Editing Toaru Majutsu no Index:GT Volume12 Chapter1 (section)

===Part 6===

“…”

Aleister listened to it all.

He listened to the raindrop voice.

It didn’t reach him.

Not that he didn’t understand it.

That wasn’t what he wanted right now.

How could you find ordinary peace by following that sort of path?

Human Aleister clenched his teeth and whispered in a terrifyingly low voice.

“Now that I’ve heard you out.”

“Huh?”

“What if I still refuse?”

“Then I’ll stop you of course, ''outsider''. I won’t let you turn Academy City back into what it was. Like I already told you: this isn’t your city.”

The voice carried by the raindrops pounding against the rooftop conveyed icy killer intent.

Academy City began to move.

Rotors loudly sliced at the air.

“…”

These were unmanned Six Wings attack helicopters.

Those had been used in combat for a while now, but they had only become known to the media at large during World War Three, which was arranged in secret by Fiamma of the Right. The world had been shocked by the sight of the helicopters accurately locating an enemy tank battalion in the middle of a raging blizzard and then destroying only the enemy weapons while avoiding all the anti-air fire.

''It was an older weapon at this point.

Daily progress was a thing everywhere, but the value of each and every minute and second was so much greater in Academy City.

Weapons several generations ahead of the current standard had to be lurking deep within labs across the city.

This was an attack with overwhelming numbers by a known technology. It was effective, but it brought no risk to the one giving the orders. It was a boring “no risk, high return” strategy. The leader safely surrounded by thick walls only had to view the distant future and spit out logical arguments.

It was the method of Academy City’s Board Chairman.

Aleister felt like he was seeing his old self.

(He’s dealing with me, who, for better or for worse, knows Academy City inside and out. I thought he would ''at least'' silently distribute nanodevices modeled after a deadly virus, but does he not even have that much left to use?)

“Is that all?”

Aleister felt no fear.

He only felt rage.

''Take this seriously.

''This is literally the final line to determine his fate.

“Did you really think this was enough for someone as stubborn as me to quietly back off!?”

A giant blackness appeared with so much force it seemed ready to engulf the world before concentrating powerfully down into a single point above Aleister’s palm.

Black.

That was a pitch black flame not found in the natural world.

It was the ultimate destruction controlled by “the wickedest man in the world” who prophesied the outbreak of World War One and, since he couldn’t stop the death it would bring, considered putting together a massive spell using all the bloodshed.

“Protector of the abyss – that is, the barrier none can cross – and the monster that severs the bonds between people to prevent their evolution. Your value is 333, your meaning is dispersion. Demon who I have named, gather in my hand, Coronzon!!!”

He felt his own heart crawl disconcertingly.

Something unseen had been carved away.

He could tell.

But this was what it meant to stick to your guns.

Had he thought he could do this without any risk to himself?

As long as it would not force misfortune and tragedy onto an unknown third party, Aleister would use any forbidden magic.

This would scatter “sparks” from the collision between phases, but he would direct that side effect onto himself.

A cold sweat very different from the chilly rain formed on his face, but he bared his teeth and spoke.

“You’re no monster. You’re as much a human as I am.”

“…”

“And as you have gathered all the ugliest parts of that humanity, allow me to gift you the ultimate foolishness. …This is death. If you would dismiss human death as something that ‘can’t be helped’, then raise your head from your paperwork and look me in the eye. I will test the rawness of death for you!!!”

The voice didn’t even respond.

It was a thorough rejection. The ultimate lack of understanding. Which may have been why the new Board Chairman was so disappointed.

It didn’t end with bringing down the Six Wings.

Far below, on the surface, a monster emerged looking like a tank gun attached to the roof of an 8-wheel armored truck. That was a Predator Octopus. By breaking the pillars in accordance with careful calculations, even a building like this could be brought down.

''A mere'' 120mm gun?

Laughable.

Who did they think they could destroy with that?

It all felt like a desperate attempt to cover up a lack of forces. After the consecutive attacks of Anna Sprengel, Christian Rosencreutz, and Alice Anotherbible, Academy City was run down. It didn’t have many remaining forces.

If an individual wanted to have their way within the city, now was the only chance.

The 8-wheeled vehicle turned its gun to aim at Aleister.

It didn’t bother thinking about cover or an escape route.

That suggested it was unmanned.

An explosive sound erupted out.

It was a roar.

Produced by a human body. The wall of compressed air blew away the airborne shell, crushed the unmanned weapon, and caused a circle of asphalt to sink down. Deep down.

(I will not let him be taken to the crematorium.)

Thus, Aleister was leaning forward in that moment.

(As long as I can secure Kamijou Touma’s whole body, there are still options. Plenty of options!! I don’t even need any help from Academy Ci-)



Crash!!!

Without warning, a powerful lightning bolt fell from the sky, piercing Aleister’s body on its way down.