Touka woke up trembling. His body felt heavy, as if he had just fought an invisible force. That nightmare again—of the monster taking over his body. His breath hitched, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. It was as if something was gnawing at him from the inside. The parasite… it never let him rest.
With stiff hands, Touka reached for his phone on the bedside table. The screen lit up, displaying a message that made his chest tighten. "Touka declared missing, presumed dead, devoured by an Omnivorax."
He froze. The screen felt like a bitter mirror reflecting his harsh reality. They thought he was dead. But the truth was worse. The Omnivorax they feared last night… was him.
"So, this is how it ends…" he muttered, his voice dry.
At that moment, his thoughts started to race. If they believed he was dead, that meant he had a chance. No one would look for him anymore. He could disappear, start over.
Slowly, he got out of bed, ignoring the pain coursing through his body. His hand reached for a small bag he had prepared earlier. It contained only the essentials—enough to survive for a few days.
Standing before the mirror, his reflection stopped him. That face... full of scars, looked alien. Hollow eyes stared back, as if judging him. "What have I become...?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Before leaving, his eyes caught an old photo on the table. A memory of the past with his family. A life he could no longer reach. With a heavy sigh, he knew this was the right decision. He had to leave before things got worse.
---
The night wind greeted him outside. The streets were silent, only the sound of his footsteps echoed. With his head down, he walked away, leaving everything he knew behind. But even as his body moved forward, his mind was haunted by an empty void.
"I'm free… but why does it feel like a prison?"
Reaching an old bridge, the drizzle began to fall. The city lights reflected on the river below, blurry and distorted. Touka stared at his reflection, but what he saw wasn't himself.
"We could be stronger..." the whisper came again, the parasite's voice hiding in his mind.
Touka clenched his fists, trying to suppress the emotion. "Shut up." But deep inside, he knew the voice wasn't just the parasite. It was a part of him beginning to accept the darkness.
Suddenly, a loud rumble shook the ground beneath him. Touka turned quickly, his eyes widening. In the distance, a massive Omnivorax emerged, tearing through old buildings in the small town.
"Damn it..." his breathing quickened. Heat surged through his body, the parasite's pulse growing stronger within him.
"Let me out... I can destroy it."
"Not now!" Touka whispered sharply, trying to silence the voice. But his body reacted differently—cold sweat trickled down as his heartbeat raced.
Just as he was about to run, his eyes caught an old man trapped under the rubble. The massive Omnivorax approached, its steps slow but deadly.
Touka hesitated. He could run and let everything pass. But that wasn't who he was.
"Sir, hold on!" Touka ran toward the debris, struggling to pull the man out. After several hard tries, he succeeded. But the loud crash behind him made him turn.
The giant Omnivorax loomed over them, its claws raised high.
"Run, now!" Touka shouted, pushing the old man away. But he himself wasn't fast enough. The monster's claws grazed his body, slamming him into a concrete wall.
The searing pain spread through his body. When his hand touched his shoulder, blood flowed freely. And that was when everything changed.
His body burned, as if set ablaze from the inside. Bones cracked, his skin hardened, and sharp claws replaced his fingers. The parasite inside him laughed triumphantly.
"Finally... this power is ours."
Touka's scream was drowned by the horrifying transformation. In seconds, he was no longer human. He was a creature filled with brutal strength, bloodlust, and killer instincts.
illustration of this scene : https://bit.ly/ToukaEvolutionOmnivorax01
With a single leap, Touka lunged at the massive Omnivorax. His claws pierced its thick hide like paper. Blood splattered, the metallic scent filling the air.
The brutal fight began.
The Omnivorax went berserk, but Touka was faster. He dodged every attack, striking back with lethal precision. Each wound he inflicted only fueled his growing rage.
"Eat its flesh! Absorb its power!" the parasite screamed, driving Touka further into madness.
He fought the voice, but his body moved on its own. Unconsciously, he began devouring the Omnivorax's flesh. With each bite, his strength grew. But at the same time, he felt himself slipping further away from who he used to be.
Finally, with one last attack, Touka destroyed the monster's head. The massive body collapsed, lifeless. But the victory didn't feel like a victory.
Standing amidst the wreckage, his body drenched in blood, he looked down at his reflection in a pool of water. What stared back at him was someone he could barely recognize.
"What... have I done?"
As sirens blared in the distance, Touka knew he had to leave. With heavy steps, he walked away from the town. But one thought haunted him: "If I lose control again... I'll be no different from them."