"So, the host's addiction means the first stage of spore parasitism has already appeared."
At a Countermeasure Research Institute meeting, Gao Liangwei questioned an analyst who had come to present data.
"Yes," the analyst said. "Based on conditions across various regions, starting this afternoon, a large number of people have begun showing cognitive changes. The most obvious trait is that they have become extremely protective of their lives, refusing to remain in any dangerous environment or engage in any dangerous activity."
"Moreover, without exception, these people have adopted an optimistic and open attitude toward the spores. We can conclude that after the rules were announced, they immediately abandoned their vigilance and fully accepted the spores' modification of their bodies."
Someone in the conference room asked curiously, "Why would valuing one's life be the universal manifestation of the first stage of parasitism?"
"Would a parasite want its host to die?" Zhang Minglu asked before the analyst could answer.
The person who had asked showed a look of realization. "Ah... I see. If the host dies, the parasitic spores naturally lose their nourishment and die as well."
"Yes," the analyst said. "We believe the spores possess a certain degree of intelligence, though it may also simply be biological instinct. Therefore, the first stage after the host becomes addicted should be the stage in which the spores begin parasitizing the host and influencing their cognition."
Gao Liangwei asked, "At this stage, is there any possibility of reversal?"
"I'm afraid it would be very difficult," the analyst said. "We tried conventional isolation, psychological counseling, and even some forced cognitive correction experiments... but they all failed."
"However," the analyst continued, "some of the test subjects have not completely fallen yet and still display a degree of psychological resistance. Without exception, all of them are Ascendants."