Killing Butterflies | Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken

the black ghost

“By chance are you afraid of God?”
“No, I’m afraid of men. Often, it’s learned behavior.”
“Animals are hidden in shirts, I presume you would say.”

     In my fifth year of rebirth, I had learned what others, much older, had learned before me: that humans are still animals learning how to crawl. My hands open and close opens and closes again. Dirt stuck between my fingertips as the ground below found itself to be the ideology of cells. Hidden clothes and fallen equipment, a body laid on the ground. Mother, whose eyes have turned blank, have slowly regenerated her limbs that were nowhere to be found.

     Up ahead, were a group of humans as they carried a beige bag, blood printed on the bag dripped a trail of a significant event that took place. They held grins as they met eye to eye, holding their respective bags as if they won a marathon.

      “Mama?” I asked, quivering in fear, She held a frown as she found no strength to get up. Mother could only look at the trail of blood. The group of humans was nowhere in sight. “Dear,” Mother started, “Come hold my hand,” she requested me to do. I slowly approach her in the center of the puddle of red. They reminded me of the spider lily. I placed my hands in hers, gripping it tightly as I looked closely into her eyes. They held swirling emotions that felt all too familiar. No matter what, Mother always did her best to smile because she wanted me to smile as well. “I love your smiles, dear,” Mother said to me as she finally got up to her feet.

     Every day, I stare into the face of death, and death stares at me. The measure of madness that moves within was a parcel of the ability to adapt. Survival to the fittest, I recalled. Without it, death will eventually make me blink although immortality can’t be easily lifted.

    During the years I had practiced to the best of my abilities to summon my ghost. I had studied quite a lot with Mother. The skills granted upon rebirth, I made to increase power little by little. The following skills:
Invisible Black Matter
Can manifest a unique black ghost who wishes to forth into valuable uses.

Pain Nullification
Incapable of feeling pain or are highly resistant to physical pain of any kind.

Poison Resistance
Immune to all forms of poisons, toxins, venom, and fatigue poison, such as lactic acid, and other waste products.

Seductive Magnetism
Radiates an aura of attractiveness, naturally inducing pleasure and a carnal desire that others feel a longing to get her affection.

Tracking Evasion
Can’t be tracked down, all the traces of her passing disappear or are ignored: fallen hair, blood, skin particles, etc. will dissipate into dust and no scent is given off.

Tranquil Fury
An attack in full rage while retaining control with relentless strength of madman while gaining speed and precision.

Supernatural Swordsmanship
Able to wield a sword with supernatural proficiency in speed, power, and skill, allowing her to perform seemingly impossible feats with ease.

Healing Communication
Can heal others simply by communicating or talking with them, their wounds or injuries, diseases, or anything else wrong with them.

Lord Of Order
Able to find and order, a condition in which each thing is properly disposed of concerning other things and to its purpose; methodical or harmonious arrangement. Immune to any forms and all tactics of control and subordination manipulation.

     “Mama, do you think I can get stronger?” I asked her. Mother beamed at me as she lifted me into her arms, spinning me around as giggles erupted from my throat. “Of course!” She said. “You are Mommy’s little girl, and she’s gonna grow up to be the greatest!” She said, excitedly.  She put me back on the ground and looked at me, something behind me. The touch of tingling on my neck, so I turned around. A black figure, wrapped in a dark cloak of entities appeared before me. I gasp, “Mama, is this yours?” I asked. Mother nodded as she looked up at the ghost. It took a step forward, slowly gesturing to me. Confused, I stepped forward. It brought out its hands to pat my head. The sensation of warmth engulfs my body as the figure kneeled before me. ‘Felix,’ I heard a voice say to me.

     Each Ajin can manifest a unique Black Ghost. Ghosts are usually used for combat purposes, but they can also be utilized in other ways if their hosts know how to control them properly. They only have one weak point: their heads. Only a fatal blow to the head by another Ghost can destroy a Ghost. Black Ghosts also seem to have a will of their own and are shown to be quite intelligent. Black Ghosts often mimic the 'core' personality of their host. If Ajin dies when experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime heightening of emotions, they can cause a "flood" of IBM's and cause havoc by summoning multiple Black Ghosts that they can't control.

    “You have a lovely smile,” Felix spoke to me. Although, it had the similar voice of a mother. I took its arms into my hands as I pulled it to follow me. “Let’s go explore, Felix,” I softly said to the black ghost. My mother smiled at us before bidding us stay safe.

“I don't suppose you have to believe in ghosts to know that we are all haunted.”

“They pried into your mind, using fear or anger or longing to influence you.”
“Perhaps so…”

     The two of them walked silently toward inhabitants, both lost in their thoughts. Their way took them past other territories in the Jura Forest. An hour has gone by as they reach the destination of a waterfall that glistens with crystals in-depth within the stonewalls. The place where sadness and misery abound are favored settings for stories of ghosts and apparitions  I could not shake the feeling. Before I knew it, we stood silently in the cold breeze of the wind that blocked the sun with cotton balls in the sky. Stood before, a door, mighty and tall. All of sudden, Felix lunged forward, full speed as the door seems to only get bigger. “F-Felix, what?!” I exclaimed, lost at words as he collided against the door. Rusted locks immediately came undone, the chanting sound of the collision echoed as birds flew away from the threat. He continued to slam himself against the door as I slipped between his grasp, collapsing onto the ground. “The sweet balm by which we shall accomplish today's tasks,” Felix only said, the voice of my mother. “Lemons are vivid. They taste sour,” Felix said. I sweat profusely as I tried to get him to stop. Then, the door busted open with a loud clanking noise.

     The cave was cool and silent, thoroughly carpeted with moss. Every step sent vibrations beneath my feet. The moss was a thick, living pelt, transforming every rock surface into a mythical, sleeping bed for nature to take control of. Felix began to limp forward, their body becoming more agitated as words started to sail from its coexist mouth. As I wandered inside, to me, this was a treasure, more stunning than actual riches, for it bedecked the entire cave in the uncanny, glistering, jewel light that I had only ever seen before in miniature blades. “Remember this our sign,” said Felix before it took off again. “Felix! Where are you going?!” I shouted but it was already gone. The cave creaked with monsters, reeking with rimstone pools, and stared into the light with eyes dead white. Chills erupted into my spines, suffering at its presence, I explored further into the cave.

    “I hope Mama will be okay If I’m gone for a little longer,” I said to no one. In various forms, plants decorated the grounds of the cave. Orges of magic shaped as stones. They glimmered with night sky colors. The sounds of steps began to creep up behind me, I was mistaken for Felix who came for me. Instead, a black serpent. I gasped, almost tripping on my foot as raptured its mouth open, the steam of violet smoke began to spur violently. Out of fear, I screamed. An extremely powerful scream of high amplitude shocked the serpent to submit, slithering away obediently. Was that my doing?

I bolted up when I heard a robotic voice speak.

Confirmed. The skill you have used to conquer the black serpent: 

Lord Of Order -
Able to induce an order, a condition in which each thing is properly disposed of concerning other things and to its purpose; methodical or harmonious arrangement. Additional inducement to mimic target abilities.

  “U-um, how many skills do I have in total? Wait, mimic?” I asked the voice.    

Counting skills... A total of skills: Eight has been confirmed

Requesting acquired skills, granted. Lord Of Order + Black Serpent =

Confirmed.  Paralysis Breath acquisition acquired!

     I smile inwardly, a new achievement today. I continue to make my way out of the cave, using the bag swung against the waist of my body to collect small magic stones. Felix will have to find his way home.

“To go so far where a return is uncertain,”

“Seems chances of something so patently absurd existing are millions to one.”

“The chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.”
    
     I finally reached home as my mother immediately embraced me. “Where were you?! When Felix returned, I was frightened something must’ve happened to you!” Tears rolled from her eyes as she planted kisses against both of my cheeks. “Oh! Felix and I found a cave with a huge door!”

“... a door?” Mother questioned, quietly. I nodded, curious about what was wrong. “Dear,” Mother stated, “Let me tell you one of the true dragons. The Storm Dragon,” She says, leaning me into her lap.

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