The name is “Ability Decline,” but in essence, it’s a type of interference device. Its principle is to interfere with the Esper’s brain calculations, thereby hindering or even sealing their esper ability.
To be honest, this isn’t a new trick; in fact, it’s quite a classic and old-fashioned method—after all, there are only a few ways to deal with Espers, so it’s not hard to guess.
However, such a sudden move was like a heavy blow to Lin Wuming… Classic and old-fashioned methods often mean stable and effective ones.
—But he is a Level 5, so he should be able to cope with this interference, right?
Thinking carefully, how did he, and how was it dealt with in the original work, deal with “Ability Decline” before…
Well, by manually destroying the “Ability Decline” device.
—This method is not applicable to the current situation.
Lin Wuming pondered countermeasures while staying alert for potential follow-up attacks.
—Nen… It hasn't disappeared, it's just that he can't control it normally. With enough time, perhaps he could adapt to this state…
Upon realizing this, Lin Wuming immediately relaxed.
In a sense, he never lacked time.
However, in a situation where he “lost his Nen,” relying solely on “Bullet Time” was indeed not very safe.
Because he lacked a reliable means to resolve fatal crises, things could easily turn from simulated to real.
—Are there any other methods?
Lin Wuming continued to think.
Just then, a somewhat familiar multi-legged robot, FIVE_Over, appeared at the end of the corridor.
It was a “esper ability Development” device that imitated Level 5 and could be mass-produced.
Combining it with the electric shock just now, it’s not hard to imagine the ability of this FIVE_Over.
It should be based on Misaka Mikoto’s “Railgun,” right?
Previously, this robot was hidden in a corner, so it could only use relatively more flexible current attacks.
But now, with both sides meeting in a narrow, straight corridor, the attack method the other side would adopt…
The robot’s body opened along its central axis, revealing a straight rail.
“Here it comes!” Lin Wuming said.
It’s “Railgun”!
Even if the power of these imitations is far inferior to Misaka Mikoto herself, “Railgun” itself is overpowered. For soft targets like the human body, even a degraded version of the Railgun is more than enough.
At the critical moment, Lin Wuming fastened the “Necklace Electrode” around his neck.
After optimization and modification by Heaven Canceller, the “Necklace Electrode” had completed its entire power-on and network connection process the moment the buckle closed.
In an instant, the system started and connected to the “Misaka Network.”
Computing resources independent of Lin Wuming’s own brain came online.
The “ability catalog” opened, ability selection…
Due to the rush of time, and because the “Misaka Network” was primarily providing computing power at this moment, it was only natural that the “Electromaster” ability was the first to come online.
An “Electromaster” ability, somewhere between Level 3 and Level 4, appeared on Lin Wuming.
Zzzzz… Amidst the noisy crackling of electricity, dazzling electric light surged from Lin Wuming’s hand, meeting the Railgun blasting towards him.
—Hmm… Calm down, electromagnetism is also a force. Just treat it as a rather special Nen. I believe it won’t be difficult to control…
Lin Wuming silently chanted in his mind, while trying his best to control the electric current he was releasing.
The outcome between his temporarily online “Electromaster” and the degraded Railgun mimicking Misaka Mikoto on the other side was determined from the very beginning.
—If no accident or miracle occurs, then he will undoubtedly lose!
After all, Lin Wuming was using an unfamiliar ability that didn’t belong to him. Regardless of its strength, there was a huge shortcoming in terms of proficiency alone.
If only the Nen had come online through the system at this moment—Lin Wuming thought to himself.
As mentioned before, the principle of “Ability Decline” is to affect the Esper’s brain, interfering with their computing power, thereby achieving the effect of sealing esper abilitys.
In other words, “Ability Decline” cannot affect the “esper ability” itself.
In other words, as long as the problem of brain computing power being interfered with is solved, it is equivalent to cracking “Ability Decline.”
Lin Wuming’s “Necklace Electrode” happened to be such an Item.
It places the brain computing power required to activate an ability elsewhere, bypassing the range where “Ability Decline” takes effect.
This way, Lin Wuming would be able to continue using his abilities.
—Just like Accelerator in the original storyline.
However, Accelerator in the original work still used his “Vector Manipulation” ability, because the “Misaka Network” was equivalent to his external brain.
In reality, Lin Wuming’s brain was not damaged, so what he needed was not an “external brain,” but an “auxiliary computing” device to help him better utilize the “ability catalog” resource.
The difference between the two was finally reflected at this critical juncture…
At the last moment, Lin Wuming was precisely unable to use his most proficient Nen, transforming from a top-tier Telekinetic User into a third-rate Electromaster…
However, this situation was not entirely beyond Lin Wuming’s expectation.
After all, for Lin Wuming, the least valuable ability in the entire “ability catalog” was “Nen,” because he himself was the most excellent Telekinetic User.
The original intention of using the “Necklace Electrode” was to unleash other ability effects, so Lin Wuming even deliberately avoided information related to Nen to prevent it from occupying resources.
Therefore, at such a critical moment, it wouldn't be surprising if any ability was drawn using the “Necklace Electrode,” but Nen was the one that absolutely could not appear…
—Tsk, it seems I was still too overconfident!
Lin Wuming reflected silently in his mind—but thankfully, at least “Bullet Time” could still function normally.
The reason Lin Wuming could still let his thoughts wander while facing the Railgun blasting towards him was simply because he had ample time.
Electromagnetism is also a force; given enough time, Lin Wuming could manipulate it as if it were his most familiar Nen.
This was not difficult.
Boom!
As the Railgun projectile flew towards Lin Wuming, its trajectory had already deviated at a noticeable angle, missing by a hair's breadth. It ultimately grazed past Lin Wuming, tearing a gruesome wound in the wall of the corridor.
Zzzzz!
Crisis averted, Lin Wuming launched a counterattack in the last moment before exiting “Bullet Time.”
A spear of electricity snaked towards the FIVE_Over opposite him.
But the actual attack effect was almost negligible.
“Tsk!” Lin Wuming clicked his tongue in annoyance. Other people’s abilities were just not easy to use!
However, Lin Wuming had no intention of switching to other abilities. Perhaps the attack effect on FIVE_Over was not satisfactory, but in the current situation, the “Electromaster” ability had an irreplaceable role!
—After all, “Ability Decline” is an electrical device.
