Chapter 15 – Sling Rings & Sarcasm
Day 6 at Kamar-Taj.
Adam woke up with an ache in every part of his body he didn't know could ache. Muscles he hadn't earned in the gym screamed at him for daring to attempt "spiritual combat conditioning."
His sheets were tangled like a hostage situation, and he rolled off the bed with all the grace of a dying moose.
"Kill me. Or coffee me. Whichever's faster," he muttered, stumbling toward the hallway.
The training courtyard was already buzzing. Initiates flowed in robes, moving with serene grace—or what Adam called "Instagram monk-core." He joined the group with the enthusiasm of someone waiting in line at the DMV.
Then came the real test.
"Today," said Master Wansu, the calm yet terrifying woman who had first tested him, "you will begin your training with the Sling Ring."
She held up the thin metallic band with reverence.
"It will open doors you cannot see. But only if your mind opens first."
Adam raised a brow. "Can it open a Starbucks? Because I'm pretty sure that's what my spirit is calling for."
Several initiates snorted. Wansu didn't even blink. She simply tossed a Sling Ring to Adam.
"Let's see if you can open anything at all."
He caught it clumsily.
The moment he slipped it on, the system buzzed.
[Mystical Tool Detected – Sling Ring]
Skill Fragment Gained: Dimensional Control (2%)
Emotion Detected – Wonder (Wansu): +1 Intelligence +$50, +1% Dimensional Awareness
"Nice," he muttered, "magic jewelry and passive income. Marvel really undersold monk life."
The exercise began. Adam mimicked the circular motions of the others, trying to focus. Magic energy, as it turned out, wasn't something you could brute-force.
His first attempt generated a flicker.
His second—a spark.
His third caused a tiny portal to form, then collapse.
He threw up his hands. "Come on! I've watched Doctor Strange like six times! That should count for something!"
Wansu raised an eyebrow. "Did you expect the DVD commentary to teach you metaphysics?"
"I mean… yeah, kinda."
The system chimed again, probably judging him harder than Wansu.
[Minor Humiliation Detected – Fellow Initiates Laughing]
Reward: +$100
Skill Fragment Gained: Public Speaking (2%)
"Thanks, universe," Adam muttered. "Really needed help with my TED Talk, not my portal opening.damm "
He took a deep breath. Tried again.
Focused—not on where he wanted to go—but why.
He imagined Stark Tower. The Avengers. The Chitauri. The battle in New York.
And then—
Just for a split second.
The window formed. He could see something on the other side—a city street. It vanished almost immediately, but it was enough.
Wansu's eyes widened, just slightly.
[Emotional Anchor Progress – Wansu: Respect +1%]
[Major Achievement: First Dimensional Breach]
Skill Fragment Gained: Dimensional Control (8%)
+2 Intelligence, +1 Stamina
Adam collapsed backward, panting.
"Okay. That was… better than caffeine."
That night, back in his room, he reviewed his new fragments and grinned.
"I might suck at meditation, but I can brute-force metaphysics with raw sarcasm and emotional manipulation. God bless capitalism."
System Log – Chapter Summary
Stat Increases:
Intelligence: 21 (Progress: 1/2)
Stamina: 12
New Skill Fragments:
Dimensional Control – 10%
Dimensional Awareness – 5%
Public Speaking – 2%
Emotional Anchor Progress:
Master Wansu: "The Ambitious One" – Respect 3%
Skills & Perks:
Phase Shift (Level 1)
Miniaturized Tech Design (Level 1)
Engineering (Level 1)
Fragment Synthesis Protocol (Perk)
Efficient Evolution (Perk)
MP: 200
Mana Regeneration Rate: 5/minute (Based on Intelligence)
PS. Im gonna publish one chapter everyday from now on.Bonus chapter when i get to 50 power stone