Chapter 191 191- Introduction

Chapter 191 Chapter 191- Introduction

Kai and Kaya discussed the situation for a while before they finally put the matter aside for now. There was just too much chaos ensuing in the underworld for them to do anything remotely planned.

Until the situation calms down or takes a certain, predictable direction, they can only watch.

Well, not exactly that as Kai had a completely other plan.

"I got my hands on some Temporary Origin." He said as he pulled out the capsule and showed it to Kaya.

"Wait, really?" Kaya grabbed the capsule and looked at it.

"Hmm, this is certainly the same thing. However, the one that they showed me back in the HQ had a brighter color."

"Brighter color?" Kai murmured with a quizzical expression.

"Yeah, it also seemed more... vibrant. Maybe this is a worse grade of the same product?"

"It could be..."

Hearing that piece of information, Kai felt as if the problem just suddenly turned even more complicated before he could even start tackling it. If what Kaya said is true then there are perhaps multiple grades of this injection and they're in Divinity, waiting for the right time or person to be used on.

What was even more problematic was the fact that he still didn't even know what the effect of this temporary Origin was. What kind of level of power did Divinity achieve?

When he asked Kaya, she said that she didn't really know as they hadn't shown her any results yet. Which led Kai to his important request.

"Do you have any idea where we can actually check this thing out? I want to see its effects and components."

"A lab?"

"Yes."

"Hmm." Squinting her eyes, Kaya thought for a moment before she looked up with a bright idea in her head.

"I think I have the right person for that." She said with a grin.

***

One Day Later.

"Elu! I'm back!" Kaya said as she opened the door to a huge lab room filled with all kinds of devices, machinery, and technologically advanced computers.

Kaya walked inside with a small smile on her face. Her eyes wandered the place that she hadn't visited in ages before she walked straight toward the other side where someone was asleep, sprawled on a chair.

Elu was sleeping soundly while drooling all over a huge stack of papers chaotically thrown on top of her desk.

"This girl... She always overworks herself to the bone." She murmured before she tapped Elu on the shoulder. "Hey, Eluuuu! I'm here! Is this how you welcome your best friend back?"

However, no answer came so Kaya thought for a second. Then, an evil smile appeared on her face.

Then, with a cough to clear her throat, Kaya yelled. "Hey!! Elu! Your favorite tv show ends today!!"

The moment Elu heard those words, her eyes opened wide immediately.

"TV show?! Huh?! Where?! How?!" Her face looked dazed as a piece of paper stuck to her drool.

"Hahahahahaha! It always works on you, doesn't it?"

"Huh? Kaya? So it was you?!" Elu's eyes brightened up as she jumped on her friend, hugging her tightly.

"Hey, hey. Relax the grip, you're choking me." Kaya said with a smile as she tapped her friend.

"I missed you! Where have you been all this time?!"

"Sorry, Elu. I was really busy. You already know the current situation of the underworld. I couldn't even find time to breathe."

"Tsk, fine, fine. At least you're safe and sound. That's what matters." Brushing her words off, Elu smiled at Kaya.

"Elu..."

"Like hell, I would say that! Karate chop!" The petite girl yelled as she jumped up and tried to chop Kaya with her hand. However, the latter casually dodged the attack. "Too slow."

"Woah!" Falling flat on her face, Elu stood up. "Why did you dodge my attack?!"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"That's your punishment for telling me that my show is almost over. It still has 8 more seasons according to my calculations."

"Sigh, you're still stuck on that? I think you're the only person left who watches that show."

"I'm a devoted fan and I will stay a devoted fan for the rest of my life," Elu replied with a dead serious look. n-)o-/v(/E--l-.b/)I--n

"O-Ok..."

"So, how have you been?" Sitting down, Kaya was handed a cup of tea from Elu.

"The usual. Too much work, too little time for my hobby, and enough amount of caffeine consumed every day to give an elephant insomnia for a few weeks. I'm living the dream." Elu replied as she sat down and pushed the papers away.

"Sounds like a dream life to me," Kaya said sarcastically.

"What about you?"

"I'm doing great actually. Well, there are still some annoying things that need to be dealt with but all is good, all is good."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Ehem, so, Elu. Can I ask you for help?"

"Hm? What's up?"

Kaya coughed before she pulled out the capsule from her pocket. "I got some of this. Can you check it out for me?"

"..." Elu's body froze as she stood up and walked toward Kaya. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Yeah. Don't ask how I got it. My sources are confidential." Kaya winked.

"Yeah, I bet. These are still in the prototype phase. Even the people who got them don't know that they aren't the final product." Elu said.

"They're handing out incomplete products?"? Kaya asked with a frown.

"Hey, they aren't dangerous by any means. But, we still don't know much about their effect across a longer period of time."

"That's just too much risk..."

"I didn't agree to that either. But, I can only do so much with my position in Divinity. Anyway, what do you want?"

"Can you tell me what the components of this thing are and also what effects it should have?"

"I can't do that, Kaya. It's confidential information. Only the scientists of Divinity know about it." Elu said.

"Come on, Elu. I really need your help, please." Kaya said with a begging tone.

"...."

"I will buy you your favorite candy."

Hearing 'favorite candy', Elu's face crunched as she thought long and hard about it. Finally, she sighed and gave up.

"Fine, I will tell you. But it's because we're best friends, not because of the candy. Although, do please buy me some candy." She said with a whisper.

"You got it."

"Ugh, come here," Elu said as she sat down in front of her computer and opened a tab. The tab had pictures of the temporary Origin along with a long description of its components, functions, and effects.

"Temporary Origin is basically pressurized Origin in very extremely cold temperatures. When put under a huge amount of pressure, Origin becomes compact and denser than normal. That makes it slightly possible to freeze it in extremely low temperatures. Then, after freezing it, they injected it with some kind of liquid that I still don't know. When that eventually melts, it turns into Origin."

Kaya read through the report carefully before she asked.

"Mysterious liquid?"

"Yes. Nobody wanted to tell me about it and even those who do know were told to keep it a secret at any cost."

The process seemed rather simple on paper, except for that liquid part. It was most certainly the most important component of this whole process and conveniently enough, Divinity decided to keep it a secret.

"Its effects are still not fully discovered yet but we hope that those who get injected with Temporary Origin can gain the power of a talented ascender at best and a 10-year-old normal Origin user at worst."

"..." Kaya didn't answer immediately which made Elu turn around to look at her.

"Kaya?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah, I heard you. That's quite optimistic from Divinity."

"Hey, optimism is a harsh word. We have some good proof that it will work. When tested on animals like mice, guinea pigs, and even bigger animals like cows, it gave the effect. They became stronger and healthier. Although for some reason, they didn't gain any talents which is weird. But, hey, you can't complain about the results."

"Hopefully you're right, Elu. I have a bad feeling about this." Kaya said after a while.

"We don't have any say in this matter. We just work toward the common goal of creating a better world for Origin Users. These Temporary Origins are akin to a slow introduction to the world about Origin."

"Slow introduction? More like a kick to the door and a huge ringing bell coupled with it." Kaya sarcastically said as she rolled her eyes.

She really had no faith in the success of this project.

***

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Kai was listening to the two speaking while sitting on the couch. His face had a cold look on it.

"Mysterious liquid..." He murmured to himself. Nobody knew what was going through his head.

It seems that this rabbit hole goes down deeper and deeper the more he tries to inspect it. But, the question is, how much more could he unravel if he keeps poking into it?"