Chapter 5: The Artifact Hunt and the Geeky Couple
The artifact hunt was, as Adam had predicted, a glorious, comical mess. It was like a real-life point-and-click adventure game, but with more public embarrassment and less helpful inventory management. Still, with the System's precise locations, he was surprisingly efficient.
First up, the Storage Ring. The System had pointed him to a dusty, cluttered antique shop on the seedier side of Starling City. "Of course. Because all powerful magical artifacts are found next to chipped porcelain dolls and questionable taxidermy." He walked in, pretending to be a connoisseur of "esoteric jewelry," which mostly involved him squinting at random trinkets and nodding sagely. The ring, a simple, unassuming silver band, was tucked away in a forgotten display case. He bought it for a ridiculously low price, the System confirming its acquisition with a satisfying ding.
Next, the Pen of Creation. This one was hidden in a seemingly mundane library book, a forgotten tome on 18th-century botany. "Naturally. The most powerful creative tool in the universe, disguised as a cure for insomnia. Brilliant." He had to concoct an elaborate story about needing the book for a "very niche, historically accurate fanfiction project," which earned him a bewildered stare from the librarian and a few judgmental coughs from nearby patrons. The pen, nestled within the pages, felt surprisingly normal in his hand.
The Sword of the Far-Striker was in an old, rather uninspired museum exhibit on ancient weaponry. "Because nothing screams 'secret magical weapon' like being displayed next to a rusty medieval helmet." He managed to create a diversion by "accidentally" knocking over a display of particularly fragile pottery, causing a cascade of shattering ceramics and a flurry of panicked museum staff. In the ensuing chaos, he slipped the sword from its display, replacing it with a cheap replica he'd bought from a tourist shop. The sword, despite its impressive name, looked like a fairly ordinary, if well-maintained, katana.
Finally, the Crown of Gravitas. This was the trickiest. It was part of a high-security auction, a private event for the city's elite. "Of course. Because the best place to hide a gravity-manipulating crown is at a black-tie event where everyone's wearing too much cologne and judging your shoes." Adam, surprisingly, managed to blag his way in, using a combination of sheer audacity and a borrowed suit that was definitely a size too big. During the auction, he "accidentally" tripped a security guard, sending him sprawling into a table laden with champagne flutes. The resulting clatter and the guard's indignant cries created a perfect window for Adam to snatch the crown, replacing it with a cheap tiara he'd picked up at a costume shop. The crown, when he finally held it, felt heavy, radiating a subtle, almost imperceptible hum of power.
"Alright, System, my personal loot-box dispenser, I've got all the goodies. Now, what's the damage?"
[MISSION COMPLETE: ARTIFACT ACQUISITION. REWARD: 1000 NON-PLP.]
"One thousand LP? Sweet! That's like, a whole new wardrobe of sarcasm! And maybe a decent cup of coffee. Finally, some good news in this chaotic existence."
With his new arsenal of magically mundane artifacts safely tucked away (mostly in the Storage Ring, which was surprisingly roomy), Adam turned his attention to a different kind of mission: a date. A proper, honest-to-goodness date with Felicity Smoak.
He met her at a surprisingly charming, if slightly dusty, independent cinema that specialized in cult classics. Felicity, dressed in a cute, slightly quirky dress, was already there, fiddling with her phone.
"Hey, Smoak," Adam said, approaching her with a genuine smile. "Ready for a night of cinematic masterpieces and questionable snack choices?"
Felicity looked up, her face lighting up. "Adam! You made it. I was starting to think you got lost in a wormhole or something. You've been... very busy lately."
"Just acquiring some... assets," Adam said, winking. "You know, for the greater good. And for my own personal amusement. But tonight, it's all about us. And possibly a very bad sci-fi movie from the 80s."
Their date was perfect. They laughed through a terrible B-movie, shared a ridiculously oversized bucket of popcorn, and engaged in a rapid-fire exchange of nerdy jokes and pop-culture references that would have left Oliver Queen's head spinning. Felicity, for the first time in a long time, seemed genuinely relaxed, her usual nervous energy replaced by a comfortable ease.
"You know," Felicity said, leaning her head on his shoulder as the credits rolled, "this is... nice. Normal. Well, as normal as it gets with you."
"Normal is overrated, Smoak," Adam murmured, wrapping an arm around her. "Besides, who needs normal when you can have 'hilariously chaotic'?"
Later, as he walked her back to her apartment, the city lights twinkling around them, Adam felt a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with luck points or mystical artifacts. This was real. This was a connection.
"Okay, System, time for the next big move." "System, I want to designate Felicity Smoak as a 'Member.' She's my anchor, my co-conspirator in chaos, and frankly, the only one who truly understands my jokes. Plus, she's probably going to need a little extra luck, being around me."
[DESIGNATING FELICITY SMOAK AS SYSTEM MEMBER. COST: 0 NON-PLP. BENEFITS: POTENTIAL PASSIVE LP GAINS, LIMITED LUCK TRANSFERABILITY.]
"Zero LP? My kind of deal! Free membership! Take that, Costco!"
Felicity, oblivious to the digital transaction, squeezed his hand. "Thank you for tonight, Adam. It was... exactly what I needed."
"Anytime, Smoak," Adam replied, pulling her into a hug. "Anytime. Just try not to get into too much trouble before I figure out how to, you know, monetize my sarcasm. It's a work in progress."
As he walked away, a contented smile on his face, Adam felt a subtle shift in his luck. A sense of rightness. He had his artifacts, he had a mission, and he had Felicity. The Arrowverse was about to find out that a little bit of luck, a lot of sarcasm, and a dash of genuine affection could go a long way.
System Status After Chapter: Non-PLP: 1540 (65 + 1000 + 500 - 25). He will have 1 PLP and 540 Non-PLP.
Summary of Chapters 1-5:
These first five chapters introduce Adam Stiels, a sarcastic, pop-culture-obsessed man who dies in a comical accident and transmigrates into the Arrowverse, specifically Starling City during Arrow S02E08. He awakens in a hospital, where he discovers the "Luck System," a webnovel-style interface that grants him Luck Points (LP) and missions. Adam quickly adapts to his new reality, using his knowledge of the timeline and his newfound powers to integrate himself into the lives of the Arrowverse heroes.
He immediately sets his sights on Felicity Smoak, using a fabricated story about a stolen prototype to gain access to Queen Consolidated and begin his charmingly awkward courtship. This leads to his introduction to Oliver Queen and John Diggle, initiating a humorous rivalry with Oliver. The arrival of Barry Allen further excites Adam, who quickly befriends the future Flash.
As the canonical events of Arrow S02E09 unfold, Adam witnesses Oliver's struggle with Cyrus Gold and Barry's lightning strike, which sends him into a coma. Recognizing the need for more direct intervention, Adam spends a significant amount of LP to acquire the locations of several powerful artifacts: the Storage Ring, the Pen of Creation, the Sword of the Far-Striker, and the Crown of Gravitas.