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Description
Other names: V.I.P.E.R, V.I.P.E-R, Variably Inanimate Polymorphic Entity-Radioactive

Sex: N/A

Species: Mutated slime mold

Location of origin: Salem, New Jersey

Date encountered: May 16th, 1977

Total height: Variable

Total weight: Variable

Threat level: Extremely high

Aggression level: Low

-Gelatinous body renders it immune to physical damage

-Tentacles can be used grab and manipulate objects

-Can expel scalding hot Nebranium waste from any part of it's body in a stream. Fluid is hot enough to melt clothing and reduce human beings to skeletons. Fluid is extremely radioactive.

-Can fire a shotgun-like blast of solid pellets made from it's own mass. Utilizes air pressure to fire projectiles.

-Can use it's own mass to smother and suffocate attackers.

-Can feed off of any Nebranium-based materiel or other radioactive substances. Power plants and waste sites are prime targets.

-Moves by either extending pseudopods to drag itself across the ground, slithering, or both.

-Passive until provoked. Creature generally ignores other life forms unless they are directly hostile to it, wherein it will fiercely defend itself until the perceived threat is neutralized.

-Extremely radioactive. Mere seconds of exposure without protection can be fatal. Leaves highly irradiated slime webbing in it's wake. Lingering radiation has the added side effects of potentially creating other mutants from wildlife that comes into contact with it.

-Once it reaches a "critical mass" size, it will release a cloud of spores to reproduce. By far the most dangerous aspect of this mutant, as each individual spore can become an entirely new creature.

History:

Soon after the events in Harper's Ferry and the US Government's address to the country, a new threat was creeping it's way into existence near the recently converted Nebranium power plant in Salem, New Jersey. The area around the nearby disposal site was searched thoroughly for any sign of mutation as part of a new initiative to try and kill the monsters before they became large enough to pose a threat. So far, the effort had successfully eliminated several mutations and had even managed to terminate several that the US military previously lost track of, such as some of the Hobgoblins in Virginia and several off The Parasite's offspring in Pennsylvania.

However at the Salem site no mutants were found, but strangely neither was any Nebranium waste. Even more bafflingly, the area was extremely radioactive, far beyond the usual level of a properly maintained site such as this. The ground was also covered in a partially dried webbing of some kind that emitted extreme levels of radiation. The slime webbing was left in a trail that led into the lightly wooded areas nearby. There was no sign of any large creature in the area, and none of the chain-link fences surrounding the disposal site were disturbed.

That night, a group of teenagers reported to the police that they had been attacked by some strange animal and that it sprayed one of the teenagers with a boiling red fluid that left severe burns. They claimed that the animal turned aggressive after one of them attempted to poke it with a stick, only to find that the stick passed clean through the creature's body. Roughly two hours later, 3 out of the 5 teenagers died from symptoms matching that of acute radiation poisoning.

With the possibility of a mutant on the loose, the police transferred the case to the local government, who in turn called for assistance by the US Military. However instead of soldiers, help came in the form of the all too familiar unmarked black vans housing shifty men in hazmat suits and rifles of some kind. The area around were the creature was sighted was temporarily evacuated under the guise of a dangerous gas leak. Once the nearby neighborhoods were evacuated, the search for the mysterious animal began. The first spot to be searched was where the teenagers encountered the creature. The team found traces of the red fluid as reported, and upon approaching it, the team's Geiger counters spiked with activity.

The team cautiously took samples of the materiel and continued their search by following the trail of radiation. After around 30 minutes, the team came across what appeared to be an inert mass of gelatinous materiel around the size of a household refrigerator. The mass was dark red in color, and dotted with pinkish spots and hair-like fibers. Most notably, the mass was covered in a grey-blue slimy webbing. The approach of the team did not seem to illicit any reaction from the mass, nor did the flashing lights from their cameras. However it was when one attempted to take a sample of the mass did it react, violently.

The mass erupted into a mass of writhing tentacles, one of which grew a snapping set of jaw-like structures. The closest team member was hosed in boiling red fluid that melted through his hazmat suit and severely burned the man who collapsed in agony. Soon after, rifles clapped as the team opened fire on the gelatinous life form. Bullets passed harmlessly through the creature's gelatinous body, succeeding in aggravating it even further. Another stream of scalding hot fluid narrowly missed another man, his Geiger counter spiking with ticking as the fluid flew past him.

Unable to harm the creature and with one man sustaining life-threatening injuries, the team retreated and left the creature be, who fired another stream of fluid at them as they left. When the coast was clear, the gelatinous monster slithered it's way into the nearby river disappeared under the water. Nearly an hour after the team had encountered the new creature, the power in the neighborhood suddenly shut off as well as across town. Warning sirens from the Salem Nuclear Plant could be clearly heard in the distance. Knowing right away what was responsible, the team tended to the wounded before heading towards the power plant.

Upon arrival, they saw plant workers fleeing the station. When questioned, they stated that something had gotten inside the reactor core and was draining it completely, and whatever it was is putting out an extraordinary amount of radiation. Before anything else could be said, the entrance to the main reactor building began to expand and crack. Red gelatinous mass began to squeeze through the forming cracks before the entire side of the building bursted open. Rising from the rubble, the creature that had attacked them before had grown to gigantic proportions, far bigger than any known mutant on record thus far.

The gelatinous life form slithered out of the building, probing tentacles feeling the environment as though they had minds of their own. The creature made it's way to the plant's Nebranium stockpiles where it tore the structure open with a swipe of it's tentacles. More tentacles extended from the mutant's body, snaring numerous protective cases full of Nebranium fuel rods. The fuel rods where absorbed by the creature, floating within it's gelatinous body while slowly being broken down and added to the solid core inside the beast. The creature's body visibly began to bubble and swell in size as it fed on the Nebranium stockpiles unopposed.

Unequipped and unprepared for such a monstrosity, the team was forced to evacuate the area as the beast fed, growing ever larger in size. The next day, the entire region was without power from the previous night's attack. The enormous monster was being tracked via planes and helicopters, was considered an environmental hazard and any homes or towns in it's direct path were evacuated. The samples taken of the creature's fluids were expedited to Black Mountain for analysis and identification while the US Military prepared a response to kill the creature.

A week after the reactor attack, the mutant had taken up residence in a large lake several miles from where it first appeared, it's reddish flesh just barely visible below the surface as it's entire body was spread across the entire lake floor. Around it floated the remains of hundreds of dead fish and amphibians, killed by the radiation emitted by the creature. The mutant remained inert, and growing military presence around the lake did not seem to bother it as it rested on the bottom. Periodically, it would release gas pockets that brought items it accidentally absorbed to the surface such as logs, metal objects and debris.

Meanwhile at Black Mountain, scientists where able to identify the origin of the creature as well as a potential means to defeat it, but also some grim news. The monster was actually a species of heavily mutated slime fungus that likely came into existence by feeding off the Nebranium waste of the Salem plant, despite the dump site being well maintained and searched. The damp conditions in certain parts of the bunker proved ideal for mold growth. From there, constant exposure to the Nebranium radiation caused it to rapidly mutate and feed off the waste for sustenance until it tapped out the waste site before moving on to find more radioactive items to feed.

Unfortunately, they also predicted a grim outcome if the creature isn't killed soon: Once it feeds enough, it will grow to a "critical mass" state wherein it will release spores into the air. Each one of these spores is capable of becoming an entirely new creature, identical to the first. This would result in hundreds, possibly thousands of these mutants roaming the earth, contaminating everything they touch and potentially spawning even more mutants simply by existing. Fortunately, there was good news: the creature could potentially be killed if it absorbs a sufficient amount of Cadmium. The Cadmium would neutralize the radioactivity within the creature, and without the radiation to fuel it's metabolic processes, the mutant mold will quickly burn itself out and die.

Racing against the clock, the US military ordered 50 tons of Cadmium both in powder form and ingot form, the former in case the creature "spits" the ingots back out as it has been known to do with objects it cannot absorb. As the military made preparations to begin their attack, activity was reported by the garrison stationed to observe the creature resting in the lake. The creature began to move, condensing it's body into a more mobile form and rising from the heavily contaminated lake it was resting in. The troops in protective gear were ordered not to provoke the creature and simply follow it to keep tabs on it's location. Initial projections indicated that the mutant was heading towards the Hope Creek Generating station, a nuclear power plant. Likely intending to feed again, the military hastened their efforts to stop the creature before it reached the plant.

In attempt to deter the creature, tanks and helicopters were deployed to slow down the monster's advance while the Cadmium was delivered to the area of operations. Tank shells tore through the mutant's gelatinous body and exited without injuring the monstrosity. However these attacks did illicit a response of aggression from the creature which promptly returned fire with a stream of boiling fluid at the vehicles. The sturdy armor of the tanks prevented any damage from the fluid as it harmlessly sizzled on the metal. Seemingly aware that it's preferred method of attack was ineffective, the creature changed tactics and lashed out with it's tentacles. The tanks were able to shoot off a few of the appendages before the rest hit their mark, battering away the vehicles like toys. The severed appendages, as though alive, slithered back to the main body and rejoined it.

Another volley of tank fire again failed to harm the creature as helicopters rained down missiles and machine guns from above. The missiles passed through the creature's body and ended up nearly destroying friendly vehicles. Turning it's attention to the flying pests, the creature's exterior began to bubble before it fired off a blast of solid pellets made of it's own mass. The pellets ripped through the aircraft and brought the remains crashing to the ground. By now, the commotion had drawn the attention of bystanders and the news which aired the entire event live. Homes across America would get to witness just how ineffective their military truly was at stopping these mutations despite assurances by the government that the situation was under control.

Another blast of pellets eviscerated a line of tanks and deeply cratering the area around them, those lucky enough to survive and crawl out of their vehicles were promptly hosed down in scalding fluid and boiled to the bone. With these minor obstacles out of the way, the creature proceeded onwards to it's prize. As the mutant made it's way to the plant, in the distance numerous army helicopters approached carrying their payload of Cadmium. Unaware of the impending threat, the creature crawled atop the main reactor building and buried several tentacles into the structure. The appendages stretched and forced their way all the way down to the plant's core where it began to absorb the radioactivity within.

As the helicopters flew overhead, they watched as the creature began to swell in size, now as big as a several story building and nearly engulfing the plant itself. Several stalk-like structures emerged from several parts of the creature's body and blossomed into finger-like pedals: it was preparing to release spores once it had finished absorbing the reactor core. Noting this change in appearance, the order was given to begin dropping the Cadmium ingots first. One by one, entire crates were opened and dumped above the creature, each one landing inside of it with a plop.

The response from the creature's was immediate, it's body trembled in agitation as the Cadmium began to neutralize the radiation within it's body. The stalks began to wither away as the creature bellowed furiously. More cases of ingots were dropped on the creature, intensifying it's negative reaction and causing it's body to become slightly more liquid in composition. The creature raised it's mawed "head" at the helicopters and literally spat the ingots back out at the aircraft. The first helicopter was pelted by the metal, the ingots piercing through several areas of the helicopter like giant bullets.

With the Cadmium flushed from it's system, the creature's body gradually regained it's gelatinous form and it's stalks blossomed back to life. Now on the attack, the mutant fired a blast of pellets that shot down another helicopter carrying Cadmium ingots. With casualties beginning to mount, the order was given to drop both the powdered Cadmium as well as the ingots. The creature's stalks began to glow a faint red as red spores trickled from the finger-like pedals. It was now or never, as the creature was moments away from releasing clouds of spores that would ensure that the entire eastern seaboard and beyond would be uninhabitable.

The Cadmium was dropped, and once again the creature's body writhed with injury. Once again it was able to expel the metal ingots, but it was unable to expel the grey Cadmium power coated whole regions of it's body. Once again the stalks shriveled away, this time sloughing off and splattering onto solid ground in a messy pile. The creature's body rapidly began to bubble and liquefy, vast amounts of steam rising from it's melting flesh as more and more Cadmium powder and ingots were dropped on it. Too weak to expel the poison, the monstrosity lashed out with it's tentacles only for them to melt off of it's failing body.

Retracting all of it's appendages from within the reactor, the mutant attempted to escape it's attackers, but they relentlessly continued the assault until the creature was unable to move. The mutant thrashed and shrieked as it's individual fungal cells rapidly died off. Soon, the creature was reduced to a thick puddle of red ooze, dead at last. Though the mutant was dead, it was a Pyrrhic victory: Large swaths of Salem were rendered uninhabitable, and even more from contaminated water the creature traveled through. Additionally, the American public's faith in their government to protect them in this crisis was at an all time low, with protests and riots breaking out in Washington DC.

The US government would then funnel massive amounts of money into researching methods to destroy these creatures as quickly and cleanly as possible, with Black Mountain being at the forefront of this endeavor. Additionally, increased security was added to any and all Nebranium related sites such as mines and disposal areas. In Ashdowne, Pennsylvania, an operating base was established by the US military to better monitor the area and destroy any mutations that crop up. Similarly, another base was established in the remains of Harper's Ferry as sightings of The Cyclops and Hobgoblin attacks continued.

Description
Other names: V.I.P.E.R, V.I.P.E-R, Variably Inanimate Polymorphic Entity-Radioactive

Sex: N/A

Species: Mutated slime mold

Location of origin: Salem, New Jersey

Date encountered: May 16th, 1977

Total height: Variable

Total weight: Variable

Threat level: Extremely high

Aggression level: Low

-Gelatinous body renders it immune to physical damage

-Tentacles can be used grab and manipulate objects

-Can expel scalding hot Nebranium waste from any part of it's body in a stream. Fluid is hot enough to melt clothing and reduce human beings to skeletons. Fluid is extremely radioactive.

-Can fire a shotgun-like blast of solid pellets made from it's own mass. Utilizes air pressure to fire projectiles.

-Can use it's own mass to smother and suffocate attackers.

-Can feed off of any Nebranium-based materiel or other radioactive substances. Power plants and waste sites are prime targets.

-Moves by either extending pseudopods to drag itself across the ground, slithering, or both.

-Passive until provoked. Creature generally ignores other life forms unless they are directly hostile to it, wherein it will fiercely defend itself until the perceived threat is neutralized.

-Extremely radioactive. Mere seconds of exposure without protection can be fatal. Leaves highly irradiated slime webbing in it's wake. Lingering radiation has the added side effects of potentially creating other mutants from wildlife that comes into contact with it.

-Once it reaches a "critical mass" size, it will release a cloud of spores to reproduce. By far the most dangerous aspect of this mutant, as each individual spore can become an entirely new creature.

History:

Soon after the events in Harper's Ferry and the US Government's address to the country, a new threat was creeping it's way into existence near the recently converted Nebranium power plant in Salem, New Jersey. The area around the nearby disposal site was searched thoroughly for any sign of mutation as part of a new initiative to try and kill the monsters before they became large enough to pose a threat. So far, the effort had successfully eliminated several mutations and had even managed to terminate several that the US military previously lost track of, such as some of the Hobgoblins in Virginia and several off The Parasite's offspring in Pennsylvania.

However at the Salem site no mutants were found, but strangely neither was any Nebranium waste. Even more bafflingly, the area was extremely radioactive, far beyond the usual level of a properly maintained site such as this. The ground was also covered in a partially dried webbing of some kind that emitted extreme levels of radiation. The slime webbing was left in a trail that led into the lightly wooded areas nearby. There was no sign of any large creature in the area, and none of the chain-link fences surrounding the disposal site were disturbed.

That night, a group of teenagers reported to the police that they had been attacked by some strange animal and that it sprayed one of the teenagers with a boiling red fluid that left severe burns. They claimed that the animal turned aggressive after one of them attempted to poke it with a stick, only to find that the stick passed clean through the creature's body. Roughly two hours later, 3 out of the 5 teenagers died from symptoms matching that of acute radiation poisoning.

With the possibility of a mutant on the loose, the police transferred the case to the local government, who in turn called for assistance by the US Military. However instead of soldiers, help came in the form of the all too familiar unmarked black vans housing shifty men in hazmat suits and rifles of some kind. The area around were the creature was sighted was temporarily evacuated under the guise of a dangerous gas leak. Once the nearby neighborhoods were evacuated, the search for the mysterious animal began. The first spot to be searched was where the teenagers encountered the creature. The team found traces of the red fluid as reported, and upon approaching it, the team's Geiger counters spiked with activity.

The team cautiously took samples of the materiel and continued their search by following the trail of radiation. After around 30 minutes, the team came across what appeared to be an inert mass of gelatinous materiel around the size of a household refrigerator. The mass was dark red in color, and dotted with pinkish spots and hair-like fibers. Most notably, the mass was covered in a grey-blue slimy webbing. The approach of the team did not seem to illicit any reaction from the mass, nor did the flashing lights from their cameras. However it was when one attempted to take a sample of the mass did it react, violently.

The mass erupted into a mass of writhing tentacles, one of which grew a snapping set of jaw-like structures. The closest team member was hosed in boiling red fluid that melted through his hazmat suit and severely burned the man who collapsed in agony. Soon after, rifles clapped as the team opened fire on the gelatinous life form. Bullets passed harmlessly through the creature's gelatinous body, succeeding in aggravating it even further. Another stream of scalding hot fluid narrowly missed another man, his Geiger counter spiking with ticking as the fluid flew past him.

Unable to harm the creature and with one man sustaining life-threatening injuries, the team retreated and left the creature be, who fired another stream of fluid at them as they left. When the coast was clear, the gelatinous monster slithered it's way into the nearby river disappeared under the water. Nearly an hour after the team had encountered the new creature, the power in the neighborhood suddenly shut off as well as across town. Warning sirens from the Salem Nuclear Plant could be clearly heard in the distance. Knowing right away what was responsible, the team tended to the wounded before heading towards the power plant.

Upon arrival, they saw plant workers fleeing the station. When questioned, they stated that something had gotten inside the reactor core and was draining it completely, and whatever it was is putting out an extraordinary amount of radiation. Before anything else could be said, the entrance to the main reactor building began to expand and crack. Red gelatinous mass began to squeeze through the forming cracks before the entire side of the building bursted open. Rising from the rubble, the creature that had attacked them before had grown to gigantic proportions, far bigger than any known mutant on record thus far.

The gelatinous life form slithered out of the building, probing tentacles feeling the environment as though they had minds of their own. The creature made it's way to the plant's Nebranium stockpiles where it tore the structure open with a swipe of it's tentacles. More tentacles extended from the mutant's body, snaring numerous protective cases full of Nebranium fuel rods. The fuel rods where absorbed by the creature, floating within it's gelatinous body while slowly being broken down and added to the solid core inside the beast. The creature's body visibly began to bubble and swell in size as it fed on the Nebranium stockpiles unopposed.

Unequipped and unprepared for such a monstrosity, the team was forced to evacuate the area as the beast fed, growing ever larger in size. The next day, the entire region was without power from the previous night's attack. The enormous monster was being tracked via planes and helicopters, was considered an environmental hazard and any homes or towns in it's direct path were evacuated. The samples taken of the creature's fluids were expedited to Black Mountain for analysis and identification while the US Military prepared a response to kill the creature.

A week after the reactor attack, the mutant had taken up residence in a large lake several miles from where it first appeared, it's reddish flesh just barely visible below the surface as it's entire body was spread across the entire lake floor. Around it floated the remains of hundreds of dead fish and amphibians, killed by the radiation emitted by the creature. The mutant remained inert, and growing military presence around the lake did not seem to bother it as it rested on the bottom. Periodically, it would release gas pockets that brought items it accidentally absorbed to the surface such as logs, metal objects and debris.

Meanwhile at Black Mountain, scientists where able to identify the origin of the creature as well as a potential means to defeat it, but also some grim news. The monster was actually a species of heavily mutated slime fungus that likely came into existence by feeding off the Nebranium waste of the Salem plant, despite the dump site being well maintained and searched. The damp conditions in certain parts of the bunker proved ideal for mold growth. From there, constant exposure to the Nebranium radiation caused it to rapidly mutate and feed off the waste for sustenance until it tapped out the waste site before moving on to find more radioactive items to feed.

Unfortunately, they also predicted a grim outcome if the creature isn't killed soon: Once it feeds enough, it will grow to a "critical mass" state wherein it will release spores into the air. Each one of these spores is capable of becoming an entirely new creature, identical to the first. This would result in hundreds, possibly thousands of these mutants roaming the earth, contaminating everything they touch and potentially spawning even more mutants simply by existing. Fortunately, there was good news: the creature could potentially be killed if it absorbs a sufficient amount of Cadmium. The Cadmium would neutralize the radioactivity within the creature, and without the radiation to fuel it's metabolic processes, the mutant mold will quickly burn itself out and die.

Racing against the clock, the US military ordered 50 tons of Cadmium both in powder form and ingot form, the former in case the creature "spits" the ingots back out as it has been known to do with objects it cannot absorb. As the military made preparations to begin their attack, activity was reported by the garrison stationed to observe the creature resting in the lake. The creature began to move, condensing it's body into a more mobile form and rising from the heavily contaminated lake it was resting in. The troops in protective gear were ordered not to provoke the creature and simply follow it to keep tabs on it's location. Initial projections indicated that the mutant was heading towards the Hope Creek Generating station, a nuclear power plant. Likely intending to feed again, the military hastened their efforts to stop the creature before it reached the plant.

In attempt to deter the creature, tanks and helicopters were deployed to slow down the monster's advance while the Cadmium was delivered to the area of operations. Tank shells tore through the mutant's gelatinous body and exited without injuring the monstrosity. However these attacks did illicit a response of aggression from the creature which promptly returned fire with a stream of boiling fluid at the vehicles. The sturdy armor of the tanks prevented any damage from the fluid as it harmlessly sizzled on the metal. Seemingly aware that it's preferred method of attack was ineffective, the creature changed tactics and lashed out with it's tentacles. The tanks were able to shoot off a few of the appendages before the rest hit their mark, battering away the vehicles like toys. The severed appendages, as though alive, slithered back to the main body and rejoined it.

Another volley of tank fire again failed to harm the creature as helicopters rained down missiles and machine guns from above. The missiles passed through the creature's body and ended up nearly destroying friendly vehicles. Turning it's attention to the flying pests, the creature's exterior began to bubble before it fired off a blast of solid pellets made of it's own mass. The pellets ripped through the aircraft and brought the remains crashing to the ground. By now, the commotion had drawn the attention of bystanders and the news which aired the entire event live. Homes across America would get to witness just how ineffective their military truly was at stopping these mutations despite assurances by the government that the situation was under control.

Another blast of pellets eviscerated a line of tanks and deeply cratering the area around them, those lucky enough to survive and crawl out of their vehicles were promptly hosed down in scalding fluid and boiled to the bone. With these minor obstacles out of the way, the creature proceeded onwards to it's prize. As the mutant made it's way to the plant, in the distance numerous army helicopters approached carrying their payload of Cadmium. Unaware of the impending threat, the creature crawled atop the main reactor building and buried several tentacles into the structure. The appendages stretched and forced their way all the way down to the plant's core where it began to absorb the radioactivity within.

As the helicopters flew overhead, they watched as the creature began to swell in size, now as big as a several story building and nearly engulfing the plant itself. Several stalk-like structures emerged from several parts of the creature's body and blossomed into finger-like pedals: it was preparing to release spores once it had finished absorbing the reactor core. Noting this change in appearance, the order was given to begin dropping the Cadmium ingots first. One by one, entire crates were opened and dumped above the creature, each one landing inside of it with a plop.

The response from the creature's was immediate, it's body trembled in agitation as the Cadmium began to neutralize the radiation within it's body. The stalks began to wither away as the creature bellowed furiously. More cases of ingots were dropped on the creature, intensifying it's negative reaction and causing it's body to become slightly more liquid in composition. The creature raised it's mawed "head" at the helicopters and literally spat the ingots back out at the aircraft. The first helicopter was pelted by the metal, the ingots piercing through several areas of the helicopter like giant bullets.

With the Cadmium flushed from it's system, the creature's body gradually regained it's gelatinous form and it's stalks blossomed back to life. Now on the attack, the mutant fired a blast of pellets that shot down another helicopter carrying Cadmium ingots. With casualties beginning to mount, the order was given to drop both the powdered Cadmium as well as the ingots. The creature's stalks began to glow a faint red as red spores trickled from the finger-like pedals. It was now or never, as the creature was moments away from releasing clouds of spores that would ensure that the entire eastern seaboard and beyond would be uninhabitable.

The Cadmium was dropped, and once again the creature's body writhed with injury. Once again it was able to expel the metal ingots, but it was unable to expel the grey Cadmium power coated whole regions of it's body. Once again the stalks shriveled away, this time sloughing off and splattering onto solid ground in a messy pile. The creature's body rapidly began to bubble and liquefy, vast amounts of steam rising from it's melting flesh as more and more Cadmium powder and ingots were dropped on it. Too weak to expel the poison, the monstrosity lashed out with it's tentacles only for them to melt off of it's failing body.

Retracting all of it's appendages from within the reactor, the mutant attempted to escape it's attackers, but they relentlessly continued the assault until the creature was unable to move. The mutant thrashed and shrieked as it's individual fungal cells rapidly died off. Soon, the creature was reduced to a thick puddle of red ooze, dead at last. Though the mutant was dead, it was a Pyrrhic victory: Large swaths of Salem were rendered uninhabitable, and even more from contaminated water the creature traveled through. Additionally, the American public's faith in their government to protect them in this crisis was at an all time low, with protests and riots breaking out in Washington DC.

The US government would then funnel massive amounts of money into researching methods to destroy these creatures as quickly and cleanly as possible, with Black Mountain being at the forefront of this endeavor. Additionally, increased security was added to any and all Nebranium related sites such as mines and disposal areas. In Ashdowne, Pennsylvania, an operating base was established by the US military to better monitor the area and destroy any mutations that crop up. Similarly, another base was established in the remains of Harper's Ferry as sightings of The Cyclops and Hobgoblin attacks continued.