GUARDIAN OF THE MARVEL REALM

The current party was acceptable for basic survival and maneuvering, though it was clear that no one would go all out—except the Misaka Sisters.

That was because, through the Misaka Network, the Final Order remained connected to all the Sisters. Despite his immense strength, Accelerator had long harbored guilt from his past—the sheer number of Sisters he'd killed still haunted him. It was not hatred from others that wounded him most—but his own self-loathing.

He didn't make any move, but the Misaka Sister standing before him seemed hesitant.

Their gazes locked—deep, unblinking.

Bang bang bang—!

Suddenly, soldiers nearby seized the opportunity to fire at Accelerator. However, their rifles were abruptly wrenched from their hands and sent flying into the air, twisting mid-flight as if rejecting their users entirely.

"We're retreating."

Qi Mu Nanxiong floated into the sky, his calm voice carrying over the chaos.

From a distance, Shen He and the others had already begun evacuating the civilian espers from the battlefield.

Accelerator exhaled in relief. He gave the Misaka Sister one last glance—there was no need for words. Then, without hesitation, he turned and followed Qi Mu Nanxiong.

Despite the brief nature of the skirmish, Shen He had gained substantial experience—not just from eliminating threats, but from protecting innocents and repelling the incompetent.

Unlike standard dungeon instances, this world rewarded even indirect efforts. As long as one wasn't idle, progress was possible.

After relocating the rescued espers to a relatively safe zone, they finally paused to regroup.

"You're not aligned with any Academy City faction, are you?" Shen He asked, surveying the young espers.

Based on intel gathered by Accelerator, the situation in Academy City was more structured than it seemed. The true front lines were centered around the Sister cloning facilities, where the Anti-Skill units and Misaka Mikoto—now under the identity "Alter Mikoto"—were engaged in intense conflict. Occasionally, magicians from the outside world intervened, muddying the waters even further.

Scattered around the city were smaller rogue factions—some opportunistic, others simply surviving.

The group before them, wearing varied school uniforms, had clearly experienced battlefield exposure but hadn't lost composure during their retreat.

Their equipment, however, was lacking. Compared to the well-armed Academy City loyalists or skilled rogue espers, these students had virtually no weaponry.

"I lead them," a quiet voice answered.

A girl with long hair and a slightly somber aura stepped forward. "I'm Kushiro Suzuko."

The others looked at her with subtle respect. She continued, "We're just a self-protection group. We didn't join any faction."

Suzuko Kushiro… Shen He mulled the name over. It stirred something in his enhanced memory—thanks to his body's cultivation-based strengthening, his recollection had sharpened significantly.

She was a Level 4 esper—her ability was "Quantum Displacement." She'd appeared briefly during the Imaginary Numbers District (Fantasy Mita) incident.

At the outbreak of this conflict, Academy City had sealed its borders. Most civilians were either evacuated or trapped. Only powerful espers, or well-organized breakaway units, had managed to stay mobile.

Groups like this one—independent and unaffiliated—were formed by those who neither trusted the authorities nor desired war.

"We're from an external organization called Chaldea," Shen He said cautiously. "Part of our mission is to assist with student extractions. We've been entrusted by some parents to locate and evacuate their children."

He was testing the system's mechanics—and sure enough, the moment he said it, a wooden treasure chest materialized in his inventory.

Trigger Reward: A system reward triggered under specific conditions within a storyline instance.

Shen He's assumption had been correct. Although there were no forced quests in this world, passive actions like protection and coordination could still earn rewards.

"Is this real?"

"You're really here to help us?"

"But… what are we supposed to do?"

The students' expressions lit up with cautious hope. They hadn't asked to be dragged into war. Most had simply been trying to finish school—now, they risked death daily. If there was even a chance to escape…

"I'll provide food," Shen He promised. "Until we find a safe path past the blockade, you'll need to lay low. Stay out of sight, no unnecessary risks." He paused. "Is the internal network in Academy City still operational?"

"Yes," Kushiro nodded.

Though external communications were jammed, the internal net still functioned. Students used it to share updates—though truth was difficult to verify, and the system was now filled with rumors, misinformation, and encrypted data.

"Give me a phone that can reach you," Shen He said, extending his hand. "We can't get you out immediately. But we'll keep the supply lines open. In return, I want you to stay safe and try to reach out to others who also want to escape. Unity will be key."

Kushiro hesitated but eventually handed over her device.

Safe hiding spots did exist throughout Academy City—old labs, subways, maintenance tunnels—but food was scarce, and skirmishes over supplies were frequent. Shen He's promise to deliver rations meant survival without risking another street battle.

As she handed over the phone, another wooden chest appeared in Shen He's inventory.

A pattern was emerging: helping survivors triggered tangible rewards. He took mental notes.

After securing communication and issuing instructions, the two groups parted ways.

"Master," Jeanne d'Arc approached with her usual poise. "Should I go locate Misaka Mikoto?"

Though unfamiliar with this world's lore, her experience as a Ruler-class Heroic Spirit allowed her to grasp the strategic picture. To suppress the war, targeting Alter Mikoto—its linchpin—was crucial. Finding the original body could be the turning point.

"No." Shen He shook his head. "Our time's limited. It's better to act independently and draw her out. Mikoto is probably gathering data through the internal network. She's a world-class hacker—it's her main intel route."

So they'd flip the script.

He pulled two low-tier system summons from his inventory and placed them on a battered street chair. Then he snapped photos and uploaded them onto the Academy City network, using multiple nodes to disperse the signal.

A baited trap.

From previous experience with Qi Mu Nanxiong, Shen He had learned that even simple system-produced items had immense value to native characters. He wasn't going to waste this opportunity.

To ensure effectiveness, he used two summons—not one.

"Shi, you, Kusuo, and Violet stay here and await Misaka Mikoto," Shen He instructed. "Jeanne and I will head out and find someone named Kamijou Touma."

The name echoed with significance.

If there was anyone who could disrupt a supernatural power structure, who could bring miracles by punching fate in the face, it was Touma.

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