Chapter Summaries

Misaka Mikoto discovered and destroyed Aleister’s nanomachine surveillance before raiding five research institutions to gather Points for Fate-type Jars. At Shen Mo’s shop, she asked about the machines, and he revealed that Aleister was behind the Misaka Sisters Project.

• Misaka Mikoto sensed nanomachines in the air and used electricity to destroy them, cutting off Aleister’s surveillance of her.
• Misaka Mikoto used Kamaitachi’s sound-based map to evade security and surveillance while stealing expensive equipment and converting it into Points.
• Misaka Mikoto raided five medium-to-large research institutions over three days and gathered enough Points to open a Fate-type Item.
• Misaka Mikoto returned to Shen Mo’s shop because she was nervous about opening the Jars and wanted a safe place to do it.
• Shen Mo identified the nanomachines as Aleister’s surveillance devices and named him as the mastermind behind the Misaka Sisters Project.

Misaka Mikoto confronted the revelation that Academy City’s chairman was behind the experiment, then opened her remaining chests in search of power to face what lay ahead. Her final Level 3 Chest transformed her into a Thunder Wizard.

• Misaka Mikoto became furious when she learned the chairman of the board had pushed the experiment and monitored students with nanomachines.
• Shen Mo comforted Misaka Mikoto and warned her to prepare for Accelerator and other challenges.
• Misaka Mikoto opened one hundred Level 2 Chests without receiving a Grand Prize and hesitated to continue.
• Encouraged by Shen Mo, Misaka Mikoto opened her final Level 3 Chest and received the Thunder Wizard inheritance.

Misaka Mikoto opened Thunder Wizard chests, gaining powerful lightning abilities and a Grand Prize spear that she could summon from anywhere. After learning that connecting to the Misaka Network could let her pursue Level 6 at great personal cost, she resolved to save her Sisters and left Shen Mo’s shop.

• Misaka Mikoto opened Thunder Wizard chests and gained Divine Lightning Speed and lightning-based close-quarters combat knowledge.
• Misaka Mikoto drew a Grand Prize: an electric spear with a skill that let her summon it from any distance.
• Misaka Mikoto opened the remaining chests but found no further Grand Prizes, and Shen Mo agreed to hold her spear.
• Shen Mo told Misaka Mikoto that reaching Level 6 required connecting to the Misaka Network with her Sisters’ agreement and accepting their memories and emotions.
• Misaka Mikoto vowed to pursue Level 6 despite the risks, left Shen Mo’s shop, and resolved to make those responsible pay.

Misaka Mikoto showed her sense of responsibility as Shen Mo observed, while two Academy City Anbu groups gathered to stop a hooded girl from destroying a research institution. The chapter ended with the girl knocking Kakine Teitoku across the plaza.

• Shen Mo watched Misaka Mikoto and noticed that Aleister had acted differently from the original story.
• Mugino Shizuri's Item and Kakine Teitoku's School met at a research institution after the board of directors ordered them to capture an unknown attacker.
• The person in charge said the attacker had destroyed more than a dozen research institutions in three days and would strike that night, then left the evacuated facility.
• Mugino Shizuri objected to working with School, while Kakine Teitoku insisted she hand over the rest of her reward.
• An explosion revealed a hooded girl attacking a nearby institution, and Kakine Teitoku charged at her with his wings.
• The hooded girl struck Kakine Teitoku and sent him flying into a trench beside Mugino Shizuri.

Misaka Mikoto fought Kakine Teitoku and Mugino Shizuri at a research facility, using unfamiliar power to overcome Kakine’s defenses. The battle continued as Kakine and Mugino coordinated their attacks against her.

• Misaka Mikoto recognized Kakine Teitoku, Mugino Shizuri, and the gathered Academy City students as the authorities’ response to her mission.
• Kakine Teitoku charged Misaka, but Misaka kicked him away twice with attacks powered by more than ordinary electricity.
• Kakine realized Misaka’s electricity carried an unfamiliar force and attacked her with waves of force from his wings.
• Misaka dodged Kakine’s attacks and redirected them toward nearby buildings, prompting Mugino Shizuri to warn that they were damaging the research facility.
• Mugino Shizuri fired beams at Misaka while Kakine tried to restrict her movement, and the two coordinated their assault.

Misaka Mikoto revealed her identity as the Third One and unleashed the Super Magic Railgun against Kakine Teitoku. Kakine survived with his right arm and shoulder destroyed, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Misaka Mikoto’s lightning canceled Mugino Shizuri’s Atom Smasher, and the shock wave revealed her face.
• Mugino Shizuri recognized Misaka Mikoto as the Third One, while Kakine Teitoku challenged her resolve to enter the world of villains.
• Misaka Mikoto transformed her power and summoned a lightning spear as Kakine Teitoku and the others watched.
• Misaka Mikoto used the Super Magic Railgun, sending a massive beam through the sky and blasting the battlefield with its shock wave.
• Takitsubo Rikou sensed that Kakine Teitoku was still alive, and the dispersing dust revealed that his right arm and shoulder had been destroyed.

Misaka Mikoto killed Kakine Teitoku after he threatened her friends, then withdrew from the fight shaken by what she had done. Unable to face Kuroko that night, she went to Shen Mo’s shop for a Girl’s Life Consultation, where he gently pulled down her hood.

• Misaka Mikoto overwhelmed Kakine Teitoku and Mugino Shizuri, but Kakine fled after warning that he would target Mikoto and her friends.
• Kakine turned back toward Mikoto’s attack, and she struck him directly, believing she had killed him.
• Mugino said she would forget what happened, while Mikoto left for the research facility and the others fled or followed.
• Mikoto entered Shen Mo’s shop with her hood over her face and said she did not want to go home that night.
• Shen Mo asked whether she feared facing Kuroko after becoming a murderer, offered her milk tea, and pulled down her hood.

Shen Mo helped Misaka Mikoto confront her guilt over killing Kakine Teitoku and accept responsibility for protecting the Sisters and her friends. She learned Kakine was still alive but gravely injured, and left the shop determined to face what came next.

• Shen Mo told Misaka Mikoto that Kakine Teitoku was still alive, making her fear for Kuroko and Ruiko.
• Shen Mo encouraged Misaka Mikoto to accept responsibility for her actions and the pain she had endured while trying to protect others.
• Shen Mo revealed Kakine had only about a third of his body left and that Aleister had taken him away.
• Misaka Mikoto realized the battle would draw Aleister's attention and that greater challenges lay ahead.
• Misaka Mikoto thanked Shen Mo, then left the shop to return to school and muttered that everything was her responsibility.

Misaka Mikoto learned that Academy City had raised her to a tie for first among Level 5 ability users, drawing attention and deepening her suspicions about Aleister. She pulled Shokuhou Misaki aside to ask about the dead Clone who had once been her friend.

• Shen Mo watched Misaka Mikoto leave and silently wished her luck, while Kuroko hid her tears after Mikoto returned to the dormitory.
• Kuroko woke Misaka Mikoto with news that Academy City had announced her promotion from third place to a tie for first with Accelerator.
• Misaka Mikoto kept the details of her battle from Kuroko and decided she could not involve her friends in the danger surrounding Academy City.
• Misaka Mikoto became the center of attention at school and wondered why Aleister had changed the rankings without sending researchers to investigate her.
• Misaka Mikoto remembered Shokuhou Misaki's deceased Clone friend, then dragged Shokuhou to a secluded corner and began to question her.

Misaka Mikoto confronted Shokuhou Misaki about Dolly and the Sisters, then revealed that the Level 6 Shift Project was still ongoing. Shokuhou Misaki learned that thousands had died and remained furious with Misaka Mikoto, but she could no longer ignore the experiment.

• Misaka Mikoto demanded to know what Shokuhou Misaki knew about her clones and learned that Dolly had been Shokuhou Misaki's friend.
• Shokuhou Misaki blamed Misaka Mikoto for Dolly's fate, while Misaka Mikoto admitted her guilt and insisted she had to save the remaining Sisters.
• Misaka Mikoto discovered that Shokuhou Misaki knew nothing about the ongoing Level 6 Shift Project and started to leave.
• Shokuhou Misaki stopped Misaka Mikoto and insisted she would investigate after learning that more clones had been manufactured.
• Misaka Mikoto told Shokuhou Misaki what she knew about the experiment, including that more than ten thousand lives had been lost and she had nearly killed the Second One.
• Shokuhou Misaki and Misaka Mikoto argued over responsibility and forgiveness, as Shokuhou Misaki revealed her own anguish at failing to uncover the deaths sooner.

Shokuhou Misaki agreed to help Misaka Mikoto investigate in exchange for learning about her power, then pursued the legend of the Treasure Chest Shop herself. She finally found the shop and met Shen Mo, whose resistance to her ability left her uneasy.

• Shokuhou Misaki offered to help Misaka Mikoto investigate Intelligence Series in exchange for an explanation of her power, and Misaka told her she had gained it by buying Jars from the Shop Owner.
• Shokuhou Misaki ordered her faction to investigate the Treasure Chest Shop legend and discovered it had spread throughout Academy City’s schools on the same day.
• Shokuhou Misaki skipped class and searched for the shop, spending the day shopping before continuing her search after nightfall.
• Shokuhou Misaki entered a simple antique-style shop and found Shen Mo, who identified himself as the Shop Owner.
• Shokuhou Misaki tried to use her remote control on Shen Mo, but it had no effect, and she became afraid to try again.

Shen Mo revealed that he could read Shokuhou Misaki’s mind and explained the Merchant Guild and Jars, easing her fear that he would alter her memories. Shokuhou accepted that she could pursue her wishes by buying Jars, though she remained careful around him.

• Shokuhou Misaki suppressed her urge to flee and listened as Shen Mo stated her wishes to save the Misaka Sisters and restore Kamijo Touma’s memories.
• Shokuhou realized Shen Mo could read her mind, and he confirmed it, leaving her afraid he could control her memories and personality.
• Shokuhou questioned whether her memories were real, while Shen Mo reassured her that changing her mind was uninteresting to him.
• Shen Mo revealed information about the Merchant Guild, his identity, and the Jars, and Shokuhou reasoned that the Jars could prove his claims.
• Shokuhou understood that the Guild’s Vow meant she had to buy Jars to fulfill her wishes, then acted playfully while remaining cautious around Shen Mo.

Shen Mo explained that Shokuhou Misaki’s Mental Out was a shallow form of mind control and that opening Jars could help her master deeper powers. After learning Kamijo Touma had lost all his memories again, she remained determined to find a way to restore them and began opening Jars.

• Shen Mo challenged Shokuhou Misaki’s abilities and explained that his own Mind Control could reach the soul, unlike her molecular manipulation of memories.
• Shen Mo told Shokuhou Misaki that opening Jars could help her develop mind-controlling power, but warned that such abilities required a noble character.
• Shokuhou Misaki chose to open Fate-type Jars and found treasures and inheritances related to souls and the mind.
• Shen Mo revealed that Kamijo Touma had lost all his memories for a second time while saving another girl, making Shokuhou Misaki’s wish difficult to fulfill.
• Shokuhou Misaki stayed hopeful and opened Level 1 Chests, receiving one Grand Prize: a hairpin that increased her mental defense.

Shokuhou Misaki opened Level 2 and Level 3 Chests, greatly expanding her mental powers and gaining new abilities. She then received the Spirit Devourer class, leaving her with the potential to become a formidable controller of minds and souls.

• Shokuhou Misaki opened five hundred Level 2 Chests and received Yuri's Mind Beacon and the Mental Scream skill as her two Grand Prizes.
• Shokuhou Misaki's mental power and control over Mental Out improved, and the Mind Series inheritance gave her enhanced perception.
• Shokuhou Misaki opened a Level 3 Chest and gained a magical-girl-style wand, a mental defense skill, and an inheritance for invading souls.
• Shokuhou Misaki opened her final chest and received the Spirit Devourer class, an offensive class focused on seizing souls and wills.
• Shen Mo praised Shokuhou Misaki's talent, and she accepted his praise with a smile.

Shokuhou Misaki left Shen Mo’s shop with a stronger resolve, while Aleister watched her transformation and searched for a plan. The next day, Misaka Mikoto accepted a public combat demonstration against Accelerator, recognizing that Aleister had arranged it to draw her into a contest with the Level 6 Shift Project at stake.

• Shen Mo told Shokuhou Misaki that Kamijo Touma had saved her because of his nature, not because he loved her, and she left the shop uncertain about her own feelings.
• Aleister observed Shokuhou Misaki’s new, unreadable presence and spent the night searching for a plan suited to the changes.
• A Tokiwa Middle School director showed Misaka Mikoto an application for a public combat demonstration against Accelerator, intended to showcase the safety and military potential of abilities.
• Misaka Mikoto realized Aleister had arranged the contest and that the winner could make a request of Academy City, potentially ending the Level 6 Shift Project.
• Misaka Mikoto agreed to participate, and the director said the announcement would be made that afternoon.

Misaka Mikoto worried about the public duel with Accelerator, while Shen Mo accepted the chaos it would cause and focused on recruiting more players and employees. The Magic Side interpreted Academy City’s invitation to watch as a provocation, and Kanzaki Kaori agreed to attend and investigate the Treasure Chest Shop.

• Misaka Mikoto worried about the duel’s destructive potential and how her family and friends would react to seeing it.
• Shen Mo read Aleister’s increasingly chaotic thoughts, then decided to let the public battle draw attention while he sought more players and employees.
• People around the world debated Academy City’s motives, while the Magic Side regarded the duel as a provocation by the Science Side.
• Laura Stuart told Kanzaki Kaori and Stiyl that Academy City had invited the Anglican Church to send observers.
• Kanzaki volunteered to attend, and Laura instructed her to investigate the Treasure Chest Shop with help from an Anglican contact.

Kanzaki Kaori arrived in Academy City to investigate the Esper showdown and sought information from Tsuchimikado Motoharu. After learning about the Treasure Chest Shop rumor, she decided to search for it, but discovered that Shen Mo had taken control of Tsuchimikado Motoharu.

• Kanzaki Kaori noticed Academy City was not closely monitoring her and went to meet Tsuchimikado Motoharu.
• Tsuchimikado Motoharu explained that Misaka Mikoto’s sudden rise in the Esper rankings was highly unusual.
• Kanzaki Kaori asked about the Treasure Chest Shop, and Tsuchimikado Motoharu explained the rumor linking it to Misaka Mikoto’s wish to become the strongest Ability User.
• Kanzaki Kaori decided to search for the Treasure Chest Shop, but Tsuchimikado Motoharu said she had no wish that would let her find it.
• Kanzaki Kaori drew back and gripped her sword after realizing that Shen Mo had taken control of Tsuchimikado Motoharu.

Shen Mo revealed his extraordinary power to Kanzaki Kaori, who mistook him first for the Holy Spirit and then for God descended. After he explained that he was an Other God from beyond the universe, Kanzaki regained some composure, and Shen Mo asked her what kind of god she preferred.

• Shen Mo manifested his spirit from Tsuchimikado Motoharu’s body, and Kanzaki Kaori mistook him for the Holy Spirit.
• Shen Mo formed a physical clone, and Kanzaki Kaori recognized him as a true Child of God and nearly broke down.
• Shen Mo soothed Kanzaki Kaori and explained that he was an Other God from beyond the universe, not the God she worshipped.
• Kanzaki Kaori apologized and knelt respectfully, while Shen Mo urged her to treat him as an ordinary person.
• Shen Mo asked Kanzaki Kaori whether she preferred a god with a personality and will or a divine existence without self-awareness.

Shen Mo explained to Kanzaki Kaori that gods could not grant everyone happiness, but could offer people the opportunity to pursue their wishes through effort. His offer made Kaori realize how her decision to leave the Amakusa-style had stripped its members of hope.

• Kanzaki Kaori said mortals hoped God would answer their prayers and make them happy, and Shen Mo explained that conflicting wishes made universal happiness impossible.
• Shen Mo said he and other gods did not fulfill wishes themselves but gave people opportunities to pursue them.
• Shen Mo asked whether a powerless young man could marry Kaori, and she said her strength put ordinary people and even skilled magicians in danger beside her.
• Shen Mo offered a chance to make the impossible possible if people earned it through effort, including the chance to pursue unreachable love.
• Kanzaki Kaori realized the Amakusa-style members might strive to stand beside her if they had hope, and she recognized that she had abandoned them by leaving.

Shen Mo invited Kanzaki Kaori to work for him, and she decided to learn more about his influence before choosing how to respond. Two days later, she met Misaka Mikoto in a café, while Aleister continued investigating Shen Mo’s appearances.

• Shen Mo praised Kanzaki Kaori’s gentleness and invited her to work for him, but told her she would need to pass trials and assessments.
• Shen Mo warned Kanzaki Kaori not to tell anyone about their conversation, then vanished; she asked Tsuchimikado Motoharu to arrange a meeting with Misaka Mikoto.
• Aleister pondered whether someone from the shop had met Kanzaki Kaori and continued observing for clues about Shen Mo.
• Two days later, Kanzaki Kaori met Misaka Mikoto in a café and introduced herself as a magician affiliated with the Anglican Church.