Chapter 52 R and R (1/2)

Rest and relaxation, Anthony you hard working Ant you. Don't you deserve a break? Haven't you worked hard enough for the moment?

Why yes, me, I have to say your words are wise!

Time for a break.

Before I returned to the nest I packed myself full of Bioma.s.s and managed to gain ten points, a ma.s.sive haul! Clearly the creatures were highly evolved, at least two evolutions for sure, for them to provide such rich Bioma.s.s.

Not to mention my level has risen to seven! I'm practically swimming in skill points!

Another large discovery was made also, I was able to recover two cores from the Berserkers! Whilst I'd been hoping that their cores would grant some sort of bonus they simply increased my maximum mana when I absorbed them. They did, however, increase my maximum by four points each, which brought my new max MP up to 36!

I wonder how much further until I max out my core?

If my guess is correct, I'll be able to evolve again at level ten. I won't even consider evolving without a maxed core unless I'm forced into it. The best possible evolution, every time! That's my policy.

In celebration of my incredible wealth, and to let my nerves rest after coming so close to death, not to mention suffering the trauma of having two legs chopped off, I decided I would rest within the colony and not leave until my Mana Manipulation has reached level five so I can upgrade it and spend all of my skill points.

When Tiny and I awake in our empty chamber I practice my Mana Manipulation until my energy reserves are empty. I can practice a lot more now that my core is upgraded, hopefully it won't take long until I get the skill to level five.

Once that task is done it's time to spend my Bioma.s.s! So much to spend … It's hard to choose! I could upgrade my carapace all the way to +5 and still have a point left over. This is an attractive option, helping me tank up and letting me pick a mutation advancement. I could upgrade my regeneration gland to +4, which would be nice.

Antennae could be taken to level four, which would leave three points to spend on other things…

d.a.m.n choices!

In the end I think I have to prioritise the mutation advancements. Each and every one of them has been a huge boost, I'm sure my carapace will prove no different.

[Would you like to upgrade your carapace to +5? This will cost nine Bioma.s.s]

Sure!

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

Once more the extensive list of possible mutations unfolds in my mind and once more I try not to be distracted by all the s.h.i.+ny choices.

Venomous carapace, cause poison to infect things that strike you? Spiked carapace, be covered in sharp barbs? Aerodynamic carapace, increased movement speed, what the heck?

There are all sorts of options that provide strange abilities and bonuses, like the sloped carapace which helps deflect piercing attacks by making the outer sh.e.l.l angled, or the flexi carapace which helps bounce back blunt force strikes.

What I really want from my upgrade is an all-around defence improvement. Something I can rely on to protect me. I have an image in my mind of a brutal armoured truck, bursting through the small fry, their small attacks pinging off the hardened armour.

I think I've found what I'm after.

[Diamond carapace, significantly hardens the outer carapace, increasing its resistance to physical harm]

It may not be flashy, it may not do anything exciting, but it's exactly what I'm after. The weakness of this upgrade is that it does nothing to protect from magical damage or any kind of status effect but from what I can gather it provides the greatest increase to physical protection.

I'll need to find other solutions to those other types of attack later, for now most the threats I face are physical in nature so this upgrade will be a huge help.

[Do you wish to confirm Diamond Carapace?]

Heck yeah!

Oh. Oh no.

NONONO DAMMIT!

Without the distraction of life threatening battle to divert my mind the mutation experience is completely torturous. My carapace covers my entire body and the entire thing feels like it is on fire. Hot barbs of maddening itch pierce through my body every now again, causing me to spasm and jerk my legs madly as I flop about on the ground.

Tiny watches the whole process with a curious look on his face.

d.a.m.n ape! Why do you get to look so relaxed!

Mind you, he is definitely getting larger.

Eventually the mutation is over and I take a moment to admire my new carapace. The colour seems deeper somehow, and here and there some parts of the sh.e.l.l seem to reflect the light brightly, s.h.i.+mmering occasionally in the gloom of this room. Don't tell me, there is actual diamond blended with my carapace?