Orion scoffed playfully and waved a hand in dismissal at Na-Ri's question before beginning his explanation of how the pill facilitated a breakthrough:
"Taking two of these accelerates the development of meridian elasticity, conduction cells, tendon and bone thresholds, and nerve latency by enhancing cellular adaptability and energy routing."
Adela quickly grasped the direction of his reasoning, discerning the actual function of the pill.
"So, it infuses the body with a concentrated catalyst that deceives the cells into perceiving extreme duress, thereby forcing accelerated adaptation, correct?" she asked in a suspicious tone, pointing a finger at the pills in his hand.
The handsome youth nodded vigorously in affirmation.
Kyle, however, remained sceptical.
If Orion's claim were true, there was a strong likelihood that the effects might later result in catastrophic backlash.
Yet if he allowed himself to dwell on that doubt and rejected the offer, thereby failing to achieve a breakthrough, he might never succeed in increasing the synchronisation rate between his dual cores, the human and the mutant, which was essential for enabling faster progress once both reached their peak.
If he retreated out of fear, he might never attain the strength required to survive in this world.
But if he embraced the shortcut, the risk of catastrophic backlash remained.
Both paths pointed towards death, but the former was far graver.
To his mind, it seemed far wiser to seize the shortcut, for the necessity of swift advancement outweighed hesitation, especially with the looming dangers they would soon be forced to confront.
'I should probably accept the risk. The effect mirrors relentless high-intensity training and could compress weeks of exposure into only a few hours. It is the more reasonable choice,' Kyle concluded inwardly, already resolved to consume the pill.
Na-Ri remained silent, shifting her gaze from Kyle back to Adela.
Kyle appeared capable enough to endure whatever might follow the pill's consumption, yet she was far less certain about Adela.
A fleeting memory of her own past surfaced, though she quickly suppressed it, unwilling to let such recollections influence the present.
What mattered was that she could not allow them to take a greater risk than necessary.
Orion, after all, had already used the pill and attained a breakthrough without suffering any apparent backlash. He still seemed perfectly normal.
Although Na-Ri had the least time left to secure a breakthrough, Orion might otherwise have held that record.
His method, even so, resembled more of a trick than a genuine trial.
He had likely fabricated the story about training his body for six months and crossing the threshold naturally.
In truth, he had probably achieved his breakthrough on the fifth day after entering the settlement, only later claiming it had occurred on the fifteenth.
In one sense, the pill might represent the safest option, though it was better that knowledge of it remained restricted to those present.
Trust, on the other hand, was already beginning to fray, particularly on Kyle's part.
Upon deeper reasoning, the pill seemed to operate precisely as Kyle had suspected.
The body reacted not to actual stress but to perceived duress, and for the infusion to integrate safely, the subject would need to remain still and fully focused.
In actuality, it was reasonably safe.
After much deliberation, Orion proceeded to explain the instructions for use as he handed two pills each to Kyle and Adela.
"You must take these when fully hydrated. The effect window lasts between three and four hours. During this period, the body undergoes micro-adaptations at both the cellular and neurological levels. Absolute stillness is required, and mental focus is necessary to channel the adaptation internally. Once the initial effect has concluded, I am confident the manual will guide you towards a breakthrough. Admittedly, I have used far too many scientific terms. Put simply, it will aid your body's refinement."
Kyle quietly shook his head, keeping his eyes fixed on the two pills in his hand.
To be honest, he barely understood most of the terminology Orion had used, neurological being a prime example.
A simpler explanation would have sufficed.
Na-Ri glanced back at the pills and asked in a flat tone, "Are there any restrictions?"
The handsome youth burst into a foolish laugh as he drew the curtains aside and replied softly:
"None. You simply need to rest for up to forty-eight hours, that is all. We should also begin training soon, especially you, Kyle. I have noticed that your movement during the Systema Martial art training is far from effective."
Kyle turned his gaze towards him at the mention of his name and replied slowly, his voice tinged with embarrassment and a trace of self-awareness:
"Okay..."
Orion's eyes brightened in mild surprise, appreciative of the response at the very least.
Nevertheless, his smile quickly faded as a darker thought intruded: what if nothing worked as intended, and they all ended up dead...?
***
Soon, the small group bound by their shared secret dispersed, each retreating to their own quarters.
Kyle held the two pills in his hands, still feeling a trace of reluctance towards them.
For a while, he remained lost in recurring visions of death that seemed to accompany every possible path.
Eventually, he shook himself free of the grim illusions and resolved to consume the pill.
This time he was not placing his faith in anyone or anything but in a future he had long believed unattainable.
Perhaps now he stood a chance, provided he survived the Trial Zone Breakout.
"Time to begin..." he muttered, taking a bottle of water from the breakfast kit Na-Ri had given him that morning and tucked into his bag.
After draining the entire bottle and ensuring he was fully hydrated, he carefully placed the pill on his tongue and swallowed as instructed.
The moment it slid into his mouth, he detected a metallic tang upon his tongue, and an unfamiliar sensation coursed through his body, spreading along his nerves.
A dark aura then manifested, identical to the one that had surfaced when he dual cultivated with Na-Ri. It flared with his Yang energy through the human core, underlined by a faint blue hue that marked the resonance of his mutant core.
At once, his eyes narrowed and his body collapsed into a subconscious state.
His mind was stripped of thought while his body began to generate new conduction cells, which immediately fused with portions of his white and red blood cells, fortifying them.
Gradually, his bones grew denser and stronger in a manner that produced no pain, while his body remained unresponsive to external stimuli.
His meridian points began to expand little by little, stretching so they could accommodate greater quantities of spiritual energy without rupturing.
Soon after, his nerve latency followed the same course.
Exactly five hours later, somewhat ahead of the timeframe Orion had predicted, Kyle's body had undergone complete refinement.
Energy began to circulate through him once more.
His eyes regained their natural focus, and he was finally released from the enforced state of concentration.
***
[Alert] You have fulfilled the requirements for breakthrough
[Alert] Rank Up: Stage Two – Elemental Vein Realm, Tier Two – Tempered
Congratulations on your remarkable achievement, [Clueless]
Accept Ascension?
[Yes] / [No]
***
Sparks of excitement flickered in Kyle's eyes the instant the manual's voice resounded within him.
'...It worked. It actually worked!'
Without a moment's hesitation, he accepted the ascension.
At once he was cast back into darkness, while the manual's voice continued to echo, flooding his mind with a torrent of information.
***
[Accepted!]
Redirecting stored spiritual energy...
Resetting thresholds...
Core Synchronisation Rate: [34%] → +24%
Mutation Synchronisation Rate: [20%] → +20%
[Advancing all attributes. Primary and Secondary Elements upgraded. Skill tab activated; acquisition and utilisation of personal skills are now available]
***