Stress Bomb
One of the most famous uses of this spell occurred during the trial of Malakai Richard Reed for the murder of university student Ashaka Hirana. One of many suspects, but the one mainly blamed by the public for the murder, Malakai was to take the stand in his defense four days after he had been the target of the spell, likely cast by a member of the victim's social circle or family as revenge. During the trial Malakai came under the full effects of the spell, aided by the general stress of the court, that resulted in the man having a panic attack and assaulted two court officers in trying to escape the room. As a result, his testimony was disregarded by the court on that day and likely played a large part in the jury's not guilty verdict. It remains debated to this day whether the cast was done by someone close to the victim or by Malakai himself as method of making himself unfit for court.
Another famous use of the spell occurred during the election season in the Republic of California for governor, where candidate Marisa Johnson used Stress Bomb as a method of sabotaging her main opponent, secretary Hitaka Florence, intending to cause her to have an outburst that would destroy her reputation. Instead, the spell was cast over a wide area affecting not only Marisa herself, but also the crowd present at the debate between the two candidates. A mass panic ensued over the following several weeks where all who were present at the debate came under the effects of the spell at the same time and twelve people were killed, thirty four injured, in an major car accident at Sacramento Hill University when a journalist who had been covering the debate panicked and lost control over a news van. As a result, both candidates were pulled from the race and Farina Sol De Draco was elected governor in their stead.
Effect
A form of mind control magic that steadily increases the stress levels in targets over several days until it builds into a fully fledged mental breakdown, often in the form of panic attacks, paranoia, violent outbursts, and uncontrolled crying.
Side/Secondary Effects
Long term effects of the spell are well known for causing those who have been previously afflicted by it to be much more emotional compared to than before they had been hit with the spell, even after the initial effects have worn off. Many who have been subject to the spell have noted that their emotions also tend to build much more quickly to anxiety, anger, and paranoia than before as well as muting more positive emotions overall.
Not as well studied as the initial effects of the spell, it is known that relapses mimicking the initial exposure can occur in some of those who have been hit by Stress Bombs, generally more directly or at a higher strength. These relapses occur on a cycle, initially every 4-6 days after the initial exposure and over a period of several weeks will grow further and further apart and in less severity.
Stress Bomb is often described as a wrecking ball on the mental health of those it effects, and its side effects are no different and have been described by some as worse than the initial spell itself. Anxiety is heightened and can result in months long bouts of increased paranoia, delusions, and make the target no longer trust those close to them or believe they are trying to do them harm. Increased anxiety in this manner often manifests in the form of temporary agoraphobia. Depression in Stress Bomb targets is also increased, likely a result of their detachment from loved ones and activities the targets would ordinarily take part in and a disruption of their habits. Insomnia is also common, difficulties sleeping generally attributed to a target's anxiety of something happening to them while they are asleep.
Manifestation
The initial cast of the spell is virtually undetectable and it can be incredibly hard to trace who casted it, as its effects take hours to manifest. Hours after having been hit by the spell, targets of it will begin to feel a sharp increase in negative emotions and paranoia which cannot be stopped by other spells or medication, eventually having to reach a tipping point where their stress state gets so bad they have a mental breakdown as a result. Most often targets of the spell will cry uncontrollably and be much more quick to defend themselves physically, even when they are aware it is irrational or they are under the effects of magic.
Drug addicts, alcoholics, and those who already have anxiety disorders or delusions are particularly hard hit by the spell when it reaches full force, and often are pushed into relapse and giving in to more impulsive behaviors they would ordinarily be able to control. Those with some form of PTSD or related trauma conditions have noted that they often relive the source of their trauma repeatedly and often will have auditory and sometimes visual hallucinations in vivid detail.
Related Organizations
Related School
Illusion/Mind Control
Effect Duration
2-5 days for initial reaction, weeks to months for relapse effects
Effect Casting Time
Short
Range
Short range AOE
Applied Restriction
This form of magic is highly illegal and classified as a form of torture.
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