Malaise

"It itches so bad. Belly aches. I scratch but then I bleed... headaches, blurred vision... feel down and so itchy."

The Malaise, also known as the Plague, the Gloom, and the Green Poison, is described as a virus that has been infecting the island where Dead Cells takes place.

Origin
The Malaise has no clear origin. During The Alchemist's search for a cure, he theorized about where it came from. He states that some think the Malaise originated from the Slumbering Sanctuary: the sap there seeped into the Sewers, spreading the illness. The Alchemist also notes that the island's insects likely helped spread the virus. Piles of infected bodies were dumped into the sewer, and the infection appeared to rampage from there, although The Beheaded is unsure if they were dumped before or after the epidemic started.

Effects
The Malaise's symptoms include vomiting blood, itchiness, headaches, blurry vision, bellyaches, and feeling down. Left untreated, the Malaise leads to certain death. Since the infected were imprisoned and quarantined, the Malaise appears highly infectious.

The more extreme effects of the Malaise are highly unsettling. Mutations begin, and sometimes the corpses begin moving on their own. The end result of the final stages of infection is reanimation into hostile, mutated undead.

The virus affects humans and animals. Conjunctivius was a result of the mutations, and Castaing (the Concierge) was a victim of the virus as well. Most enemies in the game are mutated.

The Beheaded is susceptible to the Malaise, although it appears only the possessed body is vulnerable. The "real" Beheaded is safe from the infection.

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

It appears that The Time Keeper has successfully kept the Malaise at bay via time manipulation, It seems this is exhausting for her, and the Alchemist suspects that time cannot contain it forever.

Impact on the island
There is little sign of what the Island was like before the Malaise debuted, although it must have been at least somewhat prosperous. However, any chance at a good future on the Island was ruined by the Malaise and The King's response to it. The island's citizens faced civil unrest 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

 * The Malaise was referred to as the infection before update 1.0.
 * Malaise works in a point system. The highest tier of infection is 10 points. At tier 10, The Beheaded takes massive damage.
 * The use of a healing charge takes off 3 tiers of Malaise.
 * The key elites in High Peak Castle apply 2 points of Malaise per hit.
 * Activating 4 Boss Stem Cells results 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.