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and may not represent the canonical English name, if one exists.
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The Ing take the form of a gaseous "black fog" (黒霧,kuro kiri?)[1] when they invade Aether in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. This is the only way for an Ing to survive for a short period of time in the light dimension, and it is used to possess a nearby bioform or mechanoid, transforming the victim into a Darkling. Few countermeasures exist for the targeted host to repel the black fog. As noted in a Luminoth Lore entry, one Luminoth referred to these black fog sightings as "dark swarms".[2]
In most cases, black fog travels in swarms (a common practice seen with most Ing). Black fog's situational appearances on Aether vary. In some instances, they are tied to cutscenes, rendering Samus powerless to prevent Darkling-possession. Otherwise, Samus is able to insert herself into a Darkling situation. The black fog can be interacted with, though they deliver massive contact damage. In these instances, it is possible for Samus to eliminate a black fog before it reaches its intended target, though due to a black fog's size and movement, it may prove to be a difficult task at times. If Samus destroys all intended targets of a Darkling-possession attempt before the Ing manages to reach it, the Ing will aimlessly float around in its black fog form for a short while before finally succumbing to Light Aether's atmosphere and exploding. Should Samus be too close to the wandering black fog after all targeted hosts are destroyed, they will commence with a suicide strike against her, possibly in an attempt to possess her. The above strategy is limited to only a handful of minor enemies and must be executed very quickly, as the black fog will usually make contact with a host mere seconds after appearing. Once started, a creature's transformation into a Darkling cannot be stopped, requiring only one Darkling to make contact with a host to commence with a full Darkling-possession.
If a potential host finds itself within the Ing's homeworld of Dark Aether, the latter do not transform into the black fog to possess the former, but instead merely throw themselves at the host in a semisolid state. Due to the repelling light energy of the Energy Transfer Module carried by Samus, any Ing that attempts this tactic on her will simply inflict damage for a few seconds before the creature is forced off her body in their black fog form, soon landing back into their puddle form on solid ground. Alternatively, an attached Ing will become instantly repelled once Samus enters a Safe Zone, though strangely, the black fog will not die from contact with a supercharged Safe Zone; these are the only instances where their gaseous state can be seen on Dark Aether.
Boss Fog[]
A purple toned Black Fog appears and possesses an Alpha Splinter.
In certain instances, a black fog may appear as a purple gaseous entity with brighter red or yellow spots. This "purple fog" is encountered in the presence of a boss creature and is revealed to possess a stolen item or upgrade hidden somewhere within their gaseous bodies. By having an item, this purple fog is able to transfer its powers into its host creature, amplifying the creature's overall strength. Though it is never directly stated, it is believed the possession of an item is the cause of this alternate appearing black fog. Purple fog generally behaves identical to normal black fog, with the main difference being after a target host has been eliminated, the purple fog is seen leaving the deceased creature's body, circling together in a set of three entities that rise in the sky before crashing down to the ground, the impact eliminating the Ing swarms and also revealing the stolen item it possessed. The only exception to this is the Dark Alpha Splinter, where its body explodes in a flash of light. This may be due to the light of the Energy Transfer Module. It is unknown if this stolen item was able to enhance the host in any way, though the Dark Alpha Splinter possesses enhanced endurance and an ability that its unpossessed variant lacks.
Killing both the item-possessing symbiote and its host does not appear to destroy the stolen upgrade in question, though in rare instances, it may be possible to overkill a Darkling, which causes the item it possesses to be lost or destroyed. Only two upgrade-wielding Darklings are seen in their purple fog state directly before possessing largecreatures, and because all but the stolen Energy Transfer Module are originally items possessed by Samus that have been stolen by Warrior Ing, it implies that all of these Warrior Ing become a purple fog sometime offscreen during Samus's mission and successfully manage to become symbiotic Darklings wielding a stolen item, with the exception of twoIng, which remain in their base form and possibly never transform into a purple fog state until their demise.
Samus first encounters this type of black fog within the Great Temple as it appears to possess the injured Alpha Splinter, and it appears in a set of three separate entities from one Portal. This is the only time Samus can interact with the purple fog. She is able to fire at the Darkling swarms, but is unable to destroy them. However, they also do not deliver any damage to her. It is unknown if the possession of an item is the reason for this behavior. Samus's second encounter with this type of purple fog is during a battle with an Alpha Sandigger, where the purple fog appears in a cutscene. Every other encounter with a purple fog afterward is only during a Sub-Guardian's demise or death cutscene where its item is released afterward.
Episode of Aether[]
"What's the matter? All I said was that Komaytos look like little Metr-" Non-canon warning: This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.
Episode of Aether
In Metroid Prime: Episode of Aether, the Federation Marines report that a "black fog" has possessed the Splinters attacking them, rendering the creatures invincible and making it easy for all but four of the Marines to be killed. Samus finds one of these survivors being attacked by the Alpha Splinter and intervenes, managing to kill it. The Marine urges her to finish it off before the black fog arrives, but she is too late. Initially unable to destroy the resurrected Darkling form, she finishes it off with an Overblast at point-blank range.
Internal files in the final game reveal this creature's name to be IngSnatchingSwarm. The purple fog variant retains the same name, but also adds an additional (Boss Snatch) to its name, referencing its role on bosses.
Unused Logbook entry from the Bonus Disc detailing what is shown in the final game.
Within the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc, an unused Logbook entry exists for a creature named Darkling Swarm, with text matching what behavior is primarily seen in the final game, as well as the name resembling the name spoken in the Luminoth Lore entry "The Ing Attack". The entry has a unique model of a round ink-like ball, which may be the mass of Ing Darklings' base form before they enter Aether. Identical smaller black spheres comprise part of the black fog's body. Curiously, if a Warrior Ing attached to Samus enters a Safe Zone, on the very first frame the Ing detaches into its black fog form, a round black ball can be seen. This implies this is a Darkling's base form as it enters its black fog state. The Bonus Disc entry mentions alternate names such as "Ing Larva" and "darklings", the former of which was made into a similarly separate creature. Appropriately, they are listed as Small Flyers within the Data Network.
In the final game, Darkling Swarm are unscannable and appear only a certain amount of times. Only during certain encounters of a Darkling Swarm is when Samus can control her weapons and fire back or escape, as every other instance of the Darkling Swarm's appearance is via a non-interactable cutscene. Their rarity and brief appearances may have led to their scan ultimately going unused. In regards to internal data, the final game also removes the Darkling Swarm's Bonus Disc entry and only lists its name in the Data Network hierarchy as " ` ", with its original place in the Logbook being replaced by the Ing Larva Swarm's entry.
Darkling Swarm
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc
Logbook entry
Ing larva, better known as "darklings", travel in swarms for protection. The swarm will seek a stronger host to possess, the better to serve the Horde. Once the swarm possesses a creature, they fight for dominance within it. The Darkling that remains commands the host and grows to adulthood within it.
The sudden appearances of black fog throughout Aether imply that the Ing are capable of creating Portals at will from Dark Aether, but these are seemingly a one-way trip, as evidenced by their inability to return home when Samus kills their intended host.
Hunter Ing do not turn into the black fog when exiting Samus's body on Dark Aether. They instead become intangible and do so when attempting to possess her as well, causing electrical interference to her visor.
Dark Samus' similar form.
A similar effect is shown from a Dark Pirate Commando's EMP grenade blast, a creature that is possessed by a Hunter Ing.
In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Dark Samus assumes a similar gaseous and impervious form to absorb the corrupted and dying Bounty Hunters. During this state, Dark Samus's visor is depicted as she moves about like a wraith.
When the fully grown Chykka is transforming into its dark variant by drinking Dark Water, the visual effect that envelops its body is identical to a black fog entering a host, despite having no Ing involved.
In the CW TV series Supernatural, Demons also resemble a cloud of black fog, and possess people in much the same way. There are a lot of other similarities between the Ing and the Demons of Supernatural.
The Dark Missile Trooper and the Dark Alpha Splinter are the only two bosses with upgrades that do not explode into a black fog state dropping their upgrades. In the former's case, it is ambiguous if the Darkling that possessed it is the same Warrior Ing that has stolen Samus's Missile Launcher. In the latter's case, the symbiotic Darkling immediately explodes as it falls, likely due to the blinding light of the Energy Transfer Module.
Using Sequence Breaking, if a Sub-Guardian's body dies in a specific unintended way, their black fog will not appear upon its death. In this case, the item is lost along with the incineration of the Darkling. An example of this situation would be killing the Spider Guardian with a Power Bomb.
