After some consideration, I eventually purchase the Water Magic Affinity. I know the croca-beasts have a fire magic gland, despite being based on an aquatic creature. Even if water magic doesn’t prove to be too effective offensively against them, I’m sure it’ll be more than a little handy defensively.
That thought leads me in an interesting direction. Is it possible for a creature to have poor compatibility with certain elements? Or even good affinity? A water-based life-form like a crocodile doesn’t seem to have good synergy with fire magic on the surface… Maybe I’m overthinking the whole crocodile thing. Just because they dwell in water on my world doesn’t necessarily mean they do here, or that the croca-beasts are better in water than anything else in the Dungeon.
I decide to poke through a Garralosh Infant core the next time I get one. My skill Level is much higher and I might be able to see something I couldn’t before.
We continue for about an hour, making our way down to the location of the shortcut we previously dug. While Tiny smashes everything, I continue to charge about like crazy, delighting the little ones, until the notification springs up in my mind.
[Dash has reached Level 5. Upgrade available.]
Nice!
[Dash → Rapid Dash (II): Cost 1 SP: Like a flaming horse, the user will be able to dash faster and with more precision.]
I’ll take it!
Even with this, I still have ten Skill Points saved up. I’ll leave it for now, but I really ought to be spending these. Skill Points in the bank do nothing to increase strength! I do need to keep a few points in reserve so I can advance key skills when they hit the cap, ten’s just pushing it.
Once the local tunnel has been emptied out, we excavate the entrance and start clearing the shortcut of spawned monsters. By this time, the Dungeon has extended its veins all the way to the top. Beasties and plants have spawned all over the place and started ripping into each other with gusto.
It’s over quickly when we arrive. I go into high gear to help take care of things and bite the heck out of everything I see. Once finished, we pile up the more evolved species at the top of the shortcut and I spray food pheromones all over the place. This tasty meal should find itself in front of the queen fairly shortly.
Next order of business: Brief rest!
Aaand back at it. In order to ensure the Dungeon beneath the colony is safe, we keep mapping out the branching paths as much as possible. Every tunnel Tiny can fit in is explored to some extent, those he can’t, I scurry into myself and snap everything I find to bits.
This is exhausting! On the plus side, my Tunnel Map is becoming more and more complete. This is something necessary for the defence of the colony.
After we spend another two hours clearing out the tunnels, we reconvene at the shortcut for another rest and feeding session. Tiny and I are getting reduced Biomass from the food at this point. I scrounge together eleven points after stuffing myself, but at least I get the benefit of having my various nicks healed.
I spend the points straight away on upgrading my new supportive skeleton to +2 and my Coordination Cortex to +1. The most efficient play will be to upgrade these new body parts to +5 before resuming the journey to all +10. Technically, I should take a body part to +20 at this level of evolution…
I really need to get my eat on. My mutation numbers are going to the moon!
I send Tiny up the shortcut with another shipment of food for the queen. She’ll get even less than I do out of these monsters, but it’s better than feeding on the piddling surface creatures. The sooner we get that egg production system upgraded, the better. The new generation must be as strong as possible.
I’ll have to check in on her when I return. If she’s storing Biomass to produce eggs without upgrading herself…
Let’s just say I wouldn’t be surprised.
When Tiny returns, we settle in for a brief nap and gather together into the main tunnel, sealing the shortcut closed behind us. It’s time to delve a little deeper. We still have over a day of exploration before we’re expected on the surface and I intend to be sure there aren’t any threats coming from below before we return.
Something echoes up the tunnel toward us. A faint wail, the fading sound of bone on bone.
Something is coming.
72. The Surge
Almost as if the air were rushing toward us, a wave of pressure rolls up the tunnel and presses against my face.
It… isn’t comfortable.
[“Something is coming up. Get ready to fight,”] I warn my crew.
Vibrant and Crinis huddle carefully on my person. Tiny stands to his full height, his head brushing the roof. He can also sense the disturbance. His silver fur starts to rise off his frame as electrical sparks begin to shimmer and zap across his frame.
Ohhhh, he’s pumped up! I’m also keen to see what he can do now that he’s evolved. That massive frame isn’t for nothing. I’m sure I’ll witness something interesting when he goes at it. Now that I think of it, I should also start making some preparations.
My two sub-brains are well rested and ready for action. It’s time to put them to work. Wanting to test their strength, I task both with a separate spell, one Gravity Bolt each. Best to begin with the basics and work their way up.
As the pressure continues to build and roll against us, I internally sense my two little helpers getting busy shaping the spells. Independently, they draw on the Gravitational Mana stored in my gland and begin the process.
Gwehehehehehe.
Excellent!
Chuckling to myself with glee, I begin to shape a third spell with my main mind. Not double the spells, TRIPLE the spells! This is the true, awesome power of my Divergent Mind! The sub-brains are neither as quick nor as capable as I was in my last evolution. They lack the force of Will to shift the Mana as rapidly, and the Cunning to weave the shapes as deftly. Even if it takes them twice as long, being able to independently cast their own spells makes these sub-brains so damn useful!
Now to unleash the fearsome might. The unparalleled force and the extraordinary dexterity of my newly upgraded main brain!
After all, most of the extra juice I pumped into my mental faculties was spent on this. In terms of Will or Cunning, I’m nothing like I was before. Behold!
With force and precision, I draw on the Gravitational Mana to rapidly weave it into a Gravity Spear, the long body of the spell with its surrounding intricately engraved circles taking shape at record pace. Incredible!
My ability to use magic in combat situations has absolutely shot through the roof! I’m more than satisfied. With my next evolution, I may spend a little of my budget neatening up the edges, but I don’t think I need much more juice in the mental department. I’ll be ramping up my physical stats until I’m the same size as Tiny!
Once the spells are formed, I hold them ready, one mind for each, and prepare myself to face whatever is approaching.
Tiny is so excited he’s practically fidgeting. Calm down, oi!
Gradually the sounds from the tunnel build in volume. From a whisper to a murmur and then rising into a crescendo of sound. Roars, screams and the pounding of feet fill the air, rattling my nerves. I still can’t see anything coming. Where the heck are they!
This sounds like a freaking stampede of monsters!
Just when I’m starting to reconsider our frontal approach, the edges of the horde come into view. My first impression is a wave of teeth racing at full speed. The second and third impressions are much the same.