Chrysalis

Farming aside, I’ve got other things to worry about, namely trying to work out exactly how the Altar of Self actually works. I mean, I have the basic idea, it’s not that complicated; the Will of the Colony flows through the Vestibule, is amplified by the Nave, feeds into the Altar and is consumed to help fuel my Skills.

Simple in concept, but there’s a lot of variables I need to take into account. Which Skills use the most energy? How much do they use? How quickly does it replenish? What effect does it have on each Skill?

I need to put in a lot of reps just to figure out how it all works. By practising over and over again, I can develop the instinctual feel I need to make snap decisions and use the ability in battle.

The issue I have is that I don’t want to be taking experience away from my precious pets. The three of them need a ton of experience to reach the next tier, and I don’t want to slow down their progress in the slightest.

[It’s fine, Master,] Crinis says, [you need experience. We can’t take everything!]

Huh. She must have noticed me musing off to the side while the three of them hunt.

[Don’t worry about it,] I tell her. [I’ve got my own stuff to work on, you three need the levels.]

[A-are you sure? I really don’t mind!]

[Of course I’m sure! I wouldn’t feel right if I stayed stronger than you guys. You need to hurry up and reach my tier!]

[Alright! We will!]

[That’s the spirit.]

Crinis turns and rips into the demons around her with renewed rage and I’m happy to avert my gaze and continue to contemplate what I need to do.

I mean, better start with the basics, right?

pets have finished pulverising the opposition, I have to pick up and follow after them, but there’s enough

I pull back my mandiles, lock them in place and then lunge forward, allowing them to tear into the steaming

Crunch!

like butter, crashing

pleased with what I see. The ol’ face hands are doing good work. Longer than before, they really have quite the reach now, snapping together metres in front of my

Skill with that chomp, so as impressive as the result might have been,

give myself a little shake

occurs as before, except this time, I try to draw on the energy boiling away

say boiling, I really do mean boiling. With so many ants running around the plains, and several demon cities within range, each with its own mega-nest built against the pillar, let’s just say the Vestibule is absolutely humming with energy. It’s to the point that I’m actively avoiding dipping into the stream, lest I get overwhelmed with

jaws slam together, but despite my best efforts, the energy, unlike the spice,

it won’t work? Like, I can’t just run and use the Altar

make this

few steps and set my legs, locking

the VOID

ball of energy manifests before my face, along with the mandibles formed of pure, black light. More than that, I feel the Altar surge with power, pouring out from deep within me and filling

berserk mode, soaking up that energy and growing stronger and stronger before my mandibles smash shut with a

if

of me as stone comes rumbling down, collapsing on the empty void that

Uhhhh. Whoops.

[Master?]

trying to

work on them… outside