They were getting close to Inazuma.
Su Xuan sorted through the recent batch of lottery rewards he'd accumulated.
Maybe it was because Scaramouche's so-called "blessed" fate had made many of the diary holders feel that destiny was unfair.
Maybe it was because Dottore's cruelty toward children had stirred genuine hatred in their hearts.
Either way, even though there hadn't been any new diary entries for several days, the emotional fluctuations of the readers had still generated a generous number of draws.
He went all in with a single all-or-nothing pull.
Three golden lights flared simultaneously within his consciousness.
The first reward made Su Xuan's eyes light up.
[Perception-Locked Spatial Transfer]
A technique that allows the user to relocate instantly without traversing physical space or consuming time.
Distance is irrelevant. As long as the target can be perceived, the user may appear directly at their side.
"…Oh?" Su Xuan paused, mildly surprised.
This was a form of instantaneous relocation—no movement, no transition, no delay.
In his case, the activation condition wasn't energy or resonance, but perception.
As long as he could sense someone with his telekinetic awareness, he could arrive beside them in the same instant.
And as his telekinetic range expanded, so too would the effective reach of this ability.
Given enough time, distance itself would become meaningless—planetary, stellar, even interstellar gaps could be crossed at will.
"Now this is a solid reward," Su Xuan said, visibly pleased.
He shifted his attention to the second golden light.
[Anchored Spatial Jump]
By placing a spatial anchor, the user may instantly relocate to that marked location at any time.
Su Xuan fell silent.
At first glance, it seemed similar to the previous ability—but the distinction was immediately obvious.
Perception-Locked Spatial Transfer required a living target to lock onto.
Anchored Spatial Jump did not.
Once a location—or an individual—was marked, he could jump there freely, regardless of whether anyone was present.
If he ever needed to search vast regions of space for a specific person, anchoring that individual would allow him to pinpoint their position instantly.
A network of anchors would make large-scale movement absurdly efficient.
Two spatial techniques—one relying on perception, the other on preparation—perfectly complementary.
The third reward appeared last.
[Space-Time Refraction Barrier]
Establishes controlled space-time rifts within a designated area.
Anything passing through the field is forcibly redirected to a preset destination rather than continuing along its original trajectory.
A space-time barrier.
These three rewards didn't directly increase Su Xuan's raw power.
But every ability he wielded ultimately scaled with that power.
The stronger he became, the more terrifying these techniques would be in practice.
Su Xuan stared at the description for a moment.
As his strength increased, the size and complexity of the barrier he could deploy would also expand.
If an entire planet were divided into sectors and wrapped in overlapping refraction zones—
An attack launched from the east would emerge in the west.
Something striking from above could be redirected into deep space.
No matter how many threats descended from the far reaches of the cosmos, they would pass straight through the defended zone—entering here, exiting elsewhere—never touching what he intended to protect.
With sufficient setup, the barrier could also function as a stable spatial gateway.
"In the future," Su Xuan murmured, "moving around is going to be a lot easier."
As he spoke, his telekinetic perception expanded outward, instantly covering Narukami Island.
Inside Tenshukaku—
Ei, Yae Miko, Kamisato Ayaka, Kujou Sara, Lumine, and Paimon were in the middle of discussing the final details of tomorrow's trip to Ritou.
According to the schedule, the fleet wouldn't arrive until the following dawn.
Ei planned to spend the entire day sealing off Ritou with shogunate forces.
No one would be allowed to leave.
Troops would stand in formation, lining the roads, welcoming Su Xuan with the most enthusiastic ceremony Inazuma could offer.
Su Xuan: "…"
"I appreciate the thought," he muttered, "but that's really not necessary…"
He had no interest in becoming a spectacle or the subject of idle gossip.
After adjusting his mood, he called Shenhe, Beidou, and Sangonomiya Kokomi into the cabin.
"You want to go to Tenshukaku now?" Beidou blinked.
She glanced at the darkening sky, then remembered—Su Xuan preferred traveling at night.
"Yeah," he replied calmly. "Ei's planning too warm a welcome. She's even going to shut down Ritou Harbor. I don't think that's needed."
"And besides," he added, glancing at Kokomi, "Watatsumi's situation has already been delayed long enough. If this drags on, Kokomi might get anxious."
Kokomi stiffened. "Eh!? I—I've never been anxious!"
Shenhe and Beidou exchanged knowing looks and lowered their gazes.
This was obviously an excuse.
"When you meet Rosalyne later, just tell her I went ahead," Su Xuan said.
"When we head to the next nation, I'll note it in the diary."
"Shenhe, Kokomi—place your hands on me. I'll take you straight to Tenshukaku."
Beidou assumed he meant telekinetic flight, though she briefly wondered why physical contact was required.
She didn't get the chance to ask.
"All right," Su Xuan said. "We're heading out."
"Thanks for looking after us this whole time, Captain Beidou."
Beidou grinned. "No problem. But before you go—let me have a kiss."
Su Xuan: "…"
After an enthusiastic farewell, Beidou waved.
"Take care."
"Thanks. See you next time—"
The instant the words left his mouth, Su Xuan vanished—taking Shenhe and Kokomi with him.
Beidou: "?!"
On the other side—
Tenshukaku, Inazuma City
—
Paimon and Lumine listened as Yae Miko calmly assigned tasks, ironing out every detail of the welcome ceremony.
Paimon clutched her head.
"Why does it feel so much more complicated than last time?"
Lumine shook her head.
"Let's just follow Miko's arrangements."
Ei continued issuing orders when—
A voice drifted through the hall.
"What about Byakko Plain and Konda Village?"
"Do you even have enough soldiers to line the entire route?"
Silence fell.
Ei's expression tightened.
Then—
"…Su… Su Xuan…"
He stood there, smiling mildly.
"I sensed you all here," he said. "So I came directly."
And chaos quietly began.
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