Magical Wall-Hacking 101

Continuing his examination of the ancient wall, Karnel discovered more magical patterns. A long-range energy detection technique caught his eye, useful for sensing distant powers. All his items and empty universal capsules were now safely stored in his newly created dimensional pocket, allowing him to focus completely on finding his primary target among the glowing symbols.

He paused briefly at a construction magic pattern, clearly the technique Supa had used to create the village's distinctive buildings. Though not essential for his journey, it was fascinating enough that he committed it to memory.

"Found it!" Karnel exclaimed as his eyes locked onto the pattern he'd been searching for, Instant Transmission.

The pattern depicted a figure with one finger pressed to their forehead, and immediately the method for practicing this legendary technique manifested in Karnel's mind. The process involved sensing life forces throughout the universe, using their unique energy signatures as anchor points, then employing mental force to bridge the spatial gap between locations...

When it came to space-related magic, Karnel's comprehension was exceptional. It took only minutes for him to fully understand and internalize the technique that would become one of his most valuable skills.

In the manga and anime, if he recalled correctly, practitioners would place two fingers against their forehead to concentrate their mental energy. Karnel briefly wondered if he could skip this step given his enhanced understanding, but decided to respect the traditional form.

Expanding his awareness outward, he could suddenly sense countless beings throughout the cosmos, each emitting their unique energy signature, no two exactly alike in the entire universe. Though tempted to immediately test the technique with a dramatic journey, Karnel restrained himself and continued searching the wall for additional useful magics.

Near the end of the recorded techniques, two images caught his attention, a magic that seemed potentially valuable despite its apparent simplicity.

"The Multi-Form technique," Karnel murmured, studying the pattern closely.

This magic utilized one's own energy as a foundation to create a perfect duplicate, a clone indistinguishable from the original. The duplicate emitted identical energy signatures and appeared completely authentic to all senses. The only limitation was that these duplicates possessed no real combat capability; their energy was merely a magical simulation, making them useful only for non-combat purposes.

"The Yardratians who developed this must have created it for... interesting applications," Karnel thought with a slight smirk, as several questionable uses briefly crossed his mind.

Though the immediate utility wasn't obvious, Karnel's intuition, which had rarely steered him wrong, suggested this technique might become invaluable in the future.

With characteristic efficiency, it took only a couple minutes to master this magic as well. Karnel immediately put it to the test, creating an identical duplicate before him. The clone radiated the same energy signature, and even close inspection would reveal blood, flesh, and body temperature identical to his own.

The sensation was peculiar, as if he existed in two bodies simultaneously. Karnel directed the duplicate to move, and it responded precisely as his own body would. Anyone encountering them would assume they were identical twins rather than original and copy.

To test its durability, Karnel delivered a light punch to the duplicate's chest. As expected, it immediately dissolved into wisps of energy that dissipated into the air.

"I'll explore other applications for this later," he noted thoughtfully.

After mastering these three magical techniques, Karnel felt an unfamiliar pressure building in his mind. Rubbing his temples, he realized, "It seems my limit is three magics for now. My spirit can't bear any more without rest."

Having secured two immediately useful techniques and one with intriguing future potential, Karnel felt satisfied with his accomplishments. Though there were additional magics recorded on the wall, he had reached his current capacity.

"I can't learn more now, but nothing stops me from returning later," he reasoned pragmatically.

To his surprise, Karnel realized he'd spent more than a full day in the cave, absorbing thousands of years of magical knowledge. As he stepped outside, he stretched his body, joints popping after the long period of concentration.

"Time to test Instant Transmission properly," he said, eager to try his new ability.

His first attempt without the focusing gesture proved difficult, it took a full three seconds to concentrate and sense the universal energies around him. In battle, such a delay could prove fatal.

On his second attempt, Karnel placed his fingers against his forehead as shown in the pattern. Immediately, his mental focus sharpened, and the countless energy signatures of the universe flowed into his awareness without delay.

"Even with my enhanced comprehension, I still need the physical focus," he admitted with a rueful smile. "I suppose even the most disciplined minds benefit from proper technique."

The true power of Instant Transmission was now clear to him, he could transport himself next to any being in the universe whose energy signature he had memorized, regardless of distance.

Sensing the gathered Yardratians in the village below, Karnel selected one signature and activated the technique. In an instant, he materialized beside a startled Yardratian villager.

"Karnel!" Supa exclaimed, abandoning his construction magic to approach. "In just over a day, you've mastered Instant Transmission? Remarkable! Even among our people, very few have ever learned this technique. You truly are gifted."

"Oh... thanks," Karnel replied with an awkward smile, not wanting to reveal he'd actually learned three techniques and essentially cleared out their ancestral knowledge repository. Though he knew the generous Yardratians wouldn't mind, it still felt somewhat impolite to have taken so much so quickly.

"Karnel, we Yardratians are a people who understand gratitude," Supa continued warmly. "Everyone has unanimously decided that to thank you for saving our race, we will hold a special feast in your honor tonight. In our culture, such celebrations are normally reserved only for when our tribe develops a new magical technique."

Karnel felt a wave of emotion at this gesture. In his travels across the universe, he had often been reluctant to play the hero, having learned the hard way that good deeds frequently went unrewarded.

But in this moment, surrounded by the grateful Yardratians, he reconsidered that cynical view. Perhaps being a good person without expectation of reward wasn't such a bad approach to life after all, especially when it led to unexpected connections like these.