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?

me as I charge in. Whoops! My vision fills

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 amount of energy I packed into it, the ice doesn’t hold up long against that

I give it one final push before turning the full force of my chomp on the

Void Chomp!

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

time,] I tell

dead, he couldn’t reply… so what was the

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

red light screaming,

is filled with sparks as the claws rake across my carapace and fail to penetrate, but the sheer force of the blow nearly crumples my legs. I hold firm, if only just, and fire back with more ice. At this range,

I might be able to cause more

opponent. The massive demon has another injury, larger this time, but again, already in the process of healing. Lava-like goop

regeneration gland myself, capable of restoring minor wounds with extreme speed as well, but when

Shiver.

I’ll reflect on my mistakes, I’m

yourself and stay wounded, dammit! You took that damage fair

you should be crawling,

smoke the demon wears explodes as the aura of fire, ash and pure violence magnifies tenfold. My psyche recoils from the overwhelming sense of demonic violence radiating from my