It was explained that the first step was to calibrate the various components they would be using. It was essential to understand the theories behind each substance, as this would help them combine them effectively.
As they began their work, Brie carefully introduced the different mixtures. Each ingredient served a purpose, and she elaborated on how they would interact once combined.
For example, she highlighted the importance of balancing chakra levels within the mixtures. Achieving the right amount of chakra was crucial; excess chakra could cause instability in their creation, while too little would inadequately support the transformative effects Arthur was aiming for.
That meant that if he couldn't control his chakra, he may as well be considered dead inside.
Rin listened, trying not to think of the consequences.
Inside the vat was a mixture containing precious hot spring water sourced from the mountains nearby, famed for its unique properties that facilitated sage transformations. The vat itself had a control panel with buttons to help control certain functions.
No surprise, Arthur removed the emergency cut-off switch.
They both returned their attention to the layer of liquid he was in. It was so thick that neither of them could make out his form. And without the control panel, they wouldn't have been able to monitor his vitals.
Within the vat, Arthur felt the liquid permeate through his skin, flooding his body with potent energy. The heat of the spring waters infused into his muscles while the chemical cocktail began its assault on his cells.
It was a terrifying experience, to say the least.
Pain lanced through him—the kind of burning and tearing that threatened to disrupt his focus. Every instinct screamed to just leave, to try and fight the constant discomfort. But he knew he had to release all of that.
He forced himself deeper into the experience, drawing out his chakra to begin mending and resisting the onslaught he faced.
With his eyes closed, he tried to center himself.
It was most certainly not easy. But he had to focus, to try and balance out his chakra while simultaneously healing himself to prevent him from passing out. If he could, he would have tried to enter Sage Mode, but this proved to be hard.
With each passing moment, he began to separate the physical pain from his mental resolve, creating space in his mind where he could feel chakra surging through him. He concentrated on accumulating it, visualizing it pooling within him, fighting against the toxins that sought to invade.
Time lost its meaning as he maneuvered through layers of pain, striving to establish a balance between damage and enhancement as his body threatened him to thrash against the onslaught.
On the outside, Rin and Brie watched his vital signs. They were through the roof, and the experiment had only just begun!
As the hours passed, the two eventually lost track of time.
While working on her own projects, Brie occasionally glanced at Rin, who was hunched over the desk, her chin resting on her crossed arms.
The laboratory was quiet; hardly any noise could be heard save the bubbling sounds coming from the vat.
The light from the control panels illuminated Rin's peaceful face, reminding Brie how much the girl was committed.
Suddenly, Rin's lips twitched, and she whispered Arthur's name softly as though calling to him in a dream. Brie couldn't help but stifle a laugh, knowing that Arthur didn't care for romance of any sort.
The man honestly didn't even care about Koko.
Yet it was no hiding the fact that each of their bonds with Arthur had grown stronger through their encounters together. Surviving this experiment would be adding an extra harness to that bond.
However, just as Brie was lost in her thoughts, the screens began to glow red, and an alarm blared across the lab. Startled, she stopped what she was doing and glanced at the monitors, watching as they displayed a critical spike in Arthur's vital signs.
It was an alarming red marking that steadily climbed past safe thresholds. The sound it produced was that of a frantic wailing, filling the otherwise quiet room.
Rin jolted awake before bolting upright with confusion in her eyes.
"What's happening?!" she asked, looking at Brie.
The woman paced towards the control panel, saying, "It's lord Arthur's vitals! They're through the roof!"
Before they could mobilize any sort of plan, a small crack formed in the vat's transparent wall, a thin line that spiderwebbed outward.
"It's leaking!" Rin exclaimed, moving closer to the control panel.
Suddenly, the screens changed colours again, and just as suddenly as it began, the alarms silenced. The vitals returned to normal—steady, albeit a bit erratic—calm returning as if it never happened.
Brie exhaled shakily, releasing the breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She was inches away from cutting off the power supply to the vat. As they were about to celebrate their reprieve, she considered the crack that had formed.
"I don't' see any fluid leaking out…" The scientist began walking toward Rin by the control panel to adjust several knobs. "We need to check if—"
A slight creaking noise was heard, stopping her mid-stride. As the two looked, they witnessed a single finger slowly retreating from the crack—a movement so swift that it felt supernatural.
"Did you see that?" Rin asked her.
Brie nodded as they both leaned in closer, peering through the thick liquid to watch Arthur's still-unseeable form submerged within. That one glimpse—the finger retracting—was enough for Rin to connect the dots.
"He... he managed to keep the vat from breaking…"
Brie felt relieved. Attempting to lighten the mood, she tugged her lips and said, "Guess he doesn't really need us here, huh?"
Rin shook her head to reply, "No, I think our presence is helping more than we think. We should keep monitoring him."
Brie conceded with a thoughtful glance at the panel. "Keep that up and you'll get a promotion. Let's recalibrate the settings. I want to make sure that vat doesn't get anywhere near breaking like that again."
"Ugh, sure," Rin agreed. "Hey, what did you mean by promotion?"
It's then that Brie revealed that although Arthur was still fighting things in the vat, he could still very much hear their conversations. The thought made Rin blush upon remembering all the things she said earlier.
As they recalibrated, the doors of the laboratory whooshed open. Tayuya strode in. And the moment she stepped into the room, her expression shifted from commanding to surprised.
"What?" she exclaimed as she spotted Rin and Brie "You're back already?"
"Don't act like you didn't miss her," Brie teased.
"Whatever…"
"Just… helping lord Arthur," Rin replied, trying to calm herself after that close call.
Having her arms crossed, Tayuya's eyes looked toward the giant, glowing vat. "What exactly is going on here?"
Brie glanced at the screen before meeting Tayuya's gaze, answering, "You don't need to worry. It's nothing we can't handle."
"That why I heard an alarm go off a moment ago?" she countered. Before Brie could respond, the former Sound ninja couldn't help but be drawn to the shadowy figure inside the vat. A sense of dread crept into her expression. "Whoever's inside that thing, their chakra levels are alarmingly low. They'll die at that rate."
"What do you mean?" Rin asked, not wishing to get discouraged.
"I mean dangerously low—worse than I expected. And yet…" Tayuya's brows furrowed upon feeling it. "Their chakra level is enough to rival mine when I could transform."
"It's lord Arthur," Rin said, trying to quell Tayuya's doubts. "He's been in there, working to modify himself. If anyone can control this, he can."
Tayuya's features darkened, an unreadable expression crossing her face for just a moment. To think someone who wasn't even at one hundred percent could be that strong.
A full day later.
It was late at night when Rin succumbed to exhaustion. Her head finally bowed against the desk, falling into a deep sleep.
In her dream, she found herself soaring through the sky. Spotting what looked to be a vendor, she flew down and saw six wooden figures—three males and three females. She didn't know what to think of them.
The moment she tried to touch one, it grabbed her by the wrist and held tightly. Rin pulled back just in time. The other five figures then all became animated. They slowly began walking toward her like something out of a nightmare.
Rin tried to fly, but she felt herself barely able to escape. It wasn't until she felt one of them try to grab her ankles that a sound shrilled through her consciousness that she jolted awake.
Wide-eyed and disoriented, she couldn't fully recall the dream that she just had.
It took her a moment to see that the alarm wasn't blaring out warnings, but rather the door had whooshed open.
Through her bleary vision, she saw a familiar figure stepping inside—white hair covered by a green bandanna. Ryūzetsu walked from the entrance, arms full of containers and food, a welcoming sight indeed.
"Evening, Rin," she said with a smile, "I brought you something to eat."
Rin blinked several times, shaking off the dream that followed her into awareness. She honestly couldn't tell how much time had passed.
"Thanks, Ryūzetsu, but I'm not really all that hungry."
Ryūzetsu moved closer, setting the containers on the table. "Brie filled me in on everything that's happening here. She told me you've been by lord Arthur's side this whole time. That deserves a commendation, you know."
"Thanks, but really, I can't eat right now," Rin insisted, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
Ryūzetsu crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow and said, "Well, it's actually from Tayuya. She thought you'd say no because you never seem to eat when you're this worried. So," Ryūzetsu paused for dramatic effect, mimicking Tayuya's stern voice, "If she says no, force it down her throat!"
The two let out a sincere laugh as Rin said, "That does sound like something Tayuya-sensei would do."
"Right?" Ryūzetsu agreed. "But seriously, you need to eat something. I know you're worried about him, but you can't let yourself collapse too. Come on, let's sit."
As they moved to the edge of the table, she unpacked the food, revealing an assortment of rice balls, fruit, and something aromatic that made Rin's stomach growl.
They sat down, both women casting glances at the glowing vat, Arthur's form still hidden in its depths.
"How's he doing, by the way?" Ryūzetsu asked, her gaze drawn back to the monitor. "From what I overheard, it sounds like it's a lot for him. Has anything changed?"
Rin swallowed a rice ball before answering, "No changes since yesterday. His vitals have remained consistent, but… his chakra levels have stayed low. They haven't gone below, like, twenty percent. And they haven't gone higher than that either. It's troubling—he's been in there for over a day now."
Ryūzetsu's expression turned to one of concern.
"To think he's even lasted this long in that stuff," she said. "Brie explained some of the chemicals inside that liquid. I've honestly never seen anything like it; it sounded incredibly dangerous."
"Yeah," Rin agreed, nodding. "I keep reminding myself that he's strong, but… there's only so much anyone can take, you know?"
As they continued eating, Ryūzetsu grew pensive upon seeing some red colour on Rin's palms. She pulled out a small container from her bag, filled with healing ointment.
"Here," she said. "Brie thought you might need this."
Rin asked what it was for.
"Brie told me you haven't fully healed from touching the chemicals," Ryūzetsu answered. "This should help speed up your healing process. Here, give me your hand."
Rin extended her hand, palm up. Ryūzetsu then squeezed some of the ointment onto her fingers and began gently rubbing it over her palms. The girl felt warm due to the worn-out nerves fading into something soothing.
"Thank you, Ryūzetsu," she said, feeling grateful.
"Don't mention it."