Chapter 17: Trial by Fire and Portal
Location: Kamar-Taj – Training Grounds
Date: March 10, 2007
"Alright," Adam muttered to himself, standing on the open courtyard tiles with the wind nudging the edge of his robes. "No pressure. Just open a glowing hole in reality and step through it. Totally normal Tuesday."
He tightened the sling ring on his fingers. It felt... underwhelming. Like someone had repurposed two ancient brass napkin rings.
[System Notification: Quest Initiated – Beginner's Sling Ring Mastery]
Objective: Successfully open a portal and step through it.
Reward: +1 Intelligence (Progress: 1/2), Skill Fragment: Spatial Manipulation (2%)
Bonus Objective: Impress your trainer. Reward: Unknown
Standing beside him was Master Hamir, arms crossed, expression stoic. Adam swore the guy hadn't blinked in five minutes. Just him and that judging mustache.
"Focus," Hamir said with one hand. The other gestured slowly—an open circle in the air.
Adam raised his hands and tried to mimic it, visualizing a destination: the room he'd meditated in last night.
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
He glanced at Hamir. The monk didn't move.
"Okay, maybe if I try narrating it like a YouTube tutorial."
Adam cleared his throat. "Step one: Pretend to know what you're doing. Step two: Regret your life choices. Step three:"
Spark.
The air flickered. A tiny arc of golden light danced in the air between his fingers.
He gasped. "Holy crap, it's working—"
Pop.
And then it vanished like a soap bubble.
Hamir raised a single eyebrow.
Adam threw up his hands. "You know, maybe this would work better if I got a manual! Or at least a montage."
[System Notification: Emotional Reaction Detected – Frustrated Self-Confidence (Medium)]
Reward: +1 Stamina
Skill Fragment Gained:Magical Efficiency (2%) → Doubled to 4% via Efficient Evolution
He sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. "Alright. Let's try a different angle."
He focused—not just on the motion, but on the intent. The belief. The connection to magic itself.
He visualized space bending. A line arcing from where he stood to the meditation room. He let the energy surge through his hands.
And this time—
Shhhkkk...
The air tore open like silk. A ring of golden sparks ignited, forming a portal the size of a hula hoop. Through it, he could see the very room he'd imagined.
Adam's eyes widened. "Ohhh yeah. Who's the portal master now?"
He stepped through.
And landed directly on top of a monk's tea ceremony.
There was a splash, a gasp, and someone swore in Tibetan.
Adam froze.
"Sorry! I thought this was the quiet room!"
[System Notification: Quest Completed – Beginner's Sling Ring Mastery]
+1 Intelligence (Progress reset: 0/2)
Skill Fragment Gained: Spatial Manipulation (+2%) → Doubled to 4%
[Bonus Objective Completed: Trainer Impressed]
Reward: Skill Acquired – Spatial Anchor (Lv.1)
Spatial Anchor (Lv.1) – Passive
Allows minor stabilization of small magical constructs. 10% increases success rate when opening or maintaining portals.
Later That Evening – Adam's Room
Adam lay back against his mattress, mentally cycling through the day's gains.
He'd phased through walls, opened his first portal, earned fragments, and unlocked a new passive skill.
"Honestly, all I need now is a talking cloak and a sarcastic sidekick and I'm one bad day away from a spin-off."
[System Notification: Emotional Echo Registered – Confidence Boost Detected]
Reward: Trait Fragment: Arcane Presence (2%) → Doubled to 4%
There was a knock at his door.
"Come in!" he called.
It opened—and in stepped a figure he recognized instantly.
Stocky, bald, robes flowing with every step, a face somewhere between calm and "don't mess with me."
"Wong," Adam whispered. "Oh man. It's Wong."
Wong gave a curt nod. "You're the outsider."
"I prefer 'multiversal overachiever,' but yes."
The man sighed. "I heard you phased through three walls, collapsed a tea ceremony, and tried to enchant a rice cooker."
"That rice cooker was possessed, I swear."
Wong raised an eyebrow. "You're going to be my responsibility from now on."
Adam grinned. "So, like, magical probation?"
"Magical internship."
"Oh, that's way worse."
[System Notification: Key Character Interaction – Wong]
Emotional Triggered: Skeptical Curiosity
Reward:
Item Acquired: Beginner's Spellbook – Vol. 2
Skill Fragment Gained: Arcane Theory (4%)
Trait Fragment Gained: Disciplined Study (2%) → Doubled to 4%
Wong handed him a leather-bound book.
"Be ready tomorrow. 5 AM."
Adam blinked. "Wait—five in the morning?"
"Magical discipline starts before the sun rises."
Adam stared at him. "And I thought my gym coach was sadistic…"
Wong closed the door without another word.
Adam groaned and flopped backward. "Okay. I can do this. Portal master. Phase-walker. Magical intern. I got this."
MP's up. Skills are stacking. I just need to survive Wong's boot camp and I might not die before Thanos shows up. Progress!
End of Chapter Summary:
Skills Acquired:
Spatial Anchor (Lv.1) [Passive]
Skill Fragments:
Arcane Presence (4%)
Disciplined Study (4%)
Spatial Manipulation (+4%)
Arcane Theory (+4%)
Stat Gain:
+1 Intelligence (INT now 22) → MP: 1040 + 40 = 1080 MP
+1 Stamina
Key Item Gained:
Beginner's Spellbook – Vol. 2
PS. Im gonna publish one chapter everyday from now on.Random number of bonus chapters will be published when i get to 50 power stone.
After karmataj where do you want Adam to explore and make fun of I think iron man but the plot will start after few months i could paly with othrs until that time