Infection

Most of this article is ripped directly from the Hollow Knight Wiki.
== Info ==
The Infection is the manifestation of the Radiance's sheer hatred towards Hallownest and its inhabitants in the form of a pathogen. Note that some bugs have the ability to withstand the Infection - such as the Mantis Tribe and some moths.
=== Initial Mental Manifestation ===
The Infection initially manifests itself through Dreams, using desires and planting false hopes in the minds of bugs. Eventually, the Infection grows dominant in their minds, which are broken, and their wills enslaved. This allows the Radiance to exert control over the bugs overtaken by the Infection and make them become part of her union - the Husks. As a result, they return to primal instincts and are driven mad, becoming much more courageous and aggressive. At advanced stages, Husks may become enlightened, their initial minds untouched but their wills wholly in the Radiance's hands (See: Preaching of the Infection). 
=== Physical Manifestation ===
The Infection manifests itself physically in beings in several ways, generally depending on how far the Infection has progressed. What is true for all beings who are Infected is that they release splatters of orange fluid when struck, while non-infected bugs release white particles. The eyes of most Infected beings glow orange, although this is not true for all of them.
In later stages of the Infection, the body of the Infected being starts to deform. Their body becomes distorted, with orange growths covering their body and sometimes their entire body swelling up with Infection. Orange gas may also seep from the growths. While Infected beings may be weak by themselves, the Infection grants them strength and empowers them.
Besides its direct effect on bugs and creatures, the Infection manifests itself physically in other ways. Corpses can be reanimated by the Infection or by Infected lifeforms such as Lightseeds or flies. It can also create single-celled lifeforms such as Infected Balloons. The Infection can also manifest as growths, vines, and noxious gas which cover the caverns.
Some powerful mages in the Husks, most notably Sol Aramis, had the ability to control infection to their will, manifesting complex structures of infection vines and blobs.
It should also be noted that the infection apparently had a sickly sweet smell.
== Point of Spread ==
Initially, the point of spread was null. It just existed in Hallownest. But after the Pale King trapped the Radiance inside the Hollow Knight, the infection began spreading from the vessel. Later in the base game, after Ghost killed the Hollow Knight and consumed the Radiance, Ghost was declared the new point of spread. 
After the Third Husk v Refuge War, the Black Egg, where Ghost resided, was sealed with layers of concrete and glyphs, severely dampening the infection's spread.
Category:Magic
Category:Affliction