Chrysalis

We ran as if the devil himself we behind us liberally applying a pitchfork to our most tender commercial interests. Tiny was significantly slowed by having to carry his Biomass burden but I didn't consider leaving him behind for long. We eventually made it back to the small Dungeon entrance we had used previously and dove inside, slaughtering the small number of spawned monsters before standing still, earls peeled for any sound of encroaching doom.

[You hear anything Crinis?]

[Master, I don't have any ears.]

[You know what I mean! Do you detect anything?]

[… No. I wasn't able to detect anything on the surface either. Whatever was making that noise was far outside my range.]

[Fair enough. How about you, Tiny?]

[Whurfft?]

[Get that Biomass out of your face dammit! And why would having food in your mouth make your mental voice sound different? Do you hear anything?]

[No…]

[Good!]

Somewhat of a surprise, Morrelia had chosen to join us in the Dungeon. Perhaps she wanted the shelter of being concealed below ground level. She seemed to be fairly shaken after that fight. I don't know why she was so rattled, but I can only imagine she has good reason. I haven't seen her do anything she wasn't absolutely sure of.

[You feeling a little better?] I asked her.

At the moment she had her ear cocked into the air, her face was intent as she listened for any hint of pursuit. She didn't respond for a full minute until she seemed to feel confident there wasn't anything coming after us.

[I think so] so sent, [I just couldn't believe that a creature like Garralosh could actually be on the surface.]

[Yeah, shouldn't that be impossible?!] I protested, [its painful enough for me to be on the surface, some gigantic monster, that is hundreds of years old should have evolved ten times more than I have, should be drained of mana after a few minutes on the surface, surely?!]

Morrelia looked at me carefully for a moment before she continued to speak.

do you know, about Garralosh?] she

system messages I get when I eat monsters I know a little. That the various Garralosh monsters are her offspring, that she's a giant Croc and that

to think hard before she continued

that, though speaking too much would break faith with people I

I sense secret knowledge!

to share, I'll be more than grateful for!]

snorted, seeing through my

far, Anthony. It's only fair that we help a little back. Now. Firstly, I'll say that Garralosh is probably not as highly evolved as

be?] I wondered, [she's hundreds of years old,

can know with precision unless they were there to see

could she not have evolved much? I've evolved three times already and I'm not even a year

old?] Morrelia's eyes suddenly narrowed as her

shouldn't be that surprising should it?] I shrank

[It's a little unusual that would be this strong, this young, according to what I know of Monsters. I was honestly shocked when you unleashed that… ball of

of my magic has made an impression

Gravity Bomb!

intent, [Is that the type of mana

turn to become a little evasive. I don't intend to give up all my secrets, woman! Perhaps a little wisdom is finally starting to

I deflected, [we were discussing the giant crocodile

disappointed, Morrelia nodded and continued with what she had been

too much detail but suffice to say that she hasn't had access to the higher tier monsters and cores she would need to evolve to a massive height. We believe the last time she

not progress. Wait a

[I did. Why?]

Cores…. Something about

[Crinis?]

[Yes Master?]

the core

ordered me to focus on the arms and then run, Master. I thought it was odd,

Gandalf. There's no