Between a Rock and a Carapace

38. Digesting Gains

The taste may be terrible, but the rewards are good. Ever since I was reborn in this Dungeon, the one thing that has remained constant is my belief that Level ups are delicious. With some Biomass under my belt and a little peace and quiet here in this clearing, it’s an ideal time to take stock and mutate a little. A chance to fortify ourselves before we continue our mission of conquest.

[Alright then, squad. Time to mutate and upgrade anything you need to. We’ll get it done before we set forth.]

[Alright, Master.]

[Uuoooo!]

Tiny’s excited. Speaking of which, better heal him.

[Healing Magic Affinity has reached Level 5.]

Oohhh, nice! I can spend a point to upgrade that to the next Level. Maybe it’ll give me the secret medicine I need to rip foreign Mana out of Tiny’s body. In fact, I might as well go through all my Skills. Be a little more thorough. There’s a couple of things that have come a long way since I’d last gone through my full status.

My core shaping Skills that I practised with the sophos have Levelled nicely. I’ve been continuing to train with every core we can spare, but mastering the fusion techniques has proven difficult. I’m certain I’ll be able to, it’s just going to take more time. My defensive Skills are Levelling at a good pace, my mental Skills also.

I’ve had to spend a lot of Skill Points on upgrading recently. Never thought I’d ever run out. I still have seven in the bank, but that could disappear in a flash, especially if I try another Skill fusion.

I’ve been considering ever since I purchased the Fire Magic Affinity, why not get all the elemental affinities and aim for the fusion of all four? The Elemental Mastery Skill sounds powerful. People usually don’t go for it, since the time required to raise each of the Skills to an appropriate rank is a drain. But with multiple brains on the job, I might be able to get there. Elemental spells are proving more useful than I expected.

I don’t know when I’ll finally get access to the Gravity Magic Affinity… may as well go for it. But not yet.

For now, there’s other business to attend. And what’s that business? Mutation, naturally! It’s time for me to once again indulge in the love of carapace! I’m determined that the first thing to reach +25 is going to be my exo-skeleton. It couldn’t possibly be anything else! But to go from +20 to +25 is going to take some serious Biomass. One hundred and fifteen smackers, just for this. For one upgrade! But for my precious carapace, it’s worth it.

The last upgrade took me from True Diamond Carapace to Hardened True Diamond Carapace, which further toughened the sections of carapace bonded to the tough diamond exterior. There’s probably going to be a ton of options again, but I’m all in on diamond. I will be unbreakable!

[Would you like to upgrade Hardened True Diamond Carapace to +25? This will cost 115 Biomass.]

Confirm it! Don’t even talk to me about the cost!

[At this level, you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

There are so many options, but I don’t care, I won’t be distracted! I rush through the menu searching for the upgrades that will further let me walk the path of shiny diamonds. Aha! Here it is

[Complete Diamond Carapace: Expands the range of diamond coating to cover the entire exo-skeleton.]

It’s here! Finally, the time when my entire exterior is coated with precious diamond! I don’t know why, but I’ve become addicted to feeling this expensive. To improve matters, this is going to remove the last weak points in my exterior. No more worrying about whether a stray stab is going to magically stab straight through me. Now, all attacks must go through the full might of the diamond carapace!

Confirm it—confirm it immediately!

HAGOOF!

It itches! It itches so bad! We’re starting strong here, and it’s spreading so fast my entire carapace feels like it’s on fire in an instant. I can feel the sections of diamond coating covering the last of me, crawling over my face, tracing the edges of my eyes and running up to the base of my antennae.

I’m becoming encased and it’s glorious!

When the itch fades away, I’m happy enough that I ignore the odd looks I get from Tiny and Crinis. There are a ton of other things that I could have upgraded first, but I’m glad I went through with the carapace mutation.

I have the satisfaction that at least one body part is prepared for the next evolution. I only have 48 Biomass left. Enough to do a little bit of work with, but I’ll leave it for now.

At the end of the reflection session, my status looks like this:

Name: Anthony

Level: 16 (Rare) (V)

Might: 91

Toughness: 79

Cunning: 64

Will: 55

HP: 158/158

MP: 250/250

Skills

General:

Expert Excavation Level 7 (III); Expert Grip Level 1 (III); Advanced Stealth Level 9 (II); Tunnel Map Level 9 (II); Iron Mind Level 4 (IV); Expert Stamina Level 9 (III); Profound Meditation Level 14 (III); Flicker Dash Level 9 (III)

Mana:

Mana Transformation Level 19 (III); Advanced Condensed Mana Level 10 (III); Finer External Mana Manipulation Level 9 (III); Mana Coveter Level 5 (III); Expert Water Magic Affinity Level 3 (III); Empowered Mind Magic Affinity Level 1 (III); Expanded Mana Sensing Level 6 (III); Enhanced Healing Magic Affinity Level 1 (II); Fire Magic Affinity Level 4 (I)

Pet:

Distant Pet Communication Level 5 (II); Core Surgery Level 14 (III); Pet Growth Speed Level 1 (I)

Defensive:

Expert Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 19 (III); Advanced Dodge Level 2 (II); Advanced Endure Level 2 (II); Grace Level 4 (I)

Offensive:

Deadly Acid Shot Level 9 (III); Expert Precise Shooting Level 2 (III); Omen Chomp Level 6 (IV)

Mutations:

Senses:

Heightened Perimeter Eyes +20; Oracle Antennae +20

Defence:

Complete Diamond Carapace +25; Supportive Healing Inner Carapace Plating +20

Physical:

Tough Rapid Osmotic Legs +20; Bright Empowered Mandibles +20; Potent Regrowth Regeneration Gland +20; Convincing Pheromone Gland +20; Selective Gluttonous Stomach +20; Instant Twitch Musculature +10; Wide Gated Sub-Neural Network +10

Acid:

Mana Feasting Bind Acid +20; Hyper Pressurised Acid Nozzle +10; Thickened Potent Acid Concentration Gland +10; Rapid Fatiguing Acid Stimulation Gland +10

Mental:

Indomitable Coordination Cortex +20

Mana:

Unending Gravity Magic Gland +20; Vast Collective Will Vestibule +5

Species: Juvenile Colony Paragon (Formica Sapiens)

Skill Points: 7

Biomass: 48

[Alright, guys, it’s time to move out!]