Malaise

The Malaise is described as a virus that has been infecting the island Dead Cells takes place on.

Origin
While the Malaise has no clear origin, The Alchemist, while he was searching for a cure, had been theorizing about where it came from. He states that some people think the Malaise originated from the Slumbering Sanctuary, and that the sap within there seeped into the Sewers, causing the spread of the illness. It also appears that some piles of infected bodies were put into the sewer water, and the infection went rampant from there, although The Beheaded isn't sure if they were put in before or after the epidemic started.

Affects
The symptoms of the Malaise include vomiting blood, itchiness, headaches, blurry vision, bellyaches, and feeling down. Left untreated, the effects of the Malaise lead to certain death. Due to the fact that the infected were locked up in prisons and quarantined, the Malaise is probably highly infectious. The more extreme effects of the Malaise are much more unsettling. Mutations start to occur, and sometimes the bodies turn alive, moving on their own. The end results of the final stages of infection is the reanimation of the hostile, mutated undead. The virus does not only affect humans, but also animals. Conjunctivius was the result of this mutation, and Castaing (the Concierge) was a victim of the virus as well. Most of the enemies in game have been affected by the mutations.

The Beheaded is suspecital to the effects of the Malaise, although it appears only the possessed body has this vulnerability. The "real" Beheaded is safe from the effects of the infection.

Treatment
Later into his research, the Alchemist managed to find a way to reduce symptoms from infection, as well as a method for slowing down mutations. This way of slowing down the mutation was likely synthesized with the sap found within the Slumbering Sanctuary, which he suspected could provide the cure.

By the manipulation of time, it appears that The Time Keeper has successfully kept the Malaise at bay. It seems like this is exhausting for her, and the Alchemist suspects that she will not be able to keep it up forever.

Impact on the island
There is little sign of what the Island was before the Malaise made its debut, although it must have been at least somewhat prosperous. However, any chance at a good future on the Island has been ruined by the spread of the Malaise, and the actions of The King. The citizens of the island faced civil rest, and focused their rage on the King, due to his cruel reaction to the appearance of the Malaise. The King demanded that the infected were to be imprisoned and hanged, even just upon the suspicion of infection. Eventually, he demanded that nobody was to be let out of the prisons, even if they served their time. What little of the villagers who remained on the Island met their deaths at the hand of the Malaise and the undead, or were slowly awaiting it locked away within the prisons.

In-Game Mechanics

 * Previously, before update 1.0, the Malaise was referred to as the infection.
 * Malaise works in a point tier system. The highest tier of infection is 10 points. At tier 10, The Beheaded takes massive damage.
 * The use of one healing charge takes off three tiers of Malaise.
 * The key elites in High Peak Castle apply two points of Malaise per hit.
 * Activating four Boss Stem Cells will result in every enemy applying a point of Malaise upon hit.

Trivia

 * The Malaise could have possibly been influenced by the Black Death.
 * Bupleurum is directly referenced as a way to minimize the symptom of the Malaise.