Metro Labyrinth - CH 16.5

~3rd Person Perspective~

After multiple cycles of life and death—the parasite, who now had the giant slime as its new host, is reunited with that hairless ape.

He has crossed my fangs with its host multiple times. Inside a wolf, inside a giant ape, and sometimes a white-haired one.

It has been watching over the death battle between him and its host.

Each time the parasite met him, his ability to fight has grown stronger and stronger, and each time it has made the parasite’s emotions grow.

No other creature had ever possessed his sparkling beauty. Each time the host’s fangs drew blood or his blade sliced through its host, the parasite’s world becomes dazzlingly bright and shimmering.

But–.

(He will not be able to win against me.) (Parasite)

Within the slime, the parasite was convinced of this, with its unspoken thoughts.

This time, the host was powerful beyond comparison to any creature that had ever existed before. In the more than one year of its temporary residence, it had been visited by foreign enemies, numerous times, but never once had it felt threatened.

(—Is he the one?) (Parasite)

Like many foreign enemies, he would be dissolved and absorbed by the body fluids of his host.

There was no choice but to envision such a future. It was difficult to imagine anyone being able to beat its host. Especially, with the parasite’s still-developing thinking ability.

Emotionally, it felt great pity. On the other hand, it was a pleasure to be able to feed on that beautiful creature (even if it was its host).

At the very least, it would witness his final moments. It will remember his beautiful struggle to live.

That thought was the only thing the parasite could think of.

But–.

It was the first time it had ever seen such a scene. The monkey had arms sprouting from his back and was boldly attacking with a shiny shell in his hands.

Whether he was being smashed by the tentacles or having his skin scorched by the acidic fluid, he was unfazed as he sliced its host open with his glowing blade.

(What, how–) (Parasite)

His bare killing intent, his roar, his courage that exploded like a flash of light, the supernova of his soul.

The parasite could not help but be moved beyond all thoughts.

(He became stronger—so strong that he could destroy this host.) (Parasite)

Soon the blade reached the vital point and all perception of the host was cut off. The parasite was once again trapped in a silent, lightless nothingness.

But the light was already burned into the back of its pitch-black eyelids.

It wanted to see him again, and it strongly thought so.

Where would he go? It had a feeling that he would go somewhere different from here.

~Parasite’s Perspective~

(–I’ll chase after him.) (Parasite)

His smell. His appearance. His footprints.

I will follow everything and follow behind him. I will find him.

Now I have the ability to intervene in the consciousness of any lowly host.

No matter how many more times I die, I plan on finding him.

–It was a clear desire, a dream, and a will that sprouted for the first time within the parasite.

Will I be killed this time? Or will he kill me again?

Whatever the case, the next step is to get in touch with him directly.

The parasite’s heart seemed to leap even in the darkness, looking forward to that moment.