we all grow from this journey together." Eve held out her arms and laughed. "And just like we promised, when this is over, you'll be freed from the bindings to enjoy your life. What you do then is none of your concern."

"Keeping your world, huh?" Teitoku sneered. "That would be a first."

"You can't believe her!" Touma shouted at him. "Her words are always framed in a way so she can lie without technically lying."

"How rude." Eve pouted. "You just misconstrue things."

"We're still going to try to stop you." Touma stepped forward. "I might have appreciated your back up plan to protect as many people as you could… if it wasn't for the fact that all of this was because of you!" He made a fist. "If you think risking the lives of millions of innocent people just trying to live their lives is a sacrifice you're willing to make, I'm going to shatter that illusion of yours!"

"I wonder how you would fare living through millions of years, death and rebirth, watching all your friends age and die while you're stuck here."

For once, Eve's words were cold, sending a shiver down Touma's spine, but he wasn't going to recoil.

Not this time.

"I'll make new friends and try out all the new video games people invent." Touma shot back. "You know, not partake in genocide!"

"Cute." Eve sneered at him.

"I'm told I'm adorable."

Touma's bravado was based on two things. The first was his plan to keep her in this location as long as possible. If she couldn't finish making Lucifer's body and setting the wings in, the Rapture would be delayed. Hopefully long enough for others to arrive to help stop her. Part of him was hoping she might let her guard down and he could grab the wing with his right hand, ending all of this. The second reason was a little more of a gamble.

The spell they recovered from Jason's hidden chamber.

Eve didn't mention it, or anything remotely resembling it. If Jason had completed that before Eve returned his previous memories, maybe there was a chance. He was supposed to be created as a perfect human, smart enough to deal with advanced magic and science, so maybe he would have realized he was being manipulated. Something Eve would have overlooked. There were a lot of theories for what that spell could be used for.

As much as Touma wanted to believe, without evidence, he had to proceed as if they couldn' rely on that. Too many lives were at risk. The question he now had to consider was: what to do now?

Feel free to leave a review, comment, suggestions, or ideas, I love reading them. If you have a question you wish to ask and would like a quick answer, feel free to message me directly. I try to respond to those within a day or two. Comments, I tend to respond to in the next chapter.

All the build up is finally being revealed!