Taking the runic inscriber in hand, he dipped its sharp tip into the magical ink before beginning to slowly and carefully inscribe runes on the technologically advanced battery that would serve as the core.
Little by little, as time passed, the battery transformed from a simple piece of advanced technology into something more. The runes gradually spread across its surface, forming intersecting lines that converged around nodes.
These nodes themselves gathered around other nodes, forming an intricate pattern of interconnected runes. It was a complex network, and even though the core appeared 'finished'—covered entirely in runes—Mikael knew better. This was only the beginning.
To a less competent array master, the battery would have seemed 'full', but Mikael, who had learned the art of layered arrays, knew that this was just the first layer. And if one layer could be added, then another could be stacked above it.
So that's exactly what he did. He began once more to inscribe runes, this time layering them directly atop the first set. It was undeniably harder—multiple times harder than what he had just completed—but after a considerable amount of effort, he finally finished the second layer of the array on the battery.
Letting out a relieved sigh, Mikael smiled slightly. 'With this, it could be said to be at the same level as my previously crafted aura and mana generator. For simplicity's sake, let's call that one the aura and mana generator V1. The one I just finished—the aura and mana generator V2—is also a second-layer array like the V1, which technically puts them at the same level, but the materials I used this time are of much higher quality, which makes it the superior version. So, if I stopped right now, the generators I'd craft for myself and the girls would already be better than the one I used before. But will I stop now?'
'No! While inscribing the second layer was difficult, I think that if I push myself, it's possible to inscribe a third layer—and that's exactly what I'm going to try. At worst, if it doesn't work, I'll just have wasted the last few hours… and this aura and mana generator won't function.'
With his course of action firmly set, Mikael didn't hesitate for even a second. He immediately resumed his work, beginning once more to inscribe runes onto the battery. However, this time, his approach was far more meticulous. He proceeded with heightened care and deliberate precision, taking his time to ensure each rune was etched flawlessly into the surface.
This increased caution extended the duration of the array creation significantly, but it also reduced the likelihood of errors. Thanks to this slower, more methodical pace, Mikael was able to construct the third-layer array with a degree of precision that bordered on perfection. Still, even with all the care in the world, the task remained incredibly demanding. Beads of sweat steadily streamed down his brow, and a dull, persistent ache began to settle behind his eyes. Yet Mikael didn't stop. He persevered through the discomfort, enduring the strain hour after hour until—
"Finished," he breathed out, a mix of relief and exhaustion evident in his voice, before letting himself collapse onto his back, completely drained.
"Ahhh… ahhh… ahhh…" His ragged, uneven breaths echoed through the room, mingling with the soft, steady rhythm of Kiara's peaceful breathing as she slept nearby.
For several long moments, Mikael remained lying there, catching his breath and letting the fatigue ebb slightly. Then, with a quiet groan of effort, he forced himself upright, determined to press on and continue the work he had started.
Now that the core of the aura and mana generator V3 was complete, the next step was to handle the outer casing: he needed to inscribe a triple-layered array onto the red crystalline mineral that would envelop and protect the core.
And so, he threw himself back into the task.
For the next six hours, Mikael labored relentlessly. The process was long, taxing, and physically demanding. At some point during those hours, Kiara awoke from her slumber, cast a quiet glance in his direction, and silently left the room—careful not to disturb him or break his focus. All the while, he continued to inscribe intricate sequences of runes and nodes across the surface of the crystalline shell, maintaining steady hands and unwavering focus despite his mounting fatigue.
Eventually, that part of the process, too, was finished.
However, a final, critical step still remained before the aura and mana generator V3 could be considered truly complete. While both the inner battery core and the red crystalline shell now bore their respective triple-layered arrays, they remained independent from one another. Without being properly linked, the generator would not function—because it was only through the seamless connection of the two arrays that the system could activate and perform as intended.
That was what Mikael turned his attention to next.
Unlike the earlier steps, this final operation didn't take hours. In fact, it required far less time than one might expect. Normally, fusing two complex and independent arrays together would be an incredibly difficult and time-consuming process, fraught with potential complications. But in this case, Mikael had designed both components with the end goal of integration in mind. Because of that foresight, the synchronization between them went far more smoothly, allowing him to complete the linkage without resistance or delay.
Now seated on the floor, Mikael held the finished item delicately in his hand. The object had a sleek, rectangular shape, its central section formed by what appeared to be a technologically advanced battery, pulsing faintly with inner energy. Thin lines of glowing runes spread across its surface, illuminating it with a soft yet undeniable sense of power. Surrounding the core were red crystalline fragments, expertly shaped and polished, also engraved with runes that shimmered faintly, giving the entire construct a refined, almost majestic appearance.
As his gaze lingered on his creation, a small, quiet smile formed on his lips. 'It's done—and fully functional. The aura and mana generator V3 not only works, but it even surpasses the previous version in terms of efficiency. The foundational principle is still the same: aura particles collide with one another, triggering a reaction that produces more aura particles. The same applies to mana—the process remains identical in structure.'
'Still, while the core mechanics haven't changed, the improvements are undeniable. Especially when it comes to storage capacity. The previous version could only store up to 10,000 units… but this one? It holds a full 100,000 units. That's a tenfold increase—a massive upgrade. And this isn't just a technical achievement; it has very real, practical effects. With such a large reserve, I can absorb significantly more energy in one session, accelerating my core growth far faster than if I were limited to just the output generated in real-time.'
'What's even better is how passive the process has become. Even when I'm not physically using or training with the generator, it continues to accumulate and generate aura and mana on its own. That means I only need to interact with it from time to time to benefit from its growth potential, which minimizes the time investment required.'
'And if I do want to train more actively, that option remains available—and actually more efficient than ever. The production rate has doubled. Instead of a thousand units of either aura or mana per hour, it now generates two thousand of each. That's twice the energy in the same amount of time, making focused training efforts far more rewarding than before.'
'To put it in brut numbers, this means that with each passing hour, a single one of my cores can increase by 200 units. And when I say "each passing hour," I mean it. So long as I interact with the aura and mana generator V3 at least once every two days, I'll be able to absorb the entirety of its stored energy in just a few hours. That effectively allows me to condense two full days of passive accumulation into a single burst of accelerated training. The result? My progression won't merely double—it'll skyrocket. And the same will apply to the girls once they get their hands on theirs.'
As he concluded his mental rundown of the upgraded generator's capabilities, Mikael's satisfied smile grew more pronounced. Without wasting another moment, he placed the V3 model into his inventory. There was still work to be done—three more generators awaited crafting, and he had no intention of slowing down.
***
Thus began the next stretch of his journey, four full days during which Mikael was entirely absorbed in his crafting endeavor. Given his current speed, which allowed him to complete a full aura and mana generator in roughly sixteen hours—possibly even faster now that he had more experience—he should have been able to finish all three within two days at most.
But strangely enough… he didn't.
No, Mikael remained in that room for the entire duration of those four days, because, frustratingly, the aura and mana generators he created simply weren't functioning. It wasn't a rare occurrence either—in fact, it happened often during this phase. And every time it did, it left him deeply irritated. After all, investing sixteen hours of focused effort and precise craftsmanship only to end up with nothing of value was far from pleasant. The very least one could say was that it was immensely frustrating.
Yet despite the repeated setbacks, he pushed through with unwavering resolve. After seven attempts—seven meticulous, exhausting tries—he finally succeeded in crafting three fully functional aura and mana generators for the girls.
With the crafting completed at last, Mikael wasted no time. He immediately set out to find them, and fortunately, they were all still within the Hub. Kiara and Lyra were inside the apartment, while Amelia was currently in the training room, practicing her archery.
He chose to visit the ones closest to him first—Kiara and Lyra.
Kiara, as expected, was in her studio, brush in hand, immersed in a painting session. When Mikael entered and handed her the V3 aura and mana generator, she wasn't surprised—of course she had anticipated such a gesture from her beloved Darling~. But that didn't diminish her joy. She was thrilled, both because the gift came from him and because it would directly support her growth. She knew all too well how critical it was to become stronger, especially in the world they would be traversing.
After Kiara, Mikael stepped into the living room, where Lyra was curled up on a couch, a book in hand, quietly reading. There, he presented her with a surprise gift. Like Kiara, Lyra was deeply touched by the gesture—being given a gift by someone she loved carried a weight no words could fully capture. But what made her eyes light up even more was the item itself. The generator was a marvel of advanced technology, complex arrays, and master-level craftsmanship. It fascinated her completely, stirring the scholar in her. Truthfully, she had long been tempted to examine Mikael's old generator out of pure academic interest, but knowing he relied on it, she had held back. Now, with one of her own, nothing stopped her curiosity from running wild.
After giving her the generator and exchanging a few words, Mikael exited the apartment and made his way to the training room.
There, Amelia stood tall, loosing arrow after arrow at targets situated hundreds of meters away, her precision unshaken even by the distance. Upon seeing him enter, she lowered her bow and approached. After a short, casual exchange, Mikael offered her two carefully prepared gifts: the V3 aura and mana generator… and the green bow accompanied by matching arrows.
Author Note:
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