Upping The Ante

95. Compression Obsession

As the rather explosive effect of my Compressed water bolt fades and the monsters begin to recover as more flood into the narrow tunnel to trample over the fallen, I take a little time to reflect on the success of the spell.

Certainly better than I thought.

After witnessing the awesome effects of Forceful Mana spells when using the compressed energy to fuel a spell, I began to experiment with forming an entire spell from compressed Mana. The structure, from beginning to end, weaved with those threads and then the entire thing filled right to the top. My test results were promising, to say the least.

All the extra practice with water Mana pays hefty dividends also. When Water Magic Affinity hit Level five, I immediately pumped it up to Advanced Water Magic, which is already Level two. I also ranked up Forceful Mana to boot. Never doubt my gains!

However, this was my first time putting the spells to use in actual combat. I wanted to test them in a controlled situation and started with the most harmless of all my spells, the water bolt, but the little testing I’d done with gravity spells had been somewhat alarming. I wasn’t quite ready to put them to use just yet. Maybe in a more open space.

This first test was a rousing success! Not only was the primary target completely pulverised, but the splash effect had a vicious cut to it as well, increasing the area of effect potential.

I’m really quite excited for the next one.

I stop my sub-brains from casting spells and begin to focus all of my mental energies on my next task. Dividing the labour between my minds, I begin to stockpile compressed Mana as best I can, and simultaneously weave a Forceful Water Cannon. The shaping of the spell I handle myself, as it’s by far the most difficult task.

Beneath me, Tiny and Crinis continue to battle away, smashing monsters all over the place, but making sure to leave them on a sliver of life as much as possible. Tiny has a lot of issues controlling his strength, and is just as likely to knock a monster’s head clean off by mistake. Crinis has far more finesse. Like lightning, her limbs snap out to pluck up a monster, and she wrings it out like a soggy cloth before dropping it on a growing pile of severely wounded monsters behind her.

Perfect.

Nearly there now.

Eagerly I begin to fuel my constructed spell. The trick I found in my test run is that I can’t quite transform Mana and then compress it fast enough to keep up with the demands of the spell. Meaning, I ran out of juice and the spell failed only a few seconds after I cast it. Those few seconds had been enough to drill a hole three feet in the tunnel walls though, so I’m expecting good things.

To prevent the spell from such a premature failure this time, I’ve been carefully amassing a stockpile of compressed water Mana as I go. Judging by the rate of consumption, I think I have roughly fifteen seconds or so for the spell to operate.

I’m looking forward to this.

Forceful Water Cannon—Fire!

Just above my head, an ominously blue glowing ball flickers into existence. What comes out is less a Water Cannon and more of a Water Beam. The monsters hit are less damaged but rather… dissected. It cuts straight through them! As the water blasts straight through the monsters, it impacts against the tunnel floor and a vicious hissing noise fills the air as it starts boring a hole through the dirt and stone.

Hastily I direct the spell to zigzag its way up the tunnel and delight in the chaos caused.

[You have defeated…]

[You have defeated…]

[You have defeated…]

[You have defeated…]

[You have defeated…]

Ahhhhhh, this spell is ridiculous!

Some monsters are able to hold on for a moment, resisting the stupidly potent pressure of the beam with the strength of their bodies, but eventually it tunnels through them, boring a hole directly through their shadow flesh.

Then the Mana runs out.

The entire tunnel is littered with monster bodies and a truly insane amount of water. The spray has gone everywhere. The walls are coated with it, the monsters are saturated. Tiny is also saturated. Crinis… doesn’t seem to care, but I can sense a smouldering discomfort emanating from the big ape.

He really hates getting wet.

To vent his frustration, he channels lightning into the onrushing monsters, who charge directly into the soaked section of tunnel, promptly burning them to a crisp.

You were supposed to save some for Vibrant…

Ten minutes later, we finish mopping up the wave and prepare to chow down. I decided not to test any more spells, lest Tiny get even more irritated. I should try and work out a solution where I’m not going to get him soaked. I’ll be hitting the front lines soon enough. It should be fine.

The first thing I do after the fighting is done is call Vibrant down from the ceiling and get her to finish off the stragglers we saved. Thankfully after she spends a lot of time chomping away at them, she cheerfully announced she was able to hit Level ten. Not even the news that another special core was coming her way was enough to dampen the little ant’s mood as she danced about while chowing down on Biomass. Even Crinis managed to find her and toss her in the air a few times to celebrate as Vibrant laughed hysterically.

Tiny just ignored the proceedings and munched his way through a mountain of food.

I’m with you, buddy. Time to embrace the food coma!

OM NOM NOM.

When all is said and done, and we can barely walk, I’ve managed to amass 201 Biomass from my week of feasting and practice. The four of us waddle-roll-limp our way back up the tunnel to our little chamber and I call down the workers.

We weren’t able to eat all of the food, not even close. Hopefully, when the queen has consumed a good chunk of this, the next generation of new workers might be locked in and ready to go.

Settling in, we all prepare to finalise our spending in order to make the final push for excellence as we prepare to advance into the marsh Expanse. I hastily whip up a special core after withdrawing a few small cores from my stash and feed it to Vibrant. Once absorbed, she somehow manages to both gleefully and painfully waddle to one corner to settle down and evolve.

Tiny and Crinis have already begun the process of mutating, I can see them vacantly sitting, unmoving, pawing through menus.

Ok. Time to do this. I’m gonna spend up big!