By the time Grey retreated several dozen meters backward, he noticed the image of a rotten lotus slowly emerging on Kaien's forehead. The lotus looked ancient and decayed, its petals withered and stained a dark crimson. Resting atop it were several tiny skeletal heads, each one grinning maliciously as they released sinister, chilling laughter.
The moment Grey laid eyes on it, an intense itching sensation spread throughout his entire body. At the same time, he heard a strange, hollow laughter echoing from deep within his own flesh and bones.
The eerie sound was so bizarre and unsettling that a flash of horror momentarily appeared in Grey's eyes.
However, he quickly composed himself. With a wave of his hand, he retrieved a medicinal pill and swallowed it without hesitation. Unfortunately, the pill seemed utterly ineffective. Not only did it fail to suppress the itching sensation, but the discomfort also grew increasingly intense.
