Antelligent Design

114. Level 40

I’m not sure how the slave mage feels soaring through the sky and into my waiting mandibles, but it can’t be pleasant. I try not to dwell on it. I’ve already had to defeat human opponents in the defence of my family. Taking down the Setsulah shouldn’t weigh on my conscience any more than that did.

CRUNCH!

I bring my mandibles down hard on the shield that protects my bag of experience. The spell isn’t so weak as to break as of yet, but my mandibles sink into it with a satisfying crackle. With the mage safely trapped within my jaws, there is only one thing to do. Flee!

Thunder crackles overhead as I push my tired legs and Dash to freedom carrying my prize!

[Get out of there, guys! Tiny, pick up Crinis and run for it!]

Even if I thought I was going to draw the majority of the fire, it was necessary for them to get out of there as fast as possible. Tiny might be able to take a few shots of lightning, but I don’t want to put his tolerance to the test.

Nor mine, for that matter! Lightning continues to crash down in my wake, fleeing the scene of the heist. The Ka’armodo must be furious! Having to watch as I escape with one of its precious servants.

Gwehehehehe.

Starting to regret coming for my colony yet, you stupid lizard?

I run as far and as fast as I can, leaving the range at which the Ka’armodo can threaten me. It seems as if the lizard isn’t willing to risk more of its servants trying to retrieve this one, which leaves it in an unfortunate situation indeed.

I won’t go into the details of what comes next. It’s a little unfortunate. I was able to crack the shell and… end the mage.

[Severing Bite has reached Level 19.]

[You have defeated a Level 48 Setsulah Bonded Mage Attendant.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 40. One Skill Point awarded.]

[You have reached the maximum Level for your Tier. Evolution Menu is available.]

At last… AT. LAST!

I’ve done it!

Not caring if the Ka’armodo is scrying from above, I throw myself onto the ground and wiggle with sheer joy, my legs kicking ecstatically in the air. Finally ready to evolve to the fifth tier after all this time. My Levelling speed has been severely knocked back by having to fight against lower tier monsters, but I’ve done it. And just in time!

Suddenly recalling that I don’t have the time to sit around wiggling, I right myself and reach out to my pets.

[Are you guys close?]

[Nearly there, Master.]

[I’ll come and meet you. We need to make our way back to the colony as quickly as possible!]

[S-So you’ve finally reached it?]

[I have indeed, Crinis! It’s time for this mighty one to reach an even greater height!]

[That’s fantastic, Master!]

Crinis is overflowing with happiness and congratulations. All I can feel from Tiny is a grudging jealousy.

[Aww, not to worry, Tiny. You’ll get your chance to evolve soon,] I tease.

[Grrrr!] he rumbles back.

It doesn’t take long to meet up with my pets and we begin our trek around the horde toward the colony. We make sure to back off a good distance, though. I’m sure the Ka’armodo is mad as heck about losing another servant, and I’m not especially keen on dodging lightning bolts from on high the entire way back.

After a short while we run into Isaac and his team, who managed a successful retreat.

[Ho there, Isaac. Made it out alright, I see.]

[Nothin’ to it,] the former guard says, grinning. [You look like you got what you wanted out of it.]

[Sure did,] I happily admit. [It’s time to get back to the colony and prepare for the final battle. What are you going to do?]

Isaac strokes the scraggly beard developing on his chin. [I think it might be time to regroup. We’ve got, what, less than a day? My group needs a chance to rest and I want to ogle—I mean, talk to Morrelia once before the battle.]

[Right you are then. Pass on my thanks to your group. They’ve been more helpful than I expected.]

[That seems unnecessarily harsh,] Isaac mutters, but turns to speak to his squad.

Oddly, upon hearing his words, they face me and bow low as one, their faces beaming with happiness and pride.

Odd.

Never mind, I’ve got bigger fish to fry. Evolution! And I mustn’t forget that my Bite Skill is on the verge of reaching the fourth rank also. I feel like I’ve been slicing limbs off of monsters for weeks, and only now am I close to getting the Skill fusion I’ve been waiting for.

For the squad’s safety, I recommend moving separately from us. No need to put themselves at greater risk than they have to. For our part, we creep our way around the horde, only approaching for me to YOINK the occasional monster into my waiting mandibles to train Severing Bite. I don’t mind throwing away my Gravitational Mana like this, since I know I’m heading underground to evolve anyway.

For an evolution like this, tier five and with a rare core, I think it would be for the best to be safely ensconced in the Dungeon so my core is charged once I awaken.

It takes six hours of crawling and chomping on monsters for us to make it to the front of the horde, where we’re forced to hang about for another few hours whilst I pull more enemies to a grisly end before the voice of Gandalf rings in my ears.

[Severing Bite has reached Level 20. Upgrade available.]

It’s all coming up Anthony! Muahahahahaaa!

Now I can head to the nest without regret and submit myself to the painful experience of absorbing the rest of that rare core. Claws crossed I don’t die!