Chrysalis

Flush with the glow of a hard won victory, Tiny and I are unusually not looking forward to the next reward, the Biomass.

Unfortunately, whatever was blocking our sight ended with the defeat of the last monster, clearing our vision to take in a truly wonderful scene.

The monsters practically exploded when bitten and the remains are scattered over the tunnel floor in a truly unpleasant image. Something this abstract would have to be a Picasso? The spattered goop certainly leaves a strong impression.

Sharing an unwilling look with Tiny we both begin to pick over the tunnel floor reluctantly, looking for something that looks like edible Biomass.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Tenebris Serpere, you are awarded one Biomass]

[Basic profile of the Tenebris Serpere unlocked]

[Tenebris Serpere: Dark Crawler, Produced in the Monster Forges of the Troglodyte engineering guilds, these creatures are tailor made for reconnaissance and stealth missions, deploying an arsenal of shadow magic for offensive and defensive purposes]

Uh...

WhatyousayGandalf?

What am I reading here? Produced? Monster Forges? Troglodyte Guilds?

What the heck was all o that?!

So these, truly unpleasant to eat creatures were created? By... Troglodytes?

I’ve never heard of a Troglodyte. What is that?

Well. Focusing back on this fight, the Xp from these creatures was perfectly acceptable. Two whole levels! Once for each! Not to mention the three cores that were able to secure as a result of this battle! Such rewards are almost unprecedented!

Surely this cannot be an omen of something bad about to happen!

...

Ok, nothing terrible so far.

I won’t count it out yet.

After splitting the Biomass with Tiny I gain a further four points, leaving my total on nine. Enough to take my legs from +2 to +4 and enhance my Gravity gland to +1 with one point spare.

I quickly confirm those upgrades with Gandalf while I distract myself from the unpleasant itch by rounding up the monster cores we’ve gained. Three small, round gem-like stones sit on the dirt in front of us. Apparently these monsters were engineered or created outright by a kind of people called the Troglodytes?

is anything

see in there, but what I can see is quite shocking.

with such tanked physical stats in favour of mental and magical prowess. It makes sense if you

Interesting.

and I find that it is impossible. When I attempt to make the change

and changed the

since I can’t practice on these

to reinforce your

Reinforce that sucka!

which is interesting. For the final core I

blankly at it for a moment before pushing it back

...

I wanted I use my mandibles to

at the

He looks at me.

He sits down.

back to the

he reaches out with one hand, picks up the core and throws

...

ape! That hit me right in the

my charge but I

Whack! Bash!

the stupid core you moron! Don’t give me any

back Tiny is looking at me with a reproachful

remember this lesson next time

once, from those small apes to his larger gorilla form. If he’s going to follow me around then he needs to be as strong as possible, so it’s worth it to invest cores to

further into this tunnel or retreat for the time being when I feel

the heck is

in the air in front of me as I try

I think this is....

Air pressure?

wind? From the

underground if.. Something ... large.... Was pushing the air.... As it..

....

heat senses begin to detect a massive heat

beard of the wizardly one,

arm and start sprinting back towards the forest but I already know it’s too late. Turning my head slightly as I run I can see a looming shadow growing in the tunnel behind, filling the