[Chapter 2: The Chirping Gnome & Subtle Escapes]
Adam's first mission with the System was a hilarious exercise in anti-climax. After narrowly avoiding the whole "Mjolnir landing and Thor being a giant, shirtless idiot" situation, he found the three artifacts waiting for him in the crater, nestled neatly where the hammer would have been. The System had told him to "locate and activate," and a simple touch was all it took. The Crown of Gravity manifested as a small, silver circlet, almost unnoticeable, that sat comfortably on his head. The Reflective Stone embedded itself into his wrist, a smooth, obsidian-like pebble that looked like a regular, if slightly odd, fashion choice. The Glass of Illusions became a pair of simple, wire-rimmed glasses that, when worn, allowed him to change his appearance at will.
Now, a few days later, he was staring at his new mission.
[System Event: Artifact Discovery Mission Activated.] [Mission: Locate and activate the Gnome of Chirps.] [Description: A D-tier artifact that provides perfect avian vocal mimicry. Currently in the possession of an old man who thinks it's a garden gnome. Warning: The gnome is surprisingly fragile. Don't break it.] [Reward: Gnome of Chirps (D).]
Adam stared at the notification for a long moment, a wry grin spreading across his face. "You've got to be kidding me. After all that cosmic-level stuff, the first real mission is to steal a lawn ornament from a guy named Frank?"
The System, predictably, did not respond. It was all business, no banter.
He found Frank's house on the outskirts of a small, dusty town, a place that looked like it was powered by a single tumbleweed. The gnome was exactly as described: a hideous ceramic monstrosity with a pointed red hat and a comically oversized beard. It was sitting right next to a birdbath.
Frank, a grizzled old man with a shotgun and a suspiciously cheerful disposition, was sitting on his porch swing. Adam, using the Glass of Illusions, had made himself look like a utility worker in a fluorescent orange vest. He walked up to the porch, clipboard in hand, and smiled a smile that felt a little too sincere.
"Afternoon, sir. Just a quick check on the power lines. Might need to get into your backyard."
Frank squinted at him, but shrugged. "Sure thing, sonny. Just don't step on the flowers."
Adam made his way into the backyard, his heart pounding for all the wrong reasons. He was about to steal a gnome. An enchanted, sentient gnome that made bird noises. This was his life now. He reached for it, and as his fingers brushed the ceramic hat, a soft chime rang in his head.
[Gnome of Chirps (D) has been successfully activated.] [Host has claimed the Gnome of Chirps.] [New Ability: Avian Vocal Mimicry (D).] [Mission Complete.]
Adam's grin widened. It was that simple. He left the gnome right where it was. It wasn't a possession he needed to carry around. He could mimic bird calls now. He could be the most annoying ornithologist in the world. He was a cosmic-level threat, and he could make a perfect woodpecker sound.
"Everything alright back there?" Frank called out.
"All good, sir! Just a loose wire. All fixed now!" Adam yelled back, already walking away.
He continued his journey, but now with a purpose. He used the Crown of Gravity, not for destruction, but for subtle enhancement. He'd learned to lessen his own weight just enough to make running feel like he was gliding, covering vast distances with minimal effort. The Reflective Stone, while passive, gave him an unshakable feeling of safety. The Glass of Illusions was his new best friend, a way to move through the world unseen.
He was a ghost. He was an urban legend in the making. He was the guy who could make a cardinal sound like a pigeon, all while running at a speed that would make a marathon runner weep. He was getting the hang of this. His mind, once so focused on pop culture trivia, was now a database of tactical possibilities. He was a walking cheat sheet, a living Easter egg hunt. And the first major city on his map? The Big Apple. He knew that if he was going to build an empire, he had to start where the world was at its most chaotic.