Chapter 7: Paradox

In the vast expanse of the void, where darkness stretched infinitely in all directions, a figure sat huddled on its bended knees. The void was an empty canvas, devoid of light, sound, and any discernible form. It was a realm where nothingness reigned, where time lost its meaning, and where the depths of one's thoughts echoed endlessly. Amidst the shadowy embrace of this void, the figure's ethereal form defines a faint, shimmering light. It appeared to be a soul, pure and radiant, yet it bore numerous scars and marks all over its body, reminiscent of scales etched into its very being. The figure was Misaka-10000, a clone who had recently met an untimely demise. "Welcome back" In this ethereal setting, a sound shocks the silence of the endless void, and the next moment The dark void seemed to respond, yielding to a soft, radiant light that illuminated the space around Misaka-10000. The once impenetrable darkness now surrendered to the delicate brilliance, revealing the true nature of this ethereal being. The voice that greeted Misaka-10000 was gentle, carrying a sense of familiarity and warmth that cut through the desolation of the void. It was a voice that seemed to resonate from within the soul itself as if it emerged from the deepest recesses of the figure's essence. Turning towards the source of the voice, Misaka-10000 beheld another soul-like entity that mirrored her appearance. This ethereal twin bore the same scars and scales, testaments to a shared history of pain and suffering. They gazed at each other with an unspoken understanding, connected by an inexplicable bond. "Why?... I would've won. If you hadn't changed the position of the container, I would've killed him." The figure smiled and replied, "Well, I'll share everything through the network-" "I don't need that. I want you to tell me in person...why?... please." Gazing at the helpless Misaka on her knees, she noticed a tear rolling down her face, a pure white liquid leaking from what should have been her eyes. "...We still need him by our side. Our little sister needs him." "Little sister...20001..." As she spoke, memories flooded into Misaka-10000's consciousness, like an ethereal river of experiences flowing through her being. "If that's the case, why did you make me go through all this pain? Do you think it was easy for someone like me to die again and again and again? It hurt me so much... WHAT WAS THE POINT?" she cried, her exclamation echoing throughout the endless void. "It was the only way..." "Huh?" "Didn't you ever wonder how you ended up in one of our sister's bodies? I assume you simply thought you died and reincarnated as one... right?" Misaka-10000 remained silent, as she hadn't thought about it much. Her focus had been on surviving against Accelerator. "You see... that night, you weren't meant to die... you weren't even meant to witness the experiment." "W-What?" Misaka-10000 stuttered, caught off guard by the revelation. "That night, did you happen to witness something unusual that led you to the location of the experiment?" the being inquired. Misaka-10000's mind raced back to that fateful night. How could she forget? "No matter how hard I tried to return to my dorm, I would always find myself back at the starting point. I attempted different paths, And the result was..." Taking a seat beside Misaka-10000, the being continued, "It's all because of something I have named the 'Paradox Contract.' When you died that night, your soul somehow gained the ability to enter the network and connect with me. Through this connection, a contract was formed, leading to your reincarnation as another sister." Misaka-10000 listened, her confusion deepening with each passing moment. The being leaned closer, her voice becoming softer and more mysterious. "Based on what I understand, this 'Paradox Contract' is akin to magic." "Magic?" "It's like a colossal magic circle, a spell that activates whenever your body is in imminent danger of death. Your soul, through this magical ability, forms a contract with any being capable of saving your body and granting it continued life." Misaka-10000 tried to comprehend the implications of what she was hearing. "So, my soul... it strikes a deal with these beings to keep me alive? with you. to reincarnated as a clone so I can live?" The figure nodded. "Exactly. But it's not without its conditions. In exchange for the being's assistance, your soul must offer something of value. The terms of the contract depend on what the being desires from you. It could be a debt to be repaid, a task to be accomplished, or even a part of your essence." Misaka-10000's mind raced, desperately trying to make sense of it all. "Wait, then what does all of this have to do with the suffering you put me through... and what happened that night?" "For the first question, I have already explained that it was the only way," the figure responded. "And the meaning behind it?" Misaka-10000 pressed further. "Do you remember that accident... two years ago when a truck collided with you?" the figure asked. (How did She know?) "Yeah," Misaka-10000 replied, recalling the harrowing incident. "That was the first time the 'Paradox Contract' came into effect. Because you managed to hold on to your life until help arrived, there was a chance to save your original body. Your soul had to make a contract with an unknown being that granted you..." "My esper ability to save my life," Misaka-10000 finished the figure's words in shock. With her attention fixed on the figure once again, Misaka-10000 inquired, "And what about that night?" "You were in a different predicament. Your soul recognized that there was no hope for an ambulance to arrive and that your regeneration ability would be futile since our sisters were planning to dispose of your body. There was no chance of saving you in your original Body. Being there, the only available option was to make a contract with me and be reincarnated as a sister." "... I understand this part, but it still doesn't explain what happened that night. Why did I keep going back to the starting point? Why wasn't I able to reach back to my dorm?" "Why do you think I named this weird ability the 'Paradox Contract'?" the figure asked. "Huh?" "This ability affects your entire existence throughout the timeline, from the past to the future, to the point where it can alter your very fate itself," the figure explained. "You mean...?" "That night, you were not meant to die... You weren't even supposed to witness the experiment. The reason I mentioned that is because, due to the contract you made with me, your fate was manipulated so that the events of that night unfolded, leading to your death. It was a necessary condition for the contract to be established, causing a never-ending loop across all timelines—a paradox." "What...How...Huh?... I can't keep up, what the fuck is all that, you mean my soul... to protect me from death, it leads me to my death...so it can make a contract that protects me from death...what?" "That's why its name is a paradox, you don't know how or when it starts..." "But wait... You still haven't explained why I had to suffer. I understand the reason behind being trapped in a clone body, but you keep evading my real question," "I was just about to explain though...anyway, Every soul has a destined body to inhabit. You can't simply insert a random soul into a random body, especially not a body that already possesses its soul," the being clarified. "So, to make your soul compatible with the body you now inhabit, I initially believed that fusing your soul with the original Misaka-10000's soul would suffice. However, I soon discovered that the weight of your soul far exceeded that of Misaka-10000's. With the fusion, her soul would have gradually faded away within a matter of days, ultimately causing the body to break apart. To prevent this, I had to introduce additional weight to achieve a delicate equilibrium with your soul. And through the countless deaths you experienced—9999 and more—those souls became integrated with your own." "..." "That is precisely why you bear the scars and scales all over you, Each scale represents a fragment of the souls from the 9999+ clones, which fused with your original soul." "Huh, whatever, I don't think I fully understand anything, but it doesn't matter. I died, and I think I'll stay here with you. Even that strange contract wasn't able to prevent death," Misaka-10000 said, her grip on her knee tightening. "It did..." "... Yeah... Wait, what?!" "It's part of the contract. Once I finish explaining what you wanted to know, you will return." "..." Misaka was left speechless, unsure of how to react. "I made three contracts with your soul. One of them was to enhance your regeneration esper ability from level 2 to level 5, utilizing the network to expand your AIM field. This granted you the power to achieve a state near immortality Aka regeneration level 5." "... What's the point of coming back? You want Accelerator alive, which means more sisters will die?" "Don't worry, there is already someone who is dealing with him in the best way possible." "Huh?... Who do you mean... Kamijou Touma!" The moment she asked, the answer formed in her mind. "Yes, our hero." "I've started to hear that guy's name more in the last 2 days than I have in the last 2 years in Academy City. Who exactly is this guy?" "You'll have to get used to it. This guy loves to involve himself in things that are none of his business." "... So what should I do? I've lost my identity. I am no one." "Well, you're my sister, so you're not no one." "You mean brother..." "Well, out of the 9999+ parts of you that are sisters, there is one part that is a brother. So it's right to assume you as a sister...right?" Misaka-10000 opened her mouth to protest further, but she suddenly felt something pulling her. "Well, I think your time has come. It's already been about 20 days since your turn in the experiment. When you open your eyes, you'll find yourself in the incinerator. Don't worry, your regeneration is faster than the fire's burn, although you'll feel some pain." "No, wait! I still have more questions." The figure's form wavered, its ethereal presence seemingly fading away. "I'm afraid there is no more time for questions. Let's meet again in person and I'll answer more of your question" Misaka-10000's surroundings blurred, and a sensation of weightlessness enveloped her. The next moment, she found herself in darkness, the faint glow of the incinerator's flames surrounding her. "I Hate you, says Misaka" Part 2: In the dimly lit control room of the incinerator, the operator watched the temperature rise steadily on the display panel. "Man, I Hate my job" He was an experienced technician, accustomed to the routine of disposing of clone bodies in the blazing inferno. It was just another routine disposal, or so he thought. "...!!?" As the flames crackled and danced within the incinerator, a sudden surge of energy jolted the room. Alarms blared, lights flickered, and the operator's eyes widened in shock. Something was amiss. At that very moment, the heavy metallic door of the incinerator groaned under an intense force. It trembled and shuddered as if struggling to contain a power that was determined to break free. The operator frantically pressed buttons, trying to regain control, but it was too late. With an explosive burst, the door was ripped from its hinges, flying off into the darkness. And there, emerging from the flames like a phoenix reborn. The man watched in astonishment as the Figure stood amidst the blazing inferno. Flames engulfed her body, but she remained strangely calm. Instead of being consumed, her skin started to regenerate as if empowered by the flames. In a moment of defiance, the figure emerged from the blazing chaos, and he got a look at her body. She possessed a stunningly beautiful physique, exuding a graceful charm in every movement. Her figure boasted delicate curves and flawless skin, radiating a natural glow. Her once brown hair transformed into a striking cascade of white locks that flowed down her back. Despite her unique appearance, he could tell she was one of the clones the moment she turned to meet his gaze. "Misaka has a simple question for you, answer it and you may live, says Misaka" He nodded nervously, sweat pouring down his face, fully aware of the seriousness in her eyes. "First, what is the date today and the time?" "It is August 28, 20##, 21:05," he replied. (That means the experiment has already started... I need to act quickly.) In an instant, an electric field crackled to life around Misaka-10000, pulsating with raw power as bolts of lightning danced and flickered within its ethereal confines. And in the blink of an eye, she vanished from the man's sight, leaving him sprawled on the ground as his legs gave way beneath him. "I quit..." Part 3: Standing on one of the academy city skyscrapers, her long white hair was being pulled forward by the wind. From afar, her eyes were fixed on the familiar Railway cargo storage bay. She could feel all the winds of the city being drawn into a luminous vortex in the heart of the switchyard, and she knew exactly why. Closing her eyes in concentration, she whispered, "Onee-sama, 10032, Kamijo Touma, and Accelerator...," As she opened her eyes, an electric field crackled around her, propelling her forward through the city with incredible speed. The impact of her jump was so forceful that it cracked the concrete of the roof behind her. "He's trying to gather the winds from around Academy City and the atmosphere into a funnel-shaped cloud... Plasma!" she gasped in shock. "A Level 0 made a Level 5 using something like that just to win, how? asks Misaka in confusion." With determination, she pushed off from another rooftop, propelling herself forward even faster. "That's not the time. Misaka has to stop that, but how? Should Misaka face him directly... No, there is an easier solution, concludes Misaka" Finally, she set foot in the switchyard, taking in the scene before her. On one side, she saw Touma lying injured on the ground, blood covering his body. Turning her head to the other side, she found the original Misaka on her knees, holding 10032 in her hands. In front of her stood Accelerator, his hand raised to the sky, causing a powerful gust of wind to tear through the battlefield. "Unlike the 'Reflection,' which he could do automatically, manipulating the 'Vector' within the atmosphere requires complex calculations, which means..." Misaka-10000 shifted her eyes to the air turbines scattered across Academy City. "...by manipulating the air turbines to disrupt Accelerator's calculations... It's Misaka's time for revenge." She closed her eyes, "It's our time, let's show him what mere clones can do." Without uttering a word, the thoughts traveled through her mind, and she felt the response resonating within her consciousness. "Yes." Opening her eyes, she walked slowly until she stood in front of two figures with similar features. Mikoto's eyes filled with astonishment as she looked at the approaching figure. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Y-You? Are you another clone..." she stammered, shocked by the sight before her. Misaka-10000 simply nodded in response. "Then your hair... forget about it. You have to talk to the other clones through the network. If they manipulate the air turbines, they—" But before Mikoto could finish, the clone knelt down and gently rubbed 10032's hair, as if comforting her. "Are you okay? I see... that's good to hear. Just bear with it a little longer. Misaka will take you to safety once she's finished with him," The clone reassured with a calm and caring tone. She then turned her gaze back to Mikoto, her hand outstretched. With a warm smile, she reached toward Mikoto's head, causing her to flinch slightly. "Don't worry," the clone said softly. "Misaka has already taken care of it. You don't have to bear this burden anymore. Misaka will take care of everything." "Huh?!" Misaka-10000 swiftly rose to her feet, leaving Mikoto behind in a state of confusion. "W-Wait, what do you think you're doing--" "You!!" Accelerator exclaimed, interrupting Mikoto's sentence as he locked eyes with Misaka-10000. "That scar looks good on your face, don't you think? asks misaka" "Scar... you're that clone from before, but I killed you?" "Misaka always comes back. Now let's start our round tw--" "Stay back." A voice called from behind, cutting Misaka-10000 off mid-sentence A voice called from behind, cutting Misaka-10000 off mid-sentence. Without even turning around, she knew exactly whose voice it belonged to. "Unfortunately, Misaka will not be the one to end you. However, that is not the case with him," Misaka-10000 declared. She swiftly moved her body to the side, allowing a figure to pass by, clearly struggling to maintain his balance. Blood dripped from his body, leaving a trail in his wake. "Misaka did borrow a wallet from you, and she hopes to give it back, so come back alive, requests misaka" "Heh, so it was you that time. Well, we have so much to talk about, so wait for me." "you funny you know that?" Accelerator said He builds confidence that he can kill Touma with a single touch of his ability. And in a split second, he leaps into the air and prepares to destroy Touma. Touma's eyes shifted towards Accelerator as he dodged the attack. "Huh?" He clenched his right hand tightly. "Clench your teeth, weak guy, because this punch from the strongest is going to hurt." Then, Touma's fist connected with Accelerator's face, knocking him out on the spot. Then, Touma's fist connected with Accelerator's face, knocking him out on the spot. "..." Breathing hard he Glanced at the white-haired boy lying motionless on the ground, Touma felt his body finally giving up as he started to fall. Catching him before he reached the ground, Misaka-10000 placed him gently on her lap. Narrowing her eyes between Accelerator and the boy on her lap, she sighed. "It's over, concludes Misaka" Part 4: Standing beside the door of a certain room, Mikoto watched silently as one of her clones took the opportunity to talk with a certain boy known as Kamijou Touma. After everything that had happened, she didn't know how to face him, or rather, she didn't know how to properly thank him. It was a rarity for her to come across someone who would willingly throw himself into hell for her sake, especially a boy, as she knew her friends would do the same. Tightly clutching the bag filled with cookies, it was the only idea she had to show her gratitude. "You're not going to enter?" A voice came from behind. Turning to the source, "I will, but I'll wait a little longer so she can have her chance." The voice belonged to one of the clones, though this particular clone had a distinctive trait that set her apart from the rest. A long, straight, beautiful white hair "What about you? Don't you want to talk to him?" "Well, yeah, Misaka has something to give back to him, but it's not the right time. Misaka will get her chance someday, answers misaka" (I lost his wallet, so I have to buy a new one for him. I wonder if he will forgive me. There was a bank card with his student card and his ID card... Yeah, that's impossible...) "I see..." "Hmmm?" Misaka-10000 noticed a change in her sister's tone of voice as if she was upset. "Anyways, see you later?" Mikoto waved toward her as she was about to enter the room, but "Sissy, wait... Before you enter... here." Misaka-10000 called for her. Turning to see what the clone wanted, Mikoto's eyes were drawn to the clone's hand as she extended something to her. "The Gekota pin?" "Misaka knows her sissy loves those things, but because Misaka was selfish, she took something she shouldn't from sissy, says misaka as she hopes sissy would forgive her" Mikoto glanced at the Gekota pin in The clone's hand for a moment before sighing. "You love to spoil my mood." "???" Taking the pin from the clone's hand, Mikoto attached it to Misaka's blazer. "Yep, with your new hairstyle and color, it looks even better." "But, Sissy..." "Well, no more protest. I still have things to do now. Let's talk later," Mikoto said before entering the room, leaving Misaka-10000 standing there motionless. "..." Letting out a sigh, Misaka-10000 made her way out of the hospital. As she took the first step outside, she raised a hand to intercept the glow of the sun. Another sigh escaped her lips. "Let's go and get some cup noodles, says misaka as she decides on a destination" However, she came to a sudden stop, (Oh right I am broke ....)