"Boom—!"
An explosion powerful enough to make the surrounding buildings tremble swept forth like a storm, instantly destroying the ground.
The astonishing Explosive Flame turned into searing magma, baking the earth until it glowed red and gradually melted away like butter.
White beams swept across like auroras, striking the ground and triggering explosions with terrifying force.
In the blink of an eye, the entire area had been battered into a cratered wasteland. All that remained was red-hot lava across the ground and plumes of heat smoke rising into the sky, making the place look like a cluster of tiny volcanoes as the temperature began to rise.
In the midst of it all, Misaka Mikoto appeared half-kneeling on the ground, currents dancing across her body as she panted without pause.
Across from Misaka Mikoto, Mugino Shizuri stood with one hand on her hip and the other raised, holding a floating ball of light. Her face was filled with delight.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong?" Mugino Shizuri said to Misaka Mikoto. "Why are you kneeling on the ground? Aren't you Number Three? You're ranked above me, you know? Isn't it embarrassing to lose to Number Four?"
Hearing the pleasure in Mugino Shizuri's voice, born from inflicting violence on her, Misaka Mikoto gritted her teeth.
Seeing that expression, Mugino Shizuri became even more excited.
"That's right, that expression! That's what I want to see—the look of regret born from helplessness!" Mugino Shizuri shouted. "That's what suits you best! Number Three? What makes a little brat like you worthy of standing above me? That ranking was just something Academy City's boring little experiment grounds decided on their own! I'd love to show those idiots who decided the rankings what you look like now!"
As she spoke, Mugino Shizuri detonated the ball of light in