Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 023

"August 15, Part 3" (八月十五日③) is the 23rd chapter of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun manga series, released on July 27, 2009.

Synopsis
The chapter opens with Misaka 9982 taking out a gun and announcing to Accelerator (who's cracking his neck to warm up) that it's time for the experiment to begin. Accelerator attacks Misaka 9982 in various ways, forcing the clone to dodge. Misaka 9982 tries shooting him, but Accelerator reflects one of the bullets so it hits her instead. She flees, with Accelerator casually chasing after her. He catches up and attacks her again, leaving her barely able to stand up. Misaka 9982 thinks about Accelerator's power and concludes that an attack from below can bypass his barrier. She activates a mine underneath Accelerator, triggering a powerful explosion. However, an unharmed Accelerator emerges from the smoke and, while noting that Misaka 9982's thinking was off on one point, tears off her leg. Misaka 9982 tries an electric attack but this is also reflected back at her, causing her to drop her Gekota badge. Despite her injuries, she crawls over to the badge, leaving Accelerator confused about her actions. Accelerator decides to end this and heads towards a train carriage.

At the same time as the battle, Misaka Mikoto finds out about the 'Level 6 Shift Project': it is an experiment to raise Accelerator to a Level 6 by having him fight and kill 20000 clones of Mikoto. At first she thinks it's a bad joke, but after seeing the time of the next experiment and remembering her last meeting with Misaka 9982, she can't help but check if it's real. Following the coordinates given in the information, she arrives at the alley to find no one there. Though initially relieved, she then spots the NV Goggles shattered on the ground. She notices the explosion caused by Misaka 9982's mine.

Mikoto runs to a bridge where she can see Misaka 9982 and Accelerator, just in time for the latter to crush the former (who is cradling the Gekota badge) underneath the train carriage. With today's experiment complete, Accelerator decides to stop at a convenience store on the way back. Enraged, Mikoto runs at Accelerator.

Adapted To

 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S Episode 05

Characters
By order of appearance:
 * Misaka 9982
 * Accelerator
 * Misaka Mikoto

New Characters
No new characters were introduced in this chapter.

Abilities

 * Electromaster - Misaka Mikoto (Level 5) and Misaka 9982 (either Level 2 or 3, not confirmed)

New Abilities

 * Accelerator - Accelerator, Level 5

Locations

 * Academy City

New Locations
No new locations were introduced in this chapter.

Trivia

 * Absolute Coordinates of the 9982nd experiment is X-162258, Y-415687.

Unanswered Questions

 * What is the true extent of Accelerator's powers?

Quotes

 * Accelerator: And thus concludes... today's experiment!! — Accelerator after killing Misaka 9982.