167 Phantasm (1/2)

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Phantasms. A rare type of parasite that developed consciousness.

Normally, Phantasm doesn't live long enough. Sudden changes of the atmosphere could easily kill them, making them somewhat on the weaker side. But in the end of the day, a parasite is still a parasite. Phantasms use weaker creatures like mosquitos, bees, worms, ants and so on as it's host.

Their target it the nervous system, once they're in they will be able to send signals in a form of 'subtle suggestion' that will affect the decision making of it' host. At the same time, the Phantasm will start to suck one's longevity little by little. What makes this process special is that, so long as the Phantasm is attacked to the host, it couldn't rot despite being dead, meaning that so long as the Phantasm is attached to a host, it would be able to control the host's body like it was still alive. Eventually, the 'subtle suggestions' will turn into a 'Command' but the host won't even noticed that their ability to make decisions were completely robbed off of them, they won't even noticed that they were infected by the Phantasm or that they were long dead.

Phantasms could spread to multiple victims, they could bisect themselves and infect other unsuspecting victims, what's surprising though is that even though it was divided into to two, it still has a single consciousness and it won't hesitate to kill the other if it needed be.

Normally, Phantasms could not infect humans. The nervous system of a human is too strong for a Phantasm to handle and before it could even feed, it would've been detected by the immune system and exterminated. But of course, it won't be same scenario if the Phantasm evolved, which is extremely rare.

\”Unfortunately, they are not me. It's time to end this farce! Come out, Phantasm. Fight me!\”

Hearing Raven's challenge, the parasite hiding inside Raul's brain shivered and shrieked. This caused Raul to let out an inhuman shriek as well, his whole body shivered and his eyes rolled all the way back to his head. His body bent onto a very unnatural angle, something that an old man could never do. Raul now had a very furious and wary expression but this wasn't him anymore, this is the Phantasm who used his body as a Host. Raul Newdawn was long dead, what's standing in front of Raven is just a mortal husk that this pest refused to let go.

\”H-huuuuuuuuuummmmmmmaaaaaaannnnnn!\”

A guttural and hair-raising voice escaped out of Raul's mouth, his head was also twitching from side to side like it was being twisted by something unseen.

\”I will eat you human!\” The Phantasm said as it quickly pounced forward towards Raven.

Raven's eyes focused, he made a step back and took out something from his storage pouch. It was a brown sack that contained a muddy brown powder. He coated his whole arm with the powder and scattered he rest of it on his body, then he made the stance and clashed with the Phantasm who's controlling Raul.

Raul was quick and strong, but this isn't due to a 'God's Blessing' it was due to the enhancements that the Phantasm brought. Unfortunately, no matter how strong it was, Raven's destined to be stronger than it.

Fist met fist. Raven's arm remained strong and straight while Raul's arm bent upwards while some bones where directly broken or shattered. The Phantasm was shocked, how is this kid so strong!? It had to be known that the enhancements it did to transform Raul's husk was at least equivalent to a decade of feeding. No one should be able to match Raul's husk yet there's one here and it never knew.

\”No time to be shocked, pest. This is just my warm up.\” Raven sneered, he then performed a series of steps that made the Phantasm dizzy and unable to follow him, then Raven stopped and delivered a heavy blow on Raul's stomach.

Raul's body then flew and slammed onto the concrete walls, embedding him in the process. It was also this time that the Phantasm located at Raul's brain felt a severe pain that should've been impossible.

*Shriek!*

A series of inhuman shrieks escaped from Raul's mouth, Raven saw him clawing his head fiercely like he was trying to scratch something off from his head.

\”Painful isn't it?\” Raven coldly spat, \”I made this shit specially for you so thank me later.\”