Chrysalis

I've started to come around to the general idea that I'm stupid. I mean, I'd considered that perhaps I was a little impulsive, Gandalf knows my decision making 'process' could, when written down, fit on the back of stamp with enough room left over for a drawing of Tiny poking himself in the eyes.

But I'd never considered myself to be a complete moron. I mean, there was that time I waltzed up to some human guards to say hello whilst I inhabited the body of a monstrous ant, but I still feel I can chalk that one up to stress and shock.

This time, I don't believe that I have the capacity to draw on excuses such as those. This goes beyond the impulsive, beyond a habitual lack of foresight or pattern of lackadaisical thinking.

This was just downright stupid.

As mana leaked out of my core, drained away into the air around me, how did I attack the monster horde in front of me? When my blood was up and the excitement of the fight was upon me, without thinking I decided that the best way to clear the chaff around the warehouse was using the empowered water cannon, pouring out my mana with unrestrained zeal to cut the monsters apart.

My mana.

I need that stuff! It is the lifeblood of my monstrous body and I literally need it to live! I was just under half empty when we made it to Midum, half of my life energy gone into the air, and what do I do? I take what is left of the mana in my core, pulled it out in huge amounts, made a water mana transformation construct, then created compressed water mana in order to hose down the enemy with wild abandon.

…

YOU IDIOT, ANTHONY!

My core gasped for breath as the final ten percent of mana in my core, the last wisp of energy I had left, stirred and sputtered about. I've probably got until the end of the day until my core has run out of gas, then the pain will come on fast. This is not good.

As keen as I am to run for the nearest Dungeon entrance as fast as possible, I want to make sure things are under control here. Not to mention I need to talk to Morrelia to find out the location of a close Dungeon entrance anyway.

Which means I need to use my mana to craft a mind bridge. Ugh. Using my mana as sparingly as possible, I weave together the mind bridge. I committed all of my will and energy to ensure that not a single iota of MP was lost without cause. It's amazing what a little scarcity can do for your outlook.

[Don't have long Morrelia, running out of mana. Everything good? You done going berserk?]

grizzled looking fellow in his twenties, a spear held lightly in one hand. As she heard my message Morrelia turned toward me and

to the leader of these survivors. It seems the people in the warehouse are the last ones left from Midum. He says

[Classy stuff.]

[Hold on a second.]

spoke to the fellow for a few moments longer and I could've sworn he was leaning in a little closer than one would expect. Wait, now

Even as they speak she is covered head to toe in monster blood. Her berserker style doesn't exactly lead to much subtlety when it comes to fighting up

this guy cracking onto

see her shoulders slump from where I stood

think so] she grumbled, [he seems pretty impressed with my

did fight hard. He doesn't have any credit for us

her voice turned sly at this point, [he thinks that I'm some rich wandering expert and you three are

sure how I feel

believe than the truth. Tell him to get his people together and send them to

before she faced her would be suitor once again. If anything he'd managed to puff himself up even further. He

Oh right! I'm dying.

you could tell me where the nearest Dungeon entrance is? I'm almost out of mana and I'm gonna die

[WHAT?!]

did say so

say

be dying

[That's the same thing?!]

entrance, a small one in the wilderness halfway to the next closest town. As soon as she was done talking I told her I'd wait there for her at the entrance and my pets and I started to stuff our faces quickly with as

Crinis eating that did it, I eat in quite a dignified manner, tearing with my mandibles and then shoving my face into the food so I

to boot. Ever since I was born on this world I've had an instinctive hatred of these damn things. I don't feel any real need to explain it, I