Chrysalis

Chapter 24

I don’t know how much time had passed before I regain consciousness. The light slowly returns to my eyes and sensation to my limbs.

Deep inside my thorax (the middle bit) a hot, boiling feeling is slowly fading away, drawing in a dense ball of heat. Probably my new core.

Groggily I get my legs underneath me and start slowly moving through the tunnel again. No matter how weak I feel, I cannot stay here to rest, pursuers could be dropping down the shaft to investigate even now. I have to move.

Gradually my muddled thoughts begin to straighten themselves and my coordination slowly returns. As I navigate my way across the rocky tunnel I check my status.

Name: Anthony

Level: 1 (core)

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 30

MP: 10

Skills: Digging level 4; Improved Acid Shot Level 1; Grip Level 4; Bite Level 4; Advanced Stealth Level 1; Tunnel Sense Level 3;

Mutations: Eyes +4, Antennae +2, Acid +3, Legs +1

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica)

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 0

Gandalf?! My hard work, my accumulated experience, all the ridiculous good

was correct and the monster core is the vital ingredient to mastering magic for me and my fellow creatures down here. This could explain why so many monsters were drawn to the pool in the first cavern I was in. By drinking the water which was somehow suffused with mana they were

stats in order to condense the core which has given me, in effect, only ten MP that I can’t use.

have to advance now into what is likely more dangerous territory than I have experienced already, those increased stats

choice, the prospect of being able to use mana was just

mean that I’ll be able to level back up to five and evolve again? Which also means I’ll be able to gain more

second opportunity to amass skill points as an unevolved creature which could allow me to gain more levels and skill points at a

reach level five. I won’t even look at the skills

I reach the

I walk out into the open air once

this place is so

on it. One slip and I would certainly plummet to my own death. To my left and right the walls curve away into the distance to a place I cannot see, my eyesight isn’t

thinking more on. As an insect, I don’t have regular eyes like a human, but compound eyes. This means a few things, firstly, my eyes don’t need to be wet, so I don’t have to blink, more to the point I can’t since I have no eyelids. Secondly, my eyes don’t have one point of focus, unlike a human who can see the one place they

vision, especially over a distance. It probably also explains why I’ve been able to avoid having anything sneak up on me,

been the correct choice for me and they’ll probably be the first body part I mutate to +5. Since skills can evolve at +5 I’m very excited to see what will happen when a mutation reaches that level. Will I be able to

Any clues Gandalf?

...

well. I shouldn’t be surprised at this state. For all his immense wisdom the grey one has been very taciturn, or perhaps he’s

extra advice would surely

isn’t anything left for me to do but move

leaving the shelter of the small tunnel and exposing myself to

enough word to describe this place, it feels like a fully enclosed

my eyes to see as far into the distance as I can. Strange twisted trees, huge oversized mushrooms and a carpet of plant-life underneath face me everywhere I turn.

for the first time I really think to

they react. When they don’t respond I move toward a giant mushroom. These things are easily twice the height of

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255