—Deadlock!
To put it simply, their name is the English word for being trapped with no way out and at a loss.
More plainly, they are a group of students stuck in bottlenecks for various reasons.
From different schools and grades.
Their identities range from pampered noble ladies to delinquent youths.
Now, these people gathered here, their weapons roaring, have their sights locked on Shokuhou Misaki and Haramura Makoto.
"What a bunch of fools."
The girl beside him spoke with the crisp, sweet voice of a yellow warbler, pressing her thumb down on the red button.
"Damn it."
"Ah!"
Just a moment before a flash of red lightning struck Misaki's delicate body, Haramura Makoto cursed and grabbed her collar, pulling her into his arms.
At the same time, his free left wrist flipped, and a grappling claw shot out from his sleeve, firmly anchoring into the canopy of a nearby tree.
"Looks like your ability didn't succeed."
Holding Misaki's slender waist with one arm, he swiftly flew toward the treetops with the grappling hook pulling them along.
"Their speed is too fast. I can't aim properly."
Misaki's face darkened, surrounded by almost tangible low pressure.
Her power was immense, even omnipotent—but she had one weakness.
To keep her overwhelming Mind Control ability manageable, she imposed a self-rule weakening her power—she must aim the remote control at her target to control them.
"No, still no good."
The two stood on a thick branch, with Misaki constantly trying to lock her remote on the enemies.
Even when lucky enough to catch them, they rapidly accelerated out of her lock.
"A perfect counter, and well acquainted with your ability."
"This isn't a whim—it's a targeted hunt."
Haramura's tone grew serious.
The Deadlock he knew didn't possess such weird gear; previous reports said they used powers and simple weapons.
This gear, like speeding gears, was just now equipped.
Its power showed clearly—Misaki's formidable Level 5 power was nullified.
That helmet probably wasn't a mere helmet.
Most likely, it was programmed to detect unusual brain waves and automatically evade.
After all, even Mind Control at its peak had no effect on pure machines or non-human animals.
"I know. That's why I trust no one."
Anger?
Not quite. Just after Haramura's words stirred something strange in her heart, she calmed completely.
"No need to condemn them all. It's more likely your enemies leaked info."
Haramura stared intently at the Deadlock leader below—the one not moving fast like the others.
"So, a grappling hook? You're not an esper?"
Not him speaking first, but the leader asked, suspicious.
Espers typically didn't wield modern weapons.
Unless the ability required such a medium—though usually not.
Even if weapons were used, no one carried grappling hooks like that.
"Who exactly are you, ANBU?"
Not an esper, more like a special ops soldier trained by Academy City.
"ANBU, huh…"
A motorcycle-like roar.
A red lightning shot toward Haramura's back.
At the same moment, a smirk curved Haramura's lips.
Quick as a blink, he raised a hand, flashes of light bursting around him.
"Bang bang bang bang—"
Gunfire suddenly echoed.
The flashes were muzzle blasts.
A massive explosion detonated above, followed by heavy thuds.
No gun seen.
No motion.
Just a gesture; muzzle flashes erupting by his side.
Several bullets sliced the air, bizarrely hitting the jet engines of Deadlock members pursuing him.
"The Gun Magician?"
"You're 'Leo' Haramura Makoto?"
Ignoring the charred, fallen members who perished from the blast, the Deadlock leader confirmed with no emotion.
—Powerless gang Leo!
Now dominating the abandoned 8th District.
Formed around three years ago, it quickly crushed other powerless gangs and established its headquarters.
Since then, no delinquent gang fights broke out in the 8th District.
Unsurprisingly, no other powerless gangs dared rise there.
Other district gangs coveted the 8th District.
The area housed faculty and was connected to the 7th District—home to many noble students.
If you wanted to attack them, the 8th District was prime.
But no powerless gang could break Leo.
Whether fights or firearms, all failed against Leo.
These battles forged Leo's leader's legend.
Never appearing in brawls,
But always facing fire and blades alone.
With "Invisible Bullets" and ghostlike agility, the leader crushed all enemies.
No one knew when the gun was drawn.
No one knew when they were targeted.
No one even knew when they were hit.
Attacks impossible to react to.
Even when comrades tried to distract enemies, the leader used skilled grappling hook techniques to weave between buildings.
Impossible to catch.
Thus, Leo's leader, Haramura Makoto, was called
—The Gun Magician!