"I'm fine. That level of attack is ineffective against me," Kazakiri Hyouka said with a light tone.
"Oh? Then let's switch to an attack that *is* effective against you!" Hu Feng Toumi's eyebrows shot up at her words, and the ribbon in her hand fluttered up and down with her surging emotions, as if it were dancing in a strong wind.
—Shokuhou, tell me this guy's weakness! Don't hide it, you must know something!
Hu Feng Toumi roared in her heart.
—Her head. Since she appeared in human form, it's always right to try a human's weakness.
Swoosh!
The dark "lightning" flashed and disappeared, accurately hitting Kazakiri Hyouka... 's afterimage.
Looking again, Kazakiri Hyouka had already moved behind Lin Wuming, her arms wrapped around his neck, as if she were hanging on him, her body pressed tightly against his back.
"Space Movement?" Lin Wuming knew what had just happened. It was undoubtedly some kind of Spatial Ability User type of esper ability. Only abilities like Space Movement could have allowed her to dodge Hu Feng Toumi's furious strike just now.
Lin Wuming possessed the "ability catalog." Although he couldn't simulate and use space-system esper abilitys, detecting and identifying related esper abilitys was no problem.
This further solidified the possibility that the current Kazakiri Hyouka was an "AIM Diffusion Field Aggregate."
Only this could explain why she could use the "Spatial Ability User" power.
Seeing her attack fail again, Hu Feng Toumi grew even more annoyed.
But because of this, she instead calmed down, no longer swayed by pure emotion.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, and the gaze in her pair of emerald green eyes became even sharper.
—Hu Feng Toumi, when she enters "hunting mode," is even more dangerous.
"You..." Lin Wuming used his Nen to pull the girl behind him back in front of him. She didn't resist, like an obedient kitten.
"Even if you won't get hurt, don't actually court death."
Lin Wuming showed a pained expression. Even if it was just based on the closeness of their relationship, he was, of course, on Hu Feng Toumi's side; but Lin Wuming also didn't want Kazakiri Hyouka to truly be harmed by Hu Feng Toumi—they had no grudges, so why bother?
"I won't die," Kazakiri Hyouka said with a smile. "Wuming should understand—what I, Our essence, is."
"What does that mean?"
Lin Wuming was completely confused by the girl's phrase "Our."
It seemed that while the Kazakiri Hyouka in front of him acted boldly and freely, completely different from the original work, she wasn't entirely illogical.
Kazakiri Hyouka seemed to have a clear purpose, and she was acting precisely for that purpose.
"That's right, we are the same kind, Lin Wuming," Kazakiri Hyouka said.
"Same kind?"
"That's right, the same kind," Kazakiri Hyouka nodded seriously. "You and I—Lin Wuming and Kazakiri Hyouka."
"No, why? On what grounds?" Lin Wuming felt utterly astonished.
Although the girl in front of him looked perfectly human, she wasn't essentially human!
Although Lin Wuming was an esper, he was a genuine human being. The two weren't even the same species, so how did they become "the same kind" in this girl's mouth?
"Because Our essence is the same, Wuming!" Kazakiri Hyouka repeated, her eyes sparkling. "Don't be bound by worldly concepts, Our—es-sence—is the same!"
—Wuming-senpai, "Imaginary Beast"!
Shokuhou Misaki was the first to think of something and quickly reminded him.
Indeed, in essence, "Imaginary Beast" and Kazakiri Hyouka belonged to the same type of existence.
Both were "AIM Diffusion Field Aggregates." The only difference lay in their intensity and purity.
Kazakiri Hyouka's foundation was the AIM Diffusion Fields of nearly two million Espers across the city, while behind "Imaginary Beast" were only a mere twenty thousand ability users...
Lin Wuming was analyzing the similarities and differences between the two, and then he realized something.
"Eh? You mean?"
—It seems that's how it is.
Shokuhou Misaki showed a helpless expression.
The "ability catalog" stored in Lin Wuming's mind had, in a sense, inherited the power of the "Imaginary Beast."
Moreover, not long ago, when facing the angel "God's Power," Lin Wuming had truly used the power of the "ability catalog."
At that time, Lin Wuming, who fought using a "substitute"... indeed resembled Kazakiri Hyouka's state.
Following this line of thought, it was no wonder Kazakiri Hyouka kept muttering things like "the same kind" and "we are the same."
It seems this girl... was right!
After several failed attempts at assassination, Hu Feng Toumi didn't continue trying, but instead stared menacingly at the girl who had suddenly appeared.
But both Lin Wuming and Shokuhou Misaki knew that in this state, as soon as Hu Feng Toumi found an opening, she would attack without hesitation!
"Hu Feng, calm down first..." Lin Wuming turned his head, trying to persuade her, but after meeting Hu Feng Toumi's gaze, he changed his words mid-sentence, "Don't worry, this girl is not your opponent, so there's no need to be hostile."
Not an opponent?
Hu Feng Toumi showed a puzzled expression; she had already missed twice in a row!
—Ahem, Wuming-senpai means...
Shokuhou Misaki helped explain—the so-called rival relationship is like you and Misaka Mikoto... do you understand?
Hu Feng Toumi nodded silently, gradually retracting her sharp edge.
Since she had Lin Wuming's assurance, there was no need to worry...
That being said, it was now Shokuhou Misaki's turn to be dissatisfied, after having helped explain.
—Although Wuming-senpai personally assured her, seemingly excluding Kazakiri Hyouka from the "competition," it seems... the girl over there doesn't think so!
As if she hadn't seen Shokuhou Misaki and Hu Feng Toumi, Kazakiri Hyouka continued to pester Lin Wuming, persistently maintaining physical contact.
Whenever Lin Wuming wasn't paying attention, she would turn into a "hanger" on him, forcing Lin Wuming to take her off again and again.
Although she didn't know what exactly a body composed of "AIM Diffusion Field Aggregate" was like, or what its touch felt like... Shokuhou Misaki knew—Wuming-senpai didn't have any particular resistance to such intimate contact.
This was understandable, after all, he was a boy.
Shokuhou Misaki silently reflected—perhaps she should also be more proactive, otherwise, what was the point of her hard work and painstaking efforts to grow to this point?
However, the immediate priority was to stop this uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared.
"Ahem! Wuming-senpai!" Shokuhou Misaki coughed, "We should go back—it feels like no car will come if we keep waiting."
"Oh, you're right," Lin Wuming nodded, while using his Nen to once again take Kazakiri Hyouka off him.
