Yarost is a weaponized, lab-altered strain of rabies engineered for rapid neurological degradation and extreme aggression in human hosts. The infection suppresses higher brain function and replaces it with instinct-driven behavior, effectively reducing subjects to feral, highly violent organisms. It is classified as a high-risk bioweapon due to its speed, lethality, and transmission potential.

Yarost activates approximately 28 seconds after entering the bloodstream, whether through injection or exposure via saliva. Initial symptoms include elevated heart rate, muscle spasms, disorientation, and intense internal heat. This rapidly escalates into seizures and full neurological override as the infection spreads through the central nervous system.

Infected subjects exhibit complete loss of higher cognitive function, including reasoning, memory, and self-awareness. Behavior becomes erratic, aggressive, and purely instinctual. Subjects will attack nearby targets indiscriminately, showing no recognition of allies or prior relationships. Vocalization may degrade into incoherent sounds or cease entirely.

Yarost is transmitted through infected saliva, most commonly via bites. Once transmitted, the infection follows the same rapid activation cycle in the new host. Due to the short incubation period, localized outbreaks can escalate into large-scale infection events within minutes if not contained immediately.

The infection targets the frontal lobe and other higher-function areas of the brain, causing irreversible damage. This results in permanent loss of identity, personality, and executive function. The subject cannot recover once the infection has taken hold.

Infected individuals demonstrate increased pain tolerance, heightened physical aggression, and reduced fatigue response. Despite this, the body undergoes rapid deterioration due to extreme stress, organ strain, and neural damage. Injuries are often ignored by the subject, further accelerating physical decline.

Yarost is ultimately fatal. Most infected individuals succumb within several days due to organ failure, neurological collapse, or accumulated physical trauma. Despite the short lifespan, subjects remain highly dangerous until death.

Containment of Yarost requires immediate isolation and neutralization of infected individuals. Due to the rapid transmission rate and lack of cure, standard protocol prioritizes eradication over recovery. Protective gear is mandatory when handling potentially infected subjects, and any exposure must be treated as a confirmed infection case.

Although higher cognition is lost, some infected subjects may retain the ability to respond to repeated stimuli or conditioning if exposure occurs early in infection. This response is inconsistent and unstable, resembling basic animal training rather than conscious obedience. Reliance on such behavior is considered highly unreliable and dangerous.

The exact origin of Yarost remains unclear. Available data suggests it was developed through the modification of an existing rabies strain, enhanced for rapid transmission and accelerated neurological impact. Multiple agencies are suspected to have contributed to its development before the project was abandoned or lost.

While the core Yarost strain remains consistent, minor variations have been observed. These differences affect onset time, aggression levels, and physical durability of the host. Mutations are rare but possible, particularly in uncontrolled outbreak environments.

Yarost does not survive long outside a host. Exposure to open air, extreme temperatures, or UV radiation rapidly degrades the virus. Transmission requires direct contact with infected bodily fluids, primarily saliva.

All known attempts to cure or reverse Yarost infection have failed. Antiviral treatments, neural stabilizers, and experimental serums have shown no success once the infection reaches the brain. Early-stage intervention is theoretically possible but has never been successfully documented.

No natural immunity to Yarost has been confirmed. Some individuals may exhibit delayed onset or partial resistance to physical degradation, but infection remains inevitable once exposed.

In the brief window before full activation, subjects may display: - Sudden aggression or irritability - Elevated body temperature - Muscle tremors or stiffness - Dilated pupils - Shortness of breath These signs escalate rapidly and should be treated as an immediate infection case.

Direct interaction with infected individuals is extremely dangerous. They exhibit no hesitation, fear, or pain response. Physical restraint is difficult due to heightened aggression. Use of long-range weaponry and protective barriers is strongly advised.

During outbreaks, infection spreads exponentially due to the short activation window. Initial victims quickly turn on nearby individuals, creating chain reactions of transmission. Urban environments are particularly vulnerable due to population density.

Witnessing Yarost infection has been shown to cause severe psychological distress in unprepared individuals. The rapid loss of identity and violent transformation often results in panic, hesitation, or breakdown among observers, increasing overall casualty rates.

Yarost is considered highly effective for destabilization tactics. Its rapid spread and uncontrollable nature make it suitable for causing chaos, overwhelming defenses, and collapsing organized resistance. However, its lack of precision and inability to distinguish targets make it equally dangerous to all parties involved.

Yarost is classified as an extreme biohazard and a violation of multiple international conventions on biological warfare. Its use is universally condemned due to its indiscriminate lethality and irreversible effects.

All infected subjects must be terminated to prevent further spread. Remains should be handled with protective equipment and either incinerated or contained in sealed biohazard units. Direct contact without protection is considered a high-risk exposure event.

Documented Yarost incidents consistently show rapid escalation, high fatality rates, and near-total loss of containment once the infection spreads beyond initial control points. Most outbreaks end only after complete neutralization of all infected individuals.

### **Stage 0 – Exposure (0–5 seconds)** The virus enters the bloodstream through injection or saliva transfer (typically via bite). No visible external symptoms yet. Internally, the pathogen begins rapid replication and movement toward the central nervous system. --- ### **Stage 1 – Onset (5–15 seconds)** Early physiological reactions begin. The subject may experience a sudden spike in heart rate, dizziness, muscle tension, and a sharp rise in body temperature. Minor tremors and disorientation are common. Cognitive function remains intact but begins to degrade. --- ### **Stage 2 – Neurological Breakdown (15–28 seconds)** The infection reaches the brain, aggressively targeting the frontal lobe. Subjects exhibit severe disorientation, loss of coordination, and involuntary muscle spasms. Speech may become slurred or fragmented. Panic, confusion, or sudden aggression can manifest as higher reasoning rapidly deteriorates. --- ### **Stage 3 – Full Conversion (≈28 seconds)** Complete neural override occurs. Higher cognitive functions—reasoning, memory, identity—are effectively erased. The subject enters a permanent feral state characterized by extreme aggression, instinct-driven behavior, and loss of self-awareness. From this point forward, the subject is considered fully infected. --- ### **Stage 4 – Active Infection (Minutes to Hours)** The infected individual displays sustained hyper-aggression, increased physical endurance, and diminished pain response. Behavior is erratic and reactive to stimuli such as movement, noise, or proximity. The subject will attempt to attack and bite others, facilitating transmission. --- ### **Stage 5 – Degradation (Hours to Days)** The body begins to deteriorate under extreme physiological stress. Symptoms include tissue damage, internal bleeding, and progressive motor instability. Despite visible decline, aggression remains high. Neural damage continues to worsen, leaving the subject in a constant state of feral activity. --- ### **Stage 6 – Terminal Collapse (Days)** Critical organ failure and total neurological shutdown occur. Motor functions fail, and the subject becomes physically incapable of sustained movement. Death follows shortly after. At this stage, the infection has fully consumed the host.