Chapter 323 Crinis evolves (1/2)

With the main bulk of the planning done, it was time to get my group rested and ready to head back out into the fray. Not long after the council broke up, Tiny stumbled into our chamber only to flop onto the floor and returned to sleep, absorbing the mana of the Dungeon to restore his exhausted core.

Speaking of cores, it was time to help Crinis evolve! Only her second evolution since she'd been reforged as my loyal pet and unlike the last evolution, this one would be less of my design. I hadn't had the skill to affect her evolutions to such a deep extent at the time, so there is an opportunity for Crinis to take a more direct hand in her own evolution here, without my own guiding influence.

Naturally this meant that the Dungeon would weave the general shape of her choices and there was a chance that some of them would be hot garbage. Fortunately, if that were to happen then Crinis could ask me to dive into her core and sort out some options for her.

[Are you ready for this Crinis?]

The little ball wiggled indecisively on the floor in front of me, small tentacles extending this way and that until eventually her form solidified.

[I - I think so, Master] she told me.

[You're doing great. Remember, if the evolution options are terrible, let me know and we can work on developing something a little more concrete that suits what you want.]

The little blob-like ball nodded somehow and firmed up further as Crinis gained confidence.

[I know. I feel it'll go well] she declared.

I looked down at my loyal and ever diligent sphere of endless murder and torment. She'd come a long way in being able to try and take responsibility for making her own choices. It wasn't that long that she'd been paralysed by fear just thinking of spending her skill points, and now here she was, preparing to make her own decisions in her own evolution.

I was happy she'd shown such growth over the last few weeks. She'd been working hard to improve herself.

[Wait a second. You aren't trying so hard because you think that's what I want, is it?]

[….]

[Oi! Don't pretend you're already in the evolution menu!]

[Can't hear you master, evolving] Crinis' voice echoed faintly in my mind.

Such a dirty trick!

Well at least she's working on being independent, even if it's for the wrong reasons. Personal growth! The journey we are all on as we slaughter monsters together! As I leave Crinis to sort through her menu my eyes fell onto Tiny.

A little personal growth would be nice for the big guy. He was a battle hungry nut case when I reconst.i.tuted his core and he is still that same battle hungry nut case. At least he knows what it is that wants from life, I suppose.

For now though. Time for some rest. After everything that's gone on since my last snooze, I think I've earned it.

As I fall into the comfortable, dark fuzz that is torpor, the ever nearing threat that is Garralosh, her lizard handler and the horde that accompanies them weighs on my awareness. I have to believe that the family I've found in this new world be able to weather the storm. I know that I'll do everything in my power to get us all through it.

HAGGAH!

I'm up!

Ahh! Feels so nice to have had a good rest, back in my own little chamber. It may not have been home for long, but it's more home that anywhere else on this world.

Tiny is still asleep and Crinis appears to be deep in her meditation sleep. I can already see her little spherical body beginning to change in subtle ways. I'll be interested to see what the final result is!

But I have business to take care of first. Sitting in one corner of the chamber is a pile of Bioma.s.s and when I approach it I find a pheromone message from the most hyper-active ant of them all.

”Hi-Hi Senior! Long-time no see! :o. Hope things have been well with you. It's been busy here! x) This is the second load of food I brought in since Tiny woke up and ate the first lot. Enjoy! ^_^ ”

Figures that Tiny chow down on my food, thank goodness that Vibrant was able to rustle up a second serve. This may not be enough food to give me all of the Bioma.s.s that I need, in fact I'm sure it won't. The quality of this food isn't enough for me to be able to get the numbers I need before I fill up my two stomachs.

Without waiting any longer I lay into the food and begin stuffing my face.