Hybrids are half-Devil organisms.
.source
Hybrids are the result of a Clutch Beetle fusing with a vertebrate host, replacing their peripheral nervous system with the Clutch Beetle’s own. Hybrids can be born as such, already fused to a Clutch Beetle, if at least one of the parents is also a hybrid. The only exception to this rule is if one of the parents is a Fae/half-breed, in which case the child will be a half-breed/regular human.
.characteristic
Hybrids have increased reflexes and senses compared to their species’ baseline, or even restored if missing, as a result of using the Clutch Beetle’s neural infrastructure as their own. They also gain the Devil ability to sense and be empowered by fear, and their abilities scale with the local Anima density. The only sense that remains untouched is sight, as a result of it being part of the central nervous system.
Whenever a hybrid suffers lethal trauma, it will trigger an emergency failsafe in the Clutch Beetle, which will at all costs attempt to keep its host alive. During this state, the hybrid will undergo a transformation, reflective of the Clutch Beetle’s own abilities and the host’s genetic and psychological profile. Generally, these transformation will fall into three categories:
| Umbra | The hybrid’s entire body will undergo a transformation, forming a sort of suit around their body, which they feel and control as part of their anatomy. |
| Penumbra | Only certain body parts will transform, leaving the rest of the hybrid’s body as is, usually being more precise compared to other types. The most common type. |
| Antumbra | Instead of changing the hybrid’s own anatomy, it will create a second body. This double is constantly healing, its under direct control of the hybrid, who has a vague understanding of what it senses, and has a limited range, outside of which it will disintegrate. The rarest type. |
Hybrids in this state will also constantly regenerate, able to recover from almost all injuries, including those done to the central nervous system, as it will rebuild the body around the genetic blueprint acquired during fusion. The blood of the hybrid will also turn silver.
.limitations
All the abilities of a hybrid are powered by their own blood, which the Clutch Beetle uses as fuel. This means that the failsafe state will forcefully halt or not even trigger if the hybrid doesn’t have enough blood in their body. This can be somewhat circumvented by consuming the blood of others, which will be used instead, and can allow the hybrid to remain transformed indefinitely. Hybrids cannot heal from Phlogiston or Hellfire wounds.