Chrysalis

It’s expensive taking something from 0 to +30. Four hundred and sixty five! Just imagine that number. It wasn’t so long ago that I could barely imagine having that much Biomass ready to use.

As it is, after the hunting I’ve done with the gang and vacuuming up the food the others didn’t need, I only have enough stored away to mutate these two body parts, and only barely at that. If we hadn’t run into a few high tier monsters on our hunt, I would never have stored enough.

I do the same with the plating as I did with the carapace, taking the one option at +5, the other at +10, then fusing, and repeat the process up to thirty. Satisfied with my selections, I punch in the confirmation and await my fate.

Here it comes.

Oooooo, it’s going to be a bad one. I can already tell.

AaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAND HERE IT IS!

[Crinis! Cover me!] I howl as I immediately flop onto my back and start thrashing wildly.

Being as large as I am, the thrashing is all the more spectacular and I’d prefer none of my siblings were able to see it. Ugh, just horrible. Why is it that I have to put up with this dreadful sensation when I mutate? Nobody else seems to roll about suffering like I do. What’s the deal?! I’ll have to mention it to Gandalf the next time I see him. In fact, that’s all the motivation I need to push for tier eight, forget about this stupid hook the Ancients stuck me with.

Eventually, the itch fades and I right myself quickly. I want to check my carapace as fast as possible! I look over myself, inspecting every detail. Surely I’m more shiny than before? There’s no way my lustre was reduced even further, is there?

Thankfully, I believe I can detect a little more oomph to the deep purple shimmer that can be seen within the diamond. It isn’t much, but I’ll take it. I don’t remember ever feeling vain as a human, but for some reason, I became quite attached to my glimmering carapace. It caught the eye and really lit up the room, in a literal sense.

[Is everything alright, Master?] Crinis asks as I continue to check over myself.

[Yes, it’s all fine. Now that the itch is gone, I just wanted to see how the new mutation looked on the carapace.]

imposing as always,

I didn’t have to put up with this stupid itch all the time. Every time I mutate, it’s like my

[Oh.]

it? What

feel a

from being a shadow

I mean, Tiny. The mutation itch is

ape looks at me and shakes his

you

chest and then gives me a thumbs

when mutating? This is outrageous! How come nobody told

Tiny shrugs.

you mean, you did?! I think I’d

confirm this injustice right away. It’s completely unfair that only us reincarnated folks have to

do I find her? I haven’t spoken to her at all since I evolved, not since the resolution to the whole Jim fiasco. I hope she’s been able to heal her wounded heart,

crossed, that’ll be enough.

where she is. Not in Roklu, as it turns out, but another ant held demon-town closer to the border we share with the lizard wizards. She’s been assisting to suppress the demon shenanigans while patrolling with the Colony to

hard working

patrol that I eventually find her, out strolling along the border with a squad of a hundred ants, looking tough and

[Hey, Sarah!]

surprised