章節 1: Fuyuki City?
Don't expect a serious story, I'm warning you. Complaining won't do anything.
---
Time is ticking as Accelerator destroys the device he was holding. Clicking his tongue, he reached out to the little kid and touched her head as he began to try and erase all the virus that has been programmed in her head. "Damn brat!" He cursed using his full concentration to manually erase everything, he was creating new formulas in his head trying to hasten up the process.
This is quite an ironic situation for the strongest level 5 in Academy City. He, who is the embodiment of destruction, is helping someone. It is out of his expectations that his body chose this method instead of just sacrificing the kid. He claimed to be a monster yet he dares to exhaust himself just to save them. Accelerator would surely laugh at his hypocrisy if he managed to fix this later.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the tense silence. "Not so fast," Ao Amai croaked, his voice filled with pain and determination. Accelerator turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he saw Ao, battered and bloodied, standing unsteadily with a gun aimed directly at him.
"You think you can just waltz in here and undo everything I've worked for?" Ao spat, his grip on the gun trembling. "You're not a hero, Accelerator. You're a monster. And monsters need to be put down."
Accelerator's mind raced. He couldn't afford to activate his reflection field without potentially missing his concentration, but he also couldn't ignore the threat that Ao posed. "Tch, you're really getting on my nerves," he muttered, his gaze flicking between Ao and the unconscious girl. "Do you even know what you're doing?"
Ao's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he didn't lower the weapon. "Maybe not," he admitted. "But I can buy enough time to finish what I started."
The tension in the air was palpable. Accelerator's brain worked furiously, calculating the best course of action. He could try to disarm Ao, but the risk to Last Order was too great. He needed another plan.
Accelerator's mind raced as he continued his work on erasing the virus from Last Order's brain. He was so close, but Ao Amai's presence and the gun aimed at him presented a dire complication. As Ao's finger tightened on the trigger, Accelerator's thoughts scrambled. Should he continue and risk getting shot, or stop and potentially allow the virus to take over Last Order completely?
In a fraction of a second, Ao clicked the trigger. Accelerator braced himself, convinced that he was about to be hit. But then, something inexplicable happened. Time itself seemed to come to a halt. Accelerator could perceive everything around him, but his body was frozen in place.
"What the hell...?" he thought, bewildered by the bizarre phenomenon. His mind raced, trying to comprehend the situation, when suddenly, a mechanical voice resonated in his mind.
[Notice. Designated host has been located.]
Accelerator's eyes widened in shock. His mind, usually impenetrable, had been breached without him even sensing it. "What the hell is going on? Who are you?" he demanded internally, but the voice continued, ignoring his questions.
[Error. Host is undergoing an emergency situation. Emergency transportation is being used.]
Before Accelerator could react, his entire body lit up with a blinding light. He felt a strange sensation, as if he was being pulled through space itself. Then, in an instant, he was gone from the place where he had been.
When the light faded, Accelerator found himself in an entirely different location. The sensation of time being stopped had vanished, and he could move again. He glanced around, taking in his new surroundings. It appeared to be a luxurious mansion, the ornate decorations and high ceilings starkly contrasting with the chaos he had just left behind.
"Where the hell am I?" Accelerator growled, his voice echoing through the large room. His frustration and anger bubbled over, and he clenched his fists, ready to lash out at whatever force had brought him here. "Whoever did this, you'd better show yourself now, or I'm going to tear this place apart!"
The door to the room suddenly swung open, and a girl in her teens burst in, her expression a mix of anger and annoyance. She was wearing pajamas, her hair tied up in twin tails. "What the hell are you doing in my house?" she shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Accelerator. "And who do you think you are?"
Accelerator was momentarily taken aback. His reputation as the strongest Level 5 in Academy City preceded him everywhere he went. The fact that this girl didn't seem to recognize him, or worse, didn't care, was both surprising and infuriating. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath, his initial shock giving way to rising anger.
Before he could respond, the girl stormed closer, her anger unabated. "I was just about to go to sleep! Do you have any idea how hard it is to get some peace and quiet around here? And now you're shouting and making a scene in the middle of the night! You've ruined my entire day!"
Accelerator's eyes narrowed, watching her with a mix of disbelief and irritation. This girl was either incredibly brave or completely insane. Most people wouldn't dare raise their voice at him, let alone lecture him like he was some kind of delinquent.
"Who are you, anyway?" she demanded again, folding her arms across her chest and glaring at him with a fierce intensity.
A tick mark appeared on Accelerator's forehead, his patience quickly evaporating. He couldn't believe he was being lectured by some random girl who didn't even know who he was. "You really don't know who I am, do you?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm Accelerator, the strongest Level 5 esper in Academy City. And you, you insignificant little brat, should be very aware of the consequences of confronting someone like me."
The girl's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't back down. Instead, she stared at him with a mix of curiosity and defiance. "Strongest Level 5, huh? Well, Mr. 'Strongest Level 5', you're still trespassing in my house and being a complete jerk about it!"
Accelerator's expression darkened further, his frustration boiling over. He wasn't used to being talked to this way, especially by someone who seemed to have no understanding of just how dangerous he could be. But something about this girl's audacity intrigued him, even as it infuriated him.
"Listen, brat," he growled, taking a step closer. "You have no idea who you're messing with. You think you can just yell at me and get away with it? You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid."
The girl met his gaze without flinching, her expression resolute. "Maybe I'm a bit of both," she said, her voice steady. "But that doesn't change the fact that you're in my house and you owe me an explanation. So, are you going to tell me what's going on, or are we going to stand here yelling at each other all night?"
The room fell silent for a moment, both of them locked in a tense standoff. Accelerator could feel his anger simmering just below the surface, but he also felt a grudging respect for the girl's tenacity. This was not how he had expected the night to go, and he still had no idea how he had ended up here.
But one thing was certain, this girl had just thrown down a challenge, and Accelerator never backed down from a challenge.
—
Accelerator and the girl had now taken their seats, facing each other across a small table. Accelerator's eyes were cold and condescending as he studied her. The girl, in contrast, had regained her composure and was now sipping tea with an air of elegance that seemed out of place given the situation.
"Alright, brat," Accelerator began, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Who the hell are you, and what district is this in Academy City?"
The girl took a slow sip of her tea before answering, her voice calm and composed. "My name is Tohsaka Rin. And I have no idea what this 'Academy City' you're talking about is."
Accelerator's eyes narrowed, his irritation mounting. "You expect me to believe that? There's no way you don't know about Academy City. It's the most advanced city in the world for espers."
Rin's eyes turned serious as she set her teacup down. "And there's no way you could have breached the Bounded Field around this place without me knowing. How did you get in here?"
Accelerator's patience snapped. He slammed his hand down on the table, making the tea set rattle. "Stop messing around! There's no such thing as a Bounded Field. What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Are you trying to confuse me?"
Rin didn't flinch at his outburst. Instead, she met his gaze evenly. "You're the one who's confused. You're in my house, and you somehow got past the magical barrier I set up to protect it. If you're not going to explain how, then this conversation is pointless."
Accelerator glared at her, his frustration evident. "Magic? You've got to be kidding me. I don't have time for your fairy tales. I need real answers."
The two of them stared at each other, the air thick with tension. Gradually, the mutual confusion began to dawn on them. This was getting them nowhere.
"Alright," Accelerator said, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "Let's start over. You say there's no Academy City here. Fine. Then where the hell am I?"
Rin relaxed slightly, sensing the shift in his tone. "You're in Fuyuki City, Japan. And as far as I know, there's never been an 'Academy City' here or anywhere else in this world."
Accelerator's mind raced. He had been transported to another world? That seemed impossible, but so did everything else that had happened tonight. "Fine," he said slowly. "Then tell me about this world of yours. What's the deal with all this magic crap?"
Rin nodded, sensing the seriousness in his question. "This world is governed by both science and magecraft. As a mage, I can use magic to perform various tasks, including setting up protective barriers like the Bounded Field you mentioned. But right now, the most important thing is the Holy Grail War that's about to start."
"The Holy Grail War?" Accelerator asked, sarcasm creeping into his voice. "What, are you going to tell me you're fighting for a magical cup or something?"
Rin's eyes narrowed slightly, but she remained composed. "In a way, yes. The Holy Grail War is a battle between mages for the ultimate prize, the Holy Grail, a powerful artifact that can grant any wish. Seven mages summon seven Heroic Spirits to fight as their champions. The last one standing gets the Grail."
Accelerator leaned back, trying to process this information. "So, let me get this straight. You're telling me that I'm stuck in a world where magic is real, and people fight wars over a wish-granting cup?"
Rin nodded. "That's exactly what I'm saying. And if you're going to survive here, you'll need to understand how things work. The Grail War is dangerous, and if you're caught in the middle of it, you could easily get killed."
Accelerator smirked, the hint of a challenge gleaming in his eyes. "Well, if this world's got anything interesting to offer, I might as well take a look. But don't think for a second that I'm scared of your so-called war. I'm the strongest Level 5, after all. There's nothing I can't handle."
Accelerator leaned back, processing what Rin had just told him. The whole idea of a war over a wish-granting cup sounded absurd, yet the way she spoke about it made him reconsider. There was something in her eyes, a determined glint, that made him realize she wasn't bluffing.
Rin, sensing his skepticism, decided to clarify a crucial point. "First of all, let's get something straight," she began, her tone shifting to one of patient explanation. "Magic and magecraft are not the same thing. Magic is absolute, a set of true mysteries that transcend normal human understanding. Magecraft, on the other hand, is just the cheap ripoff we mages use. It's our way of approximating the effects of true Magic, but it's nowhere near as powerful."
"Cheap ripoff, huh?" Accelerator muttered, not entirely convinced but willing to listen. "And you're saying you're a mage, not a magician."
"Exactly," Rin confirmed, her expression serious. "True Magic is incredibly rare, and those who can wield it are even rarer. Magecraft is more common, and it's what most mages like myself use. Now, this Academy City you mentioned—what exactly is it?"
Accelerator sighed, not particularly eager to share details about his world. "Academy City is the most advanced scientific community on the planet. It's where they study and develop espers—people like me with special abilities. But I'm not here to get chummy with you or give you a lecture."
Rin's curiosity was piqued. "So, you're saying this place is full of people with powers like yours? And you're the strongest among them?"
"That's right," Accelerator replied, his voice tinged with arrogance. "I'm the strongest Level 5 esper in Academy City. No one can match my power."
Rin's lips curled into a sly smile. "The strongest, huh? Are you sure about that?" she teased, her eyes glinting with mischief. "If you're really that powerful, I might just have a proposition for you."
Accelerator raised an eyebrow, his interest mildly piqued. "And what would that be?"
"Well," Rin began, her voice taking on a more enthusiastic tone, "since you seem to be new to this world and clearly don't have any information or a place to stay, how about this, I'll take care of you. In return, you help me win the Holy Grail War."
Accelerator deadpanned at her, his expression a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "You want me to fight in your little war? Why would I waste my time with that?"
Rin leaned forward, her excitement barely contained. "Think about it. You don't know anything about this world, and you have nowhere to go. But if you help me, you'll have a place to stay and someone who can teach you about how things work here. Plus, with your power, we'd have a real shot at winning the Grail."
Accelerator stared at her, his mind racing through the possibilities. He didn't want to admit it, but she had a point. He was in an unfamiliar world with no resources or information. Having an ally, even a strange one like her, might not be the worst idea. He began tapping his finger on the table, deep in thought.
"Fine," he said at last, clicking his tongue in frustration. "I'll help you, but only because I don't have any other options right now. And don't think this makes us friends."
Rin's face lit up with joy, and she jumped up from her seat. "Great! This is going to be fantastic! You won't regret it, I promise!" She started to hop around, her excitement infectious.
Accelerator couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't get in my way, and we'll see how this goes."
Rin nodded eagerly. "Don't worry. With your power and my magecraft, we'll be unstoppable!"
As he watched her celebrate, Accelerator couldn't shake the feeling that he had just signed up for something far more complicated than he realized. But for now, it was the best option he had.
—
Rin led Accelerator down a hallway to an empty room, all the while trying to pry out his real name. "So, if you're not going to tell me how you got here, can you at least tell me your name? You can't expect me to keep calling you 'Accelerator,' can you?"
He ignored her, not even bothering to respond. Rin sighed in exasperation but gave up for now. The room she showed him was right next to hers, which made Accelerator question her sanity. "You're seriously putting me right next to your room?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Rin replied nonchalantly. "It's convenient for when we need to discuss strategy. And besides, it's not like I'm scared of you."
He stared at her for a moment, then decided it wasn't worth the effort to argue. She was clearly an insane girl who either didn't understand the danger he posed or simply didn't care. "Fine," he muttered, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.
Once inside, Accelerator looked around. The room was simple but comfortable, with a bed, a desk, and a small window. Just as he was about to sit down, the same mechanical voice that had transported him here spoke again.
[Greetings. Welcome to the Salvation System.]
A panel floated in front of him, the words glowing softly. Accelerator's eyes widened in surprise, but that quickly turned into anger as he read the message. "Salvation?" he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "What a joke."
The word echoed in his mind, bringing with it a flood of self-loathing thoughts. Salvation? For someone like him? The idea was absurd. He was a monster, a creature of pure destruction who had killed 10,000 people without a second thought. He could still see their faces, the fear in their eyes, the blood on his hands. He didn't deserve salvation. He deserved to rot in the darkest depths of hell for what he had done.
He thought back to those horrific experiments, the pain, and the endless cycle of death. How could he ever be saved? His actions had defined him as something less than human. He was the embodiment of cruelty, the very thing nightmares were made of. Salvation was for the innocent, the repentant, not for a being who had embraced his role as a harbinger of death.
Accelerator felt a familiar rage boiling inside him. The mere suggestion that he could be saved was an insult. He had given up on that long ago. He didn't want salvation. He wanted power, the power to control his own fate and protect those he cared about. But salvation? That was a fool's dream.
As he seethed in his anger, the voice interrupted his thoughts again.
[Please refrain from self-destructive thoughts, host. My entire existence is made for people who are worthy of salvation. You being chosen means that it is a fact.]
The system's words only served to irritate him further. "What the hell are you?" he demanded, glaring at the floating panel.
[From now on, you will be transported to worlds in need of salvation. In exchange, you will gain the power to make you the strongest. It is a perfect arrangement, if I may say so. You can gain power while accepting your original self.]
Accelerator clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Perfect for who? I don't believe in this salvation crap. I don't need it."
The panel remained silent for a moment before closing. Accelerator flopped onto the bed, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. He didn't believe he could be saved. He didn't want to be saved. All he wanted was to be left alone.
Just as he was beginning to relax, he heard Rin's voice from the next room, shouting in joy. The walls were thin, and her excitement was impossible to ignore.
"Shut the fuck up, bitch!" he yelled back, his voice filled with frustration. "Some of us are trying to sleep!"
The mansion finally fell silent, and Accelerator closed his eyes, letting the quiet wash over him. As he drifted off, his mind lingered on the strange new reality he found himself in. He didn't know what the future held, but for now, he would rest. Tomorrow, he would face whatever came next with the same determination that had kept him alive this long.
—
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票