Darkness.

  The STATE of the anomaly was damaged. Multiple issues were detected, but nothing that PROPHYLAXIS could not deal with. Discharge of copious amounts of LIFEFORCE was a bad idea since discharge points appeared to be blocked. Foreign bindings on HOST BODY were keeping it from breaking out.

  It was almost enough to register as a PROBLEM.

  The sudden influx of a foreign SOUL into HOST BODY triggered the reaction. The omphalos observed it, running equations about the relative value of utilizing the new SOUL PROTOTYPE as an acceptable substitute for BASE HOST.

  Silently, it ran the numbers.

  If the omphalos had lips, it would have pouted. 9%? That was practically nothing. Anything less than a 95% match was not worth considering. Normally, it would have left BASE HOST at the helm, but the unwanted attribute RATIONALITY was a recurring problem.

  It was an added attribute that came with its own share of benefits and concerns. The omphalos could work with a LIVING BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT, but the extra baggage of BASE HOST MIND and its unwanted attributes were a problem.

  Especially with MENTAL STATE maintained at a default HUMAN setting.

  How…[human adjective] tedious.

  The omphalos reached deeper. Vital statistics showed the situation was bordering on [human adjective] irksome. Any further decrease in MENTAL STATE to unacceptable levels of shock carried the potential to push the matter to [human adjective] aggravating.

  Unacceptable.

  The omphalos acted.

  A spherical wave burst from HOST BODY, invisible to all but omphalos-kind. The omphalos sensed the GREATER ANOMALY outside HOST BODY.

  Odd. It seemed like CRYPT OF FIENDISH WORMS was larger in size, but younger. It had an immense number of MONSTER HOSTS, but a majority were PRIMITIVE beings. It was spread out over a larger geographical area but equipped with rudimentary functions at best.

  A confusing confusion.

  Tempting. But deactivation of BASE HOST MIND would allow the PARASITE SOUL to take over and ALTER the HOST BODY.

  Not an option.

  The omphalos came to a decision. It was likely too early for this, but even HOST MIND needed to start somewhere.

  That was it. There was no turning back now.

  Yes. This would do. Wait—

  The omphalos did not curse its inability to frown. It did not have time nor inclination for such things. Instead, it simply ran the numbers once more.

  The GODDESS had a BOND with BASE HOST. Quite naturally SHE had recognized the ACTIVE ROLE the omphalos was taking in molding HOST BODY to suit its purposes better. This must have been the GODDESS’s attempt to balance the scales.

  Still, there was a TRUTH attached to this GODDESS.

  Not a bad augmentation. Allowed.

  …for now.

  BASE HOST activated. HOST BODY responded. Eyes opened.