"No signal." Mikoto said miserably as she tried for the 18th time to call Touma. "Figures..the phone toweer construction never made it this far North.
Lucy put a comforting hand on Mikoto's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm sure he's fine. It's not like he'll run into any Hydra Head members or anything...every living thing in that spell is going to be asleep."
"It looked dark when Laxus got swallowed up." said Mikoto. "He won't be able to see a thing."
"Hey!" said Natsu. "Touma's real tough..he won't let a little darkness get him down!"
Mikoto shook her head and put her phone back in her pocket. "Anyways...I guess the best we can do now is to keep moving North East.
"Well well.." said Shizuri walking after the group along with Saiai and Shiage. "Leaving so soon?"
"We don't have time to stick around." said Elli. "We need to get to the Ga-"
"Elli!" Mikoto cut off her little friend. "Not now.."
"Don't bother." said Shizuri. "I heard from Jellal all about your little prophecy and gate searching. I know where you're headed, after all, I'm the one who had that map before that strange man anyways."
"Of course." Mikoto muttered. "Of all the people who had to find out...it had to be you."
"Don't turn your nose up at it." said Shizuri. "I don't like that much either..in fact I rather despise you. But with the world ending and everything, you need all the help you can get."
"As much as might not like it.." said Lucy. "I'm afraid she's right Mikoto. We're practically walking right through Hydra Head territory, and if we run into somebody like Diablo Etwatia we'll need the backup."
"Diablo Etwatia." said Shizuri, her eyes glinting. "I'm actually hoping we run into him, he sounds like a real strong opponent."
"Don't be stupid." said Maverick who was perched on Nicole's shoulder. "Diablo Etwatia is beyond any of our level. Ms. Misaka was only able to defeat him through real special circumstances. His power is beyond that of any force on this planet, a fight against him is suicide."
"What he said." said Mikoto. "If we run up against any other Hydra Head member though..we stand and fight...however, if it's Diablo..I hate to say it, but it's better that we make sure he doesn't notice us at all costs, unless Nicole and Natsu feel like sharing some power with me.."
Mikoto was referring to a forbidden Dragon Born technique that had been used to defeat Diablo the first time. One Dragon Born would absorb the magic and elements of two other Dragon Borns, forcing him or her into a state called True Dragon Force.
"I would rather avoid using that technique again." said Nicole. "Even if the Dragon Born that uses that technique isn't an esper, True Dragon Force is extremely risky and only good as a last resort."
"Figures..." muttered Natsu. "Why does the good stuff always have a big risk?"
"Fish doesn't have a risk." said Happy.
Mikoto gave Shizuri a sharp glare. "If you do anything stupid to endanger my friends in any way..you're out of here...got it?"
"I'll keep that in mind." said Shizuri. "Thundaarix Junior."
Mikoto gritted her teeth angrilly. That was the first time anyone had made such a sarcastic comment about her dragon parentege. "Let's just keep moving.."
The group continued to walk for several miles. After a while, the forest ended, and the group entered what appeared to be a clear grassy plain full of extremely long grass that came up to their knees.
"I don't like this." said Natsu. "That mountain has a clear view of us...what's to stop a Hydra Head lookout from seeing our position?"
"Natsu's right." said Maverick. "But we don't have a choice...there is no sort of cover marked on the map. The best we can hope for is to move as quickly as possible.
"Man..I'm so not suited to this." said Shiage. "I can't hold a candle to you people with supernatural powers."
"You escaped me once after I tried to kill you." said Shizuri raising an eyebrow.
"That was different." Shiage muttered. "And you were so delirious you blasted off your own arm."
"Jeez." muttered Lucy. "When ITEM has issues you guys go overboard."
"It was a dark period in our history." said Shizuri.
Mikoto, who was leading the way with Elli sitting at her usual spot on her head sighed. ITEM had to be the complete opposite of Fairy Tail. The dirty jobs they did..the way the members tended to be at odds with each other...Frenda didn't die by accident.
"Mikoto..you okay?" Elli asked timidly. "You seem more on edge."
"Sorry Elli." said Mikoto. "I guess the lack of sleep is finally putting my stress into the snapped zone."
Focus..thought Mikoto. The last thing she needed to happen was to completely snap, or have another random episode about her Mental Intrusion. She needed to calm down..breathe.
It was at that moment that it happened. A flash of images went through Mikoto's mind. The chair..the anguish..the visions..the pain.
Mikoto fell to her knees and began breathing hard.
"MIKOTO!!" Elli cried out.
Without a single moment's hesitation, Lucy ran over and knealt next to Mikoto. "It's okay...breathe...focus only on my voice...just breathe."
At the moment, Mikoto was extremely glad that the grass was quite tall, because she could feel Shizuri looking curiously at the spot where she just fell.
"What's going on there?" said Shizuri a little irritably walking towards the spot.
Natsu and Nicole both stood in front of Shizuri, blocking her path.
"That's none of your concern." said Maverick who was hovering on his wings next to Happy.
"Aye!" said Happy. "It's not your business, so stay out of it!"
"..." Shizuri eyed the spot where Mikoto was for a bit. "Fine.."
Shizuri stepped back to wait next to Saiai. "What do you think?"
"I noticed some super psychological stress." said Saiai. "She's likely suffering from some sort of earlier truama. Can't tell much else though."
"That's what I thought." said Shizuri. "So Railgun is finally cracking...I always knew she couldn't be the stronger one."
Natsu heard what Shizuri had been saying. He walked right up to Meltdowner, flames coming off his body. "Ya lay off her!! This has nothing to do with whose stronger and who isn't! Anyways..she's way stronger then even you know!!"1
"Natsu was it?" said Shizuri. "Let me tell you a story, about a particularly famous dragon from my world."
"I ain't got the time for stupid stories." said Natsu. But his ears perked up in interest as they always did when he heard something about dragons."
"There used to be a particularly powerful dragon by the name of Plasmaris, the Lord of Antimatter." said Shizuri. "They say power could break down any object that was comprised of any matter down to nothing. He was also known as the Antimatter Dragon."
"I heard of him" said Nicole. "Plasmaris was feared by many dragons in his time thanks to the sheer instability of his power. Metalicanna once had to reason with him after Plasmaris went on an uncontrollable rampage when he saw humans had killed his young."
"Very good." said Shizuri. "You know your dragons."
"I'm actually surprised you know your dragons.." said Nicole. "From what I heard..you work mainly in the dark side of Academy City. I don't see how you could be so into dragons at that point."
"I'll let you know on a little secret." said Shizuri. "Over the past months since the project with Nelliel Curelean was scrapped, Academy City has been developing new research on dragons. Lately the theories say that chances are...there are about 16 Dragon Borns in each hemisphere, 5 of which are in Academy City. Nelliel and Railgun have already been determined, along with 2 others...the 5th..she was just recently discovered to be one about a week ago."
"The 5th..you know who it is.." said Nicole.
Shizuri smiled. "I won't tell you...actually rather show you...isn't that right? You scumbag hiding way over there!?"
The grass 20 meters away shifted as a thin lithe looking figure in red and black armor with black fabric mask completely covering his face emerged. Behind him, a figure wearing what appeared to be religious white robes, gloves and bhudists beads also emerged, however, the man bore no head or neck...like a headless man with his hands clasped in prayer.
"Not bad." said the thin armored figure. "I did not know espers had such keen senses."
Everyone stepped back, Lucy had Mikoto supported on her shoulder.
"And who are you supposed to be?" asked Nicole.
"I am Blitz Bone." said the armored figure. "The Stalker that slices through all things, and Number 40 of Hydra Head."
"I am Astralus." said the headless monk. "The Herald Who Prays At Doom's Doorstep, and Number 41 of Hydra Head."
Nicole activated her Ghost Dragon Talons as Natsu activated his guantlett sword. Lucy brought out a gold key while Saiai and Shiage brought their legs to a ready position. Loke, who had been following from behind, carrying the injured Minerva brought his glowing ring up in preperation to fight.
"Don't any of you bother." said Shizuri. "These fools are just the test subjects I need."
"Test subjects?" said Saiai. "Just what are you getting at?"
"You'll see." said Shizuri as her eyes flashed with glee. "I'm about to show Railgun who really is the stronger one."
The ground suddenly started to shake, as magic energy seemed to gather around Meltdowner. Suddenly a large clawed arm made out of thin photon energy sprouted out of Mugino's back. At first everyone thought it was one of Shizuri's Meltdowner arms...then it began to evolve. The fingers on the hand of the arm turned flat and wavy, like plasma ribbons, fluttering slowly in a nonexistant wind. Suddenly, 3 more arms of the same nature sprouted out of Meltdowner's back. The arms grew larger and larger, until each energy hand looked large enough to squeeze a car in it's grasp.
"The Dragon Born you were talking about.." said Nicole in shock. "It was you!!"
"Quite so..." said Meltdowner with a twisted grin. "And just like with puny Railgun here..my esper power expands the power of the dragon within me!!"
"Enough of this.." said Blitz Bone. "Your prideful boasts annoy me.."
Blitz Bone dissapeared in a burst of speed and reappeared behind Shizuri, his fingers morphed into bone-like spears. "Begone..vile human."
Suddenly, Mugino's energy arms lashed out at Blitz Bone, destroying the ground next to him as he dodged out of the way. But before he could speed off, the ribbon fingers of one of the arms shot out and wrapped around Blitz Bone's leg like a mummification.
Blitz Bone suddenly gave out a surprised cry as his leg suddenly vaporized on the spot.
Mugino laughed while Blitz Bone fell to the ground, bleeding profusely. Her energy arm's ribbon fingers retracted while she turned to look at the stunned creature. "What's this? I thought Hydra Head's members were all supposed to be really strong."
"No..wait.." Blitz Bone began.
Shizuri puffed up her cheeks. "ROAR OF THE ANTIMATTER DRAGON!!"
A powerful green blast of energy blasted out of Shizuri's mouth, leaving behind several shockwaves in it's wake as it collided with Blitz Bone. When the blast cleared...the grass before Shizuri had all been completely vaporized along with Blitz Bone...there was nothing left.
"Blitz.." Astralus said with a quavery voice. "My prayers go with you."
Astralus got into what looked like a martial arts stance. "Prayers won't save you woman..prepare yourself..for the ultimate reckoning."
"You're the one that should be praying.." said Shizuri. "Praying that you go as quick and painless as your friend there that is."
Shizuri's Antimatter Arms stretched and shot out like ever lengthening tendrils, aiming to grab Astralus.
Astralus however, proved himself to be quite quick and agile, doing somersaults and dodging and weaving through the malicious antimatter.
However, just as he was getting close to Shizuri and was readying what appeared to be a palm thrust attack, The arms suddenly split themselves apart into over 20 arms and doubled back, causing Astralus to retreat as the Antimatter Arms tore apart the ground.
Several Meltdowner beams fired themselves at Astralus, who dodged once again.
"You've got good reflexes." said Shizuri. "But play time's over." Shizuri raised her hands to the air as her Antimatter Arms did the same. "Secret Art: Overlord Wasteland of The Antimatter Dragon."
The arms all raised themselves to the air as well...and 20 feet above, a tremendous sphere of green energy about 40 feet in diameter formed. The sphere threw itself at Astralus, who yelled out as a tremendous explosion of light engulfed him. When the light dissapeared..nothing was left except for a massive smoking crater.
Everyone stared as Meltdowner laughed. "Now that was refreshing!!"
"Sc-scary." said Happy.
"..." Mikoto stood up by herself a little awkwardly and looked at Shizuri with an unreadable expression.
"What?" said Shizuri looking at Mikoto smugly. "Finally realized you're not the only powerhouse around here?"
"Strength isn't always about power...you've got a lot of power alright...as for whether you're strong, I don't know you well enough to tell how strong you are." said Mikoto.
Shizuri opened her mouth..then closed it. Her Antimatter Hands grabbed and clenched the air angrilly. "That makes no sense!!"
"Makes a whole lot of sense to me." said Natsu.
Shizuri pointed at Mikoto furiously. "That's it!! After this is all over...if you and I are still alive by the end of this, we're going to have a proper battle to see whose really stronger!! Then when that's over with, I'll take that Laxus fellow down a few notches too!"
Mikoto continued to look at Shizuri silently for a second, then she turned around and continued walking without a word.
Shizuri looked shocked. "What is with you!!?"
Lucy stared after Mikoto as well. The Mikoto she knew would have accepted a challenge to a fight with open arms...but she knew why this time it was a no go...Mikoto didn't think she would be alive when this was all over. To her, after the Gate Of Entry was opened, she would be embarking on her final journey.
Shizuri angrilly ran after Mikoto, her Antimatter Arms dissipating as she ran. "Hey!! Don't just ignore me!!"
Shizuri grasped Mikoto's shoulder. Immediately there was a crackle of black electricity and Mikoto turned around vicously and pulled Shizuri's arm off. One of her eyes turned black with a round moon like white pupil.
"You think power will bring you happiness!?" growled Mikoto. "Well you're wrong...Look deep in yourself for what you'll do with your own power Shizuri Mugino...because unless you watch out..That power will consume you and stomp on your skull!"
Mikoto pushed Shizuri away as she reverted back to normal and continued walking. Shizuri Mugino stayed pretty silent for a long while after that.
Information on Plasmaris and Shizuri Mugino's Dragon Born powers.
It is still uncertain how Meltdowner came to be blessed by the dragon Plasmaris who mainly dwelled in the Earthland dimension, however, it is definitely certain that not many of Shizuri's own family even know, save her mother, who had to be present when her womb was blessed. And as Shizuri already came from a well off family, Plasmaris never felt the need to contact her, knowing that due to certain unreadable circumstances, Shizuri would not become the girl of prophecy to defeat Dravis. He knew however, that it was possible Shizuri might bear this burden if she somehow became too involved in magic..so he cast spells around her to ensure that her involvement in the magic world was minimal...though of course, after she got older, the enchantment weakened, and she began to become involved in the occult anyways. However, by then, Mikoto Misaka had already fufilled the necessary requirements for the prophecy, and the fates were sealed.
As is the usual theory, it is likely Shizuri's Meltdowner ability stemmed from the nature of her Dragon's blood. And as a result, she could eat her Meltdowner energy as well as other types of matter decomposing energy to refuel her magic. While her Antimatter arms make Shizuri completely immune to any sort of attack composed of solid matter, energy attacks, such as electricity, can still harm her, though her ability still allows her to redirect electron based attacks. While Antimatter Dragon Borns do possess an extreme amount of offensive power, their defenses are rather brittle, not possessing the same durability as Thunder, Fire, and Iron Dragon Slayers, a small price they pay for possessing such unrelentingly powerful attacks.