Bubble, bubble-0

A red liquid boiled intensely inside the transparent container, bubbling violently. Time passed, and the liquid began separating into layers.0

Swish-0

Now, there were two layers: the upper layer, which remained a deep crimson, and the lower layer, which had lightened gradually until it became so translucent that it was nearly clear.0

Continuing to monitor the solution intently, Meirin waited. Then, at the exact moment when all the liquid inside the container recombined and turned a translucent red, Meirin flicked the cigarette in her mouth and pressed a button on the connected machine.0

Pshhhk!0

The liquid, bubbling and spreading in all directions, flowed through a thin hose attached to the bottom of the container, eventually gathering drop by drop at the tip of the extraction site.0

Crack!0

The liquid began crystallizing rapidly the moment it emerged, forming a structure reminiscent of an icicle. For a moment, Meirin just silently observed the crystal grow drop by drop until it reached about the size of two finger joints, at which point she carefully removed it with her gloved hand.0

“Hmm…”0

Scrutinizing the crimson crystal from various angles, Meirin then brought it directly to an undead creature stationed on one side of the laboratory. 0

And without hesitation, she pressed the crystal against the zombie clad in a thin, black chest plate, around where the sternum was.0

Swoosh-0

The crystal melted seamlessly through the plate and into its body, quickly burrowing until...0