Chrysalis
chapter-1130-27051224

The variety of ways a monster can develop themselves is essentially infinite. The number of known Skill fusions is always growing as more and more variations are explored. Of course, there are standard options, things that have long been known and recognised as strong, but those who are willing to explore and delve for new combinations are often rewarded.

In terms of mutations, the possibilities are again, endless. The number of organs that can be added to a monster is vast, to the point where, after thousands of years, the combined Cults still haven’t explored them all, not even a fraction. How those organs interact and function with each other can have a huge impact on performance as well. And that’s before they become modified with mutations.

Some members of the Cult spend their entire lives exploring a particular niche, one type of monster, one subset of organs, and in this way, they are able to grow our collective knowledge, one step at a time.

- Excerpt from “Designing Monsters” by Torrina Laksham

[So the species requirement of your Vestibule is gone?]

[Yes. Ages ago,] I state confidently, though I only figured it out a few hours past.

[Must have happened when you reset the organ,] Granin shakes his head. [What’s it formed from now?]

[Soul Crystal. Same as the Nave. Same as the Altar.]

[S-Soul Crystal?]

The big rock-coated golgari stumbles again.

[That stuff is… extremely valuable. You may want to keep to yourself that you have… did you say three? By the Worm, you’re going to kill me here today. Are you sure there aren’t more shocking revelations?]

I hesitate.

[Probably just the Gravity Mana thing.]

[What about the Gravity Mana thing?] he asks, cautiously.

[I learned the Gravity Magic Skill, so now I have access to a pretty damn powerful spell.]

[Just one?]

[I mean… it’s all you need.]

I explain to him how gravity mana functions and what the gravity well is capable of. He absorbs this in silence.

[I can take that. I suppose this explains a lot of your mutations and resets at the moment.]

[Right. I’ve been trying to rebuild myself into a Gravity Ant to take advantage of my most powerful ability. My Carapace is Gravity Compressed Diamond, as are my mandibles. Incredibly hard and super dense. I’m talking dense. This stuff is thicker than Tiny.]

The ape gives an approving thumbs up.

[What else have you done to synergise with your Gravity Mana?]

[So… when I’m actively using it, my carapace absorbs a little of that energy to continue hardening and compressing itself. It also magnifies and boosts any gravity spell I cast. Lately, I pushed it to +35 and now the carapace holds on to light a little bit, making it harder to see me move.]

All three of them frown and I realise they don’t really know how gravity works. Possibly light, for that matter.

[Basically, you can’t see me move until a little after I’ve moved,] I explain. [It’s subtle, but strong.]

[Fair enough. What else?]

[My inner-carapace plating has gotten some work. The material it’s made from is gravity reactive, so it works better and faster with more gravity applied to it. After mutating, it increases the density of gravity mana around me, and helps regenerate the carapace if it's damaged. After that is the Gravity Magic Gland, which put me on this path in the first place. It’s made from Resonant Well Stone. The material transforms gravity energy back into gravity mana, replenishing its stock faster. For my previous mutations, I mostly just increased capacity, since you need a lot for most spells.]

[If you have the Skill, then that may not be necessary,] Granin grunts as he leans back and rubs his chin. [What else have you got going on?]

I explain to the three my antennae, which can detect a very short time into the future, along with my hyper-enhanced reaction speed that lets me dodge things before they come close to hitting me. Then I go on to detail my healing gland and the array of organs that function as the business district.

[You sure as hell put a lot of effort into your acid gland. It’s not even that strong, is it?]

I feel a little defensive. I may not be using my acid much anymore, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important!

[Hey, my acid gland was all I had after I spawned. Show it a little respect! The organs I purchased for it were all cheap, and I wanted it to continue to be useful for as long as possible. Shooting acid is a big part of being a Formica Sapiens. If possible, I want to find a way to reset the organs and utilise them going forward.]

[We may be able to do that…. Is that all?]

We go over my leg mutations and the other basic things I can do, including my multiple brains and all their mutations. After that, we go back into detail about exactly what the Altar can do and how it functions, as well as how I chose to mutate it.

When it’s all said and done, Granin, Corun and Torrina look impressed, and a little intimidated.

[I knew you were a promising monster, Anthony, but I really didn’t expect it to be to this extent. If you survive and continue to evolve, the road to Ancient is going to be laid out at your feet.]

[That’s not really what I’m after….]

[I know. It’s just…] he shrugs helplessly, [I can’t help but be excited. You’re the best prospect I’ve ever heard of. The things that you can do are already extraordinary. You’re fighting off tier eight monsters and you haven’t even finished mutating your most powerful organs. It’s… difficult for me to offer advice. I’m quite literally terrified I’ll end up saying the wrong thing.]

And he does look worried. I suppose I can understand it. His life’s ambition has never been closer than it is now, and he’s filled with the knowledge that he might stuff it up.

[Look, all I’m after is a bit of advice. I got this far with your help and a bit of luck. Anything you can say will be useful. Mutation ideas, Skill suggestions. Anything. Especially for the Nave.]

[Give us a little bit of time to put our heads together. We need to think about this carefully.]

[You got it.]