Chapter 46 The Colony
Further down my ape passenger, who is managing to hold onto my back very well, and I come across many more ants and it quickly becomes apparent why.
Dozens of small grubs and several larger cocoons occupy the space, carefully tended to and fed by more than twenty workers. The workers are constantly checking and tending to the white grubs, cleaning them and feeding them from their social stomachs similar to the way a bird will regurgitate food for its young.
This is the brood chamber, the next generation of ant monsters are being raised here. This is super cool to see! One of my favourite parts of my ant keeping hobby was watching the workers raise up the future workers of the colony, taking care of them until they were fully grown.
It seems that these monstrous ants follow a similar lifecycle to regular ants on Earth. First the Queen lays the eggs which hatch into a larva, a small grub that needs to be fed and cared for until it becomes large enough to spin itself a cocoon and become a pupa. Inside the cocoon the ant slowly takes shape until eventually it emerges, fully formed. After a brief period to allow for the exoskeleton to harden the new ant is ready to roll.
The ape on my back is making low noises of amazement as it watched the hustle and bustle in the chamber in front of us. There really is a lot of movement, these monstrous workers don't take their feet off the pedal for a moment.
If I look closely I can see a few unhatched eggs in the corner of the chamber. I guess that means that further down from here I'll find the find the Queen.
Sure enough in the chamber down below her highness is back to her usual work. Dwarfing all of the workers in the chamber the Queen is being tended to constantly by her entourage, bringing her food and cleaning her so that she can concentrate on laying and growing the colony.
Honestly I'm surprised to see so few ants so far. I don't think this colony is very old. A wood ant nest can have up to half a million workers in it, I don't think this one has more than a few hundred.
My antennae are constantly pinging in here, flooded with the scent of pheromone trails. Instinctively I'm able to understand what some of them mean, food over this way, brood are to go this way, and so on.
The trails are laid out so that workers know where they need to be going at any time, the more workers agree on a particular path, the stronger that trail will become.
The Queen has seen me looking around and walks towards me, several ants crawling on her are forced to come along as well.
I'm still slightly intimidated by the Queen, she is seriously massive.
Uh.... Hi ... Mum?
The massive monster in front of me is technically my mother here in this world, the fact that I'm here in the colony and not getting ripped to pieces is all the proof I could need. The Queen, that is to say, mother, inspects me carefully, checking if I'm still wounded before giving me friendly pat on the antennae and moving back into the nesting chamber.
Well, she seems nice?
Speaking of which I should check my HP. Looks like I'm up to about 41 since eating that Biomass. Nearly back to full, feels good.
Now that I'm finally here I'm not exactly sure what to do next. I don't have anything urgent that needs doing and thankfully I'm not threatened by anything right now, no humans chasing me down no enemy monsters. Such a relaxing existence.
I move out of the nesting chambers and out of the workers' way, heading up the tunnel and into one of the empty side rooms. On the way I pass two workers carrying a weakly struggling live centipede down towards the area we just left.
Why would they leave it alive? I think for a moment before I eventually realise why. In order to level up you have to deal the final blow, they are literally delivering Xp to Mother! She doesn't have to lift a finger in order to get experience and Biomass, the workers are just bringing it on their own!
What an enviable existence.
It makes a lot of sense, when I think about it. The Queen in an ant colony is literally the heart, the past and the future of the colony. Without the Queen the colony would never have existed and if she were to die the colony would cease to be. So it makes sense that to keep everything growing and prosperous the Queen should be as high a level as possible, as well as gaining Biomass in order to mutate and become stronger. She probably has an egg production organ she can upgrade as well, increasing the rate she can lay and growing the workforce faster and faster.
Since I have the time I decide to train my Mana Manipulation, forcing the energy out of my core and directing it out of my mouth. Every time the small puff of energy is released from my mouth the ape on my back goes crazy, giggling in delight and slapping at the cloud with his hands, dispersing the mana with his hands.
Cute.
Eventually I discharge almost all of my mana and by that time I'm getting hungry.
How about you little guy? Getting hungry? I can't actually communicate with my little passenger but I assume he needs to eat in order to grow? Since I've reconstituted him I feel at least somewhat responsible for making sure he can grow properly.
I'd better head out and get some food. It's time for Anthony to contribute to the colony! Making sure my passenger is secure I head back into the main tunnel and start sniffing around for the trails. I head further and further up following both the trail I'm pretty sure indicates 'food' and moving along with the other workers heading in this direction.
The tunnel branches a few times but I keep choosing the path that heads most directly up, I want to get back to the massive area I was in before since I'm somewhat familiar with that place, I'll be able to hunt much easier there.
After almost thirty minutes of travel through the narrow tunnel I eventually emerge back into the open space I had become familiar with. Looking about I can see that I'm standing on top of what is essentially an ant hill, a large pile of loose dirt that the workers had built up when they excavated the tunnel.
After all this time it feels quite strange to be emerging from a proper ant hill. A few workers are crawling up from the tunnel, each with their own varying level of mutation and evolution. I haven't seen any ants more evolved than I myself and honestly I haven't seen a worker quite my own size either.
It's probably a bit unusual for a single worker to amass as much Biomass and experience as I have. Considering that the ants hunt in large groups the experience would be spread pretty thin, since only the ant who delivers the final blow gets any experience at all. Add in on top of that the fact that they are probably taking everything they can capture alive back to the Queen then it must be very hard for an individual to get enough experience to evolve, let alone condense their core.
Not that I would really expect anything different from the workers, unselfish! Giving their all for the colony!
I also plan to contribute my share, but I certainly don't intend to be quite as giving as my fellow workers. With my human intellect I believe I can contribute my bit to the colony whilst also getting some experience and Biomass for myself.
Turning this way and that I I can detect a few trails leading in a couple of directions. Just when I'm thinking about which direction I should go in I see a worker scurrying back to the nest as he approaches I can suddenly detect a new scent! My senses are telling me that this new scent is call for reinforcements! There is food this way and they need help.
Picking up the message I decide to concentrate for a second and try to use my own pheromone gland. Obviously it isn't easy trying to do use something you didn't even have in your previous life but just like with the acid spray there are instincts packaged with my new ant body and I quickly work out how to use it.
I drop the same scent in order to relay the message further down the tunnel and it isn't long before more workers begin to climb up the tunnel, rallying to the call for aid.
This is the organisation that makes ants such a successful species on Earth, dominating the world of smaller creatures with their fearsome teamwork and relentless appetite.
With my message relayed I will go forth and render my assistance!
-x-X-x-
As I run along the trail I decide to quickly spend the Biomass that I have in order to improve my abilities slightly. If I'm running into another massive battle against gigantic monsters then I want to be at my best. I'll leave the skill points until later, I'm really hoping that once I master Mana Manipulation I'll be able to purchase more magic based skills, but at the very least I want to quickly upgrade a few things.
With three points to spend I upgrade my regeneration to +1 as I'd promised myself I would do and then my carapace to +2. Getting a little tougher and more survivable seems like a good move.
Although I do want to save up and get my mandibles to +5 so I can choose an upgrade... I'll have to do that next.
Enduring the painful itching feeling of mutation I race off down the trail with other ants boiling out of the hill behind me and my cheerfully yelping mini Bat-Gorilla on my back.
Exactly how I'll be able to fight with this fellow around I'm not sure but I guess I'll figure it out as I go. Hopefully he'll be smart enough not to get himself killed. If he were to die in a stupid way it would double the pain of losing that monster core!
I intend to get some work out of you mini ape! You need to pay me back on my investment!
After we run along the trail I find that we've approached the wall on the outer edge of the space. Wow. This feels like it's a long way from the lake, exactly how far from the nest are these guys wandering, to get all the way to the center of the this place from close to the wall? I can see a small tunnel opening or cave in the wall and ants are bustling at the entrance, battling against something inside. It looks like we are raiding a monster nest? Judging by the size of the opening it shouldn't be anything too massive so I readily charge towards the opening, ready to assist my brethren.
As I approach the noise and din of monster battle fills my ears, growling, roaring and thudding impacts from our opponents but an almost eerie silence from the ants as they advance endlessly.
You guys seriously don't care about your own lives do you?
I can minimise casualties if I can get myself to the frontline quickly. Brushing aside my smaller brethren I bull my way forward until I come face to face with our foe, a pack of Dragon Wolf cubs that have made their home here in this cave.
There must be eight or nine of them in here! Several ants have already suffered severe damage from the fearsome impact generated by those scaled tails. I'm no longer scared of these unevolved monsters, particularly with an army of thirty ants behind me!
Charge!
Sensing the battle atmosphere the little chap on my back is no longer giggling but snarling and glaring at our foes, gripping my back with all his strength and keeping his down as he tries to intimidate the enemy with his squeaky, high pitched voice.
Maybe when you're a bit bigger they'll be frightened of you, but not yet little guy...
With my improved toughness and regenerative gland ready to go I don' t care about taking a bit of damage and I immediately push into the enemy back, snapping and biting to draw aggro onto me.
A nearby cub tries to bring its tail around for a devastating smash but..
Crushing bite!
Reacting quickly I catch the offending tail is my mandibles! Take this! Chomp! My powerful mandibles tear through the thick muscle and sever the tail completely!
Ha!
I'm not like I was before! Some of the hounds turn to bite and scratch at me, inflicting minor damage but I shrug it off and continue to cause chaos in the enemy formation.
Bite!
I can't another wolf by the leg, crushing the limb and reducing the enemies mobility drastically. Shrugging off a few more blows I push past the line of enemies and activate my regeneration gland!
The freezing sensation immediately explodes within my body, spreading throughout my form within seconds, closing over my scratches and regaining my Hp. Now that I've pushed past the enemy they are perfect targets for my acid!
POW! POW! POW! POW!
At point blank range blast acid into the cubs ranks, sending them into a frenzy as the burning acid begins its deadly work. As soon as it impacts the liquid hardens, restricting their movement and slowing them significantly.
My reckless charge has forced the wolves to turn their focus onto me, exposing their backs to the rest of the invasion force who capitalise by pressing forward, literally climbing over each other to latch onto their enemies and bring them down.
The Dragon Wolves have been scattered and isolated, allowing the more numerous ants to maximise the advantage of their numbers.
I hover around the fights, lunging forward to deal the occasional bite but letting the rest of the workers do the bulk of the fighting. At least this way they get to level their skills. However, I need to be sure that I manage to secure my own reward...
Crushing Bite!
Dashing toward a heavily wounded Wolf I deliver the final blow!
[You have slain a level four Dragon Wolf Cub]
[You have gained experience]
And another!
[You have slain a level two Dragon Wolf Cub]
[You have gained experience]
If the workers are annoyed at me stealing the experience they don't show it, relentlessly going about their tasks without pause.
I quickly drag away first one and then the other bodies of my own kills, ensuring that I secure Biomass for myself. I don't expect I'll be able to get much from these guys, seeing as they haven't evolved yet but something is better than nothing.
Seeing the food before him the little guy cannot resist his hunger and immediately leaps forward, tearing into the food with his tiny fangs. I'm not too fussed, he can't eat that much and this food won't help me much anyway.
After eating I manage to gain two Biomass in total, which is consistent with my expectations. My assumption is that l gain only half the Biomass from a source that has evolved less than I have, that fraction may even shrink further if I were to consume a Dragon Wolf Cub after evolving again, perhaps down the one quarter.
Which means as I evolve I'll need to hunt tougher and tougher prey if I want to accrue Biomass at a decent pace. Which means I need to ensure each of evolutions is fully reinforced by a maximised Core so I don't fall behind in strength.
The little guy has finished up as well and scrabbled onto my back once again. I'm going to have to come up with a name for this fella if this is going to continue. I'm not sure I can call him anything that would suite a small and cute creature like he is now if he's going to grow up and be massive like the Ape the core came from...
I don't know... Tiny?
Sure, why not. It'll be appropriate when he's small and ironic if he ever grows up to massive. It isn't like I can actually call him by his name anyway, this is purely for my own internal use.
With tiny on board and the work here in the cave done I decide to venture out in search of more prey. The rest of the workers have cleaned up the area, dragging the Biomass and any wounded ants back to the nest for healing. Looks like they are smart enough to recognise the Queen can heal their allies up until they are strong enough to regenerate their own health.
Quite the successful raid for the colony! The first of many!
With Tiny firmly on board I move away from the trail and start to take a roundabout path back to the nest, hoping I can encounter something on the way. I briefly consider putting my two Biomass immediately into upgrading my regeneration gland but I decide to hold on, upgrading my mandibles could give me a huge boost to my offensive abilities, it will be worth saving and finding out.
I can hear a lot of activity around me actually. There seems to be more than the usual amount of monsters moving around in the open, at least from my limited experience. I don't want to tangle with a large group of unevolved monsters, I'd rather find something that has evolved once so I get a decent reward in terms of Biomass.
And I have found just the thing...
-x-X-x-
Slithering through the underbrush is a monster I've not seen for some time, the giant centipede. It's quite clear from the sheer size of it that this monster doesn't compress its muscle at all during evolution, ramping up in size to get the highest Might gain possible.
However, I still think I can take it one on one, particularly if I can get the jump on it. Thanks to me not being quite so large and my advanced stealth skill, I'm going to spot these guys first nine times out of ten.
The monster is snaking through the undergrowth in the forest, clearly on the prowl for some prey. Little does it realise that there is an ant trail not far away. As soon as it came across one of those workers it would be done for, since reinforcements would quickly overwhelm it if it chose to fight.
Perhaps even more unfortunate, this particular centipede happened to come across me.
POW!
Directly from the commercial zone my acid blasts against the adult claw centipede, catching it across the midsection and a few of its legs.
POW!
Before it can react I hit it again! This time landing more on the tail section and catching a few more legs down the left side.
I'm not too worried about inflicting significant damage with my acid, although every bit of hurt I can put on my target helps, the real aim is to let the restrictive acid do its work hampering the big centipedes movement.
Aggravated by this sudden attack the beast snaps its jaws in rage and charges towards the source of the offending acid. I can already see its gait is a little awkward as a result of my sneak attack. The perfect start!
I move perpendicular to the creatures assault, forcing it to constantly turn as it runs. The claws on this particular specimen look especially mean, perhaps they've been mutated a few times? I'll make a note not to tangle with them too directly.
As the beast approaches I suddenly change direction, charging directly towards it, forcing Tiny to grip onto my back tightly, lest he fall due to the sudden shift in momentum. The little guy is completely fearless though, growling at our enemy will of his minimal volume.
The centipede is quick to respond, flipping its back half into the air with shocking speed and stabbing downward with the vicious barb on its tail! I'm prepared for it, leaping directly forward with all six legs!
Whoosh!
The sting impacts heavily into the ground after rushing just over my head as my jump carries me over the centipedes head, between his claws and directly onto his body.
Haha!
Climbing on the opponent is my new special move!
Take this!
Crushing Bite!
I dart forward and deliver a powerful chomp directly to the midsection of the monster as it attempts to withdraw its tail. The body on this monster is damn thick I can't fit my jaws around it but the carapace crunches and cracks under my assault.
[Chomp has reached level five, upgrade available]
Oh ho! I'll take that right now!
[Chomp -> Piercing Chomp. cost 1 sp: The upgraded Chomp skill, an active skill that greatly enhances the ability of a bite attack to penetrate solid resistance]
Ok, so this skill is for piercing through solid defences whereas crushing bite is better for blunt force damage.
Let's try it out. Piercing bite!
Once again my mandibles are charged with energy, signalling the beginning of an active skill. This time instead being spread evenly across the flatter surfaces of my jaws the energy gathers on the sharper tips, glowing brighter and brighter until those points shine like solid diamond.
I lunge again, bringing my mandibles shit with incredible force. This time the pointed areas of my jaws punch straight through the carapace as if it isn't there, ripping into the inside of the monster, causing it to shriek with pain.
The centipede writhes as a result of my bite, contorting its body into knots as it attempts to fling me off. I'm not letting go buddy! All of your weapons are useless against me as long as I stay here, no jaws, no claws and no tail sting!
Bite, bite, bite!
After three more piercing bites I've done some real damage and the centipede is reeling, working even harder to throw me off. Eventually in can't hold on any more, Tiny and I are sent flying through the air, eventually thudding into the ground several metres away.
Ouch! With the little guy on my back I didn't want to execute my patented rolling landing in case he was crushed so I angles my body to take all of the force of the impact directly on my gut. Turning my head slightly I can see the little dude is a bit dazed but otherwise unharmed.
This is going to be a lot easier when you can fight for yourself! After costing me a premium core you're now causing me all this pain... I hope he's worth it.
Whilst I grumble to myself the centipede is trying to get its feet working again in order to mount some sort of offensive. The restrictive acid has really gummed up quite a few of its legs and the internal damage I've caused it only hampering its movement further.
While you're trying to get your feet under you...
POW!
One more blast of acid smacks the centipede directly in the face, effectively blinding it and dealing even more damage.
Nobody said I had to fight fair! In fact, it would be stupid to do so.
With its ability to see almost totally destroyed it becomes child's play to move stealthily around the monster, biting at vulnerable areas and then retreating until it eventually succumbs to its wounds.
[You have slain level six Adult Claw Centipede]
[You have gained experience]
Phew! Didn't take much damage at all in that encounter. Goes to show that the largest and most threatening monsters in this area are actually fairly stupid and can be defeated with the correct strategy. They gained their power by evolving in an uneven way, abandoning the more expensive brain development in favour of brute strength. In this sense I really have cheated the system, having a proper human mind from the very beginning.
I have to wonder why that is the case. I guess my soul was brought here to this world after I died on Earth but why? For what reason? And if my soul was put into an ant monster then why wasn't that ant monster just the usual, stupid one? Why does this body have an advanced brain capable of properly housing my human mind?
It doesn't seem to make sense.
Whilst I stand still ruminating, Tiny has already leaped off my back and started chomping into his next meal.
Hey! How can you be so hungry already?! You haven't even done anything! That's my food!
I rush forward to join him at his meal.
Om nom nom.
I'm determined to consume as much of this massive centipede as I can fit.
Between the two of us we manage to finish off just over half of the centipede and I gain four more Biomass. Evolved creatures really do provide more Biomass per pound.
Not wanting to waste the food I start to lay a trail as I make my way back to nest. When I get back to the ant hill I stand around waiting until a worker comes up and starts to sniff around, detecting my trail.
Come on guy, head over this way.
I lead the way a little, laying down the trail again to strengthen it until he starts to head off on his own. Eventually he'll find the rest of that centipede and come back for reinforcements until they can bring the whole thing back to the colony.
Job done!
Good day for me, good day for the colony! Time to spend this Biomass and keep practicing my Mana Manipulation!
Crawling into the nest I make my way down, checking in on the little larva crawling about and their attendant workers before retreating to one of the more empty chambers.
Once there I spend all of my regenerated mana and I'm finally rewarded for my efforts.
[Mana Manipulation has reached level four]
At last! Now I just need to keep pushing through until I get to level five. The dream of being able to use magic is getting closer and closer.
Now for the mandibles.
[Do you wish to improve Mandibles to +5? This will cost 5 Biomass]
I'll still have one left over, I guess I'll save that for now...
[At this level you may choose a mutation advancement, select from the menu]
The menu unfolds in my mind and once again I'm staggered by the sheer variety on offer. All sorts of elemental upgrades are here. Thunder mandibles? Dealing electrical damage sounds rad as hell.
Savage mandibles? Berserk mandibles, each consecutive bite deals more damage? Vampiric mandibles, draining health from enemies with each chomp?
So many cool options! My eyes are boggling out of my head. I feel like I'm in a candy store. Dammit Gandalf, are you sure I can only choose one?!
I need to settle down and consider my options carefully. With my acid I chose a utility option rather than a direct damage increase when I upgraded, for my mandibles I want something that makes my bites a more lethal weapon.
Once again, I'm hesitant to take an elemental option, even though they sound extremely cool. There are a few options that do what I want but there is one that grabs my eye.
Infused Mandibles, allows Mana to be channelled through, increasing the damage of every bite.
-x-X-x-
I have high hopes for this upgrade. At the moment I can't use my mana for anything other than practice, it serves no offensive purpose, and I can't help but wonder if I'll eventually be able to manipulate my mana into different elemental types eventually. If I'm right then this could be a massive advantage, even if it is a long way off.
For now, this upgrade will give me what I want most, which is a rounded offensive boost.
Choose Infused Mandibles!
ooooOOOOHHHHHHHH GOD!
MY FACE!
MY PRECIOUS FACE!
Once the mutation begins my entire face erupts with painful itching. It almost feels as if wires are tunnel through my head, connecting my mandibles and my inner body.
This is the WOOOOOOOOORST!
It takes a long time for the mutation to end. When it finally stops I feel like crying in relief and once again I'm forced to remember that ants have no tears.
But my heart, my heart is weeping.
Getting stronger is an amazing feeling but the process completely sucks. Having spent my mana and my Biomass it is time to rest up. I still have skill points to spend but I'll keep holding them for skill upgrades and potential magic skills.
Time for a nap!
Without further ado I flop onto my side and begin to drift into the dreamless state of torpor. Tiny scratches around for a while before leaning himself against my back. Before my senses finally fade away I can hear him snoring softly behind me.
Aaaand UP!
With a jolt I shake myself awake, ready to take on another day of challenges! Since there isn't really any hurry I make sure to spend the mana I accumulated whilst resting on more manipulation practice.
I try something different this time, inspired the Queen, that is to say, mother, passing on her healing spell through her antennae. Using my mind to control the flow of energy in my core I direct it out, into my body and up through my antennae. Eventually the mana is released as a brightly glowing wisp of smoke, drifting from the tip of each antennae.
After completing my training I wake up Tiny, who is still snoring happily (is it just me or is he a bit bigger today?) and wait for him to jump on my back before heading down to the nesting chamber.
There isn't really any rush to get started quickly today so I felt like taking some time to play around with the brood.
The little white grubs don't' have much going for them at this stage in their development, no eyes or ears of any kind. They are totally dependent on the workers to care for them until they are large enough to spin a cocoon.
The little things are cute though. I try tickling them with my antennae and they start wriggling around happily, rolling away to escape. This starts a new game where Tiny and I take turns to roll the little guys back and forth as they wibble and wobble in delight.
Heheh.
Well, enough playing around, time to go and secure food for the next generation!
Wait, I smell something...
I rush out of the chamber and into the tunnel to see the workers rushing about, extremely agitated. It doesn't take long for me to work out why. The scent I detect in the air is the pheromone for emergency, all the workers are rushing down in response to this distress call!
What in the heck is going on down there?
Being larger and stronger than the other ants I push my way forward, Tiny in his customary saddle on my back, rushing down to the Queens' chamber.
Once there I can see the Queen pacing around agitatedly, as many as thirty workers clustered around her defensively. There is one other tunnel leading further down in this chamber and workers are streaming down it at the moment, that is the source of the emergency.
Curious and alarmed I charge forward, bursting into the tunnel and following my fellow ants.
What the heck is going on guys? Tunnel collapse? Food located? Are we under attack?
After a few minutes of running down the tunnel I get my answer, the sounds of brutal impact and flesh being torn are ringing in my ears.
We are under attack!
Defend the colony!
Roaring in my mind I double my speed, I'll reach the front line and smash our enemies to bits! How dare they raid our colony!
When I eventually make it I'm horrified by what I see. Broken and sliced bodies of my fellow workers litter the ground already but as soon as more arrive they throw themselves into the fray.
However, their sacrifice doesn't seem to do much to deter the invaders.
Distorted, bizarre looking creatures loom before me, walking on four legs that end in strange clawed feet, their hunched upper bodies are grotesquely bulked with muscle, with almost no head or face to speak of. From the center of their chest protrudes a hideous beak. Instead of arms, four glistening blades, made from bone or steel, I can't say, extend from their torso attached to short limbs that allow them to slash and hack with brutal force.
What the heck are these things?!
Have they climbed up here from further down below? They look like they mean serious business!
I don't have the luxury of waiting, workers are being slaughtered as I wait around. I have to throw myself into the fray!
Bullying my way to the front by shoving and dragging workers out of my way I put myself at the forefront of the reinforcements. It's difficult to see how many of these insane creatures there are since the narrow tunnel only allows two of them to fight at a time but I can the tunnel is packed with the monsters behind the leading figures.
This is going to be a tough fight. I don't want to take Tiny into the middle of this. I quickly shake my body left and right, like a wet dog, until I dislodge the little guy. He cries out in protest but there is no way he will be able make it through this battle on my back.
I can't do any more for him than this.
Come on then you freaks, let's dance!
Before the rest of my colony start climbing over me to reach their immediate death I charge, drawing the attention of our enemies directly to myself.
Slash!
I duck under the first strike but already there are more coming!
Slash! Slash! Slash!
With two of the monsters in front of me there are eight blades creating a wall of steel I can't get through, each slash forcing me to duck or retreat.
Well, Anthony, if you can't close in without getting hurt... You'll just have to get hurt!
Dodging left and right I dive forward, trying to slip past the deadly defence of these malformed creatures. The second I move the two monsters in front me react, sweeping their weapons down and around to cut off any chance of escape.
Come onnnn!
Thunk!
Agony blooms from my back as one of the edges cuts deep into my carapace, piercing and cutting into the muscle below. I grit my teeth and continue to press forward. You'll have to do more than that to stop me!
My desperate lunge has brought me next to the monsters legs, their bulk and the narrow tunnel makes it difficult to turn and bring their weapons to bare on me now and I certainly am not going to wait around to give them a chance.
Crushing Bite!
Mustering my strength I crush my jaws down onto the closest leg, the dense muscle in my head powering them to close tighter and tighter.
Snap!
My mandibles meet each other, shearing directly through the limb, causing the creature to roar in anger as it loses its balance.
Since these monsters are soft limbed I decide to attack with the crushing bite, the additional penetration of the piercing bite would be wasted on these fleshy targets.
I turn to the other monster and latch my mandibles directly onto its midsection, ripping a deep wound into body. Not satisfied I bite again! Then again!
[Crushing Bite has reached level four]
My jaws are dripping with ichor and the monster is writhing in pain. The leading two monsters are sufficiently distracted to allow the rest of the workers to close in and get to work. Some of them are still injured by the furiously flashing blade-arms but with their numbers the ants begin to grip onto the limbs, pinning the creatures down.
I've already lost twelve Hp from that one slash! Right behind the monsters I just attacked there are two more, and more behind them!
I hope their aren't too many!
-x-X-x-
I have a little breathing room whilst the workers deal with the monsters next to me and I decide to use it for maximum effect!
Turning on the spot I present my famed commercial plaza down the tunnel. The enemy are only meters away so aiming isn't really necessary, once in position I unleash my acid!
POW! POW!
Two blasts sizzle their way through the air before impacting directly into the massive torsos of these horrendous threshing machines. The acid immediately begins to hiss as it burns into their flesh, hardening and sticking as soon as contact is made.
Hopefully I've managed to slow their blades down a little!
Enraged, the two monsters start to bull their way forward, slashing wildly with their limbs, even cutting into the rear of their two still struggling allies!
When the blade slices through the air and impacts into the monster to my right I seize on this chance and rush forward! If one of the weapons is stuck in that poor guy then it won't be able to be swung at me! This should create an opening.
I burst forward and then cut immediately to my right, running directly under the lodged blade and up onto the wall of the narrow tunnel and then directly onto the roof. The ceiling isn't high enough to be out of reach of those sharp limbs but of the four blades only the upper two will be able to reach, cutting the number of worries in half.
I also have to consider I won't be quite as nimble upside down but I feel like it's my best chance.
Crash!
The monster in front of me rips its blade out of the grievous wound it has caused its own ally and shift its entire body to throw weight behind the strike it directs at me, slamming the gleaming, hard edge directly into the rock in front of me.
Go!
Instinctively I leap, avoid the blade and landing on the powerful arm from which the cutting blade emerges. My feet scrabble to grip on the shifting flesh of the creature before my claws manage to arrest my momentum and dig in, allowing me to run over the shoulder and onto the creatures back.
POW!
I take the chance to fire another shot and the blade monster next to this one, splattering the beast across its flank with stinging acid. The creature turns as much as it can in the narrow space and I finally manage to spot the eyes above that savage beak, tiny red orbs that seem to burn with hate.
Shrieking loudly the insane creature brings its upper two blades down on me with terrible force, the sharp edges whistling as they cut through the air.
Desperately I roll to the side, almost succeeding in dodging the strike!
Crunch!
The two blades smash down into the body of the creature I'm standing on, mortally wounding it. I lose two legs on my left side as collateral damage, the limbs sheared clean off close to my body.
The pain is intense! I didn't think they'd be so crazy as to smash down on their own ally like that! They caught me unprepared.
Instantly I activate my regeneration, welcoming the explosion of freezing cold within. I won't be able to get my legs back properly but it will surely help a little.
Moving is excruciating but I scramble forward desperately, climbing onto the blade arms before the monster can retract them for another strike. The limbs from which the blades extend are powerful, thick with ropes of dense muscle. If I want to cut through this It's going to be difficult, time to find out how my infused mandibles will go.
As I open my mandibles wide I activate my upgraded mandibles with a thought. Instantly I feel mana gushing out of my core, flooding through channels and directly into my mandibles. I engage Crushing Bite at the same time and my mandibles begin to glow brighter and brighter, as the mana builds in them they start to release blue steam.
Take this!
SNAP!
Infused with the mana I've managed to regenerate since my last practice, my mandibles shear directly through the monsters limb, cutting it directly off!
Holy Cow! That was effective! But it used half of my remaining mana, I'll only get one more of those.
My foe roars in pain as one of its deadly blades has been removed and I desperately scrabble with my remaining legs to claw my way onto the monsters back, a place of relative safety. By this time my regeneration has done all it can for me, restoring eight Hp but it's not enough to complete bring my missing limbs back, two small stumps have emerged from the remaining sections of the missing legs. I can wiggle them a bit but they are a long way from a complete leg.
More of these vicious monsters are crowding in the tunnel behind, trying to shove forward, their razor beaks shrieking as they slash wildly into the air. How many of these stupid things are there?!
I need to finish this one off and then retreat to get my bearings back.
Crushing Bite!
I bite into the creatures' back over and over again, tearing into the muscle until my enemy collapses, but I don't stop there. I keep biting until the voice of Gandalf echoes in my mind.
[You have slain level 14 Quator Ferrum Saevissimus]
[You have gained experience]
[You have reached level 5]
...
Nards! I was hoping I'd be able to evolve, which might have really helped me in this situation. For now I just have to retreat back to safety. Climbing over the body of my defeated enemy I make my way back to towards the frontline where my fellow workers have finished off the first two monsters and are swarming over them, consuming them and pressing forward into the tunnel to continue the fight.
My eyes light up when I see the Biomass available in front of me. My regeneration gland is empty but if I can snack up for a few minutes I might be able to gain some more Hp back. I won't be able to regrow my limbs in such a short time but every little bit helps.
Staggering forward I push aside a few workers and start wolfing down food.
[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Quator Ferrum Saevissimus, you are awarded one Biomass]
[Basic profile of the Quator Ferrum Saevissimus unlocked]
[Quator Ferrum Saevissimus: Four Blade Berserker, This monster has four bone-metal compound blades on its upper body and enters a furious rage when in combat, increasing its strength but causing it to struggle to tell friend from foe]
The profile makes a lot of sense, these monster are certainly berserkers, hacking into each other without a second thought!
Workers continue to arrive at the fight, some of them climbing straight over me as I eat, rushing forward to fight. I have to eat quickly and try to get back in there, these ants won't be able to handle such dreadful monsters, no matter how much they outnumber them!
Fortunately the enemy is having a tough time climbing over the bulky bodies of their fallen comrades, the narrow confines of the tunnel hampering their movements. The ant reinforcements make use of the distance to begin an acid bombardment, launching salvo after salvo of the burning substance at the foe.
[You have gained one Biomass]
With three Biomass collected I immediately upgrade my carapace to +3, any little boost to tank up against those savage blades is welcome. I don' think it will make much difference but any assistance is welcome at this point, this upgrade could be the difference between death and living on one Hp.
Due to the current situation the mutation itch that explodes all over my body barely registers in my mind. I have more important things to worry about than a stupid itch! The colony is under attack!
More and more workers are flooding down the tunnel at this point, there must be almost a hundred of them now, fully half of the workforce. The rest of them are probably protecting the brood and the Queen, which is a good idea!
With these numbers we may have a chance!
Painfully, I drag myself towards the wall and manage to crawl about halfway up. I still have some acid in the tank and I want to use it to support the rest of the worker in the front lines.
I can see a swirling maelstrom of combat down the tunnel, the first four Berserkers have been dealt with but more are crowding behind, their mad shrieks filled with bloodlust and the urge to kill. Workers are clambering over the dead, fearlessly charging forward to engage in greater and greater numbers.
I take a moment to aim carefully before firing.
POW!
The berserkers are fairly large targets and thankfully for me, the area I want to hit is directly in the middle of their chest.
POW! POW!
Three blasts of acid arc through the air, hitting three separate monsters, splattering over their faces and beaks. I may not have been able to get their eyes since they are so recessed, set deeply into the chest but the hardening, sticky acid burning into their face drives the creatures completely insane and they start to swing wildly with their four limbs, cutting into their own allies.
Take that!
Just as I rejoice I can hear a commotion behind me and I turn to see what is going on.
Is that.... The Queen?!?!
-x-X-x-
A hoard of workers surround her majesty, some of them even trying to pull her back into the nest to safety. She is so large she fills the narrow tunnel, easily able to resist any attempt to remove her from the battle.
Her intelligent eyes survey the field and I can see a glint of anger as she sees the invading monsters and her fallen workers.
She chitters angrily and gradually light begins to build in her antennae, growing brighter and brighter.
This is far more energy than she used when she healed me, exactly what is she going to do?
Her antennae have so much concentrated mana in them that my eyes hurt looking at them. Whatever this magic is, it's going to be powerful!
With a cry she releases the pent up energy and it floods into the tunnel. In an instant all of the ants are bathed in light, the magic pouring into their bodies like water.
I feel it instantly, the freezing numb sensation explodes as my body drinks in more and more of the magic. My injured legs have grown so cold they are painful and as I watch they begin to regrow before my very eyes! Slowly at first and then with increasing speed the flesh extends further and further down as I continue to greedily pull in as much healing energy as I can get.
All through the tunnel injured ants are staggering back to their feet and into the fight as their wounds close and limbs regrow with astonishing speed.
What incredible magic! I have no idea how much MP was required to pour out a spell like that but it must have been insanely high! I have to revise my opinion of just how advanced a monster a Queen ant is, she must have a seriously powerful core in order to fuel this kind of magic. Of course, she has the benefit of the workers bringing all of the resources they can to her but it is still extremely impressive.
Along with her healing magic, the mere presence of the Queen has energised the workers in the fight, they have redoubled their ferocity, perhaps driven by an instinct to protect the Queen at all costs.
From my perch on the wall I can see the workers pushing forward relentlessly, biting, spraying acid, not even serious wounds stopping them anymore.
My legs have almost fully regrown now and I can feel that my acid gland has also increased its production rate, enough for me to fire off two more shots!
I aim further back into the darkness of the tunnel and unleash two blasts towards the Berserkers at the very back. That distance is the very limit of my range and I can't be too accurate but hopefully the painful acid will cause them to strike out at each other, making my life a whole lot easier.
[Improved acid shot has reached Level 5]
...
Nothing?
Do I have to raise it to level ten before I can upgrade it now? Makes sense I guess...
I need to stop expecting the system in this world to make things easy for me.
Empty of acid and with my legs regrown it's time to get back into the fight.
Quickly glancing back I can see that the Queen is not advancing further into the tunnel, putting herself at risk, but staying back, watching her colony go into battle in defence of their home. I'm glad she isn't going forward, the tunnel is too narrow for her to fight properly in this place anyway.
I move onto the ceiling and start making my way back to the front.
With their deep set eyes being located relatively low in their bodies I don't think these monsters are able to look up very well, and this proves true as I manage to sneak my way past the front line. Beneath me ants are swarming over their enemies, their numbers too large for the distracted and raging Berserkers to effectively keep off. Workers are climbing over the walls, slipping under clawed feet and latching on with powerful mandibles, dragging the monsters down.
It feels like the tide is starting to turn.
I make my way further into the tunnel. If I can disrupt the enemy back here then life will get easier for the ants at the front as they make their way forward.
The acid attacks I launched have caused ample chaos already, several Berserkers are heavily wounded and others are shrieking, arm blades slick with gore after lashing out at those around them.
I choose my moment carefully and drop down onto the back of one of the monsters, directly behind its upright torso.
I've really never seen anything like these monsters. A horrible mishmash of parts assembled into an insane killing machine. Something like this could only be the product of this underground realm, I cannot imagine nature producing a creature like this, what terrible intellect designed this madness?
Time to put the infused mandibles to work once more!
Once again mana floods out of my core and into my mandibles, charging them energy.
Crushing Bite!
The charged mandibles shear directly through the creature's flesh, creating a massive wound directly in the monsters back. Ichor gushes out, coating my head in the horrible stuff. The monster shrieks with shattering noise and desperately tries to throw me off.
My grip won't be denied and I hold on to bite again. More and more crushing bites rip into the creature until it stops moving.
[Crushing bite has reached level 5]
[You have slain level 11 Four Clawed Berserker]
[You have gained experience]
[You have reached level 6]
So much experience! These creatures must be fairly advanced to have such high levels and to advance my skills so rapidly.
I don't pause, the monster behind the most recent victim is distracted, battling against its neighbour. When the creature swings wildly with its massive blades I hurl myself forward, running underneath it and ripping into its leg.
This time a piercing chomp!
My mandibles dig deep into the limb, the sharper parts penetrating right down to the bone.
The victim immediately rears up, stomping the ground beneath with its clawed feet but I've already move on towards its rear legs.
Chomp!
[Piercing chomp has reached level 2]
With two massive wounds on two legs the Berserker cannot properly maintain its balance and gradually falls to one side, slamming into the monster behind it.
That creature roars and begins lash out once again, rampaging amongst its own kind.
These creatures are really incapable of working together in group. More to the point they don't seem to be the type of monster that would work together in the first place, why the heck are there so many making their way up here?
Eager to get the experience I continue to bite into the monster until I can deal lethal damage.
[You have defeated level 8 Four Blade Berserker]
[You have gained Xp]
Not quite enough to raise my level all at once eh?
Complete chaos has swept through the ranks of the enemy at this point, they are killing each other almost faster than the ants can bring them down. Since the Queen appeared the battle has been one sided, the sheer numbers of ants doing enough damage to send the attackers into disarray.
I continue to run interference, chomping at a leg here and there to knock monsters over or send them into a frenzy.
I gain another level in piercing chomp as I do so and I manage to finish off one more of the beasts, giving me level seven before the madness finally ends.
The tunnel is filled with Berserker bodies, many ants have fallen as well, no nearly as many as I had feared at least. The Queen's healing was able to save dozens of workers who had been wounded right at the beginning of the fight.
Exhausted, I take a look around the tunnel.
Workers are already starting to harvest the incredible wealth of Biomass around us, picking over the food, breaking pieces off and carrying them back to the colony or devouring it then and there, filling their social stomachs.
In all there were twenty one Berserkers. Where they had come from or why they had advanced up this tunnel from down below I don't know. Where they forced out of their normal area and were seeking food and safety higher up? These guys were certainly high levelled, evolved monsters, not something I would expect to see here.
To tell the truth, I want to collapse this tunnel. If creatures like that can reach us by climbing up here then I want to put a stop to it. My only worry is that workers would just open it up again...
I hear a squeaking sound next to me and I turn to see Tiny, tugging at one of my legs.
Hey there little guy, glad to see you were able to stay safe!
He is looking at the food around us with greed lighting up his eyes. Actually, I think he's drooling...
C'mon man... There's no need for... just eat would you!
I push him towards his meal with one leg. When he looks back at me I just push him forward again and he seems to get the picture, leaping forward to consume the Biomass.
Actually, considering the sheer amount of Biomass here, this could be a massive boon for the colony. Many ants will be able to mutate, and the sheer amount of food will fuel the growth of the next generation.
Glancing back up the tunnel I can't see the Queen anymore. She probably retreated back into the nest and is preparing to lay a ton of eggs. The workers are going to be busy for a while.
Despite being completely exhausted I drag myself forward and start to eat.
I need to stock up on as much Biomass as I can.
-x-X-x-
Rest and relaxation, Anthony you hard working Ant you. Don't you deserve a break? Haven't you worked hard enough for the moment?
Why yes, me, I have to say your words are wise!
Time for a break.
Before I returned to the nest I packed myself full of Biomass and managed to gain ten points, a massive haul! Clearly the creatures were highly evolved, at least two evolutions for sure, for them to provide such rich Biomass.
Not to mention my level has risen to seven! I'm practically swimming in skill points!
Another large discovery was made also, I was able to recover two cores from the Berserkers! Whilst I'd been hoping that their cores would grant some sort of bonus they simply increased my maximum mana when I absorbed them. They did, however, increase my maximum by four points each, which brought my new max MP up to 36!
I wonder how much further until I max out my core?
If my guess is correct, I'll be able to evolve again at level ten. I won't even consider evolving without a maxed core unless I'm forced into it. The best possible evolution, every time! That's my policy.
In celebration of my incredible wealth, and to let my nerves rest after coming so close to death, not to mention suffering the trauma of having two legs chopped off, I decided I would rest within the colony and not leave until my Mana Manipulation has reached level five so I can upgrade it and spend all of my skill points.
When Tiny and I awake in our empty chamber I practice my Mana Manipulation until my energy reserves are empty. I can practice a lot more now that my core is upgraded, hopefully it won't take long until I get the skill to level five.
Once that task is done it's time to spend my Biomass! So much to spend ... It's hard to choose! I could upgrade my carapace all the way to +5 and still have a point left over. This is an attractive option, helping me tank up and letting me pick a mutation advancement. I could upgrade my regeneration gland to +4, which would be nice.
Antennae could be taken to level four, which would leave three points to spend on other things...
Damn choices!
In the end I think I have to prioritise the mutation advancements. Each and every one of them has been a huge boost, I'm sure my carapace will prove no different.
[Would you like to upgrade your carapace to +5? This will cost nine Biomass]
Sure!
[At this level you may choose a mutation advancement, select from the menu]
Once more the extensive list of possible mutations unfolds in my mind and once more I try not to be distracted by all the shiny choices.
Venomous carapace, cause poison to infect things that strike you? Spiked carapace, be covered in sharp barbs? Aerodynamic carapace, increased movement speed, what the heck?
There are all sorts of options that provide strange abilities and bonuses, like the sloped carapace which helps deflect piercing attacks by making the outer shell angled, or the flexi carapace which helps bounce back blunt force strikes.
What I really want from my upgrade is an all-around defence improvement. Something I can rely on to protect me. I have an image in my mind of a brutal armoured truck, bursting through the small fry, their small attacks pinging off the hardened armour.
I think I've found what I'm after.
[Diamond carapace, significantly hardens the outer carapace, increasing its resistance to physical harm]
It may not be flashy, it may not do anything exciting, but it's exactly what I'm after. The weakness of this upgrade is that it does nothing to protect from magical damage or any kind of status effect but from what I can gather it provides the greatest increase to physical protection.
I'll need to find other solutions to those other types of attack later, for now most the threats I face are physical in nature so this upgrade will be a huge help.
[Do you wish to confirm Diamond Carapace?]
Heck yeah!
Oh. Oh no.
NONONO DAMMIT!
Without the distraction of life threatening battle to divert my mind the mutation experience is completely torturous. My carapace covers my entire body and the entire thing feels like it is on fire. Hot barbs of maddening itch pierce through my body every now again, causing me to spasm and jerk my legs madly as I flop about on the ground.
Tiny watches the whole process with a curious look on his face.
Damn ape! Why do you get to look so relaxed!
Mind you, he is definitely getting larger.
Eventually the mutation is over and I take a moment to admire my new carapace. The colour seems deeper somehow, and here and there some parts of the shell seem to reflect the light brightly, shimmering occasionally in the gloom of this room. Don't tell me, there is actual diamond blended with my carapace?
Does this mean... My shell is now worth a ton of money?
I hope I haven't just put a huge target on my own back...
Next order of business is to snack up!
This time I was smart enough to shear off some food and transport it back to my sleeping space once I was full. Of course, to prevent my fellow workers from taking it away I had to bury it and sleep on top of that spot.
Merrily I unearth my morning Berserker snack. Tiny and I dig straight in, a little dirt doesn't spoil the food when you're a monster eating other monsters, it all tastes disgusting anyway.
After consuming this food I gain another two Biomass, leaving me with three points.
I immediately use them to mutate my antennae to +3. My offensive capability has increased, now my defensive capability has also increased, but I still want sensory superiority to be a focus. When I finally start to mutate past +5 I'll return to upgrading eyesight and then antennae. Deep down I always want to find the other monsters before they find they me.
After everything has settled down my status now looks like this:
Name: Anthony
Level: 7 (core)
Might: 31
Toughness: 22
Cunning: 25
Will: 18
HP: 50/50
MP: 3/36
Skills: Excavation Level 1; Improved Acid Shot Level 5; Grip Level 4; Crushing Bite Level 5; Advanced Stealth Level 3; Piercing Chomp Level 3; Tunnel sense Level 4; Mana Manipulation level 4
Mutations: Focused Eyes +5, Antennae +3, Restrictive Acid +5, Legs +1, Infused Mandibles +5, Diamond Carapace +5, Regeneration Gland +1, Pheromones
Species: Mature Ant Worker (Formica)
Skill points: 5
Biomass: 0
Such a quantum leap from how I was just after I was born!
I feel happy that I'm laying a solid foundation for future growth right now, getting all of my mutations up and focusing on my core and magic skills will surely pay dividends in the future.
Since I've reconnected with the colony there at least some level of safety that surrounds me. Unless we continue to get attacked...
All of my Biomass and MP spent I take Tiny out for walk around the nest. I can see many workers sporting new mutations today, some larger mandibles or longer antennae here and there. The colony must have consumed well over a hundred Biomass all up, it would impossible for the Queen to take all of it so the workers were able to reap some rewards.
Paying a visit to the nursery there are quite a few new Pupa along one wall. This is the final stage of infancy, after they grow in these cocoons the new hatchling workers will emerge. What's more impressive is the huge clutch of new eggs that have appeared in one corner. There must be hundreds of them!
The Queen really went all out...
If the colony can secure enough food to grow these guys into adulthood then the colony could double in size very quickly, which would in turn help secure my own safety.
We will rise together my ant brethren!
Tiny and I play with the larvae for a while and then pay a visit down to the royal chamber. Not unsurprisingly the Queen is taking a nap, resting after her exertions of the last few hours. She must have emptied out all of her mana to cast that healing spell and I can vaguely understand just how mentally draining it is to shift that much mana.
Quite a few workers are standing guard around the Queen, ensuring nothing untoward happens to the most important individual to the colony.
That is, the most important other than me!
-x-X-x-
With my inspection of the goings on of the colony complete I make my way back to my own quiet sleeping chamber and continue to practice my Mana Manipulation until all of my Mp is spent and then I once again rest.
I haven't been able to be this lazy since my rebirth and it brings me a great deal of comfort to do so now. Perhaps my stress had been building up over this time? To be able to sleep and play without having to worry for a brief time seems like such a decadent luxury in this life.
If something isn't trying to rip your face off in that moment then you are probably the one trying to rip something else's face off. The never ending war for Biomass and experience rages throughout these caves, from the open spaces to the deepest, darkest tunnels. The monsters in this place are always hunting, hungering for more. Does it ever stop?
Where do all these monsters come from? And why? I still have so many questions about this world. For all of my success in surviving and growing to this stage, the thing I lack most is information. The kind of information a human society would have, history, geography, science. What in the name of all that is good is going on in this place?!
The things that seem so insane to me must make perfect sense to the civilisations that live here, if only I could find someone I could communicate with! Someone I can communicate with and that wouldn't cut my head off the moment they saw me...
The Queen is about the most intelligent and friendly monster I've seen but I can't exactly communicate with her. Perhaps if she evolves further or gains enough Biomass she will develop some capacity to convey information. Ant speak? Telepathy? Something like that.
Nothing I can do on that front except wait.
The cycle of rest continues for two more days. When I wake up I practice my Mana Manipulation until my MP runs dry and then bum around the colony until I get tired. By the end of the second day I could swear the Queen was throwing disapproving glances at me whenever I walked by, like a worried mother fretting about her useless child.
Dammit Mum! Just a few days off ok?!
The rest of the workforce never stops for a moment, endlessly running back and forth, venturing out to scout and find food then bringing it back, tending to the brood, cleaning up the nest, then entering torpor to rest before starting the whole process over again.
I honestly feel tired just watching them.
Tiny seems to be enjoying our vacation, lazing about on my back as we travel and sleeping at every opportunity. I can't help but think he'll get hungry if we keep slugging about much longer.
During my practice on the third day, the gruff voice of Gandalf finally comes through.
[Mana Manipulation has reached level 5, upgrade available]
AT LAST!
YOUR VOICE IS LIKE MANNA FROM HEAVEN TO ME O GANDALF!
How long was this stupid system going to me make me wait!
How I've struggled, tempted constantly by urge to spend my precious skill points. I haven't even allowed myself to open the skill menu, lest I succumb and waste points that I may have needed to learn sweet magic skills!
But now. Now my time has arrived!
Eagerly I whip open the skills menu to advance Mana Manipulation.
[Mana Manipulation -> Mana Shaping, this advanced skill increases the ability to control mana into specific shapes and forms required for casting spells]
Ok! This looks promising, I'll upgrade that one immediately!
Now for the second step, looking at the complete list of available skills. I'm actually a bit nervous before I open it, I'm really hoping for something good!
When I do finally open the menu, a flood of new options have appeared, completely shocking me!
Skills I recognise from the beginning are still there but many others have joined them, combat skills, defensive skills, mental skills.
So many delicious goodies, I can hardly choose! Before I let myself get distracted I quickly hunt down any magic related skills in the list.
[Forceful Mana, increases the ability to release significant amounts of mana in a shorter span, with greater impact]
[External Mana Manipulation, grants the capacity to control and manipulate mana outside of the users' body]
[Mana Sensing, gives the ability to sense bodies of concentrated mana using the monster core]
These three skills are directly related to magic or mana in some way. Whilst I was hoping to be able to throw fireballs it looks like I'm still in the beginning stages. I'm a simple ant, when I see mana in the skill title, I buys it.
As soon as I confirm my purchases the now familiar sensation like trickling water over my brain. New knowledge flows lightly into my mind, pooling into the cracks and crevices, filling up the places that where lacking.
I have only a single skill point remaining but there are still so many fantastic skills to choose from.
Just as I'm agonising over which skill to take a name in the list suddenly catches my attention. I think ... I know what this one is about.
[Core Mechanic, enables the user to manipulate the structure of a monster core on a superficial level].
Even though this skill does nothing for me in combat, healing, scouting or magic I can't help but think that this skill could be key to my future in this world. I remember when I reconstituted Tiny from a core, the system suggested that some skills would enable the ability to customise the process, probably in a similar way to how I could somewhat control my own evolution.
Despite being unclear on exactly what this skill entails, I choose it.
Now all of my amassed skill points have been spent!
I'm somewhat disappointed that I can't start using magic immediately but still satisfied I was able to take every mana related skill in the list. Hopefully soon I'll be able to start slinging magic around!
Looking at Tiny as he lies sleepily on the floor reminds me of his adult form and the Titan-Croc engaging in battle. They were able to channel lightning and spit fireballs but it didn't seem as if they were using magic in any intellectual way when they did so.
Is there another way they were able to gain those abilities? Perhaps during evolution they were able to develop an ability to naturally perform some actions with their MP.
It bares thinking about, I may be able to shed more light on that when I evolve again, something I hope will be coming my way when I reach level ten!
Now that I have my new skills selected I want to take some time to get a feel for what they do. The knowledge provided when purchasing a skill gives a sense of how to use it but that doesn't really compare to consciously utilising it.
First External Mana Manipulation. This one is going to be a little tricky. Slowly I focus my mind, abandoning my senses and reaching out with my thoughts. Gradually my consciousness unfolds into the open space, a strange sensation to say the least. I feel light flows of mana around me, slipping through the air like fish in a stream.
Different than the concentrated, dense mana in my core, these thin, elusive trails of mana are far more difficult to grasp. After ten minutes of trying to direct the path of the mana and bend it to my will I have to give up as my head is aching.
That is seriously hard! At this point I'm not even sure what practical use such a skill will have but since it's there I'm going to attempt to master it.
Next is Mana Sensing. According to my understanding I need to use my core a focus for this skill. Much like I did when I practiced mana manipulation I sink my focus deep inside, down inside the spherical gem that is my monster core. Inside, dense mana swirls and billows like hot fog. Rather than focusing on the energy itself, I let my mind expand to fill the space. Then I wait.
Gradually, the faintest echoes begin to register on my senses, as if a pebble had been thrown in a pool of water I'd dipped a finger in, tiny ripples lap against the edges of thoughts. Slowly the ripples grow larger and more pronounced, until I can determine a direction, then a sense of distance.
I actually think... this is the Queen?! It's difficult to interpret but I seem to be registering a strong concentration of mana very close, in the nest, below me somewhere. The only think I can think of is the Queen herself.
Phew!
This skill is also mentally taxing. I'm flat out drained at this point, my poor ant head is pounding.
Still, one more to test.
For the final time I focus down on my core and extract the energy, directing it towards my mouth, as I've become accustomed to doing. However, this time, instead of releasing it immediately I bring up more mana, and then more, condensing it, compressing it into a tight ball of furious energy.
When I cannot compress the energy any further I finally allow it to be unleashed from my open mouth. Instead of a small puff of a cloud , the mana explodes from my mouth in a powerful blast of pure force. The energy howls through the air and smashes into the dirt wall with an impressive impact.
I'm completely shocked!
Was that.... The legendary shout?!
-x-X-x-
I'm quite pleased with the display of Mana Force. With a blast like that I might be able to some serious damage! With a few more levels I might be able to reduce the amount of time required to prepare such an attack to the point it becomes usable in combat.
With my mental energy largely exhausted I decide to take one more nap before diving back into productive society. The shut-in lifestyle isn't for me and no self-respecting ant could possibly be happy living that way.
We are workers! We need to work, for the glory of the colony! And in order to level up so I can evolve!
Maybe my motives are not as pure as my fellow workers but my results will be miles better. Let us see how an ant colony can prosper with a human intellect helping them out.
Tiny is starting to look a little disgruntled. His tiny bat-like face is a bit sad around the edges and he keeps looking around for something, getting and more and more dejected when his search comes up empty.
Getting hungry are you little guy?
One more sleep and then we'll be go out hunting ok?
As I settle down to nap Tiny reluctantly joins me, settling against my back as we snooze.
OK!
I shake myself awake abruptly, causing Tiny to jump awake with a small shriek and look around wildly.
Nice energy little fella, we've got a big day in front of us now!
The cosy confines of our own room surround us, the bustle of the colony largely outside our awareness here, we can rest peacefully. The soft dirt walls show the scratch or bite mark from when the workers carved out this chamber. I'm still not entirely sure why it was dug at all, considering the fact that the workers very rarely come in here.
I'm not too fussed though, since it works out to my advantage.
Blinking his eyes sleepily, Tiny climbs up onto my carapace and I rocket out of the room and into the tunnel. Workers are frantically running here and there as always and when I visit the brood chamber I see a large squad of workers fussing over the new eggs, ensuring they are kept clean and at the optimal temperature at all times.
The colony is going to need a heck of lot of food pretty darn soon in order to raise up this massive generation and I intend to make it happen.
The larger and stronger the colony becomes, the safer and more secure I'll be in this world.
Of course, I'll secure my own fair share of experience and Biomass whilst I'm at it.
Time to get to it!
With Tiny holding on I charge up the tunnel, frequently bumping other workers out of my way. I'm coming through guys, pick up the pace, we aren't driving Ms Daisy!
The closer I get to the ant hill in the forest I start to notice a change in the walls of the tunnel. The glowing threads I recall from my time in the earlier tunnels are starting to appear, thin at first but thicker and brighter the close I get to the open space ahead.
Are these pulsing lines ... growing down the tunnel?
I'm positive they weren't hear just a few days ago!
I'm not sure why but I find it vaguely unsettling to think of these strange, branching vines of glowing light as a growing, living thing.
What are they?
I mentally shrug my shoulders, I don't have an answer now and I don't see how I can get one in the future. All I can think of is to keep an eye on the situation and see if I can learn anything as things develop over time.
Casting aside my concerns I focus once again on the mission for today. Securing food for the colony.
Emerging out of the tunnel and into the huge open space of the forest feels good. It's nice to be out and doing something again!
Holy Moly it is bright...
Significantly brighter than before...
Not to worry, we have business to attend to.
I can see a few workers here and there on the hill, keeping watch probably, or maybe waiting for a scout to return with news of food. Hold tight fellas, I have a feeling you'll be hearing about it soon.
Full of confidence I dash down the hill and under the cover of the trees and towering mushrooms, the multi coloured canopy shielding me from above.
The undergrowth seems to be more dense than a few days ago, as if feeding on the growing intensity of the illumination in the forest.
In fact, as I move between the tree roots and long white stalks I notice that the entire space seems to have to have come alive with activity, like a rainforest after a storm. The sounds of monsters surround me, growls, roars and the ripping, tearing percussion of battle.
The space has become packed with monsters.
When the monsters run into each other there is only one thing that will occur, a fight! Currently the area around me is filled with such combat, the strong consuming the weak, growing even more powerful from the experience and Biomass they harvested as a reward.
I don't know why this area has become so populated all of a sudden. Perhaps this is linked to the intensity of the light in the forest?
At any rate, this abundance of monsters is suitable for my purposes, if there is experience and Biomass to be gained then the colony and I will get our slice of the pie!
I climb a tree, hoping to spy an opportunity from the upper branches. Hauling myself towards the top I peer through the foliage at the area around me, making full use of my eyesight to scout around.
I can see a few a mounds or hills that are likely to contain nests but they aren't exactly what I was hoping to see.
Maybe over this side ... Aha!
A larger tree bursts out of the canopy, standing taller and prouder than those around it. The large branches extend in a wide diameter, providing a tremendous amount of space and shelter within the embrace of those leafy arms.
Even from this distance I can spy the small shapes darting here and there high up in the tree.
I memorise the location and then descend the tree, making my way back to the ant hill. There are still workers positioned defensively, darting here and there on high alert, ready to pounce on any perceived threat.
Good work lads, keep up the good work!
After thinking for a moment about how to perform this task I start to lay down the pheromone trail for food, heading away towards the large tree I'd spotted in the distance.
After getting a hundred metres from the hill I return and lay the trail once more, strengthening it. Then I do it again.
Laying the same trail multiple times makes it appear more relevant and interesting to the workers, increasing the likelihood they will choose to follow it.
Sure enough my effort is rewarded with a few workers emerging from the nest and after 'sniffing' around with their antennae they start to follow along my path.
Well done my fellow colony buddies, I promise you most likely won't regret this choice.
I hurry of towards the large tree I'd seen, remembering to continue to lay my trail as I go. I should give some thought to spending Biomass on my pheromones. Now that I'm actually using them to influence the workforce it strikes me how useful it would be able to send better, stronger signals which would cause the rest of the ants to respond to my actions more quickly.
Even now after laying the trail three times I've only managed to draw a few workers along, if I had upgraded to +3 or +4 then surely I would receive a much more enthusiastic response.
It's so hard to decide where to spend Biomass in this place! All of the options seem so useful!
I move quickly so that I'm able to arrive at my destination well before those following behind me and it isn't long before that large tree looms out of the woods around me. Just as I'd seen from my scouting position, this impressive specimen is fully occupied by a huge number of those small monkeys I'd seen before, the spark chimps.
When they see Tiny and I arrive at the base of their tree the chimps immediately start howling madly, pointing with their little fingers and screeching at the top of their lungs, causing an impressive cacophony of sound.
For his part, Tiny seems completely unimpressed with his ape cousins up the tree, his only response is a low growl in the back of his throat as he watches the tree with hooded eyes.
You can really talk the talk you little apes, pretty soon we are going to find out if you can walk the walk!