This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

The presentation continued, moving on to more experimental and grotesque displays of humanity's desperation to transcend its limits and unethically obtain power.

A series of live feeds played across the monitors, showcasing abominations created in the lab's pursuit of forcing humans to awaken an affinity or gift.

The next video after the live demonstration showed a subject strapped to a table, their torso bare. Scientists in sterile white coats operated with methodical precision as they opened up his ribcage to expose the still beating heart.

Next to the metal table that the subject was lying on, was a reptile with all four limbs also chained to a neighbouring table, on its back with its chest also cut open to expose its heart.

"What you are seeing now is the procedure of subject B083. This subject has been grafted with the heart and bone marrow of a rare Holy Flame Gecko," the scientist explained, his tone clinical.

"Historical accounts of this creature describe instances where those exposed to its blood developed rudimentary fire-based gifts. Early tests indicate limited success in transmitting this potential through heart and bone marrow transplantation. However, this subject's synchronization remains unstable, and his body is deteriorating under the strain."

Another screen switched to a figure whose legs had been replaced with what appeared to be the lower half of an Abyssal Panther. The creature was infamous for its ability to manipulate shadows and merge with its surroundings. Unlike the previous subject, this individual had retained some measure of physical capability, pacing the cell in visible agitation.

"Subject B091," the scientist said. "Leg grafting from an Abyssal Panther. It has been reported in ancient texts that consumption of its raw flesh has led to the awakening of dark-attribute affinities in rare instances. No observable awakening of an affinity yet, though enhanced agility and reflexes have been noted. We're still analyzing the subject's exposure to spiritual energy radiating from the graft."

The monitors cycled through increasingly grotesque attempts: a man with grotesque wing-like appendages fused to his back, an elderly subject whose body had been partially submerged in a solution derived from Spirit Jellyfish. One particularly interesting experiment had them using a combination of sigils and materials to form a portal to one of the few realms anchored to their planet (such as the infernal realm), in order to attempt to form a connection between the test subject and whatever was through the portal. Unfortunately, the attempt was a failure.

Unlike the laboratory in Brightstar City, the subjects in this laboratory were far more numerous and variable in age.

However, despite the variety of test subjects, the results were uniformly horrifying—grotesque hybrid transformations, mental degradation, or outright death.

The rare success stories seemed as much the product of luck as science, with the recipients showing either incomplete or unstable increases in power, with no reported success stories of a stable means of awakening affinities or gifts.

However, Kain forced himself to continue watching. Every video provided them with slightly more information. Every new room was to be added to the search agenda. Every time a new guard was caught in the frame of the video, Kain kept track of them to get a more accurate count of the total number likely present.

Kain monitored these broadcasts with grim determination while passing on all of the information obtained to his allies. Big or small, all information was recounted in order to help them with refining their strategy. As always, Serena's wish-making contract, Balens, was the keystone of their plans.

"How about something to limit their power?" Lina suggested. "Like making anyone stronger than us unable to fight at full strength."

"It's a good option," Kain replied, "but I'm worried about the cost of a wish that strong. We also need intel. A wish to locate all test subjects would let us prioritize our objectives and reduce the likelihood of them taking off with or putting down any subjects they can't escape with."

Serena said thoughtfully. "We can split the cost if we limit the duration of the wishes. Say, 90 minutes for suppressing stronger enemies and 60 minutes to reveal the subjects' locations. That'll reduce the overall price to be paid but still give us a clear edge."

Kain nodded in agreement, "Then we need to plan when we make the wishes precisely since there will be a time limit."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"First, we need to figure out how we'll safely infiltrate the facility," Kain began. "Which will be difficult based on the information collected so far."

"Based on the security footage we've seen, the facility operates under extremely tight surveillance," Kain continued, gesturing to a crude map they had drawn from the data gathered so far, marking the approximate locations of the guards, their routes, and any other staff and subjects. "There are multiple layers of defence—patrolling guards, high-tech cameras, and most likely hidden spiritual wards that'll alert them to intruders."

"Not to mention," Serena added coolly, "that they've likely installed countermeasures against invaders, especially after what happened in Brightstar City. They are on higher guard than ever against another breach."

"However," Kain smirked slightly, "Most of their countermeasures won't matter if Bea can covertly take over some of their guards—we'd get all the information we needed on their security measures and be able to infiltrate more easily.

"I think once it's dark enough, Bea's threads—which are already practically unnoticeable—would become invisible in the night. Not to mention, all of the guards at the front door so far have been 5-star beast tamers with the same level of spiritual power as the green-grade Bea. Therefore, they wouldn't be able to sense the threads either, and she would be able to fully control them."

Kain was thankful that unlike the sponsor Roman, the guards were each equipped with expensive pieces of enchanted equipment to repel mental-attribute attacks and infiltrations—likely they all lived at the facility and are not expected to frequent anywhere where they'd run into someone other than their co-workers. Stay updated with empire

"However, I'm worried about any surveillance equipment they have capable of picking up spiritual power fluctuations."

Serena was about to suggest that they could, unfortunately, make another wish when Line cautiously raised her hand. "I think I will be able to help with that…"