Chrysalis

My sub-brains are still struggling to put the finishing touches on the gravitational mana construct. It’s fiendishly complex, so I’m not surprised. More practice is required, and I’ve been too lazy to do it.

Curse you, past Anthony! Curse your lazy carapace!

Having fully mutated would also be helpful for this. The Altar and Nave aren’t mutated, and who knows what insane effects they might have available at +35.

I’ve been too overconfident, dammit! This massive demon is proving to be far more of a challenge than I expected. I’ll have to do the best with what I have available and hope it all works out. Let’s do this!

I harden the ice mana I’d prepared as much as possible before weaving it to form spears. Unless I pump these spells as full of power as I can, they’ll just melt when they get close to him, his cloak of fire and smoke will take care of that. The rate of fire isn’t quite what I was hoping for, but at least each spear packs a hell of a lot of punch.

The demon smashes them away with his fists, smoke and ash belching from his maw as he rears back and launches his inferno breath at me. My ice spears are gone in an instant and I leap to the side once more. Then I’m struck with an idea!

If he can’t recover from that breath attack quickly, then I might be able to close the gap right now. In a contest of close range attacks, I win!

Dash!

Drawing deep on the Altar in such rapid succession is dizzying. The Will of the Colony thunders through me, transforming into whatever power the Altar uses to infuse my Skills and spells as quick as I can use it. The rate of replenishment is insane, but as I lock my mandibles back and activate Void Chomp, it dips precipitously low.

Going to have to lay off it for a bit, but will I get the chance?

turn to face me as I’d expected, the demon extends it and whirls to face me as I charge in. Whoops! My vision fills with that destructive

is woven into existence right in front of me and I shoulder charge it forward, advancing behind it like a shield. It’s awkward as heck, but I can’t do much better in the time I have. Despite the absurd

in range, I give it one final push

Void Chomp!

this bite packs unbelievable might and it’s difficult for me to see what happens in front of me due to the sheer amount of carnage. Rocks crack, dust billows everywhere and demons caught in the vacuum effect fly through the air to get caught in the crossfire. I feel a little sorry for those monsters, they don’t even have a moment to lament their fate before they

dead this time,] I

couldn’t reply… so what was the point of saying

he roars in my mind and I feel a little relief I hadn’t embarrassed myself by talking

clawed arms slash through the smoke, red light screaming, but I

the blow nearly crumples my legs. I hold firm, if only just, and fire back with more ice. At this range,

guy projects a lot of heat! If I was some sort of ice specialist, then I might be able to cause more damage with it, but this is ridiculous. This close to him, it feels like I’m sticking my head into a

massive demon has another injury, larger this time, but again, already in the process of healing. Lava-like goop fills the wound, congealing and darkening into black demonic flesh

of restoring minor wounds

Shiver.

reflect on my mistakes, I’m sorry! Now that I’m against someone who does the same thing I do, I can fully appreciate

yourself and stay wounded, dammit! You took

keep barking when you

of fire, ash and pure violence magnifies tenfold. My psyche recoils from the overwhelming sense of demonic violence radiating from