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.
Ikenga glanced at his sister before saying, "I’ll be right back."
His words were followed by the sound of a shockwave as he took off into the sky. As he ascended, Ikenga tried to move beyond the distance eroded by the Abyss. "Heavy," he thought to himself as he felt the weight.
He wanted to test more, but there was something else he needed to do, so he kept his flight linear. Soon, he broke through the stratosphere, emerging into space above this new world.
Looking down, Ikenga noted that this world wasn’t lacking in size compared to his own. It might even be bigger.
Gazing off into the distance at one of the moons of this world, an impulse Ikenga had been holding back surged up again. Slowly, he raised his hand towards the moon.
His earth manipulation powers activated as he felt the elements that made up the moon. A bright smile spread across Ikenga’s face as he made a tugging gesture.
There was slight resistance, but nonetheless, the moon moved. Ikenga looked back down at the planet. If he were not under contract with Zarvok, he was truly curious to see what those goblins would do once he threw this moon at them.
Letting go of his control, the moon slowly shifted back into place. Ikenga turned into a dot of light as he landed on the moon, floating cross-legged with his eyes closed.
Connecting with the moon, plants began growing around Ikenga but quickly died as they weren’t compatible with the lunar environment. Soon, the right plant took root on this moon. As Ikenga meditated on the surface, he felt the ebb and flow of the celestial body beneath him. The energy within the moon was ancient and deep, resonating with the lifeforce of the world it orbited. He could sense the veins of minerals and pockets of dormant power hidden deep within its crust. The plant he had successfully rooted began to flourish, adapting quickly to the barren environment. It spread its vines, creating a network of life that pulsed in sync with the lunar rhythms.
The plant had dark, almost obsidian-black vines that wove intricately across the lunar surface, forming a complex network. The vines were thick and twisted, with a rough, stone-like texture, making them resilient against the harsh, lifeless conditions of the moon. Small, jagged thorns ran along the edges of the vines, giving the plant a defensive, almost menacing appearance.
From the vines, large, broad leaves sprouted intermittently. These leaves were deep purple with a faint iridescent sheen, catching the light from the distant sun in a way that made them glow softly. The leaves had a slightly translucent quality, allowing one to see the intricate vein patterns inside, which pulsed with a soft, silvery light, indicating the flow of energy within the plant.
Standing up, Ikenga studied the peculiar plant he had nurtured. The deep purple leaves with their iridescent sheen shimmered in the dim light, the silver veins pulsing rhythmically. It was a creation of power and precision, a living sentinel on this desolate moon. But Ikenga had something more in mind for it—a way to extend his vigilance across the vastness of space.
With a determined expression, he reached up to his face, his hand hovering over his right eye. Without hesitation, he dug his fingers in and plucked out his eyeball. Oddly, no golden ichor spilled from the vacant socket; a testament to his control over his own divine form. The golden blood that flowed within him was something he guarded carefully, aware of the possible consequences if even a drop were to be left uncontrolled.
Holding the plucked eyeball in his hand, Ikenga extended it toward the plant. The vines responded immediately, tenderly wrapping around the eye and lifting it from his grasp. The plant absorbed the eye into its network of vines, the deep purple leaves shifting and twisting as the eye was integrated into the plant’s structure.
As the eye was absorbed, the plant began to grow rapidly, spreading across the entire surface of the moon. The vines thickened and expanded, covering craters and valleys, while the leaves multiplied, casting an ethereal glow across the barren landscape. Ikenga’s eye, now fused with the plant, grew in size as well, becoming a colossal orb nestled within the heart of the sprawling vegetation.
The massive eye moved with a life of its own, meticulously scanning the vast expanse of space. It was a vigilant guardian, ever-watchful, monitoring the cosmos for any signs of disturbance or danger. This was the purpose Ikenga had envisioned—a sentinel to observe the universe while he focused on the tasks ahead on the new world below.
Ikenga felt a sense of satisfaction as he observed the plant’s growth and the seamless integration of his eye. This creation was not just an extension of his power but also a safeguard, a way to ensure that no threat would go unnoticed. Despite his immortality, he was acutely aware of the precariousness of his existence. His experience with Murmur had been a stark reminder that even beings as powerful as himself were not invincible.
His thoughts drifted to the Children of Kaos—ancient, primal entities with insatiable appetites, capable of consuming entire worlds. He knew better than to underestimate the dangers of the cosmos. The thought of one of these beings stumbling upon this world sent a shiver down his spine, but this time, he was prepared. He had no intention of playing a game of chance with forces far beyond even his considerable power.
As the plant continued to spread its roots deep into the moon, Ikenga turned his attention back to the world below. He still had much to do, and now, with his eye watching the skies, he could focus on his tasks without fear of the unknown.
With that, Ikenga launched himself from the moon’s surface, his body becoming a streak of light as he re-entered the planet’s atmosphere. The descent was swift, and he soon found himself back in the familiar skies, the landscape of this new world stretching out below him.
As he approached the ground, Ikenga could see his sister where he had left her. Her gaze met his as he landed softly beside her, the earth beneath his feet barely disturbed by his arrival. "Sorry for the wait," he said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
Keles looked at the empty hole on his face and then up at the sky, specifically at the moon where Ikenga had last been. "What’s your plan? Why did you do that?"
"Child of Kaos," Ikenga replied as he looked at his sister’s new creation. Keles, hearing his words, raised an eyebrow before whispering, "Thank you."