-"When a Civilization believes it holds absolute power, it tends to neglect certain factors and turns a blind eye to the oldest entity and the one responsible for the greatest number of deaths in human history: Measles, Influenza, Smallpox, the Bubonic Plague."-
This being already echoes in the minds of all, and is a cause of fear.
Its name is 'Virus'."
A shining speck appears in the void, alongside tiny dust. Hands emerge from the same emptiness and hold the speck.
-"You who chose to open your being to host chaos in your existence and whispered to the abyss."-
-"You who decided to cast away your own name and soul and embrace the end of your story."-
The entity closes its hands, and its eyes appear in the void and stare at the reader.
-"You, the spectator, who reads these words and has inhaled my presence, will witness my creation of chaos unleash despair and death upon this world I have chosen."-
The entity opens its hands and lets the speck fall into the void. The creation falls indefinitely into utter darkness.
-¿---------?!-
A voice is heard from the creation itself.
- "Where am I?"-
The creation regains consciousness but is confused. It realizes it's surrounded by darkness.
- "Why can't I…?"-
Attempting to move, it notices it feels nothing in its body. It cannot see its limbs or any part of itself. just its very existence floating in the nothingness.
- "That person… who were they?"-
While pondering this, a glowing light rises in the depths of the void, shining like a sun. It is the only change in the endless emptiness. Something draws it toward the light.
Focusing on the light, the consciousness is absorbed without resistance. The light envelops its entire view.
-(Hm?!)-
At that moment, a vague sensation becomes a clear perception: a heartbeat, the ability to breathe.
-(What? I can… breathe?)-
It opens its eyes gently. In front of it stretch dense trees, the smell of moist earth invades its senses. It's in a forest. Light barely filters through the cracks in the foliage.
-(Where is this place?)-
Confused by the sudden change, everything seems strange. Its perspective is close to the ground; it can't stand, not even on all fours. That low viewpoint makes no sense.
Looking around, it spots a puddle nearby and crawls toward it to see its reflection.
Looking closer, the image reveals a furry face, round ears, shiny black eyes, a small upturned nose, and protruding front teeth… what it sees is none other than a mouse.
-"Chuchu!? (What the heck!?)"-
Touching the small gray body, it shudders. A high-pitched voice is heard. Upon closer inspection, the impossible is confirmed: it's a rat.
-(Why do I look like this?)-
Still in shock, a dizzying buzz and a voice resonate in its mind:
New base abilities acquired:
[Domination I] [Replication I] [Infectivity I] [Devour I]
With effort, it tries to reason with the invading voice.
-"Chuchu!? (What? Who are you? What do you mean by new abilities? Replication? Tell m—)"-
Interrupted again, it resigns itself to listening:
New host abilities acquired:
[Cowardice I] [Danger Detection I] [Smell I]
New symptoms acquired:
[Fever I]
New infection types acquired:
[Saliva Transmission I] [Waste Transmission I]
The avalanche of information momentarily collapses its ability to process. It recovers, but many questions flood its mind. The biggest one:
-"Chu… (What happened to my old body?)"-
It whimpers while thinking with its new form. Did it die in an accident? Waking up as a rat in a strange forest… if it wasn't a dream, only one hypothesis remained:
-(Did I… die and reincarnate?)-
An absurd theory, yet weirdly plausible. Reincarnation appeared in fantasy stories. Now with a rat's body, it couldn't dismiss it outright.
Then it remembered that person and their words:
-"I am the one who summoned your consciousness and existence into my realm. I who saw your miserable life and how you lost what you most treasured in that world. I offer you a deal…"-
It wonders about that deal. uncertain of its meaning or benefits. until one word floods its mind.
-(My brother… I couldn't save him. But if what they said is true...)-
Amid mental flashbacks, the person's offer echoes intensely:
"…Give me 15 million human lives, and I'll revive the brother you couldn't save."
Despite the deal's monstrous implications. turning anyone into a genocidal being, others might reject it. But for this entity, reason was no longer relevant. Fragments of memory surfaced, a promise once made to his brother: "I'll save you." That vow became the catalyst to forsake all humanity and become a monster.
The voice had announced abilities, symptoms, and infection potential. Its form wasn't just a rodent. it was a virus inhabiting the consciousness of a rat. Despite doubting its sanity, assuming a parasitic nature explained it.
And at that realization, one thought was engraved into its mind:
-(I must fulfill it. If it's for my brother… I'll kill them all.)-
Fueled by the pact, determined to see it through and rescue his brother.
This second life was his.
He would rise from the bottom… and destroy every living being.