Definitely got some anxiety going on. There isn’t any real direct threat to my family right now, but if something were to happen and I couldn’t save them…
I refuse to let that happen. I lost my family in the last world. I refuse to let it happen in this one too.
I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure this family stays together!
With a surging feeling of determination, I unearth my core collection and begin fusing together a special core. I’m so focused that the mental strain barely registers in my consciousness. All that occupies my mind is visions of workers marching themselves down the gullet of a brutal crocodile beast the size of a house.
[Compatible special core detected. Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute the monster?]
Reinforce!
The painfully familiar process begins as the oversized core gradually dissipates into pure energy that is drawn into my own core, enlarging and condensing it within my body. It doesn’t take long for the pinch to come, the awkward feeling of being a little too full on the inside that grows more unbearable over time until it becomes an acute pain.
I will endure. This isn’t enough. Not nearly enough!
I grit my mandibles and hold on until the entire process is finished. It feels… not good! But I can take it. For the colony, I can take it!
Painfully, but no less determined than before, I move out to take on my next task. Hopefully over time I’ll become accustomed to this size core and the pain will fade, much like it did the first time I took in a special core early.
Then I’ll see what else I can do…
For now, I wander over to the queen’s chamber and check in with her. It turns out, the masses of food we sent up had in fact been enough to tip her over the edge and allow her to upgrade her egg-laying organ to +10. I eagerly activate the Core Surgery skill and inspect her choices.
Ready to behold the future of the ant race on Pangera.
And it is beautiful.
[Enhanced Boosting Egg Production Gland +10: Gives a bonus +4 to all stats for each egg produced.]
DAAAAAYM!
It’s really here!
I immediately retract the skill and perform an excited six-legged tap dance in front of the bewildered queen.
“Yahooo!” I cheer.
“You seem happy, child,” the queen laughs.
I refuse to stop the dance. This music must be expressed!
“This is going to make all the difference, Mother!” I cry whilst my feet keep tippity-tapping. “The next generation are going to be something very special, just you wait!”
“I have already begun to stockpile Biomass. When I have enough for the first twenty, I’ll let you know,” the queen assures me.
“Fantastic! If I get a chance, I’ll head down into the Dungeon and try to rustle up some grub. The sooner we can get this rolling, the better!”
The queen seems quite pleased by my enthusiasm, even if she has no idea how to take my celebratory dance. I swear I saw her shuffle her own feet a little before growing still once more.
I don’t want to make any more changes to the new generation, they’ll be fine the way they are. With all the upgrades in place, the egg production will be quicker and produce more powerful hatchlings than I had originally planned for. Everything is coming up Biomass.
Full of enthusiasm, I waddle my way back down into my chamber and settle in for a little bit of planning. There are a few things I want to look into before we move out again. The challenges are getting a little real right now and I want to make sure we’re in tip top fighting shape, myself and my pets.
For me, this means a little Skill Point spending. For my pets, it means a little Core Surgery so I can take a look at their skills and mutations. I need to be able to better understand what I’m dealing with.
The skill that allows me to directly take a look at their status is still somewhat tempting. But again, since I can use Core Surgery, I don’t really think it’s necessary. I mean, I could just ask them for the information. I’m sure Crinis would be happy to provide it, but Tiny… well, he has communication issues…
If he gets any dumber, I’m going to have to shift some energy into beefing up his brain. I’m almost afraid to look at how low his Cunning has gotten…
85. Quick! Status Report
[Crinis, could you come over here please?]
[Of course, Master,] the little tennis ball of endless darkness responded.
I get the feeling she’s able to sense where I am since she manages to roll to me despite having no sense of sight. Once she reaches a space just in front of me, she unfolds a few tentacles and ‘stands’ up, holding her body up on a few slender tendril-like limbs.
Let’s lead with a general question. [How are things going, Crinis?]
[Well, Master!] she happily replies. [Since maturing, I’ve been able to gain Levels and Biomass at an accelerated pace. It feels good to be useful to you, Master.]
[Yep, you’ve been a great help.]
The little ball wiggles happily in front of me for being praised. Despite her image, she really is quite weak to positive reinforcement…
[How’ve you found spending your Skill Points and Biomass, Crinis? Has there been any issues? Do you need any help or advice?]
[I’ve… been a little hesitant to spend my points, Master, since I couldn’t be sure my choices were exactly what you wanted. I didn’t want to make any mistakes…]
What!
[It’s your skills and your Biomass, you spend it however well you want!]
Just because they’re pets, I don’t want to micromanage every aspect of their lives. I’m probably a bit naïve about it, but I like the idea of my pets making their own choices and finding their own way in life.
Is it because I’m lazy and can’t be bothered going through all the menus and burning up my brains working out a balanced strategy where every member of our group functions as a cohesive part of a whole?
…Maybe.
Still… viva la freedom! Viva la pet choice!
They can work it out on their own. I don’t need to get involved.
[Tell me, Crinis, how many points have you spent? What sort of skills are we looking at?]
What’s this? Somehow, even though she doesn’t have a face, I can tell she’s looking away from me.
[What’s wrong? Have you got a few points stored up? I’m happy to give advice if that’s what you want…]
Something is starting to dawn on me the longer the little ball of darkness avoids ‘looking’ at me.
[Crinis… how many points have you saved?]
[A-All of them…]
[All of them! You haven’t spent a single thing?]
[I’m sorry, Master! I didn’t want to spend them incorrectly!]
[It’s fine if you spend them however you want. Do what you think will work for you!]
[But, but, but… What if I make a choice that doesn’t work out? Or doesn’t work with what you wanted me to do?]
Sigh. It’s nice to have a pet that’s diligent and thoughtful, a direct contradiction to Tiny, but she’s too diligent and thoughtful. She’s become paralysed by wanting to make the perfect selection. Unable to make a choice because she’s preoccupied by what I might want.