Chrysalis

Right then. For the time being, my skills had been dealt with. Now for the juicy bit.

The Biomass.

But first.

[Crinis…]

When she received my mental communication the little ball shrinks in on herself, withdrawing her stalk until she's almost touching the ground.

[Um… Y… yes? Master?] she stammers.

…

[Is there something you want to tell me? Has some sort of milestone been achieved?] I enquire.

[N, no? I can't think of anything like that, Master]

So evasive!

[You wouldn't be worried about having to make choices for yourself again, would you Crinis? Panicked that you might make a selection that I didn't approve of? If that were the case, I'd be quite disappointed] my voice drops to a sinister low by the end.

[Hiiiiii!] she squeaks.

I can only sigh. Why are pets so weird? This should be a joyous occasion, the individual should be jumping for joy and as the master I would bathe in that reflected happiness, smiling deeply, feeling smug and satisfied that all things were travelling on the path that I ordained.

No.

Instead, I have to bully my own pet into evolving, or watch my pet evolve into an imbecilic lump of muscle meat. Crinis is just paranoid about having to make her own choices, not wishing to do something 'wrong'.

[Look, Crinis, I'm very happy that you are ready to evolve. It's a great thing! So as soon as we are finished speaking we will finalize your core and you will evolve. Okay?]

[…..]

[OKAY?!]

[yes… Master….]

Don't sulk!

something. When I recreated you from your core, I made sure to make adjustments so that you'd be perfect, the best little murder ball of boundless horror and death in all of

little ball seems struck dumb, growing incredibly

that

I'm meeting you halfway on this right? I've already made a good chunk of the decisions for you. The rest you need to look inside yourself to find the answers that best fit the kind of monster that

[…. But!]

[No buts!]

THWACK.

in the middle, sending her flying to the corner in which I keep my core

[Let's do this!]

and protests, I fuse together a special core and whack her on the head

[Now go evolve, dammit!]

[huuuuuu]

and begins the process of her evolution. This is only her second evolution but it's going to be exciting to see exactly how she changes. I know the broad strokes of it of course, but exactly what she

to be as helpful as possible,

after all and if anything

Finally!

just me and three

of my mutations to +15 before I evolve and I still haven't completed

to +15 is going to

….

SIXTY FIVE?!

five to ten is only forty by comparison. I remember when

nothing I can do about it but eat,

discussions. Apparently a big part of the System is focused on consolidation and reinforcement. Fusing is one part of this, where classes and skills can become

isn't a

upgrade won't be just choosing another mutation. I'm determined to find now before progressing any further on my

to +15? This

You betcha.

choose to combine your mutations, or emphasise one.