Core Upgrade

After obtaining the secrets of the Spirit-Draining Seal from Monk Bunpuku and Shukaku, Shaye's mind became utterly consumed by that faintly glowing fragment. He did not immediately put it to large-scale use, knowing full well how grave the matter was—one misstep could lead to irreversible disaster. He chose the most cautious and reliable approach: starting with a tiny fragment and attempting to upgrade the Puppet Core he knew best, the energy foundation of all his plans.

His temporary workshop had already become a forbidden ground covered in Sealing Formulae. Complex barriers were drawn across the floor with specially prepared ink, meant to isolate energy fluctuations and prevent accidental spread. At the center of the workbench, the original Puppet Core had been carefully dismantled, exposing its innermost energy conversion area. Beside it, a speck of God Tree debris, nearly imperceptible to the naked eye, was tightly wrapped in several layers of fine Spirit-Draining Seal runes, like a sleeping stellar core.

Shaye took a deep breath, formed hand seals, and focused his mental power to its utmost. The immense spiritual strength he had accumulated across two lifetimes proved crucial at this moment, allowing him to precisely control every thread of chakra and cautiously guide the fragment, restrained by layers upon layers of seals, into the Core's central recess.

"Seal!"

As he completed the final hand seal, the Core's casing shut with seamless precision. The barrier on the workbench instantly lit up with a low hum.

For the first moment, everything was silent. The Core showed no reaction.

Shaye held his breath and sensed it with complete focus. Suddenly, the Core trembled slightly. The circuits on its surface, originally used to conduct chakra, seemed to have been infused with new life, beginning to emit a pale golden radiance—gentle, yet extraordinarily pure.

*Did it