Formless Signs

In the beginning, there were almost no signs.

In a place where none expected, something suddenly appeared, self-replicating and gradually spreading beyond.

From simple to complex, from mild to hostile, from harmless to lethal…

It continued to spread away, reaching out and breeding in ever elaborate and clever ways, consuming all that existed in the world, in the name of their own continuity.

The first time that the Mycroftians were made aware of that unusual plague—the Ultimate Virus—was from feedback and information provided by some adventuring parties and the Starherders who roamed the Multiverse. It appeared that some Void civilizations had implemented bizarre national lockdown policies, while other indigenous civilizations that had yet to reach into the Void displayed extremely abnormal signs of extinction.

It happened months after Joshua left.