The Host

Megalysk

The massive bulk pulled itself from the darkness, its features illuminated only by a thin stream of light spilling through a crack in the cave roof.

It seemed to ignore the hunters as it dragged its enormous limbs through the dust towards the chasm, bone-like structures clinging to its flesh like armour.

Morbus’niln recognised the head that made up the giant’s back from her hunts, but the fire was gone from its lifeless eyes. Its form pulsed and shifted as though the dead creature were somehow still breathing.

The creature crouched over the chasm, illuminating the void with luminescent orbs lining a structure that could perhaps have been called its face. Its gullet quivered and expanded before it suddenly lurched forward, sending a ball of slimy sputum hurtling into the darkness below.

Morbus’niln watched the sac fall only a short distance before it struck something.

There, piled high upon the rocks in the darkness, were the corpses of Drakkaran, Dirmir, Confederation, and all manner of other creatures that had recently been slain.

As the sac of phlegm settled amongst them, it burst.

All manner of tiny creatures swarmed into the mound. The infected corpses twitched and jerked as the organisms already within reacted violently to the intrusion. Slowly, the flesh began to melt and the pile liquefied, until a skin formed over the mass of corpses.

Within the boil, the creatures fought and assimilated one another, gaining limbs, claws, teeth, and whatever other tools they required to survive.

Eventually, the boil would tear.

Those creatures that survived the conflict within would emerge into the open air, free to seek conflict elsewhere.

And there, more prey waited.

Megalysks are creatures that have managed to thrive amidst the chaos of the Host Mass, growing to immense size and becoming exceptionally deadly. Like many larger Host organisms, they are capable of carrying other Host creatures within their bodies, sending them hurtling forth to infect living prey and seed new outbreaks.

A Megalysk’s immense size also allows it to produce devastating ultrasonic shockwaves from its maw, capable of bursting organs and fracturing armour.

At close range, however, its sheer mass becomes its deadliest weapon.

With its enormous forelimbs and colossal weight, the Megalysk simply pulverises its victims into the ground.