The Parasite

The Parasite are a species of seemingly non-sapient creatures that appear in multiple worlds across the Unityverse. They appear in multiple forms depending on their host, but most commonly can be seen in the worm-like form as pictured, and come in various sizes.

Overview

The Parasite is a product of the World Feeder. The Parasite will begin spawning on worlds the Feeder has attached itself to, commonly originating from Feeder Tunnels initially. The Parasite acts as a form of external immune system response against other worlds, as if not an extension of the Feeder's will, at least in support of it.

They are not intelligent, but appear to be drawn to forms of civilisation and large groups of conscious minds. They greatly dislike camaraderie, and are weakened by Unity Skills.

Abilities/Lifecycle

Parasite spawns commonly have psyche abilities that inhibit or weaken their targets — causing poisoning, internal bleeding, and paralysis. From there, they are able to attach to their prey and attempt to take control of their minds and bodies.

The Parasite exists to create more of itself and silence the minds of its targets. The life-cycle is roughly as follows:

1. Microscopic spores in the atmosphere
2. Worm and mollusc-like spawns
3. Possessed individuals with Parasites attached
4. Individuals with flesh mutated into Parasite matter
5. Tree-like organisms rooted to the ground

Possession for the sake of manipulation and control isn't exactly the main goal — The Parasite is only interested in self-perpetuation, and uses its prey to seek out more targets for assimilation. This mindlessness will slowly corrode the victim's own consciousness until they no longer have any thoughts of their own. When a target's flesh has mutated they are in grave danger, but they can still be helped with some intervention. Once the target has begun to root into the ground however, there is no cure, as most conscious thought by this point has ceased.

Once a Parasite victim has entered the final tree stage, even the Parasite will cease what little thought it has, and exist only to lightly release spores until it soon dies.

Development

The Parasite initially appeared in my first version of Two Halves, known as the "hiyms". There they also existed as a mollusc-like parasite species that possessed and controlled people, and originated from an alien world. However the hiyms had little backstory beyond this. It was implied they were uncontrollable even by the main antagonist, and were accidentally let loose onto Earth, but later writing suggested the antagonist was able to direct them and would later "betray" them for his own ends somehow.