"..."
Mikoto was stunned. What was this? A system like those in Japanese light novels where one transmigrates to another World? Or was it some kind of high-tech unique to this World?
She tentatively extended her finger and poked the panel. Her fingertip passed right through it; there was no physical sensation, but the panel rippled with her movement, and then a new window popped up.
[Welcome to the "Marvel Universe", player Misaka Mikoto.]
[This system is designed to maintain the basic order of the multiverse. Due to unknown reasons, the "coordinates" of multiple Worlds have overlapped, causing some "singularities"—that is, existences like you—to be drawn into this Marvel Universe.]
[All players who have been drawn in are divided into three major factions based on their essential attributes:]
[Guardian Faction: Committed to maintaining World stability and protecting life, your actions will gain the favor of the World Will.]
[Raid Faction: They take pleasure in destruction, slaughter, and subverting order; they are the enemies of all Guardians. However, note that not all players in the Raid Faction are hopeless; their code of conduct often depends on their own beliefs.]
[Neutral Faction: They act only for their own interests with chaotic codes of conduct; they may become friends or enemies.]
[reputation points are the common hard currency in this World and can be obtained by completing faction missions, influencing key plot points, changing the trajectory of the World, and so on. They can be used to redeem everything you need.]
A flood of information surged into her mind, and it took Mikoto a few seconds to digest it all.
Transmigration wasn't an isolated case, but a massive collective accident? And there were faction divisions? It sounded just like the online games she used to play.
"Player..." she muttered to herself. "Does that mean there are others?"
Seemingly sensing her question, the system panel changed again.
[Yes. Please be aware that you may encounter players from other factions at any time.]
The system also told Mikoto that to determine if someone was a player, or which faction they belonged to, she only needed to be within a five-hundred-meter radius to see the icon above their head; likewise, that player could also see the icon above her head.
"How do I recognize the icons for different factions?" Mikoto asked.
[The Raid Faction is represented by red, and the icon is a red skull.]
[The Guardian Faction is represented by green, and the icon is a green shield.]
[The Neutral Faction is represented by white, and the icon is a white scale.]
A chill ran down her spine. This World was even more complex and dangerous than she had imagined.
"reputation points can redeem everything?" Mikoto grasped the most crucial sentence, her heart accelerating uncontrollably.
"Then... can it let me go home?"
[Returning to the original World requires unlocking the "World Beacon", required reputation points:??? (Currently insufficient authority, unable to detect).]
A bucket of cold water was poured over her head.
However, Mikoto quickly noticed another line of small print.
[The System Store is now open; players can use reputation points to redeem items or summon characters with bonds from their original World.]
Summon?
Her eyes lit up instantly!
Almost impatiently, she used her thoughts to click on the "Bond Summon" option. A long list instantly unfolded, displaying names and avatars she was more than familiar with.
[Misaka Misuzu (Mother) — Required reputation points: 5,000,000]
[Misaka Tabigake (Father) — Required reputation points: 5,000,000]
[Kuroko Shirai — Required reputation points: 4,000,000]
[Kazari Uiharu — Required reputation points: 4,000,000]
[Ruiko Saten — Required reputation points: 4,000,000]
[Misaki Shokuhou — Required reputation points: 4,500,000]
Mikoto's gaze swept quickly across the list, and when she saw the long string of zeros, the excitement and anticipation on her face instantly froze.
Five million? Four million?
She looked at her pitiful eight thousand reputation points and felt like a pauper looking up at an astronomical figure. How many times would she have to save the World to save up enough!
Unwilling to give up, she continued to scroll down the list, wanting to see if there were any cheaper ones. Then, a familiar and headache-inducing name jumped into her field of vision.
[Touma Kamijou — Required reputation points: 1,000,000]
One million? Three-quarters cheaper than Kuroko and the others?
Mikoto's cheeks flushed red instantly, and her heart skipped a beat. She almost subconsciously waved her hand, wanting to swat the panel away, while muttering tsundere-ly:
"Who... who would want to summon that idiot! Spending one million reputation points on him would be such a waste! I certainly wouldn't... Hmph!"
That said, her gaze was like it was stuck to the name by a magnet, firmly pinned to it. In her mind, the image of that spiky-haired boy who always risked his life for others and used that right hand to confront Accelerator uncontrollably emerged.
If... if that idiot were here too...
"No, no! Misaka Mikoto, wake up!" She slapped her cheeks hard, forcibly banishing someone's image from her mind.
"The most important thing now is survival! Survival!"
She took a deep breath, closed the summoning list that had left her heart in turmoil, and instead opened the "Item Store".
A dazzling list of goods appeared before her eyes, with various magical items shimmering with an alluring luster.
[One-time Resurrection Coin — Price: 10,000,000 reputation points (Purchase limit: 1)]
[Description: After a player dies, they can resurrect on the spot with full status once. Soul-bound, non-tradable.]
[Peak State Potion — Price: 8,000,000 reputation points (Purchase limit: 1)]
[Description: Instantly heals all injuries and restores physical functions to the strongest peak period in personal history, with permanent duration.]
[Portable Gekota-themed First Aid Kit: Contains various specialty medicines from Academy City. Price: 2,000 reputation points.]
["Sisters" Military Goggles (Replica): Provides night vision and basic data analysis functions. Price: 10,000 reputation points.]
Mikoto looked at these items, especially the first two, and gasped.
The Resurrection Coin and the Peak State Potion were simply heaven-defying life-saving trump cards, but their prices were equally heaven-defying. With her current reputation points, she couldn't even make up a fraction of the cost.
However, this also gave her hope.
As long as she worked hard to accumulate reputation points, she would not only have the chance to bring her friends to this World but also gain powerful life-saving means.
"Alright!"
Mikoto closed the system panel, and the room returned to darkness. She lay back on the bed, but this time, her mood was completely different.
The confusion and anxiety were swept away, replaced by a burning fighting spirit.
Isn't it just earning reputation points? She was the Railgun of Tokiwadai, one of the only seven Level 5s in Academy City!
In this World that was like a "newbie village", as long as she figured out the rules, wouldn't earning reputation points be as easy as pie?
Mikoto clenched her fists, a confident smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
"Wait for me, everyone."
"I, this young lady, am determined to become the Player King of this New World!"