18 Weaving Magic (1/2)
In the instant the spell kicked in, Kilian closed his eyes. Overdrive lasted only for 72 hours, a time he split into two. First, studying the Compendiums of Technology and Species as well as the first chapter of the Compendium of Spellcrafting.
According to Kilian's calculation, this would take him 20 hours. He could then use the remaining 52 to experiment with dra and the learned principles. The sky blue whirlpool shrank around Kilina's form, turning into four flame arrows that dived into his brain. Immediately, Kilian felt as if the world around him moved at a tortoise pace, his reaction speed, thinking speed, all his senses rose to extreme heights, giving him the misconception that perhaps he could now grasp the root of all existence.
Not letting the new surge of sensations get over his head, Kilian wasted no time and dove into the Hellforge. Returning to the laboratory, he strode toward the bookshelf, first pulling out the Compendium of Technology to start his studies. But though he couldn't sense it, even his movement speed had exponentially risen.
As a book gathering knowledge on various technologies, the available parts in the system and how they functioned, and the fundamentals of Technomancy. The Compendium of Technology was a wealth of complex information that'd left most non-magi peeling off their skin in frustration.
Kilian, however, breezed through it as if it were the Weekly Shonen Jump. With his own foundation and the Overdrive spell powering him, it couldn't be simpler. And if the detailed concepts of nanotechnology, supramolecular chemistry, and the like were startling enough, when Kilian reached the process of creating artificial stars and turning them into power sources, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Whoever wrote this book undoubtedly stood at the summit of the technological world—unrivaled in the past or present. But though the author seemed to crave anonymity, Kilian could guess that besides the system's creator, no one else could possess this level of technological knowledge. Again, the name of Arkhan echoed within his mind, and Kilian resolved to find out more about the man from Jezebel.
Meanwhile, hours succeeded one another, and from the various principles of technology, Kilian moved on to the fundamentals of technomancy.
”Conception, Change, and Creation, those are the building blocks of technomancy, the creed all technomancers should live by. Technomancy doesn't know right or wrong and transcends lesser concepts of good and evil.
Understand this truth, and the door to limitless knowledge shall open to you. In the pursuit of endless breakthroughs, the only limit is the self.” Those were the final chapter's first words, words that gave Kilian a glimpse into Arkhan's mind.
In the following pages, Kilian discovered the elementary principles of transmutation magic, but more importantly, principles of dra manipulation. Traditionally, spells were either whispered, sung, danced, drawn, screamed, or played. Humans typically stuck to incantation whispering, using them to shape dra and form magical circles.
Incantation-free dra manipulations in human society, especially below Archon level, were restricted to body strengthening and abilities such as Arcane Sight or Dra Wards. This book took it to another level, revealing ways to turn dra into pure energy to fire beams and the like without incantations. Better, only technomancers possessed the required knowledge and foundation to utilize the method.
Once they mastered that step, technomancers could bring transmutation magic to unprecedented heights. The fallen Technocracy would kill for such knowledge. The book even featured several Meditation Chants.
Though useless to Archon and above, Meditation Chants were of vital importance to lower level magi, enabling them to connect to and absorb the dra within the atmosphere. Without them, even gifted aspiring magi stood no chance to connect to dra.
After careful deliberation, Kilian picked a high-grade Meditation Chant: The Gospel of Pandemonium. Memorizing it, Kilian finished the remainder of the book and moved on to the Compendium of Species.
”Congratulations, master, for completing the Compendium of Technology. Reward: 500 k.p.”
”Congratulations, master, for completing the Compendium of Species. Reward: 500 k.p.”
By the time his self-imposed deadline of 20 hours neared the end, Kilian had completed the first chapter of the Compendium of Spellcrafting. Returning the books to the shelf, he stood up and returned to the outside world. With a k.p. count of 1243 and the proper knowledge to use the parts, Kilian could directly produce his first chips and constructs. However, he first needed to practice his understanding.
All along, Jezebel stood beside him, experiencing his mental fluctuations without a word. As Kilian's eyes opened, Jezebel's lips curled into a smile.