The deadly virus had already begun to spread and corrode the world's insides.
The incubation period ended abruptly at that moment. After that, the disease called "despair" quickly spread in Tōma Jōjō's heart, almost suffocating him.
The night of the 20th was the moment the battle began. For some reason, Tōma Jōjō, who had infiltrated the abandoned factory of School District 17 with Accelerator, was currently standing in a room filled with numerous processors and wires. His forehead was drenched in cold sweat.
The battle had failed. Blood-red warning signs filled the screen. There were only 122 seconds left before the virus maliciously created by humans would spread throughout the entire Academy City.
The 2.3 million residents were about to face a devastating blow.
Even if he started writing the file to the SSD, 122 seconds wasn't enough. Moreover, with such an unimaginably large data file, the hard drive's magnetic head would probably be damaged during the reading and writing process, resulting in data loss.
The Preceding Article hammered the ground dejectedly. An unpleasant dull pain surged up from his hand, stirring up dust that blurred his vision. In the face of the malice of artificial science, the power of the "Fantasy Killer" seemed so weak and powerless. He was unable to save this hopeless situation!
"What … should I do …! So many people were looking forward to it … but in the end, I still accomplished nothing … How should I respond to their trust in me … "
His head hit the ground heavily, but the intense pain didn't make Tōma Jōjō realize the Preceding Article. Instead, it made tears fall from his eyes.
In less than two minutes, he would have to say goodbye to this Academy City that he had lived in for more than ten years. All the beautiful memories and dear companions would be lost forever because of his cowardice. And now, he could only curl up in this dark and cold corner and cry in despair.
Was there no way to reverse the situation?
Was there no way to save some hope?
"There is." The white-haired, red-eyed Accelerator who had been standing in front of him all this time spoke first. Accelerator looked at the screen with a cold expression. The surging red warning signs and his red eyes reflected each other, making him exude a dangerous aura. He repeated. "There is a way."
Before Tōma Jōjō could react, Accelerator stated the dangerous and terrifying conclusion.
"Write the document into my brain. With my reading and writing speed, I can complete the transfer before sending the letter."
"What a joke!" The Preceding Article sucked in a breath of cold air. "Do you know what the consequences are?!"
Accelerator showed an impatient expression. "Of course I know, but this has nothing to do with you."
Faced with the calm Number One, the panicked Shangjou appeared to be reckless. He looked up at Accelerator helplessly. The words he wanted to say to stop Accelerator were all jumbled up in his throat, and he couldn't form a complete sentence.
"But … it's too dangerous!"
"Tsk … You don't have to explain such shallow things."
Accelerator seemed to be casually leaning against the monitor. His usual arrogant smile disappeared from his face. He coldly looked down at the kneeling Preceding Article and said.
"What about you, Lv?
0？ Isn't it because you've given up hope that you're trembling on the ground right now? I'm different from you … In order to protect that fellow, my life is nothing. "
After a deathly silence, The Preceding Article finally opened his mouth with difficulty.
"If that's the case, then do it."
He couldn't predict the ending, and he didn't want to predict the ending.
The Preceding Article was still deeply confused about everything that had happened, but one thing was clear:
He and Accelerator were gambling with their lives — they wanted to redeem and save something.
"Accelerator … Can you promise me something?"
Academy City's Strongest didn't turn around when he heard the Preceding Article's question. He just coldly asked. "… What?"
The Preceding Article stared seriously at the murky white figure. He firmly and unquestionably said that sentence.
"Tell me the consequences of doing this. I won't stop you. I just want to hear it from you personally."
Of course, The Preceding Article didn't want Accelerator to encounter any mishaps. But from Number One's expression, this method of "protecting the 2.3 million people of Academy City" was bound to require a great sacrifice. The Preceding Article simply wanted to understand the pain and sacrifice Accelerator had to bear, so that he could share some of it.
Accelerator's expression instantly distorted. The flash of grief didn't escape the eyes of The Preceding Article. But the next second, the white-haired red-eyed esper slowly raised his hand to the side of his head and made a shooting gesture.
The Preceding Article's heart suddenly skipped a beat. A terrible emotion surged in his heart. He felt his breath trembling. His body felt cold and stiff as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
"Could it be … you'll …"
Accelerator tilted his head and stiffly finished his sentence.
"… I'll feel dizzy for a while."
"Huh?"
Before he recovered from this unexpected answer, The Preceding Article completely crashed. He heard Accelerator casually say, "The file is a bit big. If I completely write it, it will occupy part of my brain's memory, so it may cause slow reaction and dizziness … But these aren't big problems."
Then … there's really no problem? The Preceding Article's hanging heart finally calmed down. The sudden sense of relief hit him and made him almost collapse on the ground.
Accelerator looked at him silently. His red eyes emitted a breathtaking light in the darkness. The silent and blurred expression made The Preceding Article completely unable to guess his thoughts.
"Hey, there's something I want you to do."
[Is it Number One's condition?] The Preceding Article thought so and replied. "I'm listening."
"After writing the file, go to room 203 on the side. There is a secret passage directly to the third floor underground. This way, you can slightly avoid those bastards."
It was the first time he saw Accelerator like this. He was clearly saying normal words, but it was so dignified that it made people breathless. The Preceding Article felt a little strange, so he raised his head and asked anxiously. "Hey … what are you …?"
Then, Tōma Jōjō really regretted.
He regretted that he listened to Accelerator's lies.
Academy City's strongest, LV
5, the white haired red eyed monster, Accelerator, as if he was looking at him with disdain, as if he was laughing, as if he was crying.
"If I'm dead, destroy my body completely. I can't provide research materials for those bastards in Academy City. I'm sick of being toyed with even after death. "
Accelerator lied to Tōma Jōjō.
When he realized it, it was already too late.
The file occupied the memory of Accelerator's entire brain. This unusually large and precise file couldn't be hastily deleted. Because with Academy City's technology, it could still be restored according to the fragments left after the deletion. So Accelerator chose to store it in his brain, and then completely cut off his connection with the Osaka Networks. In a way, the file was sealed.
But this data was also a highly dangerous virus.
Writing it would have a destructive impact on his brain. Accelerator naturally knew this, but there was no way out.
The safety of 2.3 million people, in fact, this wasn't a reason.
Accelerator was willing to destroy his own existence just to protect the life of a ten year old girl.
Even though the Preceding Article knew this, he still couldn't stop it.
Even though he already noticed the abnormality of the First Article, he still didn't understand his intentions.
— — On the night of the 20th, the incubation period of the virus abruptly ended, and the terrible disease began. Then in this dark night of despair, the muddy and crazy white was about to disappear.
"Accelerator! Damn it … you bastard …! "
Trying to squeeze out a mournful cry from his throat, the Preceding Article jumped up from the floor and rushed to Accelerator.
What a joke! Silently dying and then pushing all the responsibility to others, he, Tōma Jōjō, would never allow — —!
The skinny white figure standing in front of the blood-red screen flashed. Accelerator revealed a familiar arrogant smile, as if he was reprimanding the previous owner, and laughed in a low voice.
"Hmph … so annoying."
Then, in the next moment, the warning pop-up windows on the screen were all forcibly closed, and a clear sound that made the Preceding Article fall into the abyss sounded.
— — That was the sound of the file being completely read and written, and also the knell for Accelerator's death.
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