Chapter 2: A Short Life.
Using the mouse's body, it began advancing cautiously into the depths of the forest. Despite moving at a slow pace, its tiny size made the trees — enormous to human eyes — appear colossal from a rodent's perspective, with protruding roots and weeds blocking its path.
-(When I was human, I never stopped to think about what life was like for small creatures, how difficult it is for them to move through a forest. Humans don't struggle with that.)-
It was a somewhat uncomfortable form, but not entirely negative. The body was surprisingly agile and could slip through narrow spaces. Exploring that vast forest was intriguing.
And along the way, in the distance, it noticed something out of the ordinary.
-(Maybe this isn't Earth)- the thought surfaced in its mind.
There were plants it didn't recognize. If that were all, it would chalk it up to its own lack of knowledge. But a tree with wrinkles resembling a human face — and upon investigating more closely, it saw a bird wandering beneath the tree that struck it as curious for its appearance, unlike any bird it had ever seen — and one of the tree's branches snatched the bird and stored it in its cavities. A monster.
-(What a horrible thing! I'd better leave before it eats me!)-
Further ahead it found a small clearing where the light was clearer, a gap in the canopy letting sunlight through. It stopped, looked up, and began taking stock of its situation.
-(A different world. What kind of world is this — it looks like something out of a comic or a movie.)-
After so many experiences, it was now clear that this was not a world like its own.
-(Reincarnation in another world… I need to learn more about this place.)-
It was moving now to get used to the rodent's body, but also wanted to test its other capabilities.
The strange mental message that had listed names of what seemed to be types of skills, along with a known symptom and transmission abilities.
In other words, its new form was not a rodent — it was that of a microscopic microbial being that had parasitized the consciousness of a rat.
Though it doubted its own sanity, assuming a parasitic ability explained its situation.
But being a microbe seemed more complex than it appeared. While it already controlled the mouse's body, further investigation was needed. Its perception of the world had changed radically since it stopped being human.
-(This truly is my new self.)-
The first thing it discovered was the ability to perceive its own being. By focusing its attention, it visualized itself as particles of red sand. That was its new form. The composition and shape looked like what a virus was — the microscopic agent with no cells. A unsettling idea.
Using the [Replication] skill on the rat's body, it noticed the infected cells were increasing. The virus used normal cells to replicate. Up close, the virus's appearance looked almost silly: there were two protrusions resembling eyes, its soft body wobbled like a bubble, and ridiculous sounds came from what seemed to be a mouth. It found that curious.
--Chii… (This is really ugly…)--
Of course. If it weren't itself, it would find it completely disgusting.
A sigh escaped its mouth as it reflected on this new perspective of the virus. It wanted to shrug, but its body wouldn't allow it. And it moved on to the next skill.
[Skill and Symptom Manifestation] seemed to allow it to freely activate or deactivate effects on its infected hosts. The comparison to a video game was inevitable and equally uncomfortable.
-(Seriously, my power looks like a game's options menu?)-
It twitched its whiskers in something resembling resignation and continued.
[Transmission by Infection] was simpler: it only listed the available methods. No surprises, but useful to know.
The skill that stood out most was:
[Domination].
Although it had become a virus, its own thinking remained intact and unified, no matter how many times it replicated. That made sense — it would be absolute chaos if every virion thought for itself.
Despite lacking the flexibility of limbs, it could control the particles within its field of vision.
--Chiii…--
It exhaled slowly. The red sand left through its mouth, scattering the pathogens. They floated for a few seconds before disappearing.
It soon discovered that, without a host, the virus was very weak and died quickly. The dispersal range didn't exceed two meters. But at least it could activate traits and symptoms during its spread.
-(If used well… it has potential.)-
Nearby it spotted a flower and sprayed it with a virus carrying [Replication I] and [Infectivity I]. The red pathogens clung to the petals, but a buzz and an announcement resonated in its mind.
Unable to perform [Replication] on host. Life-form is non-Animalia. Unable to perform [Infectivity] on host. Life-form is non-Animalia. Unable to read RNA of host. Life-form is non-Animalia.
--Chii!! (Argh — damn voice, couldn't you be a little more careful with your announcements?!)--
With these incessant announcements constantly going off in its mind, it was clear it couldn't infect plants, since they weren't animals. But it recalled a skill it hadn't used yet.
[Devour]
It had no idea what this skill did, but the name was clear enough — it just had to eat. So, facing the flower, it prepared to eat a petal.
--Munch… (Ugh, this thing tastes disgusting.)--
The flavor was bitter and unpleasant, but if its hypothesis was correct, the skill should activate. A buzz followed by an announcement rang out in its mind.
New chemical type detected. Beginning RNA and composition analysis. Confirmed organic being [Plant]. Acquiring RNA copy. New chemicals acquired in analysis: [Antipyretic I] [Analgesic I]
It seemed that [Devour] analyzed every type of compound the host ingested and acquired skills after analyzing them. The flower was probably a medicinal plant. It figured that if it ate more unusual or dangerous plants, it could transfer their chemicals to the virus.
It was an incredible skill. With this new information, the virus could increase its lethality — used correctly, it could leave a mark on history in this world.
-(If I collect more plant RNA, it will make my work easier.)-
It focused on another identical flower and ate another petal to see if it could analyze the plant more thoroughly. Another buzz and announcement.
A previously analyzed chemical type has been detected. Organic being [Plant] RNA will not be re-analyzed.
It seemed that the [Devour] skill only analyzed the chemical composition of a consumed organic being once.
-(Is skill acquisition limited by [Devour]'s level?)-
At this rate, triggering an epidemic through natural contagion didn't seem feasible. It found that frustrating.
It discovered it could alter the symptoms of nearby infected individuals — intensifying or suppressing them — simply by thinking it. A function that would prove very useful.
-(This is getting very interesting.)-
While it was planning its next steps as a virus, being a rat was perfect. It was the classic example of a disease carrier.
Crack.
A branch snapped in the distance. The forest went silent all at once, as if something had switched off the sound. The birds stopped singing. The wind stilled.
-(What…?)-
A thick, metallic smell arrived before any image did. Its body reacted before its mind — fur bristling, muscles tensing on their own.
[Danger Detection I]
It looked up, terrified.
A grey-furred wolf was stalking it from the shadows. Pointed ears, long snout, and visible fangs. Its gaze, full of hunger, was fixed on it.
-(This situation… is not great.)-
It backed away, but a mouse's step meant nothing. The wolf didn't flinch. The tension was unbearable. The wolf moved first.
[Cowardice I]
It turned and ran with everything it had. Winning was impossible. The virus wasn't enough. It would be devoured before it could react.
--Chiii!! (Damn it, why does this skill activate?!)--
Trying to escape was useless. The wolf's shadow was closing in with every second.
Its vision went black. It felt its entire body being bitten.
--Grrrar!--
--Chi– Chii– Chiii! (THE PAIN! IT HURTS! IT HURTS!)--
--Grrr!--
[Domination]
A low growl rose… from itself. Its perspective was higher now, though it still walked on all fours.
--…grrr (Hm?)--
Crunching sounds came from its mouth. Flesh and fur, blood with a strong smell. The sensation was unpleasant — it felt like it should spit it out, yet at the same time it seemed delicious.
Below, a trail of blood… with a rat's tail.
--…gulp (How delicious! Though I'll admit it was a horrible sensation — and besides, it was my own body I just ate.)--
And after swallowing, it seemed satisfied, if a little disgusted.
The conclusion was clear. Its consciousness had abandoned the devoured mouse and taken over the wolf's body. Survival of the fittest. A buzz and an announcement.
New skills from the new host have been acquired:
[Ferocity I] [Agility I] [Endurance I] [Smell I] > [Smell II]
It didn't matter if its host died. Its consciousness jumped to the next infected one. The wolf had eaten the infected rat and, in doing so, had been possessed. It was a remarkable ability for a parasitic virus.
-(Even though having a kind of immortality feels like dying when you're devoured. It was like dying. I didn't want to go through that again. There were physical things to verify… but it was worth it.)-
This discovery changed everything. It meant it had infinite lives. That would profoundly shape how it lived in this new world. With no fear of death, it could go even further.
-(This is going to get more exciting. This life — no, this viral life — I will fulfill what I have promised.)-
With the wolf's body under its control, it continued on its way with a clear mind.