"Ugh~ Tsk, tsk, tsk~~" Robin groaned softly as he dragged himself out of the bath, each movement slow and deliberate, as if his very muscles resisted the idea of motion.
Though the procedure had concluded perfectly and every ounce of the active materials had been absorbed, the water he emerged from still wasn't clean—it had thickened into something akin to shimmering jelly that clung to the surface, refusing to flow. The droplets sliding off his body looked like molten metal or oil of impossible density—each drop that fell to the ground landed with a dull, heavy thud, as though it carried the weight of mountains.
His entire form moved with effort; his back was slightly bent, his breathing shallow, and his feet pressed deeply into the marble floor with every hesitant step. Yet despite the exhaustion, despite the strain—this time, Robin stepped out on his own legs. No crutches, no support, no fainting collapse. Just raw endurance.
