Guided by the flood of Dr. Gero's memories, Chiga located the replacement parts the scientist had designed for Lapis and Lazuli.
Among them were memory-control chips meant to overwrite personalities and enslave actions. Chiga destroyed them without hesitation. Allowing such devices to take root would risk erasing the siblings' humanity, turning them into nothing more than monsters with borrowed faces.
Lazuli shivered at the sight of the discarded chips. Her unease was plain, but Chiga gently rested his hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze before gesturing for Lapis to step forward.
Though nervous, Lapis obeyed. Chiga offered Lazuli a calm smile.
"Relax. There will be no pain at all. Watch closely."
He turned to Lapis's arm. A faint light gleamed in Chiga's eyes, and in the next instant, one of Gero's power transmission devices had replaced part of the boy's bone. The removed fragment of bone clattered onto the nearby table.
Lapis stared in shock at his arm. He flexed his fingers, clenched a fist, then struck the ground with all his strength. The floor cracked, leaving a shallow crater shaped like his knuckles.
Excitement blazed in his eyes, but the triumph lasted only a second. "Ow—!" He yelped, cradling his hand as it turned red and swollen.
"Chiga, what's going on?" he asked, voice breaking.
Shaking his head, Chiga sighed. "That was only the first step. You'll still need to soak in the fluid before your body can handle this power. Don't be so impatient."
Dr. Gero's research confirmed it: replacing parts was only half the process. Without the strengthening of cellular structure through cultivation fluid, the human body would collapse under the immense energy of the Eternal Energy Furnace.
Raising one hand, Chiga gestured again. Piece by piece, the prepared parts were seamlessly integrated into Lapis's body.
Lapis bounded upward in excitement, nearly striking the ceiling. "This is amazing! I feel like Superman!"
Lazuli, however, did not share his enthusiasm. Strength had never been her obsession; instead, unease lingered in her heart. But seeing Lapis unharmed, alive, and even laughing, her fear softened.
She spread her arms, waiting. Her meaning was clear—she was ready.
Chiga wasted no time. His hands moved with precision, and before long, Lazuli too was transformed. Yet the parts installed in her body were stronger than Lapis's. When she flexed her fingers, the air seemed to tremble faintly.
Testing her strength, she turned and jabbed her younger brother lightly in the stomach.
Bang!
The blow doubled Lapis over, leaving him gasping and clutching his abdomen. "Sis, are you trying to kill me?" he groaned.
Lazuli smirked in satisfaction. No matter what she became, her position as the older sibling would never be questioned.
The truth was, neither of them understood the scale of power they now carried. Even before the strengthening fluid, their new abilities already placed them leagues beyond Earth's defenders—strong enough to overwhelm Goku, Vegeta, and the rest with terrifying ease.
But unlike Gero, Chiga had no intention of twisting them into mindless weapons. Their personalities, their hearts, remained intact. That was the difference.
When everything was prepared, Chiga led the siblings into a hidden chamber. Two glass pods stood within, each large enough to hold a single body.
With a soft stomp, Chiga raised an earthen wall between them, granting privacy. Lapis tilted his head, puzzled. "Huh? What's this for?"
"You'll see," Chiga replied. His tone left no room for doubt. "Lapis, remove your clothes."
"Nani!?" Lapis's jaw dropped, his face pale with disbelief. "Brother-in-law, I'm your younger brother-in-law!"
"I'm aware," Chiga said evenly. "But if you intend to soak in cultivation fluid, you can't do it clothed. Or would you prefer your skin fusing with fabric?"
"Oh. Right…" Lapis muttered sheepishly. Without another word, he stripped quickly. Lazuli averted her gaze, crossing her arms, cheeks faintly pink. They were siblings, yes, but both were adults, and modesty still mattered.
Once naked, Lapis entered the chamber, affixed a breathing mask, and gave Chiga a thumbs-up.
Chiga pressed a sequence of controls. The chamber filled with luminous green liquid, swallowing Lapis whole. His eyes widened with childlike curiosity as the strange fluid enveloped him, then slowly drifted shut as sleep overtook him.
"You'll rest for a while," Chiga's voice carried through the glass. "When you wake, your body will be reborn."
Satisfied, Chiga turned to Lazuli. She had already begun to undress, her expression calm but tinged with a delicate blush. Unlike her brother, she made no attempt to hide herself, facing Chiga with quiet trust.
He regarded her with respect, neither lingering nor shying away. When she stepped into his arms, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. His words were sincere.
"Go on, Lazuli. When you awaken, you'll be stronger than ever… not because of what I've given you, but because of who you've chosen to become."
With a steady nod, Lazuli entered her chamber.
And thus, the siblings' true transformation began.
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