"Don't alert them, we'll go around."
Following Lucius's instructions, the speedboat veered away from the League's ships, rushing toward the small island where Sham had reported capturing the Crystal Onix.
The island was separated from Sunburst Island by a shallow bay. However, Lucius knew that during low tide, a narrow passage would briefly connect the two islands, though they appeared separate at other times.
The group secretly landed on the island, entering a winding cave as Lucius instructed.
According to Sham's report, she had stumbled upon the rocky cavern while escaping a monster attack. Deep within, she'd discovered the Crystal Onix swimming in an underground river.
"Lanturn, use Flash."
One of the mutants released a blue Pokémon with two bulb-like appendages on its head, illuminating the pitch-black cave instantly.
As the light flared, Lucius noticed the Lanturn flinched at the sight of its master's grotesque, mutated appearance.
The cave was narrow and winding, forcing the group to proceed single file. After about half an hour, they reached a vast hollow chamber where a dark river flowed.
"This isn't seawater... there must be another source." Zeyan tasted the water, finding no trace of salt.
"Come out, Onix."
Lucius released the Crystal Onix. The massive Pokémon gleefully dove into the river, recognizing its former habitat.
"Lead us to the river's source."
The ten-meter-long Onix glanced at Lucius, then shook its head.
It refused.
Despite Archer's high trainer rank, the Onix hadn't been captured by him, nor had they bonded. Its rejection wasn't surprising.
Lucius, however, felt a flicker of excitement.
Its refusal suggested the river's source hid something valuable—something worth protecting.
A smirk crossed Lucius's face. He activated his skill—Mental Parasite.
It was a reward for establishing the Syndicate.
As the ability took effect, Lucius felt an invisible thread extend from the Emperor Strain at his core, reaching into the Onix's mind.
His virus-transformed, gelatinous Virus Type body split off a tiny transparent creature resembling an octopus. The parasite crawled along the mental thread, slithering into the Onix's eye and linking with its consciousness.
The Onix thrashed violently, its massive body crashing against the cave walls, sending cracks spidering through the stone. Debris rained down.
"Aghhh!"
A mutant was crushed beneath a falling boulder, his head bursting like a watermelon.
"Get back, now!"
The glass shop owner hurried the others into a side tunnel—only Lucius stood unmoved.
This was a contest of wills. He couldn't afford to back down.
Mental Parasite differed from Mental Corruption. The latter required infecting the target with the virus first before establishing a mental link to instill thoughts gradually.
Mental Parasite, however, could implant a single thought directly into any target—no infection necessary.
Due to the Crystal Onix's unique crystalline body, biological infection via the Emperor Strain was difficult—like infecting a Magnezone.
But Mental Parasite could bypass its physical defenses, though only for one thought at a time.
Lucius's implanted thought:
"Obey my every command."
Such a forceful suggestion clashed fiercely with the Onix's will, triggering the violent struggle.
Had he implanted something simpler—like "Smile when you see me"—the Onix would have submitted instantly. But that would have been useless.
"Boss..."
Flora watched the falling rocks but bit her lip and ran forward.
Taking a deep breath, her front strap snapped open, unleashing thick, blood-red tendrils from the vertical fissure splitting her torso. The writhing appendages wove into a protective net above Lucius, blocking the debris.
It was the first time anyone had seen her mutant form. The sight of her body splitting open, spilling forth countless fleshy vines, sent chills through the others.
The Onix's convulsions gradually subsided.
The river calmed.
The Onix rose from the water, its eyes glazed—but it no longer resisted.
Lucius knew he'd won.
Once a thought successfully parasitized the target, it became the creature's own—indistinguishable from its natural instincts.
The cavern returned to stillness.
The bloodied tendrils withdrew into Flora's body, the gaping fissure sealing into smooth skin—though her shredded clothes remained ruined.
"...Thank you."
Lucius's voice was calm.
He hadn't ordered anyone to help him—he'd planned to use Gyarados for protection. Flora had acted of her own accord.
I'll buy her more clothes later... this form really eats through outfits.
He glanced at the mutant whose head had been crushed.
Even with viral enhancements, regeneration couldn't repair such catastrophic damage.
One dead already... what rotten luck.
Lucius instinctively scanned for the others—
Soran...
Gone.
Dead?
After the Progenitor Virus evolved into the Queen Ant Form, its parasitic abilities had changed.
Unlike before, when it could inhabit two hosts simultaneously with Shared Vision, there was no hierarchy—both viral strains existed equally, and their memories were linked.
But with the evolution into the Emperor Strain, a hierarchy had formed. Now, information could only be accessed if Lucius actively reached out to sense it or if the host itself transmitted data.
Now that Soran was dead, the pheromonal signal had been severed. Without a channel to access his memories, there was no way for Lucius to uncover the cause of death.
Another one gone.
The number of infected in Cerulean City was dwindling...
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