Chrysalis

Rest and relaxation, Anthony you hard working Ant you. Don’t you deserve a break? Haven’t you worked hard enough for the moment?

Why yes, me, I have to say your words are wise!

Time for a break.

Before I returned to the nest I packed myself full of Biomass and managed to gain ten points, a massive haul! Clearly the creatures were highly evolved, at least two evolutions for sure, for them to provide such rich Biomass.

Not to mention my level has risen to seven! I’m practically swimming in skill points!

Another large discovery was made also, I was able to recover two cores from the Berserkers! Whilst I’d been hoping that their cores would grant some sort of bonus they simply increased my maximum mana when I absorbed them. They did, however, increase my maximum by four points each, which brought my new max MP up to 36!

I wonder how much further until I max out my core?

If my guess is correct, I’ll be able to evolve again at level ten. I won’t even consider evolving without a maxed core unless I’m forced into it. The best possible evolution, every time! That’s my policy.

In celebration of my incredible wealth, and to let my nerves rest after coming so close to death, not to mention suffering the trauma of having two legs chopped off, I decided I would rest within the colony and not leave until my Mana Manipulation has reached level five so I can upgrade it and spend all of my skill points.

When Tiny and I awake in our empty chamber I practice my Mana Manipulation until my energy reserves are empty. I can practice a lot more now that my core is upgraded, hopefully it won’t take long until I get the skill to level five.

Once that task is done it’s time to spend my Biomass! So much to spend ... It’s hard to choose! I could upgrade my carapace all the way to +5 and still have a point left over. This is an attractive option, helping me tank up and letting me pick a mutation advancement. I could upgrade my regeneration gland to +4, which would be nice.

Antennae could be taken to level four, which would leave three points to spend on other things...

Damn choices!

In the end I think I have to prioritise the mutation advancements. Each and every one of them has been a huge boost, I’m sure my carapace will prove no different.

[Would you like to upgrade your carapace to +5? This will cost nine Biomass]

Sure!

[At this level you may choose a mutation advancement, select from the menu]

extensive list of possible mutations unfolds in my mind and

to infect things that strike you? Spiked carapace, be covered

the sloped carapace which helps deflect

I really want from my upgrade is an all-around defence improvement. Something I can rely on to protect me. I have an image in my mind of a brutal armoured truck, bursting through the small fry, their

found what I’m

carapace, increasing its resistance

flashy, it may not do anything exciting, but it’s exactly what I’m after. The weakness of this upgrade is that it does nothing to protect from magical

those other types of attack later, for now most the threats I face are physical in nature so this upgrade

you wish to confirm Diamond

Heck yeah!

Oh. Oh no.

NONONO DAMMIT!

experience is completely torturous. My carapace covers my entire body and the entire thing feels like it is on fire. Hot barbs of maddening itch pierce through my body every now again, causing me to spasm and jerk my legs madly as I flop

process with a curious look on

do you get to look

you, he is

and there some parts of the shell seem to reflect the light brightly, shimmering occasionally in the gloom of this room. Don’t tell me,

mean... My shell is now worth a

put a

business is to snack

time I was smart enough to shear off some food and transport it back to my sleeping space once I was full. Of course, to prevent my fellow workers from taking it away I had to bury it and sleep on

in, a little dirt doesn’t spoil the

this food I gain another two Biomass, leaving me

focus. When I finally start to mutate past +5 I’ll return to upgrading eyesight and

my

Name: Anthony

Level: 7 (core)

Might: 31

Toughness: 22

Cunning: 25

Will: 18