The world around Touka blurred. His body moved uncontrollably, like a puppet manipulated by invisible strings. Every step and movement was guided by the impulses of the parasite now inhabiting his body. A foreign hunger roared within him, darker and stronger than any ordinary craving. It was a lust for destruction—the power of the Omnivorax parasite fused with Touka's human form.
Outside, the Aether Corps troops had assembled, forming a tight formation to confront what they believed to be an abnormal Omnivorax.
"Don't let that monster escape!" Shina commanded sharply, her sword pointing forward.
But what they faced was no ordinary creature. Each time a soldier attacked, the beast—Touka—suffered only minor scratches that healed almost instantly. With razor-sharp claws and sudden bursts of strength, he slashed down any enemy bold enough to approach.
Shina, dodging his attacks, carefully observed the creature's movements. "Why is this so fast and strong? Is it a new type?" she muttered, her sword moving swiftly to shield herself.
Yet with every strike, her frustration grew. Her glowing blade bounced off the creature's hide as though striking steel. Blow after blow only fueled the beast's ferocity.
Meanwhile, Touka, caught in a semi-conscious state, felt a war raging within him. His human mind screamed: Stop! I'm not a monster! But the parasite's voice was stronger, silencing him with its chilling whispers: Destroy them. It's the only way to survive.
Shina approached cautiously, noticing a weak point beneath the beast's ribs—perhaps an opening to strike. But as she moved in, the creature's claws lashed out, forcing her back with a deep cut to her arm.
"Keep your distance!" Shina yelled to her troops, blood dripping from her wound. "This thing is more dangerous than we thought!"
But then, a fleeting moment made her pause. When her gaze met the beast's eyes, she sensed something strange. Behind the hollow stare, there was a flicker of emotion—not hatred, not bloodlust, but something else. Something almost human.
"What is this?" Shina thought, her heart wavering.
The creature froze briefly, its body trembling. The internal conflict within Touka created a small crack in the parasite's hold, enough to disrupt its control. But it didn't last long. In an abrupt motion, the creature turned and fled into the shadowy ruins of the city.
"Don't let it escape! After it!" Shina ordered, but the beast was too fast. Within moments, it had vanished into the night.
---
Touka regained consciousness in a dark alley, his body trembling, and his breath ragged. Pain coursed through every muscle, as if his body were being torn apart from within. The mental strain was just as overwhelming—the war within his own mind was a battlefield of its own. Every breath felt like he was suffocating, as if the air itself was rejecting him.
He staggered forward, clutching his chest. His hand reached the walls of his apartment building, but his strength was draining faster than he could imagine. His heartbeat sounded like a drum in his ears, a constant reminder of the monster he was becoming.
When he finally collapsed to the floor, the sharp pain that ripped through his body made his breath catch in his throat. It wasn't just physical pain; it was a deep, internal agony—like his very soul was being split apart.
The changes within him were violent, like waves crashing on a rocky shore. His claws retracted, but the sensation of his skin crawling, the memory of that monstrous form, was still too fresh, too vivid. The blackened skin, the jagged claws—he could still feel the power flowing through his veins, urging him to release it.
As his human form began to return, he could taste the bitter remnants of the monster within him. The hunger. The destruction. The rage. But now, all that remained was emptiness. He couldn't even remember the last time he felt whole.
Looking into the mirror, his reflection felt like the worst kind of betrayal. The face staring back at him wasn't his. It wasn't the face of the person he used to be. He was something else. Something broken.
"I... what have I done?" he whispered, his voice hoarse and weak, as though even the act of speaking could shatter the last threads of his humanity.
The parasite's voice slithered back into his mind, its presence cold and suffocating. It wasn't just in his body anymore—it was in his thoughts, too. A constant companion, always whispering, always pulling at him.
"We are one now. You cannot run."
The words were like chains wrapping around his heart, pulling tighter with each passing second. Was there any way back? Could he ever escape this nightmare? Or was this who he was now?
He dropped to his knees, overwhelmed by the weight of it all. The pain, the fear, the loss—he had nothing left to hold onto. The parasite's grip on his mind tightened, its voice a constant echo in his ears.
Touka closed his eyes, wishing he could wake up from this hell. But when he opened them again, the truth was still there, staring back at him in the form of his reflection—broken, twisted, and beyond saving.