The Return Of Magic Should Be Special (chapter 12)
Amidst the hustle and bustle of a busy New York street, where the ebb and flow of white-collar workers created a dynamic rhythm, a particular figure moved with an uncanny blend of anonymity and purpose. Adam, now clad in cleaner clothes, navigated the crowded sidewalk. His short black hair and bright blue eyes belied his young age of 15. Standing at 5 feet 5 inches, he seemed inconspicuous amidst the sea of passersby.
The ambient noise of the city enveloped him—the distant honking of horns, the hurried footsteps on the pavement, and the indistinct chatter of conversations. The temperature, a mild breeze carrying the scent of street vendors and exhaust fumes, hinted at the transitional nature of the season.
A thin line of magic string extended from Adam's index finger, delicately lifting someone's wallet without attracting the notice of the bustling crowd. It had been a week since the confrontation with the Empirikul, and the city was gradually returning to a semblance of normalcy, at least to the sorcerers. Magic had resurfaced, mana particles reappearing, albeit at a slow pace. The ominous presence of the Empirikul had dissipated, leaving an air of cautious relief in its wake.
Having closed his cave home—destined to be his magical sanctum once his spells were refined—Adam found himself back in the city. The abandoned boat home was also no longer an option. Instead, his gaze lingered on a refurbished boat-turned-home, priced at a surprisingly affordable $1,500. A goal had been set, and Adam was diligently collecting funds through a skill he had honed—pickpocketing.
His proficiency in this illicit art had grown, aided by the mana string spell that was invisible to ordinary eyes. The city's denizens remained oblivious to the magic at play, a spectacle seen only by fellow sorcerers during the Empirikul battle. Adam's magical prowess had garnered their attention; he had become a memorable figure in the hidden magical community of Earth 616, the peculiar kid possessing an abundance of magic when it was scarce for others.
While pickpocketing showcased his agility, another facet of his abilities was undergoing refinement. Adam relentlessly worked on increasing his spiritual force, a mental muscle that felt the strain after reaching six points. The system equated spiritual force to a muscle; with each use, it grew stronger, but the higher it ascended, the slower the improvement became. Adam was grappling with this newfound challenge.
The environment shifted around him as he continued his activities, the concrete jungle pulsating with energy. The monetary goal for the boat-home glimmered in the distance, promising a semblance of stability in Adam's ever-evolving journey.
[ Name: Adam ]
[ Mana (plain): 301 (particle) ]
[ Spiritual-Force: 0.33/6.33 (1 spiritual force lasts for 1 minute; 1 spiritual force can be recovered in 1 minute) ]
[ Created spells:
Unstable-Mana-Ball(Tier: 0): a very unstable and small mana ball that explodes due to its instability. It doesn't do very much damage due to its small size, but it does release bright flash light when it explodes, Lv:2 (114/500) cooldown: 5 seconds ]
Mana-Ball(Tier: 0): a condensed ball of mana that is structurally stable and is the size of a marble. It constantly emits white light that illuminates a 12 feet radius, Lv:2 (154/500) cooldown: 25 seconds]
Spinning-Arrow(Tier: 0): 3 spinning arrows made completely out of mana that spins as it flies towards its target, giving a high piercing damage, Lv:3 (762/1,000) cooldown: 10 seconds ]
Mana-Plate(Tier: 0): a plate made completely out of mana, it's durable as steel and can withstand most physical and mystical forces. It's capable of floating, with measurements of 400x400x30mm, Lv:3 (04/1,000) cooldown: 1 minute and half ]
Mana-String(Tier: 0): a thin and invincible string made out of mana that is 15 feet long, it can be attached to medium-sized objects to be controlled by the caster, Lv:3 (575/1,000) cooldown: 50 seconds ]
Mana-Bomb(Tier: 0): a mana bomb the size of a tennis ball, it was made by compressing several mana particles in a way that makes highly unstable and volatile, causing it to explode in fiery explosion and deal a lot of damage, Lv:1(13/100) cooldown: 3 minutes ]
-scene change-
In the heart of New York City, the night held a stillness that embraced the empty streets. Adam strolled along, counting the crumpled bills in his hand under the dim glow of streetlights. "898, 899, 900, $950. Just $550 to go," he mused, a determined smile playing on his lips. The city, usually alive with the pulse of activity, now lay dormant under the night sky.
Suddenly, a peculiar sound disrupted the silence—*TEKE TEKE*. Adam's senses sharpened, and he turned to see an eerie sight. A woman, or at least the remnants of one, approached with a haunting gait. Half of her body was missing, and her lush dark hair draped over her face. She moved with an unsettling rhythm, her two hands creating the peculiar teke teke sound.
"Well, I was wondering why the back of my neck was tingling— a ghost or a demon?" Adam's words betrayed a mix of freaked-out curiosity. This encounter marked his first with a ghost, a phenomenon that intrigued him more than it disturbed him. The ghost seemed puzzled by the lack of fear emanating from this particular human.
Drawn by Adam's unusually strong soul, the ghost hungered for spiritual energy. adam was unfazed. As the ghost closed in, Adam raised his index finger, summoning a gathering of white light that trembled within a ball-shaped formation. Without breaking his stride, he nonchalantly threw the mana bomb at the ghost.
Given the ghost's unique form—walking on two hands without legs—the mana bomb struck with devastating precision, decimating the apparition. Adam shielded his eyes from the ensuing blast, his deadpan tone cutting through the dissipating echoes, "hmm, it's actually weak." He turned away from the fading remnants of the ghost, muttering in mild irritation, "Made me waste 288 mana." With that, he continued on his path, heading toward a particular abandoned boat as the city's night held its secrets close.
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Author's Note: Well, double chapters for you lucky readers! Anyways, this marks the beginning of a new volume titled "Hunted," as evidenced by the presence of the teke teke ghost. She won't be the last of them, so hopefully, you are ready. LET THE HUNT COMMENCE.
PS: From this point onward, you will witness your favorite monsters facing off against your (hopefully) favorite protagonist. There is actually a reason why he is being hunted by monsters from other universes (yes, even Godzilla might appear), which you will discover soon. But before that, please do tell me which monsters you want Adam to confront, and I will ensure that Adam faces them with full force. (No overpowered monsters like SCP-682, and definitely no SCP-682, you know who you are.)
ps: i just realised the title, the return of magic should be special, which was what i am reading currently as i edit these chapters, (you know what, i am going to change it to that)