Hey guys ! Jeiel here. Time for a revolutionary, head-provoking Mamono idea. So... let's get to it Don't forget to see the realm for all things Naether, and go get your read on with this one !
Ill Carrier
Art by Jeiel Yozama, scholar of the Nonareichen.
Species : Zombie x Matango
Family: Undead
Habitat: Abandoned Naether wastes, Badlands
Diet: Meat, semen, mana of men
Common Statement: URGH.
Jeiel's Comment : Naturally, here comes the common virus-born Zombie Mamono. I never thought I'd see one -- (pushes head away) Please don't bite.
A Mamono specie close to the Zombie often seen in the actual Mamono Realm, but with a form and lifestyle that differs from the latter. Their race came to be after a sporelike pathogen taken from an experimented Matango in Oz was unleashed into the Naether, infecting several human researchers and later branching out to infect even other Naetherkin species. They now wander the Mamono Realm in specific areas, especially the empty and untravelled area known as The Badlands, which people are reported never to return.
The start of an Ill Carrier's life cycle starts from the Cordari pathogen - a virus that developed out of a normal Matango spore, magically enhanced through Circe's research. This pathogen was once widespread and highly contagious - but after Circe took massive efforts to remove it from the Naether it now has a 10% chance to infect an individual via airborne means. Other than that, one can be turned into an Ill Carrier simply by being bitten by another Ill Carrier. Once the virus seeps into the body system, the victim experiences a gradual loss of appetite, weakening of the senses, paleness of the skin and inability to speak. Within 24 hours the victim "dies", and it would take a day for the pathogen to mutate her eyes, skin, senses and state of mind. Regardless of being a human woman or a Mamono, she will wake up becoming a full-fledged Ill Carrier.
A multitude of fungal growth can be seen in an Ill Carrier's body, occasionally replacing her ears or poking out like sails or horns. These fungi have evolved to become small sensory organs; they replace the dullness of her actual body parts after death. They detect vibrations, changes in the air, and various scents and textures. The fungi can also slightly change color depending on their mood. When threatened, a certain fungi growing on them like a 'tail' swells and eeks out a spray of confusing spores - which don't spread the pathogen but merely act as a deterrent for the Carrier to flee.
Carriers also have differing shades of eye color - shifting from white, yellow, green to pinkish red while their pupils are changed into a distinct cross-shaped pattern. Veinal projections are evident across their reddened skin (another product of mutation) and the ends of both their nails are sharp enough to tear flesh.
Mentality-wise, the Ill Carrier is feral. Despite being able to adhere to small interactions with broken words and moans, she will obey the urge to mate (which is all the time). While she can eat animal meat like most carnivorous beings, mana and semen are sustenance to her and the fungi on her body. She is mostly indifferent to her surroundings, shuffling slowly and carefully feeling around for sources of Spiritual Energy. Any item or object last touched or used by a man, she will lick and drool over as if it were an actual man she is holding on to.
For the most part, Carrier travel in a sparse or thick horde. They are at their peak activity at night, the fungal growth inciting their lust to swell. Should a man come in close proximity, the fungi will sense it - and all nearby Carriers will surround him to prevent escape. Spores immediately scatter upon the male and by entering his mouth, nose and ears the man will find the fungi taking control of his mind. His thoughts regress from panic to peace of mind; instead of wanting to flee he will lose interest in moving.
The decay in his rationality only takes seconds to activate, and afterwards, the Carriers straddle and gather around the 'zombified' man, biting him tenderly to transmit waves of pleasure into his mind. The man will then flinch and moan to be pleasured more, and the Carriers respond with their chests and orifices forced upon his tool repeatedly.
Sometime after, the man will have his thoughts directed towards the Carriers and will seek to pleasure them constantly, sometimes even finding more Carrier hordes to enact this desire. Thus, some men in the Naether are seen having more than 10-30 Carriers as wives, and might want more in time. Also, the Carriers won't worry about food anymore; the semen and mana of their male is enough.The man will also be well taken-care of, since the Carriers will be at his disposal.
Ill Carriers are able to grow in number just by hunting women and other Mamono with the same cornering tactic as they do with men, showering the spores into the victims to immobilize them while the Carriers proceed to kiss, lick and pleasure them. This way, they pass the pathogen quicker - and in roughly 2-5 hours a new Carrier is born.
Pure Carriers (Carriers born from men and Carriers, not created after infection) are sometimes known for possessing a fungal growth on their heads like a crown. They are often more intelligent than the rest of their fellowmen, sometimes coordinating tactics with their kin in trapping their victims. Some Pure Carriers are even capable of comprehensive speech and think as much as an average human - but the Pure Carriers are rare. Due to much of the semen and mana they take in is made into food, Carriers have a low birth rate -- which is why they are constantly turning women and other Mamono into one of them (thus, calling these converts as Impure Carriers), and these turned Mamono compromise nearly 98% of the Carrier population throughout the Naether as a whole.
TL Note : Not done. I still have the photo, but will post and arrange later. The Badlands is also an additional location in the Naether to be explained next time. For now, enjoy!