"Crack... crackle..."
Scattered pebbles fell from midair once more, striking the ground and sending crisp sounds continuously through the air.
Fang Li and Accelerator stood facing each other. One wore a calm smile, the other a murky grin, yet the air around them seemed to freeze.
"So that's how it is. You're not an ordinary small fry?"
Accelerator fixed his gaze directly on Fang Li, as though he had finally begun to take him seriously, then let out a scornful laugh.
"Yeah, yeah, I should've realized it. Anyone who knows I'm looking after that brat and still sets their sights on him is either an idiot or an idiot with a little confidence in their own ability. Looks like you're the latter."
From Accelerator's attitude, it was clear that although he had begun to take Fang Li seriously, he still did not see him as a threat.
It was not that Accelerator looked down on others. Rather, just as had been said before, this Esper had been invincible for far too long and simply could not imagine himself losing.
"There are quite a lot of idiots like you in Academy City."
Accelerator grinned.
"One after another, they all think their abilities aren't inferior to anyone else's. Then they start daydreaming, swagger right up to me, and think that as long as they defeat me, they'll become the strongest in Academy City. No matter how many of those people I get rid of, more always show up."
Indeed.
As the strongest Esper in Academy City, Accelerator's reputation was simply too dazzling. There was no way he had not been challenged countless times.
Whether they were Espers coveting his position as the strongest or powerless people jealous of his status, they all regarded Accelerator as a thorn in their side and wanted