Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

The harsh morning sun assaulted William's eyes as he emerged from the tavern, his head still pounding and his stomach churning from the previous night's overindulgence. Thankfully, his mana-enhanced constitution allowed for faster recovery than ordinary people, so he wouldn't suffer for long.

He was frustrated by the lack of EXP gains. He needed to level up to unlock his class, but opportunities to gain EXP were scarce. With Seraphina and the experienced crew around, he wasn't needed for fighting, denying him chances to gain experience.

'My Chrono Shift will be ready soon. Should I use it?' he pondered as he navigated the city streets.

His last trip to the past had been eventful, filled with both opportunities and challenges. The situation at the academy, with its secret passages, undead creatures, and Professor Lincoln's strange behavior, was concerning. Was it wise to return, potentially facing another extended stay?

'At least I can gain EXP there... Perhaps it's worth the risk...'

He still had a few days to decide. For now, he had to help load supplies onto the Sea Serpent. Arriving at the harbor, he found the captain and crew already at work, carrying crates onto the ship.

"What happened to you, William?" one of the sailors remarked. "You look awful!"

William couldn't deny his disheveled appearance. "I had a bit too much to drink last night," he confessed.

"That explains why you look so rough and why you're late," the sailor chuckled. "Come on, we need your help getting these crates onto the ship."

Everyone worked together to load the supplies. While magic could have sped things up, using it within the city was forbidden.

It took them roughly forty minutes to finish the task, and then they were ready to depart. Their destination: a volcanic island, the only place where the Fire Blossom Flower could be found.

"How long until we get there?" William asked.

The captain, steering the ship back on course, replied, "About fifteen days. The journey should be calm, but the island itself is dangerous. We'll need to be prepared."

"Fifteen days? That's not as long as I expected," William remarked.

They were nearing the end of their journey. Obtaining the flower would be challenging, but they were close. William's acquisition of the Mermaid's Tear had significantly expedited the mission.

"Yes, we're close," the captain agreed, "but this is the most perilous part of the journey. We must be extra vigilant."

"How so?" William inquired.

He anticipated tales of pirates and bandits, but the captain's explanation was different.

"Many ships vanish in these waters," the captain revealed, his voice grave. "Magical beasts are abundant here. I don't mean to alarm you, but if we encounter a rare, powerful beast, we could all perish. There are stories of a Kraken with a level exceeding 200 lurking in this sea."

"What? Are you serious?" William exclaimed, incredulous. "That's insane!"

"Indeed it is," the captain acknowledged. "But those are just stories. The likelihood of encountering such a creature is slim."

Despite the captain's reassurances, the image of a colossal Kraken lingered in William's mind. He retreated to his cabin, seeking solace in his books to distract himself from the unsettling prospect.

Three days passed, and the sea transformed. An endless mist descended, obscuring their vision. Captain Hemlock, however, seemed unfazed.

"This is a well-known phenomenon in these waters. The mist never dissipates," he explained.

The mist's persistence suggested a magical origin. William joined the crew on deck, observing the eerie spectacle. Seraphina, her expression apprehensive, stood beside him.

Suddenly, a notification appeared in William's mind.

[Chrono Shift is Up]

The System alerted him to the ability's availability. Previously, he might have hesitated, but the captain's warnings about the dangerous waters had swayed him.

Activating Chrono Shift would allow him to level up in Aethel's past, increasing his chances of survival should they encounter any threats.

William retreated to his cabin, a private space where he could activate his Chrono Shift ability undisturbed. He opened a portal to the past and stepped through, finding himself back in the familiar halls of the ancient Snowpeak Academy. He had taken the precaution of bringing a change of clothes, ensuring his appearance remained consistent.

The journey to the dungeon was brief. A guard escorted him to the dimly lit cells. Xavier, confined to a cold, damp cell, glared at William with unconcealed rage.

"I'll wait outside," the guard announced. "Call if you need anything."

With the guard gone, William faced Xavier alone. "You know I'd kill you without hesitation if I had the chance," Xavier seethed.

William smirked. "Did you summon me here just for that? What a waste of time."

"It's not just that," Xavier insisted. "I'm willing to help you learn more about the secret order I wanted to join. In exchange, I want out of this cell!"

The offer was tempting, but William doubted Xavier's sincerity. He suspected a trap. Your next read awaits at empire

"Why should I trust you?" William countered. "With you imprisoned here, it's only a matter of time before we can extract your knowledge magically, assuming you even know anything valuable."

William turned to leave, but Xavier stopped him. "I can give you some information upfront as a gesture of good faith."

"What could you possibly tell me? I doubt you know anything important," William scoffed.

"I know about an underground area beneath the academy," Xavier revealed. "You can verify this yourself, proving my trustworthiness."

William froze. He had recently explored that underground area, and it raised many questions. How did Xavier know about it? According to Marcel, it was a secret, and no one had ever mentioned it before.

"What did you say?" William asked, needing to hear it again.

"There's an underground area beneath the academy," Xavier repeated. "It once belonged to the secret order I wanted to join. I don't know if it holds anything valuable, but it proves I have information worth sharing."

This was crucial information! The underground area William and Marcel had explored was connected to the secret organization practicing dark arts.

"How can I be sure you're telling the truth?" William pressed. "What if you're simply pretending it's related to this order? It could be a meaningless coincidence."

"There should be evidence linking the area to the order," Xavier insisted. "And you can expect to encounter flesh creatures down there. The order creates them."

William had encountered a flesh golem. Xavier's claims were becoming increasingly credible. William, however, concealed his prior exploration. "I'll investigate to verify your claims. How do I access this underground area?"

Xavier explained, revealing a different secret entrance than the one Marcel knew. Apparently, multiple secret passages led to the same area. This one was located in the abandoned guard tower at the back of the academy. The tower predated the academy but remained unused, perhaps deemed too old by Headmaster Grant.

William found the invisible wall Xavier described. A staircase descended, leading to the same underground area he had visited before. He saw no reason to venture back down. The place was dangerous, and he wasn't confident in his ability to survive another exploration alone.

He returned to Xavier.

"Well? Did you find it?" Xavier asked, surprise evident in his expression.

"Are you surprised I survived the flesh creatures?" William smirked. "I'm more capable than you think. Now, can you tell me what language this is?"

William presented the books he had found during his previous exploration with Marcel.

The books, a source of lingering mystery, were now in Xavier's hands. Though unable to decipher them, he offered a glimmer of hope.

"These books utilize a coded language created by the order," Xavier explained. "The base language originates from a distant kingdom. If you can find someone who speaks it, or learn it yourself, deciphering the books might be possible."

"What kingdom?" William pressed, eager for any lead.

Aethel's past held kingdoms different from those William knew. His knowledge of ancient history was limited.

"That's the problem," Xavier admitted. "The kingdom no longer exists. It was conquered around 1200 years ago, and its language is practically lost. You could try searching the desert for more information."

"Damn it!" William cursed, striking the stone wall in frustration.

The information, though intriguing, was currently useless. He turned and left, ignoring Xavier's pleas for reciprocation.

Marcel intercepted him shortly after. "Well? What did you learn?"

William, still harboring some distrust towards Marcel, nevertheless shared his newfound knowledge.

"I see..." Marcel mused. "Venturing into the desert is impossible for us now, but perhaps in the future. At least we have a lead."

"Before I forget," Marcel added, "the test for the island expedition is happening in a few days. It's been moved up."

This was the test to qualify for the journey to the island housing another Snowpeak Academy branch. William was determined to go.

"What? Are you serious? Can we even pass it?" he asked, surprised.

Marcel nodded. "I think so. Everyone's had the same amount of preparation time, so we're not at a disadvantage."

William felt a surge of anxiety. Would he succeed?