Fierce battles erupted in every corner of the world.
Among them, the fighting around the fortress carrying the Star of Bethlehem was especially intense.
Sylvia and Gabriel clashed high in the sky.
On the ground, the armies of Academy City, Russia, and the Elizrina Independent Nations Alliance were locked in conflict.
Even within the Star of Bethlehem, the Russian Orthodox Church magicians exploited by Right Fire were resisting the invaders.
Unfortunately, the Russian Orthodox Church magicians operating inside the Star of Bethlehem were not a proper combat force. They were logistics personnel tasked with helping Right Fire construct the ritual.
Though they were not entirely incapable of fighting, they could not hold back two of the only seven Espers in Academy City.
Thus, in one corner of the fortress, Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki finally encountered each other.
"...I didn't expect you to be the first person I'd run into."
"I'm quite disappointed too."
Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki each voiced their thoughts.
A closer look revealed high-speed-vibrating Iron Sand Swords circling Misaka Mikoto, while Russian Orthodox Church magicians with star-shaped pupils followed Shokuhou Misaki.
"You're still the same. You'd die if you didn't have people following you around, and you even use enemies as fighting power. You really know how to scheme."
Misaka Mikoto clearly found Shokuhou Misaki's fighting style rather distasteful.
Shokuhou Misaki, meanwhile, noticed that Misaka Mikoto had someone with her as well.
"So you came up too?"
At that indifferent remark, Tsuchimikado Motoharu, who was still bleeding and clearly seriously wounded, gave a bitter laugh.
"I picked him up along the way."
Misaka Mikoto's explanation made Tsuchimikado Motoharu feel even more depressed.
Still, Misaka Mikoto was not wrong.
After using magic and suffering severe damage to his body, Tsuchimikado Motoharu had finally collapsed while moving through