The lab was cold and filled with strange equipment. Aoiro carefully laid his children down on three metal tables. Their breathing was shallow, and the purple spots seemed to grow darker. He could see the panic in their eyes, and it made his chest tighten with fear.
Catherine, his wife, rushed into the lab. Her face was pale as she looked at their children, horror written all over her face. "Aoiro, what's happening to them?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"I don't know," Aoiro said, almost in a whisper. He walked quickly to a large cabinet at the end of the room. His hands fumbled as he opened it. Inside was a chunk of the meteorite—the same one that had fallen to Earth, changing everything. This rock had power. Maybe, just maybe, it could save them.
He placed the meteorite into a machine filled with water and pressed a button. Steam began to rise as the water turned into vapor, leaving the meteorite glowing in the center. Aoiro grabbed a long, sharp needle and inserted it into the rock. Slowly, a shimmering golden liquid filled the syringe. It was the Arc Serum—the very essence of the meteorite.
"We don't have much time," Aoiro muttered, mostly to himself.
Catherine watched, her hands covering her mouth in fear. "Aoiro… are you sure about this?"
Aoiro turned toward her, his face pale and filled with guilt. "It's the only way. If I don't try this, they won't make it."
Without waiting for her response, he went to Takeshi first. His eldest son lay still, his chest rising and falling slowly. Aoiro strapped his arms and legs to the table. His heart ached to see his son like this, but he had no choice. He had to keep him still.
"I'm sorry, Takeshi," Aoiro whispered as he pushed the needle into his son's arm.
Takeshi's body jerked violently. His eyes flew open, and a scream ripped through the air. Aoiro stepped back, his hands trembling, but he forced himself to move on to Kori. She was next. He strapped her down as well, tears streaming down his face as he injected her with the golden liquid.
Kori's scream was even worse than Takeshi's. She thrashed against the straps, her small body writhing in pain.
Finally, it was Raiden's turn. Aoiro knelt by his youngest son, who looked up at him with wide, terrified eyes. "Father… please… don't," Raiden begged, his voice barely above a whisper.
Aoiro's hand shook as he strapped Raiden's arms and legs to the table. "I'm sorry, Raiden. This is the only way."
He injected the serum into Raiden's arm. The boy screamed, his body twisting in agony. The sound of his son's cries tore at Aoiro's heart, but he had to be strong. He had to believe that this would save them.