Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Thomas and Mosby stopped their movements almost simultaneously. In front of each of them, the small white mice they had treated were already squeaking and scurrying around, looking full of life.

"Dr. Bozzelli, it seems we're a match!" Mosby chuckled.

Thomas remained calm, not bothering to respond. Instead, he turned his attention to his prized student. He thought, 'Good. The surgery is nearly complete, with only the final injection left. As long as Jared chooses the right injection, the procedure will be a complete success.'

His gaze then shifted to Francesca, and his eyes lit up with genuine admiration. He thought Malcolm's student truly was a rare talent. Her precision was impressive, the stitches on the tiny incision were flawless, and her speed was just a fraction behind his and Mosby's.

It was a remarkable feat.

'She'll likely become a great female medical master in the future,' Thomas thought, giving her silent praise.

However, when his eyes finally landed on Andrew, his expression froze for a split second.

Andrew was still standing there, arms crossed, with that same carefree grin on his face. It was as if he had not even started, like he was just there to watch the show.

Thomas thought Andrew had not even figured out how to proceed. Shaking his head, he looked away, a faint sneer flickering across his lips. "What a fool!"

He had already judged Andrew to be nothing more than a mediocre talent. Malcolm must have been too sentimental in his old age, making a poor choice in this case.

Meanwhile, the bald examiner standing in front of Andrew could not hold back any longer. "Hey, kid! You're not even going to try? You were so loud earlier, acting like you didn't even care about Mr. Fuentes and Mr. Phelps. But now you're just standing there, waiting to lose? Isn't this just proving that you really are as useless as they say?"

Andrew just smiled. "I already said, let the bullets fly for a while." Alright, only forty seconds left-guess it's time to reel them in."

With that, Andrew did not reach for the surgical tools provided by the tournament. Instead, three slender golden needles appeared between his fingers, moving so quickly they almost blurred as he inserted them into the tiny mouse's body.

The needles carried a paralyzing effect, instantly causing the sickly mouse to collapse onto the operating table.

Andrew picked up a scalpel, and with a precise flick of his wrist, he severed one of the mouse's diseased legs. Then, without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed a tiny metal brace from the tray and attached it to the stump, aligning it perfectly.

With a sharp tearing sound, he split a piece of bandage into thin strips. Next, he

quickly wrapped the wound, securing the brace in place.

For the final step, Andrew pulled out a single hollow golden needle-his own custom design.

With a subtle flick of his wrist, he drew the growth factor and hormone mixture into the needle, then injected it directly into the mouse's body, using the finenoveldrama

of his internal energy to guide the fluid.

With a final twist of his wrist, he withdrew the needle and stepped back, his work complete. A quick glance at the timer told him he still had five seconds left.

The bald examiner, who had been watching the entire process with his jaw practically on the floor, felt his mind go blank.

Was this guy a lunatic?

The sheer speed and unconventional approach he had just witnessed defied all reason. On second thought, he thought maybe Andrew was not out of his mind.

After all, as insane as this method seemed, it had clearly worked. The line between madness and genius was a thin one, and Andrew seemed to be walking it perfectly.

"Time's up! All contestants, hands off your subjects! Anyone still moving, pack up and get out!"

Preston and Clifford's harsh voices boomed across the arena as the final second ticked down.

Jared, who had just finished injecting his own mouse, threw his head back and laughed. "Perfect! That was a flawless procedure!"

Then, he glanced over at Andrew and burst out laughing again. "What the hell was that? You just threw a bunch of nonsense together, and your test subject can't even stand up! Andrew, that mouse isn't even close to the 'bouncing with life' the judges demanded! Pack your stuff and get off the stage, you clown!"