One-way traffic

Regardless of which option you choose, there is only one conclusion that will remain unchanged.

"You don't seem to have considered other possibilities, so let me tell you."

As he watched the barrage of bullet comments unfold in a dazzling display, Accelerator revealed an even more powerful expression.

A sharp, destructive smile.

Because, ultimately, whichever option is chosen—

"No matter what the outcome, I will make you remember the fear of being torn to pieces."

The first place, carrying the aura of a nightmare.

With the power to rule over all, he accepted the challenge from the demon of the realm without hesitation.

Chapter 424 The Sage's Proposal

The first attack came from an equally large force falling vertically from directly above.

With an aura that seemed to devour the heavens, the massive and intimidating purple-white barrages attacked from all directions: up, down, left, and right.

Such a comprehensive attack is like trying to swallow Accelerator whole from all sides in one go.

That was the barrage of comments falling like raindrops.

Under normal circumstances, it's impossible to achieve anything like dodging.

However, as the only number one in Academy City, even when faced with such an attack, theoretically he shouldn't need to dodge at all.

even so.

Despite being the strongest in his field, Accelerator still chose to take flight.

Manipulating the vectors around his body caused his movement speed to increase several times over in an instant.

His movements now resemble those of someone turning a windmill.

Relying on the effects of his ability, Accelerator's body constantly darted back and forth amidst the torrential barrage of bullets.

Normally, the speed gained from activating his ability should have allowed him to move at an even more overwhelming speed, but Accelerator's speed at this moment is ridiculously slow.

Like an eel swimming irregularly in water, it constantly crisscrossed and circled in the air.

"…Um?"

As expected of a sage among monsters?

Soon, Yukari Yakumo noticed something that most people would find hard to notice.

If Accelerator was truly trying to dodge the barrage of bullets, his behavior shouldn't have been so strange. After all, his strength shouldn't be enough to make him choose to dodge such a minor attack; he could easily have used his power to knock the bullets away as before.

There must be some other factors involved.

Among the reasons for the first person's irregular actions, there must be some reasons that Yukari Yakumo has not yet considered.

"That's almost enough."

Amidst the dazzling barrage of comments, Accelerator spoke softly in a voice only he could hear.

"Then let me try again properly."

then.

This time, the first monster did not choose to dodge.

His body remained suspended in mid-air, ignoring any inertia, as if he had been standing there from the very beginning.

Countless barrages of light shot towards him.

However, the first one remained standing still.

Even so, some unseen force began to act upon his entire being.

Reflection has been activated.

Subsequently, this force went a step further, acting directly on the incoming barrage of bullets.

Crackling sounds—!!

Strange noises continued to emanate from the room.

Those bullets attempting to touch the first body were all blocked by some unseen force, and then—

The posture of those bullet comments became distorted.

It is no longer a simple spherical shape, but has further transformed into a form that is like flowing water, almost like a liquid.

Yukari Yakumo's expression changed slightly.

Just now, she could clearly feel that the essence of the barrage she created using her demonic power had undergone a complete and significant change.

Logically speaking, demonic power and magical power, which do not belong to the general technological system, cannot be measured by the physical laws of the ordinary natural world.

Humans can achieve different physical developments through technology. Similarly, if humans start to learn magic, spells, or sorcery, they can naturally break the rules and thus open up a path that goes against the laws of physics.

It is perfectly normal that these monsters possess power that transcends the existing laws of physics.

but.

In Yukari Yakumo's view, her power, which should have transcended the laws of physics, was actually changing in accordance with the conventional laws of physics.

Ice melts when exposed to high temperatures, turning into water. At even higher temperatures, it can even transform into something like water vapor.

The same applies to Yukari Yakumo's comments.

That demonic power, which should have transcended the existing laws of physics, is transforming into a living liquid form in physical form.

It's like being forced to accept the application of normal scientific laws.

The other party, relying on a method that even he himself could hardly understand, forcibly transformed demonic power into an energy resource that he could mobilize through scientific means.

then.

Accelerator raised his hand without hesitation.

In an instant, the whirlwind enveloping this liquid demonic power gathered directly between his hands.

Just like the phenomenon before, Accelerator continuously compressed the substance between his palms, subjecting it to extreme heat.

This time, however, the ingredients are different.

It's no longer just ordinary air; it has even forcibly incorporated strange forces that don't belong to nature.

As a result, the surrounding atmosphere and the demonic power belonging to Yukari Yakumo were compressed together.

The final result was a colossal object with a diameter equivalent to tens of meters.

A vortex of dark currents enveloped in a purple-white shimmering light.

Only words like these can adequately describe this bizarre technique. On Accelerator's forehead, a power that he forcibly created using new methods, a power that even he himself probably couldn't quite understand, was thus formed.

In the past, he merely used the surrounding natural environment as a means of attack.

By compressing air, it can be transformed into a beam of light capable of piercing steel. By further refining and optimizing the compression process, plasma with a power far exceeding that of a nuclear bomb can be created.

But that only applies to the synthesis of forces in the ordinary natural world.

If we take into account converting the enemy's energy into our own, would the situation change drastically?

What is presented before your eyes is the true answer to the question.

Now, Accelerator has grasped a completely new territory that it had never understood before.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting a little longer."

Even with a colossal sphere overhead that seemed capable of destroying the entire Earth when dropped, Accelerator remained completely unfazed.

When he faced that spiky-haired high school student in the past, he learned how to compress the wind for the first time, and at that moment he showed extreme joy, even to the point of self-forgetfulness.

Things are completely different now than they were then.

Even with new power, Accelerator would never be careless, much less indulge in fantasies of indiscriminately killing enemies.

Even so.

The slightly sinister smile still lingered on Accelerator's lips; no matter what, his mad and twisted nature remained unchanged.

"This technique is one I've only just developed, so to be frank, I'm not entirely familiar with its essence yet, so..."

He forcefully swung his hands downwards.

"The extent of the damage will be completely beyond my knowledge."

And so it is.

The enormous sphere split apart in an instant.

Like a balloon bursting at the slightest touch, from the purplish-white vortex of wind, beams of light of the same color, mixed with even more powerful purple light, hurtled toward this place at an even faster speed.

That was an attack that included a portion of Yukari Yakumo's own power.

Under the precise control of the strongest Level 5 esper in Academy City, the attack disregards the identity that created the target, and the power directly backfires on its master.

The sage of the demons slightly raised his head, staring with a stern gaze at the terrifying attacks that were hurtling towards him at high speed.

If left unchecked, even I myself will not be able to escape unscathed.

A direct hit to the surrounding area would cause unimaginable destruction, so Yukari Yakumo must be able to perfectly neutralize these attacks without affecting the surrounding environment.

This might not be a difficult task for this demon who can manipulate all realms, but in reality...

Is this really the only head-on option she has to choose?

"Wow, what a wonderful sight!"

Before anyone knew it, the demon in the realm had already raised the parasol in its hand again.

With a smile on her face, Yukari Yakumo extended the front of her umbrella forward, directly facing the seemingly endless rays of light in front of her.

"I must say, you are indeed very strong... both in terms of your personal strength and the uniqueness of your abilities. If it weren't for me, your move just now would have been difficult for anyone else in Gensokyo to block, right?"

"Unfortunately, no matter how powerful your move is, you must not forget one thing."

Then, the words of the sage of monsters were spoken.

An unusual scene then unfolded.

"What you are using is still a part of my demonic power."

hum-

I heard a buzzing sound, like the sound of radio waves being interfered with, or like the static on a television screen that is not receiving the signal properly.

The powerful attack, even just the aftershocks, was enough to instantly uproot the entire Beast Path. If left unchecked, the spread of its power could even completely cover the distant Hakurei Shrine, and even the entire Gensokyo.

but.

Accelerator gave him a strange look.

He could clearly feel that this immense power was gradually slipping out of his control.

…No, it's not as simple as just getting out of control.

Some of the elements that constitute the essence of power are silently vanishing.

"Is it possible..."

"That's right, you remember now, don't you?"

The beautiful monster revealed a slightly smug expression.

"I am a youkai who manipulates boundaries, Yukari Yakumo. When you use a technique that is partly composed of my power, please do not forget what the name of this spell card of mine is."

She smiled and rotated the front of the parasol half a circle.

“The realm of being and non-being.”

For an instant.

The demonic power that formed part of the spear of light completely dissipated.

Even more miraculously, due to the dissipation of this power, the spears of light created in a fused state lost their supporting vessel and subsequently vanished into thin air.

To be precise, not a single light-emitting gun successfully landed on the ground.

Before that devastating blow could strike, the sage of the monster had already resolved the entire situation.

No, probably, the moment Accelerator came up with this move, the opponent had already foreseen this future in his mind.