Jack stood in the silence of the dark tower, resolved to take the risky step the parasite urged him towards. The thought that this might be the only way to save his family outweighed all his doubts. He took a deep breath and said:
— I accept your power. Let's begin.
The next second, his mind was swept away by a wave of excruciating pain. It felt like his body was falling apart from within, every cell pierced by fiery needles. His chest tightened so hard he could barely breathe. Darkness clouded his vision, and he realized the only thing keeping him conscious was the desire to grow stronger for his family.
— Resist the pain, Jack. You must not lose yourself, — the parasite's voice echoed in his head, at times coaxing, at times commanding.
Finally, the pain began to subside, and Jack felt his mind clearing, his body taking on an astonishing lightness. It was as though the parasite had wrapped around his soul, becoming a part of it. He realized they were now irreversibly bound.
— The fusion is complete. Now we are a symbiosis, — the parasite said with satisfaction. — I can hear your thoughts, feel your consciousness. It will be hard for you to hide anything from me, Jack.
Jack nodded, breathing heavily. He understood that by accepting the parasite, he had allowed it access to his deepest thoughts and feelings. But it was a step he could no longer undo.
The parasite continued to guide Jack, and soon he sensed something strange hidden within him — seals that seemed to be waiting for their time.
— Inside you are five seals of power, Jack. By opening them, you can activate various levels of strength, though the consequences of using them will intensify. The first two you can use without serious consequences, — the parasite explained.
Following its instructions, Jack focused on the first seal and felt his body begin to fill with a powerful energy. The first seal gave a noticeable boost: his reflexes quickened, his muscles filled with strength, and his vision sharpened. This power was enough to fight two E-rank monsters at once.
— Now, the second seal… — commanded the parasite.
Jack activated the second seal, and his body changed again: his skin darkened, his arms and legs turned black, long claws appeared, and a horn grew from his forehead. He felt an even greater surge of energy and realized that now he could even take on a D-rank monster temporarily. But this strength also came at the cost of significant fatigue.
— D-rank monsters carry higher-quality energy in greater volumes. If you hunt them, you'll advance in your development much faster, — the parasite continued.
Jack nodded. Together, they developed a strategy: Jack would lure the monsters closer to the tower, using the first seal for brief skirmishes, then activate the second seal if necessary to defeat them. This way, he could recover safely after using his powers.
Five days of hunting passed, during which Jack destroyed seven D-rank monsters and over a dozen E-rank ones, bringing him closer to the next level of power. The daily battles and seal activations quickly strengthened his body, but with each fight, he noticed he was changing not only physically but mentally.
During a battle with one of the monsters, he realized he was losing himself to aggression. Emotions flared more intensely, and control over his own feelings weakened. Sometimes, sudden bursts of rage overtook him, unfamiliar and overpowering.
— This is a natural reaction to my power, Jack, — the parasite insisted. — Your body needs to adapt to the new energy, and it's temporary, until you get accustomed.
But Jack wasn't so sure. He was forgetting why he started this path. Thoughts of his family were fading, like dreams, retreating in the face of a thirst for new victories and fights.
— I just… don't understand. Why am I doing all this? — Jack caught himself realizing his original goal was slipping away.
He carried on but could not ignore that he was becoming more ruthless, losing part of his humanity. Each time he activated the power, he felt closer to something dark and uncontrollable that was beginning to possess him.
Meanwhile, the parasite noticed his turmoil and whispered again, coaxing and convincing him that these were only temporary difficulties leading to absolute power. Jack tried to keep control, but the inner conflict between his goal and the growing aggression was gradually destroying him from within.
After five days of successful monster hunting, Jack had nearly lost touch with reality. The battles, brutal and bloody, became his new routine. Hunting strong creatures fed his power, but each battle left a scar on his personality. That day, after another victory over a D-rank monster, Jack stopped to catch his breath when he noticed movement nearby.
Before him stood a group of five people, each appearing much stronger and more experienced than anyone Jack had seen before. Their clothes were fine, their weapons of high quality, and their armor clearly enhanced with rare materials. These fighters were a cut above anyone Jack had encountered previously.
The parasite immediately sensed the threat:
— Be careful, Jack. Two of them are C-rank, and the other three are D-rank. They're stronger than any of your foes so far.
But Jack wasn't listening anymore. The inner hunger, aggression, and thirst for a new challenge began to take over. His hands trembled, his vision focused on the potential opponents. He knew he should stop, but the voice of reason was almost gone under the influence of the parasite's power. Unable to restrain himself, Jack stepped forward and prepared to attack.
— Jack, stop! They can kill you! — the parasite screamed, but Jack was too caught up in the thrill of battle.
One of the C-rank fighters — a man in his thirties with a grim expression and a formidable aura — noticed him and quickly adopted a defensive stance. He easily parried Jack's first strike and then sent him flying back with a powerful punch, showing his superior strength. Jack tried to attack again, but each of his blows was blocked.
— You're too weak for them, Jack, — the parasite hissed in his head, urging him to unlock an even greater level of power.
Jack felt a surge of rage overwhelm him. Gathering all his strength, he activated the third seal without a second thought. His body transformed again — his muscles swelled with power, his eyes shone with an aggressive red glow, his claws lengthened, and the horn on his forehead grew larger and sharper.
Now his strength had multiplied several times over. Jack lunged forward, his strikes becoming faster and more aggressive. The C-rank man was caught off guard; Jack managed to wound him, but it wasn't enough. The fighter growled in pain, and at that moment, the entire group turned their focus onto Jack.
The parasite realized the situation had escalated, but Jack was too engrossed in the fight to stop. The other fighters activated their powers, putting Jack in the crossfire. A woman, about twenty-five and one of the C-rank fighters, moved with astonishing speed. Lightning crackled in her hands, and every movement left a trail of electric charge in the air.
— Jack, this will kill you. You can't withstand this group's attacks! — the parasite tried to stop him again, but Jack was already out of control.
Jack charged at the woman, seeing nothing but his desire to destroy her. But she was faster, and before he could reach her, her lightning-clad fist struck him in the chest. An electric shock coursed through his body, interrupting the transformation and paralyzing him for a moment.
Pain from the blow seized Jack. He tried to rise, but his muscles were numb. As he struggled with the pain, the woman closed in, her eyes cold and focused. In the next instant, her hand sparked with electricity again, and she drove it into his chest, leaving a deep, searing wound.
Jack felt his body weakening, his energy draining rapidly. He collapsed to his knees, surrounded by the fighters, each one ready to deliver the final blow.
The parasite fell silent, realizing all its warnings had been in vain. Jack had lost. On the edge of consciousness, he saw distorted images — his body lying in a pool of blood, the fighters towering over him. But his mind was already beginning to drift into darkness, leaving him on the edge between life and death.