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?]

fellow in his twenties, a spear held lightly in one hand. As she heard my message

the people in the warehouse are the last ones left from Midum. He says the aristocracy fled on ships into the bay at the first sign of

[Classy stuff.]

[Hold on a second.]

I could've sworn he was leaning in a little closer than one would expect. Wait, now he's put his spear across his shoulders in just such a

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

guy cracking onto you Morrelia?]

slump from where I stood

seems pretty

hard. He doesn't have any credit for

that I'm some rich wandering expert and

sure how I feel about

get his people together and send them to the village, just make sure to warn them not to fight any ants that

nodded to me before she faced her would be suitor once again. If anything he'd managed to puff himself up even further. He looked so ridiculous that it's taken

Oh right! I'm dying.

entrance is? I'm almost out

[WHAT?!]

say

say

I'll be

[That's the same thing?!]

as she was done talking I told her I'd wait there for her at the entrance and

if he were about to hurl. It was probably 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 can reach it with my mouth which is positioned on the underside of my head, below

I've eaten a thousand of the horrible crawly scum. They taste awful, tear away with their horrible claws and look disgusting 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 just hate 'em. Am I