Chrysalis

It's a comforting thought that here, even two strata out of date, my mandibles are still capable of getting the job done.

OMEN CHOMP!

With a crunch that reverberates off the walls, the dark mandibles of manifest energy slam shut, causing devastating damage to the poor demons caught within. Before the caster demon can even begin to weave a spell to heal or defend, the bodyguards are already in action, appearing from thin air to execute their devastating takedown strategy once more, leaving no opening as they remove a single demon from the equation.

With no proper front line to hold down the fort, there is little the remaining demons can do, too busy fending off the myriad of tentacles of Crinis to properly protect themselves from Tiny as the big ape wades forward, his mighty fists almost appearing to vanish as he unleashes a blistering combination of punches that shatter the air with powerful bolts of electricity.

Just like that, the fight is done.

I really do wonder if it's too easy? Are these demons weak? Are we strong? Being equal tier, they should have the advantage over us considering the gap between strata. We might have upgraded various parts of ourselves, but we can't hope to match up with them, who are made of better stuff from the moment they were spawned.

I suppose some of the difference can be explained by the difference in evolution. I get the feeling, watching the little ankle biters go at it, that most of them don't evolve with complete cores every step of the way. Their struggle is so desperate that they likely evolve the very moment they feel that they can, particularly in the first few tiers.

Still, it doesn't seem to add up. To sort out my confusion, I turn to the burning corona of all wisdom, Al.

groups of demons a bit too easily? They're tier

a moment and I just know he's considering what information he'll extract from us as recompense. Luckily, I'm yet to draw on my secret reservoir of media from my previous life. Outside of Tolkien, I'm yet to detail any sort of fiction at all! I have enough juice

a mistake to think that all demons are created equally,] the floating eye informs me, [some are weaker than others and there could be any number of reasons. Age is a major factor, which directly affects the strength of a demon's Skills and mutations. But in this case, I simply think that you are being underestimated. Most demons have a poor opinion of the monsters who spawn higher up in the Dungeon, generally for good reason. For the most part, they are much

[it would be like a human seeing a sheep jump up and offer to wrestle. The demons down here probably never even see a first stratum monster, let alone have to

to me

leng, I explain the concept of pants to the giant flaming eyeball, who takes quite an interest despite not having any

some of these pants

that out. All

[Fascinating.]

guess so? To be honest, I find the variety of demons on this stratum to be

could of my kind. I do not believe that I know all, but that which I can learn in this place,

tickles my interest a

of demons? I would have thought that there wouldn't be much

big eye flutters in the

of demons. I prefer to stay in an out of the way location like this, someplace