In the early years of the Antithesis incursion, there was a mad rush for anti-antithesis weaponry, which led to some enterprising corporations testing biological weapons on the antithesis. This led to widespread disease and famine across Asia as the weapons quickly got out of control. - The Early Years of the Antithesis Invasion by John Leech

I'd only descended a few flights of stairs before the antithesis started showing up; at first, it was just a few Model Threes, but more and more kept coming up the stairs.

This must be the primary way they are travelling between floors. This stairwell could lead to the hive.

“I will need some better ordinance if I get down these stairs. Give me one of those grenades.”

Current points 465

Bio-Oxidative Microbe Bomb - 5 points

Total left 460 points

The grenade popped into my open hand. I did a small prayer, twisted the top three times and threw it into the mass of antithesis I was barely keeping at bay because of the tight stairwell. Three seconds later, a loud hiss broke out from the swarm, and a thick green cloud engulfed me.

Any antithesis caught in the cloud began to get eaten away at by it as if the cloud were acidic. Within seconds, the thinner parts of the antithesis, like the joints, were eaten through, immobilising the antithesis.

With the influx of points you are getting right now, you should get some equipment or a new catalogue to help with crowd control. Right now, you are well equipped to deal with single targets, but as we get closer to the hive, more hordes of lower models will appear. Luckily, we are in an enclosed place right now, which limits what the hive can send to us.

“What sort of options do I have?” I was looking forward to what Amanyta would come up with. It was known that the Samurai could gain access to a near-limitless variety of alien technology.

Firstly, you can continue to use your grenades, and the Class I Explosive Ordinance allows you to purchase a grenade launcher and a variety of other larger weapons.

Getting a grenade launcher right now seemed redundant, as I could still purchase grenades. I had no doubt that Amanyta could and would find the perfect one for me, but I just didn't have much use for one right now.

Secondly is the cheapest option as you already have all the catalogues you need. You could purchase a modified flamethrower that spews aerosolised biological weapons similar to your grenades.

A modified flamethrower could be quite useful. With the tight hallways I'd been fighting through, I could make short work of the antithesis.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The last option is a bit esoteric. You could purchase the Class I Mycelar Technologies catalogue. The Mycelar are a race of fungal aliens known to be skilled in biology. Whilst unlocking the catalogue would be expensive, it would allow you access to a plethora of equipment for your own lab. But what really stands out is how they fight the antithesis. The Mycelar have modified an offshoot of their fungi to be parasitic towards the antithesis, allowing them to take control of them.

“So they've created zombie antithesis?” There was a similar fungus here on earth called cordyceps that, by the sounds of it, had done a similar thing to bugs. However, it had mutated a few years after the antithesis invasion to infect humans. It wiped out a few Brazilian cities before a group of Samurai firebombed the area.

It's quite a bit more complicated than that, but we can review the science behind it later. But essentially, yes. Based on your question, I assume you're interested.

“Yeah, it sounds like something right up my street. I actually wrote my Masters thesis on using fungal spores to hamper antithesis growth.”

I read it; it was a fascinating piece. Staying on track, there is a small caveat to controlling the infected antithesis. The Mycelar can control the infected because the fungus is a modified offshoot of their main bodies. For you, there is really only one way to control the infected antithesis, and that would be splicing a strain of the fungus directly into your brain.

“What! Splicing a strain of fungus that takes control of the host to my brain does not sound like a good idea.”

I understand your concerns, but the strain that would be spliced would be entirely symbiotic, and its primary function would be to act as a relay between you and the fungus. If there is any adverse effect, you can purchase an antifungal that would completely clear out the fungus from your body for only a single point.

“Fine, purchase the catalogue. I trust you, Amanyta. " While creating and controlling a horde of ‘undead’ antithesis sounded great, the thought of having the same fungus in my head worried me a little.

I will be teleporting the fungus into your brain so you will have a sudden sense of vertigo as well as a killer headache that you can cure with a simple medicine. Do you want me to purchase it?

“Sure, no point in suffering.”

Current Points 665

Class I Mycelar Technologies Catalogue - 100 points

Mycelar Master Strain - 50 points

Neuro-Relief - 5 points

Total left 510 points

A wave of vertigo assaulted me, and placing my hand on the wall to steady myself was the only thing that stopped me from toppling over. A thunk beside me indicated where Amanyta had placed the medicine. Gingerly bending down, I opened the box and picked out the small inhaler.

I suggest taking it now. In about fifteen seconds, the headache will hit as the Master Strain begins connecting to your neurons. I also recommend you sit down.

Quickly Huffing the inhaler, I sat down. I had expected more pain from something splicing itself to my brain, but instead the vertigo got worse, and my nausea increased but no pain came.

Incursion Detected!

It would seem that either the break out of antithesis has been noted, or they have managed to escape the building.

“Great, that means we might be able to get some more Samurai to help contain whatever Pinnacle was fucking with.” Standing as the last of the vertigo faded, “Best get started.”