章節 31: Stage IV

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Chapter 6: The New Infiltration

The school within the Outer District was finally completed. Accelerator stood back, surveying his handiwork with a rare sense of satisfaction. The facilities were comprehensive and state-of-the-art: classrooms, laboratories, a library, a field, offices, and even a testing room for powers. The children would have everything they needed to learn and grow.

With the number of Cursed Children reaching almost 2,000, Accelerator knew that Sumire would have a hard time teaching all of them alone. He pondered the problem, thinking about possible solutions, but his thoughts were interrupted by a commotion near the entrance of the Outer District.

A child was spasming on the ground as if she had been electrocuted, and the other children were gathered around her, their faces etched with concern. Accelerator strode over, his presence parting the crowd of worried kids.

"What happened?" he demanded, his voice cutting through their anxious chatter.

The children stuttered, trying to explain. "W-we were just letting a new Cursed Child enter our home," one of them said, tears welling up in her eyes. "We don't know why she was electrocuted."

Accelerator's gaze shifted to the spasming child, his eyes cold and calculating. He reached down, grabbed her by the scruff of her neck, and lifted her to his face. "I'll handle this," he told the other children. "Go back to what you were doing."

They obeyed reluctantly, casting worried glances back as Accelerator carried the girl to his office. Once inside, he set her down and snapped his fingers, waking her up. The child's eyes flew open, wide with fear. Accelerator's reputation had preceded him.

"Who sent you here?" he asked directly, his voice low and menacing.

The child was paralyzed with fear, staring at the infamous monster who now stood before her. She hadn't expected to encounter him so soon, and certainly not like this. Her fear consumed her, and she blurted out the truth.

"I-I was sent by some dangerous people," she confessed, her voice trembling. "They wanted me to get information about this place."

Accelerator's expression darkened. This was a serious problem. Fortunately, he had completed the defense mechanism in time. If he hadn't, their sanctuary might have already been infiltrated. He needed to be more vigilant from now on.

He considered the child in front of him, her fear palpable. "What's your name?" he asked, his tone softer but still firm.

"M-Maya," she stammered.

"Alright, brat," Accelerator said, leaning back in his chair. "You're going to stay here for now. You won't be harmed, but you'll be watched. Understand?"

Maya nodded quickly, her eyes wide with relief and fear. Accelerator called for one of the older children, a girl named Kanna, who had shown leadership qualities. She entered the office, her eyes flicking between Accelerator and Maya.

"Kanna, this is Maya," Accelerator said. "She's going to stay here, but keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn't cause any trouble."

Kanna nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, Big Brother."

As Kanna led Maya out, Accelerator leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. This infiltration attempt was a clear sign that their enemies were getting bolder. He needed to strengthen their defenses and keep a closer watch on anyone entering the Outer District.

Later, he discussed the situation with Sumire, who was equally concerned. "We need more teachers," she said, pacing back and forth. "I can't handle 2,000 kids on my own, and now with this new threat, we need to be even more careful."

Accelerator nodded, agreeing with her assessment. "I'll find a solution," he said. "But for now, we need to focus on tightening security. If they managed to send one child, they might send more."

Sumire sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I hate that we're putting these kids in danger just by trying to give them a normal life."

"Fucking hell, we're doing what's necessary," Accelerator replied, his voice firm. "And we'll keep them safe. No matter what."

They spent the rest of the evening discussing strategies and potential allies. Accelerator knew that they needed more than just physical defenses. They needed information, and they needed to stay ahead of their enemies.

The following day, he began implementing new security measures, ensuring that no one could enter or leave the Outer District without thorough checks. He also started reaching out to potential allies, people who might be willing to help teach and protect the children.

As the days passed, the children continued their studies and activities, unaware of the full extent of the threats surrounding them. Accelerator and Sumire worked tirelessly behind the scenes, their resolve unshaken.

One evening, as Accelerator stood watching the children play from his office window, he felt a rare flicker of hope. Despite the challenges, they were making progress. The sanctuary was growing stronger, and the children were thriving. They had a long road ahead, but with each step, they were building a future where the Cursed Children could live without fear..

It had been three months since Accelerator arrived in this world, and his progress was nothing short of astounding. The Outer District, now affectionately called Paradise, was nearly complete, and the children were living their lives to the fullest. There was no prejudice, no violence from adults—just understanding and support. Minor conflicts were inevitable, but Accelerator's presence was a powerful deterrent. The children wanted his acknowledgment and knew that bad behavior would earn them minus points in his eyes.

The only children who everyone believed had truly earned Accelerator's acknowledgement were Sana and Mina. Now, every child in Paradise had become a Transcendent, with Sana as their progenitor. Each of them had unique abilities, ranging from talking to animals to controlling fire. The variety of powers seemed endless. Accelerator had considered ranking them but decided against it to avoid unnecessary trouble. Instead, he emphasized that every ability had its own strengths and weaknesses.

Accelerator had also moved from his apartment to the Outer District. Sumire, who had grown increasingly clingy, followed him, and he was forced to build a laboratory for her. Rentaro, on the other hand, was climbing the IP ranks, no longer hiding his abilities. He had surged into the top 500, a significant leap from his previous ranking in the thousands.

Today, Rentaro was rushing towards Accelerator's house with an urgent report. He burst through the door, his impatience evident as he practically kicked it open. What he saw stopped him in his tracks.

The room was filled with a sweaty smell, and Sumire lay on the bed, her body glistening with sweat, her eyes dilated. Accelerator was next to her, casually sipping a can of coffee, looking as if he hadn't exerted any effort at all.

Rentaro's eyes widened in shock. "Ah...!? You're hung like a horse! What kind of monster is that?!" he shouted, pointing at the imposing presence of Accelerator's "sword," which seemed reluctant to lay down.

Annoyed by the interruption and Rentaro's loud exclamation, Accelerator blasted him out of the room with a flick of his fingers. Rentaro landed outside, more embarrassed than hurt.

A few moments later, Accelerator emerged, now fully dressed. "What's so fucking important that you had to barge in like that?" he demanded, his irritation still evident.

Rentaro, recovering from the shock, stood up and dusted himself off. "An emergency has occurred," he said, his tone now serious. The urgency in his voice caught Accelerator's attention, and he motioned for Rentaro to continue.

"Spit it out," Accelerator said impatiently.

Rentaro took a deep breath, preparing to deliver his urgent news. "There's been a breach," he began, his voice steady despite the gravity of his words. "A group of Gastrea has managed to break through the Monolith defenses. They're currently moving towards the city, and from the reports I've received, they're not just any Gastrea—they're Stage Four"

Accelerator's eyes narrowed. Stage Four Gastrea were among the most dangerous, capable of causing massive destruction. "How did they get through the Monoliths?" he asked, his mind already racing with potential solutions.

"We're not entirely sure," Rentaro admitted. "It seems like someone tampered with the Monoliths' magnetic fields. This breach isn't a natural occurrence. It's been orchestrated."

Accelerator's annoyance turned to anger. "So, someone is trying to sabotage us," he growled. "Do we have any leads on who might be behind this?"

Rentaro shook his head. "Not yet, but we're working on it. The priority right now is to stop the Gastrea before they reach the Paradise. If they get through, it will be catastrophic."

Accelerator nodded, his mind already formulating a plan. "I'll handle it," he said simply. "You stay here and make sure the children are safe. If this is a coordinated attack, they might try to hit us here immediately"

Rentaro hesitated, but he knew better than to argue. "Be careful," he said finally. "We can't afford to lose you."

Accelerator smirked. "Don't be gay. Just make sure the brats are alright."

With that, he turned and walked out, his mind focused on the task ahead. The situation was dire, but Accelerator had faced worse. He would deal with the Gastrea and whoever was behind this sabotage. No one threatened his sanctuary and got away with it.

As Accelerator left, Rentaro couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and fear. Accelerator was a force of nature, and there was no doubt he would handle the threat. But the fact that someone had orchestrated this attack meant that their enemies were getting bolder. They needed to be prepared for anything.

Inside the house, Sumire stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "What's going on?" she asked groggily.

Rentaro sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Just another crisis," he said. "But don't worry. Accelerator's got it under control."

Sumire nodded, trusting in Accelerator's abilities. She had seen him accomplish the impossible before, and she had no doubt he would do it again. "I'm sure he does," she said softly.

Accelerator gazed at the horizon where the Stage IV Gastreas were rapidly approaching. Their pathway was directly aligned with Paradise, indicating a deliberate and planned attack. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.

However, his sharp gaze caught sight of a subtle movement on one of the buildings nearby. "You two can stop hiding now," he said, his voice cold and commanding. "Your gaze is really irritating. If you don't reveal yourselves, I'll kill you… right now."

There was a moment of silence before the watchers stepped into view, revealing themselves. It was Kagetane Hiruko and his daughter. Kagetane clapped his hands, a mocking smile hidden behind his mask. "Impressive," he said. "You sensed us so easily. As expected of you, Monster-kun"

Accelerator had no interest in playing games with clowns, especially one wearing a mask. He picked up a small stone and flicked it with his fingers. The stone pierced through the air at incredible speed, its vector altered by Accelerator's power, making it even faster and deadlier. It zoomed towards Kagetane with lethal precision.

Kagetane, confident in his barrier-like technique similar to Accelerator's, didn't flinch. But to his shock, his field was distorted by something, and the stone pierced through his shoulder. He staggered back, clutching his wound in surprise.

His daughter immediately lunged at Accelerator, her speed and agility impressive. However, she was effortlessly repelled by his vector manipulation. She landed back beside her father, her eyes wide with shock.

Accelerator smirked, his eyes filled with disdain. "Your actions really fit your costumes," he mocked. "A bunch of clowns. I warn you to stay away because I'm currently displeased."

Kagetane laughed, though it was clear he was in pain. "Ah, Accelerator, you are truly formidable. But don't worry, we'll retreat for now. Consider this a mere prelude."

With a flourish, Kagetane and his daughter disappeared into the shadows, leaving Accelerator standing alone. He clicked his tongue again, his irritation not abating. He turned his focus back to the approaching Gastreas.

With the threat of Kagetane temporarily gone, Accelerator shifted his attention fully to the Gastrea. Their advance needed to be halted to protect Paradise. Using his vector manipulation, he amplified his speed, racing towards the oncoming threat.

Accelerator stood before the two Stage IV Gastreas, his expression one of irritation. One of the creatures was plant-based, its massive tendrils writhing with poisonous and hallucinogenic smoke. The other was a bee type, capable of spawning a massive number of Stage I bee Gastreas. The combination was a nightmare, the bees, strengthened by the plant's poison, buzzed ominously in the air.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. The sheer number of enemies meant he would need to use more flashy techniques. Just as he was about to unleash his power, he heard the voices of the children behind him, calling out, "Big Brother!"

They ran towards him, their faces lit with excitement. "Let us help with this fight!" one of them shouted, their eyes pleading. The truth was, they wanted to show off their cool and beautiful Blood Arts to Accelerator.

Reluctant but curious, Accelerator decided to give them a chance. "Hah" he said, stepping back slightly. "Step up, brats"

Mina, always eager to impress, stepped up with a bright smile. "Watch me carefully, brother!" she called out. Clapping her hands together, she summoned a massive black web that appeared in the sky. It descended upon the swarm of bees, dissecting hundreds within seconds.

Accelerator watched, surprised. These brats were getting stronger. Their abilities were growing, even if their physical bodies were still developing. The fight began in earnest, with the children spamming their various Blood Arts at the bees. Flames, wind blades, ice, lava, and beams of light filled the air as the children unleashed their powers.

Despite their impressive abilities, the tough exterior of the Stage IV Gastreas remained unpierced. The fight reached a stalemate as the children struggled to make a significant impact on the larger threats. Accelerator, observing their efforts, decided it was time to step in.

With a single step, he traveled the 500 meters separating him from the Gastreas, his speed blinding. In an instant, he was in front of the two monstrous creatures. Drawing his Nichirin Blade, he activated his Sun Breathing technique. His movements were a blur as he sliced through the plant-based Gastrea, disintegrating it in a blaze of fiery light. The bee-type Gastrea followed shortly, its body cleaved in two by the same technique.

The battlefield fell silent as the children watched in awe. Accelerator stood amidst the remains of the defeated Gastreas, his blade still glowing from the heat of his attack. He sheathed his sword, turning to face the children who were staring at him with wide eyes.

"Good job," he said gruffly, acknowledging their efforts. "But remember, there's always someone stronger. Keep training."

The children cheered, their faces beaming with pride at his words. Mina ran up to him, her eyes shining. "Did you see, brother? We were amazing, right?"

Accelerator smirked, ruffling her hair. "Yeah, yeah, let's go with that"

Sumire, who had been watching from a distance, approached with a smile. "They're really growing, aren't they?" she said, her voice filled with pride.

"Heh," Accelerator replied, his gaze still on the children. "They are."

As the children resumed their activities, Accelerator couldn't help but feel a rare sense of satisfaction. The sanctuary he had built was thriving, and the children were becoming stronger each day. But he knew the fight was far from over. There would always be new threats, new challenges to face.

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