Elara's eyes locked onto Kai at last. There was a glint there - curiosity, awe, and something close to fear.

She turned away and reached under one of her cluttered tables, pulling out a sleek black case that hissed faintly as she unclipped it open. "For you," she said, her voice quieter than before. "This one's… special."

Inside the foam-lined case sat three slim vials filled with crimson liquid that shimmered faintly, like blood infused with light. The glow pulsed, alive, as if the vials themselves were breathing.

Kai's brow arched. "What is it?"

"Super enhancers," she said, eyes bright with restrained excitement. "Mutant enhancers, to be specific. They'll amplify your Bloodweaving to new heights - stronger control, faster regeneration, sharper senses. Think of them as Nyx's serum, but an even more effective version."

Kai's gaze darkened slightly at that name, but Elara pressed on.

"These are ten times more potent than anything Nyx produced. I made them with your biology in mind - your healing factor and resistance should be enough to handle their effects... and side effects. Anyone else who tried would probably turn into a screaming, writhing mass of flesh before dying horribly." She smiled faintly. "And if a normal person took it… well, they wouldn't even have time to scream."

The others exchanged uneasy looks.

Elara snapped the case shut and slid it closer to Kai. "Only use them when you're absolutely pushed to your limits. I only managed to make three doses, and they're meant to be injected directly into your bloodstream."

Her gaze flickered to his neck. "Here's the most effective spot."

A cold chill slithered down Kai's spine.

He didn't show much, but that particular suggestion hit hard. The sight of needles, the feeling of something being pumped into him - it all dragged him back to the cold metal tables, the blinding lights, Nyx's amused voice echoing in his head as liquid fire burned through his veins.

'That bastard used to inject me right there…'

For just a moment, something dark flickered in his eyes. But then, as if crushing the memory beneath his heel, Kai smiled faintly and extended his hand. "Thanks, Elara."

She didn't hand him the case. Instead, she hesitated - then pulled it back slightly and set it aside on a cluttered worktable.

"You can… pick it up yourself," she said softly, not meeting his eyes.

Kai paused, understanding dawning almost immediately.

She still remembered what had happened the last time they touched - how her ability had forced her to glimpse into his mind, his soul. What she'd seen had left her shaken to her core. That kind of darkness didn't fade easily, and she didn't want to experience it again.

The tension was awkward, but Kai didn't take offence. He gave her a small nod, then walked over and picked up the case himself. "Fair enough."

Elara cleared her throat quickly, eager to move on. "There are three vials. Don't take more than one at a time, and give it at least a few days between uses. Even with your body, I can't guarantee what'll happen otherwise. And don't let anyone else touch it unless you want to see them-" She mimed an explosion with her hands. "-go pop."

Kai smirked. "Noted."

Elara exhaled, then straightened. "Alright. The next thing I have for you isn't something physical. It's… a theory I've been working on about your ability."

That caught his attention.

"So far," she began, pacing slightly, "from everything I've seen and heard, your Bloodweaving allows you to manipulate blood directly - alter its state, density, and even form constructs from it. You can sense it, even through walls, and accelerate your own blood flow to enhance your physical performance. Am I right so far?"

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Pretty much. You've done your homework."

"I make it my business to understand the impossible," she replied with a faint grin. But as she spoke, that same spark of obsession Kai had seen in Nyx began to shine in her eyes.

"While studying your blood samples, I noticed something… fascinating. You haven't shown it yet, but I believe you're capable of Blood Absorption."

Kai frowned. "Blood absorption?"

"Yes," she said eagerly. "Your blood type is compatible with all others, but with your mutation, compatibility becomes irrelevant. Theoretically, you should be able to absorb the blood of others - mutant or otherwise - and use it as a source of energy and vitality. An endless supply of power, if managed correctly."

Kai was silent. He'd done something like that before - on instinct, when in that Berserk state. He hadn't thought about it much, but hearing it said out loud made something stir uneasily in his chest.

Elara didn't notice his expression; she was too lost in her own fascination. "And that's not all," she continued. "If you could absorb mutant blood, you might theoretically be able to temporarily replicate certain aspects of their abilities. Every mutant's blood carries unique mutations - unique sequences. If you could integrate that into your system…"

"...I'd be unstoppable," Kai finished for her, voice quiet but edged.

"Exactly!" she said, grinning widely. "Though of course, there are risks. Using too much of another's blood could corrupt your own, causing internal conflict between cells. Your body might reject it or even tear itself apart trying to stabilise. You'd need to maintain a majority of your own blood for balance."

Kai chuckled lowly. "So, in theory, I could drain someone dry and mimic their ability temporarily as long as I don't overdo it?"

"That's one way to put it."

Her tone was disturbingly casual. The others shifted uncomfortably, but Elara was already moving on, lost in another wave of theorising.

"There's more," she said, tapping her chin. "If you can absorb blood, then logically, you should also be capable of the opposite - Blood Corruption."

Kai tilted his head. "Meaning?"

"Meaning your blood, even in its raw form, is toxic to others if not refined like in Nyx's serum. If you were to inject or channel your blood into someone else's body, it could eat away at their cells, destroying them from the inside out. Your blood could literally consume them and corrupt their bloodstream."

That caught even Kai off guard.

He imagined it - streams of his blood invading an enemy's veins, their bodies convulsing as the crimson tendrils devoured them from within. It was grotesque. Terrifying. And… useful.

"Sounds messy," he murmured.

"Effective though," she said, shrugging. "Not as much against someone with heavy armour or scales like Lenny, but still. Worth experimenting with, don't you think?"

Before Kai could even respond, she continued with her babbling. "Though, imagine if you could control the blood within the bodies of your targets. Stopping their hearts, their blood flow, and killing them without even fighting would be incredible. Something seems to be blocking that, since that would be an obvious utilisation of your ability."

"Hmmm, maybe it's some sort of metaphysical restriction that only allows you to control your own or free blood. Or maybe you simply haven't unlocked that capability yet and soon will be able to internally combust any of your opponents at will," Elara continued.

Her theories seemed endless, and Kai simply gave her a dry smile. "You sound a lot like Nyx, you know that?"

That froze her for half a second, but she masked it with a forced laugh. "I'll take that as a compliment."

The rest of the group exchanged looks. Nadya muttered under her breath, "I'm not sure you should."

Still, they all appreciated what she'd done for them. Even Takeshi, silent as ever, gave a short nod of respect from the corner despite not receiving anything.

As the conversation began to settle, Kai's gaze lingered on Elara.

He turned the case of enhancers over in his hands, then met her eyes. "There's something I want to ask you before we go."

The room went quiet again.

Elara blinked, curiosity returning. "Alright," she said softly. "What is it?"

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