American comics: Incredible comprehension, hand-crafted forbidden spells

Kathmandu, Nepal.

Black Widow slumped down on the steps, dazed and soaking wet, clutching a crushed water bottle tightly in her hand.

The devastating golden sword light from just moments ago seemed to still flicker before her eyes. Just half a meter away, only half a meter! She almost lost her life in this godforsaken place.

She took several deep breaths to steady her trembling hands, pulled out her communicator, and prepared to report this horrifying discovery to Nick Fury.

however.

Before she could speak, Nick Fury's deep voice came through the communicator: "Natasha, are you alright?"

Black Widow was taken aback: "How did you know something happened?"

……

at the same time.

New York, S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters building.

Agent Hill, carrying a tablet computer, hurriedly burst through the director's office door.

"Sir! Something terrible has happened in Kathmandu!" Hill's voice betrayed his barely concealed anxiety.

Nick Fury leaned back in his large office chair, his single eye deep-set, his face so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water.

"I saw it."

He coldly uttered four words and tapped the desktop screen in front of him with his finger.

Hill leaned closer to take a look and was immediately stunned.

The screen displays a scrolling feed of headlines from several of the world's top news media outlets:

Amazing Phenomenon! Golden Light Falls from the Sky over Kathmandu, and a 100-meter-wide Rift Valley Appears in the City Center!

A Mysterious Force Tears the Earth Apart: Natural Disaster or Man-Made Catastrophe?

Below these sensational headlines is an extremely clear, high-definition snapshot.

In the very center of the photo is Black Widow, her face and head covered in splattered mineral water from the explosion, her expression blank!

Less than half a meter behind her was that bottomless, terrifying rift emitting black smoke!

Hill: ...

The usually glamorous and ruthless top agent, Black Widow, was caught on camera in this extremely embarrassing moment from her past.

"Looks like Agent Natasha had some good luck today; she almost met her maker." Hill coughed twice, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere. "No wonder she said on the channel earlier that she wanted to apply to be transferred back."

"She can't come back yet."

Nick Fury shook his head, a sharp glint in his single eye. "According to satellite monitoring and eyewitness reports, when that golden light appeared, a large area of ​​ancient building phantoms briefly appeared around the crack."

"It lasted for about ten minutes. Then, the buildings vanished into thin air, like a mirage."

Nick Fury stared intently at Hill, his tone becoming more serious than ever before.

The meaning of these words couldn't be clearer. He suspected that those ancient buildings that briefly appeared and then disappeared were the magical sanctuary they had been searching for—Karmar-Taj!

"Do you have the exact coordinates of that building's shadow?" Hill immediately got to work, keenly grasping the key point.

"Yes." Nick Fury tapped his fingers on the keyboard a few times. "Right in the spot where Natasha is sitting in the photo, across the street."

A soft "beep" sounded.

The coordinate data has been synchronously transmitted to Hill's tablet computer.

Nick Fury stood up, his hands on the table like a black panther poised to pounce: "We have to dig out Kamar-Taj! Whether they want to protect the Earth or destroy it."

"This terrifying power, capable of easily tearing the earth apart, is a tremendous threat simply by existing on Earth!"

Hill nodded emphatically, his eyes resolute.

As the second-in-command of S.H.I.E.L.D., she knew the director's operating principles all too well. In Nick Fury's eyes, all uncontrolled supernatural powers were ticking time bombs. Today they could split open the streets of Kathmandu, tomorrow they might split open the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.

We must take precautions!

……

Kamar-Taj, the library.

After the morning's turmoil, the library became the only place where classes could still be held normally.

Master Gu Yi and Lin Jie sat facing each other.

To avoid being disturbed, the Ancient One casually created a mirror space, completely isolating the two from the outside world.

"Astral projection, also known as astral projection, is an extremely profound secret technique," the Ancient One said calmly as she began to teach the method.

"Close your eyes and clear your mind. Forget everything around you, don't think about magic or space. Focus your attention completely on the depths of your consciousness and sense your soul."

"When you find it, do not be afraid. Overcome the instinctive fear of leaving your body and find a safe balance in the vast universe. Then, guide your soul to slowly, little by little, detach from your body."

As the Ancient One explained, a faint golden light emanated from her body.

Immediately afterwards, a semi-transparent phantom slowly floated out of her body and hovered in mid-air.

This is the soul form of the Ancient One.

It lasted less than two seconds before the transparent phantom disappeared back into the body.

The Ancient One opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

"Soul extraction is the most difficult and dangerous step in this magic. If you are not careful, your soul will be lost in the endless void and never be able to return to your body."

"It takes hundreds and thousands of repetitions to even get a grasp of it. You need to be patient..."

The Ancient One was giving her final concluding remarks, preparing for Lin Jie to go back and digest them slowly.

however.

"Master, is that so?"

A voice, tinged with doubt, suddenly rang out above the Ancient One's head.

The Ancient One's voice abruptly stopped.

She suddenly raised her head and looked in the direction from which the sound came.

Lin Jie's body was still sitting cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed.

Above his physical body, a semi-transparent phantom identical to Lin Jie floated in mid-air, curiously examining his hands before looking down at the Ancient One.

Gu Yi: ...

Good heavens! Just send down a bolt of lightning and kill me already!

The Ancient One has lived for hundreds of years; what storms hasn't she seen?

But at this moment, she truly felt that her worldview had been completely shattered, leaving not even a trace.

I haven't even finished speaking yet!

I just gave you a quick demonstration, I didn't even teach you the incantation, and you already had your soul leave your body?!

Are you listening to a lecture?

You're clearly trying to ruin the event!

This is a celestial projection!

Kamar-Taj's advanced arcane arts!

Many exceptionally talented mages, after two or three years of arduous training, still can't even touch the edge of the soul.

Even the slightest external interference can ruin all your previous efforts.

You're something else! While I'm still talking, your soul is already floating in the sky waving hello to me?!

That focus! That mental fortitude!

This is absolutely insane!

The Ancient One now finally understood why Master Wang and Mordo always had such a hopeless expression whenever they mentioned Lin Jie.

Anyone who tries to teach this will be driven crazy!

Just as the Ancient One was falling into deep self-doubt.

"Hiss—my head feels a bit throbbing."

The phantom of Lin Jie in mid-air rubbed his temples and complained.

Then, with a "whoosh," the phantom burrowed back into the flesh on the ground.

Lin Jie opened his eyes, touched his head, and frowned slightly.

The Ancient One silently calculated the time in his mind.

A full ten minutes.

My soul left my body for the first time, without any assistance or protection, and I actually floated outside for ten minutes?!

You should know that many veteran mages who have practiced for ten years can only maintain their spiritual energy for five or six minutes at most before feeling their mental energy depleted.

This kid's mental energy reserves are probably deeper than the Pacific Ocean!

The Ancient One took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock churning within her, and striving to maintain the dignity of the Sorcerer Supreme.

"That's normal," the Ancient One explained without changing her expression. "When the soul leaves the body, it requires a huge amount of mental energy to support it, so it's bound to be mentally taxing."

"However, your success on the first try is truly beyond my expectations," the Ancient One offered a fair assessment. "But this is just the beginning. You still need a lot of practice to extend the time your soul can remain in the outside world, and to try casting spells in soul form."

"From today onward, in addition to studying the power of space, astral projection will also be your daily compulsory course. From now on, you must come here to practice. Without my protection, you are strictly forbidden from attempting it on your own!" Master Ancient One warned sternly.

"Understood, Master!" Lin Jie nodded emphatically.

He closed his eyes, ready to try again.

This feeling of your soul floating in the sky is quite intoxicating.