Chrysalis

When Water mana affinity levelled up to Advanced water mana affinity, I'd learned many things. I'd poured a lot of resources and evolutionary energy into beefing up my spellcasting ability to the point I was happy with it, but the spells hadn't been quite as impactful as I'd hoped. The mana affinity skills were my first window into increasing the power of my magic. The human mages I'd seen had almost all been specialised in a particular type of mana, especially the younger ones. What had been the reason for this?

Advanced water mana affinity unveiled a few clues. Along with new constructions, new spell shapes specifically for water magic, I'd also learned how to adjust the water mana transformation construct to produce a slightly different effect. A more potent one.

As Tiny and Crinis do battle with the monster, I race to complete the new construct, all of my minds dedicated to the task. I'd hoped to have more time to test this before being pushed to using it in such a desperate situation, I'd thought I'd had more time!

Just another example of me taking things too lightly. I'd assumed that I'd become so powerful, strong enough that we'd be able to blow through most resistance with ease. I constantly have to keep reminding myself that though my evolutions might have given me a massive leg up in terms of my raw stats, I started from perhaps the lowest base in the Dungeon.

I need to keep pushing myself further ahead.

With a shattering roar the Croc finally connects a solid blow into Tiny's ribs, sending the ape rolling through the dirt and into a tree where he lies clutching at his side.

Come on brains!

The final pieces of the construct snap into place as the Croc painfully struggles to its feet. All of the Gravity bolts I've piled into that one leg are adding up. Along with the beating it's taken from Tiny, the creature no longer has the strength to move freely or easily. That has to be enough.

The beast flexes its claws and prepares to slash Crinis who is still clinging with everything she has to the Croc's other arms, restraining them with all of her might.

I won't let you!

Ice Spear!

All of my minds work in concert to power one spell at a time, churning out this new form of mana, Ice!

Two feet long and needle sharp, the ice spear rockets through the air as if shot from a cannon and slams into the Croc on its chest.

CRASH!

fly as the spear shatters, but only after the tip is driven into the beasts flesh. The monster turns to me again and

four brains for nothing, you

Ice Spear!

under its neck. Having avoided

immediately begins to bubble and regenerate but

time by dashing to my right. It works for a moment as the Croc raises its one free hand to defend

a few seconds, enough for me to start compressing the ice mana until it turns from a glittering pale

me again the Croc instantly opens its upper jaws and unleashes a narrow torrent of blue flame, the air instantly heats to searing hot as the flame ignites but

that dash a

Hahahahaha!" Vibrant cries as she dashes wildly

carapace is still showing signs of a horrific crack that is in the process of healing, but she

I

and charges behind the Croc once more,

what to do this time and quickly swings its tails but Vibrant has wised

me

Forceful Ice Spear!

is a deep, sparkling blue, as if formed from the waters of the deepest depths of the ocean. As I activate the spell it crackles into existence over my head before blasting through the air towards

Crocs gut but instead of shattering it simply

Croc bellows in pain and swings

all three sub brains with holding the ice construct in place and give my mana a chance to recharge. I've been sucking mana out of the ground all this time through my legs but my consumption has been high. I'll need to take the fight to the Croc the

can only open my

Vibrant shouts and charges back in

its gut. I bet that took a decent