If this happens in the comic, it’ll be in a chapter waaaaaaay down the line since I need to build the both of these guys up. But yeah, they despise each other. He’s stolen one too many souls and tried to steal hers. She’s kicked his glow-in-the-dark butt before and taken one too many back.
Nevermind the monsters--overexposure to pure fusion matter is one of the greatest dangers nearly everyone on Earth is at risk of. Minor side effects for standard humans/humanoids include aches, dizziness/confusion, and nausea, but the exposure can turn fatal at any point. All civilians are required to undergo routine check-ups because of this with Fusion Fighters experiencing them more often or even going through full-decontamination routines, the frequency depending on where they’re stationed and their activity in the field.
Stages of Fusion Infection:
STAGE ONE:
Most commonly, this stage forms from exposure to air pollutants where fusion matter has formed rather than direct contact. Often little-to-no sign of infection is recognized, and the subject remains in an overall healthy state. Any sign would include excessive weakness/fatigue and/or headaches as the most common side effects, with the worst being a sore throat, coughing, and/or slight chest pains.
STAGE TWO:
The subject has experienced direct contact with fusion matter. Depending on its concentration, the potency may vary, but this often results in nausea, inflammation or burning of the skin, slight disorientation, dehydration, sores, and/or flu-like symptoms. If the subject experienced direct contact with fusion matter on bare skin, bodily aches, inflammation, sores, or burns are almost inevitable. Phlegm has an obvious green color. If the subject has ingested fusion matter or if it has come into contact with an open wound, signs of nausea or illness are more likely. At this stage, the subject should seek full-decontamination and medical help as soon as possible to keep the symptoms from worsening.
STAGE THREE:
This stage is most often experienced by prolonged exposure to fusion matter without assistance or from experiencing large, sudden doses of it at once. Inflammation, burns, and/or sores have worsened; the aching sensation in the body is exceptionally painful and/or flu-like symptoms have strengthened; and/or the subject has begun to experience heavy disorientation, confusion, and/or fatigue. A fever or signs of dehydration should be highly evident, and vomiting may occur. The subject’s skin may begin to pale, or take on a faint grey-green hue.
STAGE FOUR:
Fusion matter has begun to greatly infect the body. The subject has difficulty moving/concentrating and should be in extreme pain. Multiple bodily fluids have a green discoloration, and the veins have begun to appear more evident through the skin with a green hue. The subject may have violent spasms or hallucinations when active.
STAGE FIVE:
The subject cannot regain consciousness and is in critical condition. Body temperature is either extremely hot or extremely cold. If the subject is not given immediate medical attention, the result will be fatal.
NOTES: Symptoms may overlap between stages. Subjects may also experience some relief after being removed from a heavily infected area; however, decontamination is still highly advised.
Immunities and Deterrents:
The only known natural immunity to fusion matter exposure as of yet stems from imaginary energy (IE). Thanks to their physical bodies’ high concentration of IE, both imaginary friends and nanos are completely immune to the effects of fusion matter. Humans with a higher IE can withstand exposure to fusion matter the most, with symptoms often taking longer to appear.
Many Underworlders like Grim, Him, and Dracula also don’t seem to experience any physical symptoms against exposure; although, they still mostly tend to keep away from it overall in case of any negative, mental side effects.
Fusion Fighter technology and armor often relies heavily on IE, with the energy acting as a natural, invisible “shield” of sorts to combat exposure in the field. IE can also be surged through most weapons to help battle against fusion monsters.
Some nanos can expand their IE to temporarily shield others--particularly their IE Donors--from the effects of fusion matter using the Antidote ability.
Fortunately, while some fusion monsters--such as fusion spawns--have purer concentrations of fusion matter, most fusion monsters tend to have diluted concentrations of it from melding with Earth’s own matter/energies. While this often makes them physically stronger, it also means that Fusion Fighters are less likely to experience strong, direct doses of fusion matter from them. As for Fusions, not enough research has been conducted to see how high their concentrations average; however, it’s theorized that they are largely made of pure fusion matter--with the exception of imaginary friend Fusions, whose natural IE constantly combats it.
Additional Side Effects:
With fusion matter allowing Fuse himself to establish a sort of hive mind with his minions, it sometimes means that a person can undergo a battle for their own mind after experiencing heavy exposure (around Stage Four). This is what causes hallucinations and for them to sometimes lash out violently, as their own will fights against the hive. There have been some cases, like with Kevin, where the individual lost all control of themselves. It was likely Kevin’s Osmosian DNA that kept him alive--if further pushing him in Fuse’s control from an additional loss of mental stability--depending on how he siphoned fusion matter’s properties as opposed to facing normal exposure. However, he still needed immediate care following the events of “Kevin Help Us.”
Luckily, this exposure doesn’t seem to effect a person down to their soul, as the only cases where spirits have been controlled by fusion matter is indirectly through beings like Fusion Demongo, thanks to his own abilities.
Direct exposure to fusion matter can--rarely--also result in a Fusion’s creation if enough is ingested or fused with a large DNA sample. One example of this is the creation of Fusion Cheese, as seen in the events of “Chocolate Milk.”
