Alaric handed the second jar of cordyceps to Voss and grabbed Blaze by the shoulders.
"Try saying something, anything!" he yelled, shaking Blaze’s shoulders.
"Gosh... you’re annoying," Blaze replied.
It wasn’t his voice. Well, it was his voice, but it sounded nothing like him. Instead, it was hoarse. Almost as if someone had rubbed his vocal cords with sandpaper.
Still, it was better than nothing.
However, not for Blaze. He was unconscious, and when he woke up, he could speak, but how?
He touched his throat as it began to heal on its own. Either the cordycep had unblocked his throat from something, or Marrow’s had worked her magic.
Blaze wanted to get to the bottom of it right then and there. After all, he didn’t want to use such a hoarse voice, but then his eyes fell on the jars Voss was holding.
[Entry #27: An infector-class creature has been added to the encyclopedia.]
[A unique creature has been registered in the encyclopedia.]
[The subject has been bestowed the honor of naming the creature.]
Honor? Don’t be so full of yourself. I was going to name it either way.
In two months, Blaze had forgotten about his vocational controls. It had become a habit to speak within his mind. Despite that, he wasn’t in a hurry to use his hoarse and, honestly, disgusting voice.
Blaze raised his hand towards Voss, who shook it.
"Master, it was an honor to work with you and hear your divine voice—"
Blaze smacked his hand away before he could continue, pointing at the jar.
Voss looked at him, confused. Blaze shook his head, and he wasn’t alone. Alric and Marrow joined him.
"Oh, hehe... my apologies..."
Blaze raised the jar, watching the gooey thing attack the glassy surface.
So, you came from inside me? I guess that makes you my child now.
Since regaining his voice, Blaze forgot his horde could read his mind. The moment he called the cordycep-necroseed variant his child, Marrow’s hands dropped to the side.
Thankfully, blood didn’t flow for the zombies, or else her wild thoughts would’ve been obvious from all the blood rushing to her face.
Voss had an awkward expression as well. He didn’t think he would help his master deliver a baby.
As for Alaric, he tilted his head, wondering why the baby didn’t look like one. His head was fried for good.
Oblivious to it all, Blaze continued examining the little symbiote-like creature. After trashing its filaments against the glass, the symbiote went still.
"What’s wrong... with it?" Blaze said, looking closer.
As soon as he did, the filaments grew big and threw up a black powder.
"It’s reproducing?" Voss mumbled, fixing his glasses. "Fascinating. I haven’t seen any fungi reproduce so quickly after its inception."
The powder the symbiote threw up was made of hundreds of tiny spores. For normal cordyceps, these spores would help them infect hosts. Blaze assumed it was the same in this case.
Without another thought, Blaze jumped off the table and got dressed. He then picked up the jars and walked out, but not before giving the humans their instructions.
"Stay someplace else. Seal this lab until I say otherwise."
"As you wish, son," Alaric nodded. "Also... don’t keep my grandchildren away for too long."
Blaze frowned, wondering what new theory the old man had cooked up in his head.
Some time later, back in the lair...
Now... what should I name you? Any ideas, Marrow?
Blaze sat on his throne, his fingers tapping the skeletal armrest. Meanwhile, the symbiote had colored the jar black from spewing so many spores.
"How about Rotspore? No, it’s too comical... Though I like the spore part."
Blaze turned to Marrow.
"You have something to say?"
Marrow kept her head low as she mumbled, "Blightspore will suit the atmosphere."
Perhaps she thought Blaze wouldn’t accept her suggestion, Marrow immediately pulled back.
"It was a stupid thought, my lord. Please don’t pay heed—"
"I like it," Blaze said, lifting the jar like a baby. "Blightspore. It’s the perfect name for it."
[Entry #27: Blightspore has been added to the encyclopedia.]
Along with the notification, another unseen notification appeared before him.
Race: Undead Parasitic Fungus
Subclassification: Hive-Host (III)
— Durability: Low (Can tolerate atmospheric changes, but is highly susceptible to fire of any kind)
A rare fusion of the necroseed and a parasitic fungus. The Blightspore is a new form of undead creature never seen before. The information regarding its behavior, traits, and abilities remains a mystery.
Subject #J117 will be rewarded upon discovering more about the hybrid creature.
The Collective is very intrigued by the new zombie form and is keeping a close watch on it.
Blaze immediately frowned upon reading the last line. The sole reason he went through all that trouble was to create a new line of zombies. One that would be free from the Collective’s control.
Although he succeeded in a way, the Collective was now watching his every move to learn about Blightspore.
However, he felt it was strange.
This was their game. Shouldn’t they already be prepared for such situations? Or why did they allow it to happen?
Suddenly, the Collective no longer seemed like gods. They looked more like desperate scientists experimenting on rats to find a cure for some undisclosed disease.
It was that, or they were mad scientists creating a new weapon to dominate others. Much like Blaze wanted to dominate the humans in his city.
Interesting... very interesting.
Blaze thought, tapping the jar.
They want to learn more about the Blightspore, and in exchange, they’ll reward me.
A smile crept onto Blaze’s lips.
"Well, I had to figure out more about this little thing either way."
Blaze got off the throne and created a small room made of corpse walls. He opened the jar inside, letting the Blightspore out of its captivity before hurrying outside.
Next, he grabbed a walker, a frogkin, an ant, and a skeleton. He put them in the room before sealing it for good by creating more walls around it.
Once satisfied with his work, he walked back to the throne and sat down.
Let’s see who you infect, little one.