Sly Foxx saw it clearly, a glowing fungus spore erupted from the head of the dead Bone Collector but no one else seemed to have noticed.
Unable to speak because of his swollen tongue, Sly could only watch helplessly as the glowing red spore shot towards him.
"I know what you're thinking," said the glowing red sentient fungus spore. "I'm a plant master that had failed my tribulation and been reduced to this lowly life form…I've been searching for years for a decent host and now I finally found you."
He surmised from its words that this particular parasitic fungus had long since hijacked the Bone Collector's body turning it essentially into a mindless zombie.
This was no ordinary fungus found in the dense forest; the color of its essence was ruby red that meant it had been around for more than 10,000+ years.
An opportunist, it had spent years searching for a suitable host to infect with fungal spores.
Until Sly none of its other choices were able to survive the fusion and become a new home for the parasite.
Dr. Jennings couldn't seem to hear the fungus talking to Sly; he was still distracted with fighting the Ant Queen and company.
Eventually, the Ant Queen retreated but there were still ants lingering to ensure the outsiders didn't follow the Ant Queen and her loyal protectors underground.
Sly's body was still paralyzed by the venom from the Bone Collector and the allergic reaction from the ant bites.
He could feel the rare spirit essence fruit coursing through his veins but it wouldn't heal him in time to prevent being taken over by the new threat from the parasitic fungus.
Without any warning, the fungal spore attached itself to Sly's chest.
That was still recovering from surgery and forced itself inside violently tearing open the stitches that had just recently started to heal.
Slowly, entering and shoving its way in causing a great deal of horrid pain while infecting Sly's body!
He had no protection from this invasion and his body started to react immediately moving from hot to cold in a heartbeat.
Icy green vine-like tendrils that glowed red wrapped around his body.
The sentient spore started chanting in a high-pitched sing-song manner.
As if thanking its ancestors for the feast it was about to devour.
Then the sound became almost indistinguishable as it devolved into humming, making Sly's hair stand on end and shivers ran down his spine.
It felt like the natural defences, parasites of his own body, his own bacteria that fought off common colds, were fighting against this intrusion in vain.
Failing miserably as the parasitic invasion overpowered his immune system causing a severe fever and inflammation.
By now his body was covered with the spores of the fungus from head to toe he was covered in something that reminded of a red moss.
It felt like he was turning into a statue while being absorbed by the green fungus covering him inch by inch and making Sly unable to move.
His skin was now a blotched itchy red that it was hard to tell the difference between his skin and the red glow of the parasitic fungus.
"Help me," Sly mouthed.
The pain was all over his body but the most excruciating pain was centered around his temple.
Everything about the pain felt surreal and unbearable.
Clutching his head, Sly wanted to curl up into a ball but couldn't because his body felt frozen and no matter what he tried he just couldn't move.
Tears slid from his eyes but became almost frozen on his face because of the cold from icy fungus tendrils.
Who knows how long Sly lay there in a pool of his own blood that seeped out from his reopened chest wound.
As the parasitic fungus slowly covered his entire face and he sunk into a red bog of despair.
Wrapped up in a reddish green parasitic cocoon the world was instantly blacked out.
Suddenly the blinds that covered his eyes were removed and he could see again it was no longer pitch black all around.
It felt like mentally Sly had been transported to a new world the likes he had never seen before nor knew existed.
"I've never seen anything like this before!" exclaimed Sly loudly.
All the wounds on his body had been healed, the venom was gone from his body and the color of his skin had returned to normal.
Everything about himself and this new environment felt strange and wonderful.
Instinctively, he felt no fear which left him feeling bewildered.
Why did he feel so calm and safe in this alternate reality?
Subconsciously, it felt like he was no longer in the Dara Forrest but even though he had never been to this unusual place before it also felt somewhat familiar.
"Hello, anyone there?" asked Sly. "Where am I?"
"Welcome to your spirit landscape, it exists in your mind," responded an unknown voice.
Sly looked around but he could not see or hear where this voice was coming from, he felt somewhat embarrassed as if he had been talking to himself.
Wasn't this the first sign of an insane individual, when you ask questions then start answering yourself.
Undeterred Sly continued to question this unknown entity determined to get some answers.
"Who are you? … Why don't you show yourself?"
"I'm your guardian spirit. You don't possess much spirit essence and I'm very weak from sealing off that parasitic fungus but if you really want to see me just keep walking forward."
It was at that moment that Sly looked down and realized that he wasn't on solid ground.
All around him was a vast mental landscape that reminded him of a very calm sea.
How was he able to walk on water?
"That's because I'm assisting you," came the bold response.
Was this guardian spirit also able to read his mind?
Nothing should surprise him anymore but it did.
Every step he took caused waves to spread out from his feet but Sly didn't want to sink into this limitless ocean.
"Don't worry, I won't let you fall. You are the last of the Foxx Clan and it is my duty as your guardian deity to keep you safe."
His words angered Sly and triggered his temper.
"Some guardian deity you are!" Sly shouted without hesitation, "where were you when my family needed saving?"
A/N: Age & color coding of spirit essence: Pearl: 10+ years, Amber: 50+ years, Amethyst: 100+ years, Emerald: 500+ years, Sapphire: 1,000+ years, Ruby: 10,000+ years, Diamond: 100,000+ years, Jade: 1,000,000+ years.