Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Poison (continued)

The triangle on the collarbone is dead.The larvae stopped growing because the damage from the fork was so severe.When the larva "dies", let's call it dead, it no longer produces the chemical compound that maintains the outer hard shell of the reader sphere.At this point, the deadly catalyst within each sphere continues to eat away at its outer shell—but no substance can yet replace the decomposed outer shell components. The spherical "readers" exploded one after another, and catalysts splashed into the triangular body. The catalyst causes two reactions: one, decomposing cellulose; two, causing apoptosis.

Apoptosis means that cells in the body begin to destroy themselves.Normally, this is a good thing, billions of cells "choose" to self-destruct every day because they are damaged, infected or rendered useless.At the same time, factors outside the cell can cause it to self-destruct, such as the immune system.Every cell in the body carries a code for self-destruction. Catalysts activate codes in every cell they come in contact with. When these cells choose to self-destruct and release their cytoplasm into the surrounding area, they also send a signal for self-destruction. What's next?liquefaction.Slowly at first, only a few cells liquefy, but each dead cell will force its surrounding cells to compromise, so that the continuous surge of liquefied cells can decompose a complete body within 48 hours.

Fortunately for the host, the surviving triangle was able to continue making the compound, not only continuing to maintain the shell of each spherical "reader," but neutralizing much of the cascade of apoptosis.Unfortunately, however, the concentration of catalyst concentrated near his collarbone was too high to be fully neutralized. In this way, the cellulose slowly breaks down, the cells slowly self-destruct, and liquefaction begins. The rot has also begun...