THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA

EXPLOSION

Mandla and Chum proceeded from the garden towards the driveway, which encompassed an extension at the base of Mandla's house in a dome shape. This area served as the parking space for the vehicles belonging to the Adekunle household.

A short distance away stood a pyramid-shaped structure, resembling Mandla's house but smaller in size. It stood at a height similar to that of a two-storey building from the pre-corrosion era, discreetly concealed by the larger size of Mandla's house.

This secondary building served as the living quarters for the household servants.

Passing the dome, Mandla and Chum arrived at the servant living quarters before reaching a nearby square-shaped building. Though modest in size, this structure held great significance for Mandla, as it represented all his aspirations and dreams.

Approaching the entrance, Mandla and Chum were illuminated by a faint ray of light, triggering the automatic sliding of the door with a gentle beep.

Stepping inside, they were greeted by an interior that was initially dim but quickly bathed in brightness emanating from overhead light sources, which converged upon a solitary white counter situated in the center of the room.

This counter, divided into two sections by a partition, featured a collection of glass bottles in various sizes and colors on one side, while the other side displayed an assortment of bones, some of which were human and others belonging to unidentified species.

Mandla and Chum paused momentarily, their attention drawn to the intriguing array on the counter. Chum then chose to recline against the adjacent wall, while Mandla, feeling a mixture of apprehension and excitement, adorned a white overall, helmet, and gloves hanging nearby before approaching the counter.

Mandla gravitated towards the part of the counter where the bones were arranged seemingly without order, yet to him, they possessed a meticulous arrangement.

The bones were divided into three distinct categories: the first set comprised dark human bones, characterized by their black color; the second set consisted of Empyrean bones, distinguished by their emerald hue; and the final set comprised sacred bones, predominantly cream-colored.

These sacred bones represented the lowest quality available, as they were the most abundant and easily obtainable.

These bones served as the instruments of Mandla's liberation, forming the foundation of the experiment he had been conducting for the past five years. With the unwavering support of his father, he had managed to accumulate the necessary materials.

If anyone were privy to Mandla's endeavors, they might consider him deranged, for he sought to cure his defective sacred bone. Countless experts had researched such defective sacred bones, yet no cure had been discovered.

Nevertheless, Mandla remained undeterred, resolute in his belief that he was on the cusp of finding the elusive remedy.

Mandla carefully lifted an Empyrean bone and tapped a corner of the counter, prompting a concealed space to open within it, resembling a hidden compartment.

He placed the Empyrean bone inside, and the space sealed shut with a grinding sound. As it reopened, a small quantity of green sand became visible.

Mandla immersed his hands into the space, retrieving the box containing the green sand, which he poured into a glass pitcher.

He repeated this process with the dark human bones and sacred bones, subsequently measuring precise scoops from each of the three glass pitchers and combining them in a small bottle, which he gently mixed.

Each scoop had been meticulously measured, as even the slightest deviation would yield vastly different outcomes from his intended result.

Mandla cautiously poured a carefully calculated quantity of liquids from the glass pitchers on the counter into the small bottle, ensuring he did not exceed the required amount. Afterward, he gently stirred the mixture and awaited the outcome with eager anticipation.

Five years prior, Mandla had embarked on this experiment with the aim of rectifying his defective sacred bone. His rationale stemmed from the fact that humans in the past had managed to create a Zeno bone, which had subsequently given rise to the sacred bones present in humans today.

Thus, he surmised that with the right tools, he could repair his own sacred bone. And now, he stood on the precipice of success.

The primary materials for his experiment comprised an Empyrean bone, a dark human bone, and a regular sacred bone.

The regenerative attributes of the Empyrean bone, combined with the corrosive effects of the dark human bone and the characteristics of the sacred bones, formed the foundation of his cure.

The arduous task of determining the precise quantities of each material had consumed much of his time. Mandla had conducted nearly a thousand experiments, employing varying measurements, before finally arriving at the optimal proportions required for the cure.

The experiment aimed to exploit the corrosive properties of the dark human bones to stimulate the defective sacred bone's self-repair mechanism, while utilizing the regenerative qualities of the Empyrean bones to facilitate healing. The normal sacred bone served as a reference for the defective bone to follow, guiding it toward normalcy.

Success hinged upon finding the exact quantities for each material. Excessive dark human bone would result in the destruction of the defective sacred bone, while insufficient amounts would fail to stimulate it.

Similarly, an excess of Empyrean bone would cause the defective sacred bone to grow, deform, and eventually disintegrate, whereas an insufficient amount would accelerate its deterioration instead of fostering healing.

The precise amount of a regular sacred bone dictated the path the defective sacred bone would follow in its journey to restoration.

After five years and countless experiments, Mandla had finally discovered the ideal mixture of these primary materials. The cure for his defective sacred bone was within reach.

Fixated on the small bottle containing the mixture, Mandla observed a purple glow emanating from it, soon accompanied by bubbling and vigorous agitation. A crease formed on his forehead, and he pondered, "This isn't how it's supposed to be, is it?"

Chum, noticing both the reaction in the bottle and the furrowed expression on Mandla's face, rose from his position, his paws hitting the ground softly as he approached Mandla cautiously

Unexpectedly, the mixture in the small glass bottle exploded, unleashing a powerful force that reverberated throughout the room, shattering the glass bottles on the counter and propelling Mandla and Chum against the wall.

Cracks marred the building's walls, accompanied by the incessant blaring of alarm sounds.

As Mandla hurtled toward the wall, a significant portion of the purple liquid splashed onto his face before he collided with the surface, sliding down. The liquid swiftly dissolved his helmet, making contact with his face with a sizzling sound, prompting him to scream in agonizing pain until his brain succumbed to shock.

As Mandla's consciousness faded, a tear trailed down his cheek, his gaze fixated on the devastation wrought by the explosion, signifying the demise of his hopes and dreams. His eyes also beheld Chum's struggling form lying nearby, attempting to reach him.

A faint smile filled with mirth graced the corner of Mandla's lips as he murmured, "It hurts."

With Mandla's eyes finally closing, the door to the building slid open, and guards, followed by robots, swiftly entered, responding to the blaring alarms as they rushed to Mandla's side.