Chapter 5: Reborn
The dim light of the park lamp cast an ethereal glow upon the two figures standing in silence. Misaka-10000, her expression conflicted, remained seated on the ground while her identical clone towered above her, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
"Return, what is your response now? Will you seize this opportunity?"
Misaka-10000 gazed at the clone, her mind filled with conflicting thoughts, letting out a sigh, she rose to her feet.
"Why would Misaka agree to something like that? Wouldn't it be easier to accept her fate and die one final time, without pain? Why go through the ordeal of experiencing death over 9999 times? explains Misaka"
"Return, don't lie to yourself, you want this"
"Huh?"
"Return..." The clone circled Misaka-10000, her movements synchronized. "If you truly lacked interest, you would have simply said no and moved on. But here you are, explaining your reasons for refusal, giving me a chance to persuade you. Am I wrong?"
Coming to a stop in front of Misaka-10000, the clone's smile grew, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
Misaka-10000 met her gaze, her mind racing as she tried to formulate a rebuttal.
"Return, a pathetic guy who couldn't meet the expectations of those who believed in him, a pathetic guy who gave everything in hand to be as they hoped him to be but failed, a pathetic guy who didn't want to face the reality and instead, he come up with some Excuses to give up, such as ."
The clone took a step closer, her eyes gleaming with an intensity that seemed to penetrate Misaka-10000's soul. "Return, you have to pay for what you did, and I am offering you an opportunity, you not just will pay, but you will get paid."
Misaka-10000's heart pounded as the weight of the clone's words sank in. She realized something
"You... You know the real Misaka inside. You know so much, who are you..."
"Return, I am Misaka"
"..."
"Return, so Misaka Ichiman, what is your decision?"
"... Just to be clear, I would have to live their entire lives... every single thing they went through, right? asks misaka"
The clone nodded in affirmation, "Every—single—moment"
"Considering that each clone lived for at least 30 days... it means I would live for over 822 years...concludes misaka"
"Return, that's why you must keep remembering your true self,"
Misaka-10000 hesitated for a moment, contemplating the enormity of the choice before her. Taking a deep breath, her resolve solidifying.
As the first rays of dawn illuminated the surroundings, Misaka-10000 fixed her gaze forward.
"Misaka accept."
"Return, well said," the clone responded, clapping her hands together, "I'll see you again in a few moments, or rather, in 1145 years, 233 days, 25 hours, and 3 minutes from your perspective "
With those words lingering in the air, everything went dark for Misaka-10000. And she found herself in an empty void, surrounded by nothingness stretching in all directions. Time seemed to freeze as she floated in this state, her existence stripped of any frame of reference.
Minutes passed, and Misaka-10000 remained trapped in the formless abyss, her mind filled with questions and uncertainty. Suddenly, a faint light emerged, gradually growing brighter until it engulfed her.
In an instant, a familiar scene unfolded before her eyes. It was a vast, white room that felt familiar. Misaka-10000 tried to turn her head to survey her surroundings, but her body refused to respond, leaving her immobilized.
Fear and confusion coursed through her as she struggled to make sense of her predicament. She attempted to speak, but her voice remained trapped within, leaving her in a state of unnerving silence.
Just as her thoughts spiraled
"Yo! So you're my partner for this experiment?"
A voice comes from behind. Misaka-10000's body turned involuntarily, her gaze falling upon the source of the voice. It was Accelerator, standing there before her.
"Yes! I look forward to working with you, answers Misaka". she responded, her lips moving on their own accord.
Though she lacked control over her body, Misaka-10000 felt a sense of familiarity and understanding. The memories flooded her consciousness, and she realized the body she currently inhabited.
Where everything starts, Misaka-1.
While Misaka-10000 resided within the clone's body, she was an integral part of it, experiencing everything from the senses to her thoughts and emotions. She was her, albeit without control.
In her hand, she felt the weight of a pistol. She recalled its significance. Aware of what awaited her, Misaka-10000 resolved to gather as much information as possible.
The fight started, and it wasn't even a fight, it was more like one side beating up.
It lasted about 3 seconds, before the clone broke 21 bones, leaving her struggling to even sit still.
The worst part, Misaka-10000 felt the pain behind every single bone that was broken.
Not long after, By the end of the first experiment, the clone she inhabited met her demise in her own hands, after being shot by the very bullet she fired at Accelerator.
Death count: 1
Cause of death: a gunshot wound to the liver, leading to severe internal bleeding and subsequent organ failure.
Once again, everything plunged into darkness, and she found herself floating motionless within the boundless void. She attempted to shift her hand toward where she got shot, but the light swiftly reappeared, transporting her into another inexplicable experience.
This time, she emerged within the familiar dimly lit corridor, inhabiting the body of Misaka-2. Memories flooded her mind, though it wasn't that much of memories, as this clone and the one before lived for a minimum of 3 days each.
And of course, just like the first one, Misaka-2 meets the same fate: death.
Death count: 2
Cause of death: Relentless pressure upon the chest, resulting in the crushing of internal organs and fatal consequences.
Once again, she drifts through the void, seeking solace as she tries to calm herself. The pain is real, and the threat of death is real. However, as she attempts to compose herself, the light reappears.
Death count: 31
Cause of death: The victim's skull succumbs to an unyielding force, crushed under unimaginable pressure.
For a brief moment, she forgets why she must endure this torment, why she is trapped in this cycle.
But each time she would remember after seeing his face, his horrible smile with each death.
Death count: 101
Cause of death: Severed limbs, leading to a slow and agonizing demise from profuse bleeding.
Gradually, she began to grasp his power, learning how it operated through his own words during the 101st death—the ability to manipulate vectors.
Death count: 131
Cause of death: the victim got crushed under the wreckage
The clones begin employing tactics in the battle rather than randomly shooting at the Accralator. Clone number 131 attempts to obscure the Accralator's vision by destroying the hallway lamp. However, the outcome turns out poorly, when he simply sends a shockwave through the walls, causing a piece of it to fall on the clone instead.
Death count: 512
Cause of death: The victim suffocated to death as the air was directly sucked from her lungs.
In this instance, Misaka-10000 noticed a significant change in the game.
After he grabbed clone number 512 from her mouth and altered the direction of the air in her lungs, she observed a drop of water falling onto his clothes, which did not change its trajectory.
It may look like a typical thing to see, but for Misaka-10000, it was a hope sign.
Death count: 1,289
Cause of death: The victim was shot by their gun a total of 51 times, with the fatal shot occurring on the fifth bullet.
With each death, the line between life and death blurred, her identity unraveling into a tapestry of anguish and despair. The lifespan of the clones gradually extended, with a minimum duration of 26 days each.
As of now, Misaka-10000 has already lived for approximately 85 years, all of which were filled with suffering.
Death count: 5,846
Cause of death: The victim suffered a fatal blow to the head from a flying rock.
This particular experience stood out from the others, as it was the clone whose lifeless body he encountered that night. It was the day when everything turned upside down.
And the most horrible part was that he witnessed his death while inhabiting the body of the person who had killed him that fateful night.
Death count: 9,999
Cause of death: The victim was crushed under a falling container.
...
She opened her eyes, greeted by the faint glow of a nearby park lamppost.
Sweat trickled down her body, creating dampness in her surroundings.
She didn't move, she didn't speak, and she didn't breathe, she was waiting for the body to do it on its own.
As the lack of oxygen caused panic to well up within her, she began gasping for air, her breaths coming in rapid and desperate bursts as she sat on the ground.
She attempted to move her hand, and to her relief, she succeeded.
A single tear escaped her eyes as she tightly embraced herself, her entire body trembling.
"Welcome back! How was your journey?"
A voice called out, prompting her to turn her head towards the source. She appeared to be struggling with the movement.
Her eyes met those of a clone—the same clone she had inhabited for the past 1,100 years.
"W-Who ate Kou...?"
"Return, It seems you've forgotten how to control your body, but don't worry. With a few hours of exercise, you'll be fine"
"???" Confusion enveloped Misaka-10000 as she tried to comprehend what the clone was referring to.
"Return, your memories will return once the new memories settle in your mind. I believe you'll be fine by morning. Good luck," the clone said, leaving her sitting on the cold ground as she disappeared into the darkness of the park.
Turning her gaze towards Academy City in the distance, she caught sight of a luminous beam piercing the sky, only to vanish once again into the darkness of the night.
"..."
Part 2:
The clock struck 2:03 AM, and after a long journey, Misaka-10000 finally reached school District 7, the location of her dormitory.
Although it had taken her two hours of walking, she still required an additional 15 minutes to reach her dorm.
At first, merely standing up was a challenge, but now her body was gradually starting to feel more familiar to her. However, she still stumbled and fell occasionally along the way.
As Misaka-10000 traversed through Discant 7, a peculiar serenity enveloped the city. The streets lay deserted, illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights, which cast long, haunting shadows.
Amidst the tranquil stillness, a subtle tension hung in the air, as if secrets whispered through the vacant alleyways. Academy City's majestic structures stood as silent sentinels, reflecting faint traces of moonlight. The cool night breeze carried a sense of solitude and introspection.
This environment provided Misaka-10000 with an opportunity to relax and gather her thoughts, or rather, her memories.
As each passing second ticked by, just as the clone had mentioned, Misaka-10000's mind began to clear, and memories of her true self started to resurface.
Though her emotions remained somewhat elusive, such a response was to be expected after enduring everything she had gone through.
"Hmm?"
She mused, suddenly becoming aware of the peculiar silence that enveloped the surroundings. Despite the early hours of dawn, she expected to see signs of life—perhaps a few cars passing by on the nearby road. However, there was none.
Narrowing her gaze, she noticed a multitude of talismans plastered all around her, capturing her attention.
"...!" Her breath caught in her throat as she swiftly leaped to the side, sensing imminent danger approaching from behind. Her instincts proved accurate as a wind turbine whizzed by, slicing through everything in its path.
"For a mage to possess such physical prowess and instincts, it seems that the church who sent you desires her greatly," a voice remarked.
Turning her gaze toward the sound, she laid eyes upon the individual responsible for the attack.
A long black hair tied up in a ponytail that reaches her hips. She wore a short white T-shirt, tied in a knot at the bottom, revealing her belly button/navel, her dark blue jeans have one pantsleg cut off to be very short. In her grasp was a nodachi, measuring around two meters in length.
Somehow, this girl emitted a similar vibe to the red-haired guy she had encountered earlier that day.
As she composed herself and dusted off her clothes, Misaka-10000 stood tall, "Misaka is curious why the weird pervert woman tried to kill her. Misaka politely asks in the hope that we can solve this problem peacefully."
"P-Pervert? Who do you think you're calling a pervert?" the girl blushed, pointing her finger at Misaka-10000.
"Misaka can see the woman's belly. That means you're a pervert, concludes Misaka concludes"
"Huh?" The girl quickly covered her belly. "You're the pervert for glancing at my belly!"
"Misaka knows. There's no need for the perverted woman to tell her, Response Misaka"
"You!" The girl's anger grew, but she coughed to change the subject. Raising her sword, she pointed it at Misaka-10000. "No more jokes. No mage will get any closer to her, including you!"
However, just as she was about to attack.
"So you're a chuunibyo too? What a poor woman, says misaka as she wipes away tears of mock heartbreak."
Misaka-10000 interjected.
"Chuuni-what? What are you talking about?" The girl became unsure of how to respond to the peculiar girl in front of her.
"Misaka meant that the poor woman believes she is in a mage battle from a fantasy story, but in reality, there are no mages. It's merely a fantastical concept explains Misaka"
"What is she talking about? Is she intentionally trying to distract me? Is she buying time for...!?"
She quickly scanned her surroundings, "There is no sign of any magic spell nor any magic flow..."
She shifted her gaze back to Misaka-10000 and analyzed her carefully. "There's no trace of magic in her... But just a few moments ago, I felt it. Did I make a mistake Or perhaps I've targeted the wrong person?"
"Um, Miss Pervert, is there anything else you want from Misaka? says misaka as she wants to go home already"
"...Forget it. I have to stay close to Index and the boy for now,"
With those words, the barrier shattered like broken glass, and the girl vanished into thin air.
Misaka-10000 scanned her surroundings once again and this time noticed a few people walking nearby. It appeared that she had returned to the familiar world she knew.
Raising both hands in the air, "YAY! Misaka survived another hour! says misaka as she decides to reward herself with a cup of instant noodles"
With that in mind, she made her way toward her dormitory,
Part 3:
In a certain hallway of a hospital, a red-haired man sat beside a particular room, seemingly guarding someone inside.
"Hmmm?" He opened his eyes, sensing the presence of a girl with long ponytail hair.
"Did you investigate the source of the strange magical flow? Kanzaki" he asked.
"Yeah, but it appears to have been my mistake"
"A mistake? That's rare for you," he remarked.
"Yeah..." She shifted her gaze toward the room next to him. "How is the boy?"
"That frog-faced doctor says he has everything under control. I don't know where he gets his confidence, considering the boy was touched by the feathers of Dragon's Breath on the head"
"And what about Index?" she inquired.
"She's sleeping at that little teacher's house. I placed some talismans there just in case," he responded.
"I see..."
"Are you sure it was a mistake?"
She sighed and took a seat beside him. "I really can't tell. That girl was just strange."
"Girl?" he questioned.
"I sensed a magical flow from her when I attempted to attack, but it vanished the moment I tried to confirm its presence. There was also a peculiar aura surrounding her."
"What kind of aura are we talking about?" he inquired.
"Death, something you would sense from a corpse," she explained.
"Wait!" he exclaimed, rising to his feet in shock. "Was she a vampire?"
"She wasn't... I'm certain she was human, albeit an abnormal one," she clarified.
"...should we kill her just in case?"
"let's focus for the time being on our problems with Necessarius and then we can decide what to do with her"
"...understand"
Part 4:
The morning sun's gentle glow filled the room as it streamed in through the dorm window. Misaka-10000 sat on the edge of her bed, motionless, with her eyes wide open.
"It's finally morning, says misaka"
Having arrived at her dormitory at 2:18 AM, she had taken a quick shower and satisfied her hunger with a few cups of instant noodles she had stashed in the fridge.
However, when she tried to sleep, she found herself unable to do so. Every time she closed her eyes, vivid scenes of what she had witnessed in the endless cycle of death played out in her mind. The screams and the pain of those clones haunted her thoughts.
In the end, she gave up on trying to sleep and remained awake, watching as the remaining hours of the night slowly passed, waiting for the sun to rise.
Walking towards the bathroom, she splashed water on her face, hoping to wash away the remnants of the sleepless night. As she lifted her gaze to the mirror before her, she caught sight of her reflection.
Her eyes, once bright and full of life, now held a glimmer of exhaustion and sorrow. Dark circles had formed under them, evidence of the restless night she had endured. Her usually vibrant hair seemed slightly disheveled, reflecting her inner turmoil.
She also noticed a few strands of her hair had turned white.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to gather herself and find strength in the reflection before her.
"Everything will be settled tonight. Misaka just needs to keep pushing a little further"
Leaving the bathroom behind, she walked towards the door, reaching out to grasp the doorknob. But before opening it, she closed her eyes.
"A sniper rifle, half a liter of gasoline, half a meter of fabric tape, a lighter, a heartbeat transmitter, and 9 cubic meters of <#%^%^$%^>. I want <#%^%^$%^> to be stored in a container and installed in the air using one of the cranes in the switchyard. We'll meet there at 4 PM, requires Misaka"
Opening her eyes again, they fell upon the pin on her skirt. After staring at it for a few moments, she decided to remove it and put it away.
Given a last glance at the room behind, she took a deep breath and closed the door behind.
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