[ leaning closer reminds asriel that he's wondered previously about john's unusual eyes, but generally, that's not a thing you just ask a guy about outright, so he's kept it to himself. looks aside, it's his interest that asriel cares about more. ]

I wouldn't expect it to be easy.

[ he says it as someone might about deciding to climb a mountain or hunt a lion. ]

That's why you start small. It's for the best anyway, when lacking for reliable data and samples. It's just a matter of accounting for scale after that, not to mention the power inherent in the specimens themselves. I get the impression there isn't a lot you couldn't do with enough potent blood, assuming you're willing to take the risk.