DEKA - SOUL STEALING (BATTLE INPUT #4 - PRACTICE)

Prompt 6: What is an unconventional way you can draw or write your character using their element?

Soul Steal - An intermediate-level ability that allows the user to swiftly take the soul out of a living organism. In order to perform it, the target organism must possess life force. This life force can take on any form, depending on the organism it circulates in. The user must first concentrate the life force into a single point, before forcing it out of the body of the target. In scientific explanations, the ability nullifies all neurological pathways, forcing the body to shut down. To some, it is a painful process. To others, it feels like going to sleep. Depending on which element being used, this ability can be a peaceful one-way ticket to eternal sleep, or a single minute of excruciating pain. This is not to be confused with the advanced-level ability "Soul Extraction".

There was a slime who just chilled on a gray rock. It simply melts there so calmly, never worrying about a single thing in the world. It sees a tall woman approach it. It was a curious little fella, who looked at her with the desire to know who she is.

The woman looked at the slime in the eye. Those diamond-shaped pupils pierced through the slime's little eyes, as if she is seeing beyond those little eyeballs - the very windows to the soul itself. She lifted her left hand, flowing with otherworldly power. The slime shrunk back in fear, afraid for its life. But it was met with a gentle caress from her. The touching, the rubbing, and the caressing felt like forever. The slime was silently enjoying this.

It never cared if it was wholesome or just a temptation. The slime just enjoyed the touch the woman was giving it. It seems like this woman loves it... or so it believed.

As it slowly closed its eyes, it feels as if it was being lulled to sleep by the endless caressing. It felt so good, yet so eerie at the same time. The woman hummed softly to the slime, making it give in to the desire of slumber. As its resistance died when it fell asleep, the woman positioned her left hand across the slime. And with a quick swipe, her left hand flared with an unstable blue fire.

A white spark was swept off from the slime's body, turning it pale and lifeless. The woman cackled, holding the little spark in her hand. But as the unstable flames subsided, the spark turned out to be a little baby soul. Those beady shiny eyes looked in confusion, and it saw the harvester of its being.

Her wicked grin faded into one of parental instinct. The soul sobbed in fear, and the woman looked at it with... sadness. In response to how it was taken so soon, she cradles the baby soul. It leans on the woman's bosom, silently wailing. It seems that the little soul needed someone to love it amidst its fragile body.

And so, the woman welcomed this little soul as her child. The intent to absorb it was no more, rather she decides to collect souls who deserved the eternal rest.

~~~~~

I asked the Discord community of PaperDemon what "soul-stealing" (or "life steal" alternatively) classifies as in terms of elemental powers. It's actually a non-elemental move, but it can be manifested in any element, depending on how it's portrayed.

Lara Kai is a character with such an ability to take souls and life force by using her unstable version of the Fire Element. Actually, it manifests as unstable fire, sometimes as a ball of electricity (You can see the artwork here). It can be explosive, but its effects leave a burn that lasts for... well, forever? Unless there's some treatment to unstable fire magic?