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?

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

and then lunge forward, allowing them to

Crunch!

through the stone like butter, crashing together with a satisfying

face hands are doing good work. Longer than before, they really have quite

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

steps down, give myself

this time, I try to draw on the energy boiling away inside

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

slam together, but despite my best efforts, the energy,

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

make this next

and set my legs, locking

the

my face, along with the mandibles formed of pure, black light.

up that energy and growing stronger

if

everywhere, along with ash, dust and flecks of magma. It looks as if a bomb went off in front of me as stone comes rumbling down, collapsing on the empty void

Uhhhh. Whoops.

[Master?]

that, Crinis. Just trying to

work on them… outside