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

My hard work, my accumulated experience, all the ridiculous good luck I’ve had? It hasn’t been easy to survive to this point

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

stats in order to condense the core which has given

is likely more dangerous territory than I have experienced already, those increased stats would

can’t help but worry I’ve made the wrong choice, the prospect of being able to use mana was just

up to five and evolve again? Which also means I’ll be able to gain

is actually better. I’ll have a second opportunity to amass skill points as an unevolved creature which could allow me

have one skill point available right now but I don’t want to spend it yet. I have several skills at level four which will need to be advanced once they reach level five. I won’t even look at the skills menu in case mana shaping or spell chanting has appeared in the list. I may not be able to resist the temptation! Be disciplined Anthony!

control of my body and shaken the dust off my mind as I reach the end of the tunnel. Beyond here lies the vast underground space I glimpsed

deep breath I walk out into the open air

place is

To my left and right the walls curve away into

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 are directly looking at in great detail, my eyes are able to

It probably also explains why I’ve been able to avoid having anything sneak

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

Any clues Gandalf?

...

this state. For all his immense wisdom the grey one has been very taciturn, or

little extra advice would surely be

stalling. There isn’t anything left for me to do but move into this new

down the slope, leaving the shelter of the small tunnel and exposing myself to the open air of

a large enough word to describe this place, it feels like

Strange twisted trees, huge oversized mushrooms and a carpet of plant-life underneath face me everywhere I turn. The whole ... forest

so alien, for the first time I really think to myself, this is absolutely

them to see if they react. When they don’t respond I move toward

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