『 The Bud of Regenerative Ivory is growing larger and larger!!! 』
『 The bud has bloomed into a flower! 』
The bud that looks like a crumpled paper in front of Philip began to spread its petals outward. The hard and geometric petals unfolded and revealed a stunning yet peculiar shape of a flower
The flower looked like a fusion of lily, gazania, lotus, and dahlia and it looked astonishing and majestic, more than the Celestial Nebular Twinkler that Mei'er have
『 Flower of Regenerative Ivory has been obtained! 』
「 ... 」
『 The Flower of Regenerative Ivory has acknowledged the damages that you received 』
『 The Flower of Regenerative Ivory has bloomed! 』
『 Regenerative Ivory Pollenation has begun... 』
The white flower in front of Philip began to move and pulsate like it was breathing on its own. The petals waved back and forth and a white orb grew from the very center and detached from the flower
The white orb floated above the flower and it suddenly bursted, scattering hundreds of seeds, that looks similar with the Seed of Regenerative Ivory, with white freckles. The burst resembled the dandelion flower being blown by the wind
The seeds scattered around Philip and planted themselves into nothingness
The seeds then instantly grew roots and spread around the nothingness like some kind of colony. The roots then grew several sprouts and formed white grass
『 Grass of Regenerative Ivory has been obtained! 』
"..."
The patches of grass grew around Philip in a ten meter radius and the Flower of Regenerative Ivory is located at the center as it's blooming. White specks fall from the underside of the petals and into the grass
『 The Regenerative Ivory has recognized the damages that you've been receiving... 』
『 The Grass of Regenerative Ivory is growing! 』
『 Fern of Regenerative Ivory has grown! 』
『 Weed of Regenerative Ivory has grown! 』
『 Moss of Regenerative Ivory has spread! 』
『 Herb of Regenerative Ivory has grown! 』
A white geometric fern, a crumpled white weed, and a delicate white herb has grown around Philip. There were no numerous plants that grew, only a single one of them
White moss also grew further beyond the white grass and covered the nothingness with random growth patterns
"What is this... Am I growing a garden?!"
『 Garden of Regenerative Ivory has been obtained! 』
"Oh! Kay..."
Philip was dumbfounded
「 ... 」
It was an exaggeration to say that a garden grew around Philip since there is only one flower, one fern, one weed, one herb, a field of grass, and a colony of moss, but the system defined the area as a garden
Just then, a bigger sprout grew from the center of the grass. The sprout carried the flower higher and the flower bloomed sideways
The stem of the sprout grew bigger and bigger until it formed sections and grew white diamond-shaped stiff paper-thin leaves. The sprout stopped growing until it was the same height as Philip
『 An Positive Exception has occured! 』
『 This is your second time earning a Positive Exception! 』
『 The Regenerative Ivory has been properly nurtured and cultivated 』
『 The Regenerative Ivory is happy! 』
『 The Plant of Regenerative Ivory has been obtained! 』
『 Condition requirements has been met!!! 』
「 This is unexpected... 」
『 You have earned the right to learn about the Regenerative Ivory! 』
『 Do you wish to learn? 』
『 Yes/No 』
"..."
Philip was overwhelmed by the sudden events. He didn't expect to achieve an exception, but since it was considered as a Positive Exception, he felt relieved and decided to learn more about Regenerative Ivory since this is one of his most mysterious abilities
"Yes"
「 The Regenerative Ivory is your living armor. It grows the more you take damage or get hurt 」
"I know that..."
「 The Regenerative Ivory will only react from physical damage and it cannot help you from emotional, mental, and spiritual damage... 」
『 Overruled 』
「 ... 」
『 Due to the Positive Exception occuring, the Regenerative Ivory can now apply its effecta on an emotional, mental, and spiritual level 』
「 There you go... That's the difference 」
"Difference?"
「 Nevermind, just talking to myself... 」
"Uh, okay?"
「 The Regenerative Ivory is smart to the point that it seemed sapient. It neither has an ego, a personality, a being, nor a soul. It is a concept, not an existence, even though its growth were defined as the stages of plants 」
「 Up to this point, the Regenerative Ivory is capable in blocking fatal damage from the surface of your skin. It is also capable of healing injuries under the thin sheet of armor that it will form. It is now capable to shapeshift into smaller shapes and figures around the body. The shapeshift still has limite and restrictions as a plant can only do much 」
"If this is my living armor... What is the durability of it?"
「 It's hardness is on the Mohs Hardness Scale of 9. It is one level harder than diamonds 」
"That's pretty good..."
「 If, by chance, the armor was damaged by shattering, cracks, dents, laceration, or scratches, it has the ability of self repair 」
"Really?! Then this armor is living up to its name! An overpowered armor that's for sure"
「 Exactly, but don't be too overconfident since considering your encounters, there are destruction or damages that you can receive that can literally break diamonds 」
"Noted... The shapeshifting ability... What's the full capability of it?"
「 At most, it can only erect small spikes around you body or create one inch long nails at the tip of your finger 」
"I see..."
Philip was sad and disappointed. If the degree of shapeshifting was greater, he thought that he could just erect and form a sword made out of Regenerative Ivory. It will become a durable sword that can repair itself
With this, not only he is able to create weapons from Pureblood, he would also be able to create weapons from Regenerative Ivory
「 Well, don't worry... The Regenerative Ivory is still but a plant! What would happen of the plant grew into a sapling or into a tree or into a forest? There are still no bushes, shrubs, and many more! 」
"!!!"
Philip suddenly realized the potential of the growth of the Regenerative Ivory
「 Not to mention, you won't be able to know the true appearance of the Regenerative Ivory... Not even the full growth that it could achieve 」
"What? Why?"
「 You haven't unlocked the condition for it and I will onyl tell you this... It will be very hard to achieve it 」
"..."
Philip was silent. He wanted ro imagine how hard it will be, but he didn't know where to start since he has nothing to atart with
「 So, keep nurturing the Regenerative Ivory and great rewards will come to you! 」
"..."
Philip was still silent
「 ... 」
"You know... I'm happy that I keep getting these powers and that I keep getting more and more powerful... But why do I hvae another power that prevents me to die??!?!!"
「 Huh? This again?! 」
"Haaah... Nevermind me... I'm just venting out... I already know I need to live until the end. The living armor is crucial to that because I don't want to keep dying"
「 Let me add something to that... 」
"What?"
「 Abilities or powers that will keep you from dying is a must because you don't want to keep dying when you reach a wall and you can't overcome it, do you? Think of it like a game... You can't always put your points on attack and leave your defense to zero! 」
"Uh, yes you can..."
「 That's besides the point! Do you understand? 」
"Yes, I do understand though..."
「 Good, as long as you do... So, no more complaining? 」
"I guess so? But it's just unfair... If only I learn what my true purpose in the universe is...
「 ... 」
『 ... 』
"..."
Awkward silence filled the ⟨⟨ World of Absolute Nothingness ⟩⟩ with the ⟨⟨ Garden of Regenerative Ivory ⟩⟩ growing around Philip
「 So, now that that's out of the way-- 」
"Hold on, I'm not done yet"
Philip abruptly stopped Emily from speaking
「 Oh, what's up? 」
『 ... 』
"Why was the Regenerative Ivory represented as growing plants? Have you ever thought of that question?"
「 Hm... 」
"They may not have any personality, ego, being, or soul... They could still have emotions and feelings..."
「 ... 」
『 ... 』
"Just like how people keep their things that have a sentimental value to them... Those objects are bound to manifest a mark on them, even if it's inanimate of nonliving..."
「 ... 」
『 ... 』
"Those object will ultimately have a certain effect or influence surrounding them... Just like a cursed stone, a historic house, ancient tablets, catacombs and gravestones, and many more! Granted that these objects were imbued with a purpose that will keep it up until it breaks or it gets destroyed"
「 ... 」
『 ... 』
"The fact that the Regenerative Ivory is considered as a living armor, it moves and acts depending on the situation, and its purpose of protecting and healing tells me that the Regenerative Ivory has emotions... I don't how that could be and how it has no soul unlike Pureblood and Soulblood... But it just makes it unique in its own way!"
Philip began to walk forward towards the ⟨⟨ Plant of Regenerative Ivory ⟩⟩ and lifted his forearms with open palms. The white plant began to sway back and forth as if it was recognizing Philip and its excited for Philip coming towards it
"A concept who never had the opportunity to receive a soul and personality despite being able to harbor intense feelings and emotions..."
The plant danced back and forth excitingly as Philip came closer. White ethereal lines began to grow from the stem and wriggle in the air. The lines swirled into spirals and curves until it reached Philip's hands
"Go ahead... Understand my body as much as you like"
「 ... 」
『 ... 』
The white lines started to wrap around his fingers and the extended lines wriggled and caressed every nook and cranny of his hands. The lines started to extend and wrap around his wrist, then arms, then elbows, then his shoulders. As the lines grew bigger, the white diamond-shaped stiff paper-thin leaves grew around his arms that vary in size
『 ... 』
White lines also started to crawl around the white grass and create arcs like roots. The white lines reach his feet and started to grow like vines, similar to the ones along his arms. The paper-thin white leaves also grew
Philip looked like he's becoming a white tree
『 Special condition requirement has been met! 』
『 Vine of Regenerative Ivory has been obtained! 』
The white lines finally wrapped around his entire body and branches started to grow around his head starting from his neck. The branches formed some sort of a crown around his forehead and formed an intricate design
"..."
Philip was silent as he was confused and worried as to what the Regenerative Ivory was doing around his head
『 Thorns of Regenerative Ivory has been obtained! 』
「 A crown of white thorns... Hm... 」
"I didn't expect this... I guess it really likes to feel my body, huh?"
「 Did you do this on purpose expecting that something will happen or... 」
"Logic..."
「 Of course-- 」
『 The Regenerative Ivory has successfully ingrained your body into its essence! 』
『 The Regenerative Ivory has considered you as its king! 』
『 The Regenerative Ivory has acknowledged your power 』
『 You are now qualified to learn one secret about the Regenerative Ivory 』
『 The Regenerative Ivory has manifested a trace of personality... 』