There they are. Look at them. Peacefully sleeping for now, awaiting the day when they awake and take their first steps into the world. Shhhhhh little ones. You don't know it yet, but the world will be your oyster. Yes it will! You will roam wherever you wish and bring prosperity to our family. Our enemies will flee before your strength and become food beneath your mighty mandibles.
Yes they will! You adorable little things!
[Master]
WHA?! What now?!
[Crinis, why are you interrupting egg time?!]
[I'm very sorry Master but I believe I have detected another wave approaching from the tunnels below]
Haaaa. These stupid monsters just won't stop! I'm going to have to work out a solution for this problem before the time approaches. These waves have caused no end of headaches and significant losses to the colony over the last week. Those Crocs down below are going to get what's coming to them, the sooner the better.
[I'm on the way Crinis. Tiny wake up! Time to fight]
[oh? OHHHH! FIGHT!]
.....
Reluctantly I turn away from the twenty small, white spheres occupying the egg chamber. They are in fact, the only occupants of the egg chamber and the workers have been caring for them diligently but I can't help coming up to take a look at them every now and again. When I think of the future that these little eggs could bring for the colony I get so excited I just can't help myself.
I put in a lot of work to create those eggs! I deserve to be a little happy now that they've finally arrived dammit!
Just three days ago the Queen managed to gather the Biomass necessary to lay this small clutch and it'll take a few more days before they hatch and then two weeks for them to complete their time as larvae and become pupa, then a little longer for them to finally eclose and take their place under my tutelage.
It's soooo loooong!
I know it's my own fault for extending the development time of the workers in order to squeeze more stats into them but I'm so frustrating right now. I feel like kids probably felt at Christmas when there were presents waiting under the tree. I didn't get to experience that during my human life but I think I finally grasp that emotion now. The wait is torturous!
Grumbling to myself I descend through the main shaft of the nest, through the Queens chamber and into the area my pets and I have made our home. It's been somewhat expanded recently, mainly to accommodate Tiny and allow us a little more space in fighting of the Dungeon monsters that have swarmed up the tunnels periodically over the last week.
My pets and I have been training our skills, using our shortcut to venture deeper into the Dungeon and harvest Biomass for ourselves and for the Queen. We've seen significant gains in pumping up our new skills and our overall combat effectiveness has risen as a result. I'm quite pleased that my pets now have properly allocated skill points and mutation advancements, even if it took way too much effort to finally get them there.
We ran into serious trouble twice during our escapades. When Tiny and I ventured down, leaving Crinis on guard duty she had to fight off a wave on her own. Thankfully the ants from the chamber above became aware of the ruckus and rushed down to support her. By the time Tiny and I returned it had been cleaned up and casualties were at the minimum. We were a bit more cautious after that and tried to make sure no monsters were able to slip past us.
Still, the second time they managed it. Through some twist of tunnel one of the waves managed to find an alternate access point to the surface. We had no idea they up there until the colony had engaged with them and started calling for reinforcements. When the Queen's guards in the chamber above started moving out we were alerted and rushed out with them. Eventually we were able to find the monsters and defeat them but not before a significant number of workers had been killed in the engagement...
The human refugees had almost been caught up in it. When the battle raged the fighting had gone right to their doorsteps. Being saved by the colony seems to have driven their affection for ant monsters to even greater heights. When workers wander past their growing encampment they bow respectfully and cheer. It's getting a bit unnerving.
We've been even more careful since then.
I would've rushed straight into the Dungeon and shoved my mandibles through those stupid crocs faces if I could, but I wanted to make sure the colony was safe first. That was a few days ago now, we've been quietly building our strength since then, getting ready to launch our invasion and claim the marsh expanse for ourselves!
Nobody messes with my family and gets away with it!
Entering the chamber I see Crinis and Tiny ready for action. Crinis has extended her tentacles down the tunnel for more than a hundred metres, stretching her strange flesh to the limit in order to detect vibrations down the tunnel.
[Bring it all back Crinis. Time to get ready to fight]
[Yes Master]
The little tennis ball of boundless hunger begins to retract the thin, wire like tendrils she had painstakingly extended down the tunnel back into her body. When the task is done she inflates herself back to her combat ready size, ready to unleash destruction upon our foes.
Tiny has long been ready. His hands clench and unclench repeatedly as if he can't wait to allow his fists to go to work. The silver hair on his arms is already beginning to rise as electrical current begins to flicker across his body.
Ever since advancing his skills Tiny has become even more obsessed with fighting, if that were even possible. I think that now he can advance his skills again there is even more relish to be had in the thrill of battle for him.
Actually....
Where the heck is he going?
Unable to contain himself anymore the ape dashes down the tunnel, whooping with delight!
[Damnable ape! Let's go Crinis!]
Rushing after him Crinis and hurtle down the tunnel ourselves. In front of us I can see Tiny moving with impressive speed, hands and legs flailing with a strange grace as he propels his massive frame forward like a hairy, overweight gazelle.
I should never have told him about the dash skill...
With us hurtling down and the monsters rushing up it doesn't take long for the two sides to crash into each other like speeding trucks.
Boom!
-x-X-x-
As Tiny smashes into the front of the monster wave I can hear a voice calling from behind me.
"Hey-Hey! Wait for me senior!"
Vibrant....
As Crinis joins Tiny on the front lines the little ant motors down the passage behind us to quickly catch up and I sigh internally.
It isn't that we've been ignoring the little thing lately, or trying to leave her behind. It's more that she's become a little too reckless, flinging herself forward to into combat and trying to get her mandibles dug into the flesh of our opponents. The result of such behaviour is that she nearly gets smashed by Tiny or eaten by Crinis as they rampage. It's not as if Crinis has any way to communicate with the little worker. As friendly as they are with each other they don't share the same bond that Crinis and Tiny do. I've confirmed with Crinis multiple times that within a certain range she can sense my location as well as Tiny's, this prevents her from ripping into Tiny as they fight together.
"Vibrant! You need to wait here with me for a second" I said.
"Whaaaaat? I want to fight!" she complains, "look at big 'sis Crinis! She can fight so well already. I want to be like that!"
Sigh.
This is the source of the problem. Her former partner in smallness, Crinis, is all grown up now and wrecking faces whereas she has yet to evolve, still a superior hatchling, not really capable of contributing to tough fights like these.
"Tell you what. You go up to the ceiling and fire acid to get some skill points and we'll save a good chunk of monsters for you to finish off. After all this time your fairly close to your next evolution. If we can manage it you might even be able to evolve today!"
"Yaaaaay!" she cheers like a happy child and rushed up to the ceiling to begin raining acid down on the horde of onrushing monsters.
....
Well at least she's happy. Vibrant has been something of a restraint on our strength since she isn't really powerful enough to wade into situations like this and come out alive. These shadow beast monsters are simply a cut above the kind of prey us ants would normally have to deal with.
If she can evolve again then perhaps she'll be able to hold her own. She's certainly had enough Biomass to upgrade all of her body points to the limit by this stage since we've been pumping her full of food for so long. Considering the regular feasts that have been delivering themselves to us on a regular basis, as well as our own farming activities, I've managed to pile up 114 point of Biomass that I need to spend.
This will be the last upgrade before our assault on the marsh expanse so I need to make it count!
Whatever the Crocs can do, I need to do better!
Charge!
Eager to continue training my skills I rush up the wall and begin weaving my magic.
[Make sure you guys save a lot of monsters for Vibrant to finish off ok? We want her to evolve today if possible]
[Yes, Master]
[Grrrn]
You're that unhappy about only being allowed to punch the monsters mostly to death, huh, Tiny? Get over it man!
Moving onto the ceiling where Vibrant has already taken up a position to hurl blasts of acid down into the fray, I take a moment to size up the situation.
The tunnel is packed with onrushing shadow beasts. These guys are almost entirely low tier monsters that are yet to evolve, but due to their nature as monsters from a deeper level of the Dungeon they cannot be compared to centipedes and coral slugs in terms of their lethality.
Their claws are sharp, their teeth are deadly and the strange elastic shadow stuff that makes up their bodies is both strong and malleable, allowing them to twist and contort themselves to an alarming degree. Not quite to the same level that Crinis can but stretching out their arms to attack a few extra feet is easily within their capabilities.
Tiny has no issues wading into the battle. With his skills upgraded he can clear his way through the mobs with more vigour than before. Particularly since his fist skills have reached a new tier.
"Raaaaaaah!" Tiny roars as his fists begin to glow with bright light.
Thrusting forward one massive fist, Tiny unleashes his strength in a colossal blow that smashes the monsters directly in front of him. But it doesn't stop there!
Boom!
When the fist stops moving the light continues forward as a mighty ape paw, scattering monsters ten feet away from Tiny as they suffer the impact of his tier three boxing skills.
As the monsters begin to try and swarm him Tiny swivels on his heel and unleashes a devastating hook that blasts an arc of light around him, smashing the smaller creatures around him to the ground.
Haha! Didn't see that coming did you?!
Crinis has also improved her abilities. Her limbs reach out further than before and with greater agility to snag monsters from the crowd, lifting them up before entangling them with more tentacles and crushing them.
Nice!
By purchasing a few skills and mutating her body the tennis ball that devours all including hope has increased her skill at manipulating her tentacles as well as their strength and flexibility. All in all she poses a much larger threat than she did before. I honestly can't wait until she evolves, it'll be exciting to see how she'll grow!
Not wanting to waste any more time I hastily whip up a water construct and start feeding mana through it. The entire process is much more fluid that before, the transformation construct being pieced together with practiced ease. I've made thousands of these stupid things recently! It would impossible for me to not improve!
Not only that!
Immediately I start weaving water bolts with both of my sub brains, flinging into the crowd and knocking monsters down with each fierce impact. With my main mind I start to work on something special.
Operating the transformation construct carefully I split off a third stream of water mana and begin to condense it, crushing the mana down under the weight of my mind. Gradually I begin to outline a water bolt frame made entirely of condensed mana.
I really have to grind down my focus to achieve this but it's one thing I've been practicing lately and the results are.... Interesting.
As the battle rages I spend precious seconds assembling my spell. With Tiny and Crinis in the front line I'm not worried. They could handle this wave on their own, I'm just here for the xp.
Once the frame is finished I begin to power the spell with condensed mana. With the shape of the spell formed of condensed mana the construct holds up much better when filled with the volatile stuff. When it's finally powered and ready to cast I take careful aim to ensure that I allow plenty of leeway so my own pets aren't caught in the blast.
Fire!
The water bolt, a deeper and darker blue than the others, almost as if it were formed of the water from the deep ocean, materialises above my head and rockets forth.
The monsters don't have time to react before it impacts amongst them.
BOOOOOOM!
Like a crashing wave water explodes amongst the monsters, blasting them into the walls and crushing them into the ground. The spray from the impact is so strong it cuts into their bodies, leaving gaping wounds and in some cases severing limbs.
Yikes!
Condensed spells are really no joke!
-x-X-x-
As the rather explosive effect of my compressed water bolt faded and the monsters began to recover themselves as more flooded into the narrow tunnel to trample over the fallen I took a little time to reflect on the success of the spell.
Better that I thought, I had to say.
After witnessing the effects of forceful mana spells, using the compressed mana to fuel a spell had such an explosive effect, I began to experiment with forming an entire spell from compressed mana. The structure, from beginning to end, weaved with threads of compressed mana, then the entire thing filled with compressed mana right to the top. My test results where ... promising, to say the least.
However, this was my first time putting the spells to use in actual combat. I wanted to test them in a controlled situation and started with the most harmless of all my spells, the water bolt. The little testing I'd done with gravity spells had been somewhat alarming, I wasn't quite ready to put them to the test just yet. Maybe in a more open space.
This first test is a rtousing success! Not only was the primary target completely pulverised but the splash effect had a vicious cut to it as well, increasing the area of effect potential of the spell.
I'm really quite excited for the next one...
I stop my sub brains from casting spells and begin to focus all of my mental energies on my next task. Dividing the labour between my minds I begin to stockpile compressed mana as best I can whilst simultaneously weaving the forceful water cannon. The shaping of the spell I handle myself as it's by far the most difficult task.
Beneath me Tiny and Crinis continue to battle away, smashing monsters all over the place but making sure to leave them on a sliver of life as much as possible. Tiny has a lot of issues controlling his strength and is just as likely to knock a monsters head clean off by mistake but Crinis has far finesse. Like lightning her limbs snap out to pluck up a monster and she rings it out like a soggy cloth before dropping it on the growing pile of severely wounded monsters behind her.
Perfect.
Nearly there now.
Eagerly I begin to fuel my constructed spell. The trick I found in my test run is that I can't quite transform mana and then compress it fast enough to keep up with the demands of the spell. Meaning I ran out of juice and the spell failed only a few seconds after I cast it. Those few seconds had been enough to drill a hole three feet in the tunnel walls though so I'm expecting good things.
To prevent the spell from such a premature failure this time, I've been carefully amassing a stockpile of compressed water mana as I go. Judging by the rate of consumption I think I have roughly fifteen seconds or so for the spell to operate.
I'm looking forward to this.
Forceful Water Cannon! Fire!
Just above my head an ominously blue glowing ball flickers into existence for the water cannon starts. What comes out is less like a water cannon but rather a water beam. The monsters hit by it are less damaged but rather... dissected. It cuts straight through them! As the water blasts straight through the monsters it impacts against the tunnel floor and a vicious hissing noise fill the air as it starts boring a hole through.
Hastily I direct the spell to zigzag its way up the tunnel and delight in the chaos caused.
[you have slain ...]
[you have slain ...]
[you have slain ...]
[you have slain ...]
[you have slain ...]
Ahhhhhh this spell is ridiculous!
Some monsters are able to hold on for a moment, resisting the stupidly potent pressure of the beam with the strength of their bodies, but eventually it tunnels through them, boring a hole directly through their shadow flesh.
Then the mana runs out.
.....
The entire tunnel is littered with monster bodies and a truly insane amount of water. The spray has gone everywhere. The walls are coated with it, the monsters are saturated. Tiny is also saturated. Crinis ... doesn't seem to care but I can sense a smouldering discomfort emanating from the big ape.
He really hates getting wet.
In order to vent his frustration he channels lightning into the onrushing monsters who charge directly into the soaked section of tunnel we occupy and are promptly burnt to a crisp.
You were supposed to save some for Vibrant...
Ten minutes later we finish mopping up the wave and start chowing down. I decided not to test anymore spells lest Tiny get even more irritated. I should try and work out a solution where I'm not going to get him soaked. I'll be hitting the front lines soon enough, it should be fine.
The first thing I do after the fighting is done is call Vibrant down from the ceiling and get her to finish off the stragglers that we saved for her. Thankfully after she spends a lot of time chomping away at them she cheerfully announced she was able to hit level ten! Not even the news that another special core was coming her way was enough to dampen the little ants mood as she danced about whilst chowing down on Biomass. Even Crinis managed to find her and toss her in the air a few times to celebrate as the Vibrant laughed hysterically.
Tiny just ignored the proceedings and munched his way through a mountain of food.
I'm with you buddy. Time to embrace the food coma!
OM NOM NOM.
When all is said and done and we can barely walk any longer I've managed to amass 129 Biomass from my week of feasting and practice. The four of us waddle/roll/limp our way back up the tunnel to our little chamber and I call down the workers.
We weren't able to eat all of the food, not even close. Hopefully, when the Queen has consumed a good chunk of this the next generation of new workers might be locked in and ready to go.
Settling in we all prepare to finalise our spending in order to make the final push for excellence as we prepare to advance into the Marsh Expanse. I hastily whip up an advanced core after withdrawing a few small cores from my stash and feed it to Vibrant. Once absorbed, she somehow managed to both gleefully and painfully waddle to one corner to settle down and evolve.
Tiny and Crinis have already begun the process of mutating, I can see them vacantly sitting, unmoving, pawing through menus already.
Ok. Time to do this. I'm gonna spend up big!
-x-X-x-
Muahahaha! With over a hundred points to spend, I'm feeling slightly giddy. What to go for first?
Currently I've upgraded eyes to +7 and acid to +6, so I may as well finish those off first, that'll take a significant chunk out of my points already.
[Would you like to upgrade Focused Eyes to +10 and Restrictive Acid to +10? This will cost 61 Biomass?]
Sixty one?!?!
Even if I already knew it, feels bad to hear Gandalf actually say it out loud.
I still have sixty eight Biomass to play with so I need to get spendin'. Once I've upgraded these two, I'll still have legs, Gravity mana gland, Regeneration Gland, Pheromone and the two newest editions to go before I reach a complete +10 state.
Arrrgghhh! This is so frustrating!
Just how much do I have to eat before I can upgrade myself all the way?! Is it my tiny ant stomach that's the problem?! I have two stomachs and I pack them both full every meal!
When I consider that my current level of evolution supports upgrades up to +15 I can only feel depressed. The goal of fully mutating everything before my next evolution seems like a long way away. Work hard stomachs! I'm counting on you guys!
Since I'll be striding forth into battle after this round of upgrades I really want to ensure my combat effectiveness is at its peak, not only on the offensive but also the defensive. I'm thinking that the regeneration gland could use a boost, just in case things turn south and I get bitten in half or something.
[Would you like to upgrade Focused Eyes to +10, Restrictive Acid to +10 and Limb Regeneration Gland to +10? This will cost 101 Biomass?]
Yikes!
Only eighteen left?!
I guess that'll be it for the full upgrades to +10... Enhancing my senses has never been a poor choice. I'll upgrade my trusty antennae next. With 18 Biomass I can upgrade them to +7 and have five points in the bank.
Ok then!
[Would you like to upgrade Focused Eyes to +10, Restrictive Acid to +10, Limb Regeneration Gland to +10 and Infrared Antennae to +7 ? This will cost 114 Biomass.]
Let's do it Oh bearded one.
[At this level of mutation you may select a mutation advancement, please select one from the menu]
First, I jump into the acid menu.
My acid is the OG. When I was a weak and helpless ant, all alone without my colony to support me, it was the acid that became my trusty sidekick. Every combat would entail the acid attack playing a key role, letting me deal damage from range before closing in to finish the job.
Since the rest of my body has been enhanced, as well as my magic growing to the point that it's a credible ranged threat, the acid has become outshined. I don't really need it to do damage, what I want is more utility out of it. The restrictive properties are great, if that could be enhanced I'd be interested, for sure. Let's see what the menu has for me.
Hmmmm.
Wait a sec.
Wait. One. Second.
[Magic eating Acid. Acid becomes able to dissolve magic it comes into contact with, including barriers and constructs].
...
Done!
I don't need to see any more! In fact I refuse!
This is the sort of utility I'm talking about! Able to eat through magical barriers or constructs? Hot. Damn.
Acid is back in town, in a big way.
Already giddy with delight I shift over to the slightly more pedestrian eyes. Hopefully there'll be plenty of boring options that'll calm me down after this excitement.
Flicking through the menu I can recall seeing most of this stuff before. Upgrading to +10 will already give my compound eyes an around quality upgrade, and honestly, ever since I took the focused mutation I haven't really suffered in the eye department since I can basically see like a human can directly forwards.
The rest of the lenses, pointing up, sideways, backwards and so on, are still poor in comparison to human vision, but they do well enough to get me by. My default option would be just to enhance the focused upgrade to further improve my forward vision but another options catches my attention.
[Omni Focused Eye. Enhance key lenses to improve the long range focus of the compound eyes in all directions, instead of only forward]
I like it!
It bears repeating sometimes that I don't have a neck. In order to face sideways I actually have to turn my body in that direction, hence the compound eyes helping out a lot. Being able to see in almost all directions without shifting my head at all is obviously a great advantage. The drawback of each individual lens in my eyes being quite crud is something I've just had to put up with. From the sounds of things this upgrade will go some of the way to increasing the distance I can see in all directions, not just forwards!
Along with the quality increase I get from taking the eyes from +7 to +10 I can expect a tremendous improvement in my all around eyesight. Nice!
Two upgrades out of the way it's time for the regeneration gland. When I first selecting an advancement for this organ I was quite concerned about how less well defended my legs are compared to the rest of me, being relatively thin and unarmoured. Being able to rapidly regenerate those limbs has helped out on a number of occasions and I'm quite satisfied with the results.
Flicking through the menu for the regeneration gland I can see that most of the enhancements that increase on the limb regeneration aspect feel a little unnecessary, basically regenerate them faster or more frequently. Not interested. What I want from the regeneration gland is to make it better at what I originally purchased it for, that is, healing me when I'm injured.
I have the regenerative inner bone plating to help heal my carapace, and that's fantastic, but it doesn't do anything for my internals, organs or muscles, that might get damaged. The regeneration organ definitely still has an important role to play.
[Rapid Regeneration Organ. Allows the regeneration organ to refill more quickly, meaning it can be used frequently to heal damage and restore HP]
I like this choice. Especially considering the campaign that is right ahead of me. Diving into dangerous, croc infested marsh lands to battle for supremacy and eject the horrid things? I might need a whole lotta healing by the time we're done...
With that all of my selections are done. Time to mutate this ant!
[Would you like to confirm these choices?]
Awwwww yeah!
...
Wait a sec.
nnnnnnnnOOOOOOORRRRFFFLETABINNNNNN!!!!!
Building rapidly is the most extreme itch I have ever experienced! The eyes! The eyes are so bad! Not to mention the organs inside my body but holy mackerel the eyes!!!!
I CAN'T TAKE IT!
The only blessing is that the others are so occupied by their own menus that they can't see me scrabbling and rolling about, desperately clawing at the dirt in a frantic attempt to alleviate the itch.
My dignity is preserved at least!
From up above I see a giant ant head poke down into the chamber to see what all the fuss is about.
Dammit Mother!
Name: Anthony
Level: 13 (core)
Might: 41
Toughness: 29
Cunning: 44
Will: 35
HP: 50/50
MP: 220/220
Skills: Excavation Level 8; Improved Acid Shot Level 6; Advanced Grip Level 3; Shattering Bite Level 7; Advanced Stealth Level 5; Splintering Chomp Level 4; Tunnel Map Level 6; Mana Transformation Level 6; Forceful Mana Level 6; External Mana Manipulation Level 2; Mana Sensing Level 5; Core Surgery Level 3; Advanced Exo-Skeleton Defence level 7; Pet Communication Level 3; Rapid Dash Level 1; Advanced Water Magic Affinity Level 2; Stamina Level 2; Pet Growth Speed Level 1; Mana Miser Level 4; Cerebral Endurance Level 3; Mediation Level 4; Precise Shooting Level 2; Ripping Bite Level 3;
Mutations: Omni Focused Eyes +10, Infrared Antennae +7, Mana Eating Restrictive Acid +10, Absorption Legs +5, Savage Infused Mandibles +10, Hardened Diamond Carapace +10, Rapid Limb Regeneration Gland +10, Pheromone Language Gland +5, Deep Gravity Magic Gland +5, Divergent Coordination Cortex +5, Regenerating Inner Carapace Plating +5;
Species: Dispersed Mind Ant (Formica)
Skill points: 16
Biomass: 5
-x-X-x-
Eventually, the horrific itching fades, and I scramble back to my feet and cast my eyes about to see who was witnessing my fervent rolling. Thankfully it appears that mother retreated once she was sure all of the noise wasn't related to some threat or danger of any kind, and my pets are too busy with their own mutations to have time checking on me.
Phew!
Since that is the case, I can relax. I really need to make sure that I'm on my own or somewhere that I can't be seen when doing significant mutations like that. I don't know what it is, but the sensation of my own body shifting and changing as the surging Biomass roils through my body is just..... ITCHY.
What even is Biomass anyway? It can't be the raw material since that gets dissolved down in some way within me. It isn't as if my stomach continually feels full until I spend my points, as time passes I feel the food getting digested, and then I start to feel hungry again. Perhaps monsters extract something from the food they eat? Some sort of... concentrated.... Stuff? The higher the evolution of the monster the more... stuff ... they have in them?
Maybe?
I don't know! I just eat things!
Considering that nothing comes out my business end barring acid and magic consuming justice all of that food must be going somewhere...
I've already resolved to investigate all things stomach upgrade during my next evolution, but internally I double down on that resolution. The mysteries of the Biomass need to be unlocked!
Quickly cleaning my antennae and running a keen eye over myself I double check my status before spending some time adjusting to my new vision. I wouldn't say I can see as well as a human can in all directions, but it indeed is significantly better than before. My forward eyesight has somewhat improved, but all other angles are dramatically better. I'll need to wait until I get somewhere a little more open before I can thoroughly test my eyes' ability to focus at a distance.
I start practising my water transformation and compression skills as I wait for my fellow team members to finish their work. Vibrant appears to have completed her work with the menu and has settled down to evolve. If she doesn't finish by the time the others are ready, we may have to carry her down with us. I wouldn't want to leave her behind, mostly because she would just run down the tunnels on her own and probably end up dead.
Still, I'm interested to see what she can evolve into, considering she was a superior hatchling up to now. From a superior hatchling into a ... superior worker? That wouldn't be too exciting...
Maybe she'll go straight into being a juvenile Queen? For some reason, when I think of Vibrant's personality, I just can't see it happening. Sitting around the nest being motherly all the time? Vibrant?! Not a chance.
Time passes, and Crinis is the first to complete the process. She takes a long time to fiddle through the menus since she has such anxiety about making incorrect choices. Tiny takes longer, but I think that has more to do with his comprehension speed.....
[How'd it all go Crinis?] I ask cheerfully.
The little ball freezes momentarily before slithering over to me on a few tentacles.
[I hope I made the right choices Master...] she says somewhat miserably.
I sigh internally. [Just pick whatever you think is right! You know more about how you want to grow and fight than I do! You're the best one to make these decisions!]
[But you are the best person to decide what it is that YOU want Master!]
Gah! Getting her to be more independent is going to be a long project.
[Just ... come over here, and I'll have a look at where you're at. I want to see how everyone is going before we set out] I say resignedly.
[Of course Master!] she bubbles.
.....
Bringing my antennae forward I activate the core surgery skill and gradually piece together her general status.
Name: Crinis
Level: 14 (core)
Might: 68
Toughness: 55
Cunning: 24
Will: 22
HP: 110/110
MP: 205/205
Skills: Advanced Shadow Flesh Manipulation Level 1; Grappling Level 3; Expert Shredding Level 4; Tremor Sensing Level 3; Dismembering Level 2; Fear Inspiration Level 3; Mana Manipulation Level 1; Tentacle Walking Level 1;
Mutations: Shadow flesh+3; Void Maw +3; Bottomless Dimensional Stomach +5; Dividing Tentacles +5; Ripping Spines + 5; Macabre Teeth + 5;
Species: Blind Shadow Hunter
Skill points: 5
Biomass: 6
....
Why is that all her skills and upgrades sound so intimidating? How the heck did she even get Fear Inspiration?! From what I can see the skill educates the user in ways to act more intimidating or cause fear in foes...
I'm not sure that's going to be a problem if she keeps levelling up Dismembering...
[Ah! I see you picked up Mana Manipulation] I say.
[Yes Master.... Is that ok!?] she sounds mildly panicked.
[Of course! You have a reasonable Cunning and Will stat. With practice, you'll be able to start slinging some spells like me! I think that was an excellent choice]
....
Instead of replying the little ball holding itself up on a few slender tentacles just becomes exceptionally still. Wait. That's not quite right. With my improved vision, I can make out that she's not still but actually vibrating slightly in place.
.....
That happy to be praised, eh?
I can only shake my head internally and leave Crinis in her own little world as I move over to Tiny. The big guy is gradually opening his eyes and shaking himself awake. I want to check his status as well before we get moving.
[How'd it all go Tiny? Finished?]
[Hmmm. Finish] he manages to grunt his reply even when speaking mind to mind.
[Let me have a look big fella]
He amblers over in my direction and I once again activate the core surgery skill. I'm determined to ignore the quivering tennis ball behind me.
Name: Tiny
Level: 12 (core)
Might: 154
Toughness: 42
Cunning: 7
Will: 15
HP: 84/84
MP: 210/210
Skills: Expert Ape Boxing level 3; Brutal Uppercut level 2; Enhanced Leap level 3; Smash level 5; Advanced Athletics level 1; Grappling level 5; Potent Crushing Blows level 4; Fancy Feet level 4; Advanced Dash Level 2;
Mutations: Overwhelming Explosive Enhanced musculature +10, Iron Bones +5; Springy Impact Legs +10; Piercing Heightened Sonic Enhancer +5; Compressing Lightning Mana Affinity Gland +5, Compressing Lightning Mana Affinity Gland +5, Energy Conversion Gland +4;
Species: Dire Lightning Storm Kong
Skill points: 15
Biomass: 3
Things are looking good! He's way stronger than he was before he started spending his points properly, just look at some of these powerful sounding upgrades! Overwhelming Explosive Enhanced musculature? That sounds destructive!
Actually just looking at him he seems more built than before. Not in a rippling muscle sort of way but more in a .... Solid... sheer size sort of way. His shoulders and arms are definitely a size larger than they were before. I'm guessing he had to upgrade his bones just to stop them snapping like twigs when he throws a punch.
Overall I'm pleased with his choices. I'm especially impressed he followed my advice and took the same upgrade for both Lightning Mana glands. Naturally, it may have been more optimal to take different upgrades for each to increase versatility, but I figured Tiny would just get confused. Better to find one that works well and use it for both. I think he mainly took that advice, so he didn't have to think so much.
I like the compressing mutation as a choice as well. Tinkering around I worked out that it applies a mild compression to the mana inside the gland, increasing the potency of the mana but slowing its recovery speed. Since he has the conversion gland already, he doesn't have to worry about that so much and can enjoy more potent lightning for free.
Ok then!
Vibrant is still sleeping for the moment. I'll head topside to alert people as to our absence, and then we'll be off!
-x-X-x-
[How long will you be gone for?] Enid asks worriedly.
[As long as it takes to remove the threat] I reply.
This is why I don't like coming up here to the human camp. No sooner did I appear than people started gathering and pointing. Then the priest came at a run, his face flushed with excitement and began exhorting the people to pay their respects to me. In a flash I had people raising their hands or kneeling nearby as I nervously waited for Enid to show up.
I'm thankful the crowd maintained a respectful distance from me. It seems their fear of Dungeon monsters isn't completely gone.
[Do you have any idea what is actually causing these monsters to attack the surface?] she asks.
[I'm not sure. I have a few suspicions, but I don't exactly know what we are up against. The colony, and by extensions you humans, are not safe while the Expanse below us continues to send out these monsters. They need to be removed]
Enid frowns as she ponders my words. Why am I even here? I could have just spoken to the Queen and then disappeared underground, nobody here in the camp would have been the wiser. It isn't as if they see me very often, I'm almost always underground already.
I guess Enid herself has been helpful and respectful. I don't really have any reason to keep her in the dark. Since this expedition has a direct impact on their own safety, I suppose it doesn't hurt to tell them.
Just.... Give me a little space people!
[The people here seem remarkably well disposed towards ant monsters. Is that safe?] I'm forced to ask as a child attempts to sneak forward and touch me only to be snatched back by an adult.
Enid looks at me oddly for a moment before replying.
[You and your colony have kept these people safe on several occasions. The only reason we have been able to settle here and start making a life for ourselves again is that you and your colony are here, taming the land and protecting us. Of course, we are grateful. With Beyn here that gratitude is only getting more ingrained]
Damn priest...
I'll need to have words with him at some point, but for now, I'm worried he may just take it as some sort of divine visitation. The guy is just odd. I bit his arm off, how did he end up such a fervent supporter?!
Enid hesitates before speaking again. [There are a lot of valuable resources that can be extracted from an Expanse. I was a merchant before, and I know the value of many things that can be found in the Dungeon. If you see something that looks special, bring it to me, and I can tell you about it].
Hmmmm.
[I'll think about it].
Other than Biomass and monster cores, what else does the colony require? On the off chance that something useful can be found down there, I might keep this in mind. Still, in my mind, it's far more likely to be helpful to the humans than it is to us.
After a few more words I bid Enid goodbye and carefully back myself up and leave. The people reluctantly part to let me through, the priests' voice raising to an even higher crescendo before I manage to disappear out of sight. Somehow, not being able to hear exactly what he's saying makes it feel worse.
Safely back the nest I feel much more comfortable. My people! It doesn't take long to explain the situation to Mother. As always she expresses concern for my safety but encourages me to do what is best for the family.
Naturally!
This ant doesn't let his family down. No chance.
Farewells handled, Tiny gathers the still slumbering Vibrant unexpectedly gently in one massive paw and Crinis hops onto my back. Time to depart!
I'm feeling exciting for the upcoming challenge but at the same time a little nervous. We are throwing ourselves into the great unknown in order to protect the colony from harm. Something about it just makes my ant heart sing. Going to have to watch out for this feeling in case it motivates me to do something stupid. I get up to enough of that on my own.
At any rate, there isn't anyone else in the colony who could handle this level of danger, so it has to me and the crew.
In order to ensure we don't miss any waves we take the long way down, sweeping the tunnels clean and using the creatures we find to get a little extra xp in the bank before we get to the Expanse. If we can level up even one skill by one point it might be help by more than we expect. To this end I use my new bite attack, Ripping Bite, exclusively. This ends up is some.... Messy combats. Crinis seems to approve but I personally aren't as much of a fan. At least the skill is accruing experience.
In this way it takes us a number of hours to reach the Expanse, deep below the surface. When we approach Vibrant finally begins to show signs of stirring from her slumber. Her body has undergone a number of changes during the journey, including a rather dramatic increase in size (at last!).
I can't wait to take a look at her status and she what she decided to choose!
As we post up outside the Marsh Expanse I decide to put Crinis on guard duty whilst the rest of us open up the shortcut, clear out a small section of tunnel and nestle down for a short break.
We need our wits about us for this next test. If Vibrant is going to be fighting alongside us I want to make sure she's got the right stuff after evolving.
It doesn't take long for her to wake up and regain her normal energy.
"Hi senior! How long did I sleep?"
"Well I'd say it was...."
"Wow! Where are we? Did we move somewhere?"
"Uhh.. Yes. Tiny carried you. We came down ..."
"Thanks Tiny! I wasn't heavy was I?" she rushes over to Tiny, tapping him vigorously with her antennae.
The big ape just looks down at her for a moment before reaching out with one big finger to poke her on top of her head.
"Hey! Hee-hee! You're the best Tiny!"
...
"Just come over here for a moment would you?!" I grate out.
Full of beans, she bounces over to me and stops, still managing to wiggle from one foot to the other as she awaits my instructions. No matter how far she evolves I don't think her high energy level is ever going to change.
"I want to take a look at your core and see what your stats are like. Is that ok?" I ask.
"Sure-sure!"
Alright then.
Bringing my antennae forward it's time for core surgery once more!
After a bit of fiddling about I put together her status:
Name: Vibrant
Level: 1 (core)
Might: 52
Toughness: 38
Cunning: 25
Will: 22
HP: 76/76
MP: 110/110
Skills: Advanced Digging Level 3; Advanced Acid Shot Level 6; Grip Level 4; Crushing Bite Level 5; Advanced Dash Level 2; Exo-Skeleton defence level 3; Stamina level 2; Piercing Bite Level 4; Leap Level 2;
Mutations: Enhanced Reflective Exoskeleton +10; Savage Mandibles +5; Accelerated Legs + 5; Focused Eyes +5; Foresight Antennae +5; Burning Acid Gland +5; Widened Command Aura (formica) +5; Frequent Explosive Energy Gland +5; Pheromone Language Gland +5; Slow release Regeneration Gland +5; Inner Carapace Plating; Speed Aura Gland;
Species: Major Soldier (Formica)
Skill points: 6
Biomass: 5
What the heck is this? Her physical stats are already higher than mine?!
And by so much?!
-x-X-x-
The new evolution has certainly seen a massive rise in Vibrant's stats! And some of her organs look incredibly unique. The command organ? Did she get that from being a special ant from birth?
Gah! I should have investigated her core ages ago! That's what I get for not being curious enough!
"How do you feel Vibrant?"
"Great!" she cheers.
I have to say, she's not so little anymore, almost the same size as I am. The only reason I would be bigger is because I used the shortcut method of raising my Might stat quickly by packing on more size rather than condensing the muscle, which increases strength without increasing size. My guess is that Vibrant has taken a much more balanced approach and therefore has much more power squeezed into a smaller body.
Looking at her skills and upgrades, it's clear the direction that Vibrant has been taking. Physical strength, hearty defence, looks like she picked up an Aura gland during her most recent evolution, speed naturally, being Vibrant.
Looks like she'll be taking the path of pouring her mana into fuelling a range of Aura glands rather than using it to directly fuel magic. I should look at recommending that path to Tiny actually. The lightning mana he has is put to good use but the all the raw MP sitting in his core doesn't do anything whilst his lightning glands are topped off. He'd be more effective in a fight if he had somewhere to put that energy.
I'll have to think on it.
Due to his low intelligence I'm worried about Tiny's future evolution paths. Every time he's evolved he's lost Cunning. If it continues down that path he's going to wind up an extremely well-muscled, bat faced vegetable.
"Well you're probably strong enough stats wise to fight and front line" I muse.
"Yay! I can fight with Crinis!" the no longer little ant cheered with delight, her antennae wiggling in the air uncontrollably.
I could only be pleased for her pure enthusiasm. As exhausting as her seemingly infinite energy could be, she was as pure as a diamond compressed from snow made of glass.
"You'll need to be careful" I warn her, "nibble at the edges, don't go straight on. You're fast and reasonably tanky but you can't take the horde face on. If you get in trouble, pop your healing gland straight away, don't save it. We can get you to safety and let it recharge before you need to go it again."
"Yep-yep!" the still wiggling ant exclaimed.
She's doing her best to listen to my advice but her energy is just way too high right now. Sigh. I'll have to remind her again later, hopefully she won't do anything too stupid in her excitement.
[Tiny, Crinis, Vibrant will be joining you on the front lines for the attack. Try to keep an eye out and keep her safe. I want her on the edges of the fight and not in the middle. If she gets buried in the melee, try and get her out.]
[Hurr!] Tiny grunted affirmatively.
[Of course Master. No harm shall come to her] Crinis declared with confidence.
....
I'd be more assured if you could actually see her Crinis... Maybe she could keep a tentacle on Vibrant or something?
I'm sure it'll work out.
["Alright everyone, it's time to form up for the attack. Tiny in the front, Crinis with me and Vibrant on the flank. Our mission is complete subjugation. All Crocs must be handbags or tasteful jackets by the time we are done. Nothing too out there, I'm fashion conservative."]
The others look at me strangely.
[What is a jacket master? Explain it to me and I shall prepare a thousand for you this day!] Crinis cries.
I should give up on the jokes. My talent is wasted on this room.
["Just kill all Crocs. They are our primary target. If we remove them all I think the wave attacks on the colony will stop"]
"Okay!" Vibrant says, almost shivering out of her carapace with excitement.
Crinis wiggles her way onto my back before retracting her tentacles and entering her deceptive, innocent tennis ball mode. Tiny eagerly takes his place in the front, already sparking with anticipation and thumping his chest occasionally, trying to contain his energy.
I don't the marsh is going to be expecting what's coming.
The oppressive aura is still here, bearing down on us with full force. But we are stronger than before, motivated to protect the colony. I don't care what sort of monster sits in the middle of this Expanse, suffocating the area with its baleful aura and sucking in the monsters. I have a few tricks up my carapace that should fix it's little red wagon!
Full of motivation and gusto we depart our little hidey hole and advance into the marsh expanse. Before us the lush green of the vibrant plant life stretches as far as the eye can see, from one side of the expanse to the other. The hillocks of sodden earth that rise out of the dark waters look like moss encrusted tortoise shells, covered in vibrant flowers and the occasional tree.
Overhead the tall mangrove like trees, with their enormous webbed roots, spread a wide canopy. Half glimpsed shadows can be seen shifting about on the broad green leaves here and there. This right here. This will all belong to the family.
-x-X-x-
The Marsh Expanse is still teeming with monstrous life. I can see monsters creeping out of connected tunnels, making their way deeper into the recesses in order to meet up with whatever is compelling their behaviour. Even without the steady trickle of captive beasts, there is plenty of stuff to fight around us.
The ever-present, ever hungry flora dots the mounds and rises out of the waters regularly. The plants don't seem to want to eat each other much but they are always waiting for a juicy meal to wander past, ready to fall into their clutches.
Then there are the crocs.
Lounging there and there, yawning mightily with their enormous jaws, the Croca-Beasts Titan Crocs and beyond can be seen almost everywhere. Never too many in one place, but little posse's of three or four, wading through the waters or lying on the raised earth.
I think there's more of them here than the last time we came. Or maybe they are gathering on this side since we raised a ruckus last time.
At any rate, they haven't seemed to have spotted us.
I think the best course of action is two lure them into the tunnel group by group, keep the combat out of sight so we don't draw the lot of them down on our heads at once. Nice and steady, that's the play.
....
So why is Tiny over there punching a Titan Croc in the face?
DAMMIT!
["Let's go! Move quickly to support Tiny! Crinis! Don't let him get surrounded and try not to get flame throwered!"] I cry as I rush forward.
This stupid ape! How could I forget his habits so quickly?! Last time we were here I was pleased by his self-control and ability to control his seemingly endless hunger for battle. The reality is he was unsettled, even a little intimidated, by the oppressive aura that hangs over this Expanse.
How did I expect a maniacal, famously thick battle addict to react to his first taste of fear? An emotion that he probably hadn't felt in his entire life? After taking out his frustration on smaller and weaker, unsatisfying foes and getting a power buff from taking the time to actually increase the level of his skills, not to mention the massive boost he received from finally mutating to over +5.
Now he's back, large and in charge and he couldn't wait to punch some face in.
So he didn't!
The second he laid eyes on a Croca the urge to redeem himself in a battle of old fashioned fisty cuffs must have been irresistible!
He didn't get far. The closest group of Croca beasts was within a hundred metres. When they saw the giant ape eagerly flinging himself forward, swinging from tree branches like a demented, overweight Tarzan, they roused themselves to fight. Claws out and jaws agape they met Tiny's charge with all the fury they could muster.
Fists ablaze with light, Tiny smashed their faces in within ten seconds and then stood pounding his chest as he roared out a challenge to the Expanse as a whole.
.....
Because of course he would.
When we rush up to his side Tiny is still bellowing his challenge and it's safe to say he has drawn a fair bit of attention.
All around us small gangs of Crocs are staring with undisguised hostility at my pets and I. I'm quietly confident even the plants are giving us a full dose of the stink eye, even though they don't have eyes.
....
I think I'm feeling a headache coming on...
Actually. You know what? Who cares!? Instead of chipping away at the enemy tactically over an extended period of time, THIS stratagem has little more chest hair! I'm with you Tiny! Bring it on!
I immediately kick my sub brains into gear and get them weaving up a water transformation construct. It shouldn't take long for them to get it set up and pumping out water attributed mana. If any of these monsters decides to start spitting flame at us, I want to be ready.
["Get ready folks, they're coming in!"] I cry.
Four small groups of Croca's begin to advance towards us, curiously untouched by local plant monsters. Counting rapidly I size up our opponents. Ten Croca-Beasts and two Titan-Crocs. Not even a warmup!
These low tiered monsters can't hope to hold a candle to us. It's what will come next that worries me.
Come on brains! Get kicking!
The monsters swagger towards us, their toothy grins and grasping claws screaming confidence. It's almost strange. I'm starting to think these guys haven't been challenged, in this marsh for some time. Have they become the local bully boys? Leathery skinned, super ugly Mafioso?
Gonna get a rude awakening now!
[Crinis! Eat!]
[Of course Master!]
With her tremor sense, Crinis is able to detect the subtle vibrations of movement through the ground and air. As the Crocs flex their way towards us, eagerly anticipating the meal to come, Crinis slowly lifts herself from my back on thin tendrils and drifts forwards.
Such an innocent looking little ball of endless despair. Who could possibly imagine that this tennis ball sized black orb would contain so much terror?
Certainly not the crocs.
[Tiny, Leave it to Crinis, you've had some fun already]
In response to my order Tiny frowns sadly and kicks the dirt. He hasn't had nearly enough fighting yet, but I know his games. It isn't possible for him to get enough fighting in the first place!
[There'll be more soon bud, keep that engine warmed up]
The big ape nods his head, still looking sad but the fire in his eyes is burning bright.
Some of the Crocs approach through the water, their long tails sinuously trailing behind as they adeptly swim, whilst others move from island to island, gradually closing the distance at a slow walk. The smaller Croca-Beasts lead from the font whilst the two Titan Crocs follow from behind, dwarfing their lesser evolved allies as they move.
As soon as one scaly foot lands close enough to Crinis, she acts.
Unfurling herself with blinding speed, tentacles begin to lash out in all directions, peeling out of her body endlessly until there are dozens of them grasping towards the closest foes. By the time the Croca-Beast realises what is happening it's already too late, once the first tentacle latches onto its leg its fate is sealed.
More tentacles lash out, slashing through the air like whips and striking the beast, coiling tightly around it. Snarling viciously the monster tries to resist, pulling and slashing at the inky black shadow flesh with its claws but it is to no avail. Razor sharp barbs emerge from the tentacles and begin their dark work.
Knowing what Crinis' upgrades can do, I'm not entirely sure I'm prepared to watch what's about to happen....
[Stay away from Master you vile beast!] Crinis roars.
Then she engages her 'ripping barbs'.
Where once her barbs would dig and tear into her victim, now they can move, shifting back and forth at high speeds over a distance of a few inches.
In effect... I guess you could say it's like a chainsaw.
.....
Slack-jawed with fear, the other Croca beasts watch as their struggling compatriot undergoes what will only describe as the 'Crinis Experience'. She'll probably get a few more levels of dismember from this.
When it's all said and done her main body inflates and unfolds again to reveal her cavernous maw. The no longer struggling Croca is unceremoniously dropped within and as a ghastly crunching sound emerges from her main body, those inky black tentacles begin reaching out once more.
-x-X-x-
The smaller croca beasts look quite apprehensive to be approaching the grasping tentacles of death but with their larger cousins pressing them from behind they have little choice but to continue to approach.
Crinis has spread her net of tentacles in a ten metre arc towards the approaching foes, her tremor sense giving her some idea of the positioning of the enemy. The Titan Crocs bringing up the rear snap their jaws and bark out a brief message to their lesser kin, who grit their oversized teeth and rush forward as one.
It seems they've grown tired of the slow measured approach and want to surround Crinis with overwhelming numbers. Nine of the beasties are rushing towards her now, claws extended and long crocodile jaws open wide for a taste of my pet!
Fortunately Crinis, the smartest of my core children has foreseen this situation! She was already a complete beast at fighting a horde of enemies, but with her new mutations that ability has only been intensified!
Those jet black grasping tentacles react quickly to the pounding feet of the approaching Crocs. Before the monsters can even swipe their claws the tentacles begin to divide, splitting into thinner limbs that then divide some more, creating innumerable appendages that slither through the air towards the hapless crocs.
Just as they were about to commence their attack, claws extended and saliva dripping from their agape jaws, the crocs become lashed with hundreds of tentacles. Due to her upgraded shadow flesh and tentacle manipulation skill, Crinis has become quite adept at the manipulation of her limbs and the strange stuff that makes up her body has only grown tougher and more flexible as she mutates it.
The crocs don't stand a chance. The moment they are entwined in those razor thin tentacles their hope is lost. They struggle and roar but the shadow flesh proves to be resistant to their feeble struggles. The tentacles slowly fuse together again, thickening, until they manifest the barbs once more.
With a horrid whine the ripping begins and it isn't long before Croc after Croc is being deposited into the mouth of the ever hungering murder ball.
That is just... so rough, every time I see it.
["Tiny, I want you to take on the Titan Croc on the right. Vibrant, you go support him. Crinis, you and I can take out the one on the left"] I command my troops.
"Roger!' Vibrant shouts.
[Huh] Tiny grunts happily, the fire burning in his eyes.
[Of course, Master!] Crinis cries with glee.
The two giant crocs seem to be having second thoughts about their previous confidence. Watching their allies be shredded and chewed up by a single ball of ink will have that sort of effect I suppose. It's too late to back out now because we are on the charge!
My transformation construct is ready and primed, churning out a steady stream of water mana which I begin to weave into spells. I don't actually think Crinis or Tiny will actually need help to dispose of these Titan-Crocs but it feels nice for everyone to get involved. We have a long fight ahead after all, we all need get warmed up!
Unable to escape the two six-legged crocs rear back to their full height and roar in unison. The low rumble of their cry rattles the air and all around us crocs turn to focus intently on the goings on. With my superior vision I can already see a few slipping into the water and making their way towards us.
Oh boy, I think it's on now.
With no reason to hold back I begin pouring my mental energy into spell shaping without holding back. I need to make sure my allies don't suffer in this fight!
Tiny is the first to reach his enemy, leaping high and crashing down with a titanic strike. A narrow miss! His light enveloped fist plunges down and the ground beneath our feet shakes with that shattering impact. The Croc seems to realise just how lucky it was in that moment it dodged, staring wide eyed at the ape before it, failing to capitalize on this moment of weakness. Vibrant takes advantage of its distraction and dashing in to chomp it on the leg viciously, tearing into the limb and causing the beast to growl in pain.
On my side I fling a few water bolts at the Croc, staggering it with the sheer kinetic force of the water smashing into it. Water sprays everywhere from the blasts, drizzling down onto Crinis who completely ignores it as she 'walks' towards her opponent on her several tentacles. This is her new skill, the tentacle walk. It may not seem like much but she certainly is moving with much more ease and grace than she was before. Whereas before she basically dragged herself along, now she glides with deadly purpose.
Before her main body her limbs are already seeking, reaching and grasping towards her worried opponent who is only just recovering from the impact of my water bolts. Hastily the Croc throws open his jaw and unleashes a jet of orange flame!
Searing heat washes over me as the flames are turned onto Crinis at point blank range! Fortunately she was forewarned of this danger. As soon as she feels the heat burning her shadow flesh she retracts her limbs as quickly as possible, folding them into her main body to protect the more vulnerable parts of her body.
This was what I instructed her to do. Shadow beasts seem to have something of a weakness to fire so I wanted Crinis to be able to limit the damage she might take in battle with the Titan Crocs.
But I don't simply intend to let her sit there and take the flame thrower, that would be madness!
Water Cannon!
A solid stream of water materialises above my head and streaks through the air before smacking straight into the Crocs mouth!
Got him!
The flames are almost immediately extinguished as the Croc slams its mouth shut, steam leaking out from between its teeth!
[Go Crinis!] I shout.
I keep the water cannon trained on the dumb Croc as it uses its large upper arms to shield its face from my relentless water attack. If he opens that mouth again he's gonna get another dose!
Freed from the pesky flames, Crinis slashes out with her tentacles, attaching herself to the Croc in moments. With the limbs undivided, they are thick and powerful. Before the Croc can even scream they begin to twist and rend the beast, dragging it bodily towards the waiting maw, bristling with enormous fangs.
Well, she needs to heal up a little I guess.
On the other side, Tiny has beaten their foe into a pulp with his fists as Vibrant ran interference, nibbling on legs and being a general pest to the large croc.
Our first battle has ended in glorious victory, but I can see more of the monsters making their way over, including a few new variants I've not fought before. It's time to take on the real troops!
-x-X-x-
["Eat up gang, not long until the next wave is here"] I warn my troops.
Crinis has already eaten of course, stuffing her face with ten Crocas and an entire Titan Croc. If I get my hands on that dimensional stomach during my next evolution I swear I'll dance for a week straight.
I'm so envious!
Also, where the heck is my food!?
I'll have to settle for nibbling on some this next group coming our way. With my omni directional eyes I can see that there are crocs approaching from multiple sides. Having seen us shred the weaker ones so comfortably the smaller Croca Beasts are staying back, cowering behind their more powerful cousins. Titan-Crocs, the massive, lumbering six-legged beasts are the bulk of what is coming our way but they certainly aren't the biggest.
Mixed amongst them are clearly more highly evolved children of Garralosh. Even larger than the Titan Crocs (will I have to rename them?!), their dark green scaled bodies ripple with strength as they ponderously move on their six limbs. The larger legs and somewhat prehensile arms sport vicious claws and their long jaws still bristle with razor sharp looking teeth.
Where they different from their slightly more diminutive cousins is firstly the eyes. Just in front of their regular eyes they have an extra set which gleam red with some sort of energy. Secondly, their tails. Right at the base of their tail it splits into two, both tails seemingly shifting independently of the other.
It kind of makes me wonder what was going on in Garralosh's head when they designed these evolutions for her children. More isn't necessarily better you lousy Croc! Just slap an extra set of eyes and tail on them and call it quits?! How lazy is that?! All the effort and thought I poured into shaping the new generation of workers is being mocked by this slack effort!
Wait, no. Don't judge to quickly, Anthony. The Titan Crocs had the surprising inclusion of their fire mana gland, there's a chance that these guys will have something interesting going on besides just an increase in size and new tails.
I have to say, the crocs look right at home in this environment. The lush greenery, dark brown earth and muddy waters feels like the perfect backdrop for these Croc monsters as they slide through the water, mostly submerged, or lumber between the trees. I can see why they like this expanse, it suits them.
Too bad I found it! Soon all of this land will belong to the colony! Muahahahaha!
["Tiny and Vibrant, you guys take on that side together. Begin with an acid bombardment, Vibrant then nib at the flanks like we discussed. Tiny, don't hold back, I want to see some sparks you understand?"]
"Yep-yep! I'll get 'em!" Vibrant declares cheerfully, snapping her mandibles at the approaching enemy.
[Hmm] Tiny grunts as sparks begin to crackle across his body.
[Ok Crinis, you and me on this side. Watch out for more fire. We don't know what these bigger crocs can do, so we need to be careful and go full force from the start. Don't hold out on me!]
[Never, Master!]
[That's what I like to hear!]
As soon as I'm finished talking I begin drawing out my Gravity mana and compressing it. I'm not going to play around with these unknown evolutions. I'll take one of them out before they can even start the fight.
Flipping control of the water mana construct to one of my sub brains I task the other with feeding me a steady supply of the purple gravitational mana from my own internal supply. Within my body the energy pulses vibrantly and begins to flow out, responding to the direction of my thoughts. Next to the mana gland, my core glows brightly, already recharging the mana I had spent on water bolts earlier.
As the gravitational energy is delivered to me I start shaping it, crunching it down, pressing with the wait of my consciousness, then beginning to outline the structure of my spell. All of the hours of practice I've put into this task are bearing fruit as the spell takes shape fluidly. It's still hard, like painting a three dimensional masterpiece with only my thoughts, but my mind isn't what it used to be. Almost double my normal human Cunning means my mind is able to move in ways it simply wasn't possible to do before. More precise, more powerful, my mind slides the compressed mana into place then starts powering the spell.
This one is a special spell, a new trick I worked on during the last week. I tested the spell on a few monsters and was entirely disappointed with the effect. For the mana invested and the difficulty of the spell to construct, I'd hoped for a lot more.
The spell shape is a double layered sphere. A small, dense ball of gravitational energy, inscribed with arcane sigils that slowly rotates within a shell made from an outer sphere. The inner sphere is hard to make but the outer one.... Yikes. Suffice to say it looks pretty impressive floating in my mind.
During testing I learned how to fire the spell. It essentially manifests in front of my face and flies forward in a straight line. Once it impacts the target the energy contained within the inner sphere flows to the outer one and the target becomes surrounding by a gravity field that pulls them in all directions.
... it's nasty.
But other than making monsters uncomfortable and inhibiting their movement, the spell didn't do a whole lot of damage. Then I thought about the forceful version, what would be different with the powered up spell?
... it's really nasty.
I call this spell of gruesome death, the Gravity Sphere!
BAM!
With a surge of will I manifest the spell and fire it towards the closest Double Croc (so named for their new eyes and tail). The beast didn't expect a spell to come flying at it from such a harmless looking ant monster and failed to dodge.
I feel sorry for you buddy.
The spell takes effect immediately, the outer sphere expanding to encompass the entire form of the Croc in crackling purple mana as the energy from the inner sphere is discharged.
Then the horrific pull of gravity begins to exert itself on the monster from every direction. The creature roars with rage as the monsters around it step aside unsure what is happening.
I wonder how long he'll be able to resist it. At least that's one Croc taken out of the fight.
[Let's go Crinis!]
-x-X-x-
As my first victim languishes within my spell that is quite literally trying to pull it apart in every direction, I turn my attention to the rest of the monsters coming our way. So far there are six Titan Crocs and three of the larger Double Crocs who need dealing with.
Come to me, you leathery chumps! I'm not holding back this time!
I vengefully command my sub brain to pass more gravitational mana to me and begin swiftly weaving together ordinary gravity bolts. With the relative ease of construction the spell leaves me enough awareness to turn and present my back zone towards my foes.
Have a taste of this, you darn crocs!
POW! POW! POW!
Quick as a flash I fire off three blasts of my own special brand of acid before turning around again and unleashing my spell.
The acid arcs through the air towards the crocs. They are on alert this time and two of the shots miss but the spell slams home into one of the Titan Crocs who immediately feels the weight of the world fall on its shoulders, slowing its movement to a crawl.
Plenty more where that came from!
[Crinis, get into a defensive position in front of me. I'll throw spell until they reach us]
[Understood, master]
No nonsense in the heat of battle, my faithful pet glides gracefully in front of me and rapidly deploys her web of tentacles. The monsters will have to get past her if they want to reach me and I don't think she'll allow that...
Gravity Bolt!
With my current mind I can whip one of these out in just seconds, the second is already prepared and on its way!
This time I target one of the Double Crocs. I want to see what these beefier monsters are made of. As they draw closer the spells become more difficult to dodge and this one strikes home easily. The target looks angry to have been struck with my spell and when the gravity descends it unleashes a roar of frustration, the anger rumbling out from deep in its chest. But it keeps coming. Slower than before, thankfully but still coming. It appears these monsters have enough Might to overcome the normal gravity bolt and not suffer too much. I won't bother spending more of that on them then.
Weighing them down and restricting their mobility is nice but I can do a hell of a lot better with my time and every second counts.
I've been weaving another gravity bolt even as I watched the effect of the last one and it is quickly ready.
Fire!
Another Titan Croc feels the pressure fall onto it, pulling its feet down to the ground and it struggles to overcome the weight.
The Crocs are moving at full speed now, the ground shuddering under the impact of their massive feet. Overhead the trees shake and shiver. The monsters moving through the water shift into high gear, spraying water as they pass, their jaws opening wide to reveal their surprisingly pink tongues nestled between rows of razor sharp teeth.
I've got time for maybe two more spells before they hit us.
Maybe I can buy us some more time though...
Gravity mana begin to pour out of my gland at the behest of my sub brain and I bring forth the full power of my prodigious mind to compress it down and weave it into the shape of another new spell. I have to focus hard on this one as I haven't had enough practice with it to be able to shape it easily.
I can almost feel steam pour out of my ears as my mind starts to overheat. Within my mind I compress mana and build up the structure of my spell at dizzying speeds, loops and whorls, spheres and lines, layer on layer taking shape as the seconds tick by. The crocs thunder towards us, emerging from the water just a few metres away and charging forward.
Aaaaaaand .... Done!
Gravity Bola!
[Forceful Mana has reached level 7]
[Precise shooting has reached level 3]
Haa! It's nice to fight some tier three monsters for a change! The difference in Xp is really showing. I can't wait to eat.....
The Gravity Bola materialises before me and flings forward in the shape of a wide line. By angling it just so I manage to clip the Crocs emerging from the water as well as those running overland. Only one Titan Croc is able to avoid being hit by the spell as it faces forward, shrinking in width as it passes.
The Crocs who are hit seem almost confused as they notice no effect from the spell but unbeknownst to them there is a sliver of energy that ties to them to the bola as it travels. The further the spell goes the smaller it becomes until it has shrunk to a single point and becomes still.
At this point the spell takes effect. With a tremendous pulse of gravitational energy, the crocs feel themselves being pulled backwards towards the spell. They jerk as the pulse yanks them backwards a few steps. The massive beasts freeze for a moment then being to walk forward, only to be yanked back by another pulse of energy.
The gravity bola!
The normal version isn't much but the forceful version comes out wider and the pull is much, much stronger.
Phew! That took a lot out of me. Thankfully by Gravitational gland is so deep, I still have plenty in the tank.
Angry and frustrated the Double Crocs push forward until their muscles creak and pop, the hulking monsters straining against the spell. The closest one opens wide and flames flicker within its mouth.
Yikes! I hastily begin spinning up a spell.
The Croc leans forward and unleashes a huge ball of fire that races towards us, the fire bursting out of its mouth with a tremendous roar!
[Master?] Crinis questions.
She can probably feel the heat. The temperature is certainly rising fast.
[I'm on it!] I grate out as my brains work together at light speed to put together my spell.
Done!
Water Bolt!
The dense ball of water flies forward and impacts against the fire just before it strikes us.
PSSSHHHHH.
With an audible THUMP the spells collide and an explosion of steam bursts out, the two substances consuming each other in an instant.
Dammit! I can't see a thing!
I hastily whip up another water bolt and hold it as I peer through the steam. My antennae start going crazy as my heat detection lights up like a firework. Yes! I get it! There is heat everywhere!
[What have you got Crinis?]
[They're coming!] she cries.
The steam has no effect on her vision... since she doesn't have any...