What is a Kulreulian?
A Kulreulian is a human—genetically altered and neurologically transformed by a highly evolved strain of the rabies virus. No longer entirely human, and yet not fully something else, Kulreulians exist on the edge of science fiction and biological horror—living evidence of nature’s darkest mutations.
The Rabies Virus: A Brief Overview
Rabies is a neurotropic virus most commonly transmitted to humans through the saliva of infected animals, typically via a bite. In the United States, known carriers include bats, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and skunks, while in developing countries, stray dogs remain the primary vector.
Once symptoms begin—hallucinations, hydrophobia, aggression—the virus is almost always fatal. For centuries, this knowledge drove medical efforts to contain and eliminate rabies through vaccines and post-exposure treatments.
The Collapse of Control: Rabies in the 21st and Early 22nd Century
By the late 21st century, these treatments began to fail. Despite humanity's best efforts, the virus adapted.
Subtle mutations allowed rabies to resist traditional vaccines. At first, the changes were barely noticed—occasional anomalies in treatment success rates. But over time, the strain became more aggressive, more intelligent in its infection patterns, and far more resilient.
It began attacking the nervous system in novel ways, exploiting pathways previously untouched. It altered behaviors more deeply, more completely. It no longer simply killed—it rewrote.
As the virus evolved, it began integrating into the human genome. Its mutations extended beyond neurology, seeping into the very DNA of its hosts. The infected didn’t just suffer symptoms—they changed. Their bodies adapted to the virus. Their minds were reshaped. And their physiology began to reflect a terrifying new hybridization.
These altered humans—dubbed Kulreulians or Inhumans—represent a form of forced evolution. They exhibit heightened physical abilities, intelligence, extreme resistance to pain.
The Birth of a Kulreulian: Viral Legacy in the Womb
Despite its lethality, the evolved rabies virus—now considered a sentient strain by some xenovirologists—demonstrated remarkable strategic adaptation in the 22nd century. Once infected, a human host might show no signs of disease. In fact, most never do.
Modern vaccines, though increasingly ineffective in eliminating the virus completely, have succeeded in one way: they suppress active neurological infection. However, this only forces the virus to evolve further.
Rather than destroying its host, the virus waits.
In its dormant state, the virus embeds itself deep within the host's genome, undetected by the immune system and unaffected by standard antivirals. It lingers silently—harmless in appearance, but always present.
The true transformation doesn’t occur in the infected individual, but in their offspring.
During pregnancy, the virus exploits a narrow biological window. As the fetus begins to form, the virus—carried within the mother or father—activates. It bypasses immunological defenses and integrates into the developing embryo at the genetic level.
Over the course of nine months, the virus alters neurological pathways, enhances musculoskeletal development, and triggers dormant genes associated with primal survival instincts. The result is a child that is born fundamentally different from its parents.
Anatomy of a Kulreulian Birth
These children emerge with distinct features: heightened muscle density, sharpened reflexes, and eyes adapted for tracking movement in low light.
Every Kulreulian born this way is also a carrier. The virus lies encoded in their biology, present in their saliva, blood, and tissue. While the chances of transmission vary, a bite from a Kulreulian has a significantly high probability of spreading the dormant virus to others.
