A Scientific Urban Detective

Although Lin Wuming temporarily withdrew from the direct confrontation on the front line, he didn't relax for a moment. Instead, he took the opportunity to focus his attention on observing Aureolus, trying to decipher the principles of his "alchemy" – using the system of superpowers.

Lin Wuming had a "Catalog of Superpowers" stored in his mind, encompassing a wide range of abilities. Theoretically, with these superpowers, Lin Wuming could achieve effects similar to the "Golden Great Rite" – constructing a world with superpowers.

It was based on this idea that Lin Wuming wanted to try to interpret "alchemy" in his own way.

But after watching just now...

"As expected, I still can't understand it!" Lin Wuming gave up his last attempt.

The commotion caused in public was already serious enough, and Lin Wuming didn't plan to delay any longer.

Lin Wuming raised his pistol. This time, he placed the muzzle directly against his temple and pulled the trigger at point-blank range!

Seeing this, Aureolus couldn't help but be stunned. He had originally planned to create a barrage of flintlock guns, but Lin Wuming on the opposite side actually committed suicide... What kind of operation was that?

Without giving him a chance to be puzzled, Aureolus's body suffered an invisible impact.

It was as if he had been hit head-on by heavily armed heavy cavalry... no, it should be a heavy tank.

His body collapsed, like a porcelain object falling to the ground, shattering into countless uniform small pieces with a crisp sound...

"Ah, so... that's how it is..." At the last moment of life and death, a realization suddenly dawned in Aureolus's consciousness.

– So, I'm also a substitute.

This body that shattered so easily couldn't possibly be the real "human body."

He had originally thought that the one staying in the Misawa Cram School headquarters, maintaining the energy supply for the "Mobile Misawa Cram School," was Aureolus's substitute.

But thinking about it carefully, how could the real Aureolus本体 (běntǐ - main body) easily leave his domain and venture out in person?

– I finally remember, I'm also a substitute, the second substitute!

The first substitute Aureolus created was that guy specializing in "Instant Alchemy," whose job was to act as a guard and decoy, assisting in the defense of the Misawa Cram School's main camp.

And he was the second substitute, even more advanced than the first – because in a sense, he could be regarded as Aureolus's "backup."

Because the alchemist Aureolus had made some modifications to his 本体 (běntǐ - main body), to leave himself a way out, he created this "second substitute."

Substitutes have their advantages, the most significant of which is – there is no such thing as a "fatal wound."

Substitute Number Two's mental fortitude was obviously much stronger than Number One's. After discovering the truth, he didn't suffer a mental breakdown, but instead made full use of the advantages of this body at the first opportunity.

– Golden Transformation of the Whole Body!

Then, literally "recasting his body in gold."

Anyway, it wasn't a human body, so repairing it was very simple.

However, there were also drawbacks to doing so.

"His whole body turned into gold?" Misaka Mikoto's eyes lit up, and she manipulated electromagnetic force to grab him.

"Ah, ah, I knew it would turn out like this. Superpowers are really troublesome..." Substitute Number Two thought silently, then looked at Index, who had already run far away, "It seems a bit difficult to complete the mission."

...

"Tsk, have I been discovered?"

Inside the Misawa Cram School, Aureolus looked gloomy: "As expected, substitutes alone are no match for them."

Not only was Substitute Number Two, who was sent to the Sixth District to retrieve Index, discovered, but almost at the same time, Substitute Number One inside the Misawa Cram School was also identified and defeated by Stiyl and another intruder.

"Unfortunately, I can't be in two places at once." Aureolus snorted, pulled out the silver needle from the back of his neck, "I can only take things one step at a time..."

Casually discarding the used silver needle, Aureolus disappeared from the spot.

When he reappeared, he was already in front of Stiyl and Kamijou Touma.

"Long time no see," greeting him was Stiyl's flames, "You're finally willing to show your face, Aureolus!"

Raging flames burned, gathering into a fire giant – it was Stiyl's signature magic, "Fortitudo Superbiae"!

In the "small world" created by the alchemist, Stiyl used the rune cards he brought to forcibly carve out a domain of his own.

The surface temperature of "Fortitudo Superbiae" was as high as three thousand degrees Celsius, a temperature that could easily melt even gold.

The serious Stiyl had no intention of restraining this terrifying heat, allowing the fire monster he summoned to turn the surroundings into a purgatory!

Kamijou Touma had no time to worry about anything else and quickly maneuvered his wheelchair, shrinking his body completely behind Stiyl.

Only at this moment did Kamijou Touma realize how much Stiyl had held back when they fought in the hallway outside his apartment last time.

Now it seemed that "Fortitudo Superbiae," even if it did nothing, could instantly ignite the entire floor with its own heat radiation, and incidentally roast himself and Index in the hallway...

The terrifying heat was not an "ability" that the Imagine Breaker could eliminate, but an objective physical phenomenon.

The previous Aureolus's substitute had melted and ascended to heaven under this terrifying heat.

Now, the real Aureolus had also plunged into the "purgatory" set up by Stiyl...

"It's over." Seeing this, Kamijou Touma couldn't help but think.

And he mourned for Aureolus in his heart – after all, he had once been Index's companion, but now they had to fight each other...

Just then, the surrounding temperature plummeted, as if a black hole had appeared, continuously absorbing heat.

The flames in the "purgatory" gradually receded, and after the fire went out, Aureolus's unscathed figure was revealed.

"As expected of the 'Golden Great Rite,' here, you are almost immortal, aren't you?" Stiyl said with a straight face.

Until just now, he had been in control of the situation; so Stiyl was very clear – Aureolus had indeed been hit!

The alchemist had been only a hair's breadth away from being burned to death!

However, for battles between magicians, this "hair's breadth" is often the most difficult chasm to cross.

Therefore, the current result was that Aureolus survived and was "unscathed."

His body instantly returned to its original state, and the clothes on his body were also refreshed in sync.

In the eyes of the bystander Kamijou Touma, Aureolus seemed as if he had never been injured.

"I'm sorry, Stiyl." Aureolus smiled calmly, "Just now was the only chance you had to defeat me."

As Aureolus regained control of this area, brilliant golden light gradually spread, turning all the rune cards pasted on the walls and ground into gold...

The flames went out.