Chapter 5- The Deadbloom
Ignes looked at the dark sky outside the window.
Then he said to the blue penguin, "Kurora… Deadbloom is a flower of darkness."
"It blooms when ten thousand powerful souls are tortured to their breaking point and gathered in one place filled with dark essence."
"The negative energy from that place… and from those tortured souls… plants a seed of light."
"That seed tries to release holy power to heal them—like those who wish to save everyone."
He paused.
"But in the end… it fails."
"The light turns dark."
"The stronger the holy power was… the darker it becomes."
"That is how a Deadbloom is created."
"And yes… the flower must not be too strong in the beginning."
"If it is too strong, it will heal all the souls and die before turning into a Deadbloom."
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Kurora said, "Does that mean… you are going to be one of those ten thousand souls?"
Ignes frowned slightly.
"No. Why are you jumping to conclusions?"
"I explained how it is made, not why it is used."
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Kurora said, "Then… are you saying this flower has a use?"
"Isn't its creation already a worse fate than being a low-realm soul?"
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Ignes replied calmly,
"Yes."
"But for a unique soul like mine…"
"If my soul is used in that process, it won't become a Deadbloom."
"It will become a Lifebloom."
He continued,
"A Deadbloom's attack forces the target to feel everything."
"Pain. Fear. Dread."
"And not just one soul's feelings—"
"All the emotions of those ten thousand tortured souls at once."
"It also breaks the soul slowly."
"It is extremely painful."
"And in the end… the soul is erased."
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Kurora trembled.
"That flower… is that terrifying?"
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
"How did you survive something like that?"
"And… how much did that person hate you to use it on you?"
---
Ignes shook his head.
"You're wrong about that."
"He didn't hate me."
"He just thought it wouldn't work on me."
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Kurora asked, "Why?"
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Ignes replied,
"Didn't I say? I'm a unique soul."
"Something that breaks souls… doesn't work on me."
"I had already lost my emotions before."
"So the feelings inside the Deadbloom had no effect on me."
He paused.
"But…"
"At that time, I had my emotions back."
"And I had already used the power that made my soul unique."
"So for that moment…"
"The flower worked."
"I think… it was two years ago in this world."
"He attacked me with it."
"But at the last moment… someone helped me."
"They removed the Deadbloom."
---
Kurora sighed in relief.
"That's good… thank god someone was there."
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Ignes looked away slightly.
"…I didn't want to be saved by that person."
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Kurora blinked.
"Why?"
---
Ignes softly patted his own cheek.
"…He'll scold me."