Psychic Parasite

Chapter 117: Emotional Anchor
The beam of light entered Heima’s body, allowing the projection of two figures to appear overhead. One was a crimson centipede, spanning the size of her body, showcasing a feeling of madness.

The other was a serpentine beast, similar in size to the centipede, sporting a long nose—showcasing a suction pod-like mouth underneath it—and an ethereal tail. It sat on the crimson centipede, pinning it in place, coiling its serpentine body over the numerous legs of the centipede.

A faint, murky black substance seeped out through its body, coagulating into sharp spikes, penetrating the crimson centipede. The crimson centipede resisted the assault using its tough exterior, showing clear signs of resistance that dwarfed the attacks. But, a certain presence that permeated through the black spikes sought to unnerve its resistance.

Moreover, the black spikes weren’t as sturdy as they seemed, breaking into a pool of liquid upon contact, taking time to reform. Their quantity also seemed fixed, the source possessing limited essence. They were a manifestation of the Essence of Frenzy injected into Heima’s body by the Ethereal Tail Frenzy beast, unleashed thanks to Atika Light’s Tier 5 Skill.

”As long as Jyorta manages to convert her Wisdom Parasite into his subsoul before it evolves into a Frenzy Parasite, we can salvage her back to normal. But, should he fail, it would be a wasted effort.” Atika Light murmured, extending her right arm, morphed into a psychic arm.

She took a step forward, her legs that had become similar to a psychic arm allowing her to hover in the air. Her hand reached out to the projection of the Ethereal Tail Frenzy Beast, entering its head. Immediately, numerous images flushed into her hand, travelling through her arm, absorbed into the circle on her body.

Thoughts flashed in her mind, forming numerous images, with each image housing thoughts, emotions, sounds, smell, touch, feelings, and other senses. They conformed to information that she could extract and process, gleaning into the essence of the Ethereal Tail Frenzy Beast.

Even though the fragments were disjointed, it still gave meagre clarity about the abilities of the Ethereal Tail Frenzy Beast. The more she learnt of them, the greater her face morphed, expressing the emotions of shock, surprise…and fear.

She felt fear, despite the amount she learnt being minuscule. Even then, she could understand the threat they posed to Marble City should they continue to develop at this pace.

”Frenzy Parasite…it is this aspect of it that frightens me the most, having created such a monstrous race.” Atika Light’s eyes shone with killing intent, intending to head to the Wilds right this instant and curb the threat before it grew further.

Frenzy Parasites were different from Wisdom Parasites on four aspects: one, they create the Essence of Frenzy in the host bodies, sporting mild differences between each individual. Their effects also display minor variations between each race.

Two, they increase the body size of the Frenzy Beasts, whether they were an Esper or a Warrior, with the effects being prominent in Warriors. At birth, the Floating Spiders span just 10 centimetres in size. The Floating Spiders born two centuries prior were even smaller. As they progressively raise their Tiers, their body size increases, spanning the size of 20 metres for Warriors at Tier 6.

The Floating Spiders were a milder case in respect to body size. There were also the Lava Turtles, their sizes equivalent to mountains, not to mention the Colossal Bawling Sheep, the biggest Frenzy Beast on land.

Three, they make the Frenzy Beasts enter a state of madness, akin to frenzy, symbolising their nomenclature. The higher the Tier, the greater the effects of frenzy; despite their intelligence improving at each subsequent Tier, to the extent being equivalent to humans at Tier 4, the effect of frenzy can never be culled.

Four, they affect the DNA of the Frenzy Beasts, altering their genes upon each generation, giving chances to mutation. This leads to the creation of bizarre races, their numbers increasing per every decade.

The Ethereal Tail Frenzy Beasts were the product of such mutation, their source race being unknown. They had popped in the Wilds surrounding Marble City less than a year ago, their prior whereabouts a mystery.

”But, unless they are at Tier 5, they would escape before I approach their area, having long sensed my presence thanks to their danger instincts. Moreover, the only ones that our Warriors and Espers have encountered are beings at Tier 4.” She focused on the projection before her, holding it with both her hands.

Her fingers elongated, passing through the head of the Ethereal Tail Frenzy Beast, slightly making some changes. Another beam of light appeared, their source this time being her eyes, shooting it into the head of the Ethereal Tail Frenzy Beast, making a connection to the crimson centipede.

Numerous characters flashed from her psychic arm, coursing through the two figures, making slight changes in their inherent structure. Her actions implied one thing, if she had wanted to, she could resolve Heima’s issue at any time.

’Maybe, thanks to my intervention and Jyorta’s actions, Heima would be able to nurture my Skills at Tier 4 and 5. If it happened, that would be for the best.’ Atika Light sighed, retracting the two beams of light she emitted, watching the two projections disappear.

The surrounding air reverted to its prior state of chaos, one infused with madness. Though, its concentration had suffered a sharp decline, thanks to her actions. Atika Light deactivated her Tier 5 Skill, allowing the four psychic arms to disappear.

Her body expanded once again, looking like a flattened circle. Her limbs grew back while the inscriptions seeped into her skin, disappearing from view. Her glistening body slowly turned dim as her body regained her girth.

She had reverted to her regular self, looking no different to when she accompanied Jyorta. Atika Light walked towards the sole chair in the room, seating herself. She then emitted her aura, controlling its strength, seepage, and intensity, suppressing the aura Heima unconsciously emitted.

”Thanks to her uniqueness, among all the elites in Grapple Force, she has the highest chance to Nurture my Skills. If I can collect more information, maybe I would be able to concoct a plan that would give me a high assurance.” She snapped her fingers, producing a crisp sound, rattling the door, producing a frequency that conformed to a tuned message.

The sturdy door parted way, allowing the same head from before to peek inside, cautious in its approach. Atika Light glanced in his direction, ”How is Jyorta faring?”

”He is currently emptying his bowels and clearing his system of all the accumulated Brain Crystal wastage.” A shivering voice echoed, the tone suffused with fear.

”Let me phrase it again,” Atika Light smiled, her gaze not once breaking away from Heima. ”How is Jyorta faring?”

”H-He is fine for the most part.” The voice stammered, the door trembling in response thanks to the pair of hands holding it.

”Never mind,” Atika Light waved her hands, ”Take good care of him for the time being. Make the necessary arrangements for a week’s stay for him.”

”Y-Yes, Ma’am.” The figure stumbled out of view, slamming the door shut in a fluster, getting even more flustered upon hearing the loud sounds produced thanks to the blunder.

He was a man in his early thirties, a Ground Controller at his peak. His emotions failed to calm down, his eyes swerved around the empty room, pausing on the empty circular bench for a couple of seconds.

The door behind him was the one he had closed shut just now while the door on his right led into the narrow corridor—its walls sporting an expansive painting. Of the other two doors in the room, one was a storeroom filled with miscellaneous medical apparatus.

The man entered the final room, noticing it remain vacant. It spanned 3 metres in length and 2 metres in breadth, painting a cramped feeling. Occupying most of the floor space was a bed, looking fit for a single person to rest. Attached on the sidewalls, next to the entry door was a thin door, leading into an attached bathroom.

The door opened, revealing Jyorta dressed in a set of loose garments, holding his tracksuit and a towel he had used. Everything he needed had already been provided the moment he was carried into the room by a psychic arm.

”Since it was a case of emergency, I hadn’t had the time to introduce myself.” Sporting a cool expression, a sharp contrast to his previous flustered self, the man radiated an aura of confidence. ”I am Anruk Light, a Ground Controller in charge of everything here in the absence of Madam.”

Even though he radiated a regal demeanour, he dared not mention even Atika Light’s name. He acted his way out of it, masking his deep-seated fear, motioning for Jyorta to follow him.

”It is already 9:20 PM; you should have been hungry. The food presented here includes the finest of delicacies, so, eat your fill.” Jyorta followed Anruk Light, exiting the cramped room, watching the door close behind him.

Walking past the empty circular bench, Jyorta gazed at the door where his sister lay unconscious, feeling a sense of pressure envelop him. His sister’s future would be decided in a week, the outcome depending on his efforts.

’Considering what I witnessed inside the murky fog, the chances of converting her Wisdom Parasite’s soul into my subsoul are slim.’ Jyorta gritted his teeth, feeling a burning sense of responsibility, willing to strive to great extents in order to save his sister. In this world, she was his sole emotional anchor, the only one keeping him in check.