Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

Over lunch, Maya peppered William with questions about his training. "How was it?" she asked, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Did you learn a lot?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Tons," William replied with a confident grin. "Your father didn't stand a chance against me. I knocked him down so many times, I think he learned more from me."

Gorn, mid-bite of a particularly juicy piece of meat, nearly choked. "You're kidding, right?" he sputtered, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "I practically had to hold back to keep from shoving that wooden sword where the sun don't shine..."

Elara laughed, shaking her head. "Boys, please, mind your language. The dinner table is no place for such talk."

Even William couldn't help but chuckle at Gorn's indignant expression. After lunch, he retired to his room for an hour's rest before heading towards the hill.

Gorn, as the village's strongest warrior and one of its primary hunters, had a busy schedule. Their training was limited to the mornings, but William had Chrono Shift at his disposal, and he intended to make the most of it.

He activated the skill, stepping through the shimmering portal. He materialized in the familiar barn at Jinra's house. It was still nighttime, the same time he had left days ago. Wide awake and eager to hone his skills, William began practicing Kinetic Burst.

His first task was to master the intricate runes required for Kinetic Burst. This particular spell demanded eight distinct runes, each a complex pattern of lines and curves, unlike anything William had encountered before.

While his previous skills were C-rank, Kinetic Burst was a B-rank spell, making it significantly more challenging to learn. But William was determined.

He spent hours meticulously practicing the runes, stopping only when it neared the time Jinra usually woke. He needed to maintain a pretense of normalcy, lest Jinra grow suspicious of his rapid progress.

Feigning tiredness, William lay down on his makeshift bed and napped, awakening only when Jinra called him for breakfast.

"How did you sleep?" Jinra inquired, setting a plate of bread and cheese before him.

"Great," William replied, taking a bite of the crusty bread. "I'm getting used to the barn. It's actually more peaceful than I expected. I guess no beasts dare come near your house."

Jinra chuckled. "Aye, this area is quite safe thanks to my presence. But tell me, you seem...different. Stronger. How is that possible?"

To Jinra, it felt like they had just seen each other, but for William, time had passed, filled with training and adventures in present-day Aethel.

"You think so?" William said with a shrug, feigning nonchalance. "Maybe it's just my natural talent."

"Indeed," Jinra agreed, his eyes twinkling. "You do seem to possess a remarkable talent. I have a feeling your name will be etched in history, kid. Of course, that's only if you dedicate yourself to training for the rest of your life."

That was certainly William's intention. He had to surpass those summoned heroes with their extraordinary abilities, and he wouldn't let anything stand in his way.

After breakfast, they moved to the training grounds. William showed Jinra the Kinetic Burst skill, hoping for some guidance, but Jinra seemed perplexed.

"To be honest, I've never seen this skill before," Jinra admitted, stroking his beard. "Where did you acquire it?"

William recounted the fabricated tale of his family troubles and his departure from home. "It was in my family's library," he explained.

"Perhaps it's unique to your lineage," Jinra said respectfully. "I apologize for prying. I meant no disrespect."

"It's alright," William assured him. "But can you still help me learn it?"

Jinra nodded. "Of course. I'll try to master the skill myself and then guide you."

"And how long will that take?" William asked, curious.

Jinra's response was astonishing. "Five minutes, tops. Give me a moment."

William watched in awe as Jinra effortlessly formed the unfamiliar runes, activated the skill, and blinked across the training grounds in a matter of seconds.

"Don't look so surprised," Jinra chuckled. "I can learn it quickly because I know higher-ranked skills, much higher. A B-rank skill is child's play in comparison. It will be the same for you one day."

William couldn't help but find the statement ironic. He already possessed an SSS-rank skill, yet this B-rank ability was proving quite challenging. 'It must be because I didn't actually learn my SSS-rank skill,' he reasoned. 'I was granted it when I came to this world.'

With the skill firmly within his grasp, Jinra turned his attention to guiding William. He observed William's attempts, patiently correcting each misstep and demonstrating the proper flow of mana.

Despite Jinra's expert tutelage, William struggled to control his mana with the precision required to form and sustain the runes.

They trained tirelessly throughout the day, yet William made little progress. Frustration gnawed at him, but Jinra offered encouragement and a dose of reality.

"Even prodigies take months to learn a skill like this," Jinra reassured him. "But once you master it, lower-ranked skills will become much easier. We can expand your arsenal of C-rank spells before you take the magic school entrance exam."

"Speaking of which," William asked, curiosity piqued, "where exactly is this magic school? Is it large? Are there many students? Is the exam difficult?"

"Yes, it's quite large, and the exam is challenging," Jinra confirmed. "But I believe you'll pass with flying colors. The city where the school is located is quite a distance from here, so we'll need to depart two months in advance. But let's focus on your training for now."

"Right, that makes sense," William agreed.

He ate, rested when he could, and as night fell, he activated Chrono Shift, returning to his own time. It was still afternoon, the exact moment he had left. He was essentially gaining two days of training for every one that passed in the present.

Of course, the cooldown on Chrono Shift limited his usage, but even so, he held a significant advantage over others.

As he emerged from the portal, he was surprised to see Maya approaching. He was relieved he had activated the skill discreetly, without being observed. 'I'll have to be more careful now that Maya is coming here,' he thought.

"William, what do you do up here on the hill?" Maya asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I've always wondered."

"I come here to practice magic," William replied, his gaze sweeping across the vista, "and to enjoy the view. Have you ever noticed how beautiful it is from here?"

Maya stepped beside him, following his gaze. From the hilltop, they could see the entire village spread out below: the villagers going about their daily routines, tending to their farms and livestock, the water wheel churning by the river, children chasing each other through the fields. The lush greenery and the peaceful quiet created a sense of tranquility.

"It really is beautiful from up here," Maya admitted. "I've never been here before. Father always said it was too dangerous."

"And he let you come now?" William asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Maya replied with a playful smile, "because he knew you were here."

"That makes sense," William chuckled, shaking his head.

"Can I stay and watch you train?" Maya asked, her eyes shining with anticipation. She was eager to begin her own magical journey and didn't want to miss the opportunity to observe William.

Since he wouldn't be using Chrono Shift – his closely guarded secret – William saw no harm in Maya's presence. "Of course," he replied with a smile. "You're welcome to stay."