Chapter 289
A flower grew out of it, unlike a normal magic flower. This one was tainted with the breath of the Abyss, looking like a perfect blend of flesh and plant.
Extending his hand to the flower, a tongue extended from the flower, licking his hand. Keles, who was beside Ikenga, looked at the interaction silently. Unlike Ikenga, who was curious about things and liked change, she preferred things to stay the same. Perhaps it was because of her divinity of death and darkness that she felt this way.
Keles watched as the grotesque flower licked Ikenga’s hand, her eyes narrowing slightly. The plant, a bizarre fusion of flesh and flora, was a manifestation of the abyssal influence that had seeped into this world. It was a twisted mockery of nature, a testament to the corruption spreading across the land. Yet, Ikenga seemed intrigued, even pleased by the strange creation, as if it were a curious new specimen to be studied rather than an abomination.
Ikenga’s eyes sparkled with interest as he observed the flower, its petals pulsing with a life that was both alien and familiar. "This world," he said, his voice low and contemplative, "still retains its natural essence, even in places touched by the Abyss. There’s something resilient about it."
Keles nodded, though her expression remained stoic. "Resilient, perhaps. But fragile. The Abyss will consume it, just as it has countless worlds before. The flower may have surrendered to your influence, but it is still a product of corruption."
Ikenga’s smile faded slightly as he considered her words. "True, sister. But within that corruption lies potential. The balance here is delicate, but it exists. If we harness it, we might find a way to reshape this world, not just destroy it."
Keles tilted her head, her gaze drifting to the horizon where the remnants of the goblin village smoldered in the distance. "Reshape it, or dominate it. The difference is subtle, brother, but important. We must not forget why we are here."
Ikenga rose to his full height, the flower wilting as he withdrew his hand. "I haven’t forgotten. But domination doesn’t preclude understanding."
"True," Keles said as she extended her hand towards the dead bodies of the ogres not too far away. From her feet, dark liquid flowed toward the corpses.