India, April 18 -- The first episode of The Last of Us season 2 introduces the 'Stalker' - one of the most disturbing forms of the infected yet. Unlike the 'Runners,' who recklessly charge at prey, or the 'Clickers,' who rely on echolocation (locating objects by reflected sound) due to their blindness, the Stalkers take it up a notch by mixing stealth, speed, and strategic movement. In the season premiere, Ellie's face-off with a Stalker in an abandoned supermarket reveals how different this infected type is - quiet, scheming, and capable of hiding and striking with precision.

Stalkers are a mid-stage form of Cordyceps infection, typically appearing between two weeks to a year after initial exposure. By this point, fungal growths have st...