Luckily, it would not exist here for much longer. Even after going through all of his tests, Skymender was unable to tell whether or not it remaining in the ground gave it more potency.
He decided that, as long as he could use his method while it was in the ground, he would do it.
Skymender got all of the necessary tools, and the materials which he had brought with him after going to the Empire's city to get his testing tools, and began to set up. He made sure to do everything possible to ensure his success and reduce any possible accidents.
After doing everything he possibly could, he began.
Unlike the last time he had done it, he had made a few adjustments. He had never stopped thinking about the mythical flower, and had come up with a few ways to slightly increase its effect.
He also created an entirely new method of consuming it. Skymender first crushed every dry ingredient into dust. He grabbed all of the liquid ingredients, and after sitting a bowl under the flower, began to very slowly pour everything onto the top of the flower, which was able to hold and slowly absorb most of it.
With Skymender's greater understanding of its devouring properties, he was confident that it would work. The entire pouring process took two days. For some of the liquid materials, he kept them in their pure form, while for others, he heated and mixed them up with others.
Next, he began to use the dry materials, which had become powdery.
At the same time, he took the liquids that had leaked into the bowl and poured them over the roots of the flower. He sprinkled the powder onto the flower. This process did not take long.
With all of that done, Skymender sensed the weather once again. Clouds were gathering overhead.
Skymender took a look at the sky, though he saw nothing but vibrations, and a look at the flower.
He took a deep breath. It was time, this was his only chance. His longevity would be decided by this, whether it was increased or shortened.
Skymender sat cross legged around the flower. The flower itself peaked up from between his legs.
Skymender took out a match and struck it. "Let the heavens decide my fate."
He dropped the match onto the flower.
Some of the ingredients coating the flower were highly flammable, and as the match touched them, both Skymender and the flower exploded into a ball of flames. The fire burnt hot in a single moment. Skymender skin was charred black, and the flower was reduced to smoke. Both Skymender and the flowers' burning bodies created a pillar of smoke. After around twenty seconds of Skymender enduring unimaginable pain in silence, rain began to fall from the sky. It started as a light sprinkle, but in just seconds, it turned into a downpour.
The flames resisted, but after just ten seconds, the fire was put out, leaving behind a large amount of smoke that obscured the sight inside. From above, smoke was billowing out of a hole as the rain fell. There was absolute silence. Suddenly, a charred hand reached out of the hole, grabbing onto the ledge.
As it did so, lightning struck from above. Against all odds, a lightning bolt struck directly onto Skymender, sending the hand flying down the hole. Not only Skymender, even the heavens and the gods themselves could not have predicted such a thing.
The rain fell even harder, as a solemn silence descended.
Skymenders charred body, beyond recognition, sat at the bottom. It would have worked, had it not been for that lightning strike. If he could survive, the lightning strike would have brought an unimaginable change to the result, but he was destined to die.
His lifeforce and consciousness began to fade away.
He thought about what his last thoughts would be. He went through his whole life, but settled on one moment.
"If none of this is truly real, then how can I die here?" He thought to himself.
He remembered the man on the mountain, and the shattering of the sky.
How could he be willing to die without knowing the truth? Without knowing if his entire life had been in a fake world?
Skymender tried to struggle, but nothing came out of him. His body would not move. His consciousness was fading away slower due to his resistance, but it meant nothing. The rain continued to pour. Skymender could feel that as the rain poured, the char on his body was being washed away.
After a minute. He was able to twitch his body.
He saw hope, and struggled to survive. He had been in numerous life and death situations. He was no stranger to them. Skymender focused all of his will on staying conscious and moving.
After five minutes, his mind could barely think straight, but he was able to move a little bit. He slowly moved. His still body pushed itself up. He began to climb up the deep hole. His strength was gone, but the stiffness of his body allowed him to plant his fingers into the ground and climb.
Even as he did so on instinct, his consciousness began to fade away.
This time, it felt as though he was truly over.
He focused everything he had on one more moment. From the bottom of his heart, he shouted towards the heavens.
It was a culmination of everything he was feeling, and everything he desired.
"REBIRTH!!" He screamed towards the heavens as his hand reached out of the hole.
He suddenly felt a wave of vitality. For a second, he was confused, until he realized that the flower had taken effect.
He began to laugh as he reached out of the hole, pushing himself out.
He sat on his knees, every inch of his skin charred, even if less so due to the rain.
He stared at the sky. Suddenly, his mind shook.
He could see. He could see the sky!
"Hahaha." Skymender began to laugh.
As the char washed away, it revealed young, perfect skin beneath it. His scars were gone, his sight was restored, his strength was increased countless times.
"This is rebirth." He said, staring at the heavens, his eyes never once leaving those skies.