Chrysalis

Finally. Finally! It wasn’t easy, but I managed to shepherd all of my pets through their evolutions. Holy moly, that was a lot of work. As expected, Tiny was the most difficult, but now the big guy has settled in, obviously running through the menus, judging by his furrowed brow.

Although I feel elated for them to finally reach my tier, I also feel a bit lonely. The evolution to tier seven is a big one, and the crew might not be together again for a week or more. What am I supposed to do with myself? There’s not even a wave going on to keep me busy!

I head back toward the room the golgari were set up in and poke my head in.

[Hey there, the triad of power comes through again. How’d it all go?]

They were in the process of packing up, but as I stick my massive face through the entrance, they turn to me.

[Tiny was a lot of work, but probably will have the best evolution,] Granin says. [I get the feeling Crinis and Invidia are going to see a more major jump in power when they reach tier eight.]

[That’s a long way away,] I scoff. [These exponential Level requirements are ridiculous.]

Granin shoots me a look and I can tell he’s about to launch into a lecture. My immediate instinct is to run, but then again, where do I have to go? My antennae slump in defeat. I may as well listen and try to learn something.

[The Level requirement doubles every time, but so does the evolutionary energy contained in the core. Every tier is a more significant jump than the last one. From tier eight onwards, you can pretty much forget about fighting anything more evolved than you. Especially since higher tier monsters are usually smart enough to ensure they max out on cores and mutations before evolving, even if they didn’t at the lower levels.]

[Even with my… advantages?]

I’m a little surprised to hear this. I fought multiple tier eights, after all. Now he’s telling me when I’m tier eight, and stronger than I am now, I’ll have no chance of fighting a tier nine? I thought my Altar was an all-conquering cheat code! Well… of sorts.

Granin, Corun and Torrina all look at me as if they know exactly what I’m thinking.

to be within its range, which is huge, I understand that, but it was dangerous for them to be that close even against tier eights. Against tier nines, or tens? Monsters with that kind of power could annihilate hundreds

possible? I

do you really know about monsters that powerful, Granin? I thought you’d never

has been taken without consent; if you see

Not that I think Granin is blushing, I doubt the man ever has in

haven’t,] he readily admits, [but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t Shapers who have. My understanding of monsters at that tier comes from the writings of those who saw such things and worked with monsters at that level. It’s rare, but it does happen. There are probably more restricted and secret texts that deal with even more powerful and highly evolved

knowledge you’ve garnered from

bit of that too,] he readily admits. [It’s not as if the Ancients shower us with information, quite the opposite, but a few things have been gleaned over the

strange sound, like a rushing wind, and a moment later I’m covered in dust, coughing and scraping it off my

the heck!? I just got

“SorrySenior,butIwashopingtocomeandevolve.Isitfinishedyet?Oh,Iseetherockpeoplearestillhere,that’sgreat!Doyouthinkthey’llhangaroundforabittotalktomebeforeIevolve?”

it down! Pah! All this dust is

are you making those

right… I don’t talk with my mouth… I can spit out

be willing to do a

immediately light

to record the options she’s offered? They’re likely

I doubt it.

she’s ever wanted to do is go as fast as possible, so I’m guessing that’s the direction her questions are going to go. She’ll probably

turn to

I’m getting the jitters just from

too excited, Senior! This is