Between a Rock and a Carapace

98. Keep the Train Going

The mutation wagon stops for no ant! With one choice locked in, it’s time to go for another, and I think I have just the thing. I thought about it when I was considering my last upgrade, namely my Vestibule. I haven’t wanted to upgrade this organ since I’m out of range of the colony and it provides no benefit to me, but an idea came to me.

The first upgrade gave me extended range with the organ, which was great. What if I keep mutating it and extending the range each time? It’s only +5, and the distance it can reach is significant, beyond a kilometre. Extend the range at +10, consolidate it at +15, and then take range-extending mutations at +20 and +25—just how far will it reach? As much as ten kilometres?

If the colony does end up finding me, this will make it SO much more straightforward. I can sense them when they come in range, and although I never confirmed it, I’m pretty sure they can tell as well. Even if they can’t, being able to know when they’re close will help me time my escape and find my way back to them. It won’t help me in combat, but it could be critical when the time comes.

My heart aches a little for the other upgrades I’ll be giving up. Increased regeneration being the juiciest. I haven’t had an in-depth look through that menu, and I can’t bring myself to do it now. It’s just going to hurt me when I see options I can’t take due to my circumstances. Stupid Cultists! Just another reason to get mad at these crazy rock-people.

I smash through the menus as fast as I can and lock in the range-extending options through to +25, not allowing my eyes to take in anything else. I don’t see you, incredible options! I don’t see you at alllll!

Sob…

I hate this. But what’s done is done. It was the right thing to do. Just like that, another THREE HUNDRED AND TEN Biomass is gone. Argh! It hurts! It hurts so bad!

Dammit, Gandalf, these prices are painful. You cut me to the quick! That’s 425 gone so far. With only 90 left, I don’t have enough to take an organ to +25, so I close down the menu and confirm my options.

[Do you wish to upgrade your Indomitable Coordination Cortex +20 to Unyielding Coordination Cortex +25 and Vast Collective Will Vestibule +5 to Endless Collective Will Vestibule +25? This will cost 425 Biomass.]

Confirm it! Let me ascend to a higher plane!

…FTAGN!

Gah!

I recover from the itching after thirty minutes and give myself a shake. I have to say, the Collective Will Vestibule is a particularly itchy thing to mutate. The weird flesh-crystal just gives out a different sensation. It’s odd, I don’t know how to explain it correctly. Let’s just say I hate it and move on. What’s my reward for going through the uncomfortable sensation of mutation? More training! Whoo!

That’s not strictly true, though, because, after several more hours of pointless grinding, Corun arrives through the main doors with a welcome surprise.

[Tiny!]

[Grah!]

When the gate swings open, I’m greeted by the sight of a large, hairy gorilla with a broad grin on his bat-featured face. Not the kind of creature to hold back, Tiny runs into my small chamber and tries to pick me up in a broad hug. Sadly for him, I’m no longer that much smaller than he is, also he’s a lot taller than me, so all that happens is he squashes one of my legs with his brawny arm.

[Ouch! What are you doing, Tiny? That stings, man!]

His enthusiasm is undimmed, however, and he starts slapping me on the back with his massive hands until I shoo him off me.

[Alright, alright, you big dumb ape, I’m happy to see you too!]

It’s nice to have the big guy around again, and since his face is beaming with that broad grin, I’m guessing he reciprocates. Even after I push him off me, he doesn’t want to separate too far and keeps a hand on my shiny back.

[He’s been wanting to come in here for ages,] chuckles Corun. [He doesn’t like settling down much, does he? I had to take him out hunting yesterday just so he could blow off some stress.]

I’m immediately worried.

[Is that safe? He’s not going to get picked up by more of your helpful Cultist friends or anything is he?]

The young Shaper raises both hands, palms out, in a calming gesture.

[It’s all good, Anthony. The Cult knows he’s here. How else do you think I was able to get him in here? They aren’t interested in him. They just wanted to make sure he wasn’t causing problems, alright? It’s okay.]

Well, that’s a relief. I pat Tiny on the arm with one antenna.

[You wanted to get out and stretch your legs, Tiny? Good on you, buddy. I can’t believe you lasted as long as you did.]

He gives me a sorrowful look and grunts sadly. Looks like he had a rough time.

[Corun, could you do me a favour and take Tiny out a few more times? He needs to fight and evolve as soon as possible. I’m hoping it’ll help deal with his shadow poison trouble.]

Running my senses through Tiny, I can tell that his ‘issue’ is still very much a reality. The Shadow Mana hasn’t worn itself out, if anything it’s grown more aggressive, wrecking its way through his body and damaging his internals everywhere it goes.

I hit him with a heal reflexively, but while it cures his injuries, it does nothing to deal with the poisonous Mana itself. Corun notices my efforts and grimaces.

[Yeah, I’ve been healing him pretty much non-stop while Torrina and Granin have been in here helping you. It’s been a massive pain in the rock, to be honest. My Healing Mana Skill is rising at a solid pace, which is nice, but I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a week!]

[That’s rough, man. Imagine your body was being ripped up from the inside instead. I wonder how’d that go?]

[I take your point. I’ll make getting Tiny out for hunting a priority. Since we can’t solve the issue through conventional means, it might be possible that his evolution will solve the problem. I might talk to Granin about it, actually. He might know something relevant.]

The prospect of frequent hunting and evolution pushes Tiny toward a delirious level of joy. His grin looks like it’s going to split his face, and happiness radiates out of his eyes.

[Oh! Right! You still have that rare core I gave you? You should absorb it right now so you’re ready for your evolution!]

He doesn’t look quite as happy now…