Chrysalis

With the main bulk of the planning done, it was time to get my group rested and ready to head back out into the fray. Not long after the council broke up, Tiny stumbled into our chamber only to flop onto the floor and returned to sleep, absorbing the mana of the Dungeon to restore his exhausted core.

Speaking of cores, it was time to help Crinis evolve! Only her second evolution since she'd been reforged as my loyal pet and unlike the last evolution, this one would be less of my design. I hadn't had the skill to affect her evolutions to such a deep extent at the time, so there is an opportunity for Crinis to take a more direct hand in her own evolution here, without my own guiding influence.

Naturally this meant that the Dungeon would weave the general shape of her choices and there was a chance that some of them would be hot garbage. Fortunately, if that were to happen then Crinis could ask me to dive into her core and sort out some options for her.

[Are you ready for this Crinis?]

The little ball wiggled indecisively on the floor in front of me, small tentacles extending this way and that until eventually her form solidified.

[I - I think so, Master] she told me.

[You're doing great. Remember, if the evolution options are terrible, let me know and we can work on developing something a little more concrete that suits what you want.]

The little blob-like ball nodded somehow and firmed up further as Crinis gained confidence.

[I know. I feel it'll go well] she declared.

I looked down at my loyal and ever diligent sphere of endless murder and torment. She'd come a long way in being able to try and take responsibility for making her own choices. It wasn't that long that she'd been paralysed by fear just thinking of spending her skill points, and now here she was, preparing to make her own decisions in her own evolution.

I was happy she'd shown such growth over the last few weeks. She'd been working hard to improve herself.

[Wait a second. You aren't trying so hard because you think that's what I want, is it?]

[….]

[Oi! Don't pretend you're already in the evolution menu!]

you master, evolving] Crinis' voice echoed

Such a dirty trick!

being independent, even if it's for the wrong reasons. Personal growth! The journey we are all on as we slaughter monsters together! As

nice for the big guy. He was a battle hungry nut case when I reconstituted his core and he is still that same battle hungry nut case. At least he knows what it is that wants

Time for some rest. After everything that's gone on since my last

have to believe that the family I've found in this new world be able to weather the storm. I know that I'll do everything in my power to get us all through

HAGGAH!

I'm up!

had a good rest, back in my own little chamber. It may not have been home for long, but it's more

her meditation sleep. I can already see her little spherical body beginning to change in subtle ways. I'll be interested to

first. Sitting in one corner of the chamber is a pile of Biomass and when I approach it I find a pheromone message from the most hyper-active ant

x) This is the second load of food I brought

able to rustle up a second serve. This may not be enough food to give me all of the Biomass that I need, in fact I'm sure it

lay into the food and

Om Nom Nom!

corner. I immediately abandon my meal and leap over to her resting position, bringing my antennae forward

You awake? Everything

size. She'd grown ten small permanent tentacles that curved downward from her body to the floor, lifting it up and allowing her to walk around without having to will any limbs into existence by manipulating her

felt her awareness come to me

"I've done it. Check

a cute little pet she

core surgery skill. The information from her core floods into my mind and after parsing it

Name: Crinis

Level: 1 (core)

Might: 95