NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: The Weight of Creation
The multi-layered array scroll consumed my thoughts over the next few weeks. Every spare moment was spent poring over its contents, trying to decipher the intricacies of its design. The scroll was like a puzzle, each diagram a piece that hinted at something grander.
Sitting in my room one evening, I spread out the scroll alongside my notes. The layered patterns of the arrays reminded me of circuit designs from my past life—complex systems where every component had to work in harmony.
"If this is like a circuit," I muttered, "then the key is balance. Chakra flow must be precisely controlled at every junction."
I picked up a fresh tag and began sketching a simple two-layer array. The first layer was a storage seal, and the second was a release mechanism. If done correctly, it would allow for the stored chakra to be released in controlled bursts.
When I finished, I infused the seal with a small amount of chakra and placed it on the ground. Holding my breath, I activated it.
The tag sparked, and a small burst of chakra flared out—exactly as I had intended.
"Yes!" I whispered, pumping my fist.
The next day, I approached Aunt Naori with my creation.
"Another experiment?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as I handed her the tag.
"This one's different," I said. "It's a multi-layered array. Watch."
I activated the seal, and the controlled burst of chakra flared again. Naori's eyes widened slightly, but her expression quickly shifted back to her usual calm demeanor.
"Impressive," she said, handing the tag back to me. "But don't let this go to your head. Multi-layered arrays are not toys. They require precision and discipline, especially when you start combining more than two layers."
Her warning didn't deter me—in fact, it only fueled my determination.
Over the following weeks, I worked tirelessly to refine my understanding of multi-layered arrays. Each success brought a new challenge, and each failure taught me something valuable.
One day, while testing a three-layered array designed to amplify physical strength, I made a critical mistake. The layers weren't balanced properly, and when I activated the seal, the energy surged out of control.
The resulting explosion was small but loud enough to draw half the clan to my training spot.
"What happened?" Naori demanded, storming over with a mix of anger and concern.
"I… miscalculated," I admitted, coughing as I waved away the smoke.
Naori shook her head. "You're lucky that wasn't a larger array. Recklessness like this can get you killed."
Her words hit me harder than I expected. I had been so caught up in my excitement that I hadn't considered the risks.
That night, I sat alone in my room, staring at the remnants of the failed seal.
"You're not invincible," I muttered to myself. "If you're going to push boundaries, you need to do it carefully."
I decided to take a step back and focus on mastering the basics of multi-layered arrays before attempting anything more ambitious. I also started keeping a detailed journal of my experiments, recording every success, failure, and adjustment.
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