Portal.
It was the symbol of the Sorcerer Supreme's mastery of space taken to its absolute limit.
By borrowing energy hidden within other-dimensional space, one could open a Portal—and in theory, it could lead to any corner of the universe.
Of course.
That was only if your spiritual power was strong enough.
Strong enough to control that borrowed, overwhelming force.
For ordinary mages, controlling that immense power borrowed from the depths of cosmic space was not easy at all.
That was exactly why ordinary mages couldn't perform long-distance teleportation.
But what was going on with Karl?
His first teleport—and he opened a Portal straight to the Moon?
And you're telling me this was his first time learning it?
Is this a joke?
Aldrich-sensei took a deep breath.
"Silence!"
"What kind of behavior is all this, making such a racket?!"
"Let me observe carefully."
Aldrich-sensei inhaled deeply again. A layer of magical shielding spread across his body, and he stepped directly into the Portal.
Crossing through the Portal—
Aldrich-sensei looked at the barren landscape around him and took another deep breath.
Confirmed.
This was the Moon, all right!
Aldrich-sensei strode quickly to the flag.
He pulled out his phone.
With a solemn expression, he took a selfie.
Only then, satisfied, did he step back through the Portal.
Crack!
The moment he came out of the Portal, a layer of frost formed over the shield around him.
Aldrich-sensei dismissed the shield, and the ice shards scattered across the ground.
"Karl, not bad."
"You're even more talented than I imagined."
"This kind of Portal still has a bit of a gap compared to a full-fledged mage, but among intern mages, you're already top-tier."
"But you still need to stay humble and steady. You can't get complacent just because of a little achievement."
Aldrich-sensei forcibly suppressed the joy and shock in his heart and spoke in a deliberately composed tone.
"I understand, Aldrich-sensei."
"I'll stay grounded and keep working hard."
Karl replied modestly.
There was nothing to be proud of.
The Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange, Odin—those powerhouses.
Which one of them couldn't casually roam around Earth?
Unless you were an extremist like Ebony Maw.
What powerhouse is afraid of outer space?
Even Thor wouldn't care.
He had only opened a Portal—he hadn't even gone in with his physical body. What was there to brag about?
In the Marvel world, you still had to keep a low profile.
Play it safe.
That was how you lived longer.
Ideally, he'd become the Sorcerer Supreme in Kamar-Taj before going out into the world—then it would be perfect.
What Karl was thinking, Aldrich-sensei naturally had no way of knowing.
If he did—
He might be even more shocked by how audacious Karl's thoughts were.
The Sorcerer Supreme—he didn't even dare to dream about it.
"Ahem. Alright, all of you, disperse. There's nothing to see."
"Karl can already use a Portal. You're still far, far away!"
"You all need to study properly."
Aldrich-sensei said.
"Aldrich-sensei, if we learn it, can we go to the Moon to take photos too?"
"Aldrich-sensei, can we open a Portal to the Moon as well?"
The intern mages chattered excitedly, asking over each other.
"Ahem—everyone will get a chance. A chance."
Aldrich-sensei calmly brushed past the matter of his own selfie and answered.
But inwardly, he was extremely unconvinced.
What a joke.
He couldn't do it.
Forget going to the Moon.
Even teleporting across Earth was very difficult for him.
Opening a Portal to the Moon—
Even great mages probably couldn't do that!
Aldrich-sensei looked at Karl.
So this kid was actually a once-in-a-lifetime genius??
And he had taught a once-in-a-lifetime genius!
He had heard in legends that some people, once enlightened, could become great mages immediately.
He had thought that was just a story.
Who would've guessed—
It was real??
"Alright, that's it for today. All of you go cultivate on your own."
"Especially you, Karl."
"You've just learned Portal—practice properly so you can go even further."
"The road of magic has no end."
Aldrich-sensei spoke earnestly.
"Thank you for the guidance, Aldrich-sensei. I understand."
Karl replied quietly.
Aldrich-sensei was very satisfied with Karl's attitude.
"Since you've mastered Portal, you're a true intern mage now, no longer a mage apprentice."
"After this, you can begin cultivating on your own."
"If you need anything, you can go to the library to borrow books."
"Remember—this is what a mage's true power is."
"The power of different spaces in the multiverse is like flowers in a mirror and the moon reflected in water. It doesn't truly belong to you."
Aldrich-sensei reminded him tirelessly.
"I understand."
Karl nodded.
The Marvel world's magic system was different from the traditional one.
Its power was astonishing, but it also had its own drawbacks.
That drawback was this: their power was borrowed—from deep space within the multiverse, or from demon gods.
Take Portal, for example.
In other worlds, only high-tier mages could master it.
Even Thanos relied on the Space Stone to teleport.
Yet in Kamar-Taj, any random mage could learn Portal.
How could there be no price?
Even after death, many mages' souls would never know peace.
Of course.
The stronger you were, the more you could delay the time when the bill came due.
The Sorcerer Supreme was even more outrageous.
After death, they became a sacred spirit and went wandering with Eternity itself.
No need to repay what was owed to the demon gods.
That was why they were the Sorcerer Supreme!
Karl felt that if he reached the level of Sorcerer Supreme, he'd have a basic level of self-protection.
However.
Something about his magic was a little strange.
After using Portal, he could clearly feel a kind of power entering his body, nourishing him instead.
"This is probably the twisted part of a god-tier talent."
"Completely different from ordinary people."
Karl thought to himself.
If other mages in the Marvel world were borrowing money from demon gods—
Then with a god-tier talent, he was basically skimming benefits.
That alone showed how terrifying a god-tier talent was—able to manipulate even the power of demon gods!
"As expected of a god-tier talent. It's ridiculously strong!"
"I can definitely rely on this god-tier talent to become one of the strongest in this world!"
"But before I become strong, I absolutely can't let the special nature of this god-tier talent leak out."
Karl thought to himself.
The Marvel world wasn't peaceful.
If his uniqueness leaked too early—
It would definitely draw danger and trouble.
"Yeah. Being a person means keeping a low profile."
"Playing it safe is the true way."
"Set a small goal first—become the Sorcerer Supreme."
"Before that, I have to stay low-key."
Karl thought to himself.
Karl made up his mind.
Once he got back, he would cultivate quietly.
What he didn't expect—
Was that in Kamar-Taj, he had already caused a huge uproar.
(End of Chapter)
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