Chrysalis

Tiny and I continue to retreat back towards the nest as fast as we can. As we run I continuously attempt to draw out and shape mana, frequently stuffing it up and tangling my legs as we run.

This is so damn difficult Gandalf! How did you perform so much magic on the back of the horse?!

I'm not sure if this will help anyone in anyway but I'm feeling desperate to get stronger. With only a day or two left until impending Armageddon I want to improve at something!

The entire conversation I had with Formo keeps running through my mind. So much new information to drop on a person! I feel like it'll take ages for me to be able to come through of all the gems my chatty new friend dropped in our brief exchange.

Tiny and I make it back to the open space of the forest without incident, although I do trip a few times.

Even with my sub-brain assisting to draw the mana out of my core and direct it, to actually manage that process, seize the prepared mana before shaping it into the one of the many patterns that the skill inserted knowledge is telling me to use is exceedingly difficult.

However, I must practice!

Back to the nest Tiny! With all speed!

The forest is just as chaotic as it was when we left it a few hours ago, but we don't waste time trying to sneak through now. As we encounter creatures we simple continue running straight past them, leaving a trail of bewildered and confused beasts in our wake.

However, some give chase, bellowing out their challenge as they crash through the brush, snapping branches and crushing the undergrowth beneath their feet.

If I'd not been distracted with mana shaping I might have anticipated this, but there is no stopping now...

Stop chasing us you idiots! There's a thousand other monsters you could fight, why don't you just leave us alone? Can't you see we aren't interested? Nobody likes a desperate monster!

It's no use however.

With their blood up, every monster is seeing red pretty much constantly right now and is isn't long before the one or two creatures tailing along behind us have attracted the attention of other nearby monsters.

the trees, chasing the tails of the monsters who are chasing Tiny

Soon a conga line of Bears, chimps, giant rabbits centipedes and other monsters I'd not yet seen has

Are you serious Gandalf!?

you monsters?! I don't

the ant hill there must be more than a hundred monsters that I can see behind us, all hurtling forward, ignoring the cavalcade of ravenous beasts

I'm actually speechless.

can these

do was get

shaping has

Not now dammit!

look and the train of monsters behind us and immediately prepare to

Dang!

couldn't just

to battle it out amongst

it is

oncoming beast conga once I reach the top of the hill. Tiny, tired of running and eager for battle, takes his cue

situation, one run through the forest and here we are. A massive brawl right

turn I can see the full train of monsters, suddenly stop

There is a pause.

Wolf-Dragon. Any monster that can survive in the forest these days is going to amass levels and Biomass at a

at the ground, baring its teeth in a menacing snarl, its powerful tail swinging and curling

trail of villains here to threaten my nest? Do you know who I am? Do you

only have one

you want to

my change in my mood Tiny hoots in delight and starts beating his chest with his fists. Those fists and that chest are still getting larger by the day. I would estimate Tiny has achieved half of his previous size

to contain himself anymore, the ape bounds forward and with one swing of his arm delivers a stunning uppercut to the chin of the Dragon-Wolf. The poor beast is shattered by the blow and