*Boom.*
A loud crash.
Ruiko didn't hesitate—she smashed the lab's core database with one punch. Metal parts and circuit boards went flying everywhere.
The old Ruiko might've felt bad doing something so destructive. But now, she just felt great—like a weight had been lifted. She even cracked a happy smile.
Curly-haired Guy: She's changed. Ruiko-chan has totally changed. That look on her face—she's like some kind of fire-starting, murder-happy witch!
Doujin Artist: Should we say this is thanks to Anzen's good teaching?
This is an Actor: I just pointed the way. It was Ruiko who made the choice.
Shark-Faced Guy: So what you're really saying is… Ruiko had this urge to break stuff deep down all along?
Curly-haired Guy: S-Scary! I never knew you were like this, Ruiko!
"Mm-hmm." The comment floated across the screen, and Saten Ruiko didn't deny it. Instead, she smiled and admitted, "Maybe this really is who I am."
*Bzzzt.*
The once-dim hall suddenly lit up with flashes of red. A loud alarm started blaring.
Misaka Mikoto, who had been spaced out, finally came back to her senses and looked at Ruiko in shock.
"I broke the lab's core database," Saten Ruiko said with a smile, her voice soft. "This whole place is finished, Misaka."
Misaka Mikoto froze, then lowered her head. "Th-Thank you."
This was something she should've done herself, but in the end, her friend had to do it for her. She felt ashamed.
"No need to thank me, Misaka," Ruiko shook her head, then looked toward the front door of the hall. "But we really need to leave now."
"You think you can just leave after doing something like that?" a voice suddenly called out.
Saten Ruiko and Misaka Mikoto both turned toward the sound. Up on the second floor, standing by the railing, was a tall woman with long hair and a curvy figure.
She had a beautiful face, but her expression was dark and cold. "You little rats aren't going anywhere today!"
Doujin Artist: Isn't she the fourth one? I think her power was called 'Meltdowner' or something?
Everyone in the livestream room had clearly seen the woman's face too.
This is an Actor: Yep, Mugino Shizuri. Member of Academy City's Anbu, and leader of the group "ITEM."
Shark-Faced Guy: She looks really mad.
This is an Actor: Probably because Ruiko ruined her mission bonus.
But it's not just about the bonus.
Because Mugino Shizuri didn't stop her in time, Ruiko's sneak attack ended up destroying the core database of the Mizuhoshi Research Lab. That caused dozens of research projects backed by the director behind Mugino to crash completely.
This isn't something a mission bonus can cover. Honestly, Mugino would probably have to work for free for two whole years to make up for the loss.
No wonder she's so furious—she probably wants to grind these two little rats into dust.
"Die!"
With a shout, Mugino raised her right arm. A dark green laser instantly formed and shot straight toward Mikoto and Ruiko.
They didn't try to block it head-on. The two girls split to the sides in perfect sync.
Boom.
The green beam slammed into the lab bench behind them. The bench, made entirely of metal, was instantly blasted through, leaving a huge hole.
"That move… she's the fourth-ranked?" Mikoto frowned and muttered under her breath.
This girl really knows her stuff. She recognized Mugino right away.
Buzz, buzz.
More green lasers shot toward them. Mikoto turned to the side, using electromagnetic force to stick to the metal pipes in front of her, climbing quickly. A few leaps later, she was on the second floor.
Railgun!
Blue sparks crackled from her forehead, and a lightning bolt shot straight at Mugino.
Boom.
But before the lightning could even get close to Mugino, a small figure jumped out from the side window and punched the electric arc away.
It was a girl with short brown hair, wearing a hoodie and jeans. Her face was calm and cool. "That was some serious electricity. You must be the third-ranked one, right?"
"And who are you?" Mikoto frowned, clearly annoyed.
These two weren't weak. In the past, she might've been excited to fight someone strong, but right now, she didn't feel like battling at all.
"Kinuhata Saiai," the short-haired girl said her name.
"So that's it. You're the Railgun girl." At that moment, Mugino finally figured out who Mikoto was. She grinned wide and said, "Nice, really nice! If I take you down here, I'll become the new—"
Before she could finish, her expression froze.
"You might not get that chance, lovely Miss Mugino." Ruiko's voice came from behind her, and a long knife was pressed against her lower back.
Everyone was stunned.
Neither Mikoto, Mugino, nor Kinuhata saw how Ruiko got there—or where she even got that knife.
"Miss Kinuhata, please step back," Ruiko said as she wrapped her left arm around Mugino's waist, her tone clearly threatening. "Otherwise, I can't promise I won't do something to this beauty."
Honestly, Ruiko wanted to go for her neck, but she just wasn't tall enough.
"You really sound like some creepy villain guy," Kinuhata said with a sigh, but still backed off like Ruiko asked.
"If only I were a creepy guy, I could just take all of you down with no guilt." Ruiko smirked and gave Mikoto a look. Mikoto got the message and jumped down using the metal pipes.
Damn it!
Watching her target slip away made Mugino super frustrated. Just then—smack!—she felt a hard slap on her butt.
"Good times don't last forever. Looks like it's time to say goodbye," Ruiko said with a playful grin. "Don't miss me too much, beautiful."
Whoosh.
Under the shocked eyes of Mugino and Kinuhata, Ruiko vanished in an instant.