Chrysalis

Gawd. Mutating is such an itch in the thorax. Once more, only once more and I'll be done for my current evolution. Though that means I'm drawing ever nearer to the next tier, and who can say how many mutations I'll have to go through in that one? If I reset my carapace, I'll have to go through all of those again, and I have to say they were some of the worst. My entire body, more or less, is covered by the exo-skeleton, and when it changes size or shape, the sensation is truly maddening.

The equivalent for a human would be their skin changing in size or composition over the course of a few minutes.

Horrific. But that's for future Anthony to worry about. Current Anthony isn't going to waste another moment thinking about it, not even in a sub-brain.

I mean, why would I? I've got mad SKILLS to be thinking about. I've been grinding my magic hard, as always. Having multiple brains is a wonderful hack in this regard. No matter how busy I get, I can always have a couple of constructs whipping up a spell and flinging it at a nearby target, or straight up into the air, whenever it's done. This has resulted in some rather delicious gains in key skills.

The final goal is always kept in sight! Gravity Mana Specialisation!

I'm probably not there yet, but when I get through enough ranks of new mana types it’ll surely open up.

All right, time to take a look at what I'm working with.

Awww snap. Finally, I've achieved the long sought after upgrade to my biting skill! I've been operating on Doom Chomp, or Doom Chomp, as I've come to think of it, for such a long time. Doesn't have the same heft without that special emphasis within my mind.

Ah yes, it feels like yesterday when I first experienced the true joy of having the energy of my body, or stamina, manifest itself as jaws of pure light that slam shut in front of me. A special moment in my history, of that there's no doubt. Then, the fusion of all of my bite skills gave me the ultimate chomp, that eventually became the pinnacle which came to be feared across the Dungeon.

What could the upgrade be?

[Doom Chomp (V) -> Void Chomp (VI) - A devastating chomp that rips into the material of existence itself.]

That's it? I mean, that's awesome, but that's short. I can't freakin' wait to take this for a test run. This is a big ticket item! A rank six skill! We are freaking flying, baby! One skill point down, let's keep the party rolling! Whoo!

Sometimes you just have to punch it with a whoo.

As I browse through the impressive list of skills that I've acquired over the journey, I can see a couple of other nice jumps that I've reached.

Expert Grip is jumping up to Master Grip, which is nice. I need all the help I can get when I'm this heavy…

Dash has reached rank five! I'm super happy about that one. Flash Dash (V). Sounds impressive! If a bit wordy…

Mana Masking can promote up to rank four, another win for the stealth approach.

Mana Sensing is promoting up to rank five. Definitely going to be helpful.

going to be a big deal. That skill is literally the lynchpin of all magic

going up to rank four is nice,

up a rank! Also a big deal. Dodge is up to Grandmaster, as is Endure. An all-round increase in my defensive manoeuvring, capacity to avoid attacks and absorb impacts. Winning all

is up to rank five, as is precise shooting. I'm especially happy about the second, as it

have both hit the third rank and can be fused! I wonder what the

Spear Charge?

really? Isn't that just literally combining the key words of the two

Void Chomp. Actually… I could hardly sustain a Doom Chomp combo… the

this is an incredible wealth

higher ranks, I'm satisfied with how far I've come. I know Granin likes to say that any skills lower than rank six are basically pure garbage, but I haven't been alive that long, I can't be expected to push myself

I can probably thank my life of near ceaseless, desperate combat for my rapid advance up the ranks. So hey, an endless series of life and death struggles

it with a whoo? Probably not the

I've racked up a hell of a lot of skill points. I really need to see if there's anything new to buy. Probably not right now, though. I have a lot of new

Then it keeps on a creepin', then some more, until my mind is

rank six skill is packed with a lot of stuff, and I just dropped like

more like how a single shiver running down your spine is basically fine, but a thousand at once is a rather

sensation fills my brain. It eventually fades, and I

Name: Anthony

Level: 84 (Rare) (VI)

Might: 205

Toughness: 180

Cunning: 145

Will: 100

HP: 360/360

MP: 768/768

Skills:

General:

Compass (IV) Level 17; Iron

Mana:

Level 1; Grand Finer External Mana Manipulation (V) Level 1; Mana Hoarder (V) Level 1; Layered Mind Magic Affinity (V) Level 36; Extended Directed Mana Sensing (V) Level 1; Expert Healing Magic Affinity (IV) Level 3; Advanced Omni-Elemental Affinity (VI) Level 25; Advanced Mana Masking (IV) Level 1; Wood Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Metal Magic Affinity (I)

Pet:

Level 20; Core Crafting (IV)

Defensive: