Nothing is Impossible

Atlas blasted past all sorts of flora and fauna reaching his destination, a fiery pit of ash and monsters, in just under 5 minutes. Barely pausing, he continued into the area, kicking stray fire slime and causing them to explode, shielding his face with air magic to prevent the fiery goo from finding purchase on his fleshy face.

Atlas came to a stop near the center of the zone, finding one of the tier 3 elementals that the barbarian had spoken of, along with a tier 4 and 5 version. Atlas was not ready to face either of them and so he opted to instead teleport to safety, but not after flinging a large orb of water and ice at all three of the elementals, hoping to at least discourage them from chasing after him. Instead, he ended up killing the tier three elemental and causing the other two to flee with parts of their bodies gone.

Atlas was puzzled. Surely just a common orb of water wouldn't be able to so easily wreck the elementals? What was really going on here? Using Misty Step to collect the crystal that it had dropped. He used Master Scan to try and figure out what it was.

Ah, so that was why the elementals were so weak to his water magic, it was literally the bane of their existence but he wouldn't get any experience for killing them, so that was a little annoying, it made this hunt far less beneficial for him and much more monotonous. He could only wonder how normal people managed to do it, wouldn't joining the guild be too much effort for what it was worth? Or was the guild far better than he thought it was?

So many new questions, and so few answers. Atlas was starting to wonder how he was going to do well in this world without the help of the system to answer all of the questions that were constantly popping up and causing him strife.

Atlas sighed. Time to get on with this.

***

After 20 minutes of hunting, Atlas managed to hunt 6 more crystals, only getting more than necessary because he encountered a group of 3 when he was one away and not caring too much.

If Atlas was being completely honest, he was a bit disappointed in how easy this so-called trial had been, and felt a little bad for destroying it so easily. Not badly enough to stop though. He thought to himself wryly.

Turning to run back to the city, he paused, looking down at his hands. "I still have some time to waste… why not see how fast I can move while only using skills?" Atlas' body shivered and there was a weird feeling that passed through him before a strange and slightly concerning message appeared in front of him.

1st Mental Barrier Broken! Remaining, 8/9

Atlas had now idea what that meant, and with no way to figure it out, he waved it away, looking at the stretch of land between where he was standing and the city in the distance. Closing his eyes he started to hover above the ground, suit and tie flapping around as he exercised his control on the air all around him. Floating upwards at a slow but constant rate. When he had reached what he believed to be a decent altitude, he created a platform of solid air. He then pulled air all around him, creating a vortex of spinning wind that Atlas condensed more and more until he released it and inverted the magic, creating an explosion of wind that sent him hurtling through the air in a large arc, heading for the town.

Taking control of the air once more, he propelled himself faster through the air, tucking his arms to his sides and streamlining his body so that he could control both his speed and direction more effectively. He felt like a leaf in the wind, albeit with a lot of control over where he was headed. When he was almost to the city, he let go of his hold on the air plummeting like a rock.

He then started controlling the earth far under him, creating a slide of sorts that he impacted with a mighty thud, causing his more than a small amount of pain and skidding down the earthen slide before reaching soft dirt, bouncing a couple of times before coming to a complete stop, falling backwards and exhaling loudly. "Ow." He said to the empty air, realizing that he had been more than a little stupid. Who did he think he was? Some sort of superhero? Maybe a little, but that didn't mean gravity wouldn't apply to him, he wasn't a cartoon character.

His dreams were crushed.

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Laying back on the scuffed up grass, Atlas slowly pushed himself up, rubbing his backside, which he realized belatedly, didn't actually hurt anymore, as his life force had patched him up quite quickly, meaning he wasn't even injured.

Mumbling to himself about being stupid, he walked inside the city again, waving to the guards who were looking flabbergasted, having witnessed everything he had just done. Atlas wasn't in the mood to talk though and he just passed them without saying anything.

He walked back to the Adventurers Guild, going up to the barbarian bartender and showing him the crystals. "Boom, job completed, let me in now." He was not in the mood for pleasantries and just wanted to get this over with, and start getting stronger.

The man stiffened, glaring at Atlas. "You think paying money to buy crystals is gonna get you into the guild? If so, you are sorely mistaken." He said, practically growling out the words, teeth clenched and a throbbing vein on his forehead. He didn't just look mad, he looked furious.

Atlas took a step back, not expecting to be put on the back foot out of nowhere. "What? Buy the crystals? I don't even have any money, I got summoned just a couple hours ago. What exactly are you trying to pull here!" Atlas was just as angry for being framed for something he hadn't even considered doing, and unbeknownst to him, his eyes started to glow a deep crimson, his black hair hanging down over his eyes and making him look extremely deadly.

The barbarian didn't lean back, on the contrary, he leaned forward, leaning on his elbow and planting his other fist on the countertop. "You think parlor tricks are gonna make me believe you? I don't know how you got the money, but all I know is that someone your level couldn't kill those elementals that fast, no warrior worth their salt is gonna-"

Atlas interrupted him. "Warrior? I'm not a warrior, if anything I'm closer to a mage that has combat abilities." He said, scowling and feeling a little confused.

The barbarian and Atlas stared at each other for a few very long moments.

The barbarian burst out in laughter. "Welp, there we 'ave it, the answer to our problems, I sent ya on the wrong quest! It's my fault, so I will give you more time to complete this next task."

Atlas grumbled before looking at the bartender. "What do I have to do…"

***

An hour and a half later, Atlas returned with the tusks of the fire boar that he had been sent to kill. Seemed to him like everything around here was fire themed, so his water powers were getting a workout that they weren't used to.

Killing the boar had only been slightly harder than killing the elementals, and this time he only had to kill one of them. Atlas glanced at the meager rewards he had been given for slaying the beast.

Level Up! X2

You have leveled up your skill Elemental Union (SSS) to level 7!

Two levels and a skill increase. What was up with everything not giving him so much exp? The boar had been level 150, more than 30 levels above him, but he still got so little experience from it.

He handed the tusk to the bartender and looked over it slowly. Atlas waited in expectation.

The bartender merely sighed and handed over a bronze bracelet with a miniature screen on it, almost like a smartwatch from back on earth, but more simplified and made completely out of metal. When he tapped on the screen it glowed dimly before the number 3 appeared in the air, along with the words 'Newbie'. It then faded and showed a screen- not unlike a system screen- that read 'Tasks'.

The bartender nodded at the screen before pointing at the watch. "That is your guild badge, and will let you show your identification to anyone who requires proof of your abilities without you needing to show off too much of your powers. If you take a task as a guild member -not an errand or something for a buddy- it will show on that task screen and the rewards for completing the task will be magically transported to your coordinates upon completion of the given task. Any questions?"

Atlas shook his head. "No sir."

The bartender grinned, "I'm no noble, nor your higher up, you can call me Sicrec." He started to turn before realizing something and turning back. "Oh yeah, this floor is the main floor, you can chill and hang out here, guild discounts on all the food, but don't overstay your welcome." He pointed up. "The next 4 floors up are for getting tasks, you will get your tasks on the second floor. Above that are the Guild Council and then the Guild Leader's floor, you probably won't visit those for some time. And out back," he pointed a figure at a door over in the corner, with people coming and going every so often. "Are the training grounds, barracks and the outhouses. Have a good day."

Atlas smiled, he was finally a part of an organization! He could now do whatever he wanted! Within reason of course. He walked outside to see what all this training grounds stuff was about.