Antelligent Design

112. Get ’em

Damn this horde. Damn it to its monstrous, scaly core. I’ve been at this for hours now. Engaging in an endless tug of war with Setsulah mage servants, and to a lesser extent, their hidden master who remains tucked somewhere in the centre of the slowly moving monster mass.

Thankfully, Garralosh hasn’t reared her ugly head again. When I felt that aura pressure mounting on me, my heart nearly leapt out of my mouth and into my loving face-hands. I am not ready nor willing to go face to face with that giant mega-monster yet. Hopefully after I’ve evolved, I’ll have some chance of dealing with it, though I’ve no idea how. I’ll be evolving into a tier five creature. Although I’ve been told that Garralosh may not be as highly evolved as I think, she must be tier six or seven. I refuse to believe she’s tier five. Refuse!

Given that’s the case, I do have hope. I think the queen is tier five, which means she’ll advance to tier six, with the aid of the rare core, no less. Although a lot of her evolutionary energy has been spent on her reproductive capacity, I’m hopeful that between the two of us, we’ll be able to hold off the big croc and the Ka’armodo from devastating our family members.

Claws crossed.

But to get to that point, I need to defeat some monsters and that is proving difficult.

Oh snap! Lightning!

BOOM!

Throwing myself to the side at the last moment, a jagged lance of light stabs down from above, sending a burst of soil into the air. Stupid Ka’armodo! Annoyed, I pick myself up and wave one claw at the sky.

I know you’re watching, you stupid Lizard Wizard! Too bad I don’t have any fingers, otherwise I’d give you something to look at!

I generally don’t like to be rude, but this lizard is really getting on my nerves. Every time I take a rest anywhere close to the horde, the pot shots come out. To say that it’s getting irritating would be an understatement. Without my Future Sense antennae, I’d have been thoroughly cooked by now.

Procuring raw XP is getting harder and harder the closer the horde gets to the nest. I can’t afford to wait much longer!

At least I’ve managed to gain a few Skill Levels:

Name: Anthony

Level: 39 (Special core) (IV)

Might: 41

Toughness: 29

Cunning: 44

Will: 35

HP: 58/58

MP: 186/240

Skills: Expert Excavation Level 5 (III); Deadly Acid Shot Level 7 (III); Enhanced Grip Level 6 (II); Advanced Shattering Bite Level 15 (IV); Advanced Stealth Level 9 (II); Splintering Chomp Level 2 (IV); Tunnel Map Level 7 (II); Mana Transformation Level 13 (III); Advanced Condensed Mana Level 7 (III); Finer External Mana Manipulation Level 8 (III); Empowered Mana Sensing Level 9 (II); Core Surgery Level 6 (III); Expert Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 14 (III); Distant Pet Communication Level 5 (II); Flicker Dash Level 2 (III); Expert Water Magic Affinity Level 3 (III); Expert Stamina Level 5 (III); Pet Growth Speed Level 1 (I); Mana Coveter Level 1 (III); Expert Cerebral Endurance Level 19 (III); Profound Meditation Level 10 (III); Advanced Precise Shooting Level 8 (II); Severing Bite Level 18 (III); Advanced Mind Magic Affinity Level 7 (II)

Mutations: Heightened Perimeter Eyes +20; Oracle Antennae +20; Mana Binding Acid +15; Tough Rapid Osmotic Legs +20; Bright Empowered Mandibles +20; Hardened True Diamond Carapace +20; Potent Regrowth Regeneration Gland +20; Loquacious Pheromone Gland +15; Expansive Gravity Magic Gland +15; Indomitable Coordination Cortex +20; Supportive Healing Inner Carapace Plating +20; Selective Gluttonous Stomach +20

Species: Dispersed Mind Ant (Formica Sapiens)

Skill Points: 13

Biomass: 7

All of my goals are currently within reach! Just two more Levels in Severing Bite and I’ll be able to prompt the System for the Skill fusion. And ONE. MORE. LEVEL.

Just one!

I’m so damn stressed! Just let me fight some stupid monsters already. I need to evolve!

Wait…

HAP!

BOOM!

Missed again, you stupid lizard! Shove off already. I throw myself onto my back and wiggle aggressively at the sky. Scry THAT you reptile—Gah! Whoops!

BOOM!

Haha! Getting mad, are you? Not liking my dominance display? I’ve got plenty more where that came from.

Oh boy… The clouds are starting to gather. Think it’s time to move on. I gather myself and skitter around the horde toward the location I sense Tiny and Crinis operating. I’d asked them to fight away from me in the hopes we could split up the mage servants, but it hasn’t worked. The horde is seemingly happy to absorb the massive losses my two pets are able to inflict. So long as I’m kept at arm’s length.

Which means they’re getting some great experience and raising their Skill Levels, which is great. Just a shame it didn’t help me to do the same. Ugh! I’m tired of going around these stupid mages to get at the horde. With their very own eye in the sky, I just haven’t been able to get a hold of them. Nightfall is approaching, and the horde is expected to reach the colony sometime tomorrow. I’m running out of time!

Wait a second. Maybe I’m thinking about this situation all wrong. What if I didn’t try and avoid the servants to get to the horde, but avoid the horde and try to get at the servants? After all, the servants are perfectly prepared to step forward and fight me. I don’t have any trouble at all getting into a scrap with them. It’s not an easy fight by any means. With the exception of that one time, I haven’t actually been trying to fight them, just keep away from them.

If you won’t let me get experience from the horde, then I’ll just have to take it from your servants, Mr Ka’armodo. I can hardly be blamed that it’s come to this.

Gwehehehehehe.

How am I going to do it? I’ll need help, that’s for sure. Tiny and Crinis will have to group up with me. Maybe even Isaac and his group. They might be able to provide some ranged fire support. It’s risky, though. The second the Lizard Wizard realises what I’m doing, they’re going to come down on me hard. Even harder than they have before.

And I’ll need to be quick. If the fight drags on, there’s a good chance Garralosh will wander over, and that’s not something I’m prepared to deal with right now.

One last roll of the dice to Level up. Let’s see how this goes.