Toaru Majutsu no Index

[Ryllharu]

Tsuchimikado is a funny guy for sure. An intelligent one as well by purposefully explaining things to Touma to keep him friendly and useful for their (English) faction.

Tsuchimikaido is such a wonderful asshole in this episode. He's always been like that since he revealed himself in the Angel Fall arc, but he outdid himself here. He repeatedly is abusing Touma's ability left and right, throwing him into danger, manipulating Stiyl with threats about Index's safety, etc. Even if he can't use his incredible variable and powerful magic without killing himself, he's still a master at manipulation and knowledgeable to boot.

It's hard not to like him, despite how much of an antagonist he is. It's hard to trust his intentions even though we know he works for Necessarius. I'm never sure he's working for Laura Stuart so much as using her to his own advantage. We really have no idea what his true motives are. He's not as self-sacrificing for Index as Stiyl is, or anywhere near as selfless as Kanzaki is.

You get the feeling that you never know when he might turn out to be a villain. That why he's such a great character.

I doubt he will ask for help from Mikoto but I hope she will tag along regardless!

I would think that in a case like this, Index would be the most useful. Mikoto has the firepower, so she's a good replacement with Stiyl down, but Index is really ideal for facing off with Oriana. Oriana's Short Hand spells stand off on their own, once she puts them down, they act without her, there's no casting involved.

Then wouldn't Index's Spell Intercept be a pretty good way to trash them without needing to get near the tag or Oriana? Short Hand isn't that much different from Spell Intercept. Both use abbreviated casting with reduced efficacy by the sound of things.