The quiet hum of machines filled the laboratory.
Inside the glass chamber, Ash floated motionless in the pale blue liquid.
Monitors around the room flickered with streams of data.
Numbers.
Pulse readings.
Ether flow measurements.
The door to the lab slid open with a soft mechanical hiss.
Several people in white coats walked in, their footsteps echoing across the polished metal floor.
One of them glanced at a glowing tablet in his hand.
"Subject's vitals are stable," he said calmly.
Another scientist leaned closer to the monitors beside Ash's chamber.
"Heart rate elevated… stress levels rising."
A third adjusted one of the machines connected to the tubes in Ash's body.
"Ether absorption rate is within expected parameters."
He nodded slightly.
"The subject's body is accepting the flow surprisingly well."
Ash watched them through the glass.
Their voices sounded distant through the liquid surrounding him.
He couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
Could only listen.
The door opened again.
This time the room fell quiet.
A tall man stepped inside.
Unlike the others, he wasn't wearing a white coat.
His coat was black.
Long and perfectly tailored.
His dark gloves contrasted sharply against the pale lights of the lab.
Behind him followed a shorter figure dressed in formal clothing, carrying a metal briefcase.
The scientists straightened immediately.
"Director."
The man in the black coat stopped beside Ash's chamber.
His sharp eyes examined the floating boy with calm interest.
"Status?"
"Subject is stable," one of the scientists replied quickly.
"Ether integration is progressing smoothly."
Another scientist added,
"We believe the subject can proceed to the next phase."
The director studied the readings for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Very well."
His voice was quiet.
"Begin."
The shorter figure stepped forward and placed the briefcase on a nearby table.
With a soft click, the locks opened.
The lid lifted.
Inside the case rested a circular disk.
It was made of a dull, ancient metal.
Strange symbols and runes covered its surface, glowing faintly under the laboratory lights.
The object looked incredibly old.
Completely out of place among the modern machines surrounding it.
The director slowly pulled on a pair of gloves.
Carefully, he lifted the disk from the briefcase.
Even the scientists nearby seemed tense as they watched.
The director walked toward a mechanical frame attached to Ash's chamber.
At the center of the device was a circular slot.
The disk slid into place perfectly.
Click.
The machine activated immediately.
Low vibrations spread through the laboratory.
Pipes inside the mechanism began to glow.
Then—
A new liquid emerged.
A thick fluid.
Its color shifted strangely between deep red and electric blue, swirling together like opposing currents.
The fluid traveled through transparent tubes.
Straight toward Ash.
Inside the chamber, Ash watched helplessly as the glowing substance entered the tubes connected to his body.
And then—
It reached him.
The moment the liquid entered his veins—
Pain.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
Agony exploded through his entire body.
Ash's mind screamed.
His muscles spasmed violently inside the liquid.
His heart slammed against his chest like it was trying to escape.
It felt like his body was being torn apart from the inside.
Ash's vision blurred.
Darkness crept into the edges of his sight.
He felt like he was dying.
Across the room, alarms began to blare.
One of the scientists shouted.
"His vitals are spiking!"
Another rushed toward the monitors.
"Heart rate is off the charts!"
"Stabilize the chamber!"
Several scientists hurried between the machines, adjusting controls and shouting measurements.
Despite the chaos, none of them looked surprised.
Just stressed.
Like this was something they had seen before.
Inside the chamber, Ash's consciousness flickered.
The pain was too much.
Everything was fading.
Then—
A memory surfaced.
Emma's voice.
Soft.
Weak.
But clear.
Survive.
Ash's fading thoughts clung to that single word.
Survive.
Just one word.
One command.
His mind repeated it over and over.
Survive.
Survive.
Survive.
But his strength was disappearing.
The pain swallowed everything.
And finally—
Ash's vision went completely dark.
His consciousness vanished.