Chrysalis

[Still, one advantage you have over monsters of your tier is that you have a fairly capable basis for multiple thought threads, which is the optimal way to grind your mental Skills.]

[That's what I've been doing. At least lately. The idea was to advance my magic as fast as possible to try and unlock the Gravity Magic Affinity. I have a feeling that once I get it, it'll be strong.]

Granin nods.

[I've no doubt of that. Space magic is one of the most advanced forms of magic known and only old boulders like myself manage to level our Skills to the point we can unlock it. Even then, it levels up extremely slowly. Only the most powerful and gifted of Shapers can do more than create and open gates with it.]

Thinking of an army of ants teleporting around through magical gateways, I mutter: [yeah, well, gates sound pretty good.]

[You aren't wrong. They form a huge part of every Dungeon civilisation. I'd go so far as to say, colonising the Dungeon would have been impossible without it. If your Gravity magic is as fundamental as that, it may be some time before you're able to unlock the affinity.]

[Dammit.]

[Agreed,] Granin sighs, [acquiring that skill would be the easiest and fastest way to power you up. Since you don't have access to it, and we don't know when you will, there's little point in trying to grind for it now. If we throw all our eggs in that basket and the Skill doesn't show up, then you'll end up in a bad way.]

[I don't know about that,] I protest, [it's not as if that last battle was a real struggle. I dealt with that supposedly powerful monster with ease.]

Granin gave me a long steady look at that point. I could almost hear his thoughts turning in his head, I could see how hard he was struggling not to call me an idiot.

[Out with it then,] I sigh.

heavily and sat down before

charge on you, you would have exploded into a thousand tiny pieces in

about my

three Shapers to create that creature and it was a certified killing machine. Luckily for you, it wasn't that

you're saying

in intelligence, which is something you have an unfair advantage in, since you're a reincarnator. Most of the monsters that you'll face will be smarter, most of them will be just as

it wasn't popular to invest in mental stats at

is just asking for your expensive, labour intensive project to club its own brain out with a rock. Remember, these aren't pets. They are true, wild monsters that have undergone extensive core shaping after

at various points. In some ways it just adds to his loveable charm, but in others it's nearly got us killed. It's all

What do you think I need

of answering directly, the Shaper

your basic elemental

mean, fire, water, earth and air? I mean. I have them.

thought. If you can get all of them to rank three and fuse them then you'll

rank three? Is that all? I thought fusions would be better the higher rank the Skills were. Shouldn’t I try and hold on for

Granin hesitates.

rank one. The fifth is even better than that. I'm not sure that anyone has done rank six. Certainly I've no idea what that fusion results in. You'd have to level up the four skills one hundred and fifty five times each, which would take a

be worth

short term has to trump planning for the

I have an advantage that Granin doesn't know about. The Gravity Bomb. I know it's a risk, but if I get deep enough into this tournament, hopefully the Cult won't be so prepared to sacrifice me to learn about my magic and I can snag a free win by blasting some poor monster into

go big or go home, Granin! We're shooting for a more powerful fusion! Rank five! Hit