Switch allegiances?
The very thought was dismissed from Kakine Teitoku’s mind the mont it appeared.
As one of Academy City’s top-tier Level 5 espers, there was no guarantee those old parasites basking in the dieval afterglow would even accept soone like him—a massive threat from the science side.
Sure, the Board of Directors and Aleister weren’t exactly saints. Academy City was a city of sins, its unclear ownership of buildings and underground facilities birthing countless tragedies.
But at least Academy City still ant sothing. No matter how sacred or great the Vatican appeared in the eyes of devout believers, to Kakine Teitoku, the Roman Orthodox Church was garbage.
Leaving aside whether soone used to a futuristic, capitalist life in Academy City could even adapt to Vatican dogma—just imagining having a bunch of Popes hanging over his head, forcing him to perform devout rituals...
No thanks.
And then there was the big reason—Selene had shown them Terra of the Left’s extre ideology and mories, and Kakine Teitoku had seen it.
Seriously? In your worldview, non-believers and heretics aren’t even people? Who the hell do you think you are, removing from the human race?
He’d seen the scenes of using innocent tourists and children as test subjects in magical experints—this guy claid to be an angel? More like a demon from hell.
Kakine Teitoku knew full well that soone like him wasn’t making it to heaven. But if the "heaven" where these so-called angels lived allowed that kind of filth, he wouldn’t go even if invited.
Not only were they stagnant, they were regressing—and not just a few steps back, but leaping backward at high speed. Others drove history in reverse; the Roman Orthodox Church was running a bullet train in reverse through ti.
Though both they and the Anglican Church were branches of the Christian faith, and the Roman Orthodox Church was the largest, if the Anglicans had beco more open to technological advancent through secular reforms, the Romans were just stubborn blocks of wood.
Always chanting: Ah, the Lord dwells in the highest heavens, divine power is sacred and inviolable... blah blah blah...
Science side?
Hmph, shaless heresy!
Academy City?
Bah, the embodint of Original Sin!
Technological products?
Tch, soulless tools to deceive the ignorant lambs!
The Vatican’s cardinals held a deep contempt for humanity’s technological achievents, believing that only the talentless fools (those without magical aptitude) relied on them.
Enlightened minds within the Roman Orthodox Church? They existed, but were rare. Often ostracized or defected, or they were originally accepted mbers from other factions.
A bunch of worms!
As Selene put it—how can faith be sothing so inconvenient?
Despise scientific creations? Nonsense! Are your brains frozen or just short-circuited?
Ring the bells! Praise the Machine God! Praise Ohm the ssiah!
Selene’s Lorgar and his Imperial Heralds—now they were the experts in progressive faith.
"No problem on my end, as long as this cripple with the cane doesn’t start trouble. We’re both Level 5 espers of Academy City—joining forces against an outside enemy is only natural."
Kakine Teitoku was the first to speak, glancing sidelong at Accelerator.
Accelerator looked like he had swallowed a fly. Kakine’s words clearly jabbed at him.
"Pick a fight with you? Number Three, you’re so self-absorbed it’s nauseating. I don’t have ti for that crap. I’ll protect Academy City whether you yap or not."
Truthfully, deep down, Accelerator wouldn’t have minded betraying the city. But the Roman Orthodox Church? After Selene’s one-two-three combo of threats, intimidation, and temptation, he had absolutely zero affection left for them.
Cloning technology was considered heresy by them—an affront to the divine order, humanity, and the Church’s doctrines.
If the Roman Orthodox Church replaced the Board of Directors, not only would Last Order be destroyed, but the remaining ten thousand Misaka Sisters would be forcibly purged as well.
Last Order’s recovery and healing, the hard-earned redemptive deeds he’d accomplished, and the family he cared about—all of it was tied to Academy City. He couldn’t let it be destroyed.
"Just assign the missions. Fighting the Roman Orthodox Church isn’t any different from our usual dark-side jobs."
Glancing at the two bickering espers, Mugino Shizuri addressed Selene with a purely business-like tone.
Nothing more to say—just fight.
Tell her to beco a pious nun? She’d rather die on a black ops mission.
Selene nodded. As expected, Mugino was the easiest to handle.
"Don’t get careless. Magic cos in all kinds of strange and bizarre forms. Sure, I can probably revive you as long as you’re still breathing, but try not to die in pieces."
Selene gave her a aningful pat on the shoulder.
Mugino had always underestimated her enemies. That tendency often cost her in battle.
Whether it was her violent personality that led to her atomic powers or vice versa—who knew? Normally she seed fine, but when she snapped, Mugino beca explosively aggressive.
She might appear gentle, but she was ruthless. Otherwise, why would a girl like her choose the life of the dark side without a clear reason? Was it the thrill? The joy of killing? Only she knew.
And it wasn’t for lack of money—Mugino was a genuine rich girl. As a Level 5 ltdowner, any research institute would pay handsoly just to study her ability.
Her group ITEM had mbers with real reasons: to support a younger sister, no ho, protecting friends... all justified. Only Mugino seed to genuinely enjoy this life, revealing her sadistic tendencies.
But Selene appreciated that. Soone like her belonged on the frontlines, expanding territory—not wasting away in dostic squabbles.
Whether Aleister had other plans, Selene didn’t care. She’d already torn apart many of his inexplicable strategies.
"And you two, plus that big-brained Sogiita Gunha—you’re all going to the frontlines once the war begins. Don’t even think about running."
Selene pointed at the two who were trying to quietly shrink away: Shokuhou Misaki and another student.
No escape for Tokiwadai girls.
Shokuhou wore a bitter expression.
Hearing this, and absorbing the intel Selene had force-fed into her mind, Shokuhou finally understood why Selene had forcefully ordered her to halt all activity earlier.
She had misunderstood. It wasn’t personal.
The Kihara Gensei she’d spent days trying to track wasn’t even inside Academy City anymore. He had already been shipped off to an external military base on Selene’s command.
The Roman Orthodox Church’s assault, Terra of the Left’s death, the evidence pulled from his mories... it all spelled one thing to the upper ranks of the Board:
War.
No wonder Keitz Nokleben’s investigation hit a dead end and earned Selene’s warning. Many factories and labs had already ramped up production of war supplies. If so internal scandal jeopardized all that, Selene would skin him alive.
Kihara Gensei had value due to his tech expertise. Better to deploy him as a disposable resource than waste ti with infighting.
The benefits? Honkai Crystals, advanced bodily enhancents, life extension, rejuvenation surgery—all available in spades.
Of course, the condition was: survive the war.
"And you lot, are you done crying yet? If so, get moving. You might be powerful defectors, but dying would be a real waste."
Selene’s voice wasn’t loud, but just clear enough for Villian and the others to hear through their sobs.
Simulated Gravity.
With a wave, she moved Villian aside through the air and pulled the still-steaming William Orwell toward her.
His once handso, marble-like features now appeared drained. His head would droop intermittently, only to jerk back up again—he was visibly exhausted.
Dark circles hollowed his eyes. He looked half-conscious, breathing more out than in. Watching him, Villian’s heart ached. She repeatedly opened her mouth, wanting to speak.
But—it wasn’t a big problem. Selene, the master healer, could handle it.
Buzz!
Raising her hand, sharp gauntlets snapped into place over Selene’s pale palm, glowing with purplish-red light.
"Treatnt: Begin."
Schlk!
To the shock of everyone watching, Selene drove her hand straight through William Orwell’s chest with lightning speed.
Gasp!
This was treatnt? It looked more like she was tearing out his heart!
Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki, unfamiliar with Selene’s dieval beast-doctor-style thods, were wide-eyed. Villian nearly fainted. Carissa’s jaw dropped.
She’d never seen this kind of dical procedure before.
Only Accelerator and Kakine Teitoku twitched at the corners of their eyes. Their chests already hurt in sympathy—they knew this feeling. That overwhelming surge being pumped in...
The next mont—
The bear roared awake. "AAARRRGGHH—!"
His eyes snapped open, red and bloodshot. William Orwell jolted upright with full strength.
Hearing the vitality in that scream, Selene nodded in satisfaction—and injected even more energy.
Before their eyes, dense purplish-red Honkai corrosion patterns spread across William’s body. Severe burns, blunt trauma, lacerations—all scabbed over within monts. Fresh pink flesh shed together.
Once surface wounds healed, the energy turned inward to repair organs. A large portion focused on the severed arm’s socket—glowing power accumulating at the exposed ribs until, finally, the critical threshold was reached.
From the purplish-red glow, regeneration began.
Like molten lava, severed muscle, bone, and nerves reconstructed themselves according to his DNA.
In just a few breaths, an entirely new arm had regrown.
"Swear loyalty on your knees."
As gravity control lifted, William stumbled as if adjusting to his new body—then dropped to one knee, forehead nearly touching the ground.
"You know your place now?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Good."
Waving her hand, Selene looked up at the full moon. "The moon is your domain. Recover. Your mission now is to help Carissa ascend to the throne. I’ll arrange your wedding with Villian—quickly. Finish it before the Daihasei Festival ends."
William Orwell’s God’s Right Seat trait was "Power of God"—governing water, the color blue, the moon, and the rear.
By harnessing that trait, he could absorb night air infused with moonlight. Even without the real moon (e.g., projections on a planetarium do), Marian devotion allowed the trait to invoke the true moon’s blessing.
"Understood."
"Rise."
Accepting his new role, bare-chested and more muscular than ever, William Orwell stood tall. He looked stronger than before, if slightly fatigued.
Clomp clomp clomp clomp—!
A man with black facial tattoos stepped from the shadows. Accelerator and Mugino both froze.
Why was he here?
Accelerator’s expression twisted with even more disgust than when looking at Kakine—as if he’d just stepped in excrent.
But Kihara Amata ignored it all. Whispering a few words into Selene’s ear, he raised his voice when she gestured there were no outsiders present.
"Kihara Amata reporting. With allied assistance from Necessarius, we’ve completely crushed God’s Right Seat. Lidvia Lorenzetti has been captured. The Croce of Pietro has been recovered."
"We’ve also made significant progress in apprehending Roman Church spies. So low-level grunts spilled minor details—but it’s clear that, after Terra of the Left’s death, the Vatican is enraged and planning sothing big."
"I’ve gotten a na: Cardinal Biagio Busoni."
Despite appearing docile before Selene’s iron fist, Kihara Amata was ruthless when facing low-level espers, dark-side agents, criminals, or invaders.
"Commander of La Regina del Mare Adriatico (the Queen of the Adriatic Sea). Heh... the Roman Church is moving faster than expected. Looks like we need to speed up as well."
Selene nodded. "And Fiamma of the Right?"
"No word yet."
"Then start prying mouths open one by one. If there’s nothing, so be it. If our Anglican friends want them, hand them over. Clean up the rest."
"Understood."
...
Inside the Windowless Building—
"Seems Selene disapproves of many of your arrangents, Aleister."
"Too much internal strife. It hinders unity. She values her position even more than I expected. Rather than fighting solo, she prefers leading armies." The inorganic male voice replied.
"But... none of it matters anymore. Let her be. Academy City’s fate is down to two options: destruction, or hers. As she said—Aiwass, it’s ti."
Crack!
With a shatter of crimson life-support glass, the weakly alkaline solution spilled out. The figure in the green surgical gown had ended a half-century of suspended animation.
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