A disease known as “Filth” was starting to spread on the uninhabited island.

The symptoms were that black ashes would begin forming on the limbs and body of the afflicted. These ashes would eventually spread across the body and expand their effects into other sections of the skin and turn them into the same ashes.

What was even more terrifying was that the ashes could spread into the body. The ashes started with only affecting the outer layer of the skin but as time pa.s.sed, not only did it spread outward, it began to spread inward deep into the skin as well.

The flesh, arteries, veins, even bones…

More teams were returning to the camp from their successful expedition of lighting the signal towers, but there was not the slightest hint of joy painted on the faces of the returning members. This was because each volunteer who lit up the signal tower was covered in these black ashes.

Some of the volunteers suffered its effects around the elbow region and it had spread through the greater half of their arm. The black ashes fell off constantly until all that was left of their arm was withered bones…

For some of the volunteers, it was their feet. The several hours' journey had completely shattered their legs and they had to be carried back by the others.

Meanwhile, some of the volunteers had black ashes stemming from their faces. They had essentially become blind and more than half of their face had corroded, leaving the brain structure inside the skull exposed.

This was the situation the people in the safe zone were currently dealing with.

“More than thirty people have lost the ability to care for themselves at all.”

Watching the h.e.l.lscape shown on the display, Yoru Kamidera turned to the researchers with their eyes widened and mouths agape. “Everyone, this is what we'll be researching…”

“So, what exactly is this 'curse' you speak of? Is this some sort of bacteria? Virus? Biological weapon?”

Both Adenauer and Erickson turned to Samuel for answers. After all, Samuel was the only certified biologist in the entire research team.

Safe to say that even Samuel was just as confused as they were. When he saw everyone turning to him for an explanation, he could only smile bitterly. “Consultant Yoru, please spare us the suspense. I'm sure that you're the only one in this entire laboratory who knows what the curse is, am I right?”

“Everyone, please don't be mistaken as this curse has nothing to do with biological weapons so you may rest a.s.sured.”

Yoru Kamidera rea.s.sured. “After all, this curse is far more powerful than biological weapons. If you compare its destructiveness to biological missiles, you should imagine it as comparing fireworks and nuclear missiles.”

“What!”

Hearing Yoru Kamidera state that this curse was unrelated to biological weapons eased their concern a little, but the sentence immediately after that stunned them yet again.

“I'm sure every one of you here has heard of the phrase 'meme'.”

Yoru Kamidera continued. “This phrase originated from the book 'The Selfish Gene' by the famous British scientist Richard Dawkins. It discusses the role played by genes in the process of biological evolution in the context of transmission of language, ideas, beliefs, behaviors, and whatnot. Alternatively, it can be viewed as a measurement unit for messages. Just like regular genetics, it has the shared characteristics of heredity, variability, and selectivity.”

“I do know this.”

“I know about this as well.”

Both Erickson and Adenauer nodded in unison when they heard of this. After all, they were professionals in psychology and sociology and had at the very least heard of the term.

“In that case, it'll be much easier to explain this.”

Yoru Kamidera nodded before raising his head and called out, “X-112, you can print the information now. Please print several additional copies.”

“Understood!”

An electronically synthesized voice of a woman was heard across the laboratory.

“Who were you speaking to?”

“That was the computer in the laboratory just now? Where is her host machine?”

“Oh my, she can understand such abstract languages?”

They were all extremely surprised by this sudden occurrence.

“She certainly is the computer of the laboratory. All of you have actually seen her host machine already.”

Yoru Kamidera pointed at the pitch-black spire on the display. “This is her host, her name is X-112. As it is, I'm the only one given the authorization to access her.”

“Are you kidding me?” Erickson was in disbelief. “How can the host of a computer be that gigantic black spire?”

“It's the truth.”

Yoru Kamidera did not further explain but instead handed out the copies of printed information to each one of them.

Samuel took the print, still undecided on what he had just been told. He saw that the first page contained a strange image.

It was a picture that deeply unsettled a person on a biological level. Based on Samuel's observation, he saw that the picture had several nuances used to exploit psychological perception. Let the chaotic scribbles looked like thousands of rotting corpses stacked on top of each other, painting an extremely violent and b.l.o.o.d.y imagery.

Upon closer inspection, he saw that this picture was a scribbled mess composed of irregular and disorderly lines and color polygons.

Additionally, the four corners of the picture were blacked out. When Samuel saw this, he was filled with a strange sense of disappointment of not being able to see the full picture.

“Alright, back to the main topic.”

Yoru Kamidera began his explanation, “What you are looking at now is a meme known as 'Filth'. It's a meme that a.s.sumes the form of a picture as a transportation medium. When you see this picture, you'll turn into ashes within a day, just like these victims.”

The hands of the three professors and the other a.s.sistants trembled when they heard this. Even the usually stout Samuel s.h.i.+vered at the thought of it.

“Professor Erickson, didn't you previously ask me how messages are supposed to kill people?”

Yoru Kamidera turned to the silent Erickson. “Now I can tell you the answer. These messages that transmit themselves in the form of pictures can turn anyone who sees it into a measly pile of ashes. This is how it can be utilized to kill!”

“You mean that anyone who sees this picture will end up like that? Then didn't we just…”

Some of the researchers among the group were starting to lose their nerves.

“Don't worry, the full effect of the meme can only be triggered upon seeing the full image. Nothing is going to happen to you all now.”

Yoru Kamidera a.s.sured them. “What you see now is a cropped version.”

They let out a collective faint sigh of relief when they were a.s.sured of this.

“But how exactly does this work…”

Erickson was visibly puzzled. “How does a mere picture achieve this effect? Is it a physiological virus?”

“Memes aren't viruses.”

Yoru Kamidera shook his head. “It does indeed qualify as a physiological virus if it requires a transmission material and a medium. The spread of a virus can only be possible provided there's a transmission medium such as air or blood. However, the 'Filth' image doesn't require either of this.

“It doesn't need a transmission source nor a transmission medium although strictly speaking, the image itself can be viewed as the transmission source while 'vision' and 'sight' is its transmission medium. Anyone who sees the picture will be infected by 'Filth'. This is how its transmission operates!”