High noon had arrived.
Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the abstract ability: Kuroko the Yuri.
To be honest, the one thing Ling Ke found most satisfying about this Abstract Ability System was that the randomized daily draw happened automatically. This meant that even if he were to fall into a prolonged coma due to some misfortune—like a severe injury—he wouldn't miss out on his new ability every twenty-four hours.
As for the current situation...
Kuroko the Yuri: You possess the spatial movement abilities of a certain perverted Teleporter and the calculation power of a Level 4 esper.
"Hoh."
Raiden Mei, who had been dutifully marching along on foot, came to a sudden halt. A genuine laugh escaped Ling Ke's lips.
"This ability really couldn't have come at a better time!"
Kuroko the Yuri... he recognized exactly which character this nickname referred to. It was none other than Shirai Kuroko, a member of the main cast from the Index spin-off series, A Certain Scientific Railgun. Despite being only thirteen, she was a legendary pervert who had indirectly turned computer parts into a meme of mythical proportions.
In her world, espers and magicians were a reality, divided into the Scientific Side and the Magic Side. On the scientific side, esper levels were ranked from Level 1 to Level 5, with Level 6 remaining a purely theoretical peak.
Shirai Kuroko was a Level 4 Teleporter, a rank defined as being powerful enough to hold tactical value in a military setting. She was one of only fifty-eight teleporters in the massive headquarters of the scientific side, Academy City. Her limits were precise:
Maximum teleportation distance: 81.5 meters.
Maximum transportable mass: 130.7 kilograms.
Ability to move multiple objects simultaneously.
Physical contact with the target is required to trigger the teleport.
Self-teleportation is possible.
Minimum interval between teleports: one second.
Based on these stats, her travel speed could reach a staggering 288 kilometers per hour, earning her the nickname Human Bullet Train.
"It's like someone just handed me a pillow right as I was getting sleepy."
Ling Ke remembered that in the original Railgun story, as long as the total weight didn't exceed her limit, Kuroko could practically walk on air by teleporting herself upward repeatedly.
"So why the hell am I still walking like a peasant?"
In the time it took for a single thought to flash through his mind, Ling Ke scanned the surrounding environment. Then...
Vwoom!
He vanished from the spot, taking his hiking pack and his large suitcase with him. An instant later, he reappeared mid-air.
From that point on, at a frequency of once per second, he began a series of rapid blinks toward Mount Fuji. Fortunately, the current Raiden Mei weighed less than fifty kilograms, and her luggage didn't even come close to doubling that. They were well within the 130.7-kilogram limit.
Ling Ke didn't hesitate. He "flew" toward his destination at a speed of 288 kilometers per hour. He was acutely aware that a certain civil war specialist back in Nagazora was still watching. While he estimated it would take Cocolia three to five days to realize Mei was missing, it was always better to finish important business quickly to avoid unnecessary complications.
During this unconventional mode of travel...
"This... Mr. Ling Ke, you..."
Raiden Mei's consciousness, suddenly finding "herself" flickering through the sky, couldn't help but cry out in shock. Similarly...
"Space? This is..."
The Herrscher of Thunder was clearly taken aback as well. She seemed to possess some knowledge regarding the first two Herrschers, so she didn't mistake Ling Ke for the Herrscher of the Void. However...
"He's doing this without consuming even a shred of Honkai energy?" she noted silently, filing the detail away. "Humans from other worlds truly are something else."
Her evaluation of Ling Ke was shifting. Since he had shown no malice toward Mei from the start and was actively helping her, the Herrscher was gradually becoming more friendly—not that she would ever admit it out loud.
"Don't worry too much, Mei," Ling Ke responded to her mental query. "Spatial movement... it's just one of the more common tools in my kit."
"Since I've just arrived in your world, I'm still adjusting to many of my abilities. Think of it like a change in environment—I just need to fine-tune the parameters. You can expect to see more of this in the future."
The speed of 288 kilometers per hour was no joke. After only a brief exchange of thoughts, Ling Ke had already entered the mountainous region of Mount Fuji.
Now clad in cold-weather gear and bolstered by the physical enhancement of the Herrscher's early awakening, Raiden Mei headed straight for the summit. At this stage...
"The laws of victory have already been written."
Ling Ke continued his ascent, but his mind was already drifting toward the future. In the two and a half days since he arrived in the Honkai world, he had gained abilities equivalent to invisibility and spatial teleportation. Combining these with the results of his initial ten-roll...
"I have enough of a foundation to try escaping the Shackling Prison, but..."
He paused to consider. "Is it even necessary?"
Any cautious transmigrator knows the importance of low-key development. While he was currently held in the Shackling Prison, he hadn't actually committed a serious crime. Looking at it from another perspective, as long as nothing went wrong, the prison was essentially a high-security bunker protecting him.
Moreover...
"The Xianzhou Alliance is a galactic power. They have mastered Delve technology. A spatial move like the one I just got might be detected the moment I use it."
Ling Ke made up his mind. "After I finish up with Mei's affairs, I'll stay in hiding for a while longer. There's no rush."