A Certain Magical Index - Arc 2

Touko spun to see the woman leap over the balcony's edge and run towards her. She grimaced, stepping aside expecting an attack only for Kaori to barge past her. Obviously something more important was on the older woman's mind.

Touko gave chase, standing in the doorway of the room she stopped. Kaori was surrounded by flickering lights of Haragi's free radicals.

"Oi!... tell me where he went... You so-called 'magicians' seem to know each other...!"

"ENOUGH!" Touko bellowed angrily, flashing her hand across the blinking dots. In an instant the free radicals dispersed with a faint sound like breaking glass. "My room just got trashed. I got beaten half to hell and almost got incinerated! Someone owes me an explanation!" She looked between Haragi and Kaori as though daring one of them to attack her.

"Nor was that my last trick, either!"

Like a bull to a red rag, Meirin charged for the elusive mage. But true to form he slipped through her grasp again, the feather that took his place sizzling and crackling to cinders as it touched her skin.

"Ciao, crazy ragazza." Vanni swung over the edge of the balcony behind Meirin, clambering down to the floor below where he spotted Stiyl unconscious on the floor. He clicked his teeth in exasperation and hurried to the red headed mage's side, prodding him with his foot impatiently.

"Hey. Hey, wake up. This is seriously not fresco..." Vanni grabbed Stiyl by his collar and shook him violently before administering a sharp slap that shook the magician from his slumber. The Luciferean hauled his comrade to his feet, slinging Stiyl's arm over his shoulder.

"Oi!... tell me where he went... You so-called 'magicians' seem to know each other...!"

Beyond the wall, Kanzaki Kaori stared Haragi down as he issued his threat.

"ENOUGH! My room just got trashed. I got beaten half to hell and almost got incinerated! Someone owes me an explanation!"

Kaori started with surprise as the girl effortlessly banished the effects of Haragi's ability. There was a tense silence before Kaori spoke. Her tone was clipped and authoritative.

"I do not know where he went." She said. "That man was not one of us." That much was obvious from the way he had attacked her.

"I know who he is." Stiyl Magnus said, leaning over Vanni's shoulder as his lmbs recovered their strength. "Aureolus Izzard. A former agent of the Catholic church. And an alchemist."His words carried unspoken gravity.

"ENOUGH!"

A plethora of coordinates completely disappeared from within the Array of information containing the OFR's position. Just like Aureolus, the OFR molecules vanished without any trace. Haragi remained completely shocked about this unknown abnormality.

"H-how?!.... My own OFR molecules are gone.... Theres no way..."

The same girl who had interrupted his interrogation continued speaking breaking his current though process,

"My room just got trashed. I got beaten half to hell and almost got incinerated! Someone owes me an explanation!"

Just what was this girl's power? Was she a 'magician'? No, she seemed to be against them. If she was an esper, then what exactly was her power that made his OFR molecules so suddenly? If it was an esper power, Haragi would have been able to make sense out of the outcome and used logic to determine what exactly happened. But that wasn't the case for this situation.

Remaining silent as he was, the swordswoman was the first to respond to the girl's angered plea.

"I do not know where he went. That man was not one of us."

A familiar voice had interrupted the conversation. Haragi directed his eyes towards a injured Priest supported by the peppy magician known as Vanni. The Level 4 was annoyed by the fact that the priest had regained consciousness losing an easy opportunity to turn him in towards the Higher ups without resistance.

"I know who he is. Aureolus Izzard. A former agent of the Catholic church. And an alchemist."

If what they said was true, Aureolus Izzard wasn't one of the infiltrators, rather the three individuals that opposed him were. Meaning, Haragi had no reason to get involved with that man and that girl if he wasn't a threat towards him. Right now, Haragi aimed to complete his assignment without any unsuccessful outcomes.

"If what you just said was true... then there's no point for me to delve into that man's business.... I'm only after the one's who infiltrated Academy City and I'm looking right at them...."

His eyes were directed at his three targets from the beginning of their pursuit.

"If you guys plan to continue resisting, then I plan to take you out without hesitation... You only got two options now... Turn yourselves in so that the higher ups can deal with you personally and I don't have to give a damn about you guys anymore... or.... leave Academy City so that the higher ups won't continue getting angry while on their periods...."

"If what you just said was true... then there's no point for me to delve into that man's business.... I'm only after the one's who infiltrated Academy City and I'm looking right at them...."

The already tense atmosphere grew thicker with hostility as both Kaori and Stiyl's faces darkened. Vanni closed his eyes wearily.

"Really, isn't this all a bit much?" He sighed, shaking his head.

"If you guys plan to continue resisting, then I plan to take you out without hesitation... You only got two options now... Turn yourselves in so that the higher ups can deal with you personally and I don't have to give a damn about you guys anymore... or.... leave Academy City so that the higher ups won't continue getting angry while on their periods...."

"Impossible." Kaori said, pain washing her expression. Abandoning Index was not an option. Not when the stakes were so high. No matter the cost to herself, Kaori would fight to the bitter end. Her hand flexed, only to be stilled by a hand on her shoulder.

"Not now." Guy said. The young man clutched the aching ribs at his side, lowering his hand when the stabbing pain subsided in throbbing pangs. He didn't dare move for the fresh jolt that each slow breath brought.

"Look, kid. I don't know if you just noticed, but we've got bigger problems than each other." He tilted his head with an exasperated sound. "Like, for instance, the guy who just kicked all our asses." He grimaced, clutching his side again with an angry growl. "Right now these 'magicians' are our best lead on him." A stab of pain cooled his head and he took a moment to collect his thoughts. "You can settle the score once Index is safe." He stated that plainly.

Neither Stiyl, nor Kaori seemed to protest.

"If you're going to save that girl you'll need to hurry." Stiyl shrugged himself from Vanni's shoulder, standing on his own two feet. "That girl will die within three days if we don't reach her."

Guy's expression fell into a mask of horror.

"Not now. Look, kid. I don't know if you just noticed, but we've got bigger problems than each other. Like, for instance, the guy who just kicked all our asses. Right now these 'magicians' are our best lead on him. You can settle the score once Index is safe."

Was this man also one of them? No, he couldn't be otherwise he would've used an ability through unknown methods. Why was he so deeply intended on helping that one certain girl. The crimson haired priest added onto Guy's point,

"If you're going to save that girl you'll need to hurry. That girl will die within three days if we don't reach her."

Die? In Three days? Haragi seem unconvinced of his words. For all he knew, he could be bluffing so he be able capture the girl for their own mysterious plans. The Level 4 also concerned for the nun, otherwise he wouldn't have attempted to save her from that man's hands. But he also couldn't trust these people who claims she might die without any valid reason. Haragi gripped his bloody shoulder tight and spoke,

"She'll die in three days?.... Why would I believe something as ridiculous as that?... especially from you people? I mean you're the ones chasing after that nun yourself after all?... You guys could be easily lying..."

The most logical approach for Haragi was to complete his assignment to avoid any consequences towards his sister. But that girl seemed like she was carrying a huge burden like he was, despite how cheerful she looked. It was if he would be able to understand her situation. But Haragi has no business with that man since he wasn't one of his targets in his assignment. He wanted to help her, but he was choosing between her life and his sister's safety.

"Harassing that man would be pointless... He isn't involved in my mission..... Capturing you three is my priority... I have my reasons as well for doing this..."

The Level 4 boldly stated as he began to focus on his personal reality to create a no air space. Knocking the 'magicians' unconscious would be the result of this.

"Besides..." He mumbled to himself. "I'll deal with that green haired freak after my mission is finished..."

Meirin cursed loudly. Her prey had gotten away, and that was making her very upset. "Get back here you coward!" she screamed after the mage. However, like a smart person, he did not come back, and in her rage, simply jumping down after him did not occur to her.

It took nearly a minute for her to calm down enough to think rationally, after which she found Touko and the others. She still looked pissed off though; she was glaring at everything, she was slouching, and her hands were balled up into fists, which she kept in her pockets. "Hey, did anyone see some guy in black robes come past here?" she asked, venom in her voice.

"She'll die in three days?.... Why would I believe something as ridiculous as that?... especially from you people? I mean you're the ones chasing after that nun yourself after all?... You guys could be easily lying..."
"Harassing that man would be pointless... He isn't involved in my mission..... Capturing you three is my priority... I have my reasons as well for doing this..."
"Besides..."
"I'll deal with that green haired freak after my mission is finished..."


Haragi's power spread through the room, quietly breaking down the air around them before Touko lunged for him, snatching his shoulder and tugging him to face her sharply. Te instant her hand made contact with him the boy's power vanished mysteriously. She held him there, a serious frown etched on her face.

"You're willing to bet Index's life on that?" She glowered, her fingers digging into Haragi's shoulder as her fist trembled. "To hell with your mission! Index is in danger!"

As his No Air Space was forming, the daring spiky haired girl lunged directly at the Level 4. Haragi was caught off guard as Touko managed claw his fingers into his injury. From that point, a high pitched screech was heard for a brief moment.

"Gaaah!"

As painful as it was, Haragi gritted his teeth in attempts to reject his own pain. It was then, he realized something was missing from his personal reality. All the information of the OFR molecules were wiped out from his mind. The Process of his No Air Space completely disappeared as if nothing ever happened.

"What?!... The same thing happened before.... Was it this girl?... She's an esper... but how is she was able to instantaneously break my manipulation of the OFR molecules?..."

She gripped his injured shoulder even more tightly, and the pain had increased. The intimidating look in her eyes glared at Haragi, seeming familiar the look he himself gives towards others.

"You're willing to bet Index's life on that? To hell with your mission! Index is in danger!"

Did this girl desperately want to save that nun? Even if she got led into a trap by his targets? The pain that indulged more from his shoulder had spread throughout his nerves alerting the crucial amount of pain he received. However, the look on the Level 4's face transformed from being surprised and in pain, to an even more intimidating look right back at her. His arm had forcefully grabbed her arm, as his teeth was shown bare.

"This pain.... compares nothing to how much I've suffered in my regretful past...."

With his strength, he flung her arm to the side causing even more pain from his injury. Heavy breathing followed after, as Haragi continued to speak,

"You're not the only one.... I have my own priorities... because of the burden I have to carry... From that.... I have other people's lives on the line too, ya know.... But trusting those three when the Higher ups slated them as bad news is also betting alot on that girl's life....."

The Level 4 steadily took a few steps back to gain some distance. The looks in her eyes was exactly the same as his own. They both were determined to carry out what they believed in. Haragi, who wanted to avoid having his sister being threatened by the higher ups and Touko who desperately wanted to protect Index.

"But right now... I can't risk the lives of my own.... I want to save that girl as well... But I can't jump to conclusions risking my own situation.... If you're so opt on interfering with what I gotta do even when I see you as a innocent bystander... Then...."

He took a deep breath, and calmed himself in order to keep his remaining energy from depleting as fast.

"Show me your resolve... if you're determined to save that girl even if those three are bluffing from their very mouths.... Then prove to me that your resolve is greater than mine..."

"Show me your resolve... if you're determined to save that girl even if those three are bluffing from their very mouths.... Then prove to me that your resolve is greater than mine..."

"Listen, buddy..." Vanni looked about at the others. "I get that you're all fired up, but look around you." He gestured to the five people that stood around the room. Stiyl, Kaori, Touko and himself all wore unmistakable expressions of conviction. Even had he not been injured, the odds would be against him. "This is no time to be a hero..." He smirked dismissively with a wave of his hand. "Or whatever you think you're being." He extended a hand to the esper, a gesture lacking in malice, but heavy with the weight of Haragi's decision. An offer of partnership. "What do you say? You help us out and we can make all this fresco."

No sooner had Vanni ended his sentence than the flame haired ragazza burst into the room.

"Hey, did anyone see some guy in black robes come past here?"

The object of Meirin's hunt didn't lie far. Stiyl stood opposite the girl in fact. Had her stray spark ignited the powder keg of a situation in this small student apartment?

Wait.

Something struck Vanni like a lightning bolt.

Five people.

Before that girl had appeared, there had been five people in the room.

What had happened to the sixth?

***

Guy dropped to the grimy floor of the alleyway with scarcely a sound.

He would leave those kids to their pissing contest. Right now he had one thing in mind.

Taking off into the night, Guy started off hot on the trail of Aureolus Izzard.

The moment Meirin laid eyes on the man, she grinned darkly. "Well, looks like I didn't have to look very hard for you, did I? That saves me the trouble of finding you later," Meirin said darkly, a mixture of malice and joy in her voice.

Her power at full blast, she slowly stepped towards Vanni, her hands at her sides, open and ready to grab someone. She practically radiated killing intent. "Shall I finish you quickly...? Or, perhaps slowly...?"

The look on Meirin's face made her look crazed; almost like Accelerator in the midst of beating on a helpless opponent.

"Well, looks like I didn't have to look very hard for you, did I? That saves me the trouble of finding you later, Shall I finish you quickly...? Or, perhaps slowly...?"

"I suppose a ceasefire is too much to ask for after all..." He rolled his head to one side in disbelief. Stiyl opened his hand to ready his flames but Kaori pushed the mage backwards gently as she stepped between him and Meirin.

"Stiyl. Leave her to Vanni and myself." The quiet woman said. Stiyl's mouth twitched in a frown. Was he really so powerless? He had failed in protecting Index and now, to rub salt in the freshly opened wound, he was being protected by his comrades. Very well then. Stiyl's fingers flexed and a smokeless orange flame curled around them.

"I'll prepare an escape route." He turned his attention to the walls around them.

If peace was not an option then they would retreat and regroup.

"This pain.... compares nothing to how much I've suffered in my regretful past...."

Touko frowned, still facing Haragi with a standoffish stance.

"You're not the only one.... I have my own priorities... because of the burden I have to carry... From that.... I have other people's lives on the line too, ya know.... But trusting those three when the Higher ups slated them as bad news is also betting alot on that girl's life....."

Her eyes closed, her brow furrowing and twitching with growing irritation. What was he saying? That Index's life wasn't worth the risk? That sort of thinking was unacceptable to Touko.

"But right now... I can't risk the lives of my own.... I want to save that girl as well... But I can't jump to conclusions risking my own situation.... If you're so opt on interfering with what I gotta do even when I see you as a innocent bystander... Then...."

She clenched her fist again. It didn't matter what obstacles stood in her way. She'd break them all down with the help of her right hand.

"Show me your resolve... if you're determined to save that girl even if those three are bluffing from their very mouths.... Then prove to me that your resolve is greater than mine..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Touko's fist swung up at his jaw. The spiky haired tomboy stood defiant as she declared loudly:

"I said I've had enough! Do you think that you're the only one who matters? The only one whose pain counts? If you have people who need you than why are you here fighting when you could be protecting them!?" She barked. Slowly her anger simmered and she lowered her eyes with a solemn expression. "I know it's a risk trusting these people... but I'm willing to take that risk if it means saving Index!" She looked back to Haragi with a firm sounding statement. "And if I have to go through you to do that, then that's just what I'll do!"

Just as Haragi had finished his response, Touko had shown up in front of him almost instantaneously only to drive her fist upwards. His jawline had collided with her curled knuckles sending a stinging sensation throughout his body. His body lifted from the ground up into the air, while slowly flying backwards. He clenched his teeth as his face was forcefully facing the ceiling, only to regain his balance as he gained a hold of the ground due to gravity being pushed back a couple of steps away from the reckless girl.


"I said I've had enough! Do you think that you're the only one who matters? The only one whose pain counts? If you have people who need you than why are you here fighting when you could be protecting them!? I know it's a risk trusting these people... but I'm willing to take that risk if it means saving Index! And if I have to go through you to do that, then that's just what I'll do!"

As if nothing had happened, Haragi had kept his steel determined glare. He immediately made his move, just after Touko had finished speaking. Both feet stomped onto the ground floor, right in front of the girl, with his left foot positioned to her right. While his left hand tightly curled into a wrecking ball, he put his entire weight onto his forward knee propelling himself upwards only to drive his fist from the left into the side of her face. The stinging sensation from his jaw line resonated as he got in a hit as though he had felt Touko's own pain.

"Shut up.... stop talking like you understand what my situation is like... if only it was that easy... even though other people went through other kinds of suffering... I have to do what it takes to carry out my own duty...."

He wiped the excess spit from his mouth.

"My regrets... all the sins I've caused... they drive me forward... in hope to protect those I can protect.... and to compensate for what I've done.... I want to save that girl... but I already said I have my priorities... something that can't be done through simple methods like you said...."

Haragi readied to charge once more at the Level 0 Esper, with his fist tightly curled.

"I'll show you... just how desperately I act only for 'her' sake.... you're not the only one!"

The Level 4 had bolted towards the Level 0, with his fist charged backwards only to propel it forward. The distance between them closed in. Haragi's determination, his will, his suffering sinked into this one punch. His fist shot forward once distance was maintained, aiming directly to smash into her face for a surefire ringout.

"A cease-fire?" Meirin asked, frowning. "I recall no such thing. I'm here alone." A moment later, she grinned evilly again. "After all, why would I want someone raining on my parade? I intend to such every little bit of fun out of this that I can. Now prepare yourself!" she announced, launching herself at her targets.

Meirin cackled and charged at the cornered mages, well aware of the woman's sword. She was prepared to dodge, and, if possible, destroy the sword. Heat was visibly radiating off of the berserk Esper's hands, and she was closing distance rapidly.

"A cease-fire? I recall no such thing. I'm here alone."

The three magicians didn't drop their guards for an instant. Heat wasn't the only thing the red haired girl was radiating. There was no mistaking her intent.

"After all, why would I want someone raining on my parade? I intend to such every little bit of fun out of this that I can. Now prepare yourself!"

"Crazy-!" Vanni snarled as he jumped sideways, diving clear of Meirin's assault and the esper sailed past him. He drew a handful of feathers from his jacket's lining and launched them into the air. The black feathers lodged themselves in the walls and floor and even the ceiling. But none of them hit Meirin.

Kaori however made no move to evade. With the confined space of the apartment Meirin was closing distance fast and in the split second before she crossed the distance into range of her sword Kaori uttered a simple word.

"Nanasen." The wires cut large gashes into the walls and floor as they split the room in half just centimeters from Meirin's nose. An impassible barrier of countless blades that existed for only fraction of a second.

"That was as close as I get to a warning. Leave." Kaori's voice was quietly stern. Behind her Stiyl had planted his hands against the wall of the apartment and the entire structure along the street facing wall had started to glow red hot. The wallpaper smoked and peeled as the mage burned his way through.

Meirin laughed gleefully. "Oh? You want to play with fire, huh?" she asked, noticing what Stiyl was doing. "Alright, let's play!" In truth, the way the woman could attack with blades without swinging her sword unnerved her, but there were probably high tension wires on the sheath or something.

She jumped back from the sword, making sure to drag her hands along the floor and walls, where possible. The parts she touched caught flame. She didn't stop there; now she was intentionally targeting the room, intent on burning everyone alive.

The heat in the room quickly grew, searing everyone except the fireproof Esper... and perhaps the flame mage.

"Oh? You want to play with fire, huh? Alright, let's play!"

The fire was spreading too quickly and already smoke had settled along the ceiling in a heavy, swirling mass of dark curls. Vanni blinked hard to clear his stinging eyes and brought his arm across his face to ward off the harmful fumes.

"You really are insane, aren't you?" The boy coughed. The prickly heat against his skin was overpowering and for a second he felt faint.

The wall was already melting. The thick, viscous mixture of steel and concrete was opening steadily to the outside world. Stiyl himself was concentrating on his task and he plunged his hands into the wall, pulling open the widening gap.

Kaori stood guarding him, her eyes fixed on the esper Meirin Sakamoto. It was almost certainly a ploy to draw Kaori into a hasty attack but the older girl remained in position.

She had her role to fill, and she trusted her comrades to play their part as well. A quick glance at Vanni signalled her intent.

The Luciferean snapped his fingers.

In the ceiling above Meirin a feather had lodged itself, stem first. It grew suddenly, jutting down towards her like a razor sharp stalagtite.

The ceiling itself started to split with a loud, rumbling crack as the building itself was forced apart by the expanding feather acting under Vanni's 'Spirit of Gluttony'. The boy smirked with certainty of his victory and snapped his fingers again. Another black feather shot upwards from where it had found itself buried in the floor under Meirin's feet.

Meirin was not stupid. Though she was intent on burning the room down with everyone in it, she remained watchful of those feathers, since they seemed to defy physics. Sure enough, one came through the ceiling, and another through the floor.

She moved out of their way and ran towards the door, grabbing a handful of metal out of the doorframe, which she then began throwing at Vanni. His feathers were extremely annoying, and she intended to stop him from using more.

Very quickly, handfuls of half-molten metal were flying towards Stiyl, Kaori, and Vanni.

Haragi's attack was fast, but the girl was no amateur when it came to fighting. She stepped forward and ducked under the punch, pivoting on her foot as she came to a stop behind Haragi. Her fist swung in a wide arc towards the boy's exposed head.

As his fist desperately launched forward, something unexpected occurred. Touko had managed to duck underneath his incoming punch, only to respond with a vital counter. Haragi's eyes widened with disbelief,

"What?!..."

Touko's fists launched towards his exposed self. There was no time to counter. The hit he was about to take was absolute. Only his thoughts resided as her fist came closer and closer.

"Why... is my resolve... so weak?..."

A very brief moment of silence occurred. Then... the stinging sensation, this time being much stronger, surged from the side of his face throughout his whole body upon impact of her fist. His whole body wasn't able to keep balance anymore. He was thrown into the air falling towards the ground below.

"I'm ... sorry for not... being strong enough... to protect you this time... Aneki....."

His last thoughts flew as his body collided with the solid ground. Haragi wasn't able to body as his whole body was paralyzed just by that one punch.

His body was facing the ceiling. His eyes were directed to the one who managed to knock him out. "Tell me... what... exactly drives you... to save a girl... who's involved with dangerous people like them?...."

The molten metal splashed against Vanni's feather barrier. Each spatter that flecked against his skin found itself upon the peculiar black feathers that stretched themselves about him as though a dark angel had cocooned him in its wings.

Kaori was saved by her reflexes alone, diving sidelong from the path of the red hot liquid.

Stiyl was not so lucky. The metal struck his robes and they caught light. But the red haired mage continued with his task, biting down so hard he felt his teeth might shatter. Stiyl's affinity with fire granted him some measure of resistance against the damaging heat that scalded and blistered his skin, but it did little to protect him from the pain and he let out a cry of pain as the wall erupted, volcano-like into the street outside. A gout of scorching flame billowing from the hole and belching smoke into the night sky.

Stiyl dropped to his knees, clawing at his back. Kaori was by his side in an instant. She cast the cloak from his back and hoisted him onto her shoulder.

"Cover our escape and rendezvous at the agreed point." Kaori gave a taciturn command.

"I'll do what I can..." Vanni gave a half smile as he stood his ground. His feathers were vanishing at an alarming rate beneath Meirin's barrage. "Make it quick though."

Meirin continued to throw molten metal, but in her opinion, she simply didn't have enough metal for a good attack. She needed more if she was going to do more damage.

So she stepped outside for a few moments under the cover of the smoke and noise and pulled the safety rail free after melting all the connecting points. She fashioned it into an impromptu javelin, took aim, and tossed the red-hot, melting spear of metal.

"Tell me... what... exactly drives you... to save a girl... who's involved with dangerous people like them?...."

Touko stood over him, breathing deeply as the fires raged around them both. The lights cast flickering shadows across her face.

"I don't need a reason to save someone." She declared, staring Haragi down fiercely, daring him to get up. "If you have someone you want to protect then you'll know I can't lose. And if you get in my way again I'll break that illusion of yours!" She narrowed her eyes.

"I don't need a reason to save someone. If you have someone you want to protect then you'll know I can't lose. And if you get in my way again I'll break that illusion of yours!"

No one had tried so desperately to overcome his own resolve. Touko was the first person to be able to stand before him with a greater sense of confidence. Haragi enclosed his thoughts to himself. "No reason? Does she really get her resolve from the fact that someone's in danger... compared to my own...."

It was that moment that Haragi was able to feel his nerves again. He was able to move his own limbs without any paralysis effect compared to earlier. While hesitantly picking himself up from the ground, he kept the same exact expression on his face as before.

"No reason, huh?...."

Barely being able to keep himself up, he found himself standing before of the triumphant girl. Her eyes shown sheer determination, something Haragi will be able to put his trust in. A long drawn out sigh occurred before he made his decision. "I get it... I'll help you save that girl.... I don't want to see someone innocent get harmed no more than you do either... but I'll take this risk... only to keep the innocent safe...."

His goal right now was to delay his mission until the girl was found. The three infiltrators were ones that should be cautious of. Even if they are neutral at the moment, they still are after the girl which proves them suspicious. But Haragi intends to put his trust in Touko.

"First things first...."

The spiky haired boy slowly walked past the girl only to pay attention to the battle between a red haired girl and the three infiltrators. The girl who attacked the group of three was most likely an esper. Her element seemed to be of the fire type as well. The group of three looked be at the edge of defeat as molten rubble were hurled directly at them.

OFR Molecules started to be created before the group of three and structured itself into a solid wall made out of crystallized OFRs for the purpose of added support. Next, faintly lit sparks surrounded Meirin ready to cause an explosion at any given moment, thus trapping her within a part of Solid Air's domain.

"I'd appreciate it... if you stop attacking my targets...." Haragi continued while indirectly speaking towards the three, "Plan's changed.... I'm going to help save the girl... But that doesn't mean that I don't have to take you in afterwards..."

Meirin felt that giddy feeling she usually felt just before she finished beating someone to a bloody pulp. Her grin, which was stretched ear to ear, faltered when the metal she threw suddenly collided with something that wasn't made of flesh and bone. Then some sparks began playing about her. Meirin had no idea what they did; she assumed one of the people in the room was trying something, so she continued doing what she was doing after stepping to the side. She didn't hear anything being said to her.

Since throwing a javelin didn't work, Meirin planned to use the smoke as cover to head off the mages, since one had just blown out a wall.