Chrysalis

I'm kind of surprised that the hatchling, I mean Brilliant, didn't try and escape after evolving, but here she is obediently waiting for me after waking. Has she finally learned her lesson? That would be a good thing indeed! Growth! Actual growth! And here I thought I was going to have to change her name to Massive-idiant.

[Well, well, well,] I look down on the emphatically no-longer-a-hatchling and clack my mandibles happily, [tier five. You made it to the big leagues! A big bad ant now! This is actually the level that the majority of the Colony hasn't reached, you're now part of the elite.]

I can tell that she wants to reply something to the effect of 'naturally' but knows that she'll get a thackin' for it. As she should! Who did all the work!?

[I feel good,] she eventually says, [strong. I feel like I can see things more clearly than I could before.]

[Oh? You mean you understand things better? Or your literal sight has improved?]

[…Both? I think?]

[Interesting. Well, I'm keen to take a peek at your core and see what you chose. Hold still for a second.]

I reach down with one antenna and throw my mind into her core, swimming through the rush of mana and information that is held within until I manage to sift it down to the parts I understand.

Name: Brilliant

Level: 1 (Special) V

Might: 50

Toughness: 50

Cunning: 150

Will: 150

HP: 100/100

MP: 0/250

Skills:

Level 19; Exo-Skeleton Defense (I) level 4; Advanced Stamina (III) Level 13; Mana

Mutations:

Legs +20; Clarified Mana Weave Eyes +20; Delicate Mana Sensitive Antennae +20; Concentrated Melting Acid Gland +20; Broadened Pheromone Language Gland +20; Elevated Mana Core Lattice +20; Piercing Dungeon Oracle +20;

Species: Mature Omni-Seer (Formica)

Skill points: 22

Biomass: 24

she invested the whole lot into a single brain rather than spreading it out, which means she has quite the oomph behind a single line of effort, as opposed to my more diversified efforts. Eventually she'll reach the required rank in mind magic and then be able to craft the constructs, much as I can. I see she even went to the effort of making her brain

Omni-Seer it's clear that she followed through an evolution chain and the main reward appears to have been the Mana Crystal Weave, a rather potent

crystalline lines that branch off the core in a breathtaking structure. The purpose of this organ is multifaceted, allowing mana to flow in and out of the core more easily, as well as granting finer control over it in the vicinity of the core. Now she's added the

up as a detector of all things, able to sense everything that occurs around her to an extraordinary degree, particularly in the realm of mana. I can understand why also, she is desperate to understand and investigate all that goes on and she has

under her belt she'll be able to pump out some mighty impressive magic, no doubt about it. With her absurd rate of improvement, I'm sure it won't even take her long! Dammit! This feels unfair on quite

her defensive Skills are still paltry garbage. If

done,] I congratulate her as I remove my antenna. [You'll be able to puzzle out the secrets of mana and whatever the