Amegakure Village's Angel: So, in the end, Ruiko-chan and Misaka Mikoto didn't settle the fight?
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Nope. We didn't fight for long, and neither of us went all out. But if we had kept going, I think I would've lost.
She was much faster than Misaka Mikoto, but she couldn't get close. Misaka Mikoto's electromagnetic barrier countered her Taijutsu, and using weapons would have been too much.
Curly-haired Guy: Giving up halfway? That's no good, Ruiko-chan! A warrior's soul will weep!
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: I keep telling you, I don't have anything like that!
This is an Actor: Why do you think you would've lost? At the end of the day, Misaka Mikoto is just another middle schooler like you. It was basically a fight between two rookies. How did you come to the conclusion that you would lose?
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: …Rookies?
Curly-haired Guy: Pfft! There it is, another one of Anzen's "wonderful" metaphors!
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Uh… While it's true that Ruiko and Misaka Mikoto probably don't have much experience in real combat, isn't "rookie fight" a bit too harsh?
This is an Actor: I'm just stating the facts.
And for Aizen, it was the truth.
Curly-haired Guy: Hey, don't tell me you actually think you're Aizen? At the end of the day, you're just a regular person, you know. And that Railgun attack—Ruiko-chan definitely can't stop it right now!
This is an Actor: Then why give her the chance to fire it in the first place? Is Shunpo just for show? Using binding spells with Shunpo would easily take her down.
Curly-haired Guy: You're just talking big! You're making it sound like beating Misaka Mikoto is as easy as lifting a finger!
This is an Actor: Isn't it?
Amegakure Village's Angel: Anzen-san, aren't you exaggerating a little? Though, I do like your confidence and calm attitude. But still, Misaka Mikoto is no pushover.
At least Konan doesn't think she can block Misaka Mikoto's Railgun. Well, at least not yet.
Curly-haired Guy: Ha! Even Konan said that, and you're still arguing? Konan is the strongest in this group—at least for now!
Shark-Faced Guy: Well, well, looks like the group leader is being underestimated.
The strongest in this group? Konan?
Kisame almost burst out laughing.
But he didn't say anything because, honestly, seeing the supposedly invincible Aizen take a loss was way too entertaining—like discovering a whole new world!
Aizen, of course, wasn't angry. With his level of composure, getting upset over something like this was impossible. Instead, he continued the conversation and asked, "Temporarily? So that means you believe you'll surpass Konan?"
Curly-haired Guy: It's not about belief, it's just a fact. One more lucky draw, and I'll definitely become the strongest in the world—no, in the multiverse!
This is an Actor: I see, the strongest in the multiverse, huh? I'd love to believe you, but when it comes to lucky draws…
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: That just reminds me of the bear-print panties.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Hahaha! I can totally picture it! The ultimate being of the universe, Sakata Gintoki, wearing bear-print underwear on his head!
Shark-Faced Guy: Well, technically speaking, with that lucky draw, Gintoki-san really could become the strongest in the multiverse… in a certain way.
Amegakure Village's Angel: The strongest pervert in the multiverse?
Curly-haired Guy: Shut up! Shut up, you bastards! How dare you mock me?! You're all finished! I swear, you're all doomed!
Doujin Artist: We're doomed.
Curly-haired Guy: That's right! Every single one of you is doomed! I've decided—once I become the king of the multiverse, you'll all have to stay home sewing underwear every day. And not new ones—used ones!
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Sewing underwear…
Doujin Artist: ? What the hell are you talking about? I meant we're doomed because of this! [Image]
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Is that… a rat?
They clicked on the image, and what appeared on the screen was a strange, dark gray creature.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary rat. But its size was dozens of times larger than usual, and the front of its head was covered with thick black scales.
Doujin Artist: No idea. I just randomly saw it in an alley. And it was fast—gone in the blink of an eye.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: That thing looks terrifying! What the hell has it been eating to grow that big?
This is an Actor: Fukushima nuclear wastewater?
Curly-haired Guy: ?
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Nuclear wastewater?
Doujin Artist: Pfft, why would Anzen-san think of that?
This is an Actor: Because on my Earth, Japan has been dumping nuclear wastewater into the ocean. If the same thing is happening where you are, then it's no surprise creatures like this are mutating.
Curly-haired Guy: Whoa, wait—dumping nuclear wastewater into the ocean? Are you serious? How insane do you have to be to do something like that?! Are the people in charge over there completely heartless? No, even animals know to protect their environment!
At that moment, Sakata Gintoki felt a shiver down his spine. His eyes nervously drifted toward Kagura.
"What's wrong, Gin-chan?" Kagura asked, chewing on her favorite pickled seaweed.
"N-nothing," Sakata Gintoki exhaled and said, "Kagura-chan… maybe you should cut back on eating that stuff."
He was seriously worried that this seaweed-loving girl might end up growing four heads and eight arms. Just the thought of it was horrifying.
Doujin Artist: That shouldn't be happening here, right? I mean, I haven't seen any news reports about mutated creatures like this.
Even as she said it, Eriri wasn't entirely sure.
Curly-haired Guy: Maybe it's not that they haven't reported it—maybe they're covering it up. Wake up! Those so-called 'big shots' don't want bad news that could threaten their control getting out!
Doujin Artist: Then… what do we do? These things won't start attacking people, will they?
This is an Actor: If they haven't been openly running around biting people in the streets, then it's probably not too serious—yet. But you should learn how to protect yourself.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Anzen-san, are you saying these giant rats might actually attack humans one day?
This is an Actor: It's not just about the rats. Eriri, do you remember that news story you saw earlier? The record-breaking giant anaconda.
Doujin Artist: You mean...
This is an Actor: Yeah. The same kind of abnormal growth, the same kind of unnatural change. Could they be caused by the same thing? If so, then it's a sign.
Amegakure Village's Angel: A sign of what?
This is an Actor: The world is changing.
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