"There's no point in waiting; let's just go."
After making up his mind, he resolutely pressed the [Start World Jump] button on his phone.
***
[ Multiverse Navigation OS – v1.0 ]
> Start World Jump
Initializing Jump Protocol...
──────────────────────────────
> Destination:
> Zettai Karen Children: The Unlimited – Hyoubu Kyousuke
> User Identity:
> Senzo Kazuko (Codename: The Pivot)
> Level 7 Esper | Multi-Ability Type
> • Vector Authority
> • Mass Displacement
> • Perception Distortion
> Entry Point:
> [Location: B.A.B.E.L. Detention Facility – Classified Wing]
> [Cover Identity: Volunteer Detainee – Monitored Subject]
> Synchronization:
> • Background Memory Alignment: ✔
> • Language & Contextual Integration: ✔
> • Power Calibration: ✔
> • Safety Override: OFF
> • Return Anchor: Set (Earth Sync Active)
> World Mechanics Notice:
> • Death may result in permanent termination of current identity.
> • Time Dilation Active — Exactly 3 days will pass on Earth regardless of time spent in the target world.
> • Rewards and skills gained will carry over post-return.
> • World Effect: Dungeons will begin forming on Earth the moment you leave.
──────────────────────────────
Would you like to begin World Jump?
[ YES ] [ NO ]
***
"Damn, that looks dope. Feels like I'm in a sci-fi movie or something."
He pressed [ YES ] and closed his eyes, fully expecting the dimensional transfer to make him feel miserable.
But after waiting a while, nothing happened; he didn't feel anything, nor did he sense his surroundings change. Carefully opening his right eye a little, he looked around, but unlike the cold, desolate cell he expected, he was still in his own apartment.
"Huh?"
Then he saw a new message pop up on the phone's screen.
***
[ Multiverse Navigation OS – v1.0 ]
> World Jump Configuration
User Customization Detected – Please confirm transfer parameters.
──────────────────────────────
> Wealth Allocation:
> Select percentage of current Earth-based assets to transfer.
> Note: Transferred currency will auto-convert to local equivalent.
> • [ 0% ]
> • [ 10% ]
> • [ 25% ]
> • [ 50% ]
> • [ 100% ]
> • [ Custom: ___% ]
> Ability Integration:
> Inherit select current talents / traits.
> Note: Integration will be adapted to fit the current world's Esper framework.
> • [ Adaptive Reflexes – ✔ Enabled ]
> • [ Current Knowledge – ✔ Enabled ]
> • [ Language Proficiency – ✔ Auto-applied ]
> Equipment Transfer:
> Bring over items within the allowed category.
> Limits: 1 personal accessory + 1 non-offensive tool
> • [ Noise-Cancelling Headphones – ✔ Confirmed ]
> • [ Laptop – ✔ Confirmed ]
> System Note:
> All selections are locked in upon final confirmation.
> No changes can be made after jump initiation.
──────────────────────────────
Confirm these transfer settings?
[ CONFIRM & JUMP ] [ CANCEL ]
***
"This is quite something," he muttered, seeing all the options he could customize.
"So earning money is a priority, huh? It can grant me all kinds of boons in other worlds."
But for the first one he decided to go for 0%, as he wanted to first experience it, and with his background he really had no need for personal funds.
After that he left everything else the same; by bringing his laptop he maybe could still use the internet and even continue studying even if only the offline functions worked.
Excited, he pressed [ CONFIRM & JUMP ] and closed his eyes once more.
This time, however, he felt it, the space around him changing rapidly, and before he knew it, the soft and comfortable couch he was sitting on had changed to a cold and hard bed.
Opening his eyes, he looked around in wonder, and what he saw left him grimacing. It was dark all around him, so he could barely make out what his surroundings were.
But the one thing that stood out was the steel bars a couple meters in front of him and how he could see no daylight anywhere at all.
Like he was locked up in solitary confinement.
"Oh wait, I am locked up in solitary confinement," he chuckled slightly, thinking about it.
It just felt so surreal; a second ago he was sitting on his couch, and now he was a prisoner on a different planet.
Then his head felt like it would burst any second. Years of memories submerged him like a massive wave.
The background he had only read about was now coming to life as he experienced all his life in a matter of moments.
Cold sweat dripped from his brow as he collapsed on his bed. His breathing was heavy.
"Damn!" he shouted.
But the memories didn't stop; no, they kept coming until he finally reached the moment where he currently was.
Wiping the sweat from his brows, he cracked his neck a couple times as his eyes regained their focus.
Senzo stayed lying on the bed, letting the memories slowly sink in; he had to do his best to remember as much as possible.
He would for sure face Babel a couple times, so he had to remember as much information about them as possible.
Luckily his background had been quite entangled with them, so he had a lot of information as long as he took his time to digest all the memories slowly.
After a couple hours of lifelessly lying there, he finally crawled back up and rested his back against the cold wall.
"Awesome. I really do have those superpowers," he muttered, while stretching his whole body.
And a moment later a clone of himself appeared a level above, inside a glass cage where a little girl with long black hair lay sprawled on a king-sized bed.
The little girl was wearing a baggy beige shirt that reached her knees, and she had a sad look in her eyes, her hands hidden by the long sleeves.
The moment she felt someone appear in her cage, her eyes shot open, and she looked around the cage to see who had appeared.
When she saw Senzo standing there wearing simple black slacks and a white short-sleeved shirt, the look in her eyes completely changed as she sat upright with a bright smile on her face.
"Senzo!" she shouted energetically.
And just like that, she jumped toward him with her arms wide open.
Senzo chuckled while catching the little girl in a warm embrace, with a peaceful smile on his face.
"How's it going, Yugiri? They didn't hurt you too much, right?"
"Nnn," she shook her head, "It's still bearable for now."
After he put her down on the bed again, he took a seat next to her and started patting her head affectionately.
"Just wait a little longer; he's almost here, and then we can finally leave this godforsaken place," he gently explained.
Yugiri nodded vigorously, her beautiful red eyes shining with expectation.
Then she started tugging shyly at his pants.
"I know, I'll let you continue watching it."
And with a wave of his hand, a flat screen appeared before them; Yugiri's eyes locked onto its screen almost instantly as a huge smile appeared on her face.
The little girl, however, didn't seem to notice how bizarre the scene truly was; a flat screen without any electricity was working perfectly fine.