The girls exchanged a glance, looking at the chair that Doc wanted them to sit in. It was Zalgo who stepped forward, curiosity getting the best of her.

  "Sure, I guess.." she said, taking a step forward.

  Doc smiled, gesturing for Zalgo to sit in the chair. "Good, good. Come take a seat, and I'll show you exactly what it means to be an Ephemeral.”

  Zalgo shrugged and sat in the chair, her expression a mix of curiosity and wariness. "Alright, I'm seated. Now what?"

  Doc smirked and put on a pair of big glasses with swirls on the lenses, typing in commands on a console next to the chair. "Get comfortable, 'kay? This may...sting a bit.”

  "Wait, what do you-" Before Zalgo could finish her sentence, the chair's arm-like appendages snaked their way towards her, moving like lightning. One gripped onto either of her legs, while three others wrapped around her torso, and the final one held her head in place. "Hey‐!”

  "Don't worry, just relax," Doc reassured, a smirk still on her face. "Just gotta make sure you don't wiggle too much during the process, ya got it?”

  "G-Got it, I guess..." Zalgo replied, her discomfort evident. She tried to move but found herself completely immobilized. "Just...hurry up, okay?”

  "No need to worry, this won't take long," Doc said, typing in a few final commands. "And no need to hide any discomfort, alright? You can shout and scream if ya want, no harm will come to ya, promise.”

  "...If you say so..." Zalgo responded, trying to stay calm despite her growing feeling of claustrophobia. The arm-like appendages securing her were beginning to feel far too tight and uncomfortable.

  "You're getting anxious, I can tell," Doc said, noticing Zalgo's growing unease. "Just relax. I need you to relax so the machines can calibrate your body efficiently.”

  "I am relaxed, alright!?" Zalgo snapped back, her voice sharp with irritation. "Your machines are just making it hard to breathe.”

  Doc chuckled, seemingly amused by Zalgo's discomfort. "Relax more, if ya would. I need your body to be as relaxed and still as possible, or else my scans won't work, and this will take longer than it needs to. Trust me, okay?”

  "...Fine..." Zalgo grumbled, closing her eyes and trying to forcibly relax her body. The arm-like appendages held firm around her limbs and torso, creating a sense of claustrophobia that worsened her anxiety.

  "Good.." Doc said, satisfied with Zalgo's attempt to relax. "Now, try to keep yourself as still as you can. This shouldn't take long."

  Doc pressed a button on the console, and whirring noise filled the lab, as the machines began activating.

  Zalgo fidgeted in her seat, her anxiety growing by the second. The machines tightened around her body as the process started, holding her in place. She was beginning to feel claustrophobic and panicky, but she held herself together by sheer will.

  Doc observed the readouts on the console, her attention fixed on the data flowing across the screen. The machines hummed and buzzed, collecting information about Zalgo's body. Doc's eyes flickered between the readouts and the machines, ensuring that the process was proceeding correctly.

  The machines' grips on Zalgo's body grew even tighter, causing her discomfort to increase. Her breathing became shallower, but she did her best to keep still. "J-just hurry up," she muttered, trying to keep her voice steady.

  "Almost done, you're almost through," Doc assured her, the machines still running the final parts of the scan.

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  Zalgo's discomfort was reaching its breaking point. The machines' grips felt increasingly tight, and her claustrophobic fear was growing stronger. She was close to begging Doc to stop, but she gritted her teeth and endured. A bright light shone from the nozzle of the device above Zalgo, who shut her eyes tight to avoid being blinded.

  The machines continued their work, the readouts on the console displaying a complex array of data. Doc observed the information intently, her eyes absorbing every detail. "Almost there...just a bit more..." she muttered.

  The light then shot at Zalgo, beaming down her body from head to toe.

  With one final scan, the machines released their grip on Zalgo, and the light shut off abruptly. She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking to adjust to the room's light.

  Doc turned around, pushing her kooky glasses up. "Well, that wasn't too bad, now was it?”

  "It was excruciating..." Zalgo grumbled, rubbing her sore limbs. "...And your machines were way too tight. But, I guess it's over now," she said, a hint of relief in her voice.

  Doc chuckled, amused by Zalgo's complaint. "Oh, those were just the scanning machines. They're designed to get a good reading of your body, hence the tight grip. Can't have you wiggling around and messing up those readings, now can we?”

  "Yeah, yeah..." Zalgo shrugged, still massaging her sore limbs. "So, what exactly were those scans for? What did they even find out about me?”

  Doc's smirk returned, her expression turning serious. "Those scans revealed more about you than you could ever imagine. Y'see, the scans confirmed that you, young lady, are an Ephemeral. And now I shall unveil the truth about the Ephemerals, so listen closely.”

  Zalgo's curiosity piqued once again, and she sat up a little straighter in her seat, listening intently to Doc’s words. Alice and Rachel followed suit.

  Doc cleared her throat before continuing. "Ya see, the Ephemerals—the entire dozen of 'em—are a race of incredible humans born with a connection to the essence of the universe itself. The Void energy within you holds untold possibilities, and it is what makes you guys quite extraordinary. You are all legendary warriors chosen by the Void Realm itself to solve the imbalance of Light and Darkness.”

  Rachel raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on her face. "Chosen by the…Void Realm… Sounds like a load of bull, if you ask me.”

  Doc chuckled, amused by Zalgo's skepticism. "Ah, understandable. Sounds crazy, right? But trust me, it's true. Ephemerals are the chosen warriors, destined to balance the Light and Dark energies in the world. You possess unique Void energy that holds incredible potential within."

  She then gestured to a screen behind her, showing an image of Zalgo's aura flow in her body. "See that aura flow, guys? That right there is something outta this world. It's not one in a million, not even one in a billion. It's something way out there that even the greatest Void Mage can only dream of, and it all flows within you all.”

  Rachel and Alice exchanged a glance, their faces showing surprise. Alice finally spoke up. "Really? So we're destined to become these incredible warriors? What's the use of this information — what good does it do for us, for anyone?"

  Doc nodded, her smirk growing wider. "The Imago Gene was created by mimicking the aura print of an Ephemeral and emulating its qualities. The Imago Gene replaces the host's damaged tissue with a unique, super-mega-ultra-powerful version of itself, which reflects how an Ephemeral gets more powerful the more harm and hardship they endure. That is why you are able to learn Void Magic much, much faster than ordinary humans, your auras and bodies evolve with each iteration of punishment and trial-and-error you go through.”

  Zalgo raised an eyebrow, her skepticism still lingering, but her interest piqued. "So, you're saying our bodies have the potential to evolve to godlike levels, huh? That's quite a claim.”

  Doc nodded, her tone serious. "Oh, believe me, ladies, the potential is endless. The power of the Ephemerals is nothing short of extraordinary. You see, the Void Realm itself chose you all for a reason. It bestowed this power upon you, to fight for balance in a world torn between Light and Dark."

  "Wait a freakin moment, are you saying we're going to be involved in a war?" Rachel asked, her excitement obvious in her voice.

  Doc nodded, her expression serious. "Indeed, there is a war brewing between the forces of Light and Dark, and as Ephemerals, your paths will cross with darkness and light. However, the outcome isn't set in stone. Your choices, your actions, they will be the deciding factor in the fate of this world."

  Before any of the girls could ask another question, a series of metallic bangs went off on the other side of the room, the bangs coming from a metal door behind them.

  The girls jumped, suddenly startled by the sudden banging. They turned towards the door, their senses on high alert. Doc, however, chuckled softly, clearly amused by their reactions. "Oh, don't worry about that," she reassured them. "I believe that's an...expectant guest of mine wanting to check up on me. Ahem, well—all of us for that matter. Lemme answer that…”