The Strongest Porter

Magnus lay sprawled on the floor, utterly drained both in stamina and mana. The massive spear he had conjured during the battle had sapped every last bit of his energy. As he stared up at the golden status window hovering above him, a sense of pride and accomplishment welled up within him.

Suddenly, the text in the status window shifted.

[You have met the requirement for the next evolve; do you want to continue with the process?]

"Wow, I can evolve without going into the Lone Dream?" Magnus thought, surprised by the convenience.

"Yes," he replied aloud. Instantly, a blinding light enveloped him. Pain seared through his body, more intense than any he had ever experienced, surpassing even his first evolution. It felt as though he were being torn apart from the inside. Magnus screamed, the agony overwhelming him.

After what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided. Gasping for breath, Magnus lay on the ground, clutching his chest as he tried to steady his breathing. As the pain ebbed away, he noticed a change. His body felt lighter, more agile.

"Did that evolve upgrade my body?" Magnus wondered aloud, quickly summoning the status window to confirm his suspicions.

[Awakened - Spatial Disruption (1%)]

[Awakened - Air Blade]

[Skill Upgrade - Portal Creation (5 -> 6)]

[Body Upgrade - Weak Body -> Below-Average Body]

"Two new abilities, nice. Only one more portal? And my body isn't even average yet?" Magnus stared at the screen, both impressed and slightly disappointed. "Well, show me my abilities."

The status window displayed his updated abilities:

[Lone Dream: Status Window]

Mana Capacity: 58/2208

Abilities:

• Portal Creation: Create and manipulate portals for travel and combat (Max: 6)

• Dimensional Storage: Store and retrieve items from a personal pocket dimension.

• Portal Entrapment: Trap enemies within a confined space of portals.

• Lone Dream: Allows the user to enter a mind-realm where recovery is accelerated. Also provides a status window to view abilities and growth.

• Spatial Disruption: Allows the user to control space itself, disrupting the balance of space. (1% of True Power)

• Air Blade: Manipulate the air to create blades, cutting the target.

"Mana capacity 58… I used all my mana on that spear," Magnus read aloud. "Control space itself… damn, that sounds powerful, but only 1%? Air Blade… sounds like a normal ability that swordsmen use."

Before testing out his new abilities, Magnus decided to visit the Ascender Association to sell the high orc's corpse he had collected. After summoning a portal, he stepped into the bustling hall of the Association, where various Ascenders were busy selling their loot or gearing up for their next missions. A long line of Ascenders waited to sell their items, and Magnus joined them, patiently awaiting his turn.

After a while, it was finally his turn. The young attendant at the counter greeted him with a friendly smile. "Welcome! How can I assist you today?" he asked, then recognized Magnus. "Ah, Magnus! Good to see you again. What have you got for us this time?"

Magnus returned the smile and said, "I've got something special—a space attribute high orc. I took it down after clearing an A-rank Door."

The attendant's eyes widened in surprise. "A space attribute high orc? That's quite a rare find! Let's take this to the 'Massive-Item room' for a proper evaluation."

Magnus followed the attendant into a large room specifically designed for handling oversized items. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned the high orc's corpse from his dimensional storage. The massive body thudded onto the floor, causing the attendant to gasp in awe.

"Holy… This is impressive," the attendant muttered, walking around the corpse to inspect it. "Space attribute blood too, huh? This will fetch a good price."

"How much are we talking about?" Magnus asked, curious about the value of his haul.

The attendant quickly calculated the value, his fingers tapping away on a small tablet. "With the space attribute and the size of this specimen, you're looking at around 4500 dollars. We can offer you mana potions as part of the deal, given the rarity of the item."

"Deal," Magnus agreed without hesitation. The funds and potions would be useful for his upcoming endeavors, especially with his new abilities to explore.

Transaction complete, Magnus exited the Association, feeling a sense of satisfaction. With his business taken care of, he was eager to delve back into the Lone Dream and discuss his new abilities with Xavier.

Entering the Lone Dream, Magnus found himself once again in the cosmic expanse of stars. Xavier's golden form materialized before him, looking expectantly.

"Magnus, you've evolved and gained two new abilities," Xavier acknowledged, his voice filled with pride.

"Yeah, Spatial Disruption and Air Blade," Magnus replied. "But I'm having trouble with Spatial Disruption. It didn't seem to do anything, and it's only at 1%."

Xavier's form flickered thoughtfully. "Spatial Disruption is a highly advanced ability that manipulates the fabric of space itself. At 1%, its effects are subtle and require substantial mana to manifest. However, even at this stage, it has the potential to be extremely powerful."

Magnus frowned. "I tried it, but nothing happened. How am I supposed to use it effectively?"

"Let me show you its true potential," Xavier said. With a gesture, he conjured a massive wall made of dense spiritual energy. "This wall will serve as your target."

Magnus took a deep breath and focused, channeling his mana into the new ability. "Spatial Disruption," he commanded.

A dark rift appeared before him, a chasm that seemed to devour everything in its path. It moved towards the wall, and as it touched, the wall began to disintegrate, sucked into the void. The power was immense, and Magnus felt his mana reserves plummet, the drain nearly overwhelming him.

Just as quickly as it began, the rift closed, leaving nothing but empty space where the wall had been. Magnus dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. "That… was intense," he panted. "But it drained all my mana."

Xavier nodded, his form glowing softly. "Spatial Disruption requires significant mana, especially at your current mastery level. As you grow stronger and increase the percentage, the ability will consume less mana and become even more potent."

Magnus nodded, understanding the implications. "It's definitely not something I can use regularly. It feels like a last-resort move."

"Indeed," Xavier agreed. "Use it sparingly until you master it further. Now, about your next step: You must continue to build your physical resilience and combat skills. For that, there's a place you must go."

Magnus looked up, curious. "Where?"

"The famous 'Death Tunnel,'" Xavier revealed. "It is a place known for its rigorous challenges. Within it lies the Fighting Dojo, where my old master trains warriors. He can help you build the physical strength and endurance you need."

Magnus raised an eyebrow. "Death Tunnel? Sounds ominous."

Xavier smiled. "It is a place where many have trained and honed their skills. My master, while not an Ascender, is a master of martial arts. He will help you unlock your true potential."

Magnus nodded, feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension. "Alright, Xavier. I'll find this Death Tunnel and train at the dojo."

As the Lone Dream dissolved, Magnus returned to reality, feeling the weight of his new powers and the challenges ahead.

The next day, he stood at the entrance of the Death Tunnel, a dark, foreboding passageway that stretched into the unknown. The air was thick with tension, a testament to the countless warriors who had walked this path before him.

"Guess it's time to win this tournament," Magnus muttered with a sigh.