Chapter 33 A mutation sensation (1/2)

Before the remains faded and were claimed by the Dungeon I was able to gain seven Bioma.s.s, an unprecedented harvest. This is due in part to the three new creature types I was able to get a bite of, gaining three bonus Bioma.s.s and then filling my stomachs with a further four points.

[Basic profile of the Scintillam Simiae unlocked]

[Basic profile of the Serpens Canis unlocked]

[Basic profile of the Lacertae Terram]

Combined with the two Bioma.s.s I had already saved I have a total of nine to spend. Wanting to mutate in peace and still nervous those hunters may return I move to my previously prepared nest, although I have to widen it a little to fit my now bulging backside through.

Once inside I take the extra time to cover over the opening before spending my Bioma.s.s.

My intention had been to upgrade my eyes to +5, firstly to maintain my superiority in vision over the monsters in this area but also to see what the system would do once I mutated to level five.

Skills advance at level five and my hunch is that my body parts might also.

[Do you wish to improve eyes to +5? This will cost five Bioma.s.s]

I'm nervous for this…

… yes.

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

Instead of the painful itch I was expecting the gruff but soothing tones of Gandalf ring in my mind once more.

Aha! So level five is a significant milestone after all! As it should be! I've spent fifteen Bioma.s.s on my eyesight now! Reward me more!

Once Gandalf has finished speaking a long list of possible eyesight upgrades appears within my mind. Seriously there is so much to choose from?! Heat sensitive vision, motion sensitive vision, mana vision, see through vision?!

Holy c.r.a.p some of these sound awesome!

It takes me quite a while to sort through the list, consulting Gandalf who is able to elaborate on what each of the options does before I'm able to finalise my selection.

Despite how tempting some of the options are (Being able to see through stuff sounds pretty d.a.m.n useful!) I eventually take a slightly more mundane option that will nonetheless cover a weakness and enhance a strength.

Focused compound vision.

I was very pleased when Gandalf explained what this particular mutation does as it was something I'd wanted for a while now.

If you think of the compound eyes that an insect has, rather than having one, large and strong pair of eyes that you can move around, compound eyes are hundreds of individual eyes that are always watching the same area but cannot move.

As I've mentioned before, this gives me a fantastic advantage of being able to watch almost every angle at once, especially since upgrading my eyes has caused them to extend further from my head, almost allowing to see backwards without turning around.

But my compound eyes are not as strong at focusing long distances as a humans.

However this mutation will help cover that weakness. Essentially, For each of my eyes a small section of compound eyes will gain the ability to focus further away, giving me a small field of vision that can see a long distance. I still can't move my eyes so to s.h.i.+ft this field of vision I'll have to actually move my entire head, but with this upgrade I'll be able to take the best of both worlds, long distance focus, combined with surroundings awareness.

The ultimate eye!

Joyfully I confirm my selection with Gandalf.

OH G.o.d!

I FORGOT THE ITCH!

Starting deep inside my head and then boiling forward is the sharpest and most painful itch I could possibly imagine. Worse than anything before by a hundredfold.

I'm being stabbed!

Needled!

MY d.a.m.n EYES!!!!!

Fgarp!

I'm reduced to flopping about on the ground madly scrabbling with my legs but nothing helps.

And it goes on.

And on.

And on.

Before finally it stops.

[Would you like to advance your Acid to +4? This will cost four Bioma.s.s]

NOOOOOOO….. yes.