[Happy National Day, everyone!]
Everyone on the scene — from Misaka Mikoto to Mugino Shizuri — was completely stunned.
The #1 and #2 strongest people in all of Academy City had just been totally overwhelmed by this girl? This didn't even look like a fight — more like a mom spanking her two-year-old.
And it wasn't just them. Even the chat group members watching the stream, who knew the truth, were just as shaken.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: It's over already? That was fast.
Curly-haired Guy: I finally believe it. Ruiko really is Aizen now. Only Aizen could finish a fight that fast.
Doujin Artist: Ahem. What kind of "fast" are you talking about?
Amegakure Village's Angel: I've said it so many times — Ruiko right now *is* Anzen-san.
Curly-haired Guy: No matter how many times you say it, people will still doubt it. She can possess someone, travel across dimensions, and even bring all her powers? That's way too broken!
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Even a magical group chat exists. What isn't possible at this point?
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Right?
At the moment, Ruiko's own mind felt like a bystander. She watched as Aizen used her body like a tool. It was a strange, dreamlike feeling — being in her own body, but not in control.
A loud explosion drew everyone's attention in the stream.
On the screen, rubble and twisted steel were sent flying. From the wreckage, Accelerator slowly walked out, his clothes torn and hair a mess.
He stared straight at Aizen and grinned. "You actually managed to hurt me. You're way more fun than those other losers." His lips were stained with blood, and he looked a little crazy.
"Is that so? But to me, you're more boring than I expected," Aizen said with a slight smile, her voice soft. "This is all the 'strongest' can do?"
"All the 'strongest' can do?"
Accelerator froze, eyes wide. His gaze turned sharp, and his face twisted with rage. "Woman... Are you trying to piss me off? Fine! Good! Now I'll show you what real power looks like!"
He stomped down hard. His vector powers exploded, pulling in energy from everything around him like a black hole. Fierce winds surged outward in waves, shaking the entire battlefield.
A powerful wind roared through the area, tearing the ground apart like a spider web and sending chunks of debris flying everywhere.
Under the force of the shockwave, streetlights, power lines, and parked cars were all swept away. The whole scene looked like a level-17 typhoon had just passed through.
"Is this maniac trying to destroy the entire Academy City?"
Kakine Teitoku stood up in the distance, sensing things were going south. He flapped his wings madly, trying to get away from the area. But soon he realized—even the wind was being pulled toward Accelerator.
No matter how hard he flapped, he couldn't move forward at all.
So this is the power of the Number One?
Kakine Teitoku got it now—really got it. The gap between them wasn't just big—it was a whole different level.
Countless streams of energy started to gather in one spot, forming a glowing white ball above Accelerator's head. The pressure coming from it was so intense, it even made the air around it warp a little.
Doujin Artist: S-So scary! Even watching through a screen is terrifying!
Curly-haired Guy: Accelerator's way stronger than we expected.
Shark-Faced Guy: If that ball explodes, Academy City's probably done for.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: How did it come to this... Anzen-san, can you stop him?
Her closest friends were all in Academy City. She couldn't just watch it be destroyed.
Doujin Artist: Judging by how strong Anzen-san is, I think she probably can, right?
"My power?" A slight smile. Ruiko, now under Aizen's control, smiled brightly on screen. "Looks like you've misunderstood something. Besides the passive ability that comes with the God of Swords, I haven't even used my real power yet."
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Wait, you mean...
"Yeah. Whether it was Shunpo, spiritual power, or strength, I've only been using Ruiko's own power this whole time." Still smiling, Aizen slowly raised the blade in his hand.
The screen shook slightly. From the viewers' perspective, Aizen—controlling Ruiko's body—hadn't moved. But his sword was now being slid back into its sheath.
A breeze lifted Ruiko's long black hair. A clear, gentle voice rang out with the softness unique to girls. "As for my real power... it's probably about this level."
Accelerator's eyes went wide. The massive ball of energy above his head split cleanly in two. And a thin red line appeared across his chest.
"You..." He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something. But just as the first word left his lips, blood gushed out from the cut across his chest.
His vision blurred as he collapsed backward. Kakine Teitoku followed soon after—his face still frozen in shock and fear as he hit the ground.
Whether it was the plaza in District 7 or the group chat, everything had gone quiet.
In the middle of District 7, the windowless building suddenly split diagonally down the side. And then—boom—it collapsed in an instant.