“This number isn’t much… but the Amakusa are really something. They used the position of the runes to form a large picture, setting it up such that there’s a magical meaning throughout this entire place- which means that the Church of Orsola has become a giant magic array. And they even placed this construct outside the effective area in order to prevent the boy’s right hand from destroying it… Such a multi-structured magic array that includes and uses so many things, although it’s unorthodox, I may end up spending a lifetime studying this and still be unable to finish learning it.”

Stiyl proudly looks at the lump of fire in front of him.

“Thanks to them, the rune cards had been set up. Come to think of it, almost everything had been set up before the battle, and we were just touching it up just now, like filling up the missing parts of a jigsaw puzzle. Oh, yeah, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m never the type that will run around as they fight; I prefer to stand at one point and wait. Because of some reason, I need this kind of magic.”

The doors of the church are opened, and one can see the scenery outside. On the flat stone atrium, where there’s not even a single blade of grass, burn marks from the magical flames are everywhere. The nuns in black robes are lying all over the place. Their flesh aren’t burnt to ash, nor are they seriously burned.

Those explosions that they heard just now were likely from this flame monster.

The shockwaves caused by the flames pushing the air away had sent the nuns sprawling on the floor.

These nuns that couldn’t get up are just comatose.

Though only a fifth of the nuns have lost their combat capabilities, the destructive capabilities of "Innocentius" scare the rest, causing them to grit their teeth, not daring to rush forward.

Because they know that once they get near carelessly, they’ll be the next victim of the flames and heat.

“I told you just now that we played a few tactics.”

Kamijou viciously smiles,

“They weren’t running all over the place just to be bait; they were just setting up the cards for Stiyl’s secret weapon… Of course, not being a magician, I’m not sure of the particulars.”

Kamijou’s right hand has the ability "Imagine Breaker"; he's unable to take part in the setting up of the rune cards, so he’s the only one responsible for taking down Agnese. All this was a ploy to ensure that Agnese would be misled into thinking that Kamijou used the rest as bait in order to create a chance for a duel to the death with her, so that the rune cards wouldn’t be destroyed.

“That’s right. That red cross is the logo of St. George, the symbol of the British Puritans. Wearing that shirt to battle, it means that he wants to join the British Puritans together with me. I ordered them that time to not follow me around.”

“That’s right… Besides, you’re a British Puritan.”

Kamijou laments. Kanzaki mutters, “Really.” She looks like a mother who’s seeing her child being unable to stand up on his own; it’s just that she never sensed it herself.

“However, are you alright with this? Even though the Amakusa are small, they’re still a religious sect. Now that they’re taken in by the British Puritans, isn’t it like a small company being absorbed by a large one?”

“Although the Amakusa were absorbed by the British Puritans, they don’t have to abandon their codes and teachings. Like a feudal lord allowing a general to keep a faction, the ‘Amakusa Catholics’ can still exist. Also, the Amakusa is a multi-religious group that can hide within history itself and change according to the age. They’re never picky on the rituals; as long as they can make their lives more convenient, they can work under any condition.”

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? WE HAVE MANY MORE PEOPLE THAN THEM! THESE PEOPLE AREN’T WORTH FEARING AS LONG AS WE FINISH THEM ALL OFF!”

That’s right. No matter what anyone says, there’s a huge difference in the number of people between the Roman Catholics and Kamijou's group. The reason that Kamijou and company are still alive is their tactics and running about. The Roman Catholics can beat them easily as long as they surround them, not giving them a chance to escape, and attack at the same time. Although there'd be several casualties, the remaining 100+ people would step over their comrades’ dead bodies to finish off Kamijou and company.

This is the reason that Stiyl, though a professional magician, didn’t kill a single nun; once he kills a few of them, the others would go berserk and commit a kamikaze attack, causing the situation to become even more dangerous. With his magical prowess, killing people is a lot easier for him than not killing them.

However…

The nuns, who have a huge advantage in numbers, don’t take action.

“What are you doing…!?”

Agnese sees that her subordinates are unable to understand this simple logic, and is about to scold them.

But at this moment, she realizes the reason behind it:

Doubt.

Although the nuns understand that Agnese’s point is correct, their hearts are unable to completely believe. Their hearts are like an unstable balance, unable to decide whether to fight or run. As long as one of them takes action, the group psychology will affect the entire situation.

Agnese Sanctis rememberes what Orsola Aquinas said.

“Their actions… are based on trust…”

“…Compared to them… we’re truly ugly.”

Agnese lowers her head, and grits her teeth, almost breaking her molars.

Since the balance is in a swinging state, the problem can be solved by breaking this balance through tough measures; in other words, all Agnese needs to do is beat Kamijou in front of her.

If she uses the power of the other nuns, she won’t be able to show her superiority. However, Kamijou is in the same predicament; if his comrades were to beat Agnese, it’ll reveal his anxiety, nervousness, and fear. At that moment, the doubts inside the nuns’ hearts would disappear, and they'd rush onwards with the momentum of an avalanche.

In other words, this can only be settled with a one-on-one.

Kamijou Touma versus Agnese Sanctis.

Though the number of people on both sides total to more than 300, the two of them are in a state of isolation and helplessness.

The distance between them is now about five meters.

This distance is still within the Angel Staff's striking range, but Kamijou just needs to step forward in order to say hello to Agnese’s body with his fist. The situation for both sides is rather comparable; in other words, whoever strikes first will win.

What… what should I do…?

Agnese carefully maintains the distance between them as sweat flows down her forehead.

Will my attack hit him first?

Agnese keeps telling herself to not panic. The usefulness of the "lotus staff" can’t be compared to a mere fist. As long as she estimates the position and strikes with full force, beating this ordinary man in front of her should be easy.

What… what… is the right thing to do…?

However, should she really gamble everything on just a simple hit? What'll happen if he dodges it? What if she guesses wrongly? Should she first use several light and fast attacks to limit his movements just to be safe before striking him down in one hit? The problem is that if those light attacks can't block his attack, and he rushes forward, what'll happen to her?

But, but then, however, rather, the problem is, come to think of it…

Agnese overturns her thoughts again and again.

There’s too many tactics that she can use, but she doesn’t know which one to choose.

Method time, weapon… distance… How should I attack?

In contrast…

Kamijou Touma has no doubts over his tactics.

He concentrates all his strength into his right fist.

He’ll bet his life on this hit.

He believes.

Even though he’s tired and one leg’s in the coffin, he believes.

He believes in his weapon, in the path that his weapon creates, in the scene when his weapon brutally hits the enemy’s body, that his victory will bring about a wonderful future.

Kamijou Touma’s actions are based on trust.

“It’s over, Agnese.”

There’s no hesitation in Kamijou’s voice.

“You should be clear about it yourself; your illusion is already destroyed.”

Stiyl pinches the cigarette in his mouth, and throws it to the ground.

The two see the orange flame fall onto the ground from the corners of their eyes.

At this moment, the battle starts.

*DONG!* A strong and powerful step is heard.

Kamijou Touma clenches his iron-like fist, and swings it at Agnese.

What should I do… what should I do—KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Something seems to break inside Agnese Sanctis’s heart.

Though the enemy’s attack is in front of her, the swaying balance is unable to make a decision. Agnese, whose mind hasn’t made a decision yet, is forced to make one. With low confidence, she swings the silver staff.

One side has already bet everything on his right fist; the other side doesn’t know what to do.

It’s obvious which side has the advantage.

*BAM!*

A stunning impact sound.

Agnese’s body flies away, grazes the large marble pillar, and viciously lands on the ground.

The large impact forces the Angel Staff to fall out of Agnese’s hands. After rolling on the ground for several meters, when all the air in her lungs seems to have escaped, she finally stops rolling.

At this moment, she has already lost consciousness.

With this, the power balance between Index, Stiyl, and company and the Roman Catholic nuns surrounding them is dissolved in an instant. A nun who lost all hope of winning drops her weapon, creating a sound. A second one… A third one… Finally, all the weapons drop to the floor like a downpour.

The battle is over.

Just a single fist of a boy is able to bring down the inner mental defenses of more than 200 enemies.

“So, we need something other than a violent method to chain her down. In this situation, the ‘solder’ between her and the Amakusa will be useful. Also, we don’t need a detrimental shackle like ‘We’ll kill them if you don’t obey us,’ but rather a positive one like ‘We’ll protect them from the Roman Catholics if you obey us.’ If we force the Amakusa to do something that’s not beneficial to them, Kanzaki will definitely resist; if the things we do are beneficial to the Amakusa, she won’t resist at all. So, how isn’t this a huge benefit?”

Now that she finished, Laura reveals a radiant smile, yet Stiyl’s heart feels chilly.

Laura Stuart. Though she looks like a naïve girl at first glance, she’s still the leader of the British Puritans, and even the cold-hearted manager who had set up the lie around Index.

She’s the one who had set up the rule that "there’s to be a memory wipe every year".

She’s the one who had forced Index to be protected by the British Puritans at all times, or she won’t live.

She’s the one who had lied that this was the good deed of the Church in order to prevent Index from rebelling.

She’s the one who had even told Stiyl and others that Index would die if that wasn’t done, making them unable to disobey it.

No one is better than her in manipulating human feelings, rationality, interests, ethics, and "necessary values". Stiyl can’t help but reinforce his guard against this girl. The problem is that Stiyl's unable to do anything. If Stiyl takes any rash action, Laura would punish Index without hesitation and not Stiyl; she’s this kind of person.

touma

the girls lost morale in the fact 200 of them cant take 20 people. To add on that they have a giant invincible monster to fight now.

touma

and also, he doesn't mind uppercutting and punching a girl in the face a few times to knock some sense into them. Good scenes.
Touma did take a good amount of hits and damage himself though, so I just call it karma.

lol @ Kanzaki being the one at the hospital bed this time.
She didn't really do anything at all...and not that important overall to the arc.
how old of Kanzaki anyway?

It was kind of lame that the whole mess was fake and pointless. The book wasn't stolen afterall, and the girl of the arc couldn't decipher the codex either, so it was a false alarm.

I guess the whole point of the arc was to show some background on how the church deals with things, since every arc so far has just been tales in esper city.

1. The first few minutes... Yeah yeah, whatever, moving on.

2. NICE PUNCH THERE DUDE!

3. Wait what? A brand new soundtrack... whoa, that song surely gives a new feel to this series... this should go into a movie or something.

4. What's with the slow-mo cigarette throwing scene!? I had to admit though, the soundtrack makes that mundane scene looks cool. :heh:

5. FALCOOOONNNN PUUUUUNNNNNCCCHHHHHHH!!!! Now with extra effect!

6. What the hell is Itsuwa doing in the background beside Index!? ... Whatever. But retconning a pretty popular character into appearing really early might have a not-so-good backlash later on I'm afraid... I hope not...

7. ... It's so convenient Touma always faint after the end of each fight. I wonder why. :rolleyes:

8. A STROKE ON THE HEAD FOR TOUMA BY KAORI! There you go dude, you got your Onee-san. :3 Excuse me while I go shave off my "just as planned" feeling :heh:

9. Oh god that concerned look on Kanzaki's face. OH GOD. :love::love::love::love::love:

10. Holy, Kanzaki looks like a tsundere there :3 :love:

11. MORE BLUSHING FACE AHHHH!!!

12. ... God damn it Tsuchimikado you have some "impeccable" timing. :frustrated:

13. ... although I had to admit he has some pretty funny lines, so I'll forgive him this time. :uhoh:

14. "But what else would you have me do?" She fell for Tsuchimikado's joke anyway, isn't it...? :heh:

15. ... I can see through Laura's (somewhat creepy) intentions... what a smart way, retaining Kaori's loyalty to the Anglican Church by giving her Amakusa comrades protection.

16. All right. Next arc: the Remnant arc. *stops here before he sounds his comments for this arc which will sound like a taunt of some sort*