Lab Rat

Adara still couldn't believe what she heard.

However, upon seeing the confidence on Arthur's face, she couldn't help but frown.

"Are you really that confident towards your apprentice? It's my first time seeing you like that since even those draconic humans didn't catch your attention…"

However, Arthur didn't seem to be able to hear her as he continued rummaging through the items that littered the ground.

"I finally found it."

Arthur had a soft smile on his face as he observed something he was holding.

As soon as Adara saw it, her eyes widened in shock as she exclaimed, "Wait! That's the Fire God's—"

***

Back in the headquarters of Eden Republic…

At this moment, Zen was walking alongside Veronica and Olivia.

The meeting had ended a few minutes ago and he was tasked with helping Veronica research the power of the Free World.

'Although Dad had said that, it's obvious that they want me to become a lab rat…'

Zen couldn't help but massage his eyebrows, feeling a headache coming on his way.

'Well, I'm sure that they won't harm me…'

He thought to himself as he raised his head and looked at the two women walking in front of him.

One was wearing a white lab coat while the other sported a long sleeve polo and dress pants.

Seeing that they kept silent, Zen became shy and didn't initiate a conversation.

It took them a few minutes before they reached a white door that was not unlike those that could be found in hospitals.

Wung—

To Zen's surprise, the double door opened automatically as they stepped inside.

WHUSHHHH!!!!

It was at this moment that a white smoke instantly covered them from head to toe.

"Bleghhh— What is this?"

Zen couldn't help but cough as he felt some of the smoke entering his mouth.

Veronica glanced at him and said, "Just relax. This is a sterilization mist that ensures that everything entering the lab is clean."

"Ohhh…" Zen's mouth was in an "o" shape as he looked surprised.

'To think that something like this existed…'

All Zen could see was white, whether it be the ceiling, the walls, the doors, the light– they were all white.

"Anyways, I don't really need you to do much…" Veronica spoke as they entered the lab.

"I only need to attach some apparatus on your body which would help me determine how different your body is to other normal humans."

As Veronica talked, Olivia only silently followed by her side. She then noticed that something seemed to have caught Zen's attention.

Zen couldn't understand what Veronica was saying as his eyes were fixed on the capsule at the center of the laboratory.

Subconsciously, he took a few steps towards it before he saw what was inside.

"Nana?"

He muttered under his breath with wide eyes filled with surprise.

Olivia walked beside him and spoke, "As you know, Nana's origins are out of the ordinary which is why we need to check on her often."

Zen glanced at her and saw the tender and caring expression on her eyes.

He then looked back at the sleeping Nana inside the capsule and felt his heart ache for some reason.

"You don't have to worry. Nana is in a state of unconsciousness like sleeping. The capsule also helps in sending positive signals to her brain in order to ensure that she will only dream about happy things as we monitor her body's situation."

Veronica explained as he noticed that Zen seemed to have a worried light in his eyes as he stared at Nana.

"I'm sorry, I got distracted…" Zen scratched the back of his head as he tore his eyes away from the capsule and followed Veronica again with Olivia.

Veronica smiled, "It's fine. I'm pleased to see that you care about Nana…"

"...Anyways, let's get down to business."

Veronica adjusted her glasses as she pointed at the operating theater bed ahead.

"I just need to lay there, right?" Zen shrugged as he walked towards the bed, but was soon stopped by Olivia.

"You need to strip first."

"What!?" Zen couldn't believe what he heard.

Seeing his shock, Veronica spoke, "It's because it will be better if more of your skin is exposed."

"Alright. Alright…"

Zen had a defeated expression on his face as he helplessly removed his shirt.

Seeing his body, their eyes widened.

Veronica was the first to comment, "Amazing. I heard from the commander that you spent the majority of your life bedridden…"

"...and yet, your body looks like it was trained naturally for more than ten years!" Olivia chimed in from the side.

Hearing their compliments and feeling their stares, Zen blushed slightly as he laid down the bed without saying anything.

Afterwards, Veronica and Olivia both operated the machines on the side while they attached some of the apparatus all over Zen's body.

"This is quite nostalgic…" He muttered beneath his breath as he remembered some not so pleasant memories.

The times where he was bedridden and stuck with having numerous apparatus going in and out of his body was something that he wasn't close to forgetting anytime soon.

TINK— TUNK— WOOONG!!!

Strange sounds echoed in the laboratory as the two women navigated through the various machines.

At this moment, Zen heard Veronica's voice in the distance, "You might feel some slight electric current entering your body, so remember to keep relaxed, okay?"

"This procedure is to test how your bodily functions differ from normal humans. Just follow my instructions and we'll be done in no time."

"Understood." Zen answered perfunctorily as he closed his eyes.

"1… 2… 3."

As Olivia finished counting, Zen immediately felt a strong electric current entering his body.

'Is this what she meant by a slight electric current!?' His eyes twitched as he felt the electricity that was enough to power an entire factory going through his body.

Unbeknownst to Zen, Veronica and Olivia were also shocked by the current situation.

"T-This… What's happening?" Olivia asked with a confused expression.

However, Veronica only remained silent as she kept her eyes fixed on the three monitors in front of her.

"How can this be…!?"