After speaking with the base commander, the squad leader resumed the tour. The parasite base was enormous, like a giant hive teeming with creatures. They discussed their kills, exchanged strange phrases in their own language, and prepared for new attacks.

  But suddenly, a massive parasite appeared in front of them, towering at nearly three meters. Its body was covered in grotesque growths, and its enormous arms looked like slabs of raw meat. It gave the protagonist a disdainful look and smirked.

  — What the hell is that thing next to you? — its voice was rough and resonant.

  The squad leader immediately straightened up and bowed with a smile.

  — Elgor! Good to see you! This is a rookie. First day on the job, but he did well—killed 19 people.

  Elgor burst into laughter, his massive chest shaking.

  — 19?! Pathetic. On my first day, I tore apart over thirty! And now I’m well past three hundred! That’s how you get the job done!

  The squad leader tried to smooth things over.

  — Well, it’s his first hunt. You’ve been doing this for a long time, your experience is completely different…

  Elgor suddenly scowled, towering over him.

  — Why the fuck are you such a bore, huh?

  — Do you know your place, pup? Or should I remind you? — he growled, clenching his fists.

  The squad leader remained silent, but Deiv felt uneasy. Even though he despised the parasites, the squad leader was the only one who had treated him kindly.

  Suddenly, his body moved on its own—a swift lunge, a strike… A sickening crunch.

  Elgor staggered back, clutching his broken jaw. The entire hive went silent.

  — YOU! — the brute roared and raised his massive arm, ready to crush him.

  But Deiv’s body didn’t listen to him again. It dodged, tackled the brute to the ground, and pinned him with crushing force. Elgor thrashed, struggling to break free, but after a few seconds, he choked and surrendered.

  The crowd of parasites erupted into murmurs. Some whispered, some watched with newfound respect, others seethed with rage.

  And then she stepped forward from the crowd.

  The leader of this base. Alagana.

  Her dark crimson eyes locked onto Deiv.

  — Want to join my squad? — she asked calmly.

  In his mind, Deiv snarled: Go to hell!

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  But his body nodded in agreement.

  A cold chill ran through him.

  He… didn't want this.

  But his body had already made its choice.

  Huan sat atop a pile of bones, idly tapping his claws against the stone floor. His eyes followed as the newcomer disappeared with Alagana.

  — Who the hell is that rookie?! — he huffed, turning to his companions, Opan and Valren.

  Opan, a thin parasite with long arms, shrugged lazily.

  — No idea. Showed up out of nowhere, and now he's in Alagana's squad.

  — And you know, — Valren added, scratching his horned head, — he doesn’t even move like us. His body language is… off. Like he’s not entirely one of us.

  Huan clicked his jaws in irritation.

  — Makes me jealous. We've been here for years, and this guy? One day in, kicks Elgor’s ass, and gets into the elite.

  Opan chuckled.

  — Some rookies just get all the luck… Especially when they have power.

  For a moment, all three of them fell silent, watching as the darkness swallowed Deiv’s retreating figure.

  Deiv was led into a spacious room, dimly lit by reddish lamps that resembled eerie eyes staring from the darkness. Inside, three parasites stood waiting. Unlike the others in the corridors, their presence was suffocating, as if they could tear anyone apart in an instant.

  Alagana waved a hand lazily.

  — This is Karib, Malenia, and Graeme. You’re in their squad now.

  Karib—a massive brute whose arms were thicker than a human’s head—watched Deiv with his arms crossed over his chest.

  Malenia—tall and skeletal, her limbs unnaturally long, her gaze piercing.

  Graeme—an absolute mountain of muscle, his skin shifting over the power beneath. A smug grin was plastered on his face.

  — Who’s this? — Karib asked with disinterest.

  — A rookie, — Alagana shrugged. — Took down Elgor in the corridor, so he’s with us now.

  Karib smirked, while Graeme scoffed.

  — Impressive. Shame Elgor’s an idiot, — Graeme muttered with a sneer.

  — Interesting… And what’s his name? — Malenia asked, not taking her eyes off Deiv.

  Alagana shrugged again.

  — No idea. He doesn’t talk. He has thoughts, but no voice.

  Malenia suddenly stepped closer.

  Her pale, clawed fingers almost touched Deiv’s face. He couldn’t move—only groan in his thoughts: Why the hell is she staring at me like that? Why do we even need introductions?

  But Malenia only chuckled.

  — There are two minds inside him.

  The room fell silent.

  — One controls the body. The other… controls the mind.

  Deiv froze, even in his thoughts.

  That means… there’s something else inside me.

  A creature.

  Tension filled the air. Malenia studied him for a moment longer before smirking.

  — He’s different.

  Karib frowned.

  — What do you mean?

  — He’s human. Or at least, he was… — Malenia leaned in closer, studying him like a specimen. — He’s infected. He became a parasite.

  — Hmm… — Karib folded his arms. — So our blood can merge with humans?

  — Seems that way, — Malenia mused. — They’re both infected, but which one is the real parasite, and which one is the human… is hard to say.

  Alagana observed Deiv carefully.

  What is he now? Who really controls the body? An interesting specimen…

  And then, she suddenly suggested:

  — Since he’s one of us now, and he doesn’t have a name… maybe we should give him one?

  Deiv internally groaned.

  No, thanks!

  But the parasites ignored him.

  — It has to be something fitting… — Malenia mused.

  — How about Blade? — Karib suggested.

  — Too flashy, — Graeme scoffed. — What about Shadow?

  — Too generic, — Malenia muttered.

  Silence fell again until Graeme’s eyes landed on a half-torn banner hanging on the wall. It showed a soldier in military gear, and next to him, a word stood out:

  "GHOST"

  Graeme smirked.

  — How about Ghost?

  Karib glanced at the banner, then back at Deiv, and nodded.

  — Yeah, sounds strong.

  — I like it, — Malenia agreed.

  Alagana looked at the others.

  — Any objections?

  — None, — Karib, Malenia, and Graeme said in unison.

  What about asking me?! Deiv protested in his mind.

  But no one cared what he thought.

  From now on, he was Ghost.