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 9; Acid Shot (III) Level 5; Expert Grip (III) Level 15; Crunching Bite (III) Level 16; Rapid Dash (III) Level 19; Exo-Skeleton Defense (I) level 4; Advanced Stamina (III) Level 13; Mana Craft (V) Level 4; Finer External Mana Manipulation (IV) Level 27; Earth Mana Affinity (IV) Level 9; Shadow Mana Affinity (III) Level 7; Light Mana Affinity (III) Level 15; Mind Mana Affinity (II)

Mutations:

Reactive Exoskeleton +20; Enhanced Vampiric Mandibles +20; Mighty Gripping 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; Weaving Dimensional Eye +20;

Species: Mature Omni-Seer (Formica)

Skill points: 22

Biomass: 24

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

evolution chain and the main reward appears to have

of fine 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 Weave, a sphere part crystal, part flesh that the lattice connects to, further enhancing the effect and making Brilliant exceptionally sensitive to the teensiest

of mana. I can understand why also, she is desperate to understand and investigate all that goes on and she has given herself the tools to make that happen. With these mutations, she's also turned herself into a powerful all-round caster, with a steady flow of energy and very fine

belt she'll be able to pump out some mighty impressive magic, no doubt about it. With her absurd rate of improvement,

hand, she's done basically nothing to make herself more survivable. Her toughness is too low, she can't heal herself, and her defensive Skills are still paltry garbage. If I hadn't insisted on making her run so much, her

to puzzle out the secrets of mana and whatever the