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*****
Seeing that Banner was living comfortably, Feny felt a sense of relief. While the "boiling frog" analogy is often debunked in actual scientific experiments, as a theory of psychological manipulation, it held quite a bit of merit.
As long as Banner became reluctant to give up this peaceful, stable life, everything Feny planned to do later would become much easier.
After checking in on Banner, Feny departed. With the school holidays approaching, he would soon have plenty of time to focus on resolving the conflict between Banner and the Hulk.
---
In the sweltering heat of summer, Feny was up on a snowy mountain practicing his "Explosion Magic," doing his part to contribute to global warming.
"Explosion!"
A complex and mysterious magic circle manifested before his palm, and fire shot out like a concentrated laser. After it struck a massive boulder in front of him, Feny concluded his daily skill practice.
Still not powerful enough, Feny thought, looking at the scorched, blackened remains of the rock.
While chantless "Explosion Magic" was fast to deploy, its power was significantly dampened. On the other hand, chanting took too long and consumed far too much energy; if a single strike failed to neutralize the enemy, he'd be the one in trouble.
Even using the "Golden Ars Magna" to boost the potency faced the same issues: high consumption and the need for a clear, prepared thought process.
For now, Feny couldn't think of an effective solution. However, "weakness" was a relative term; even chantless, his Explosion Magic was more powerful than most conventional weaponry.
---
Back at Kamar-Taj, the early-rising sorcerers had already begun their training. Despite their diligence, since Feny's arrival, the average weight of a Kamar-Taj sorcerer had increased by about five pounds.
"Morning, Feny!"
Wong was the most notable example. He had already been a bit "stout," but as his friendship with Feny grew, so did the literal weight of that bond.
"Morning, Wong!"
Feny glanced at Wong's increasingly rounded belly, wondering if he should mention it.
"Give me two!"
Because they were so well-acquainted, Wong didn't even need to specify what he wanted. Feny instinctively summoned three "Sumire-style Fried Chicken Rolls" and handed them over.
Wong took two but looked longingly at the third. "I feel like I've been putting on weight lately. I need to show some restraint."
"And this is the result of restraint?" Feny looked at the remaining roll in his hand, slightly speechless. He shoved it toward Wong anyway. "You need energy to lose weight. Don't starve yourself."
"You have a point!"
Wong, who didn't want to give it up anyway, was easily "persuaded." He happily took the third roll, looking delighted.
Sigh.
Feny suddenly felt a pang of guilt. If this continued, Kamar-Taj would be full of fat sorcerers. If the Ancient One ever brought it up, would she say they were the heaviest class she'd ever taught?
Leaving Wong behind, Feny—driven by deep "remorse"—found the Ancient One. His first greeting was: "Master, would you like a fried chicken roll?"
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. If the Ancient One got fat too, then the problem of being the "heaviest class" would be solved!
"Sure, thank you."
Though she looked a bit puzzled, she didn't refuse Feny's kindness. She took the summoned roll from him. Even a powerhouse like the Ancient One wasn't immune to the effects of the "Sumire-style Fried Chicken"; she let out a small, satisfied smile.
However, unlike the others, she possessed immense self-control. After eating one, she politely declined Feny's offer of a second.
Since she wouldn't eat more, Feny didn't push it. As long as he didn't get fat, it didn't matter if the other sorcerers ended up looking like Wong. Besides, it made them easier targets to hit with skills during sparring matches.
"Master, regarding Mirror Dimension techniques... could you give me some more guidance?" Feny looked at her piteously, revealing his true motive.
He had already given up on the soul-related secret arts, but the Mirror Dimension was a skill he was determined to learn. He wasn't going to let this one go.
"That is very profound knowledge," the Ancient One replied.
"That's why I'm asking you!" Feny rolled his eyes. He knew she didn't mind his casual insolence. "First of all, I don't even truly understand what a dimensional space is."
"Don't overcomplicate it."
The Ancient One looked at him and gave a slight wave of her hand. The space in front of them fractured like a shattered mirror, creating a web of cracks. "Try to sense the difference between it and the surrounding space."
Feny took a step forward, entering the fracture. He held his breath, concentrating with all his might to feel the nature of the Mirror Dimension. He seemed to grasp something, but it was like looking at a flower through a thick fog—he couldn't quite see the truth of it.
After a while, the Ancient One nudged him out and dispelled the spell. "In some ways, this technique is linked to the Sling Ring portals," she suggested. "Study the portals more deeply. Once you've mastered them, the Mirror Dimension will follow."
Feny nodded and thanked her respectfully. He asked a few more questions, and the Ancient One answered them one by one.
---
After leaving Kamar-Taj, Feny returned home and stared blankly at the Sling Ring on his finger.
Since the day he'd received it, he'd almost never taken it off except to shower. He was intimately familiar with it. While the portal spell seemed simple, its essence was the manipulation and mastery of space, which naturally involved dimensional concepts.
However, because the Sling Ring significantly lowered the barrier to entry, it allowed users to bypass many of the technical nuances.
Recalling the Ancient One's words, Feny pondered the mechanics of the portal. His goal now was to understand the part the Sling Ring usually automated.
He wore the ring and began to cast slowly, opening a portal while focusing intensely on the sensation of the process. The novelty of the feeling was so fascinating that, for the first time, he forgot to designate a destination.
Normally, a portal requires a mental coordinate and a clear thought of a location. However, this isn't strictly mandatory if supported by other auxiliary spells.
In short, Feny had never opened a portal without a destination before. In fact, he wouldn't have been able to even if he'd tried.
But today, in a moment of sudden inspiration, he accidentally succeeded. Staring at the pitch-black void beyond the portal, Feny blinked. The place gave him a very strange, unsettling feeling.
But before he could figure out where it was, the portal suddenly became unstable. The sparks of energy flickered and sputtered, and a second later, the ring went completely dark—as if the fire had been doused. The portal vanished.
Encountering this for the first time, Feny fell into deep thought, his brow furrowed.
(End of Chapter)