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 in this world, governing the ease and grace with which one can grasp and

four is

a rank! Also a big deal. Dodge is up to Grandmaster, as is Endure. An all-round increase in my defensive manoeuvring,

rank five, as is precise shooting. I'm especially happy

Charge and Mandible Spear have both hit the third rank and can be fused! I

Spear Charge?

Isn't that just literally combining the key words of the

more devastating with the Void Chomp. Actually… I could hardly sustain a Doom Chomp combo… the new Void Chomp… oof.

this is an incredible wealth of progress!

skills that have progressed into the 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

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 is good for something,

a whoo?

overmuch. 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 abilities to get used to, so I'm going to sit on

creeps over my brain. Then it keeps on a creepin', then some more, until my mind is literally shivering under the deluge of new

at once! A single rank six skill is packed with a lot of stuff, and I just dropped like four of

is unpleasant, like the mutation itch. It's more like how a single shiver running

the intense sensation fills my brain. It eventually fades, and I take a look at my complete

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 Mind (V) Level 15; Master Stamina (IV) Level

Mana:

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) Level 1; Lightning Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Advanced Force Magic

Pet:

20; Core Crafting (IV) Level

Defensive: