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 luck I’ve had? It hasn’t been easy to survive

gone from zero to ten it raises my spirit a bit. Looks like my hunch 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

I think about though, I’ve sacrificed a significant upgrade to my stats in order to condense the core which

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

help but worry I’ve made the wrong choice, the prospect of being able to use

back up to five and evolve again? Which also means I’ll

which could allow me to gain more levels and

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

regained full control of my body and shaken the dust off my mind as I reach the end

breath I walk out into

place is so

climb on it. One slip and I would certainly plummet to my own death. To my left and right the

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 are directly

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

can evolve at +5 I’m very excited to see what will happen when a mutation reaches that level.

Any clues Gandalf?

...

state. For all his immense wisdom the grey one has been very taciturn, or perhaps he’s

would surely

me to do but move into

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

isn’t even a large enough word to describe this place, it feels like a fully enclosed world, like a biome or

picking my way through the rocks I strain 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

alien, for the first time

and plants with my front claw, snipping at them to see if they react. When they don’t

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