I Am Honkai

"Year-end assessment?"

On the phone, the principal of Tokiwadai Middle School expressed to Selene her wish for her to participate in the school's year-end assessment tomorrow.

Although Selene is considered a Gemstone ability user (in their eyes), and physical assessment basically doesn't have much use for her, she is Academy City's number one—a golden promotional brand.

"Okay, I understand. I will definitely participate on time." It's basically like a final exam. Since the principal has given her so much special treatment, she has to show some respect.

Selene has been enrolled at Tokiwadai Middle School for a full academic year. After the assessment, it will be winter vacation, and next year she will start her second year of middle school.

Speaking of which, it's a bit embarrassing. Because she frequently goes out, she hasn't interacted much with Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki, who also attend Tokiwadai, at most having seen them from a distance.

...

In the sky over the seventh district of Academy City, an oval-shaped hot air balloon was floating along a fixed trajectory.

This hot air balloon was launched by the General Director Council under the pretext of "helping students become more aware of current events." The underside of the ship has a huge, latest model, ultra-thin screen that broadcasts weather forecasts, news, and other information.

The ship is powered by solar energy, which drives a heater to warm the carbon dioxide inside the ship to produce buoyancy, and uses a massive motor to generate forward momentum. It can be said to be a high-tech product that does not require fuel.

"Announcement: Today's physical assessments will be conducted at the following schools: Tokiwadai Private Middle School (full name), Sakugawa Middle School, Asahi Middle School..."

Although it is called a physical assessment, it is actually a publicity event.

The scale of this year's Tokiwadai Middle School physical assessment is particularly grand, attracting major news media from Academy City. As far as the eye can see, there are "long guns and short cannons" (a metaphor for large cameras and other media equipment).

The assessment process for each ability user is like an international pop star concert, attracting the attention of most people on the scene.

But the major media outlets were not drawn here by them, and the news broadcast was not for them either. They are just the appetizers—the main course is still to come.

Level 5 Espers are like rare treasures. Among the 2.3 million students, there are only eight, and in Academy City, they have a deadly appeal to ordinary students.

Tokiwadai Middle School alone accounts for three of these:

Number One, "Will of Honkai," Space Manipulation, Selene von Habsburg.

Number Four, "Railgun," Electromaster, Misaka Mikoto.

Number Six, "Mental Out," Shokuhou Misaki.

For this assessment, Tokiwadai Middle School has organized three Level 5 Espers. In the records of Academy City, three Level 5 Espers gathering at a single assessment point is unprecedented.

This is too strong.

High-level Espers are like celebrities in the hearts of most students. That a school can have so many Espers fills countless students watching the broadcast with a desire—they too want to go to the School Garden and attend Tokiwadai Middle School.

It can be foreseen that next year, the competition for admissions to Tokiwadai Middle School and even other related schools in the School Garden will be exceptionally fierce.

After the assessments for Level 3 and Level 4 Espers were completed, the finale featuring Level 5 Espers was set to begin.

Undoubtedly, Selene was the last to be tested. She had already replaced [Accelerator] as the highest combat power in Academy City, and as a member of the General Director Council, she also has her own faction.

She is now undoubtedly standing at the top of Academy City.

After the assessments for other levels of Espers were completed, a timely announcement came over the campus radio: "Now, let's welcome the Level 5 Espers to the stage."

Amidst the cheers, the field revealed a nearly thousand-square-meter-wide platform and an audience of over ten thousand students (don't think it's too big—FIFA's standard football field size is 7,140 square meters).

For this event, even the conservative Tokiwadai Middle School went all out and opened up the campus.

The first Level 5 to take the stage had honey-colored long hair, a slender waist, long legs, and a chest that seemed more developed than that of a typical middle school student. Her features were delicate. Outside of her school uniform, she wore white lace stockings and gloves with a spider web pattern.

This was "Mental Out," Shokuhou Misaki.

Honestly, her ability is a complex psychic-type power that encompasses numerous mental phenomena. With this power, Shokuhou Misaki can achieve mind-reading, mind control, perception alteration, and 3,000 other effects. It is not easy to demonstrate, and it easily provokes dislike.

But none of this could quell the fiery hearts of the middle school students. After a long explanation, the school allowed Shokuhou Misaki to perform a small demonstration, controlling the movements of many people without reading memories.

This first Level 5 assessment gave many people their first direct understanding of what it means to be a Level 5 Esper, demonstrating strategic value and the ability to single-handedly confront an army.

Soon, the second Level 5 assessment began. Entering the audience's view was a younger girl, properly dressed in her school uniform, with shoulder-length chestnut brown hair, appearing somewhat nervous.

With timely commentary, the audience was incredulous to learn that this slightly nervous girl was the fourth-ranked Railgun, Misaka Mikoto.

In contrast, Misaka Mikoto's assessment was much more straightforward. She is the most powerful Electromaster in Academy City, with a known maximum voltage of 1 billion volts. It is said that her firepower is comparable to that of a cruiser.

Click, click.

The platform unfolded, revealing the swimming pool below, while nearby staff prepared a pile of testing machinery and equipment.

After all, without the pool's water as a buffer, the demonstration of the Railgun would not be able to properly measure its destructive power.

"Okay, the test site is ready, and the recording equipment is calibrated. Misaka, you may begin," the lead official signaled to Misaka Mikoto.

Then Misaka Mikoto began her performance. She was seen holding several coins (the ammunition for her Railgun), tossing them up and down in her hand.

Boom!

A dazzling flash of lightning crossed the water's surface, and scattered blue and white electric arcs covered the entire pool.

The sound of the blue-white thunder column hitting the water echoed like a midday thunder, causing the calm surface to explode instantly, sending a massive water column soaring 50-60 meters high. The enormous commotion nearly reverberated throughout the entire venue.

Sizzle!

As the water column fell, the rippling water surface sparked with electricity.

Before the audience could catch their breath—

Boom!

Another loud explosion, and another massive water column shot skyward.

After a continuous sequence of seven impact tests was completed—

"Recording: Projectile initial velocity, approximately 1010 meters per second; firing capability, seven shots per minute; impact point distribution, 18.9 millimeters; comprehensive evaluation, Level 5 Esper."

The test results were broadcast over the speakers, waking the audience from their dream-like state, leading to a chorus of exclamations, praises, and cheers.

Responding to the audience's cheers, Misaka Mikoto slightly bowed to express her gratitude, then ended her assessment and left the platform.

"Whew, that was a bit nerve-wracking. Why are there so many people at this year's assessment? I hope I didn't mess up."

Walking through the corridor toward the lounge, Misaka Mikoto talked to herself for encouragement and suddenly noticed a well-proportioned girl with starry eyes already sitting in the lounge.