A Certain Magical Index

TV-Series

Description

"A Certain Magical Index" is set in a world where science and magic coexist, with the story primarily unfolding in Academy City, a technologically advanced metropolis where students develop supernatural abilities known as "esper powers." The narrative centers on Toma Kamijo, a high school student with a unique ability called the "Imagine Breaker," which nullifies any supernatural power, whether magical or esper-based, with his right hand. Despite this ability, Toma is classified as a Level 0 esper, the lowest rank, making him an underdog in a city dominated by powerful espers.

The plot begins when Toma encounters Index, a young nun from the Church of England who possesses the "Index Librorum Prohibitorum," a vast repository of 103,000 forbidden magical texts stored in her memory. Index is pursued by magicians who seek to exploit her knowledge, and Toma becomes her protector. As the story progresses, Toma finds himself entangled in conflicts between the scientific and magical factions, often serving as a mediator or unwilling participant in their struggles.

The series explores the tension between science and magic, with Academy City representing the pinnacle of scientific advancement and the magical world rooted in ancient traditions and secret organizations. Toma frequently encounters powerful espers, such as Mikoto Misaka, a Level 5 electromaster, and Accelerator, the top-ranked Level 5 esper with the ability to manipulate vectors. These characters play significant roles in the narrative, with Mikoto becoming a recurring ally and Accelerator evolving from a antagonist to a complex anti-hero.

The magical side of the story introduces various factions, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and independent magicians, each with their own agendas. Toma's involvement with Index draws him into conflicts with these groups, often forcing him to confront powerful adversaries and uncover hidden truths about the world's balance of power. The series delves into themes of morality, the consequences of power, and the blurred lines between good and evil.

As the story unfolds, Toma's relationships with Index, Mikoto, and other characters deepen, revealing their personal struggles and motivations. The narrative is marked by intricate world-building, with detailed explanations of both esper abilities and magical systems. The series balances action, mystery, and character development, creating a multifaceted story that appeals to fans of both science fiction and fantasy genres.

Information

A Certain Magical Index

Toaru Majutsu no Index

とある魔術の禁書目録（インデックス）

Type: TV-Series

Anime Episodes: 24

Movie/Episode length: 24 min.

Date: 10/04/2008 – 03/19/2009

Official Website:A Certain Magical Index @ Funimation

Tags

EcchiEcchi-free AdultHaremMagical GirlMagicPSI Powers

Episodes

Staffel 1

1Academy City

The episode opens in Academy City, a metropolis where a majority of the population possesses supernatural abilities developed through scientific means. The protagonist, Tōma Kamijō, is introduced as a Level 0, a student with no noticeable psychic power, who becomes caught in a conflict with the city's most powerful esper, Mikoto Misaka, after intervening in a dispute. During their encounter, Misaka attacks him with electricity, but her attack is negated upon contact with Tōma's right hand, an ability he possesses but does not understand. Frustrated, Misaka unleashes a massive electrical strike that causes a city-wide blackout before leaving. The following morning, Tōma discovers a young nun in a white habit hanging from his balcony railing. She introduces herself as Index and explains she is being pursued by magicians because her memory contains 103,000 forbidden grimoires. Index attempts to explain the existence of magic, a concept Tōma is skeptical of, while she in turn doubts the nature of his power. To demonstrate, Tōma touches Index's habit, which is revealed to be a magical garment, and his right hand completely destroys it. After mending her clothes, Index departs, leaving Tōma to his routine. Upon returning home later that day, Tōma finds a bloodied Index collapsed on his apartment floor, and a man identifying himself as a magician appears behind him, setting the stage for the central conflict.

2Episode 2

Archbishop Laura Stuart of the Anglican Church dispatches Stiyl Magnus to Japan with a new mission. She informs him that a grimoire known as the Book of the Law has been stolen and a skilled decoder named Orsola Aquinas has been kidnapped, with both incidents attributed to the Amakusa Catholics. To secure Touma Kamijou's cooperation, Stiyl orchestrates a ruse by pretending to kidnap Index, drawing Touma into the conflict. While en route to Index's presumed location, Touma encounters Orsola Aquinas on the street, but the Amakusa Catholics swiftly intervene and abduct her through a concealed trapdoor. Following this incident, the group determines the Amakusa Catholics' objective: they plan to use a specialized teleportation magic circle to escape with Orsola before the stroke of midnight. Touma, Index, Stiyl, and the Agnese Forces, a contingent of battle nuns led by Agnese Sanctis, establish a forward position at the predicted teleportation site to intercept them. The episode establishes the strategic time limit of midnight, creating a countdown for the ensuing confrontation. Stiyl acknowledges a personal complication in the mission, noting that Kaori Kanzaki, a potential adversary, was formerly a member of the Amakusa Catholics, implying a possible conflict. As the deadline approaches, the narrative focuses on the preparations of both parties, with the Amakusa Catholics mobilizing to execute their plan and the Anglican forces bracing for their arrival. The episode concludes with both sides poised for a direct clash, leaving the immediate outcome of the standoff for Orsola and the Book of the Law unresolved.

3The Document of C

Tsuchimikado arrives in Avignon to assist Touma and Itsuwa in their pursuit of Terra of the Left, a member of God's Right Seat. Their confrontation with Terra is interrupted by a platoon of powered suits dispatched by Academy City, forcing Terra to flee. Tsuchimikado remains behind to engage the military units while Touma and Itsuwa continue the chase to the Palais des Papes. Upon arriving, Touma contacts Misaka Mikoto via phone and learns that media outlets are reporting Academy City's attack on Avignon as retaliation for a planned assault on the city. This broadcast masks the true nature of the magical and scientific conflict unfolding. Terra, now wielding the C Document, attacks Touma directly. During their battle, Terra discerns that Touma has not yet accessed the full potential of his Imagine Breaker due to his lost memories. Despite this disadvantage, Touma identifies a vulnerability in Terra's abilities and defeats him, subsequently destroying the C Document. Before Touma can question Terra about the nature of Imagine Breaker, a squadron of stealth bombers led by Accelerator strikes the palace, creating an opportunity for Terra to escape. The episode concludes at St. Peter's Basilica, where Acqua of the Back executes Terra for involving civilians in the conflict. Acqua decides to personally escalate the war against Academy City following the successive failures of Vento and Terra.

4Perfect Memory Ability

Touma Kamijou confronts Kaori Kanzaki in a deserted intersection, sealed off by a runic barrier. Kaori demonstrates her formidable ability, Nanasen, which utilizes ultra-thin wires to deliver seven simultaneous strikes. She reveals her affiliation with Necessarius, the same Church organization as Index, and clarifies that she and Stiyl are not enemies but former friends. Kaori explains the critical reason for their pursuit: Index possesses perfect memory, with 85% of her brain capacity occupied by the 103,000 grimoires. The remaining 15% is susceptible to being filled with everyday memories, and without an annual erasure, her brain will exceed its capacity, leading to her death. The next memory erasure is due to occur in only three days. Touma questions why Kaori and Stiyl never explained this situation to Index, allowing her to perceive them as persecutors. Kaori retorts that they repeatedly tried to create new memories with Index each year, only to have her forget them entirely, making their encounters unbearably painful. Touma argues that their approach was fundamentally flawed, asserting they should have continuously reassured Index of future happiness rather than abandoning her to the cycle of erasure. His words shake Kaori's resolve, though she physically defeats him in their confrontation. Three days later, Touma awakens in Komoe Tsukuyomi's apartment, cared for by a worried Index, whose memories remain intact. Index expresses remorse for being unable to assist Touma during his battle. Their moment is interrupted by the arrival of Stiyl and Kaori at the door, prompting Index to offer herself to them in a bid to prevent further harm to Touma.

5Limit (12 o'clock)

With the deadline of midnight imminent, Tōma Kamijō faces the inevitability of Index's annual memory wipe. Stiyl Magnus and Kaori Kanzaki arrive at the apartment precisely on time to perform the spell, a task they believe is necessary to prevent the information overload from Index's perfect memory from fatally damaging her brain. They grant Tōma a brief period to say his goodbyes to Index, who is unaware of what is about to happen. During this farewell, a detail in Kaori's explanation triggers Tōma's suspicion; he recalls her statement that Index's daily life memories can only occupy fifteen percent of her mind. Reaching out to his teacher, Komoe Tsukuyomi, Tōma verifies that the human brain does not possess a mechanism that would cause death or injury from data accumulation, contradicting the magicians' core justification. This revelation reframes the entire conflict: the Church of England has been systematically erasing Index's memories annually, not to save her life, but to ensure her absolute loyalty and prevent her from forming attachments that might compromise her function as a living library. Stiyl and Kaori are revealed to be unwitting participants in this deception, having been manipulated by their superiors into repeatedly harming their friend under the guise of saving her. Armed with this knowledge, Tōma resolves to prevent the spell by any means necessary. He lunges at Index, targeting a magical rune that Stiyl had previously placed in her throat. His intervention, however, triggers a catastrophic defense mechanism. Index enters "John's Pen" mode, the automatic personality designed to protect the grimoires. This mode analyzes Tōma's Imagine Breaker but, unable to formulate a counter-strategy against his power-negating ability, it defaults to the most extreme option within its arsenal. Index begins chanting to activate "St. George's Sanctuary," a high-level destructive spell aimed at eliminating the perceived threat, leaving Tōma facing the very person he sought to save.

6Imagine Breaker

Toma Kamijo convinces the magicians Stiyl Magnus and Kaori Kanzaki that the Church of Necessarius deceived them regarding Index's condition. He explains that the true threat to Index's life is not her grimoire-filled mind, but a magical rune placed in her throat by the Church to force annual memory wipes. This manipulation was designed to maintain her obedience as the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, not to protect her from cerebral damage. With the magicians' assistance, Toma successfully deactivates Index's John's Pen mode, which had activated the St. George's Sanctuary spell. During the process, a feather from the spell strikes Toma's head, rendering him unconscious. Index later learns at the hospital that Stiyl and Kaori have begun questioning the Church, leading Necessarius to temporarily cease their pursuit of her. She also discovers that the spell's effect destroyed Toma's brain cells, resulting in total memory loss. When Index visits him, Toma initially pretends not to recognize her as a joke, then claims he canceled the spell using his right hand's power, which he now names "Imagine Breaker". After Index leaves, Toma confides to the doctor that he genuinely remembers nothing but chose to conceal this to spare her from additional burden. Two weeks later, Academy City's ruler Aleister Crowley meets with Stiyl and agrees to maintain the status quo of non-interference between science and magic by lending Toma to Necessarius for a mission. The assignment involves rescuing an individual known as "Deep Blood," a person possessing the ability to kill vampires, from a rogue magician operating within Academy City.

7The Science Cult (Misawa Cram School)

Following his hospital stay, Touma Kamijou continues to conceal his memory loss from Index, struggling to navigate daily life with his secret. Index's persistent demands lead them to a fast-food restaurant with Touma's classmates, where they encounter a girl in miko attire who is short on fare. The girl, later identified as Aisa Himegami, insists she is a mage rather than a miko, a claim that Index disputes. Their interaction is interrupted by the arrival of several men in suits, whom Aisa refers to as her cram school teachers before departing. Index discovers an abandoned kitten, which she names Sphinx and eventually persuades Touma to keep. Stiyl Magnus approaches Touma with a proposal to infiltrate the Misawa Cram School, an institution described as a quasi-religion worshiping science. Stiyl reveals that the alchemist Aureolus Izzard has been hiding there for three years, seeking an individual possessing the 'Deep Blood' ability, which is reputed to kill vampires. Stiyl shows Touma a photograph of the targeted girl, Aisa Himegami, confirming her as the same person from the restaurant. Stiyl coerces Touma into assisting with the rescue operation, planning to use him as a combat asset. Before departing, Stiyl surrounds Touma's apartment with rune cards to leave his fire elemental, Innocentius, as a guardian for Index. Upon entering the Misawa Cram School building, which Stiyl explains functions as an alchemist's seal, they discover a human corpse propped against a pillar, contradicting the building's outwardly normal appearance.

8Ars Magna (Golden Transmutation)

Stiyl explains to Tōma that the dead knight they encountered originated from the 13 Knights of the Roman Catholic Church. He further reveals that a magical barrier envelops the Misawa Cram School, concealing all supernatural occurrences within from the perception of the general public. The magician responsible for these events is Aureolus Izzard, who holds Himegami Aisa inside the school. Tōma and Stiyl are forced to separate when the students, controlled by a spell, attack them with an imitation of a Gregorian choir. Stiyl destroys the source of this spell and proceeds to find Aureolus, while Tōma locates Himegami. Himegami reveals that she came to Aureolus willingly because the Misawa Cram School possesses the ability to repel vampires, creatures her own power unintentionally attracts and kills. She explains that Aureolus agreed to help her control her ability in exchange for using her blood to lure vampires to the school, aiming to save someone important to him. When Aureolus discovers them, Himegami confronts him about his lethal methods and threatens to leave. In response, Aureolus seals the memories of Tōma and Stiyl, and they awaken outside the school with no recollection of their mission. Tōma uses his Imagine Breaker to nullify the spell, restoring their memories. Meanwhile, Index, having followed Stiyl's mana trail, arrives at the school but is put to sleep and captured by Aureolus. The remaining members of the 13 Knights launch an attack on the school with a true version of the Gregorian choir, but Aureolus restores the building using his powerful ability, Ars Magna. The episode concludes with Tōma finding Index's cat, Sphinx, outside, holding her habit, which confirms that Index is now inside the school and in danger.

9Deep Blood

The episode reveals that Aureolus Izzard, the alchemist holding Aisa Himegami and a sleeping Index, was Index's partner from three years prior. His actions are motivated by the devastating effect of Index's required annual memory erasure, which led him to betray the Catholic Church and go into hiding to perfect his ability, Ars Magna. Izzard's plan is to use Aisa's power as the "Deep Blood" to turn Index into a vampire, a state he believes would circumvent the Church's life-limiting spell on her. Stiyl Magnus reveals that Izzard's entire scheme is futile, as Touma Kamijou has already destroyed the spell and saved Index with his Imagine Breaker. Enraged by this news, Izzard turns his Ars Magna, a magic that can alter reality according to his thoughts, against Touma, Stiyl, and Aisa. Touma realizes that Ars Magna does not truly change reality but instead makes Izzard's subjective thoughts manifest, a distinction that renders the ability powerless against the absolute negation of Imagine Breaker. To end the confrontation, Touma manipulates Izzard into transforming him into a monster, knowing his right hand will negate the effect upon contact, which successfully concludes the battle. Following the fight, Touma is hospitalized to have his right arm, which was severed during the climax, reattached. Stiyl later informs a recuperating Touma that Izzard has survived but has lost both his memory and his magical powers as a consequence. Index and Aisa visit Touma, with Index stating that the Church will now take responsibility for caring for Aisa. When Aisa learns that Touma's primary reason for saving her was simply because she was a girl in trouble, she responds with a genuine smile, contrasting her previous isolation.

10Mikoto Misaka (Sissy)

The episode depicts Tōma Kamijō enduring supplementary lessons during his summer break, a consequence of his involvement in previous magical incidents. On his way home, he encounters Mikoto Misaka at a malfunctioning vending machine. Their interaction is interrupted by the appearance of a girl who is an identical clone of Mikoto, referred to as "Misaka." The clone wears military goggles and communicates in a distinct, halting speech pattern, identifying herself as Mikoto's younger sister. Mikoto's demeanor shifts dramatically upon seeing the clone; she becomes visibly agitated and departs hastily with the girl, leaving Tōma confused by her reaction. Later that evening, Tōma encounters the same clone again near his apartment, separate from Mikoto. The clone's behavior and speech continue to exhibit an artificial quality, and she engages Tōma in conversation about Mikoto, referring to her as "Sissy." This meeting further exposes Tōma to the clone's existence and her unusual mannerisms, deepening the mystery surrounding her origin and her connection to Mikoto. Tōma's motivation stems from a growing concern for Mikoto, whose uncharacteristic behavior suggests she is entangled in a serious situation. The narrative establishes the introduction of the "Sisters" clone as a pivotal plot point, shifting the focus from purely magical conflicts to a scientific conspiracy originating within Academy City. The immediate consequence of the episode is the solidification of Tōma's resolve to uncover the truth behind the clones, setting the stage for his direct involvement in the experimental project. Mikoto's internal conflict is visually conveyed through her reaction, indicating a personal and painful connection to the clone project that she is struggling to manage alone.

11Sisters

The episode opens with Touma Kamijou encountering another individual identical to Misaka Mikoto, deepening the mystery introduced in the previous episode. This new clone, designated as Misaka 10032, provides a direct explanation for her existence and the presence of the other sisters. She reveals the existence of the Radio Noise project, an offshoot of the original Level 6 Shift experiment involving Mikoto's DNA. The clone matter-of-factly states that over twenty thousand sister units have been produced and deployed throughout Academy City. Touma learns the purpose of the experiment is to force the powerful esper known as Accelerator to evolve to Level 6 through repeated combat, which necessitates the systematic killing of the Misaka clones. Each sister is connected through a network called the Misaka Network, allowing them to share experiences and memories. The episode depicts the cold, institutional nature of the project through the clone's detached recounting of their purpose and fate. A significant turning point occurs when Touma witnesses the aftermath of one of these battles, confronting the reality of the violence. This direct experience solidifies his internal conflict and shifts his motivation from confusion to a resolute intention to intervene. He understands the fundamental injustice of the experiment and the suffering of both Mikoto, who is aware of the project, and the sisters themselves. The episode establishes the core conflict as Touma decides to directly oppose the scientific apparatus behind the experiment and its primary agent, Accelerator, setting the stage for the ensuing confrontation.

12Level 6 (Absolute Ability)

Kamijou learns from Misaka that the Sisters are not merely test subjects for the Radio Noise project but are being systematically killed as part of an experiment to create a Level 6 esper. The experiment involves having the Accelerator, Academy City's most powerful esper, battle and kill the clones in order to trigger his own evolution to absolute power. Misaka reveals that over ten thousand of her clones have already been killed in this manner. Misaka explains that she initially attempted to destroy the facilities involved but was stopped, and she has now concluded that the only way to end the killing is to offer herself as the final target. She intends to confront Accelerator herself, believing her death will fulfill the experiment's conditions and spare the remaining Sisters. Kamijou refuses to accept this plan, arguing that her sacrifice would not save anyone and would only add to the tragedy. He insists that there must be another way to stop the experiment without anyone else dying. Misaka, driven by guilt over the creation of the clones using her DNA and her inability to protect them, is determined to proceed despite his objections. Kamijou, motivated by his personal conviction to prevent suffering, resolves to stop Misaka from confronting Accelerator and to find an alternative solution. The episode establishes the core conflict between Kamijou's rejection of sacrificial solutions and Misaka's belief that self-sacrifice is her only remaining option.

13Episode 13

14Weakest vs. Strongest (Strongest vs. Weakest)

The episode opens with the aftermath of Touma Kamijou's initial assault on Accelerator, revealing that his punch was rendered ineffective by Accelerator's reflection ability. Accelerator explains the fundamental principle of his power: he can reverse any vector he comes into contact with, making him virtually untouchable. Throughout the first half of the episode, Touma struggles to land a decisive blow, as every physical attack is reflected back at him, causing him significant injury. The conflict serves as the culmination of the Sisters arc, with Touma's motivation rooted in his promise to Misaka Mikoto to stop the experiment that exploits her clones. A turning point occurs when Touma analyzes the nature of Accelerator's reflection, deducing that it is an automatic, unconscious process. He realizes that Accelerator must actively calculate vectors to control his power, creating a brief window of vulnerability. By feigning an attack and forcing Accelerator to recalculate his defenses in real-time, Touma manages to bypass the automatic reflection and lands a solid punch. This decisive blow disrupts Accelerator's calculations and causes him to lose control of his own power, resulting in his defeat. Following the battle, the episode shows the immediate consequences, with the Level 6 Shift project effectively halted. The final scenes depict the Misaka clone known as Misaka 10032 (or Misaka Sister) recovering in a hospital. She engages in a conversation with the bedridden Touma, discussing the future of the remaining clones and their potential integration into Academy City. The episode concludes with the clone expressing a desire to live a normal life and learn from the experiences of the original Mikoto. The narrative thus provides closure to the immediate conflict while establishing the new status quo for the Sisters and their relationship with Touma and Mikoto.

15Angel Fall

Komoe-sensei advises Touma to leave Academy City temporarily due to the attention his recent actions have drawn, leading him and Index to a beach resort in Oowarai. Touma is uneasy about the planned arrival of his parents and cousin, as his memory loss means he does not remember them. His father Touya arrives first and appears normal, but the subsequent appearances of his cousin Otohime and mother Shiina shock Touma because they possess the exact appearances of Mikoto Misaka and Index, respectively. The confusion escalates when the innkeepers take on the appearances of Misaka's sister and Stiyl, while Index herself now looks like Touma's classmate Aogami Pierce. After seeing a news broadcast where Shirai Kuroko is the President of the United States and a family photo where Otohime's true appearance differs from her current one, Touma concludes the widespread identity swaps are not a prank. While investigating, he encounters a girl in foreign religious garb who threatens him with a saw; she is Misha Kreuzhev, a magician from the Russian Church's Annihilatus sect searching for the spell's caster. Kaori Kanzaki and Touma's classmate Motoharu Tsuchimikado intervene, explaining that a large-scale magical phenomenon called "Angel Fall" is swapping people's appearances worldwide. They reveal that Touma is at the center of the distortion and is the prime suspect, but his Imagine Breaker renders him immune to the spell's effects, a fact Misha confirms through a test. The immediate consequence is the formation of an uneasy alliance between Touma, Kanzaki, Tsuchimikado, and Misha to identify the spellcaster, with Tsuchimikado surprising Touma by revealing his own identity as a member of the magical organization Necessarius.

16Toya Kamijo (Father)

The episode advances the Angel Fall arc as Touma Kamijou continues to investigate the large-scale spell that has swapped the appearances and personalities of those around him. Touma, along with the magicians Kaori Kanzaki and Tsuchimikado, who are also unaffected by the spell, work to identify the caster. Tsuchimikado reveals his true identity as a spy and former Onmyouji magician working within Academy City, while Kanzaki discloses her past as the former leader of the Amakusa Catholics and her ability to use the saintly power 'Stigma'. The three narrow down their suspect list, concluding that the caster must be someone close to Touma. Suspicion initially falls upon Misha Kreutzev, a Russian sorcerer who arrived to investigate the Angel Fall incident, after she exhibits suspicious behavior and a fear of Touma's right hand. Following a lead, Touma and Tsuchimikado tail Touma's mother, Shiina, back to the Kamijou residence. Upon inspecting the house, Tsuchimikado confirms an active spell, and Touma realizes from family photos that his father, Touya, is the only person whose appearance has not been altered by Angel Fall. This evidence points to Touya as the origin of the spell. The episode concludes with Touma rushing back to the hotel to confront his father directly, intending to reach him before the other magicians can. The core conflict shifts from a general mystery to a personal race to save his father from the consequences of his own unknowing magical act.

17Penalty Game

Following the Daihasei Festival, the narrative shifts to the everyday lives of several characters in Academy City as they adjust to new circumstances. The episode opens with students changing into their winter uniforms, signaling the passage of time. Accelerator, Last Order, and Kikyo are discharged from the hospital and move into the apartment of Anti-Skill teacher Aiho Yomikawa. It is established that Accelerator can now only use his powerful abilities for a limited duration of fifteen minutes. Concurrently, Misaka 10032 and three other Sisters begin a rehabilitation program within the city to integrate into society. The main plot thread involves the兑现 of a bet made during the festival, with Mikoto Misaka exercising her right to have Toma Kamijo accompany her on various tasks. Their first errand takes them to a mobile phone shop, where Mikoto aims to acquire a limited-edition Gekota phone strap by signing up for a couples plan. The application process requires them to pose for a photograph as a loving couple, a moment that is promptly disrupted by a jealous Kuroko Shirai. Elsewhere, a minor conflict arises when Last Order becomes envious of Misaka 10032's goggles, a defining accessory that she herself lacks. After locking herself out of Yomikawa's apartment, Last Order encounters Misaka 10032 and, driven by her jealousy, snatches the goggles and runs off, prompting Misaka 10032 to give chase. This sequence of events establishes the new daily routines for the Sisters and for Accelerator, while simultaneously using the lighthearted penalty game to contrast with the more somber adjustments of the other characters. The episode concludes with this conflict between the two Misaka clones unresolved, setting up the immediate consequences of Last Order's impulsive act.

18Replica

Mikoto Misaka finds herself being persistently followed by Mitsuki Unabara, the grandson of the Tokiwadai Middle School principal, during the final week of summer vacation. In an attempt to discourage his attention, she encounters Tōma Kamijō and his friends, and impulsively pretends to be on a date with him. During this fabricated outing, Tōma learns that only a small number of the Sister clones remain in Academy City, as the rest have been sent overseas for treatment. The situation escalates when Tōma, waiting outside a restaurant, witnesses an injured Mitsuki run inside to warn Mikoto of danger, forcing him to realize that the Mitsuki he had been conversing with is an impostor. Index provides assistance via phone, identifying the impostor's method as Aztecan sorcery, which allows him to disguise himself with another person's skin and wield an obsidian spearhead that replicates the lance of the god Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli. Tōma is eventually forced to confront the impostor at a construction site, where the attacker reveals his mission was to infiltrate Tōma's circle of friends. The goal was to prevent the formation of a hypothetical "Kamijō Faction," a group of powerful espers and magicians that both the scientific and magical sides fear could disrupt their fragile truce. Having developed genuine feelings for Mikoto, the impostor decides the best way to protect her is to eliminate Tōma. Following his defeat in the battle and a subsequent accident with falling steel beams, the mortally injured impostor extracts a promise from Tōma to safeguard Mikoto, warning that others will continue to target them. Unbeknownst to Tōma, Mikoto is nearby and overhears the entire conversation, including his response to the request.

19Last Order

Accelerator encounters the final surviving Misaka clone, designated Misaka 20001, who introduces herself as "Last Order." Unlike the previous clones, Last Order exhibits childlike emotions and behavior, and she begins to follow Accelerator, much to his annoyance. He takes her to a family restaurant, where she consumes a large meal and attempts to engage him in conversation about the Sisters project and his role in it. During their meal, Accelerator spots Ao Amai, a researcher previously involved in the Radio Noise project, but chooses not to confront him. After Last Order falls asleep, Accelerator leaves her temporarily to meet with Researcher Kikyo Yoshikawa. Yoshikawa reveals that Last Order was created not for the Level 6 Shift experiment but to serve as the administrator for the Misaka Network, the communication link between all the clones. She informs him that Ao Amai injected a virus into Last Order designed to spread through the Network, causing all the Sisters to become hostile toward humans. The virus has a countdown until activation, set for midnight. Yoshikawa presents Accelerator with two options to prevent the catastrophe: find Amai to extract a cure, or return Last Order to her incubation device to halt the virus's spread. Accelerator, believing his assistance would only bring misfortune, initially chooses to leave Last Order in the incubation unit. However, as he walks away, he reflects on the Sisters' perspective of him as an unwilling participant in the experiment. This moment of realization leads him to reconsider his decision, setting up his active involvement in the coming conflict.

20Hound Dog

Accelerator uses Index as a distraction to commandeer a vehicle, forcing the driver to take them away from the pursuing Hound Dog squad. The group's leader, Amata Kihara, is prevented from following by the sudden appearance of the magician Vento, who incapacitates his men. Meanwhile, Tōma Kamijō and Last Order evade the same Hound Dog units by hiding in a restaurant, finding its patrons already unconscious due to Vento's influence. Heaven Canceler informs Accelerator that treating Last Order's damaged condition will come at a significant cost to himself, a consequence Accelerator accepts without hesitation. Driven by this motivation, Accelerator deliberately lures the Hound Dog soldiers hunting him into a railway factory, systematically killing them one by one. His actions represent a deliberate choice to embrace lethal violence to eliminate the threat to himself and, by extension, to Last Order. Tōma and Last Order's hiding place is discovered by Vento, whose power induces unconsciousness in those who perceive her, affecting Aiho Yomikawa and Kazari Uiharu. Tōma confronts Vento to protect the incapacitated civilians, instructing Last Order to flee, but Vento is suddenly forced to retreat after coughing up blood. The episode concludes with Accelerator killing the final member of the Hound Dog squad, only to have his actions witnessed by an Anti-Skill patrol, officially making him a wanted murder suspect. In a parallel development, Tsuchimikado's investigation into Vento's activities leads him to encounter a mysterious white, spectral being, introducing a new element to the escalating conflict.

21Episode 21

The episode marks a shift back to everyday life in Academy City as the summer vacation concludes and the new school term begins. Toma Kamijo's class gains a new transfer student, Aisa Himegami, who has been living with his teacher, Komoe Tsukuyomi. Meanwhile, Index, left alone without lunch, follows Toma to school and ends up meeting a shy girl named Hyoka Kazakiri in the cafeteria, quickly befriending her. Their interaction is cut short when Hyoka mysteriously vanishes after being noticed by Komoe. Aisa later warns Toma and Komoe that Hyoka was a student at her old school and might be connected to the rumored 'Imaginary Number District - Five Element Institution,' a shadowy organization within the city. In a parallel plotline, Motoharu Tsuchimikado meets with the city's general director, Aleister Crowley, to report the intrusion of a Necessarius mage, Sherry Cromwell. Crowley, against Tsuchimikado's advice to handle it discreetly, insists on letting the situation unfold according to his simulations, which require Toma's involvement. The magical threat becomes tangible when Judgement member Kuroko Shirai locates and engages Sherry, only to be swiftly defeated and severely injured. Mikoto Misaka arrives in time to save Kuroko with an electrical attack, but Sherry manages to escape. In her retreat, the mage casts a large-scale spell, sending countless stone eyeballs across the city to serve as her surveillance and attack system, escalating the conflict and setting the stage for a city-wide crisis.

22The Divine Retribution Spell

Accelerator's battle against Amata Kihara reaches a critical point when the battery for his link to the Misaka Network depletes, leaving him paralyzed and defenseless. Despite this, Accelerator forces himself to move through sheer willpower and continues his assault on Kihara. Elsewhere in Academy City, Touma Kamijou confronts Vento of the Front, whose power is being steadily weakened by the Testament device. Vento reveals her hatred towards science stems from a childhood incident at an amusement park where a hospital lacked sufficient blood to save both her and her brother, resulting in his death. Hyouka Kazakiri generates snow across the city, providing protection for the unconscious civilians caught in the conflict. Touma argues against Vento's reasoning for her actions before delivering a punch that knocks her unconscious. Index, with scientific assistance from Mikoto Misaka, discovers that Last Order is being used as a container to create an angel within Amata Kihara's headquarters. Index performs a song that severs the magical shackles controlling Last Order. The song's effects resonate with Accelerator, triggering an awakening of his powers that allows him to blast Amata Kihara into the sky. Following these events, Acqua of the Back from God's Right Seat appears before Touma and presents him with Vento's cross, confirming that her Divine Punishment spell has been dispelled. Acqua warns Touma against fighting him, citing his status as a Saint, before departing with the defeated Vento.

23Fuse=KAZAKIRI

Hyoka Kazakiri confronts the archangel directly, engaging in direct combat to halt its rampage through the Star of Bethlehem. As Kamijou and Sasha observe, Kazakiri proves capable of holding her ground against the powerful celestial being. The archangel's attention is drawn to the parchment carried by Accelerator, who arrives at the battlefield and joins the conflict against the entity. Accelerator approaches the fight with a renewed sense of purpose, though he initially hesitates to fully commit to battling Kazakiri. Elsewhere, William Orwell mentally confers with Fiamma of the Right, formulating a plan to weaken the archangel's power even at the cost of his own life. William executes his strategy, successfully destabilizing the archangel and causing it to become volatile. Facing a potential catastrophic explosion, Accelerator receives a power boost from Kazakiri, allowing the pair to contain the blast. The aftermath leaves William mortally wounded, accepting his fate until Hamazura arrives and provides a crucial encouragement that reignites his will to live. Hamazura continues his mission to warn a village about the nuclear threat, declining offers of help to prevent further casualties, and makes his way toward the launch bunker. Kamijou, continuing to dismantle Fiamma's magical structures with his Imagine Breaker, realizes that Fiamma constructed the Star of Bethlehem specifically to summon and sustain the archangel. Kamijou is then confronted by Fiamma, who reveals his plan to reorder the fundamental elements of fire, water, wind, and earth to augment his own power. The episode concludes with Hamazura reaching his objective at the bunker, only to come under attack from Academy City forces, leaving his fate uncertain.

24Imaginary Number School District - Five-Element Agency

The conflict centers on Sherry Cromwell's golem, Ellis, which rampages above ground. Tōma pursues Hyōka Kazakiri but is intercepted by Sherry, forcing a confrontation. During their battle, Sherry reveals that Ellis was once her friend, an esper who suffered and died in an experiment twenty years prior aimed at creating a hybrid of magic and science. This tragedy, a violation of the truce between factions, motivates Sherry's desire to instigate a permanent divide between the scientific and magical worlds to prevent such an event from recurring. Tōma objects to Sherry's cynicism, asserting that individuals as different as Index and Kazakiri can coexist as friends, and he defeats her with his Imagine Breaker. Sherry's defeat causes the autonomous golem Ellis to lose control, cornering Index. In a turning point, Kazakiri materializes and repeatedly destroys the reforming golem, allowing Tōma to deliver the final blow. With the immediate threat neutralized, Kazakiri, supported by Index, fades away and returns to her place of origin, the Imaginary Number School District. In the aftermath, Tsuchimikado confronts Aleister Crowley, having deduced that Aleister orchestrated the entire incident as an experiment to observe and test the Imaginary Number School District. Tsuchimikado warns Aleister that using Tōma as a pawn will eventually make him an enemy. The episode concludes with a return to daily life, though a scene with Stiyl and Archbishop Laura Stuart establishes a future conflict, as Kanzaki Kaori has gone missing in Japan following the Angel Fall incident.

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Staff

Director
Hiroshi Nishikiori
Script
Seishi Minakami
Satoru Nishizono
Akira Tanizaki
Masanao Akahoshi
Storyboard
Tetsuya Yanagisawa
Hiroshi Nishikiori
Tamaki Nakatsu
Hideki Tachibana
Yoshitomo Yonetani
Kunihisa Sugishima
Kazuo Takigawa
Satoshi Kuwabara
Satoshi Iwataki
Masahiko Komino
Minoru Ōhara
Noriyuki Nakamura
Yūichi Nihei
Unit Director
Hiroshi Nishikiori
Hideki Tachibana
Original creator
Kazuma Kamachi
Character Design
Yūichi Tanaka
Chief Animation Director
Yūichi Tanaka
Shinya Hasegawa
Tetsuya Kawakami
Satoshi Iwataki
Shigeki Kimoto
Keiichi Sano
Yū Yamashita
Sound Director
Yasunori Ebina
Producer
Satoshi Fujita
Yasutaka Kimura
Nobuhiro Nakayama
Kazuma Miki

Series Composition
Masanao Akahoshi
Screenplay
Masanao Akahoshi
Episode Director
Hiroshi Nishikiori
Tamaki Nakatsu
Hideki Tachibana
Noriyuki Fukuda
Kazuo Tomizawa
Katsushi Sakurabi
Hiroshi Tsuruta
Daisuke Takashima
Shinsuke Yanagi
Toshikazu Hashimoto
Takashi Kawabata
Kōsuke Kobayashi
Shigeru Ueda
Tsuyoshi Yoshimoto
Shinya Kawatsura
Kei Umabiki
Music
I've
Maiko Iuchi
Original Character Design
Kiyotaka Haimura
Art Director
Yoshinori Hirose
Tomonori Kuroda
Animation Director
Yūichi Tanaka
Shinya Hasegawa
Tomoaki Kado
Kazuo Tomizawa
Yoshiko Nakajima
Yumiko Kinoshita
Naoto Nakamura
Keiichi Ishida
Naoko Nakamoto
Takao Sano
Masakazu Yamazaki
Fusako Nomura
Tetsuya Kawakami
Satoshi Iwataki
Shigeki Kimoto
Asuka Shimizu
Shinichi Wada
Hiroshi Ishiyama
Naoto Yoshida
Shunryō Yamamura
Aya Kichiji
Shigeru Chiba
Yū Yamashita
Sōichirō Sako
Young-Beom Kim
Director of Photography
Shingo Fukuyo