Line #60 Main/TheCorruption


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9	[[quoteright:300:[[Film/SpiderMan3 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spidermandoeswhateverasimbiotecorrupts_6033.jpg]]]]
10	[[caption-width-right:300:The itsy-bitsy [[TheSymbiote symbiote]] crawled up the [[Franchise/SpiderMan spider's]] arm...]]
11
12	->''"Don't you feel the power? Soon '''everything''' will be corrupted. Including '''you'''."''
13	-->-- '''Ghor''', ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption''
14
15	The Corruption is a force of chaos that gives some of its victims a SuperpoweredEvilSide before (or while) it mutates them into mindless monsters. The BodyHorror transformation [[TheWorseningCurseMark progresses gradually]], and the final result tends to be a hideous, slithering creature that looks like [[LovecraftianSuperpower the spawn]] of an EldritchAbomination, an EnemyToAllLivingThings capable of inflicting the Corruption on any creature falling into its [[CombatTentacles tentacled clutches]].
16
17	In the standard plotline, it will usually infect TheHero at some point. While [[VampireRefugee seeking to cure themself]], the infected hero must [[ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil struggle with malign influence]] and limit use of the [[SuperpoweredEvilSide evil powers]] granted by the Corruption, since using them tends to corrupt them further.
18
19	This often works by an interesting rule: {{Mooks}} and {{Red Shirt}}s tend to be turned into raving, mindless beasts/monsters. If the hero or the villain catches it, they get CursedWithAwesome superpowers. HeroicWillpower is probably the reason for this [[StagesOfMonsterGrief temporary(?) emotional stabilization]]. Named villains and extras will usually [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope give in to it]] much more quickly for the powers, and quickly [[TranshumanTreachery betray humanity]] because of it. Expect them to get DrunkOnTheDarkSide and suffer a SuperPowerMeltdown because of it. Remember, EvilIsNotAToy.
20
21	Nastier versions require a MercyKill. They may, in DyingAsYourself, recover for just a few moments, but only if mortally wounded. Contrast with PowerDegeneration, where the cause of eventual death is overuse of superpowers, or simply having them.
22
23	In video games, a NonstandardGameOver may occur when the player is corrupted too much. You can tell you're getting too close to the edge if the PC gets TaintedVeins and UndeathlyPallor.
24
25	Often related to TheDarkSide. Compare with WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity and EvilMakesYouUgly, and contrast TheCorrupter, who also does their best to turn other characters evil, but is also a character in their own right, rather than an impersonal force. It's usually represented visually by gaining VolcanicVeins, a RedRightHand, and a GameFace or even a full-on SlowTransformation of the TheWorseningCurseMark. Someone with IncorruptiblePurePureness may be immune to its influence or may become a victim of a metaphysical variant of TheWorfEffect, succumbing to show how powerful the Corruption is.
26
27	Due to the BodyHorror involved, it's a potent source of NightmareFuel.
28
29	For when the evil force corrupts a ''location'' instead of a character, see EvilTaintedThePlace. For when the corruption is so resilient that it turns into another creature after being "cleansed", see ResidualEvilEntity.
30
31	Not to be confused with [[VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption the third game]] in the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' (even though it uses this trope as a critical story element). Nor should it be confused with [[CorruptPolitician corruption of the political variety]]. Or [[CorruptCorporateExecutive the corporate variety]]. Or [[OminousVisualGlitch the visual variety]].
32
33	----
34	!!Examples:
35
36	[[index]]
37	* TheCorruption/AnimeAndManga
38	* TheCorruption/{{Literature}}
39	* TheCorruption/TabletopGames
40	* TheCorruption/VideoGames
41	[[/index]]
42
43	[[foldercontrol]]
44
45	[[folder:Comic Books]]
46	* [[spoiler:[[ComicBook/WonderGirl Donna Troy]]]] after she's bitten by [[NightmareFuel her own dead infant son]] in ''ComicBook/BlackestNight''.
47	* Jackie Estacado is the receiver of this in the appropriately-named comic ''ComicBook/TheDarkness''.
48	* In ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfZelda'', the Triforce of Power was like this as it started turning Link into a Ganon-like creature once he took possession of it. As Zelda pointed out, Power without Wisdom means nothing; unwilling to become another Ganon even though he expected giving up the Triforce of Power would probably kill him, Link tossed it. The power of the Triforce of Courage ended up restoring him to normal when it decided to reclaim him for getting rid of the other Triforce.
49	* ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'':
50	** In the ''ComicBook/CaptainBritain'' storyline "[[ComicBook/CaptainBritainACrookedWorld A Crooked World]]", the superhero-killing machine called the Fury repairs itself with [[HumanResources organic material]] -- and anyone unlucky to have contact with it in its fix-up mode gets infected with its {{Nanomachines}} (though the term wasn't used back then) and turned into a monstrosity. Unusually for this trope, it doesn't [[SuperpoweredEvilSide make the victim evil]], just insane, hideously deformed, and easily mistaken for the Fury in a world where superheroes are trying to destroy said machine on sight.
51	** ComicBook/{{Venom}} and other symbiotes from ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' are alien parasites that grant their hosts a variety of powers but also [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity tend to affect their moods and personality]], and can be [[ClingyCostume quite clingy]] and possessive as well.
52	** The Technarch Transmode virus in ''ComicBook/XMen'', even in an otherwise benign symbiosis, such as between Warlock and Cypher, and works both ways; as the organic life-form becomes techno-organic the infector becomes Magus, a more powerful entity hostile toward organic forms and its own offspring.
53	* In ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'', the Nightmare Forces kidnap and slowly corrupt Rarity in the 6. Issue, thus they embody this trope. [[ManipulativeBastard They do this by toying with her emotions]] and playing with her fear of losing her friends which culminates in her becoming Nightmare Rarity as she succumbs to their corruption.
54	* Inverted in ''ComicBook/{{Sojourn}}''. Originally, the sigils are neutral symbols, the good part balancing the evil part; however, Mordath's malice changed that symbol into one with two evil parts.
55	* Every time ''ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'' uses the powers being a Hellspawn grants him, he gets a little bit closer to completely losing his humanity and becoming the commander of TheLegionsOfHell.
56	* ''ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW'':
57	** One of the earliest Primes, Nova Prime, became infected with a parasitic energy known as "The Darkness" that dwelt in the ominously named [[{{Mordor}} Dead Universe]]. It was unclear exactly how much of what he did was down to his own expansionist philosophies and how much was the result of the Darkness controlling him, but it was clearly sentient on some level. Not helping was that Nova was already a dick before it got its tendrils into him. All The Darkness seems to have done is change his color-scheme and give him some super-powers.
58	** Cyclonus is a clearer example, being a proud warrior who developed AxCrazy tendencies after being corrupted by the Dead Universe. Unlike his comrades he was well aware that this was a problem.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Fan Works]]
62	* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': [[Characters/AbraxasHrodvitnonTitansAndOtherCreatures The Many]] is a [[TheVirus Virus]]-type [[TheAssimilator Assimilator]] created from Ghidorah's remains which turns its victims into monstrous, super-durable abominations whilst assimilating them into the HiveMind.
63	* A common result of exposure to the warp in ''Fanfic/AgeOfStrife'':
64	** [[spoiler:The entire 504]] is slowly being corrupted by Khorne.
65	** The military of Greengraft starts having problems with warp mutation after [[spoiler:the warp rift at Glass Canopy.]]
66	** [[spoiler:Dia herself]] eventually acquired a giant corrupting scar courtesy of Khorne after the same incident.
67	** [[spoiler:Mirande]] ends up with burning blood after direct physical and mental contact with a daemon.
68	* ''Fanfic/AllGuardsmenParty'': The weapons produced by "the Box" [[spoiler:slowly mutate their wielders into Orks. This is because it's a heretek manufactorum that uses servitorized orks as assembly line workers.]]
69	* This is a main theme in ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' fanfic series, the ''Fanfic/BoundDestiniesTrilogy'', and its especially prevalent in anything having to do with Link's character development across each story.
70	** In ''Blood and Spirit'' this is one of the important subplots in the story. [[spoiler: After receiving a wound in battle against the Fierce Deity, Link starts to be corrupted by Majora in the same manner as Terminus's hero was. However, thanks to his strong HeroicSpirit, Link is able to resist it a bit more effectively, though he still cannot fully get rid of it. And even despite his resistance, the demon constantly assaults the hero, physically and mentally as it tries to wear him down throughout the course of the story.]]
71	** In Wisdom and Courage, this theme is toned down a bit, but still present. [[spoiler: Not confident that he will be able to face Veran in battle and win, Link turns to the Fierce Deity's Mask to grant him more power, despite the fact that he is warned that it could overtake his mind and spirit. And, when he puts the mask on for the first time in the story in chapter 29, he almost does lose himself to it, only to be brought back to his senses at the last minute by Zelda. However, due to Veran effectively breaking him by seeming [[ForcedToWatch to kill Zelda in front of him]] in chapter 33, he is apparently corrupted for a short time, until his spirit begins to fight back against the mask's influence and he is actually able to use its power to defeat Veran once and for all.]]
72	* The [[spoiler:[[Franchise/KingdomHearts The Realm of Darkness]]]] is described as such in ''Fanfic/ClashOfTheElements''.
73	* A very subtle application in ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi''. At first it seems to be merely the compromises Ami is forced to make - She's TrappedInAnotherWorld, and it's a rough place, even when one doesn't have both the Villains AND the [[WhatTheHellHero Heroes]] after her. But slowly things like giggling in a creepy manner at inappropriate times, and clothing that spontaneously turns black and grows bat-motifs starts sneaking up on her...
74	* The Nightmare forces to Luna in ''Fanfic/EquestriaAHistoryRevealed''. Of course, she was already toeing the line of evil before, but after seeking them out, they accelerated her fall. [[spoiler: And they were responsible in helping her darkness win the battle in her heart and complete her transformation into Nightmare Moon.]]
75	* ''Fanfic/FateParallelFantasia'' has "All Evils of This World", the curse which has corrupted the Grail and transforms any Servant exposed to it into their Dark form. The increased power is accompanied by the twisting of their minds, though True Rider finds that she's able to resist to an extent when False Avenger's attention isn't focused directly on her.
76	* [[spoiler: The voice in Luna's head]] from ''Fanfic/TheGodEmpressOfPonykind''. [[spoiler: It convinces Luna that Celestia doesn't care for her and sidelines her to [[AttentionWhore take all the glory for Herself]]. It turns out to be [[ManipulativeBastard Tzeentch]], who faked his death in a gambit to get rid of the Emperor]].
77	* In the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' fic ''Fanfic/KingOfKingsRulingOverRulers'', the deity known as Tau is the embodiment of corruption. However, the corruption is not portrayed as an evil entity , but as a force of change. It is worth to mention that corruption was the first thing to exist in all of reality, and that reality itself is a corruption of nothingness.
78	* The unnatural blend of light and dark magic that is [[spoiler: Celestia's cutie mark spell]] in Act II of ''[[Fanfic/TheEquestriaChronicles Legends of Equestria]]'' functions this way for the Everfree Forest (where the spell was originally cast), corrupting it over time from a beautiful, peaceful place into a twisted shadow realm.
79	* Most of the remnants of [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Nightmare Moon]] in ''Fanfic/PastSins''. The remnants that aren't? Those would be Nyx.
80	* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic series, the ''Fanfic/BloomingMoonChronicles'', the Clay of Prometheus is an example of this, being explicitly referred to as "corruption" on various occasions. It is not an entity; rather it is a sort of life-force that takes the form of black mire. While it is used with malicious intent in some cases, such as with the Tyrant Wyrms, certain characters are able to harness the corruption and use it for good; for example, Scrivener Blooms, Innocence, and Thorn.
81	* ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'' features Shadow Pokémon, as seen below in the Video Game folder.
82	* Dark Chaos Energy from ''Fanfic/SonicXDarkChaos''. The negative energy of the Emeralds of Power given physical form, it is a highly toxic blue substance that is extremely radioactive, highly corrosive, and mutagenic. It is capable of corrupting and twisting anything.
83	* ''Fanfic/ReCoded'': The Laplace corrupts any program or person it encodes itself to, making them villainous or turning them into self-aware puppets. [[spoiler:Ghost Girl and Blood Shepherd fall under Laplace's control after a botched operation and are forced to fight their allies, Queen is hinted to have fallen into SanitySlippage after linking her mind to it, and Revolver is also corrupted by it after Queen's attempt to turn him into her knight and would have turned bloodthirsty and destroyed everything if he wasn't stopped.]]
84	* In ''Fanfic/ShatteredSkiesTheMorningLights'', [[Anime/SmilePrettyCure Joker]] is able to induce this in the [[Manga/CardcaptorSakura Clow and Sakura Cards]] [[spoiler:and Tomoyo.]]
85	* ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'': The taint. Described as like magical radiation but far worse, it horrifically mutates any living thing it touches, inevitably into something far more violent and dangerous. And unlike radiation, there is absolutely no known protection from it. Magic, shielding, and various healing potions do nothing to stop it. Littlepip finds an old taint warning that recommends not even ''looking'' at taint.
86	* ''Fanfic/QueenOfShadows'': The more that [[ActionGirl Yasashi]] uses [[spoiler: the mask made from [[TheDreaded Tsume]]]], the more unstable and aggressive she becomes. This finally reaches its breaking point during the Battle of Tobe, where [[spoiler: her rage at Ikazuki [[WreckedWeapon destroying Houka]] causes her to have a FreakOut and transform into a human/Gani hybrid]].
87	* ''Fanfic/ReMyHostageNotYours'': After Iggins accidentally opens an inter-dimensional portal at the story of ''Winner Takes All'', he was exposed to something that is causing a slow rot to spread from his arm.
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
91	* ''WesternAnimation/BionicleMaskOfLight'': Tahu was already bitter, but after being injured by Rahkshi, he gets increasingly aggressive and his face starts to get colored green. Later, he attacks Gali and has to be cured.
92	* ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut'' has Sadness' ability to turn regular memories sad, which the other emotions think is harmful. [[spoiler: But it turns out to be a very important ability by the end of the movie.]]
93	* In ''WesternAnimation/MuneGuardianOfTheMoon'', the snakelike Corrupters bring out the darkness in people's hearts, which also has the side effect of changing their powers. [[spoiler: Case in point, the main villain Necross was an innocent RockMonster until being corrupted into a giant lava beast.]]
94	* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', the repeated use of the red panda spirit to transform into a giant red panda was seen as this by Mei's female relatives as it made the red moon ritual to exorcise it more difficult to undergo.
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
98	* The ''Film/{{Doom}}'' movie has mutants as enemies. Turns out humanity originated on a once-verdant Mars before fleeing to Earth via the Arc (Gate?). What were they fleeing from? Well, having used [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke Genetic Engineering]] to make a new chromosome that made them superhuman, it turns out it also unleashed the evil in the "unmapped 10% of the Human Genome", making a few people into mutant monsters that could infect others with the same monstrosity. The hero turns into a [[TheHero Hero]] with extra [[SuperStrength strength]] and [[MadeOfIron stamina]], but the baddie slowly mutates into a much more badass villain while normal civilians and soldiers turn to slobbering monsters.
99	* The Evil Force, AKA the Kandarian Demon, from ''Franchise/EvilDead''. Not only does it possess human corpses and dead trees, but also damaged tissue on a still-living body. From there, it spreads rapidly like an infection, turning the afflicted into a Deadite. The spread can be stopped by amputation or sucked out like snake venom, but it can still animate anything it's already corrupted.
100	* Seth Brundle brings the Corruption down on himself in ''Film/TheFly1986'' when he merges with a fly during the test of his teleportation device.
101	* In the ''Film/GreenLantern2011'' movie, this happens to Hector Hammond when a tiny bit of Parallax infects him while he's doing the autopsy on Abin Sur's body. It deforms his head and brain, while giving him [[PsychicPowers telekinetic powers]] and a PsychicLink to Parallax, along with a sadistic sense of humor and a burning hatred of Hal Jordan and anyone who he thinks has wronged him. In the backstory, [[spoiler:it's also how Parallax was created: he/it is a former Guardian who explored the potential use of yellow fear energy. He was infected by it and became the monster Parallax, feeding on the fear of others]].
102	* ''Film/NineSevenSixEvil'': The 976-EVIL phone number works this way, initially giving Hoax a means of revenge against his tormentors, but the more he uses it the more outwardly monstrous he becomes.
103	%%* John Carpenter's ''Film/PrinceOfDarkness'' is all about this trope.
104	* In ''Franchise/StarWars'', the Dark Side of the Force has shown itself to be a corrupting influence. Giving in to the Dark Side makes for [[EvilIsEasy easy short-term victories]] but relying on the Dark Side too much can eventually corrupt a Force-user into evil, upon which [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope there's no]] [[BeingEvilSucks turning back]]. This is elaborated on further in the ExpandedUniverse, where the Dark Side is more overtly and supernaturally corrupting.
105	* Happens to Mirror Knight at the beginning of ''Film/UltramanZeroTheRevengeOfBelial'', although it had no other effect besides bringing him under the control of the BigBad, as well as altering his color scheme.
106	* Just like the [[VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} game it’s based on]], the ''Film/WarCraft2016'' features the fel, a source of magic that greatly increases the powers of whoever is infected by it, but at the price of another being's LifeEnergy. The corruption aspect is less notable on the orcs, who are already pretty insane without it, but it is what drives [[spoiler:Medivh]] into opening the Dark Portal to Draenor, allowing the Horde to enter Azeroth. It also causes hideous body mutations to the user.
107	[[/folder]]
108
109	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
110	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
111	** At the end of season 4, Castiel tells Dean that [[spoiler:consuming enough demon blood to kill Lilith will permanently mutate Sam into a monster. Possibly, God cleaning it out of his system prevented this.]]
112	** In the finale of season 6, [[spoiler:Castiel]] has turned evil and absorbs the souls of Purgatory into himself upon which [[AGodAmI he declares himself the new God]]. In the first episode of season 7, he goes around killing corrupt and wicked people on a massive scale to prove his "godhood", but it eventually turns out that he's also hosting far older, nastier entities who are corrupting him. His body slowly degrades and mutates and he gets temporarily taken over to perform indiscrimate massacres, [[spoiler:ending with being totally under their control after he loses the souls. His body goes through a meltdown under the strain, and the monsters escape out into the world.]]
113	** The Mark of Cain is [[spoiler:the seal on the Darkness, the PrimordialChaos that God and the Archangels defeated long ago. It's described as the "finger in the dyke".]] Those who bore it would inevitably be corrupted by it [[spoiler:since, following the analogy, they are in direct contact with the Darkness itself.]]
114	* The ''Franchise/UltraSeries'' have more than one major villain using the powers of corruption as their schtick.
115	** Gudis from ''Series/UltramanTowardsTheFuture'' can infect other living beings with his cells, mutating harmless creatures into giant rampaging kaiju.
116	** The main threat of ''Series/UltramanCosmos'' was Chaos Header, a sentient mass of tiny virus-like entities made of light. It primarily menaced Cosmos and EYES by taking over the bodies of peaceful {{kaiju}} to turn them into the MonsterOfTheWeek that they would need to subdue.
117	** ''Series/UltramanX'' has a new threat in the form of Dark Thunder Energy, released by the series' main villain Greeza to revive dormant spark dolls of kaiju, as well as driving normally benign, peaceful monsters into a state of aggressiveness.
118	** ''Series/UltramanZ'' uses a similar concept with the Devil's Splinters, remnants of the series' previous villain Ultraman Belial, who can infect benevolent monsters into becoming berserk and attacking everything in sight.
119	* Walter Sykes from ''Series/Warehouse13'' was once a nice kid who found a bracelet that let him walk (he's crippled from the waist down). Unfortunately the bracelet's trade-off for giving something is to make one unable to feel true happiness or love, causing the person who uses it to become a sociopath addicted to the bracelet's power. Artie thought that he had gotten the bracelet away from Sykes before the corrupting influence took hold only to discover years later that he was too late.
120	* ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'': The Skeksis' abuse of the Crystal of Truth corrupted it, and spread that corruption into Thra itself. The corruption, called "the Darkening", blights the land and drives living creatures into a mad frenzy at its touch.
121	* ''Series/{{Willow}}'':
122	** Commander Ballantine is wounded by one of the Gales during their attack, and this is shown to infect him. He turns into a servant of the Crone, then infects other guards in his party to be the same.
123	** Graydon suffers this too after getting infected in episode 3.
124	[[/folder]]
125
126	[[folder:Music]]
127	* Music/DeathspellOmega portray {{Satan}} as being something akin to this - rather than a distinct entity, he is portrayed as the metaphysical force of corruption in the universe. It should be noted that due to the band's BlueAndOrangeMorality, they aren't particularly condemning this.
128	* Music/TwinTribes: In the music video of "Monolith," a lady gets scared after touching a monolith and runs into a white room. An inky substance begins to take over her body, causing her to erratically convulse and stain her white dress and the room. She [[BadBlackBarf hacks up a black puddle]] and gains BlackEyesOfEvil, which Luis and Joel appear to have as well. Contributing to this interpretation is the chorus line meaning "It poisons me, it poisons you."
129	[[/folder]]
130
131	[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
132	* In Myth/ClassicalMythology, although intended as a punishment from which humanity would learn, the Miseries sealed in [[PandorasBox Pandora's urn]] wound up being this instead. They turned all of humanity save Deucalion and his family into irredeemable monsters. And thus, the GreatFlood.
133	* Mythology and Religions Researcher René Guénon called this Counter Initiation. According to him, all religions warned against this force and this force is the reason for the dark ages of humanity. (And that the biblical end times were all about this force rising to power.) Rudolf Steiner issued a similar warning and called it the "Ahrimanic Deception".
134	[[/folder]]
135
136	[[folder:Toys]]
137	* A great many powers and substances have this effect in ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'':
138	** The Infected Masks, corrupted by Makuta, induce this.
139	** The poison of the Rahkshi Lerahk has a similar effect.
140	** Although Shadow Leeches adhere to this trope most closely, they do not actually inject any substance into their targets that causes them to become corrupted, rather, they suck out the inner light of their victims so their dark sides grow stronger.
141	* In ''Toys/HeroFactory'', the villainous Meltdown developed an acidic substance which increased the anger in his targets, and got the better of Alpha Team Leader Preston Stormer, making him turn on his own men and his own advertising billboard.
142	* The Great Devourer's venom works this way in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ninjago}}''. It caused Garmadon to embark on his StartOfDarkness (though it did not physically alter his appearance, ''that'' was caused by his banishment into the Underworld).
143	** Dark Matter found on the Overlord's island also causes this effect, but unlike the Devourer's venom, its effect is temporary, and it seems to turn its targets into mindless servants rather than actually twisting their sense of morality.
144	[[/folder]]
145
146	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
147	* The black "mud" that follows from the corrupted Holy Grail in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and ''Literature/FateZero'' is a literal manifestation of "all the world's evil". It appropriately grants incredible power to whoever touches it, but will irreversibly corrupt them under all but the most extraordinary circumstances. Servants in particular are extremely vulnerable to the curse due to their astral nature... unless you happen to be Gilgamesh, whose ego is too powerful to be corrupted. [[spoiler:In the ''Heaven's Feel'' route of ''[[VisualNovel/FateStayNight stay night]]'', Sakura uses this power to overwhelm the majority of the Masters and Servants, taking Saber and Berserker back out to assist her genocidal rampage.]] This corruption was also the reason why Gilgamesh and Kirei managed to [[BackFromTheDead survive their "deaths"]] in ''[[Literature/FateZero Zero]]''. Fate!Shirou shows his [[IncorruptiblePurePureness strength of will]] by mentally resisting this curse at point blank range [[spoiler: once, then blocking the second shot with Avalon]].
148	* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' plays around with the cause and effect. [[spoiler:Hinamizawa Syndrome is just a parasite that attacks the frontal lobe, so the afflicted becomes a very angry schizophrenic, with super-strength [[PowerBornOfMadness born of madness]]. It also makes them hear the desperate pleas of the local deity, but that's hardly a power-up at all.]]
149	* As revealed in ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterNG's'' Bad End, [[spoiler:Akira's Bloodmetry]] can go out of control and cause his body and mind to degrade. A voice comes along and 'helps' him by transforming him into a non-human, which causes him to go completely berserk and start murdering people.
150	[[/folder]]
151
152	[[folder:Webcomics]]
153	* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDoctorMcNinja'': We don't see Sparklelord's destruction of the Radical Lands firsthand, but even after he is banished, his corruption runs deep, with no salvation in sight, causing horrific effects on the world.
154	-->'''Ron:''' I had... [[SeriousBusiness bad pizza]] yesterday.\
155	'''King Radical:''' There is... a lot of bad pizza in this land too.\
156	'''Ron:''' WHY DID YOU BRING ME HERE YOU MONSTER!!!
157	* In ''Webcomic/AgentsOfTheRealm'', the [[spoiler:past Agents]] were corrupted by ''something'' into becoming bleeds, turning them from people into mindless, magically-charged, omnicidal monsters.
158	* Denizens of upper Fuungahi in ''Webcomic/{{Astray3}}'' are turned into mindless or raving zombies [[spoiler: made out of various appliances and mundane objects]] which is rather creepy.
159	* ''Webcomic/ElfAndWarrior'':
160	** All the various "monster" races are a result of ordinary animals and people being mutated due to exposure to magical energies long ago. By the time of the story, the magical energies have faded, but the monsters created remain, and have built their own civilizations in the area.
161	** [[spoiler:Anyone trapped in the demonoid realm loses all their memories and is slowly transformed into a demonoid]].
162	* ''Webcomic/HardcoreLevelingWarrior'': There is a secret series of skills called nightmare which are said to spread calamity every time a player uses them so much so that there is a mark left on any player that uses it. Luckily only a select group can use these skills only by being exposed to the power and it corrupting them.
163	* ''Webcomic/KaitenMutenmaru'': An Abominable Crystal is a mysterious material that grants the infected superhuman powers at the expense of corrupting them into monsters. The transformation in mind and body can be gradual, as implied by Orcus, Crocell, [[spoiler:Pain and Yamai]].
164	* In ''Webcomic/MyImpossibleSoulmate'', a human/demi-human is transformed into a demon by being corrupted by another demon. The corrupted human/demi-human gains a boost in physical strength and a longer lifespan, but the process also robs them of their ability to perform any sort of magic.
165	* In ''Webcomic/PokemonMysteryDungeonGleamingHearts'' a crooked Slowking manages to steal the Diancie Nirvana's power and uses it to produce dark crystals that cause most Pokemon they are implanted in to become superpowered and berserk. Fortunately Nirvana summoned Jake and infused him with half her power before the Slowking arrived, and he's able to absorb the dark crystals from infected Pokemon.
166	* ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'': Spades Slick has the ability to transform characters into "shadow" versions of themselves, which he demonstrates on Mobster Kingpin. He doesn't have this ability in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', however.
167	* The Cure from ''Webcomic/RubyQuest''. When it's first taken by a person, it acts as a panacea, up to and including repairing conditions (such as blindness) present from birth, making it unnecessary for the recipient to eat or drink, and [[spoiler: resurrecting the recipient if they die (though they get amnesia)]]. But once the Metal Glen started using it, everyone taking it began suffering violent fits. It also mutated them whenever they were wounded, eventually turning them into agressive, incoherent masses of BodyHorror. The players met a couple far-gone victims, who they called 'zombies' because of how awful they looked. In its more middling stages, the Cure grants a LovecraftianSuperpower. [[spoiler:Ruby has a cut on her forehead mutate into a ThirdEye, Tom has [[MultiArmedAndDangerous extra arms on his abdomen]], Red has the Elemental Plane [[MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily Of Teeth]], and the farther-along Filbert has a mutated arm and a giant gaping maw with teeth stronger than steel. And ''then'' there's Tom Nook.]] Fortunately, the Cure leaves the body quickly, and if one goes enough time without taking it, they will return to normal, [[spoiler:a fact that Red exploited to [[KilledOffForReal kill himself permanently]]]]. Unfortunately, that's harder than it looks, what with [[ImplacableMan Ace]] being the one administering it.
168	* ''Webcomic/ZebraGirl'': Being turned into a demon slowly but surely corrupted Sandra. While she seemed to keep her mind and free-will intact (despite being ''very'' depressed), the very fact that she is now a demon affected everything and everyone around her, including inanimate objects such as her house, which slowly turned into an EldritchLocation.
169	[[/folder]]
170
171	[[folder:Web Original]]
172	* Most dungeon cores in ''Literature/BlueCore'' generate depletion which literally eats away at souls. And since doing so grants the dungeons power and lets them expand, this effect slowly spreads once a dungeon is established.
173	* In ''WebAnimation/{{TOME}}'', [[spoiler: The Forbidden Power is made of this trope. The Forbidden Power convinces Alpha to make a [[DealWithTheDevil deal with it]] in Episode 1, and grants him great power in exchange for allowing him to set it free. Whenever he uses it, it grants him a much darker personality and false confidence, and when he finally starts to resist it, it changes him into a demonic form of himself which goes on a rampage. When it finally seems Alpha has gotten rid of it, it simply corrupts Zetto instead and forces Alpha to fight him. Interestingly, however, the Forbidden Power does have sentience, and can be convinced to side with Alpha when an even [[EnemyMine greater threat]] threatens to destroy it; when Alpha and the virus work together in the SeriesFinale, they become a [[FusionDance fused form]] with characteristics of both of them.]]
174	* In the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'', this is exactly what BigBad EldritchAbomination 'The Bastard' (real name unknown) is unleashing. It's so horrific that it corrupts werewolves into BodyHorror slaves of The Bastard, which ''should'' be impossible. They're attacking a reservation of werewolves (and other were-animals) and [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]] in the current Fey storyline, and when two innocent policemen are exposed, they have already turned into BodyHorror monstrosities by the time Fey and her team find them. [[spoiler: Fey has to kill them and disintegrate the corpses.]]
175	* In ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale'', you ''will'' [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul love the Smiling God]], whose form is apparently that of a [[EldritchAbomination hungry, spreading light]]. In Episode 73, we learn that [[spoiler: that smiling, blood-soaked freak Kevin was once a normal person who had fought ''against'' the Smiling God and its takeover of his hometown]].
176	%%* WebOriginal/{{Zalgo}}.
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178
179	[[folder:Western Animation]]
180	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'':
181	** The [[ArtifactOfDoom Ice King's crown]] grants its wearer [[AnIcePerson ice powers]] and an incredible HealingFactor; however, it ''also'' [[spoiler: [[BodyHorror physically]] and [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity mentally]] warps them. The process completely destroys the person's identity, and can take ''years'' if they have sufficient willpower (but it's ultimately irresistible and uncurable). Oh, and the person [[AndIMustScream is fully aware of it the entire time.]]]] The worst part is that the Crown is an ImmortalityInducer, and NoImmortalInertia is in full effect. So even if the wearer is freed, they will die soon as the time deferred by the Crown catches up to them.
182	** In the "Elements" arc, [[spoiler:Patience St. Pim forcibly awakens the elemental powers of herself, Princess Bubblegum, Slime Princess and Flame Princess, which works but [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity it drives them mad and transforms them into corruption-spreading versions of themselves consumed by a single emotion.]] They spread an elemental infection onto the four corners of Ooo, transforming everyone into candy, fire, ice or slime elementals. The only characters who escape this are Finn, Jake, BMO (they weren't in Ooo at the time), Ice King, Betty (fled to the Cloud Kingdom), Cinnamon Bun (his flame shield protects him from Flame Princess' HatePlague), Sweet P and Lumpy Space Princess (immune to the transformations).]]
183	* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': There's Corrodium (it's even in the name!), a high-energy mineral of alien origin which is harmless to aliens from the Anur system, but causes any humans or Earth-native animal life that are exposed it it to mutate into surreal-looking monstrosities.
184	* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicPrincessLuna Princess Luna]] is corrupted by jealousy and bitterness and becomes Nightmare Moon. In Season 2, each of the Mane 6 is corrupted by [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicDiscord Discord]] into the opposite of who they are. [[spoiler: They are all restored in the end.]]
185	** When Trixie wears the Alicorn Amulet to increase her magical ability, its dark power changes her from being loud and arrogant to being [[TookALevelInJerkass legitimately cruel and diabolical]]. [[spoiler:When she is freed from the amulet and the effects of its corruption wear off, she becomes extremely remorseful for her behavior and apologizes to Twilight for all the harm she caused]]. Bonus points for the amulet making her eyes and horn [[GoodColorsEvilColors glow red]], when her natural aura is pink.
186	** The Inspiration Manifestation spell gives the artistic and creative Rarity RealityWarper powers (which [[MundaneUtility are very useful for making dresses and helping get ready for a festival]]). Unfortunately, the more she uses them the more she ''wants'' to use them, and by the end of the episode she's turned Ponyville into her very own microcosm of a WorldOfChaos (sleep deprivation might also have something to do with this). The only way to stop it is for someone to forcibly bring her back to reality via BrutalHonesty.
187	** ''WesternAnimation/EquestriaGirls'': While Equestrian magic comes in varying flavors of good and bad, something strange happens to it should it leak into the human world. Over on the other side, it acts as a corrupting force that infects objects, people, plants, etc.: objects become ArtifactsOfDoom, and the people who use it are usually [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity overwhelmed by their newfound abilities and start abusing it,]] [[OneWingedAngel sometimes transforming into twisted reflections of their own darker nature.]] Invariably the Hu-mane Seven have to deal with the resulting MonsterOfTheWeek.
188	* In the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'', "[[Recap/TheOwlHouseS3E3WatchingAndDreaming Watching and Dreaming]]", [[Characters/TheOwlHouseEmperorBelos Emperor Belos]] becomes this after possessing the Titan's heart, causing the entire Boiling Isles to get covered in hideous amounts of green MeatMoss that crushes and suffocates everything it touches. His OneWingedAngel form can also create some that ''disintegrates'' whoever it touches, [[spoiler:as [[TheHero Luz]] finds out the hard way]].
189	* The Dark Water from ''WesternAnimation/PiratesOfDarkWater'' is an interesting case. At times, it acts like the Corruption, destroying nearly everything it touches (acting seemingly as a mindless force of nature). When consumed as part of a magic potion, it can take over the user's body from within, granting them instant youth at first, [[NightmareFuel but eventually turning him/her completely into Dark Water.]] At other times, the Dark Water acts like TheCorrupter (since there is a sentient force in charge of it, which seeks to spread the Dark Water over the entire surface of the planet. It can also corrupt anyone who comes in contact with the Dark Water, turning them into a warped yet powerful servant).
190	* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': [[Characters/StarVsTheForcesOfEvilToffee Toffee of Septarsis]] presence within The Realm of Magic was enough to corrupt the universe's magic and weaken the Magic High Commission. When Star meets him in The Realm of Magic, he's essentially TheCorruption [[EldritchAbomination itself]].
191	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':
192	** ''Something'' corrupted the minds of every gem left on Earth (except for Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl), turning them into the series' version of MonsterOfTheWeek. The corruption is apparently incurable, [[spoiler: though Steven has proven that it can be mitigated]]. It's later revealed that [[spoiler:the "Something" in question was the Diamond Authority, who caused it through a weapon they deployed on the Crystal Gems out of spite once they lost Earth. They caught many of their own soldiers in the blast, too.]]
193	** [[Recap/StevenUniverseS3E22Earthlings "Earthlings"]] reveals that it's transmissible by [[FusionDance fusion]] with a Corrupted Gem. [[spoiler:After Jasper makes the desperate move of fusing with one against Smoky Quartz ([[ClippedWingAngel it doesn't work]]), we get treated to a [[NightmareFuel horrific]] scene of corruption slowly spreading over Jasper's body, followed by Peridot poofing her once she's fully corrupted and Amethyst bubbling her.]] In this battle we can also tell that even if it makes you bigger and more monstrous it ''is'' a disease and a punishment, not a power-up: [[spoiler:Jasper]] was [[NighInvulnerability Nigh-Invulnerable]], but the monster she became, ''in addition'' to being feral, was impaled by the ''blunt end'' of a metal bar flung at her by the weakest member of the cast.
194	** Even when it's [[spoiler:finally cured at the end of [[Recap/StevenUniverseS5E28ChangeYourMind "Change Your Mind"]], all of the transformed Gems [[NotQuiteBackToNormal still have signs of the corruption]] (Jasper has miscoloured spots and horns, the Pufferfish monster has spines all over her, ect). Even the combined strength of all four Diamonds wasn't enough to fully reverse it.]]
195	* Dark Energon in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' is more or less the Transformer equivalent of Satan's blood. Anything it touches becomes motile and malevolent, including dead bodies. Living 'bots that take it in tend to get powerups, but also go insane as they bend slowly to Unicron's will.[[note]]Megatron, the primary infected so far, seems to be doing pretty well as far as independence goes so far, but he also seems to act like the dark energon is telling him what to do at times[[/note]]
196	** Also makes an appearance in ''VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron'', a video game to which ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' is [[BroadStrokes sorta]] a sequel. It's less corrupting there for living or formerly living things, but a lot more corrupting for nonliving things and feral creatures.
197	*** The novel ''Literature/TransformersExodus'', which is sort of a prequel and adaptation of the game, is very explicit about the corruptive influence of Dark Energon. Start with euphoria, boosted power, and greatly increased violent tendencies... then add on instant addiction that will kill you real slow if you try to kick the habit. Oh, and the stuff turns any normal Energon it comes in contact with into more Dark Energon.
198	** In ''Predacons Rising'', the Dark Energon [[spoiler:prevents Megatron from [[BarredFromTheAfterlife joining the [=AllSpark=] after death]] and allows Unicron to hijack and transform his body.]]
199	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TheCorruption