Zongman: The post-2D era

Sakura Matou was startled and looked down at the inconspicuous trash can with a frown on her face.

"The inherent barrier refers to an independent space created by a person with powerful abilities with his own will, isolated from the real world."

As she explained, she turned her gaze to Feng Feng, who was staring at a surveillance camera on a street corner not far away, with a strange light in his eyes.

"Feng Feng, is there any news from Misaka Mikoto? Has she found an exit to leave this different dimension?"

Feng Feng shook his head with a solemn expression. The cold light reflected from the surveillance screen shone on his tightly pursed lips, making the atmosphere even more depressing.

Chen Guangwei and Matou Sakura, who control the circular trash can, discuss the "Inherent Barrier.

Feng Feng had sharp eyes and suddenly caught a flash of lightning in the sky that broke through the haze. Then, Misaka Mikoto was wrapped in dazzling lightning and landed on the top of a tall building not far away, making the surrounding air buzz.

Her figure appeared and disappeared in the lightning, like a goddess controlling thunder.

Feng Feng's heart moved, and he walked towards her direction without hesitation.

On the top of a tall building, Misaka Mikoto had flying hair and an unyielding light in her eyes. She was looking around, as if looking for something.

When Feng Feng approached her, he could clearly feel the strength and determination emanating from her that should not be underestimated.

Feng Feng climbed up to the top floor of the tall building breathlessly, only to see Misaka Mikoto sitting alone on the edge of the rooftop, her legs dangling in the air, playing with an aluminum can of orange juice in her hand, occasionally spinning it lightly, making a slight metallic friction sound.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the gaps in the clouds, sprinkling on her in patches, giving her a faint golden glow.

Her eyes passed through the sparse clouds, as if she was searching for some distant answer. Feng Feng approached slowly and sat down beside her quietly, fearing to disturb this rare tranquility.

The two men sat side by side, each with their own thoughts. Everything around them seemed to have stopped, leaving only the occasional thunder in the distance, echoing with the waves in their hearts.

Feng Feng followed Misaka Mikoto's gaze towards the rolling thunderclouds, and an inexplicable throbbing surged in his heart.

Misaka Mikoto's voice was low and firm. She slowly said, "I tried to go through those thunderclouds, thinking I could find clues to the outside world, but all I saw was an endless dark space."

"That darkness seemed to swallow everything. Even my lightning could not illuminate it. However, in this endless darkness, the only thing that could be clearly seen was the outline of Academy City. It was suspended alone, like an isolated island imprisoned by some force."

Her eyes revealed an indescribable loneliness and determination, as if she was determined to challenge the unknown darkness once again.

"I will find a way to get you out of this city."

Feng Feng stared at Misaka Mikoto, his eyes full of curiosity: "Misaka, what is the relationship between you and Chen Guangwei?"

Misaka Mikoto gently stroked the aluminum can in her hand, her eyes seemed to drift to the distant past: "That was when I was still very weak, only level one, and was full of confusion about everything."

"I met Chen Guang Yui by chance. At that time, she was already a well-known genius researcher in Academy City."

"With her help, I gradually understood my own power, and progressed from my initial immaturity to my current level five. She is an indispensable person on my path to growth."

As she spoke, a gleam of gratitude flashed in Misaka Mikoto's eyes, as if that time was replaying before her eyes, and Chen Guangwei's rigorous and gentle face became clearer and clearer in her mind.

Inside the second branch of the Morning Light Research Institute, Hunchback stared at the two people sitting side by side on the rooftop on the computer screen and complained, "Two idiots!"

Shokuhou Misaki held her face in her hands and kneaded it into dough, staring at Feng Feng on the screen and sighed, "What an amazing man! He's not strong, but nothing seems to be able to stump him!"

Feng Feng frowned, looked at Misaka Mikoto with deep eyes, and asked in a low voice: "Misaka, why did Chen Guangwei brainwash you? Is there any unknown secret behind this?"

Misaka Mikoto lowered her eyes slightly, her fingers unconsciously twirling her hair, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness: "At that time, I was eager to break through myself and save the Misaka sisters! I had the crazy idea of ​​moving from level five to level six."

"However, I didn't know at that time that leveling up couldn't be achieved through hard work alone. It required timing and opportunity, and more importantly, whether my consciousness could withstand the impact of that power."

"Morning Light is only her... She was worried that I would not be able to withstand the power of level six and that my consciousness would collapse under that power, so she chose to brainwash me and make me forget that obsession temporarily."

Feng Feng nodded in understanding, looking at Misaka Mikoto with gentle but firm eyes:

"Misaka, I found the reason why we can't easily leave this inherent barrier. It's your heart that has built an insurmountable wall."

When Misaka Mikoto heard this, her eyes trembled slightly, as if the softest part of her heart was touched.

She lowered her head, her long hair covering half of her face, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito:

"I... I actually know. I don't want Chen Guangwei to face those unknown judgments and possible dangers after he goes out. This worry has unconsciously become a 'psychological limit' that binds us."

The afterglow of the setting sun gradually faded, and night fell quietly. On the top of the tall building, the two were wrapped in the faint night, and Misaka Mikoto's figure looked particularly thin and stubborn in the night.

"But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself, the exit just wouldn't appear!!"

There were complex emotions flashing in her eyes, confusion about the future and attachment to the past.

Chapter 869: The Genius Trapped in the Heart

Friday, November 18

The sky over Academy City was still overcast with dark clouds, but Misaka Mikoto's lightning illuminated the entire city, and the deserted streets looked like a ghost town.

Matou Sakura and Feng Feng walked towards the research institute.

In the second branch of the Morning Light Research Institute, Chen Guangwei looked at Misaka Mikoto who was unconscious on the experimental table and murmured:

"Those two guys sensed something was wrong and came to kill me!"

"If I die, you will leave this strange dimension."

Matou Sakura and Feng Feng walked along the deserted street and entered the gate of the research center.

Sakura Matou's footsteps echoed in the empty hall of the research institute. Her eyes were sharp as she stared directly at Feng Feng who was leading the way in front.

"What are you going to do with Chen Guangwei this time?" Her voice was calm and firm, as if she was prepared for the upcoming decision.

Feng Feng stopped, turned around, gently stroked his chin with his fingers, and there was a gleam of curiosity and amusement in his eyes.

"What I want to know more is how she managed to knock out a Level 6 esper like Misaka Mikoto."

There was an undeniable desire for inquiry in his words, as if he was standing in front of a complex painting, savoring every detail and mystery in it.

Matou Sakura's eyes suddenly became sharp. She took a step closer, looked directly into Feng Feng's eyes, and spoke in a low and powerful voice:

"Are you asking these questions to find out some dirty secret? Misaka Mikoto's condition has nothing to do with the purpose of our trip!"

Feng Feng's lips curled up into a playful smile, but he didn't answer directly. He just turned his head slightly to avoid Matou Sakura's gaze.

At this moment, Chen Guangwei's figure slowly walked in from the other end of the passage. Her face was pale but full of determination. She walked towards Feng Feng step by step, holding a suicide note tightly in her hand.

"Mr. Fengfeng, please do me a favor and bring Misaka Mikoto back to the real Academy City. This is the only way out, and it is also... my request."

There was unquestionable determination in her words, as if every word carried a heavy weight.

Matou Sakura frowned, and Misaka Mikoto's determined eyes flashed through her mind. She took a step forward, her eyes sharp:

"Chen Guangwei, Misaka Mikoto...she wanted to take you back, why did you let her go?"

Chen Guangwei's body trembled slightly, and she clenched the suicide note in her hand even tighter. She looked up at Matou Sakura, her eyes full of determination and sadness:

"Because I owe her this, I have to pay it back."

Feng Feng sneered, put his hands in his pockets, and looked cold: "Chen Guangwei, do you think we will listen to you? Take Misaka Mikoto back?"

"Isn't that asking for trouble? She's a level 6 esper. If we return to the real Academy City, we'll all be hunted down!"

As he spoke, his eyes swept over Chen Guangwei, full of contempt and disdain.

Sakura Matou walked slowly to the experimental table and stared at the unconscious Misaka Mikoto. Her face, which still maintained an unyielding will, made her feel mixed emotions.

At this time, Chen Guangwei stood aside, holding the suicide note tightly in his hand, his eyes revealing a kind of relief after determination.

She opened her red lips slightly and whispered a few words to Misaka Mikoto, as if she was saying a silent farewell.

Then, Chen Guangwei gently placed his hand on Misaka Mikoto's forehead. A faint light flashed, and Misaka Mikoto's eyelids trembled slightly and slowly opened.

Those bright eyes with lightning flashed with confusion and the haziness of just awakening, and the whole room seemed to be illuminated by the light of this moment.

Sakura Matou was staring at Misaka Mikoto. Suddenly, a current-like energy wave surged out of Misaka Mikoto, and she grabbed Sakura Matou's wrist.

Matou Sakura only felt a flash before her eyes, and her body began to become illusory and transparent, as if she was being sucked into another space.

There was a flash of determination after confusion in Misaka Mikoto's eyes. She seemed to be fighting against some force, yet guiding it all.

Seeing this, Chen Guangwei hurriedly stopped in front of Feng Feng, her voice filled with a hint of determination and pleading:

"Mr. Fengfeng, Misaka Mikoto will send Matou Sakura back to reality. This is her choice and our only hope."

Chen Guangwei's eyes were full of trust and expectation. She stared at Feng Feng closely, as if she wanted to imprint this determination in his heart.

Feng Feng seemed to be stunned by this power and determination for a moment and stood there in a daze.

The figures of Matou Sakura and Misaka Mikoto gradually became blurred, like diluted ink paintings, slowly blending into the surrounding air.

Misaka Mikoto's eyes were full of struggle and reluctance. She held Matou Sakura's hand tightly, as if she wanted to pass all her strength and will to her.

A gentle smile appeared on Matou Sakura's face, and she said softly: "Waiting for your return."

Although her voice was soft, it was full of unquestionable firmness. Misaka Mikoto's lips moved slightly, and finally she uttered only one word: "Don't..."

This word was like a heavy drumbeat, echoing in the empty laboratory. As their figures completely disappeared, only a faint flash of lightning and echo remained in the air for a long time.

Chen Guangwei's tense nerves finally relaxed. She slowly exhaled and turned her gaze to Feng Feng with a hint of confusion and doubt in her eyes.

Feng Feng stood there, looking at the direction where Misaka Mikoto and Matou Sakura disappeared with empty eyes, as if his soul had been taken away.

Chen Guangwei was secretly wondering why he didn't take action to stop all this.

"Why don't you stop me? With your intelligence, there should be many ways to stop me. You are a "genius" recognized by Shokuhou and I!"

She looked around. This strange space constructed by mental power began to show mottled cracks after Misaka Mikoto left, like an old mural, gradually fading and peeling off.

Chen Guangwei knew that this space was about to collapse, and she and Feng Feng would disappear with it, but an indescribable sense of emptiness and loss rose in her heart.

Chen Guangwei woke up suddenly, as if she was suddenly whipped by an invisible force. She shuddered all over, sweat poured down her face, and her face turned pale in an instant.

She screamed out of control: "Shokuhou Misaki!" The scream echoed in the empty laboratory, carrying endless fear and anxiety.

Feng Feng tilted his head when he heard the voice, a playful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and his eyes flashed with a light of insight.

He just clapped his hands lightly, and an invisible wave spread out in the space.

Then, a figure slowly walked out of the shadows. It was Shokuhou Misaki, with a cunning smile on her face like a little fox eating a chicken.

"Misaka Mikoto is gone. How can a normal person like you resist my psychological control?"

She put her hands on her hips, her eyes full of pride and teasing, as if everything was under her control.

"Not only will this special psychological world not disappear, it will become the key for me to ascend to Level 6, your cage!"

Chapter 870 A sudden turn of events

Saturday, November 19