"It's the best way to drink it," Rhys said calmly. "It dulls the bitter taste."
Adyr couldn't tell if he ant the bite of the alcohol or the serum, or if he simply didn't care enough to separate the two.
He leaned in with genuine interest, his gaze fixed on Rhys's face and the way the man held the flask like it was nothing. "How is it? Do you feel the serum's effects?" His focus sharpened as he asked, because the question mattered.
If they could turn normal humans into Practitioners, it would change everything.
And even if they couldn't awaken them as Practitioners, making them strong enough to rival Rank 3 would still be a major achievent. From there, they could even approach Rank 4, and that kind of boost would be an insane power-up for the entire human race.
In a war against the powerful groups thriving in the Midlands, humans could leverage their sheer numbers as a weapon, transforming bodies and rifles into tools that could effectively pressure monsters.
If a Rank 4 Practitioner was really that strong, then the answer was simple. Send 100, or 1000, Rank 3-equivalent mutants to hunt them down with high-tech weapons. Like in the old days, when their ancestors hunted mammoths with numbers, handmade weapons, and strategy.
And beyond war, there was a simpler truth that sat at the back of every ruler's mind. Who wouldn't want a powerful army at their back? Soldiers under their command, each one carrying enough strength to tear through a nation's defenses, ready to move the mont an order was given.
Rhys thought for a mont about the question asked, then shrugged. "My body definitely got stronger than before. I feel a little younger too."
He took another sip, the flask tilting casually in his hand, and the liquid inside shifted with a faint slosh. "But h, I still can't summon a pair of wings, if that's what you're asking"
He did look different, though. The wrinkles on his face had faded. His skin looked healthier and had taken on a bronze tone, as if blood flow and heat sat closer to the surface. His gray hair had regained luster, and his eyes seed sharper and more alert.
Even so, the conclusion was obvious. No matter how improved he looked, he was still far from becoming a Practitioner.
Adyr took that in, then raised his hand, like he was making a simple gesture rather than revealing sothing valuable.
A few buckets filled with red powder appeared in front of him. "These are the remains of the treasure I used. Give them to the researchers. With the bodies of those Lunari ancestors, maybe they can find a way to improve the serum."
What he hoped for was simple, even if the odds were low. With these, they might create a serum that let soone awaken as a Blood Path Practitioner. The hope was slim, but with the researchers' creativity and intelligence, it wasn't impossible. And even a small breakthrough would still be worth it. "More spice for my drink?" Rhys chuckled when he saw the red powder. He looked like he didn't care what he consud, as long as it gave his muscles a little more pump.
He leaned in, scooped a little of the powder from the bucket, and calmly mixed it into his drinking flask. The fine grains clung to the inner lip for a mont before sliding down into the liquid.
He shook it once, and the red haze vanished into the drink.
"At least you could have waited until it was processed in the laboratory into sothing drinkable." Henry watched with a grim and downcast expression, as if he had already prepared for the worst.
"Hah, how do you think those guys prepare these serums, Henry?" Rhys snorted. "They test the materials on living subjects first to understand what it is. I'm just helping them bypass the procedure of deciding which living subject they'll test it on. If anything happens to , they can cut up and get their precious data from my body."
He looked like he was already used to being a lab rat for the mutation serum project, talking about it the way others talked about routine work, as if his body was only another resource on a table.
With that, he closed the cap with a short twist, slipped the flask into his uniform pocket, and stood up. "Okay, enough chat here for . I'll bring these to the laboratory."
He took the buckets in both hands and left the room with steady steps. There wasn't the slightest wobble in his movents, despite the amount of alcohol in him.
Adyr watched his back until the door closed. His eyes stayed calm but interested. If soone looked closely, the crimson sea inside his eyes could be seen rippling faintly, like sothing beneath the surface had shifted.
Outside the room, Rhys moved down the empty, brightly lit corridor, the buckets still in his hands. White lights reflected off the polished floor in long bands that slid under his boots as he walked.
His steps weren't heavy, with no sound ca from where he stepped. But they weren't soft either. His posture carried a clear sense of balance and strength, like his body still followed drilled discipline while he played at being relaxed. But he only made it a short distance before faltering, his balance slipping briefly as his shoulders dipped and one foot corrected too late. "Oops." His hands trembled too, almost spilling the red powder from the buckets. The powder shifted in a shallow wave near the rim. He tightened his grip and steadied himself fast, holding still until the buckets stopped swaying. "Co on, body. You're too valuable to break now." The words ca out in a murmur through his teeth.
He stood there for a second to get himself together. His breathing beca more regular, and his blurry vision beca clear again. Once it did, he started walking again. His pace returned to normal, like nothing had happened.
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