Chapter 737 A Path In The Stars

The energy intensified around them. Items started to shake and rattle off their spots. The ground began to shake then the entire house. The colorful energy continued to rise as Broodmother held Lee Seng's hand on his heart. Lee Seng could feel the burning feeling grow from his hand.

"I-it's hot." Lee Seng tried to rip his hand away from her, but Broodmother simply held it down.

"Don't let go no matter what!" Broodmother shouted. The cosmic energy quickly filled the space, turning the cape cod house into a never-ending space. Wind rushed around them as a thin layer of aura grew around Lee Seng. Broodmother held Lee Seng's burning hand. Lee Seng screamed in pain, trying to claw Broodmother's hand off his.

"It hurts! Stop!" Lee Seng screamed.

"90%." Broodmother spoke. "Just a bit longer. Hold out as best as you can!" Gravity rushed outwards. Broodmother's form flickered for a moment before returning.

"Y-you didn't—Ahh!" Another blast of cosmic energy rushed outwards. Broodmother's form flickered, again, and returned. She grabbed Lee Seng's right shoulder and squeezed it. Lee Seng's body grew hotter. His body felt like it was melting. Lee Seng's hand lit up bright orange, burning his chest. Screams echoed throughout the cosmic space as a deep voice shrieked.

Cosmic energy swirled around Lee Seng like he was the center of the galaxy. Broodmother watched as Lee Seng's aura started to burn her tendrils away.

'He isn't fully bonded?' Broodmother thought. Her hand started to burn. She winced as another blast of cosmic energy exploded out of Lee Seng. Unlike the last time, Broodmother went flying as Lee Seng ripped his hand away from his chest. It was burning bright. A charred strand of veins pulsed bright purple as Lee Seng waved his hand. The heat quickly dissipated and the energy around him began to spin faster and faster.

'He's sucking everything in!' Broodmother thought. 'I've got to—'

Whoosh!

The entire space slowed to a stop. Stars shimmered around as the charred purple veins slowed. Lee Seng cursed as he swung his hand around.

"What the hell?" Lee Seng hissed. He spun around, noticing the purple veins spreading from his heart. "What is this?"

"Your flow." Broodmother's voice came from behind Lee Seng. Lee Seng turned and noticed a tendril spark. Broodmother grew back to her normal state. She was looking at Lee Seng's purple veins. She pointed at it and continued her answer. "It seems the Deimon infected close to your heart. It's taking heavy effects now because of what you went through."

"It was… always here?" Lee Seng asked. Broodmother nodded, releasing her arm.

"You must purify the energy yourself if you wish to sever the blockage."

"And burning myself is the only way?" Lee Seng asked. Broodmother nodded. Lee Seng bit his lip. "It already hurt so much. I don't think I could do that aga—"

"You will eventually need to. Don't you want to use your powers to their fullest?" Broodmother interjected. "The way I see it… There are currently two things stopping you: this thing in your heart and this unnatural thing in your mind." As soon as Broodmother pointed to Lee Seng's head, he could sense it. "Whatever's in your head, it's withholding something from you, but this thing by your heart… That's dangerous."

Lee Seng knew exactly what was in his head. The Mom look-alike had confirmed his suspicions. He couldn't use his Fox Spirit powers still, but that didn't explain how Keng even got out.

"Is the only way really to burn it all out?" Lee Seng asked. Broodmother nodded.

"The only way." Broodmother replied. "It only feels like it's burning you because that's how you perceived it. Your perception of the cleansing was so strong, it eventually burnt me, User. To get rid of what blight the Deimon left on your heart, you either need to forcefully burn it away or…"

"Or what?"

Broodmother went silent for a moment. She didn't know whether she should tell him or not.

'It would be the safest way.' Broodmother thought. She shook her head. 'No, he won't be able to handle it. It's better to burn it away. The pain he endures from that will be a small fraction of what he must go through with the other option.'

"What's the second option?" Lee Seng grabbed Broodmother's hand. He sounded desperate. "If there's another option that doesn't hurt this much, I'll take it!" Broodmother gazed into the User's eyes. Lee Seng was determined to not physically feel the pain.

'It goes deeper than physical pain. Much deeper.' Broodmother thought. She sighed and nodded.

"You can't back out of it." Broodmother gave in.

"What is it? What do I have to do?"

"You…" Broodmother turned and pointed at a purple star. "Must go and see for yourself."

"Any hints?" Lee Seng asked, peeking from behind Broodmother. Broodmother turned and shook her head.

"No, User. It's better you go into this not knowing. You'll understand what I mean." Broodmother turned and answered him.

"Alright…" Lee Seng nodded. "But what do I call you? Protocol? Is that what you are still?"

"You'll know what to call me afterwards. Go now before it's too late. I will make sure your body is in safe hands." Broodmother pushed him forwards. Lee Seng stumbled forwards, looking back at the Mom look-alike. "Go!"

Lee Seng walked for quite a while. By the time he was starting to get a shred of anxiety, the purple light engulfed him and the next thing he knew, he was in the lab. He pushed out of the door and rounded the corner. Everything was much higher up.

'Wait.' Lee Seng thought. 'Am I…' He glanced down at his hands. They were tinier. 'I'm a kid, again!'

"He needs you! You know that!" Mom quietly hissed. Lee Seng looked at the glass windows. He couldn't see anything but shadows. "Vang, your son, and wife need you right now! We're both sick! Lee Seng passed out on the way here because you insisted for us to get checked up here! He needs proper rest at home! Come home, please. Just for a couple of days!"

Lee Seng waddled over, stopping as something knocked on the door. Mom groaned and listened as the Creator moved away from Mom.

"You always do this!" Mom shouted. "You push the both of us away! I thought things would get better once you were done with your experiments, but it's only gotten worse!" A loud slap rang through the air. Mom gasped. Lee Seng could feel his blood boiling. The fog was starting to come back. He remembered this moment.

"I'm doing this for all of us!" The Creator hissed. "If you're just going to push all my work away then it's a waste of my time! I already told you to use the maid if you must! She's there for a reason!"

"She's an imposter!" Mom pushed herself off the wall and hit the Creator in the chest. A second later, another bang was heard. Mom was pinned up against the glass and Lee Seng couldn't do anything but watch.

"She and the rest are the reason why I'm still doing this! 001 is more than capable of taking care of Lee Seng and you. Just use her." The Creator whispered. Lee Seng backed away, losing his footing, and fell backwards. A set of soft material caught him and pulled him backwards.

"It's okay, honey. Shh." Mom hushed. Lee Seng looked up and noticed the Mom look-a-like lifting a wiggly finger up to her mouth. Her eyes were brown, and her hair was half morphed into "normal" hair. She smiled at him and rocked him.

'M-Mom?' Lee Seng thought. 'No, it couldn't be.' More noises drew Lee Seng's attention away from the 'Mom' holding him and towards the door.

"I'm so close to perfecting it! I can make them whole again! Don't get in my way!" The Creator threw Mom away. She landed on the ground.

"Mo—" Lee Seng began to scream. He fought against the other Mom, who covered his mouth.

"If you want to save your Mom, you have to be quiet." Mom look-a-like whispered. She began to mutter something under her breath and Lee Seng's 'fog' disappeared. He felt better. Lee Seng looked up at this other Mom and noticed she was giving her a familiar look. She set Lee Seng on his feet, turned towards her. She began to mouth something strange to him.

'This wasn't how it was… right?' Lee Seng thought.

"You're… Mother?" Lee Seng whispered. Mother raised her finger.

"Broodmother, dear." Broodmother answered. "And I can help you protect you and your Mom if you let me… Will you, Lee Seng?" The young Lee Seng began to turn when a loud slam went across the door. The door caved slightly and Lee Seng's blood ran cold. Through the cracks of the caved door, Lee Seng could see it.

'Did I really see this, then?' Lee Seng questioned. Lee Seng's dad held his Mom's body in the air with a single hand wrapped around her throat. Mom's limbs went limp and glimmers of darkness grew around Dad's eyes and hands. 'He's… He's a monster?'