Perma portals were different from the usual portals. They started appearing over a year after the Great Invasion. Or rather they started staying. Perma portals were initially normal portals, but once cleared and the players came out, the portal gate would change from a round spinning whirlpool to a still rectangular form, like a door, and would then remain so.

Since they had been cleared already, there were no portal releases on these portals. They also worked differently from normal portals: groups of players could go in different instances of the same Perma portal, and clearing them did not make them disappear as it did for normal portals. All their instances were always the same no matter who entered it or when.

Since there had not been new players in a while, the low level Perma portals had been deserted. Contrary to normal portals, they did not offer any rewards outside of experience, whereas monsters in normal portals sometimes dropped mana crystals. 

Mana crystals hold massive amounts of energy. After experimenting, scientists managed to extract this energy in the form of electricity. This solved the energy issues that had been slowly destroying the earth for years. Power plants were closed and mana crystals rapidly became the only source for electricity production in the world. 

With electricity being abundant, energy efficiency was no longer an issue. Most vehicles now had fuel cells and were hydrogen powered, and more rarely had battery packs, since the materials needed to build batteries were not as abundant. 

Luckily for Matthew, one of the lowest level perma portals was close by. That was one of the reasons why he chose to live in this neighborhood.

From what he gathered, this portal contained a small village-like structure with chicken-headed humanoids, in a clearing in the middle of a forest.

The portal gate was in an open parking lot a few blocks away. Matthew made his way there, his inventory full of anything he could possibly need and more.

“Alright, nuggets farm, here I come!” he said, as he walked into the gate.

Zoom.

In the next instant, he was no longer on the empty parking lot, and instead, he found himself in a dense forest. He stumbled slightly, a bit dizzy and wary from the sudden change in scenery and environment. 

“Alright, let’s check if the information I got on this place is correct.” he said, as he started walking.

According to the database, the clearing was opposite to the direction of the sun, which could be partially seen through the tree branches and leaves.

After a few minutes, Matthew could discern the outline of the clearing, and, a short distance further, wooden houses.

“So there is something like that. Okay, let’s get started then.” he said, as he pulled tools and material from his inventory.

‘It might not be able to hurt them, like for the wolf back then, but it will at least slow them down and buy me some time.’ he thought, wishing for things to go smoother than that time.

He got busy installing all sorts of traps, when he heard a ringing sound.

[You have unlocked a new skill: Set traps.]

[Skill: Set traps (Lv.1)]
The traps set are now imbued with mana.
Increases the damage dealt by traps slightly.

“Huh?”

“I gained a new skill without buying it? Is it linked to my actions? So I could get new skills even without the shop! I have to test this out!” he exclaimed, confused and ecstatic at the positive development.

“Right, the status that was removed when I gained the system said I already had mana… Should I try doing something with that? Maybe I can just sense it in me like the main characters in the novels…” he murmured in deep thoughts. 

He turned back and walked a bit further away from the clearing before sitting down cross legged and closing his eyes. 

‘This should be far enough, I don’t think I’d risk something here right now. Let’s see if I can feel the mana flow through me.’ 

He concentrated and cleared his mind of any thought as much as he could. He breathed in and out, his chest filling and emptying with the air, rich in the smell of the trees around him. There were no sounds around him. His mind was at peace at this instant.

He lost track of time, and focused only on what was inside him. He remained like this for a long time.

‘I must be getting close, I’m sure this is it.’

Just as he thought that, he heard a low rumble. From his stomach.

“...”

He opened his eyes, dejected. The sun stood still inside this perma portal so he could not get a sense of how long had passed. But he was hungry. He must have been at it for hours.

“Oh come on! I got my hopes up thinking I had a chance of being a magician, just like I wanted, even though this stupid system doesn’t have the shop window!” he yelled in a fit of rage.

He sat back down and took a deep breath. After a while, he was calm again.

He pulled a cup of instant noodles and a kettle from his inventory. He opened the cup and filled it with water from the kettle. He brought the water to boiling temperature right before putting it in his inventory. Just like the tea when he tested it, the water had kept its temperature.

‘At least this still works…’ he comforted himself. 

He quickly ate and threw the cup away. The perma portals always reset once the party leaves so he thought he would not have to bother with his garbage.

“Okay, let’s try again, but differently this time. I’m sure I can get something from it!” he said, trying to motivate himself.

This time, he stood up.

‘If feeling what’s inside doesn’t work, I’ll try just expelling it directly.’

As he thought that, he pulled his arms close to him, and then extended them forward quickly.

“Huh!”

‘Nothing. Again!’

“Huh!”

“Huh!”

…

After trying over fifty times, he walked in circles, stamping his feet angrily.

“WHY. CAN'T I GET. A. SKILL. I. WANT!” he yelled, his stamping synchronized with his words.

“GAAAAAAH” he screamed in frustration, contracting every muscle in his body.

Ring.