Chapter 14 – Optimization is a Superpower
Kamar-Taj was quieter than usual.
Adam sat cross-legged in his tiny room, surrounded by scattered scrolls, candles, and a single notepad that had long since given up on being organized. The flickering candlelight danced across the walls as he stared at his System interface.
He muttered under his breath, "Alright, brain, time to do some inventory management. It's basically magic Excel, right?"
The interface blinked, slightly annoyed—if an emotionless screen could be passive-aggressive.
[System Notification: Fragment Threshold Reached]
[System Perk Unlocked: Fragment Synthesis Protocol]
→ Skill fragments may now be sacrificed to form a random complete skill (the more fragments the better the chances to get S or A type skill )
→ Optionally, user may pool all percentages into one selected skill fragment
[Additional Perk Unlocked: Efficient Evolution]
→ All future skill fragment acquisitions now generate double percentage
Adam blinked. Then laughed.
"Oh. Oh, I like that. It's like loot box mechanics, but with actual power-ups. Let's go."
He mentally scrolled through his long list of fragments. Dozens. Some useful. Some bizarre. And a few downright cursed.
Talent Fragments:
Arcane Weaving – 5%
Enchantment Basics – 6%
Mystic Defense – 2%
Focused Meditation – 4%
Combat Prediction – 6%
Dimensional Awareness – 4%
Eastern Philosophy – 2%
Astrophysics – 12%
Cooking – 1%
Negotiation – 7%
Intimidation – 4%
Advanced Engineering – 3%
Urban Combat – 4%
Lie Detection Resistance – 6%
Prototype Design – 5%
Miniaturized Tech Design – 8%
Strategic Thinking – 8%
Reflex Engineering – 6%
Bioengineering – 6%
Biochemical Weaponry – 6%
Eastern Philosophy – 2%
Dimensional Awareness – 4%
Prototype Design – 5%
Lie Detection Resistance – 6%
Urban Combat – 4%
Advanced Engineering – 3%
Internal Flow – 2%
There were more, of course. But he didn't want to read a fantasy novel's worth of scroll text right now.
"Okay. First of all," he said, leaning forward like a scheming goblin, "let's get me something fun."
He sacrificed random fragments—Cooking, Intimidation,Arcane WeavingEnchantment Basics ,Mystic Defense,Focused Meditation ,Combat Prediction,Dimensional Awareness ,Eastern Philosophy and Lie Detection Resistance (sorry, poker face)—and converted them into a full active ability.
[Fragment Fusion Initiated…]
[Result: Phase Shift – Type A Active Skill (Level 1)]
→ Temporarily shift your body's molecular state, allowing phasing through solid matter for up to 60 seconds.the more level increase the cooldown and time of using the skill increase but the MP cost get higher
MP Cost: 200 per use
Cooldown: 30 minutes
[New System Stat Unlocked: Mana (MP)]
→ Current Mana Pool: 200
→ Scales with Intelligence .(tier 1 each stat gives 10 mp /tier 2 each stat gives 40 mp /tier 3 each stat gives 160 mp ...)
Adam grinned like he'd won the lottery. "You're telling me I can No-Clip through reality? Bruh. This is Marvel meets cheat codes."
Next, he selected two more near-complete passives and solidified them.
[Miniaturized Tech Design – Level 1 (Passive)]
→ Increases understanding and design efficiency of compact advanced tech by 10%
→ Useful for Stark-style tech, Arc Reactor scale-downs, and wearable devices
[Engineering – Level 1 (Passive)]
→ General boost to mechanical, electrical, and digital engineering comprehension by 10%
He felt the surge instantly. Knowledge clicked in his brain like a USB finally plugging in the right way on the first try.
"I just leveled up my inner Tony. Hell yes. Im gonna be Obito now haha "
There were still dozens of skill fragments leftover, and some were too ridiculous to waste—like Shoe Tying Efficiency (2%) or Microwave Programming (3%).
"Honestly? I'm keeping the microwave one. You never know when you need to out-hack a StarkTech vending machine."
Adam got up and tested Phase Shift by walking toward the stone wall.
"Please don't let this kill me.If it does please don't let it hurt much ."
He activated the skill.
A pulse rippled over his skin. His body felt… not intangible, but fuzzy. And weirdly cold.
He stepped through the wall.
His face poked out the other side into the hallway like a ghost.
"Oh my god, this is awesome."
One of the other initiates shrieked and dropped his incense sticks. Adam pulled himself back through, grinning like a kid who just discovered fireworks.
The system chimed again.
[Minor Fear Detected – Fellow Initiate]
Reward: +$50
Fragment Gained: Reflex Reaction Speed (2%)
Adam winked. "I live for your emotional instability, random guy."
Later that night, lying on his cot, he stared at the flickering candle on his table.
"So now I have the beginnings of actual power. Real tools. Magic is cool, sure, but give me tech and logic any day. I'll build a sling ring if I have to."
He paused.
"Okay, maybe not. Those things look like hell to learn."
Still, he felt it: progress. Real, measurable growth.
"Let's plan this out."
He scribbled into his notepad:
1 Upgrade Phase Shift to Level 2 ASAP
2 Master Kamar-Taj combat drills (emotions + physical stat boosts)
3 Use passive tech perks to impress Stark when the time comes
4 Collect emotional reactions like Pokémon cards
He tapped the pen against his lip.
"Right now, I'm a mid-tier anime protagonist. But I want S-Tier, endgame-ready, beard-thanos-punching levels of broken."
As he drifted off to sleep, the system updated silently.
System Log – Chapter Summary:
New Perks Unlocked:
Fragment Synthesis Protocol: Fuse or combine skill fragments
Efficient Evolution: All future skill fragment percentages are doubled
New Skills Acquired:
Phase Shift – Level 1 (Active): Temporarily phase through solid matter
Miniaturized Tech Design – Level 1 (Passive)
Engineering – Level 1 (Passive)
Stat Unlock:
Mana (MP): 200 MP (based on Intelligence tier 1 each 1stat gives 10/tier 2 each 1stat gives +40/tier 3 each 1stat gives 160 )
Stat Changes:
Intelligence: 20
Strength: 13
Stamina: 11
Charisma: 12
Luck: 1
MP: 200
Funny or Random Fragments Stored:
Shoe Tying Efficiency – 2%
Microwave Programming – 3%
Reflex Reaction Speed – 2%