Chrysalis

The enormous core, looking like a lustrous dark pearl, slowly begins to dissolve into the air before me. As it does so the solid matter that makes it is released as energy that swirls and flows in the air, tiny particles dancing and spinning. Each individual particle eventually meets another and then those two meet another and in this way the individual dots of energy become grouped into flowing streams that trail each other.

Eventually these streams begin to be drawn towards me, flowing directly through my physical self as if it weren’t there and being drawn towards my core. As they grow closer the energy acts almost as if it were water circling the drain, looping around the core in wide circles at first before the loop draws tighter and the flow faster, increasing in pace the closer it gets.

As the energy finally begins meet my more I can feel the spherical gem begin to grow, greedily absorbing every particle of light that touches it, using that energy to construct itself anew.

More and more energy is flowing with every second, growing faster still as the enormous core continues to dissolve, releasing all of its potential.

The spinning energy is no longer like a bath drain and more like a raging whirlpool. A veritable ocean of power being drawn deep into my core.

It hurts!

As my core expands further and further a dull pain begins to throb in my abdomen. Distant at first and then sharper with each passing moment.

I clench my mandibles and brace myself against it. C’mon Anthony! You can take it!

More. More. MORE.

The pain continues to build until it is agony! My core is a screaming mass of pain, ultra-dense and far larger than it should be for a creature of my strength.

I can feel that deep inside, my core is unstable. Growing too quickly and holding too much energy. Damn it hurts!

Finally the Titan-Croc’s immense core is completely gone but the pain remains. The ripping agony flares every few seconds, causing me to almost collapse.

Even Tiny has noticed something is wrong, coming over to place a gentle paw on my back. Thanks little buddy. That’s real nice.

OUCH.

Damn this core! I don’t recall Gandalf mentioning the searing agony involved when pushing your core beyond you evolution level!

With my willpower being sapped by fighting off this pain I can’t do much. Blearily I check my status and the result shocks me into alertness again.

MP 11/50!

Fif... FIFTY?

painful, my core is literally a full 25% larger than a body at my level of evolution is supposed

terrible sensations within me, I can’t help but be excited for what this could mean for my next evolution. Will new, rare options be unlocked? Or could I just gain a heck more evolutionary energy to spend upgrading my

from this battlefield but looking

any more, frankly I don’t want to do

force myself

They can have the rest, but

that I gobbled up all of the cores

excavate a temporary nest. I would normally just drag

able to

new hiding hole. The carcass is so large it takes almost an hour

I’m finished the flaring agony I had experienced has receded to a lesser but

Ugh... I hate thiiiiis.

also completed their mission, transporting all of the Biomass down into the main nest to be consumed there and

I drag myself down into the chamber and

and the colony has been victorious. Time

Zzzzzzzz.

I’m UP!

later I startle myself out of torpor, snapping awake

Phew! Good sleep!

core has continued to fade over my nap and has now been downgraded to persistent ache. I can probably attribute this to my insides being squashed by the larger than intended core occupying too

evolve it’ll be nice and snug

Honestly I think he’s grown a little too large to

yourself useful

potential and then a bit more I don’t really begrudge him the core I spent

to eat this Biomass! I’ve resolved that until all of this Croca has been consumed, Tiny and I will live the shut-in lifestyle!

up at least once more,

Tiny! Time to dig

...

Om nom nom.

...

Tiny is looking so full he’s practically a monkey basketball! That’s another seven Biomass in the

Such riches!