Chapter 64 Right to the core (1/2)

The enormous core, looking like a l.u.s.trous dark pearl, slowly begins to dissolve into the air before me. As it does so the solid matter that makes it is released as energy that swirls and flows in the air, tiny particles dancing and spinning. Each individual particle eventually meets another and then those two meet another and in this way the individual dots of energy become grouped into flowing streams that trail each other.

Eventually these streams begin to be drawn towards me, flowing directly through my physical self as if it weren't there and being drawn towards my core. As they grow closer the energy acts almost as if it were water circling the drain, looping around the core in wide circles at first before the loop draws tighter and the flow faster, increasing in pace the closer it gets.

As the energy finally begins meet my more I can feel the spherical gem begin to grow, greedily absorbing every particle of light that touches it, using that energy to construct itself anew.

More and more energy is flowing with every second, growing faster still as the enormous core continues to dissolve, releasing all of its potential.

The spinning energy is no longer like a bath drain and more like a raging whirlpool. A veritable ocean of power being drawn deep into my core.

It hurts!

As my core expands further and further a dull pain begins to throb in my abdomen. Distant at first and then sharper with each pa.s.sing moment.

I clench my mandibles and brace myself against it. C'mon Anthony! You can take it!

More. More. MORE.

The pain continues to build until it is agony! My core is a screaming ma.s.s of pain, ultra-dense and far larger than it should be for a creature of my strength.

I can feel that deep inside, my core is unstable. Growing too quickly and holding too much energy. d.a.m.n it hurts!

Finally the t.i.tan-Croc's immense core is completely gone but the pain remains. The ripping agony flares every few seconds, causing me to almost collapse.

Even Tiny has noticed something is wrong, coming over to place a gentle paw on my back. Thanks little buddy. That's real nice.

OUCH.

d.a.m.n this core! I don't recall Gandalf mentioning the searing agony involved when pus.h.i.+ng your core beyond you evolution level!

With my willpower being sapped by fighting off this pain I can't do much. Blearily I check my status and the result shocks me into alertness again.

MP 11/50!

Fif… FIFTY?

No wonder the whole process was so painful, my core is literally a full 25% larger than a body at my level of evolution is supposed to be able to handle!

Even though this process continues to cause such terrible sensations within me, I can't help but be excited for what this could mean for my next evolution. Will new, rare options be unlocked? Or could I just gain a heck more evolutionary energy to spend upgrading my stats… perhaps this will provide enough for me to afford that subsidiary brain for magic!

I've managed to ama.s.s seven points of Bioma.s.s so far from this battlefield but looking at the remains of the t.i.tan-Croc, I've barely managed to touch it.

I'm in so much pain that I seriously don't want to eat any more, frankly I don't want to do anything anymore. I need a sleep.

But I force myself to keep working.

I refuse to let this wealth of Bioma.s.s just go to the colony completely. They can have the rest, but this t.i.tan-Croc is mine. I'm allowed to be this selfish, right?

I'll conveniently ignore that I gobbled up all of the cores from the large monsters at this point…

With Tiny helping me along I limp towards another tree near the t.i.tan-Croc and begin to excavate a temporary nest. I would normally just drag this food back to our own little chamber within the colony but right now I don't think I have the strength.

The excavate upgrade shows its power here and I'm able to dig out a surprisingly roomy chamber beneath the tree relatively quickly.

With that job done I drag myself over to the remains and start the unpleasant job of breaking it up into pieces and then burying them in my new hiding hole. The carca.s.s is so large it takes almost an hour to complete this job and several times I have to chase of a few workers coming over to grab a bite.

By the time I'm finished the flaring agony I had experienced has receded to a lesser but consistent pain that batters at my mind constantly.

Ugh… I hate thiiiiis.

The busy workforce has also completed their mission, transporting all of the Bioma.s.s down into the main nest to be consumed there and fed to the brood.

After one more look at the now bare area around me I drag myself down into the chamber and once Tiny has joined me I close over the entrance.

The long battle has finally ended and the colony has been victorious. Time for a nap.

Zzzzzzzz.

I'm UP!