Chrysalis

It’s always fun to watch my three loyal friends stretch their ‘legs’ after an evolution. They’ve grown immensely in power, as is befitting a monster moving from the sixth to seventh tier. Unleashing them upon the monsters in those tunnels is like putting a group of wolves against a field of mice.

Despite their natural advantages, born with bodies that are stronger, faster, more mana-rich, these creatures do not have the advantage of maxed out, carefully considered evolutions.

Tiny, of course, is the first and most enthusiastic of the three to throw himself into the fighting. The hulking brute has grown truly enormous now, so large he would make a normal gorilla look like a toy. Due to his sheer size (and mine), we have to stick to the bigger tunnels only, eschewing the smaller ones to avoid getting stuck. Whenever he comes across a monster, he bounds forward, knuckles pounding into the rock as he bellows his challenge. Some monsters are smart and run, slithering away to places he can’t reach, but the larger ones turn to fight, roaring back. They don’t last long. His fists lash out, not just with incredible power, but absurd speed. Left, left, right, left, right. BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM. A flurry of punches, a staccato burst of light as his Skills activate, and his opponent is already reeling. Disappointed, the big ape slumps his shoulders a little before his ears twitch and he rears back for a mighty uppercut that flings his opponent directly into the afterlife.

And all the while, the lightning is crackling, rippling across his arms. Every time he punches, it blasts outwards, lightning bolts hammering into his target along with the fists of light.

Compared to Tiny, Crinis and Invidia don’t get as much of an opportunity to shine, but they still contribute as we continue to make our way down through the tunnels. As a creature of pure shadow, Crinis can be… just about anywhere. Her ability to stretch and fold her body in on itself was creepy before, but now it’s risen to a whole new level. At tier six, she could fold her entire body down into a little ball, then erupt into a forest of tentacles, her three maws appearing from deep within the mass. It was a horrifying jumpscare that proved to be an effective hunting tactic, but now… now she doesn’t even need to physically be present.

She’s a shadow.

And if that weren’t scary enough, she eats light.

When she enters a new tunnel, if she wishes, the light, despite its thickness, fades down to almost nothing. The tunnels fill with darkness, and Crinis is simply gone, her body spreading throughout the shadows. When the monsters begin to move, her tentacles strike. They lash out from the walls, from the floors, from the darkness, from the monsters' own shadows.

what happens. I don’t need to describe it, right? We know. What I find most disturbing, is

you

it’s an experience,

everyone out. I don’t know why, but it’s comforting having him around, and we enjoy a good chat as we make our way deeper and deeper, following the pheromone

less spirals downwards, but even so, it takes us almost a day before we reach the forward base. These tunnels are deep, way deeper

the tunnel wall with rudimentary defences in place around it. What it does have, is a garrison thirty thousand strong, along

advantage, including the aura buff provided by the priests when we fight alongside

be, and I

rest,] I tell Tiny, Crinis and Invidia. [I’ve got something I

and Invidia are happy to

do anything

Don’t worry yourself. Look, you can come with me if you want. I

[Thank you, I will.]

then. Sure. Come

Sheesh.