In an underground laboratory in America, a middle-aged Caucasian man in a white lab coat and protective goggles was intently staring at the crimson potion in the test tube he held in his hands.
It seemed as though the potion was mixed with some glowing unknown substances, giving the already crimson liquid a hazy beauty.
"Dr. Hawkins, the test subject is ready!"
Upon hearing the assistant's reminder, the middle-aged man didn't respond, but instead carefully placed the test tube filled with the potion onto the test tube rack.
"Alright, take the number two Spiritual Power Awakening Potion and prepare for the experiment."
In an experimental cabin similar to that within Laboratory 27, an Indian girl of about eight or nine years old was tightly bound to an experimental bed.
And in this massive laboratory, more than a dozen such experimental cabins were lined up in a row.
With a HISS, the door of the experimental cabin slid open to both sides, and Dr. Hawkins and several assistants strode in.
"Test Subject No. 11, age: 8 years old, healthy, Physique: B-grade."
After listening to the assistant's report, Dr. Hawkins personally picked up a syringe filled with the crimson potion and quickly injected the liquid into the girl's body.
The girl, tied down tightly, was powerless to resist and could only cry out helplessly.
The expressionless Dr. Hawkins paid no heed to the girl's reaction and immediately led his few assistants to rush to the next cabin.
In a matter of minutes, all fourteen test subjects had been injected.
The middle-aged man, who had returned to the monitoring console, didn't take a break but instead stared intently at the fourteen surveillance windows on the screen.
It's starting! After a short while, the first test subject, who had been quiet, suddenly let out a pained howl.
"My... head! Ah... it hurts!"
The intense pain caused his veins to bulge all over his body, and thick sweat started to seep out, drenching his scant white clothing completely.
SNAP! SNAP! The sound of two ropes breaking suddenly echoed in the cabin.
With strength from an unknown source, Test Subject No. 1, in great agony, managed to break all the straps binding his body.
But that was all he could manage.
In the next instant, his seven orifices began to bleed crimson blood almost simultaneously.
And after a difficult struggle, he eventually lost the breath of life.
"Test Subject No. 1 has died!"
The death of the first test subject did not move the researchers present; instead, they simultaneously turned their gazes to Test Subject No. 2, who was also struggling.
The situation of Test Subject No. 2 was somewhat better. Although he also appeared to be in immense pain, at least he had not yet lost his life. Googlᴇ search ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt
And so, Test Subject No. 2 endured for another two or three minutes, and the intense pain in his brain finally began to slowly subside.
In its place was a sensation of unprecedented relief. He felt as if his entire being had been freed from a layer of bondage.
Before he had a chance to carefully perceive the changes within himself, the door to the cabin instantly opened, and two researchers walked in carrying a strange machine.
The two individuals affixed five patches to Test Subject No. 2's forehead, palms, and soles, then gently pressed a button on the apparatus.
Test Subject No. 2 instantly felt a faint electric current coursing through his entire body.
"Spiritual Power reaction detected!"
Observing the prompt on the instrument's screen, the researcher picked up the microphone hanging around his neck.
"Dr. Hawkins, Test Subject No. 2 has successfully awakened his Spiritual Power," he reported.
The middle-aged man standing next to the monitoring console nodded slightly upon hearing this.
In this way, an hour swiftly passed.
An assistant approached the middle-aged man with a tablet in hand to report, "Dr. Hawkins, among the fourteen subjects, eight have successfully awakened their Spiritual Power, two have lost their sanity, and four have died. For this experiment, after adjustments, the Spiritual Power Awakening Potion No. 2 has a success rate of 57.14%."
"It's not much different from the success rates of the previous experiments," Dr. Hawkins said, nodding. "Alright, report it to the higher-ups. Remember to adjust the success rate slightly—make it 65%."
Upon hearing the middle-aged man's words, the assistant did not exhibit any surprise, perhaps because he was already accustomed to it.
Far away, within a secret underground base in Washington, in a small conference room, five men and women exuding an aura of authority quietly sat around a central round table.
"Take a look, everyone! The Spiritual Power Awakening Potion No. 2 has succeeded!"
A stout middle-aged man in a black suit stood up and distributed four reports to the other four people present.
"Walton, are you certain that the success rate noted on this report is accurate?" asked an ordinary-looking yet exceedingly noble elderly lady in a black silk robe, pointing at a number in the report as she looked towards the middle-aged man distributing the materials.
"Ms. Morgan, a 65% success rate... of course, it isn't real! The actual rate is about 57%, but I think it's already viable for sale on the market!" Walton replied.
"In that case, I think the success rate in the report needs to be altered further. 75% should be a decent number!" said a thin middle-aged man, pushing his gold-rimmed glasses up on the bridge of his nose, his eyes flashing with greed.
"Oh! Mr. Dupont, I believe your suggestion is most apt!" Walton exclaimed, his face sporting an exaggerated smile.
"I think we should also pair it with a product that can increase the success rate of awakening," Ms. Rockefeller interjected. "Does Dr. Hawkins, the one who developed this Potion, have any means to create such a product?"
"My dear Ms. Rockefeller, you always have such wonderful ideas! I'm sure Dr. Hawkins will soon be able to deliver the product you mentioned," Walton said, his portly figure even standing up to dance around the round table, completely oblivious to his surroundings.
"By the way, Mr. Johnson, don't you have any thoughts on this matter?" Walton's dancing abruptly stopped, and he turned his head to address the quiet, portly old man who had yet to speak.
The rosy-cheeked Mr. Johnson laughed heartily in response, "Walton, I'm only concerned with when it's going to be on the market."
"Rest assured, sir," Walton said confidently. "I've already instructed them to start production at full capacity! However, we might run a little short on raw materials, so we'll need everyone's considerable efforts!"
"Hmm? There should still be plenty of those damned Bizarre in Portland. Are the numbers in the Exorcism Department insufficient?" one of them asked.
"Well... what I meant was, we need to pick up the pace. After all, the other major nations researching this kind of Potion are probably close to success too!" Walton explained.
Upon hearing Walton's words, the others gave slight nods, affirming his statement.