One reckless gulp—and suddenly, the most dangerous man in the room isn't the monster.
"Mmm… delicious."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
Good thing he hadn't left Akatsuki.
He tucked the container into his robes and smiled faintly.
"Rest assured. As long as I live, our cooperation will continue."
Gen nodded, pleased.
He pushed his sunglasses back into place, dimming the world again.
Honestly—
the Sharingan's clarity was absurd.
His old nearsightedness?
Gone.
Sniping someone eight hundred miles away with a kunai might be pushing it—
but seeing several kilometers clearly?
Easy.
Orochimaru seemed to recall something.
"You could wear a transparent layer over your eyes," he said. "Something to conceal the tomoe and pupil without affecting vision. I know of a material that could do it."
Gen's interest sparked.
"Contact lenses?"
Orochimaru paused.
Then shook his head.
"Not invisible. Just transparent."
Gen waved it off with a chuckle.
"Too troublesome."
Still—
Orochimaru casually being on the verge of inventing contact lenses…
was something else.
"Very well."
Seeing Gen uninterested, Orochimaru refocused.
He picked up the meteorite powder—
its surface faintly glowing purple—
and poured it into the test tube.
Gen watched.
Now he was serious.
As expected—
a proper reward turned Orochimaru into a machine.
Sizzle—!
The moment the powder touched the golden liver oil—
it crackled violently.
Like meat hitting a scorching pan.
Both of them frowned.
The liquid darkened instantly—
turning deep violet.
Churning.
Boiling.
Undergoing a strange reaction.
When it stabilized—
Orochimaru picked up tweezers.
Carefully placed a piece of Hōzuki clan tissue inside.
The cell sank—
then began dissolving.
But it didn't die.
Instead—
it activated.
Merged.
Soon—
the liquid was filled with shifting, multicolored rings.
Hiss—!
Purple vapor rose from the tube.
Orochimaru stared intently.
A thick, black-violet fluid.
Shimmering.
Dangerous.
No need to test—
this was lethal.
To anything.
Which meant—
it required dilution.
Used in baths.
Combined with chakra.
To slowly temper the body.
Even then—
no one was truly immune to poison.
"Gen-kun," Orochimaru said quietly.
"I'll bring a test subject."
They needed data.
No way he'd risk Gen directly.
"Wait."
Gen raised a hand.
Stopped him.
Then—
took the test tube.
Before Orochimaru could react—
he tilted his head back.
And drank it.
All of it.
Gulp.
"GEN—!!!"
Orochimaru froze.
His brain short-circuited.
What kind of sane person—
just did that?
"Did something happen to you?!"
He staggered forward.
"Don't die!!"
His thoughts spiraled.
If Gen died—
everything was over.
"If you die, who's giving me more Sharingan?!"
"Where are the rest?!"
His hand shot toward Gen's pouch—
But stopped mid-air.
Gen had grabbed his wrist.
Firm.
Unmoving.
"…Hic."
A small burp.
Gen glanced sideways.
Calm as ever.
"Snake-san… tastes pretty good."
"Next time, make it cola-flavored."
A system panel flickered in his vision.
[Random Quest: Body Modification]
[Description: Flesh is weak. Ascension has many paths—mechanical, genetic, cellular…]
[Requirement: Drink the compound and praise it.]
[Completed!]
[Reward: Trait — Poison Body]
Poison Body: Immunity to all toxins.
System Comment: Congratulations. Even web novel poison won't kill you now.
"…Are you alright?"
Orochimaru yanked his hand back instinctively.
If Gen melted—
he'd be next.
"Do I look alright?"
Heat surged through Gen's body.
His breathing grew heavy.
Heart pounding.
Inside—
his cells were changing.
Evolving.
Orochimaru stared.
Transfixed.
Gen's skin—
shifted colors rapidly.
Red.
Blue.
Green.
Purple.
A phenomenon beyond anything he had ever seen.
At the same time—
Gen felt overwhelmed.
Like too much information flooding his mind.
His vision blurred.
He looked down—
at his glowing hand.
A walking neon sign.
"…Can't hold it…"
Darkness took him.
He collapsed onto the sofa.
Unconscious.
From his pores—
toxin leaked.
Evaporating into faint purple mist.
"…."
Orochimaru observed closely.
"…Dead?"
He hadn't even figured out what "cola" meant.
Then—
pain.
Sharp.
From his wrist.
He looked down.
Black.
His hand—
had turned black.
Moments later—
numb.
"…Damn it!!"
Understanding hit instantly.
Gen—
had become a toxin source.
Continuously emitting poison.
If he stayed—
he'd die.
No hesitation.
Hand seals formed.
BOOM!!
Smoke exploded outward—
A massive white serpent appeared.
Orochimaru's true form.
He tried to escape—
But—
too late.
The toxin spread faster than he could move.
His massive body—
collapsed.
Flesh melting.
"No… no… NO—!!!"
His scream echoed—
into emptiness.
…
Half an hour later—
Gen stirred.
His consciousness returned.
He exhaled a mouthful of purple mist—
then froze.
Staring ahead.
At the pile of flesh.
"…What the hell…"
"…Snake-san?"
"…Why are you a lump?"
"You're not dead, right?"
"If you die—who's running my experiments?!"
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read chapters ahead on Patreon → patreon.com/c/MythArcStudio