Sensation fades away as I become enveloped in a soft, white light. The illumination washed through not just my eyes, but my entire being. Floating, disembodied and without connection to the material world. I try to gather my thoughts, but they�re sluggish.

What happened? Where am I? My parents hadn�t been home� In fact, I hadn�t seen them in� I don�t remember exactly. I�d made myself dinner. Or had I? Being hungry was still clear, then there�d been� white?

Has it been ten days or ten minutes drifting in this gentle light? It surrounds me like a warm blanket. Warm enough to snuggle right into it. Get cosy. But that�s a little difficult without the capacity to move, constricted here in my own little world.

Sound begins to swell like a wave in the distance. It rushes forward, and just as it washes over me, there�s a voice.

[Welcome, Anthony.]

A personalised greeting! These are the kinds of good manners that make a person feel appreciated. At least, it�s safe to assume so. I�m not familiar with it so much.

[You have died.]

Dammit! I should have known�wait! What do you mean I died, mysterious disembodied voice? How are you speaking to me anyway? Come to think of it� how on Earth am I hearing you? Do I even have ears right now� this situation is puzzling, puzzling I say!

If I died, is this heaven? It�s comfortable enough, but I�m not sure if I want to stay here forever, you know? Being bathed in white light is nice and all, but where�s the pool, perhaps a buffet? I�m hungry. Or� I was hungry.

[Be calm, you will soon awaken to experience life again in a new world.]

There�s something about this voice that feels familiar. A deep and gruff intonation that�s comforting, yet also, kinda full of wisdom. Like that legendary bearded figure dressed all in white. The one worshipped with devotion all over the Earth�

Is that you?

Gandalf?

[You will be reborn on the world of Pangera.]

[Destiny and luck shall determine your fate.]

Hold on a moment there, Gandalf! This� this sounds kind of cool, doesn�t it? Reborn into another world with adventure, peril and opportunity around each corner? Will there be magic and elves? Girls? Oh! Elf girls!

Whoa there� gotta take a moment. Be cool, focus, and listen to Lord Gandalf!

[You will be reborn with the following status:]

Here it comes!

[Level: 1]

Soooo game-like!

[Stats:]

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 30

MP: 0

Oh, ho. I sound strong! MP is zero, though. Is it because my spirit is lacking? Why are you judging me like this, Gandalf?

[Skills: Digging Level 1 (I); Acid Shot Level 1 (I); Grip Level 3 (I); Bite Level 2 (I)]

Okay, skills are exciting, it�s just� Bite? Acid? Aren�t these skills a little� strange? What about destruction magic or interdimensional spirit summoning?

[Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica)]

Oi� Oiii! What the heck, Gandalf? Ant? And not just an ant, but a hatchling worker ant. This isn�t the glorious rebirth I had in mind! Was I lacking in virtue during my previous life? Maybe too cruel to my friends? I didn�t even have any friends!

[You have one Skill Point and one Biomass available.]

[Go forth and forge your own path.]

An ant path?

Forge your mother, Gandalf!

At this moment, there�s a change in the light. It began to condense, shrinking and squeezing against me. Simultaneously it took form, shaping the features and details of my new body.

Sadly, those features aren�t to my liking.

Six legs, two antennae, strong mandibles and three distinct body segments. One head, one thorax and one abdomen. This is definitely the body of an ant. After only a few minutes my shape is fully formed, though still white and somewhat translucent, and thoroughly coalesced around my consciousness.

I was now a complete ant.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? I may have kept ants as pets, but that doesn�t mean I know what one�s supposed to do. Come to think of it, is that all it takes? Pet ants mean ant rebirth? That�s so tenuous!

No point having a whine about it. Never got anywhere by mulling over my problems. No longer a human; now an ant. It�s fine! Love the skin-carapace you�re in. I can do this.

Suppose I�ll try and get my bearings, except my vision is terrible. Wherever here is, it�s quite dark. There�s a faint blue glow coming from a wall in front of me, but the details are blurry. Every time I turn my head, my vision swims, as if the colours wash away before they settle again.

I�ve got a sinking feeling in my� abdomen? Most ants have very poor vision, some are even completely blind. At least I�m not that unlucky. I�ll have to make use of my other senses to compensate for my crappy vision.

And by senses, of course I mean antennae! If I recall correctly, they should be able to smell and detect air currents. I diligently start waving my feelers.

Ooo, this is a bit different.

I�m detecting a few smells I can�t identify. The air here certainly seems a bit stale, which makes sense if I�m underground.

But wait. Something�s wrong. If I�m an ant, then where are all my ant brethren? My ant family! Ants usually communicate by pheromones, right? Smells should be all around with my fellow colony mates here, ready to welcome me, their new comrade! Why can�t I find them? Might be nice to receive a warm welcome, not sure I ever have before.

There! I�m detecting a whiff of something nearby. Frantically waving my antennae in this new direction, I�m sure of it. Something that smells much like myself is nearby. Making sense of what my eyes and �nose� are telling me, I think I�m in a long, curving tunnel. There�s a faint blue light on the tunnel surfaces that gently pulses every few seconds. That explains how I can see anything at all here underground.

Gradually, I begin to move towards the scent of my ally, shifting my six legs, hesitantly at first and then with growing confidence. Not being the most coordinated of humans, walking with six legs is a touch intimidating, but my ant body seems to be pitching in a few instincts to help get the job done. Six-legged walking has some serious swagger once you get the hang of it!

A new sound picks up as I approach a curve in the tunnel. It�s a little hard to make out. My ears aren�t much better than my eyes. Something like a crunching noise? What is my ant family up to?

Fear not, my fellow ant buddy. Whatever your task may be, I�m here to assist, for the glory of the colony!

I figure if I�m an ant now, I may as well embrace it. Swarm life!

Antennae waving furiously, I follow the curve of the tunnel and poke my head around the corner.

There�s movement. An ant is lying flat on its back, legs waving and jerking in the air, mandibles biting weakly at nothing. And that�s not all�

Above my brethren is a long snout open wide, jagged, gleaming teeth revealed within. Two powerful hands grip the struggling ant and lift it towards those jaws, which closes with a sickening crunch. The victim writhes in silent agony, the predator snapping its jaws a few more times before lifting its head and throwing my brethren�s carcass down its gullet.

No, no, no, no. Nope. What the heck is this?

Before me stands some sort of walking crocodile beast! At the end of its body is a massive tail swishing across the ground. Two strong hands pin down the body of its prey, another fellow ant, still twitching and trying to move but has clearly reached the end of its strength.

Fortunately, the monster has its back to me�

Don�t look at me like that, ally! What do you want me to do, fight that giant croca-beast? It�s easily four or five times my size. This isn�t the colony. There aren�t any other ants here. No team, no support, no soldiers to protect us workers. What can I possibly do?

Clearly my best strategy in this situation is� to flee! Before that horrific monster finishes eating and looks for another snack. Run tiny ant feet, run!

Tripping and falling over my own legs, I scurry back down the tunnel in the direction I came. Run, run�Wait! Digging my legs into the dirt I screech to a wobbly halt, and all six legs tangle up, crashing me into a heap.

What if another of those creatures comes down the tunnel? That would be game over, man, game over!

Think, Anthony, think like an ant! There has to be options to ensure my safety. What would an ant do?

Dig!

With my feelers and front legs, I scan the walls around me as quickly as I can. Aha, there! This section of wall is soft dirt, not rock. Now dig like your life depends on it, Anthony. Because it does!

Forelegs up and scratching madly at the wall hardly does anything. My legs are still white and faintly translucent, too soft to effectively dig. But hold on a minute, ants don�t use their legs to dig� Opening my mandibles on the front of my face for the first time, the thick jaws open and snap shut within my vision.

I have to dig with my face!

Pushing my head towards the wall, jaws as wide as I can make them, I crunch them shut with all my strength. The soil gives way before the assault and soft earth trickles down the wall, revealing two grooves in the formerly smooth surface. These mandibles are yet to fully harden, but they�re still strong enough to rip into this dirt wall.

I dig without pause, without rest, until I carve out a small tunnel large enough to fit myself in and then collapse the entrance, trapping me in complete solitude.

If I�m found, I�m dead!

Shivering in the dark hidey-hole, I begin to ponder my circumstances.

This situation is too strange. A new ant should be born inside the colony, surrounded by allies and protectors, why on� Pangera, was I born alone in a tunnel with such a fearsome beast? Judging by my poor fellow ant out there, I wasn�t the only one dropped into these hopeless straights.

One thing came to mind�a raid. Something attacked the home colony and escaped carrying a few unhatched young. A juicy, defenceless food supply to snack on back in their own tunnels. That sort of thing was common enough on Earth, as I recall. Ant larvae are a tempting source of valuable protein. Some ants even get most of their food by raiding other colonies and stealing the brood. It may not have even been that giant croca-beast that conducted the raid; it may have intercepted the creatures that did the deed and stole their prize.

As a result, I was dropped, unseen, and managed to successfully hatch, leading to my current position of shaking in the dirt, hoping to not be found. Lucky me!

I can also dismiss the idea that I�m a normal ant only a few millimetres long. That bipedal crocodile-headed beast certainly didn�t exist on Earth and surely hadn�t evolved naturally. This evidence, combined with the game-like system leads me to believe it was a monster. By that logic, I too am a monster in some underground tunnel complex.

That�s scary. Is there some sort of monster core inside me that explorers will come to farm? Do I drop money when I die?

That is some ridiculous hard mode stuff, Gandalf! A little help?

Hold that thought� Did he say something about a Skill Point and Biomass?

I have a Skill Point and a Biomass to spend. If this is a game-like situation, then I should be able to open some sort of menu in order to spend my points and improve myself. How do I access this menu here in my tunnel though?

Erm� Level up! No, that didn�t work.

Escape! Escape key!

�Nothing. I mean, worth a shot, right?

Status!

Name: Anthony

Level: 1

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 30

MP: 0

Skills: Digging Level 1 (I); Acid Shot Level 1 (I); Grip Level 3 (I); Bite Level 2 (I)

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 1

Biomass: 1

Whoa! This is really interesting!

The first time I saw these numbers I thought they looked high, but perhaps they�re actually really low? I can�t imagine a hatchling ant worker has an impressive status in any way. And what are these skills?

Grip? Does this mean I can hold onto things well?

[Grip: Ability to hold onto surfaces and objects without letting go. For example, walking on walls.]

The triumphant return of Lord Gandalf! My lord and saviour! Truly your beard is the most luxurious, your eyebrows the most bristly. In lieu of a better name for this praiseworthy voice, Gandalf it shall be for the time being. It feels comforting to have some aspect of this world that feels familiar.

The help system built into the status to explain the skills when I think of them is pretty amazing. Grip improves my ability to hold onto stuff with my six legs, including walking on walls and the ceiling. I totally forgot ants could do that. I�ll have to try it as soon as I get out of here. Why would you walk on the floor if you had the option to use the wall or roof!

What do my other skills do?

[Bite: Improves the ability to accurately and forcefully apply a bite using fangs, mandibles or teeth.]

[Digging: Provides sub-conscious guidance when digging to increase efficiency and effectiveness.]

[Acid Shot: Assists accuracy when attempting to attack from a distance using a natural acid from the body.]

Okaaay� There are many species of ant on Earth that were able to shoot formic acid from their rear zone. I must belong to a monstrous species of formic acid spraying ant then. Options to attack without getting too close to my opponent, a course of action I think would, at the moment, lead to my instantaneous destruction could be very helpful.

Even so� biting, crawling on the roof, digging, and shooting acid doesn�t seem like a lot of tools to survive in an environment like this.

What I�m missing most is information. Like, where the heck am I, and what kind of creatures live in this place, other than ants like me and croca-beasts. I�ve no idea where the surface is or if the surface even exists in this world. Communication is out since I�m fairly certain I don�t have vocal cords, so even if I found someone prepared to talk to a monstrous ant, dialogue would be impossible.

Which means if information is to be had, I�ll have to get it myself. Out in the tunnels. Hmmm� Yea, no, scary! Terrifying at best.

You want me to go out there with who knows how many unknown horrors as a lone little ant monster? Madness, madness I say!

Phew. Calm down, Anthony, stay cool. Panic will not help this situation in any way. Stay rational, stay chill, stay alive.

So, the final question is, what can I spend my points on and how?

[Would you like to spend your Skill Points?]

You know what, I absolutely would, oh wise and magnificent Gandalf, bringer of hope and light. May your beard be ever fluffy!

Just like with my status, a window opened within my mind.

Skill Points: 1

Biomass: 1

[You can use Skill Points to purchase new skills or upgrade existing ones.]

[Biomass can be spent to modify aspects of your physical, monstrous form.]

[Skills available to purchase:

Stealth: Cost 1 SP. Improves your ability to hide and move unseen.

Dash: Cost 1 SP. Increases speed over short distances but increases stamina drain.

Slashing Attack: Cost 1 SP. More accurate and powerful slashing attacks.

Chomp: Cost 1 SP. A passive skill where bites pierce more and are more difficult to shake off.

Tunnel Sense: Cost 1 SP. Improves sense of direction when underground.]

[Body improvements available to purchase:

Exoskeleton +1: Harden your exoskeleton to improve resistance to mundane damage.

Mandibles +1: Toughen mandibles and improve their ability to pierce.

Legs +1: Improve agility.

Eyes +1: Improve eyesight.

Antennae +1: Increase sensitivity to air current and scent.

Acid Gland +1: Thicken the concentration of internal acid.]

There are a lot of options that make it really difficult to choose. I have to think logically here.

Being able to run faster would help me escape my enemies, Tunnel Sense would make it harder for me to get lost while underground, Chomp and Acid would help me fight more effectively�

I must prioritise my survival. It�s the only way to improve and grow here. Taking abilities for fighting would only be suicide if I attack a monster I can�t defeat. Then it�ll be game over straight away. Improving my speed will be a dead end if I run into something faster. Without information, how am I supposed to know what creatures I can fight and how fast any of them are?

As a newly hatched ant worker, it�s safe to assume I�m close to the weakest creature here.

Okay, decision made.

Select, Eyes +1 and Stealth!

[Would you like to purchase Eyes +1 and the skill Stealth?]

Yes, please.

A maddening itch burst over my eyes like a thousand mosquito bites erupting at once. Gaaah! Don�t do this to me, Gandalf! I can�t even scratch this itch because I might poke my own eyes out!

Fortunately, it didn�t last for long. After a minute, the itch receded. It�s hard to tell if my sight improved here in my dark hiding place, but it definitely feels like my eyes are a bit bigger than they were before.

This is body modification, huh? One minute and bam, you�ve improved from before? Seems like cheating. How many hours of effort would a human on Earth have to put in to improve themselves just a little bit? Even then, it isn�t like they could improve their eyesight.

I have to get more of these points. With enough mutations, I may be able to overcome my natural weakness as a relatively harmless species and live with more security here in these tunnels.

Why would I select Stealth and eyesight improvement, you may ask?

Excellent question!

If we say it�s too dangerous to assume I can fight anything, while we also assume it�s too dangerous to assume I can run from everything, then the only path through which survival can be assured is to not be seen in the first place. If you�re seen, you�re dead! I have placed my hope in stealth in order to live long enough to learn more about how to survive in this environment.

As for eyesight� You know, having really terrible eyesight sucks! Being used to human vision, it�s super disorienting switching to these pathetic ant eyes. If something isn�t moving, I can barely see it at all. Remember that ants are a communal species, thousands, tens of thousands of weak individuals combine to create something strong. Each individual ant has terrible senses, but when acting together, they can be difficult to hide from.

However, I�m alone. How am I supposed to survive when I could trip over a napping dragon?

Ridiculous!

I�ll make improving my eyesight a priority and I won�t stop until I can spot a cockroach twitch through five metres of solid stone. Okay, I�ve been hiding here for about half an hour now. With my points spent there�s no longer any reason to delay.

Take courage, Anthony, advance forth and explore!

Very carefully, I scrape at the dirt I collapsed to enclose myself. Eventually, I clear a narrow opening to the tunnel I was born in and slightly poke my antennae through.

It feels clear. No smells or any detectable vibrations. Here goes nothing. Moving quickly now, I widen the opening and squeeze myself through. Turning on the spot, there�s nothing in either direction. The tunnel stretches into darkness, curving slightly at the edge of my vision.

The right path is where the beast ate my brethren. I�d rather not go that way since there are definitely threats in that direction, which leaves me with only one choice: go left.

Now to initiate the next phase of my plan.

Slowly, since coordinating my six legs is still tricky, I begin to walk towards the wall, then up the wall and onto the roof until finally, I�m hanging upside down, gripping the roof fiercely with my tiny claws.

Success! By hugging the roof and moving upside down, combined with my new Stealth skill, I may have a greater chance of remaining undetected and passing unseen.

Muahahaha!

It could just be the blood rushing to my head, but suddenly I feel more confident than before. Onward, Anthony!

Despite my newfound burning spirit, I move cautiously down the tunnel. Using my antennae and front legs helps in looking for solid footholds before gripping hard with my feet. This takes a fair bit of concentration, so progress is relatively slow, but I�m okay with that. Every moment that passes without being attacked feels like a small victory to me.

Seeing slightly better, I can make a little more sense of some of the details from before. All around the tunnel, twisting and branching like vines, are glowing blue lines, like veins running through the rock. Some thicker, some thinner, some so slender they almost can�t be seen, splitting and reforming endlessly in a random pattern.

Every few minutes, a pulse flows through the lines, momentarily brightening the entire tunnel. It feels eerily as if the tunnel were alive, and for some reason, the light is comforting, almost energising.

Just another thing to learn in order to understand life in this place.

Illuminated by the glow of the tunnel, I can see my carapace has begun to harden and turn black. Recalling memories from my ant keeping hobby, newborn ants have a soft, white exoskeleton which gradually hardens and gains colour. Seems like I was huddling in the wall longer than I thought.

After an hour of cautious movement and following the tunnel around a curve, the tunnel walls fall away into a tremendous cavern.

This is huge! You could fit a few sports fields in here, surely?

What�s more, fluttering vibrations and a myriad of scents assault my antennae all at once.

Monsters!

Growls, hisses and the click-clack of claws echoed off the cavern walls. Waves of vibrations batter my antennae, dizzying me. This cavern swarms with beasts, fighting and moving through what appeared to be a thoroughfare in this part of the cave network.

Quickly as I can, I dart into the cavern, moving towards the dark shelter of a stalactite hanging like a spear tip from the roof. Flattening myself against the rock, I remain still, and cast my eyes around.

The strange blue lines pulsing in the walls are here as well, twisting and branching throughout every surface. They even wind around the pillars of pointed rock that burst from the ceiling and floor, illuminating the entire space with the same soft blue light.

Nearby, in the centre of the clearing, a basin of water perhaps twenty metres across had formed in the floor. It�s fed by a steady drip of water from cracks in the ceiling, possibly from a river or aquifer above. The water seems to be suffused with the blue glow, illuminated from beneath by veins of light in the basin floor.

The thing that makes my poor ant heart leap to my mandibles however, is the menagerie of monsters congregating around the pool. What sort of nightmare parade is this! The details are hard to make out thanks to my still crappy vision, but with the creatures being so stylishly lit from below as they drink, I can see enough.

First, let�s address the two closest to me. They appear to be a kind of dog, or wolf, each with a reptilian tail extending behind them. Their head features a prominent elongated snout filled with what I imagine to be razor-sharp teeth. The creatures take turns drinking, watching over each other and rumbling warning growls at anything nearby, tails constantly swishing.

Next to them is another croca-beast, its weight on its front legs as it leans forward to scoop water with its elongated jaws. The other monsters are definitely giving the beast a bit of space. I would too! It seems the creatures here understand to let sleeping dragons lie.

Now that I think about it, there�s not really any conflict around the water pool at all. Perhaps the denizens of this place have established an unspoken truce here at their water source? Well, that�s surprising. I wouldn�t have expected these terrifying creatures to be willing to share space, especially if they can grow stronger by eating Biomass like I can.

Since this is the case, I�ll skitter a little closer and try to see better!

Approaching the pool, one leg moving at a time, keeping as flat to the roof as possible, progress is slow. If I could sweat then water would be running off me so fast there would be a second drinking pool in this cavern! I test every foothold and sweep my antennae oh so cautiously through the air.

[Stealth has reached Level 2.]

Oh yisss!

Skill Level up! So juicy!

This confirms my suspicion of skills being trained by use. In this case, my Stealth skill has been raised by moving without being noticed by the monsters below me. This gives me a huge opportunity! Hiding here and continuously observing these monsters, moving very slightly the whole time, will allow me to gain precious information while training my Stealth.

Okay, settle down. The worst thing to do would be losing my cool.

After a few, slow deep breaths to calm myself, I continue my approach. One mistake will mean death in this place, I have to be careful in everything I do. Combat means instant destruction. Never forget, even for a moment, that being found means being killed.

Steady the ship, Anthony!

Making my way closer to the pool, the creatures on the other side are getting a little clearer. What looked like a shifting mound of a creature is revealed to be a mass of centipede-like organisms, twisting and falling over each other as they drink and rear up their bodies to hiss and clack their pointed mandibles.

I can barely make it out, but each centipede seems to have two small arms with pincers, like a crab or scorpion, and their long bodies, covered in legs, end in a sharp point.

Disgusting!

These things are massively disgusting, Gandalf. There must be ten of them piled on top of each other over there. And the way they�re writhing about makes me slightly nauseous. Must look away.

The last beast is a small, squat creature with four legs, like a lizard, but with long, stone-like spikes rising from its back. Of all the creatures here, it appears to be the least threatening, but since the other creatures are giving it a wide space there must be something about those spikes that are making them avoid it.

As I watch, there is one thought that greatly excites me, each of these terrible creatures is a possible harvest of Biomass, the red envelope of XP, waiting for me to reap!

First, preparations need to be made. Over the next few hours, diligently staying over the pool and gradually shifting my position so as to stay hidden, I observe the way the creatures move, taking special care to note where the creatures go after they leave.

The centipedes slither away to the opposite end of the cavern, and curiously the croca-beast does as well. The dogs move into a small tunnel opening in the south end, close to the tunnel I emerged from. The spiky lizard wanders off towards a wall and starts to climb up before I lose sight of it in the shadows.

Another wall dweller, eh? I�d call you brother if I didn�t have to eat you! Hehehe�

As the creatures leave, they are replaced by more slinking out of the shadows and from behind rocks.

And finally, I am rewarded.

[Stealth has reached Level 3.]

At last! My poor ant claws need a break!

It might seem effortless to hang upside down, but I�m expending energy and not eating anything. Exhaustion and hunger have steadily claimed me. Food will have to wait for now though. I�m still not ready.

Creeping back to my tunnel, I make my way back into my hidey-hole. Phew! Only when I�m enclosed in this space do I feel safe. Maybe that�s the ant coming out in me?

Never mind that! Time to work some more.

After widening the space, I use the excavated dirt to start blocking the tunnel off on the side leading away from the cavern. With my mandibles, shifting the dirt is a breeze and pressing with my body helps to compact it to form a denser barrier. It�s strangely soothing, doing this.

Usually, when a colony is excavating a nest, they would pile loose soil around the top to create a mound in order to help keep water from flowing into their tunnels. I don�t want this for a couple reasons: I�m not worried about rain down here, and I do not want to advertise my presence in such a typical ant-like way.

My plan is to try and restrict the tunnel on both sides, leaving only a small gap big enough for me to pass through on the roof. This way the larger creatures will be dissuaded from chasing me here to my hiding place. They could get through if they really wanted to of course, it�s only dirt after all, but I�m hoping they wouldn�t be bothered and find another way around.

After some time:

[Digging has reached Level 2.]

Ha! Now I can dig faster.

After a few hours of shifting dirt, one side of the tunnel is completely blocked off, leaving only a small gap at the roof.

I�m exhausted, time for a nap.

Covering up the entrance to my now much more spacious hiding hole, I loosen my six legs and sink onto the soft earth.

Only my stomach is cramping� I�m so hungry!

I know this feeling from when my family didn�t send money or neglected to put food in the fridge. I�m no stranger to going hungry.

I just have to wait. When I wake up, I�ll go to hunt my first prey.

I already have a target.

I�m so� so hungry!

Perched here on the roof of the cavern, claws dug into the cold rock, there�s only one thought in my mind.

Food.

All the delicious things I was able to eat in my previous life are spinning through my mind: chocolate, cake, steak, bread. Yes, even bread. And the hunger is making my mind play tricks on me. The last time I saw a croca-beast I swore it looked like a cow and nearly leapt at it from the ceiling.

The centipedes are looking more and more like a tangle of noodles. I have to solve this situation before I get myself killed chomping on something I shouldn�t.

Two days. Two. Whole. Days.

Studied every aspect of this end of the cavern in excruciating detail. I�ve spent so long hanging upside down over the water basin that I nearly fell asleep and dropped into the water. That would be a swim I wouldn�t enjoy�

A welcome side effect of spending all my time this way has been my Stealth Levelling up to four! And thanks to spending my downtime digging away at my hiding place, my Digging reached Level three.

Muahahahaha!

I prepare, I grow, I hunger!

Sigh.

I know� these skills are pretty much useless, okay? I�ll take anything I can get at this stage. Hopefully, I�ll be able to conquer my first prey soon.

My antennae twitch. The target is close, I can smell them. Concentrating, I try to focus my eyes. I�m currently positioned away from the pool in a very dark area of the cavern. The snaking light-veins along the walls are far apart here, allowing deep shadows to exist.

My chosen prey has been using the wall on this side of the cavern as a resting place, crawling down to get a drink once each day. An isolated creature with a predictable movement path I think I can defeat. This creature is so damn rare and�Wait, I see it!

Cautiously, the armoured lizard moves down. Because it nests amongst the rocks towards the top of the wall, I haven�t been able to see clearly enough to identify exactly where, so I couldn�t tell when it started moving, but I have it now. This is the time to execute my plan.

Moving as quickly as I can while still being Stealthy, I scramble towards the darkness above the creature. My stomach is rumbling, demanding all the speed I can muster.

Don�t worry stomach, I won�t let you down. Just need to get in the right position to strike.

Luckily, the armoured lizard moves fairly slow, especially on the vertical surface. It�s almost directly below me now, facing away. The large spines protruding from its back look so solid, as if made of stone. Man, I bet it would sting to get poked with one of those.

I can�t start thinking negative now, my stomach is counting on me!

Slowly, oh so slowly, I move above the target. My eyes are the eyes of the hunter, the eagle, the tiger. The timing of my pounce will be everything�

Now!

In a flash, I flip my body around, take aim and fire my acid spray directly at the target. The liquid falls through the air at tremendous speed, splashing against the rock and covering the armoured lizard�s feet. A flawless strike.

Ha! My secret target practice over the last couple days has paid off.

The creature cries out in pain as the acid burns its legs. It tries to turn and find its attacker, but I�m already moving, racing down the wall behind it, all thought of stealth abandoned.

Now my plan enters the second phase. The lizard sees my approach and tries to bring its fangs to bare, tilting the fearsome spines forward to cover as much of its body as it can. This is the wrong battleground for you, lizard. You want to battle me here on the wall? With my incredible Grip Skill at Level three, this wall is no challenge. Also, I�m nimble and light, while you�re heavy and slow. With your feet burning from acid, how well can you possibly manoeuvre here?

Yet still you want to face me and court death!

Despite saying that, I�m still terrified. My first hunt. First battle! I cannot fail here or my life may be over. Focus. The lizard is bracing itself for a close-range attack, but just before I close in, I turn and blast the lizard with acid once more.

Ha, ha! Didn�t expect that, did you?

Gripping the wall, I furiously scrabble my six legs to reorient myself. The lizard growls and hisses as acid continues to burn at its feet and now face. It won�t be finished from just this however. My acid is still weak and not nearly strong enough to defeat this creature on its own.

We begin an awkward dance on the wall, the lizard trying to thrust with its fangs or spines before retreating, and me snapping with my mandibles, hoping to crunch down on a leg or the face.

The sounds of our fight bounce off the rock walls and pillars of stone, vibrating the air against my antennae. There�s been more than one fight over the last few days that were settled by new challengers entering the fray when the original combatants grew weary. I can�t allow this to drag out!

As we joust back and forth, the lizard is beginning to breathe heavily, the energy required to support its body here on the wall while fighting is taking a toll. It�s nearly time.

Growing desperate, the lizard suddenly lunges, its spikes rushing directly towards my still pitiful eyes. I have to dodge! A flash of inspiration strikes and I snap my feet farther apart, bringing my body closer to the wall. To grip the wall at this sort of angle takes all the strength my tiny claws can muster, but it works and the spikes pass just over my head.

A chance!

Before the lizard can retreat, I dart forward, mandibles wide, and snap, crunching them closed on its head. My foe releases a pained growl as my jaws squeeze tight, but I harden my heart to its pain.

I�m sorry, lizard, you must become my food!

Now for the final phase. I gather my strength, prepare my heart and leap!

With its head gripped in my mandibles, I sail over its body. The lizard�s scaly feet tipped with claws scrabble and scrape at the stone, but burned with acid and worn out from fighting, they simply cannot muster the strength to hold the lizard along with my added weight.

So, we fall.

Crash!

The impact momentarily stuns me and I release the grasp I have on my enemy. All according to the plan. Lying on my back I�m vulnerable, I must get back on my feet. My six legs begin waving frantically in the air, and I resort to rolling back and forth before I�m finally able to get my feet under me.

Focusing my eyes, my pitiful prey has fallen into a much more difficult predicament than I did! Its long spines and hard shell have plunged directly into the pitfall trap I painstakingly dug after the last visit this lizard made to the water pool.

Muahahahahaaa!

Do you see that, you stupid lizard? This is the ingenuity of the human mind combined with my Level three Digging abilities! I purposefully made the soil loose and soft at the bottom of the trap so those long spines would sink into the earth and trap you, feet all in the air unable to escape. Indeed, before my blurry eyes, my prey is trapped, its feet waving uselessly as it tries and fails to roll over.

This is the strategy I obsessed over for two days. Using all my abilities together, shooting acid, fighting on walls, my mandibles, my human intellect and even my Digging skill, to be able to triumph over the enemy.

Even so, to cause the lizard to fall onto its back, I was forced into a dangerous manoeuvre. Thankfully it had such regular habits and travelled on the same path each time, otherwise my efforts would have been for nought.

With the prey incapacitated I start to lose my tension. Using the last of my acid, I fire off two more shots, right into the soft belly of the lizard.

[Acid Shot has increased to Level 2.]

So quickly? Perhaps my skills increase more rapidly when used in a combat situation as opposed to more casual use. Still, my Stealth skill took so much time to Level up even when hiding from multiple creatures for hours on end.

Something to ponder after I fill my protesting stomach.

I hoped that using the acid to finish off the lizard would spare me from having to try and Bite the creature to death, but nature is not that kind. After enduring the cries of the pitiful thing for ten minutes I harden my resolve and use my mandibles to� uh� finish the job.

[Bite has increased to Level 3.]

Having to take a life is a bit depressing, but getting a skill Level feels so rewarding!

I have hunted, battled, and achieved victory.

I�m experiencing a somewhat complicated feeling. The pain and suffering I endured to achieve this goal is something I can�t recall from my previous life. Neither do I remember this satisfaction and triumph.

Mostly, I remember feeling numb.

[You have defeated a Level 2 Spinetta Lacertos.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 2. One Skill Point awarded.]

The voice of Gandalf? So talkative all of a sudden. Level two has been achieved, eh? Fantastic!

This lizard is a Spinetta Lacertos? What on earth does that mean? It does sound vaguely Latin. Come to think of it, my species was listed as Formica. If I recall back to my ant keeping hobby, Formica is the Latin name for wood ants. Are all the creatures here named in Latin?

That� seems odd.

Ignoring that for a moment, I�ll focus on a few other things I�ve learned. For one, I now know I can gain experience to improve my Level when I defeat other creatures. Secondly, I earn a new Skill Point when I Level up. Thirdly, this is also true for the other creatures here. Since this� Spinetta thing was at Level two, I can assume two possibilities. Either it was born Level two or it managed to Level up once.

I�ll have to ponder this in greater depth later. There are two other things to worry about right now. I can�t leave my prey here in the open in case the scent attracts other monsters, and I�m starving. I have to eat!

Without waiting any longer, I rush into my pitfall and approach the lizard. Burns and melted flesh as a result of my acid are peppered alongside crushed limbs and puncture wounds from my bites.

It looks very pitiful.

I�m sorry, lizard, I�m really sorry. You didn�t deserve this fate.

However, since the deed has already been done, I will now partake in my first meal.

Did you know ants have a mouth on the bottom side of their head? Most people think the mandibles are the mouth, or that the mouth is positioned behind them, but this isn�t so. The mandibles are more like hands attached to the head, while the mouth is below them.

Taking a bite�hmm, this flavour. How could I describe it? It�s unique and potent, for sure. I�m reaching for a word here. I wonder what would be most appropriate?

Disgusting.

It�s seriously disgusting.

Despite being so hungry, my carapace is constricting. This is not a pleasant meal.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Spinetta Lacertos. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Spinetta Lacertos unlocked.]

Gandalf! I am graced by your weathered tones once again, oh great one.

So many developments, so quickly, it�s enough to make me dizzy. I�ll have to think while eating. Apparently, I�ll gain one Biomass every time I�m able to hunt a new species of creature. Also, I was able to unlock a profile? How do I access that?

I�ll have to experiment later.

As quickly as I can, I finish the lizard and feel quite full. I can tell my gaster�my back segment�is swollen to a much larger size than it was before. And what do we have here? Another surprise:

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Truly, my harvest has been rich from this hunt!

Only one thing to do now that I have finally achieved success and reaped such a bounty, retreat to my nest and consider my next move.

Keeping my antennae waving, sensing the air, I once again climb the wall, making my way to the roof and sneaking over the water pool towards the tunnel that houses my nest. A range of monsters are still communing around the water, but they�re too focused on watching each other to look up and detect me.

In this way, I return to my place of safety.

Tucked away in a somewhat secure place, I can now take some time to assess my situation and plot my next move.

Ok, the first thing to do is to check my status.

Name: Anthony

Level: 2

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 30

MP: 0

Skills: Digging Level 3 (I); Acid Shot Level 2 (I); Grip Level 3 (I); Bite Level 3 (I); Stealth Level 4 (I)

Mutations: Eyes +1

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 1

Biomass: 2

Haha! Behold my incredible growth. Despite my difficult start, I�ve managed to survive, secure my first meal, Level up and improve my skills. I�m very proud of this result.

Against all the odds I will survive. This is the burning ambition of my soul.

Now, there�s a prudent decision to make. I have two Biomass Points to spend. I�ll have to consider the options carefully and�

Eyes! Evolve my eyes to +2 for the love of the blessed light!

[Do you wish to improve your Eyes to +2? This will cost two Biomass.]

Do iiit!

Immediately, the mad, ravenous itching sensation consumes my eyes. I can only endure it by flopping onto my back and rolling back and forth while scratching at the walls with my claws. I hate this damn feeling so much!

Finally, the itching fades and my eyesight has definitely improved once again. Really, the poor ant eyesight is hugely frustrating to deal with. Being used to human sight as I am, having to cope with such blurry vision to the point I can barely see a creature even if it sits still, is terrifying!

My vision is still far worse than the average human, but is much improved compared to what I started with. Objects are blurry, though waving my leg in front of my face confirms my ability to see movement has improved quite a bit.

At this rate, I think it will take at least +4 Eyesight before I can see as well as I did in my previous life. Perhaps even +5. Since the next upgrade will probably take three Biomass with this one needing two, it will be a long time before I�m able to purchase Level four, let alone Level five.

I may have to cope with my current Level of Eyesight for some time.

However, I�m pleased with this purchase. My ability to scout and fight has improved, and I�ve gotten closer to being able to operate as an independent ant, not requiring the communal assistance of a colony to survive.

Now I have to spend my Skill Point. I�ve had a skill in mind for some time now, ever since I first saw it. My priority is still gathering information, scouting and survival, rather than a direct increase in battle strength, so this skill will be essential.

Tunnel Sense.

There is a risk here. However, by not increasing my ability to fight and hunt for food, I�m going to endure more disadvantageous combat while continuing to pursue my policy of scouting and research first.

It must be understood that my capacity to fight is still complete garbage, hot trash, bottom of the barrel filth. Putting one Skill Point into a combat skill is not going to turn this situation around in the short term.

Survival is the first, second and third priority! For survival, there must be knowledge, for without knowledge I cannot hope to find prey I can defeat nor avoid those I cannot.

I still don�t know anything about this place! I�m in some kind of connected network of tunnels that has glowing lines snaking through the walls and is populated by bizarre monsters. And for some incredible reason, there�s a game-like system with skills, Level ups and a Biomass mutation matrix.

Isn�t this world� a little weird?

I haven�t seen a single person, nor any evidence of one. Is it possible monsters inhabit the entire place? Is there even a habitable surface and this world is wholly populated by subterranean life forms?

Too many questions! All these unknowns make me nervous. I have to have a clearer understanding of my situation. Tunnel Sense will broaden my range, allowing me to range farther and still make it back to the only place of relative safety, my nest.

[Do you want to learn the skill Tunnel Sense? This will cost one Skill Point.]

Yes!

A warm tickling sensation, like water running through my hair in a shower, except deeper inside my head, comes over me. Perhaps I didn�t notice this before because I upgraded my eyes at the same time as I purchased a skill. It�s far more pleasant than the Eye mutation. Just thinking about that itching sends a shiver down my spine.

Soon the feeling fades and Tunnel Sense has been learned. I can�t feel anything different straight away. Hopefully, it will show its effect as I explore.

Now, for the first time with a full stomach, I�ll get some rest, recover, then push into brave new frontiers! While in Stealth, of course.

Filled with the contented and happy feeling of being in my own enclosed space with a full stomach for the first time in this world, I awake refreshed, and ready to, cautiously, approach my next challenge.

I need to explore the cavern farther, gather more information on my situation and try to identify my next prey. Before that, there is something else I want to try. After eating, Gandalf informed me I had unlocked a basic profile of the Spinetta Lacertos. I haven�t yet tried to access this profile. It�s time to experiment and see if I can learn something.

Unlock!

Access Profile!

Open Sesame!

Spinetta Lacertos!

[Spineta Lacertos: Thorn Lizard. Spines are sharp and contain mutated venom.]

Woo! There you go! Spinetta Lacertos is translated to Thorn Lizard, and what is the rest of this information� The spines are sharp and contain venom. Isn�t that obvious the first time you look at the lousy thing?

Well, it�s only the basic profile after all. Perhaps if I hunt and consume more of them, I�ll be able to access a more detailed profile with more useful information.

With that out of the way, it�s time to pursue the next task.

Emerging from my nest, I make my way across the roof to the rock pool. A now familiar scene greets my eyes. A collection of monsters, types I�ve seen before, loiter at the water�s edge, warily guarding against each other while drinking from the glowing pool.

In fact, with my newly improved +2 Eyes, the pool seems to be glowing slightly brighter than it did in the past.

The curious thing to me about this situation is that all these monsters are here to drink, yet in the several days I�ve been here in this monster ant body, I�ve not felt thirsty. Since I am also a monster, just as these creatures are, what compels them to drink the water when I feel no urge to do so? Is there something different about them or me?

The next mission today is to investigate this mysterious water. I will take a bold, brave, possibly stupidly suicidal step to shed some light on this puzzle. Continuing to move in my almost habitual slow method, I creep across the ceiling to the nearest wall, make my way down and onto the cavern floor. Then, slowly at first, but with growing confidence as each step propels me forward, I approach the pool.

First to notice me is a lizard hound, the wolf looking creature with a long reptilian tail. There really is a large proportion of lizard-like creatures here in this place, the huge bipedal crocadilic monster and the spiked lizard I hunted earlier have some form of reptilian features. Is this some form of pattern?

When the hound sees me, it immediately begins to growl, shocking me slightly, but then something odd happens. As I continue to approach, the hound backs away and makes ground for me, almost as if it was afraid.

Observing the wolf, I step farther and farther into the light emitted from the water, and a heaving mass of centipedes becomes aware of my presence. Their reaction is very different!

As soon as they see me, the slithering, clacking tangle of creatures begins to hiss furiously and writhe over each other with even more speed. One of the monsters emerges from the tangle and slithers forward on its spindly legs a few metres. Then it begins to posture, hissing and clacking with sharp-looking mandibles and claws.

However, it doesn�t fully approach or attack.

Phew! I was terrified when they started rolling. There must be six or seven of the horrible things piled up over there. If they tried to attack, I would have had to escape with all my might.

Luckily, the peace of the water source held. There is only one reason that the survival minded me would risk coming into the open here. Only one reason I would show myself in front of all these creatures who could so quickly kill me: never did I see a creature approaching, drinking or leaving the pool attacked.

Not even once.

There was plenty of conflict during the two days I spent scouting the armoured lizard, but I never witnessed any dispute here. There�s something special about this water source, and I don�t think it has to do with hydration. After all, I still don�t feel any need to drink. Monster physiology in this world does not seem to be simple.

I continue to approach until I reach the edge of the pool. The glow is so bright up close it�s difficult to see into the water, even with +2 Eyes. The pulsing lines on the floor of the cavern seem to converge on the centre of the water source, in the pool�s depths. The most intense light originates from that juncture.

The water itself seemed to flow and move in strange, concentric circles, despite the lack of a current or propulsion of any kind. Almost like a lava lamp, the waters seem to have a motion and swirl all their own.

Ignoring the continued hissing and posturing of the stupid centipedes, I lower my mouth to the water and taste.

It burns! Holy moly, that burns!

A fiery sensation enters my mouth and flows straight through my three body segments to my stomach, from which the heat begins to permeate my bloodstream until my carapace itself feels like it�s on fire.

What is this, hydrochloric acid? Yeouch!

This is what you creatures have been coming here for? This painful, burning water of death! What is wrong with all of you? Is this the cavern of masochists!

The burning sensation gradually subsides, and I can�t help but stare at the other creatures incredulously. What the hell are you all doing here? Many pairs of eyes stare back at me. I feel self-conscious now�

I once again examine the slowly churning water before me, the dense light seemingly suspended within, like jellyfish coils, see-through and yet not.

I carefully analyse my condition, not feeling worse in any way, I think. I hurriedly opened my status and checked my Health, no change.

Strange.

This is seriously weird. What on earth is the attraction these monsters feel to this stupid pool. It must be important, otherwise why would there be this unspoken truce at this place? No answers seem to be forthcoming.

It isn�t like my fellow guests at the pool are in a talkative mood.

Feeling more puzzled than before I tasted the water I prepared to leave. But before I do, I can�t resist one more sip�

Gah! It burns! P-tooey�Nyaaar�Pff! Pff! Ugh. Horrible�

Curiosity killed the cat, as they say.

I begin to leave by first backing away from the pool, watching for any reaction from my fellow drinkers. Most creatures seem mildly relieved to see me go, moving to take up the space I abandoned and returning to their drinking. The stupid centipede is still snapping and posturing at me. I can almost hear it flinging insults as it scrapes at the cavern floor and pretends to start charging at me.

Back at you, dumb centipede.

As soon as I reach the comfort of the shadows, I spin and race to the wall, not slowing until I�ve achieved my most secure position, hidden in the deep shadows along the outer edges of the cavern roof.

Ahh, home.

I won�t be leaving again any time soon, I hope!

Now that I�ve somewhat investigated the mystery of the water pool, it�s time to explore this cavern and begin to map this cave network using my new Tunnel Sense!

Moving in the shadows around the edges of the cavern, avoiding the denser areas of light-veins, I weave between pillars of dark stone that stretch from the floor to the ceiling, as if spears had pierced through the ground or plunged down from above.

Following this pattern, I move farther from the pool and my own nest than I have before. Along the sides of the cavern are tunnels branching off into the darkness now and again, some large and some small. There�s strange air wafting through a few of them. Who knows what lurks within these strange tunnels?

I move ahead for another ten minutes, making steady progress. The cavern has begun to widen enough that I can no longer see both sides at once. I start making cautious passages across the centre to check both sides as I make my way.

Whoa!

A vast tunnel entrance appears before me. Perhaps a thirty-minute travel away from the pool, this entrance is massive, spanning almost from the floor to ceiling of the cavern and just as wide. It clearly tilts in a downwards direction, heading deeper into the earth.

But there�s something strange about the way the stone here is shaped.

Is that� stairs!

These are absolutely stairs, right?

Tiny eyes boggling, I approach the cave entrance to get a closer examination.

It appears as if these stairs have been carved directly into the rock. Now who exactly would be responsible for carving into solid rock, Anthony?

Why, humans of course! This is the first tangible evidence I�ve come across that any sort of humanoid creature exists in this new world. Fantastic! I can�t help but be excited, and a little nervous. I wonder what sort of fantasy-like people live here. Will I see dwarves? Or elves!

The idea of voluptuous elf ladies is almost enough to make me giddy.

This is getting more and more interesting. Why would they bother to carve stairs into this tunnel and not the others? The answer is almost self-explanatory. This must be a frequently used tunnel, therefore they�ve made it more convenient to travel down here. Which means it�s likely for there to be more stairs nearby.

Perhaps even a path to the surface.

I crawl down the wall to the stairs leading downwards. Wow! This is actually the first chance I�ve had to compare my size to an object I can relate to in my previous life. If we can assume people in this world are roughly the same size as those in my old one, then by comparing my size to the stairs I�ll be able to make a rough estimate of how large I am. All I have to do is hop onto them.

Hmmm.

I think I�m a little smaller than perhaps I first thought. Judging by the height and length of each step, I�m probably only tall enough to come up to a full-grown adult�s knee, and I�d be roughly as long as a full stride, so perhaps a metre?

But wait! That means all those monsters who looked so terrifying and massive to me, from a human perspective, would actually be fairly small. The wolf creature would be almost waist height, the thorny lizard is even smaller than I am, about the size of a badger, and the terrifying, enormous croca-beast would be less than shoulder height!

Are all the monsters in this area super weak?

Thinking logically, it would be a great thing if they were, since I probably would not have been able to survive this long if they were strong. This does raise the possibility of there being much stronger, larger and more powerful monsters elsewhere in the Dungeon.

I�ll be doing my best to avoid those then. May our paths never cross.

Okay, since the more powerful creatures probably live deeper in the Dungeon, since that�s how it usually works in games, and this world is so strangely game-like, I�ll operate on the assumption that the safer places are closer to the surface.

I resolutely turn away from the descending tunnel and move farther into the cavern. Yes! I can see more signs of modification here and there. Every now and again there is a step carved into the floor to make passage on foot easier and carved areas at about human head height on the walls at fairly regular intervals. Are these perhaps for holding torches and illuminating this space?

In fact, the farther I travel the more signs of civilisation I see. The ground is starting to slope upwards more and more as well. Perhaps the surface is actually very close?

There are very few tunnels branching off the main cavern at this point, not even small ones. Also, the pulsing veins of light along the walls are farther apart and thinner, making the space a little darker.

Perfect for a stealthy existence like me. I�ll keep exploring!

My heart is pounding in my chest now. I might get to see a person from another world! I have so many questions. What do they look like? What race are they? Do they know magic? Is there some sort of adventuring guild that goes Dungeon exploring? Maybe I�ll be able to communicate with them somehow, perhaps sign language or some form of interpretive dance will work?

This could be a breakthrough in human and ant monster relations!

How often would they have seen a human mind trapped in a monster body? Possibly, I�m the first of my kind!

The cavern is becoming narrower, the steps more frequent, and the slope steeper. Actually� is that? I think it is!

Sunlight!

My antennae wave excitedly as they get their first taste of dim, reflected sunlight. The surface must be extremely close now.

Scuttling forward, giddy to relish the surface air on this new world, I�m gradually able to see a source of light ahead. It�s reflecting off the stone and diffusing into the cavern.

Oooo.

More human construction! It looks almost like a wall of some kind. I shift to try and get a better view, my eyes working even worse than usual under the effect of natural sunlight. I may need to get closer.

Yes, it seems like some sort of wall constructed against the side of the passage. There are small window slits carved into the stone, presumably so someone behind the wall can see and attack out.

This is perhaps a guard room? It�d make sense if you think about it. They�d put a guard room here so they can monitor the entrance to the Dungeon and fend off any monsters that approach the surface. There�s probably a guard in there right now.

Even as that thought floats through my mind, a bright red light shines through the windows. Rapid movements erupt from inside, as if someone is scrambling up from a chair.

Suddenly two people emerge from behind the wall, standing on a raised stone platform perhaps a metre off the tunnel floor. Humans! Real humans. I�m slightly sad they aren�t elves, but hey, people! They appear to be wearing some kind of metal armour with black leather underneath. They both have swords at their waist and tight black boots laced up their shins. Judging from their figures it appears as if one is male and the other is female.

The female guard is holding a crystal of some sort that�s emitting a bright red light. Is that how they detect monsters approaching? It looks as if they�re searching the tunnel, trying to identify the threat. Must be hard to find whatever they�re looking for.

The male raises both hands and incredibly, they begin to glow with a bright, burning light. He appears to close his eyes to concentrate as the light forms into strange shapes or runes that slowly revolve around his hands.

I�m stunned senseless. This is magic. Real magic. Holy smokes, Gandalf, magic is possible in the world after all! Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. I wonder if these people could teach me?

After a few seconds the guard thrust both palms forward and the cavern erupted in light. Great flames burst out from the strange sconces in the walls, bathing the tunnel with heat and chasing the shadows away.

The second guard holds the red crystal forward and the light begins to focus and illuminate the threat.

Which is� uh� me.

What the hell am I doing!

The female guard rapidly slips the crystal into a pouch attached to her belt and rips a bow off her back while the male locks eyes with me and once again raises his hands.

He does not look friendly!

RUN. RUN. RUN. RUN. RUN!

Anthony, you stupid idiot! What the hell are you doing waltzing up to human guards when you�re a freaking monster.

My six legs start pumping into overdrive, running like crazy, weaving through the rocks farther into the tunnel. The harsh light from the flaming torches burns my eyes making it hard to see, but I can�t slow down, causing me to stumble and miss my footing.

There�s shouting and footsteps pounding on the stone behind me but I don�t turn to look. A blast of heat explodes on my right and another on a rock just in front of me in rapid succession. These are fireballs, right? Fire magic! Have mercy on me. I�m just a tiny ant!

I can only continue to run at max speed, weaving behind rocks and pillars to seek shelter.

Go, go, go, Anthony, you moron! If I survive this, I�ll bathe myself in my own acid as punishment for this idiocy. I�ll even drink from that damned pool.

A crossbow bolt slams into the stone directly between two of my legs, spraying stone shards into my carapace. Holy moly, that lady can shoot! I need some help, a distraction or something.

Maybe?

At this speed I�ve quickly made my way back to the wider cavern, and smaller tunnel entrances are appearing here and there. I try to pass close by and frantically wave my antennae to detect any scent coming from them.

Nothing from the first. Nothing from the second. Come on you stupid� YES! From the third I detect the disgusting smell I�m looking for. Screeching to a halt and turning my back-zone to point deep into the tunnel, I fire off three quick bursts of acid and take the chance to glance at my pursuers.

DUCK!

Shooting out my legs, I flatten myself to the stone as another bolt zips overhead, smashing the stone behind me.

This isn�t looking good!

Titus sat heavily behind his desk. The furniture was similar to the man in many ways. Unadorned, rough even, and solid as a rock. Thick boards of stonewood he�d harvested himself in the second strata made up the surface on which he worked. The desk had to be joined together since he couldn�t find a nail that would go through the stuff. The wood was stubborn and unyielding. That�s why he liked it.

Gripped in his thick, ungraceful fingers was a folded piece of paper�a letter, covered in angry and insulting scrawl. Another letter of complaint from the Mercenary Union.

Titus reached inside his coat pocket, withdrawing a smooth metal box attached to his belt by a chain. Setting the letter down, he used both hands to place his fingers just so, frowning when he needed four tries to correctly position his thick fingers, before the box opened with a snap.

From within the case a blue glow spilled onto the desk and briefly illuminated Titus� face as he opened the lid and stared hard at the contents. He snapped it shut, returning the case to his inner pocket.

He opened a draw, removed a fresh piece of paper, collected his pen and began to compose a reply.

Perhaps not his most diplomatic missive, Titus mused, but he was never very good at playing nice with idiots. One of the main reasons why he hadn�t wanted this job.

Almost against his will, his eyes slid to the corner of his office where, tucked behind a cabinet gathering dust, an enormous battle-axe leaned against the wall. Almost six feet long from head to haft. The thick metal looked as if it had been polished in years.

Sighing, Titus once more turned to his letter, folded it, sealed it with wax and placed it in his mail tray for one of the auxiliaries to deliver later in the day.

As he reached for the next letter of complaint, this one from the Minister of the Path, pounding feet on stone, he stayed his hand, and was growing louder as several figures approached his office.

Titus could feel the blood stirring in his veins. Perhaps he could avoid the paperwork today.

Ten minutes later he�d arrived at the forward garrison. Blasting open the massive doors with a single hand, he advanced into the building like a storm. The soldiers on duty, Legionaries all, saluted respectfully. Fists crashed into armoured chests and heads lowered wherever he went.

Without speaking, the Centurions on duty fell into step behind him as he marched through the stone plaza towards the breach in the earth that was the Dungeon.

The entrance was four metres wide and similarly tall, wide enough for supply carts and large groups to pass through on extended expeditions. The space around the entrance was a flat stone floor for thirty metres in every direction. A circular wall three metres high surrounded it, manned by archers and mages at all times, creating an open killing floor for any monsters who surged out of the tunnel.

Titus stared at the rent in the ground for several long seconds before he stepped down, submerging himself in the darkness. He prevented himself from inhaling as deeply as he wanted to, bringing the Dungeon air and its rich Mana into his lungs. Instead, he trailed his hand across the stone, his thick skin scraping on the rock as he walked.

Down the steps were the first of several guard stations, each usually manned by two Legionaries, was now fully complemented with a team of five. They saluted as he passed, but were disciplined enough to use the silent salute here in the Dungeon, bringing their right fist into the open palm of their left in front of their heart.

Their commander gave them a nod, passing the next three posts until he reached the first. Ten Legionaries occupied the wall here, two mages taking turns to maintain the flame that illuminated the tunnel.

As he approached, with two Centurions still in lock-step behind him, he found the woman he was looking for inside the guard post, pouring over maps on the table with some of her soldiers.

She saw him enter and dismissed her people before saluting.

�Commander Titus.�

�Tribune Aurillia.�

Titus returned the salute before joining her at the table to glance at the pages strewn across the surface. All maps of the first stratum with passages and Mana concentration points marked clearly with neat, organised writing. Wouldn�t those idiots at the Merc Union love to see this level of detail on their �guides.� They would triple their prices.

�What�s the situation, Tribune?�

�Commander, fifteen minutes ago the monster approached this guard station before fleeing, the guard team has signalled the Centurion on duty before pursuing into the staging cavern.�

�Fled?� Titus grimaced. It was rare for monsters in the first strata to show enough intelligence to flee danger.

This was the last thing he needed immediately before a wave.

�How are preparations for the wave defence going?�

�The defence is being readied on schedule, Commander, though I have taken the liberty of advancing the timeline in response to this recent incident.�

Titus grunted. �Good. I�ll be joining the suppression expedition this time.�

Aurillia blanched. �With respect, Commander, perhaps you would be best deployed��

�We both know where I am best deployed, Aurillia. Something feels off so I�m going down with the expedition.�

Aurillia sighed, this stubborn old man was incapable of making life easy for himself. A whole legion of troops who would gladly plunge into the Dungeon for him, but he still chose to go himself. She shook her head. This was why he was so well loved in the ranks, he never asked them to do anything he wouldn�t do himself.

From down in the tunnel, movement could be seen as five people advanced out of the gloom at the darker end of the tunnel and into the blazing firelight. Two of the members were limping, supported by their comrades. Every soldier was filthy. Blood and bone, none of it theirs, covered their armour.

Titus stepped out of the guard building and went to greet his Legionaries. On his approach, they immediately stopped to salute, remaining still until he waved them down.

�Stop that, what are your injuries?�

The five of them grimaced. �Nothing serious, Commander. We were taken by surprise and sustained minor cuts and poison status.�

�Get to the medicus immediately, we need every soldier fit for duty. Tell me, were you able to slay the monster?�

The soldiers paused before shaking their heads.

Titus clenched his jaw. Dammit. �Which of you are the two that first saw the creature?�

Two of the soldiers, one male and one female raised their hands.

�Come with me.�

Hi, Anthony, are you a massive idiot?

Why yes, Anthony, I am a massive idiot. In fact, I�m the kind of idiot who dances up to a human guard station to say hello, when I am, in fact, a horrific monstrous ant over a metre long.

Wow, Anthony! You really are a king amongst all of the idiots, aren�t you? If all the idiots in the world were to hear of your incredible achievements in the field of stupidity, they may just organise a religion around you. Worshipping you as their moronic god of all things stupid.

I agree�

Holy moly, I am lucky to survive that nightmare! Chased by those soldiers, dodging crossbow shots and magic fire, I was barely able to find a tunnel that bore the distinct odour of those damned centipedes. Thankfully they were at home, and when I blasted acid into their tunnel they came boiling out, mad as hell.

With over ten of the horrible things bursting into the cavern, I was almost killed by the stupid centipedes before a few of them were hit by fireballs and they attacked the guards, giving me a chance to flee.

At this point, three more guards turned up and they obliterated the gross insect threshing machines and continued to chase me.

I lured three packs of centipedes out. Three! Before they managed to occupy those soldiers long enough for me to slip into the shadows and hide.

I�ll see those terrifying attack skills in my nightmares surely. Flashing blades of light travelling from swords to chop monsters five metres away. Blazing flames like a flamethrower shooting out of a soldier�s hand to roast the centipedes.

So scary!

What can I do? Bite. No flashing mandibles fly out of my face to mince enemies five metres away. What the hell, Gandalf?

Well, experience is the greatest teacher, so they say. I need to look on the bright side and not beat myself up too much. I�ve confirmed many things thanks to this misadventure. The existence of magic, the existence of human society, and exactly how weak I am compared to those professional soldiers.

I�ve also confirmed how I take damage. After being blasted by stone shards and scorched by the fireballs, my HP was reduced to 15. Half! Thankfully my legs are still fully functional, but I can feel cracks in my carapace where the shards penetrated my armour.

I�ll have to see how I can regenerate my HP. Will it have to recover over time or will I have to heal my wounds manually somehow? This is a serious problem which I�ll need to solve in short order.

At least now I have a chance to secure additional benefits from this disaster.

So many centipedes have been killed and their bodies left out in the open, totally ignored by the guards as they retreated. This is a golden opportunity that cannot wait. Those filthy corpses represent nothing less than a golden treasure, a heaped mountain of wealth. Biomass! I must nab that Biomass!

I need to move fast, since every creature in this place will be crawling over those corpses soon.

Sure enough, as I peek my head out, I can already see some creatures making their way towards the piles of bodies. To minimise the chances of having to fight, I rush to the bodies closest to the Dungeon entrance. I�m on high alert in case those soldiers are coming back but there�s no signs of them at this point.

Time to hustle!

I snatch up a large chunk of centipede�ugh�and dash to a nearby crevice in the wall. I drop my food and begin to excavate a small hole, stuffing my food into it and rushing back to grab more.

After three trips more and more creatures have emerged to fight for the resources, and bloody combat has been engaged. Even centipedes have emerged from some side tunnels to try and eat the bodies of their fallen brethren. Yuck!

It won�t be long until the chaos makes its way up to where I am, so I quickly make another two trips before I remove the largest chunk and bury the rest of the haul in the wall, hopefully hidden from sight.

Then I stealthily return to my nest with my prize.

I�m not sure where all these monsters are coming from, but they seem endless. More and more piled into the cavern, attracted by the noise and smell. Hopefully the racket dies down soon so I can retrieve the rest of my booty.

For now, I shall eat! All that running around has completely drained me and hopefully I can restore my energy and Health with a meal.

Chomp!

Erk� Horrible.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Unguibus Scolopendra. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Unguibus Scolopendra unlocked.]

Ah yes, Gandalf with the hunting diversity bonus. As I continue eating, I open the basic profile and take a look.

[Unguibus Scolopendra: Claw Centipede. Has strong claws and a venomous spike in its tail.]

Yep, the basic profile continues to prove its uselessness. Claw Centipede, eh? Makes sense. They are centipedes with claws after all.

Come to think of it, doesn�t that really lack imagination?

Silent, eh, Gandalf? Not that I can blame you really, names are hard.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Phew. I�ve finally finished my meal and so I decide to open my status and take a look.

Name: Anthony

Level: 2

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 17

MP: 0

Skills: Digging Level 3 (I); Acid Shot Level 2 (I); Grip Level 3 (I); Bite Level 3 (I); Stealth Level 4 (I); Tunnel Sense Level 1 (I)

Mutations: Eyes +2

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica)

Skill Points: 0

Biomass: 2

My Health has started to recover. Two whole points! This is fantastic news. As I continue to eat, my wounds will surely close over, returning me to the perfect picture of ant health.

I�ll have to spend my Biomass as well. More mutations await!

�That really sounds weird. As a human, should I welcome mutating this much?

I think I know what I want to improve though.

Mutate Acid Gland +1 and Antennae +1!

[Do you wish to improve Acid Gland and Antennae? This will cost two Biomass.]

Yes, I do! But please, no itching! I don�t want�HURK! Gah�Dammit�Fzazzithrap! Stupid Itch!

Using my forelegs, I continuously scrape my antennae clean, but it doesn�t help at all. This is an action I�ve noticed myself doing more and more lately. I know ants try hard to keep their antennae scrupulously clean, and even have special hairs in the elbow joint of their forelegs to help remove dust and particles, keeping them in tip top shape.

The cleaning does nothing to help protect from the maddening sensation that erupts every time I mutate. I also can�t do anything about the searing itch in what I can only imagine is my acid gland, deep inside my body.

I hate thiiis� Ah, finally!

Phew. Now I have continued on my path of enhancing my senses by improving my antennae, which will increase my sense of smell and capacity to detect air vibrations. I have also taken my first step to bettering my combat ability by increasing the potency of my acid, which is my only reliable attack right now.

Now I have to emerge, pass through the chaos, and return with the rest of my treasure.

As I move through the cavern, attached to the ceiling, the action is beginning to calm down and monsters are establishing territory and starting to eat.

This makes life easier for me. After four more trips, all of my stash is brought back to my nest. I consider this an amazing success. Considering all the Biomass that was available, I didn�t get much, but I was able to secure this much with almost no risk, so I�m very satisfied.

Time to eat!

After I finish eating, I have gained another two Biomass and five HP, but choose to save these two points in the hopes I can gain one more and improve my vision once again. Maybe with the action dying down outside, there will be some crumbs left for a humble ant such as myself to collect.

I�ll have to wait.

�Alberton! Alberton! Answer your door, you deaf idiot!�

Two young Legionaries stood to one side, faces white with worry while the Legion commander smashed his massive fist repeatedly against a sturdy, iron framed door so hard that dust fell from the cold stone ceiling into their hair.

These soldiers were the first to see the monster and had by far the best glimpse of it. Titus had taken them immediately to the medicus for treatment and from there to the Legion Keep of Liria. Right now, they were several floors below ground level where the air was thick with dust and the most obscure supplies were stored.

To tell the truth, Titus hadn�t been knocking for long, but it hadn�t taken much for the huge man to run out of patience.

�Open this door, Alberton, or I�ll burn your stupid books to warm my backside!� Titus roared.

The door was yanked open to reveal a dishevelled man in a brown robe, sporting a hedge-like beard that appeared to stab forward from his face like a wall of spears.

�You wouldn�t dare, Titus, you illiterate ape. There�s a thousand years of Legion history in here!� the beard shouted back at the commander.

Titus merely grunted. �Good, you�re awake,� he said as he pushed the much skinnier Alberton out of his way and advanced into the chamber.

�I�m always awake,� protested the scholar as he absentmindedly scratched at his robes. �What time is it?�

Titus simply shook his head and gestured for the two young soldiers to enter the room after him, which they did with some trepidation.

The room was a mess, every surface dusty and heaped with piles of parchment, books and scrolls of all descriptions. Several tables and a corner desk occupied the centre of the room while around the walls were huge bookcases that stretched from floor to ceiling. Every shelf of every bookcase was heaped, stacked full of enormous leather-bound volumes labelled with intricate script on the spine.

Casting a quick glance around the room, Titus stuck his head back into the corridor just long enough to bellow, �Cleaning!� As Alberton protested there was really no need for cleaning, and they always disturbed his concentration anyway, he simply ignored him and started speaking.

�Legionary trainee Mirryn, Legionary trainee Donnelan, this is the Legionem Abyssi Loremaster of the Liria Legion, Alberton. We are here, Alberton, for you to consult the records and identify a beastie the two trainees saw in the Dungeon today.�

Alberton peered at them doubtfully. �Haven�t expeditions been banned for a few days now? What could they possibly see on guard duty that they couldn�t identify? Have we stopped teaching Legionaries what a Thorn Lizard looks like?�

�If we have, that would be your responsibility as Loremaster,� Titus sighed. �We need you to identify an ant.�

The Loremaster froze. �You mean� Formicidae?�

�Yes.�

Alberton�s eyes drifted aimlessly around the room as he absorbed this information. After a moment he focused again and brought his attention back to the people present.

Without a word he moved to a wooden ladder propped against the wall in a corner of the room. With some difficulty he shifted it to one of the shelves, propped it open and somewhat nervously climbed it. On the seventh shelf, he withdrew one of the volumes and climbed back down with some difficulty.

Thump!

The massive volume crashed onto the table, spraying dust clouds into the air. The trainees could clearly see the word Formicidae stitched in gold filigree on the cover.

Mirryn turned to her commander hesitantly. �Commander, I know we don�t usually see any ant monsters under Liria, but why is it so serious that we�ve seen one here?�

Donnelan also turned to listen to the answer as Titus cleared his throat. �A single ant is weak, pathetically weak, but you will almost never face a single ant. They swarm in the hundreds, thousands, even hundreds of thousands. They are far more cooperative than almost any other monster type. They are fearless, feel no pain and are ravenous. An ant colony can sweep clean vast sections of the Dungeon, growing in strength, and if they are spawned in the second stratum or higher, they can climb up to the surface in search of more food. An ant colony expanding onto the surface is a massive disaster, something that has only happened twice, and whole kingdoms were burned to the ground before they were destroyed.�

�In those cases,� wheezed the Loremaster, turning to the two young Legionaries, �the people were unable to react fast enough to the threat, as the ants are excellent at creating their own tunnels. They didn�t climb out of the Dungeon entrance but burst into houses, basements and through castle prisons. They could be digging through the dirt around us right now.�

Alberton chuckled drily as the trainees eyed the walls with suspicion. �Now describe this creature for me and we�ll see if we can know our enemy.�

As the young soldiers began to describe the creature they�d seen, Alberton flicked through pages in the vast volume, muttering to himself. The trainees could see each page was covered in neat script and detailed drawings of different monstrous ant species, the recorded wisdom of generations of Legion soldiers.

�Large eyes you say? Very unusual, at least we can rule out the dorylus species, thank the Legion,� Alberton mumbled.

Donnelan turned to Titus with an eyebrow raised.

�Dorylus ants are almost completely blind,� the commander informed him. �But a dorylus queen can lay over a million eggs a month, with colonies growing to fifty million individuals. And they�re nomadic, swarming endlessly and devouring everything in their path. Think of millions of monsters crawling across the ceiling, bursting out of the walls and scrambling on top of each other to kill you. What does it matter that they can�t see?�

�Spraying acid to attract Claw Centipedes?� Alberton frowned as he continued to flick pages, �that is� most unusual.�

�Do you have anything, Loremaster?� Titus asked.

�The colouring of the monster and the acid spraying are very distinctive features. We can be fairly sure this monster was some species of Formica, definitely a hatchling based on its size. However, there are a few odd features. The creature appears to have mutated its eyes, which is extremely unusual for an ant, also the peculiar show of intelligence to lure other monsters into the fight to secure its escape.�

Titus nodded. �I agree with you, a regular ant hatchling has a Cunning stat of three or four. This ant is clearly much higher. What else have you learned?�

�We may have been extremely lucky here, Commander.�

�In what way?�

�You said it yourself, you almost never see one ant operating on its own. And ants will almost never spawn in the first stratum, certainly not this high up, so how can we explain a lone hatchling being found so close to the surface? I posit that a nest raid has taken place lower in the Dungeon, and a fairly new ant colony was too weak to repel it. As a result, some of the young were brought out of the nest and carried towards the surface where somehow this lone worker was able to hatch.�

�We�ve possibly been warned of the threat far earlier than we might have otherwise been,� Titus mused.

�Correct. It�s possible the queen spawned as little as two months ago. The thing that puzzles me the most is how did this lone hatchling ant worker, possibly the weakest individual monster in the entire Dungeon, survive for any length of time? Based on the information provided, we can deduce that this ant has mutated its eyes at least once, possibly twice. How did it secure Biomass? Why does it display a level of Cunning far in excess to what we would expect? These are very puzzling elements, Commander.�

�I agree,� Titus said. �But being able to move against the colony itself is of far greater concern to me than one lone worker ant. We�ll need to organise a deeper expedition to find and eliminate this threat. The timing is terrible since we anticipate a wave soon.�

Alberton winced. �That seems like more than we can take on ourselves, Commander.�

�Agreed. The Legion will push into the Dungeon immediately while you and I go have a chat with your aunt.�

Alberton sighed bitterly at his commander�s words. And when a team of cleaning staff filed into the room, shuffling his papers around to sweep, he could only sigh again, looking extremely forlorn.

Yesterday was a little too hectic for my tastes, I have to say. It is my dearest wish that today will be a little calmer. My only aim is to secure one more Biomass so I can mutate my Eyes to +3, and perhaps relocate my nest to a location a little more distant from the surface.

However, it doesn�t appear as if my day is going to be as peaceful as I�d hoped.

Why on earth are there all these soldiers out here!

When I emerge from my nest and move towards the cavern, there are already human soldiers everywhere. They move systematically, luring monsters out of their side tunnels and killing them with superior force. From my position huddled on the ceiling in the shadows, I can see they�ve established some sort of formation around the water pool. Wooden tripods extend over the water�s surface and hanging from each is some sort of crystal or device that appears to be absorbing light from within the water.

What on Pangea is this fancy technology? What are they absorbing? What are these funky crystals!

More importantly, how am I getting out of here alive?

The cavern has been completely occupied by them. Even if I try to rely on my stealth, I�ve already seen the monster detecting equipment they have. I�d be stupid to think I could sneak past. Even If I could, there�s only the large tunnel down halfway up this tunnel for me to head to, and that is clearly how they are going to advance farther into the Dungeon.

Can I hide in my nest successfully?

No, I don�t think so. When they see all the dirt I�ve shifted they may even realise it�s the work of a monster and start to clear it out. It�s possible they already know how this tunnel is meant to look and will realise something is off when they notice the dirt obstruction.

In that case, what the hell am I supposed to do?

Stupid humans!

There is only one option left available to me, but that choice is almost certain death. I have to escape past my nest and farther into the tunnel towards the area I saw my first croca-beast.

Isn�t this a classic case of out of the frying pan and into the waiting jaws of doom!

Clinging to the shadows near the entrance to my tunnel, the disciplined soldiers are already beginning to sweep around to my side of the pool, waving torches to drive away shadows and identify every stray corner and tunnel that may be hiding. I haven�t got much time left before they make their way to my tunnel.

Why do these soldiers need to work so hard? Take a break, guys. Relax! No? Dammit.

I�ve no choice. Time to face the music and, quite literally, death.

I skitter back through my tunnel and dive into the nest. My heart pangs a little as I crawl through the small gaps I left on the ceiling and leave my temporary lodgings behind.

This was my place of�somewhat�safety in this world, my only refuge. It was only for a few days, nest, but we had good times. If I�d had a few of my fellow ant bros to stay with me, it would have been a real home.

You know what? If I could find my birth nest, that may be the safest place for me. I�ve already seen the kind of reception I get from surface society in this world�hint, it wasn�t great�so maybe it�s time I try and get along with my own kind. Ant kind!

After all, how far away from my nest could I possibly have been dragged before I was born? The nest may be closer than I think.

Stay positive, Anthony. Charge forth and find the queen. That is to say, Mum!

However, I will do so in a safe way, without being seen. I hope.

I emerge out of my nest and into the unexplored side of this tunnel. I haven�t been out here since the first day I awoke in this place and witnessed one of my brethren being chomped to death by a horrible, bipedal crocodile.

Things have changed a little since then though. I�m Level two now, and have a few Biomass Points spent. I�m not as weak as I was!

I latch onto the roof with all six off my claws and begin to carefully make my way. My antennae wave in all directions and my eyes stare hard at every shadow as I advance.

Is it just me or does the tunnel seem brighter than it did last time? I swear the veins along the wall are glowing more brightly and are pulsing with slightly more frequency than they did before. What is that?

Gingerly, I approached the corner around which I saw the first monster.

I have serious trauma about this place, dammit. Please no monster, please no monster.

I sneak a peek and thankfully nothing is there. Phew!

No signs of the ant who was eaten or the beast that did the eating either. For now, the tunnel seems to continue to a wide curve to the left�my right since I�m upside down. I can also tell, perhaps thanks to my Tunnel Sense kicking in, that the path is starting to slope away from the surface and farther underground.

This is fantastic news. Take me away from the cursed surface and its nasty human armies!

I once again advance boldly while sneaking the entire time.

Wait� My antennae are picking something up. Only a hundred metres farther into the tunnel I sense a change in the air. Very quickly it becomes apparent why. The tunnel splits into two paths.

Using all my senses I try to determine if one path is safer than the other.

I can�t see anything nearby, and despite wiggling with all their strength my antennae aren�t picking up anything either.

I�m not happy about this setup. One of these tunnels could mean instant death. Both tunnels could mean instant death!

I can�t hold back any longer.

[Do you wish to improve Antennae? This will cost two Biomass.]

Do it! BUGAAA!

I can�t even try and scrape at the itch right now since I�m trying to stay hidden. Why are you like this, Gandalf?

Eventually it passes and my antennae have now grown noticeably longer than they were before I upgraded them the first time. With my new and improved senses, I again attempt to determine if either of these choices contains less death aroma than the other.

Hold on. What the heck is that? My whole ant body tingles as I grasp the faintest wisp of a scent from the left tunnel. There is something about this scent that speaks to me. What on earth could it be?

Drawn by this sensation, I choose the left tunnel. Whatever this is, it doesn�t feel threatening, so investigation seems logical. I really have no other information to go on anyway.

Disregarding the right tunnel, I creep into the left, sticking to the ceiling and moving cautiously, as always. The subtle smell becomes more and more noticeable, from a distant waft of a mist, it has now grown to the strong tendrils of a smoke.

The walls of this tunnel are almost entirely stone, webbed with the now familiar branching lines of blue light that permeate almost everywhere inside this place. My claws make soft scritching-scratching noises against the rock, always supporting my body with four legs as I reach forward with two.

I�m still not a fully coordinated ant but I�m making a lot of progress in this body, if I do say so myself. To go from four limbs to six isn�t easy at all. But to go from two legs and two arms, to six legs and no arms is an even greater shift!

It only takes a few minutes before I locate the source of the scent.

But there isn�t anything here. No bodies or creatures of food of any kind.

Confused, I glance around. There definitely isn�t anything. The tunnel just continues to curve to the left and slightly down.

I use my antennae to feel the stone in front of me and gradually follow the scent down off the roof and onto the floor of the tunnel. As my antennae tip tap here and there, inspiration zaps me.

Pheromones!

How do ants keep in contact without being able to speak? How do ants create those long trails away from the nest to sources of food?

The answer is pheromones! By using a Pheromone Gland, they can lay a trail of scent for other ants to detect and follow. Something is telling me that this is a pheromone trail laid down by a scout ant seeking either food or perhaps trying to locate the stolen brood from the nest.

My people are calling me home!

This is an exciting development. The colony is calling me, lighting the beacon to bring long lost Anthony home.

Still, let�s not get carried away. Remember what happened the last time you got carried away, Anthony? You still haven�t returned to max HP!

After inspecting the source of the scent on the tunnel floor, I move back to my comfortable stealth position on the ceiling and continue down the tunnel. I�ll have to keep going down this path until I can pick up the trail somewhere.

The tunnel itself is becoming more irregular in direction, zigging and zagging through the earth even as it continues its downward slope. The farther I go, the more I begin to feel vibrations in the air from down the tunnel. Something is happening in front of me. Must proceed with all caution!

Thirty metres ahead the tunnel splits once again. I�m starting to feel that these tunnels and caves are going to be splitting into a very messy network. This is going to be hard to keep track of.

[Tunnel Sense has reached Level 2.]

This is what I�m counting on! According to its description, this skill helps maintain a sense of direction while underground. I suspect because of this effect I�ve been able to know which way the tunnel is sloping or curving almost without having to think about it. I�ll have to depend on this to navigate and remember which way is which.

Since I can�t detect any pheromone trail from either tunnel, and one seems no safer than the other, I decide to place a mark in the ceiling right at the split to indicate which direction I�ve taken. If I create and maintain a simple set of symbols to mark the tunnels it will hopefully help my memory.

After scraping a simple arrow into the rock with my mandibles, down the right-hand path I go.

Ten minutes later I have returned to the juncture.

Well then! Not going down that way anytime soon. It hadn�t taken long to discern something was wrong with that tunnel, and without having to travel far I encountered an area wherein the tunnel widened slightly, creating a sort of hollow occupied by a group of wolf lizards. Five of them were lounging on the rocks, gnawing on bones of what appeared to be recently killed prey. I wasn�t prepared to try and sneak past them so I turned tail and returned.

What symbol should I use for instant death?

In the end I scratched a rough X for danger and a simple curved swoosh shape next to the X to represent the wolf lizard tail. After marking the left tunnel with an arrow, I headed in.

Hopefully this path is a little more manageable.

After a few hundred-metres things seem quite safe, almost pleasant, as tunnels go. Perhaps this might�

Hold it!

I freeze, one foreleg poised in the air, ready to advance as I stare hard at the space in front of me. Is this� what I think it is?

Before me is a barely visible, thin, silvery line of delicate thread stretched taught across the tunnel.

Very gently I bring my leg back towards my body and take a few steps back in order to examine what�s in front of me.

Without having +2 Eyesight, there is no way I would have been able to notice in time, absolutely no chance.

Reflecting the soft blue light of the rock walls is a web of whisker thin strands stretched across the tunnel. I had been so close to walking headfirst into a welcome I would not have survived.

Monster spider! I shiver, unable to not feel indignant.

Stupid spiders. You think you�re the king of the insect world, huh! You let your webs do all the hard work for you. Not an honest, straight forward worker like an ant. If I had two hundred of my kind here, boy, you�d have to watch out!

After inspecting, I can�t see any spider on this web, but that doesn�t mean it isn�t nearby.

Hesitation keeps me locked in place. I either have to move through this tunnel or back to the family of wolf lizards and try to sneak through. Since I don�t like my odds of sneaking past that many monsters, I may have to try and gather some information about this spider monster to make an informed decision on the best path forward.

After some consideration, I move to the floor of the tunnel and gather up a few loose rocks. I practiced a bit using my mandibles to toss them a short distance, with the impact sound of rock-on-rock echoes reverberating through the tunnel.

After getting the hang of it, I line up a few rocks close to the web. Swinging my head, I lob my first projectile. The stone hits the strands, causing the entire web to shake, but it doesn�t stick and falls to the ground. Without waiting I throw a second one and scurry away to hide in the shadows to observe.

At first, nothing happened. The shaking of the web makes it easier to see, a neat pattern covering the whole of the tunnel�s width. Eventually the motion stops but still, I wait.

Here it comes! I almost missed it at first since it was moving on the ceiling, the show off! One leg and then the next emerges from the shadows as the monster inspects the prey that shook its web.

Ugh, this thing is hideous! Eight furry legs, clearly too many, support its fat bulbous body as it begins to daintily touch and examine the web.

Now as I recall it, a spider is an arachnid, which is not an insect like me. I have three body segments�head, thorax and abdomen�and six legs. A spider on the other hand has eight legs, yuck, and two body segments�head and abdomen.

This spider is not part of the mighty insect family, he�s lower on the food chain. It appears to be roughly my size as well. It�s possible this is not a high-Level monster.

The spider moves off the rock and onto the web itself, inspecting the strands more closely. An idea is beginning to form in my mind. Let�s just wait a little for our many-legged friend to sit still for us.

While the spider continues to determine the cause of the disturbance, I�m carefully pointing my rear at the target, trying to accurately judge the distance.

Hold� Hooold� Fire!

I blast out a mighty shot of acid, trying to force the attack at my maximum range. Immediately after letting the acid fly, I change locations to see the effect of my artillery.

At this range the accuracy was a little lacking and rather than hitting the spider straight on the abdomen as I�d hoped, the acid sprayed across its legs on the right side.

The spider reacts immediately, flailing around at incredible speed. Loathsome fangs are bared, dripping dark fluid as the beast turns this way and that, its many eyes glaring into the tunnel as it attempts to locate its antagonist.

This is something the spider clearly has over me. Even upgraded, my eyesight is probably no match for the natural eyes of a spider. Most spiders have up to eight eyes! As solitary hunters, they need excellent senses, much for the same reason I do.

The stealth skill is currently displaying its strength as my foe is unable to identify my location. Perhaps I was able to catch it unawares while the creature�s attention was focused on the web rather than observing the tunnel.

I watch the movements of my target like a hawk. After scrambling for a while, the spider calms down and moves defensively to the side of the web, near the walls. Its eyes gleam slightly in the tunnel light. It clearly thinks it has hidden carefully.

Stupid spider, I�ve been watching you all along! And now you�re perfectly still.

Moving slowly, oh so slowly, I turn and prepare to fire a second shot. Consider the elevation and angle. No breeze to worry about. Calculate the arc�

Fire!

I turn just in time to see my acid shoot over the spider�s head and spray onto its abdomen, sticking and clinging to the monster�s hairy body. It wails an audible hiss of pain as once again it thrashes and charges about behind its web, trying to find me.

But I am long gone! Once I confirm the hit, I put the jets on and run the heck out of there.

Chase me if you want, you dumb spider! If you�re brave enough to leave your web that is.

Despite my tough talk, I was shivering inside my own carapace for the eventual rampage of the spider�s pursuit.

I retreated all the way to the junction, thinking if worse came to worse I could hide close to the wolf lizards or aggro them onto the spider and try to slip though their den.

Fortunately, this spider appears to be as cautious as me.

And why not? All he has to do is sit inside a web and wait for the prey to be delivered, stuck and unable to fight. Practically free Biomass. Truly, being a spider is like easy mode in the Dungeon.

Resentment is building towards this web spinning scum. Thinking of all the hardships I�ve been through while this chump sits there collecting free XP. My rage is reaching towards the sky, to the very heavens themselves!

To ease my fury, the spider must die.

Of course, consideration for this course of action is only happening since I�ve weighed the odds and believe winning is a possibility. There are a couple reasons for this. Firstly, the tunnel is unusually bright. Spotting the spider and its web is not as hard as it would have been just after I arrived in the Dungeon. Secondly, the spider appears to be small, possibly as weak�stats wise�as I am. If I can remove the natural advantage it gains from its web, I can win.

The question remains, how to ensure I never fight it in its web? Phase one is already complete. With my two acid attacks yesterday, the spider has likely lost at least five HP. Unless it can secure food to replenish its strength, continuing to lure it to where I can attack it from range is the best course of action.

Simple.

The weakness to my plan is the requirement of ambushing the spider a number of times in order to be victorious. However, if the spider ambushes me even once with its poison fangs� lights out.

Antennae, forward! Eyes open! Brain, focused to a razor�s edge! There must be no mistakes. Maintaining this attitude, I advance on the web once more, inspecting every stone and fold in the rock for hidden arachnids.

No sign of it. The horrid thing is probably licking its wounds behind the safe walls of its web. Provided it has a tongue.

Being unable to see it, I will proceed as I did before, trying to lure the fiend here by disturbing the web. After preparing some choice stones and lining them up, I flick them one by one into the web. I use four stones this time, trying to create a larger disturbance to convince the creature a juicy prey has become entangled.

Before the last stone strikes home, I hide in a shady position and prepare to wait.

And I wait.

And wait.

Half an hour goes by without even one hairy leg emerging. Not coming out, eh? Yellow are ya? Too chicken to fight face to face like a man�or� bug!

This is also fine.

But first, I need to be sure.

Once again, stones prepared and lined up, ramped up to seven stones this time, they�re flicked into the web using my mandibles. The web shaking and wobbling under my rocky assault, I retreat and observe. Come at me spider!

Nothing. The tunnel is perfectly still and quiet, not even a whisper echoes off the stone.

I learned during my first hunt that patience is everything to a monster. Death lurks around every corner; no safeguards can afford to be cut. If this spider wants to play a waiting game, I�m ready to play. I wait an hour before making my move.

The spider is either more wounded than I initially thought or is too wary to approach this side of its nest after getting an acid bath.

Time for phase two of my web disruption plan. Using my antennae, I find an area of softer, looser stone and begin to shift it close to the web using my trusty face hands, otherwise known as mandibles.

Once I have enough finer material, I begin flicking it up onto the web, sending it wavering and shivering once more. Unlike the heavier stones, this stuff doesn�t get the web really shaking, but it does do something the heavier rocks couldn�t.

It sticks.

Flick, flick, flick. Again and again, I send the fine stone into the web. Some rebounds, and some impacts the threads, remaining hanging in the air. I don�t need to cover all the web, just enough for me to be able to pass through without getting stuck. Then I�ll be able to infiltrate the inner sanctum of my foe.

When I�m halfway done, I take another opportunity to retreat and hide, just in case the spider has at last been drawn out by my constant interference with its web.

Thirty minutes later and I�m back at work.

Since the spider refuses to emerge, it allows me to cover as much of the web as I reasonably can from the ground, with as thick a coating as possible. If I get a leg stuck to this damned web, I may not be able to free myself.

Eventually I�m satisfied enough to try and squeeze through. Being as careful as I can, I pass my antennae across each strand I plan to walk past, checking for residual stickiness. Finding none, I cross into the lair of the beast.

This is the most dangerous phase of this conflict. Although I�ve secured a path of retreat, there could be any number of hidden threads here in the creature�s lair. I must be careful.

Foothold by foothold I creep forward, eyes scanning every inch of wall and ceiling. A single lapse of concentration will be deadly here. I try to be as Stealthy as I can, but dark, shadowed areas are becoming harder and harder to find. The flowing blue light running through the walls of the tunnels has definitely become stronger over the last few days.

At least this troubling issue runs both ways. Although I can�t hide very well, neither can my opponent.

Here inside the nest of the spider, threads run along the walls and floor here and there, some of them so fine they barely catch the light. Hesitation is in almost every step, trying to be certain I don�t place a foot wrong.

What�s that?

There�s a shape over there, close to the wall. I can�t be sure though. Is it a fold in the rock, or is it�a leg!

Take this you skittering git!

Like lightning I blast off a shot of acid.

[Acid Shot has reached Level 3.]

Ha! Must have been a hit.

Only one thing to do now. That�s right, run for it!

Bwahahaha! You won�t catch me spider. I�m like the wind across the fjords. The gazelle leaping over the plains. Like the falcon soaring in the clear�Bah, a thread�I�m stuck! It�s got me. It�s coming to get me!

Will I die here? Before even meeting my colony? I have so many regrets� I�m too young to die. Come to think of it, I�m not even one month old.

[You have defeated a Level 1 Puer Aranea.]

[You have gained XP.]

Please don�t kill me, spider, I have so much to live for. I still don�t know if I can evolve like a pocket monster. I mean, how cool would that be! You don�t want me to die before I find out, do you?

And� And� What?

Turning around, it�s just one of my legs that�s brushed a spider thread on the ground. By pulling hard I�m able to break free.

Once liberated I return to where the spider was sighted, only to see the small creature, severely burned by acid, lying on its back presenting its curled legs to the ceiling.

�I�m sorry, spider. I misjudged you.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Puer Aranea. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Puer Aranea unlocked.]

[You have gained one Biomass.]

[Puer Aranea: Child Spider. A newly born spider monster, relies on its web to secure prey.]

Great shame overcomes me.

Clearly the rage I directed at this spider, the contempt for it growing fat on Biomass behind its cosy web was very misplaced.

This is a Level one baby spider monster. It�s possible it never managed to consume any Biomass at all.

How pitiful.

Your existence is so pitiful! We won�t talk about your end� I�m sorry young spider.

After my first two blasts of acid the spider was already heavily wounded. Without any way to recover the damage, its pitifully small Health pool had shrunk to almost nothing.

When I entered the nest to finish the battle it was already on the edge of death. My last shot was enough to defeat it. Being only Level one, I�m sure the experience I�ve gained isn�t much, but by consuming it�the taste was as you could imagine�I gained two more Biomass.

Once again, Eyes +3 is within my reach!

With my vision finally in a non-life threateningly sucky state, I�ll be able to concentrate on other aspects of my body.

Maybe then I�ll be able to actually fight something.

Wishful thinking�

I have to find out how to grow into at least an adult ant. Perhaps achieving more Levels? Before that can happen, a place to safely hunt is a must.

Having consumed the unfortunate arachnid and at least secured a path forward, I�ve little choice but to continue my journey. I use broken rocks and dust to break through the web on the other side of the nest and squeeze myself between the threads once more.

Engage Stealth mode!

Scrabbling to the ceiling, I�m back to moving cautiously down the tunnel.

It isn�t long before I find something new. A shaft plunging straight down into the dark. Directly in the middle of the tunnel, the floor drops away and before me is a hole four metres in diameter. The bottom is nowhere to be seen despite the winding light threads that twist through the rock walls.

How far down does this thing go?

The tunnel I�m in keeps continuing forward, so once again I�m left with a choice.

If I assume deeper means more dangerous then I should leave my exploration of this shaft for later. I still take time to sniff the edge with my antennae, seeking any sign of the trail.

Nothing.

I�m a little disappointed but at the same time kind of relieved. I�d rather not have to pursue the trail deeper into these tunnels, but since going higher in the tunnels isn�t safe either, due to the threat of painful death by humans, going deeper may be the smarter option.

Gah, my head hurts!

I will probably have to explore all options in the end. No need to keep thinking about it. Onward!

Passing over the shaft opening, I proceed on my initial path, warily scanning as I do so.

After twenty minutes I encounter another development.

It turns out my small tunnel connects to a much larger one, similar to the cavern I was in before. This large passage is at least thirty metres wide and twenty metres high. Sitting at the opening to my small tunnel, there are other, visible openings breaking off from this main passage.

I know what this means�

More monsters!

There�s a few prowling between rock formations, and even more hiss, chitter, and clack from the shadows. I wonder if this passage links back to the first cavern I was in? Have I just done a wide loop and reconnected to the very passage I was trying to get away from?

I have to be careful.

First things first, I retreat and start searching for a section of soft dirt to dig. I have to move back about a hundred metres before I find a section of wall I can work with.

Next, I begin to construct a nest once more by opening a hole in the wall and removing chunks of dirt and rock to block off the tunnel. I just don�t feel safe unless I can put even a flimsy layer of protection around myself.

It takes a few hours, but I excavate a cosy, dark nest and manage to block off the tunnel towards the new cavern, leaving my small opening on the ceiling to allow my passage.

Also:

[Digging has reached Level 4.]

Even if it�s a fairly useless skill, it feels good to grow and improve! When I think about it, I�m already a vastly improved little monster from when I started. My senses are sharper, my acids stronger, and my skills have Levelled up.

I�m still pathetically weak in combat, but still� Let me be proud of myself.

Nest site secured. Time for a nap!

To explore new terrain and possibly hunt, I need to be sharp, so getting some rest first is a priority. I flop my hard carapace down, legs splayed out. I can�t actually shut my eyes having no eyelids, which is a little weird, to say the least. Since I raised insects in the past, I know that ants don�t sleep. They basically stay still and rest for a while. It�s a state called torpor.

Unmoving, I gradually drift into a fuzzy state of half attention. All stimuli fade into a background noise and my mind slowly drifts away from my senses.

Getting some shut eye�without actually shutting my eyes.

Sometime later I shake myself awake and pull my legs under me, ready to venture forth. My mind is refreshed. Peak performance has been reached. Time to explore.

There are two concerning things happening right now. Firstly, I want to try and secure one more Biomass to improve my Eyesight. Once that�s been achieved, I won�t try and amass four more points to achieve +4, but start to upgrade the rest of my body instead. With more powerful Legs, Carapace, Mandibles, and Acid Gland I�ll feel a lot more comfortable exposing myself when hunting.

Secondly, I need to secure more XP. With more Levels I may be able to increase my stats, which could mean progressing into an adult ant and greatly increasing my chances of survival. And that plan is already forming. Hopefully I�ll be able to try it out in this cavern, as long as there are enough monsters.

I emerge into the large tunnel and quickly take shelter amongst the rock formations on the ceiling. My stealth has long ago reached Level three. Hopefully I can raise it further by shadowing some monsters in here.

Looking back and forth, to my left the cavern slopes gradually upwards and curves into the distance. I can�t help but worry this tunnel is the path that extended from the cavern I was in before. Have I seriously circled around just to put myself directly in front of the soldiers again?

It appears this area of Dungeon mostly consists of these larger �main� tunnels with small ones branching and twisting off in all directions, creating spaces for smaller monsters to exist and group together.

Then large tunnels are the highways and the smaller ones are the backstreets?

Something like that.

Sweeping my antennae, I move towards the downward sloping side.

[Tunnel Sense has reached Level 3.]

Huh� Trying to decide direction and map the tunnels in my mind is Levelling my Tunnel Sense? Feels a little weird to think the system can monitor my thoughts�

Well, Skill Levels are something that can only help for now!

Hopefully somewhere in this direction I�ll be able to find what I�m looking for.

I�ve noticed two new types of monsters in this area already. The first is like a large rat but with three tails, each one tipped with a spike of some sort. Absolutely don�t want to mess with that guy. The second is a mollusc looking creature, its long slimy body coated with organic looking spines of bright colours, almost like coral growing directly from the creature�s back. Something to consider about this thing is that it�s at least twice my size and is clearly capable of moving on the walls. Two of them have slid up vertically already.

I hate slug-like things, yuk! They don�t appear to be able to move very quickly, and I would be shocked if these brightly coloured bros weren�t poisonous in some way.

I�ll avoid their trails as well, just in case.

Ah ha! I�m starting to hear the sweet sound I�ve been hoping for. Growls of beasts and the gnashing of claws are starting to happen farther ahead. Onward, with the speed of Shadowfax!

This world contains a bizarrely game-like system. The information I need most is exactly how this system functions. For example, how does the system award XP when a monster dies?

Is it divided evenly amongst everything that caused damage? Or is all of the experience awarded to the one who deals the final blow? I�ve never received a system announcement awarding experience during combat, only after the prey has expired.

I can assume that only when something dies is XP awarded for it.

Let�s test a few theories then.

Drawing near, the sounds of combat are growing louder and louder. Sticking to the shadows, I peer around the rock crevices to identify the combatants.

Locked in furious battle are four of the filthy Claw Centipedes and a croca-beast.

By the shining beard of Gandalf, I hate those stupid centipedes. They think they�re so great! The four crawling monstrosities have surrounded the much larger, hulking, walking croc, advancing and retreating to distract their foe and create chances for the others.

The croca-beast is doing its best to watch each opponent, but they�re simply too slippery. Always moving, circling and fainting. The beast�s already been wounded in several places and is leaking green ichor. It isn�t going down without a fight though. A fifth centipede lies twitching at the croca-beast�s feet, completely torn in half.

Slash!

Bite!

The monster�s whirl in deadly combat, swinging claws and chomping fangs.

It�s all quite thrilling.

Despite the excitement, I try to keep an eye on my surroundings. The last thing I want is one of those stupid slugs to slide up and eat me when I�m not looking. Surprisingly, most monsters are giving this fight a wide berth, unwilling to get dragged into a fight between such dangerous opponents.

I�m happy to chip in, however.

The croca is snapping its jaws towards one centipede while using its claws to ward off the others. Its tail swings furiously, trying to defend its vulnerable back as it turns. Suddenly it coils up, crouching low.

This is it!

I hurriedly turn and take aim, and as the croca launches itself at one of its tormentors, I fire a blast at one of the centipedes, drenching the foul thing in my acid.

As quickly as I can, I re-aim and fire another shot at the croca itself, splashing the burning liquid down its left side.

The giant croc has already clamped its jaws shut on its victim. Swinging its massive head from side to side, it snaps repeatedly down, audibly crunching the exoskeleton of the centipede writhing and twisting madly in a death grip.

However, in striking so boldly, the croca has left itself open to retaliation. The remaining three centipedes, including the victim of my sneak attack, leapt forth, unwilling to let this chance slip. Taking advantage of the certain death of their comrade they plunge with wriggling glee, sinking fangs and claws into their larger foe, tearing away at their prey.

One of the centipedes rears up the end of its body, displaying a spike which it flips forward and drives into the croca�s back, surely injecting some form of poison.

The larger monster roars in rage and with a massive swing of its head snaps the centipede in half, flinging pieces away into the darkness before turning on the remaining pests. And with my acid burning it and the poison in its system, it�s moving slower and slower.

The three surrounding centipedes withdraw, circling at range, waiting for the poison and damage already done to wear down their prey. The target of my attack has withdrawn farther than the others, playing extra defensive while it hisses and clacks at the surroundings, unsure where the hidden foe lies.

Gwehehehe. Over here!

I fire a burst at that centipede, splashing it squarely on the tail. The creature shrieks and squirms, clacking fiercely as it attempts to locate my hiding place with its beady eyes.

No such luck, pinchy!

I normally wouldn�t act so brazenly, but with their hunt almost successful and the threat of surrounding monsters joining in, I doubt the centipedes would be so foolish as to abandon their prey to hunt for me.

So once again I nestle into the shadows and prepare to watch how things play out from the safety of the ceiling.

The croca-beast is heavily wounded, air rasps between its massive jaws as it labours to breathe. Although the eyes of the beast are still alive with fury, and the centipedes give due respect to their monstrous opponent, continuing to wait it out, retreating slightly every time it steps forward.

My victim is moving slower now, clearly wounded. It refuses to back too far away from the croca-beast, but also remains close enough to claim its stake, unwilling to relinquish its share of the prize.

The croca is close to finished now, unable to put up much of a fight. Every breath is an effort. Its blurry eyes lock onto its final target, the wounded centipede I attacked.

Dash!

With the last of its strength the monster hurls itself forward, desperate to bring down just one more enemy before it goes. The wounded centipede darts to one side as the others close in on the beast from behind, but the acid has burned away for too long.

The waiting game the centipedes played has weakened the croca significantly, working nicely in my favour to allow my acid to accrue damage.

It�s just enough of a hindrance that the beast can land a vicious swipe with its claws.

Slash!

The centipede reels back from the blow but doesn�t fall. Combined with the acid attacks from earlier, the unfortunate monster no longer has enough power behind its strikes. This was the final burst of strength from the wounded croca. After the furious attack, it collapses to the floor, having spent all of its energy.

My heart pounds in my tiny ant thorax, this is perfect!

Once the unharmed centipedes close in on their prey to deliver the finishing blow, I take aim. This is the last of my acid for the time being. This shot has to count.

Pow!

My acid fires true, straight onto the wounded centipede.

My victim contorts its body as the hateful acid burns through it.

For some reason I have very little sympathy for these clawed centipedes. Hopefully not just because they look so hideous. I like to think I�m not that shallow.

The two healthy centipedes turn to inspect their heavily wounded comrade before turning back to the now collapsed croca-beast and finishing it off. As the large monster breathes its last breath, I tense�

No system announcement.

I didn�t receive any XP, even though I damaged it. This means that being part of a successful fight isn�t enough, only the last blow matters.

[You have defeated a Level 3 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 3. One Skill Point awarded.]

Speaking of which, now the injured centipede has succumbed to its wounds. Even though the fearsome blow from the croca-beast surely dealt 80% of the damage to the centipede, I am the one who reaps the reward as my acid has claimed the final hit!

Muahahaha!

The final two centipedes seem scarcely bothered by the loss of another ally. One of them scuttles towards a nearby wall and darts into a side tunnel as the other centipede circles the beast carcass, clacking and hissing at the surroundings, defending the Biomass.

It isn�t long before another five centipedes burst into the main tunnel and surround the prize. One centipede even crawls over and seizes the remains of the one I defeated and starts dragging it back towards their nest!

Oi!

You dirty thief, I curse your father! Wriggling chitinous worm that he is. I glare down at them from my hiding place on the roof.

[Stealth has reached Level 5. Upgrade available.]

Oh ho! The great Gandalf has bestowed his wisdom upon my head. So supple his facial hair, so aggressive his eyebrows.

I�ll have to investigate this upgrade a little later. For now, I must monitor this situation.

The centipedes move quickly to secure their hard-won Biomass, dragging away the croca-beast and the body of the first centipede to perish in the battle. They really don�t intend to waste anything. Even to the point of consuming their own kind�

This isn�t really that odd if we consider normal insect behaviour. Some species will consume their own dead rather than let those precious nutrients go to waste. This Dungeon is a highly competitive environment after all, I can�t really blame them.

Still� As expected of these gross monsters.

They run a very slick operation though, I have to give them that. It doesn�t take long for them to get their precious Biomass back into their side tunnel, safe from jealous eyes and the predations of their competition.

However�

If I had a proper mouth, I would be grinning the sly grin of a Cheshire cat. Foolish centipedes. Not as clever as you think you are! Chuckling smugly within my mind, I snake my way down a stone pillar towards the remains of the centipede tossed away by the croca during the fight.

The final prize is mine!

�You look fine,� Titus said.

�I don�t feel fine,� Alberton grumbled.

�Do you ever feel fine?�

�Shove off.�

�It�s just a meeting.�

�You can�t be serious. A formal call to arms before the entire court is a meeting?�

Titus shrugged. �This is the way your dearest aunt wanted it done.�

Alberton grimaced and tugged at his lace collar once again. �You know I don�t like having to face my aunt.�

�We really made a brave Legionary out of you, didn�t we, Alberton?�

�Again, with respect, shove off.�

�That�s shove off, Commander.�

They stared at each other for a moment before chuckling awkwardly. Neither of them enjoyed this kind of formal appearance. Titus felt compressed in his court garb. The lace, the buttons, all of it stretched and pinched at his massive shoulders.

A large insignia was sewn into his coat above his heart, the symbol of the Legion stitched in blue thread on a deep, black background. Under one thick arm he carried his dress helm, polished to a mirror shine until the metal sparkled in the light.

For his part, Alberton was draped in his most elegant robes and his beard had been washed, washed again and then combed before being oiled. The Legions court auxiliaries, charged with overseeing the organisations interactions with the nobility, almost had to tie the Loremaster down as he howled and protested the grooming.

If he was forced to it, Titus would have to admit that watching Alberton get presentable was the only enjoyable part of appearing at court.

At present, they were stewing in an antechamber outside the throne room, waiting to be announced. After some time, an overdressed, wheezing courtier entered to fetch them. They were brought before the carved and gilded entrance doors, where, after a pause, they were announced.

�Commander Titus of the Deep Legion, Loremaster Alberton of the Deep Legion!� boomed the chamberlain.

After calling their names the official struck the floor three times with his staff, a massive stone shaft with an elaborately carved lion head at the head.

The sharp sounds echoed off the vaulted ceiling as the two Legionary officials stepped into the massive hall. To their left and right the courtiers, officials and local power brokers eyed their approach, stepping back to clear the centre of the floor, allowing them to approach the dais on which the throne stood.

The light streaming through the large, arched windows and playing across the elaborately carved pillars that supported the ceiling were impressive. For a frontier kingdom, Liria had been prosperous for a long time and the throne room reflected that wealth and power very well.

Atop the throne sat a matronly woman advanced in her years, with the sharp gleam of intelligence still bright in her eyes. Queen Verita, much beloved by her people, had ruled with grace and wisdom for more than thirty years. The Legion benefited greatly from her trust in that time.

As they approached the throne Titus was irritated to see amongst the officials gathered near the dais some people he didn�t particularly want to meet. As if detecting his souring mood, Corrin, the Mercenary Union President in Liria, winked cheekily at him.

Titus could only sigh and glance back at Alberton, who appeared to be completely rigid, his eyes locked to the throne on which Verita sat. Titus knew his friend well enough to recognise the deep dread that filled him whenever he thought of his own rear being placed in that chair, no matter how unlikely such a scenario might be.

He would be completely useless, as usual.

When the two men reached the edge of the dais they saluted and remained still.

�You may be at ease, Legionaries,� Verita greeted them warmly.

�My thanks, Queen Verita,� Titus replied formally.

The queen turned her attention to Alberton, who by this point was almost in a panic with the eyes of the court focused on him.

�Nephew, it is so wonderful to see you again. For too long you have avoided our presence, burying yourself in study. I am very pleased you were able to attend this formal meeting.�

Titus inwardly sighed. As he suspected, the queen had only called this formal meeting in order to drag Alberton out to visit. The idiotic Loremaster was supposed to scrub himself up and come to court every now and again to keep his doting aunt happy. If he�d been skipping out on coming here, then forcing him to attend in full formal garb was possibly the queen subtly punishing her shy nephew.

�My honour, your, uh, Aunt,� Alberton mumbled.

Seeming satisfied by her wayward relative�s discomfort, Verita indicated to the gathered dignitary adjacent to the dais. �We have gathered representatives here of many of our great cities' prominent groups to discuss the activity within the Dungeon and the course of action to take from this point forth,� Veritas said. �To begin, Commander Titus of the Legion.�

At the queens� announcement all chatter in the room ceased and Titus cleared his throat.

�Mana levels within the Dungeon are climbing quickly. According to our projections we can expect a wave to break in the first strata in as little as three days, perhaps four. In addition to this, Legionaries on guard witnessed a monster ant close to the surface. Due to the special nature of this creature, the Legion intends to advance deeper into the Dungeon and exterminate the colony. In order to facilitate this level of activity, the Legion is formally requesting military aid from the throne to assist in securing the city from the wave, freeing Legion resources to delve for the creatures nest.�

At the conclusion of his speech, spoken rapidly with military precision, there was a slight pause before several officials began chuckling openly, while others frowned in disapproval.

Corrin, dressed in her official Union leather armour, blue cape expensively cut to flow from her shoulders, stepped forward.

�Your majesty, if I may?� She bowed towards the throne.

�You may speak, Corrin,� Verita said.

The mercenary leader stood, straightened her cape and turned to address the throne room. �For over a hundred years the city of Liria has prospered under the enlightened rule of Queen Verita and her forebears. The citizens of this city enjoy a peace and prosperity that has seldom been seen, even in the millennia following the great Cataclysm.�

Titus� eyes narrowed as Corrin continued to speak. He could easily see where this was going to go.

�In all that time,� she continued, �the responsibility of managing and policing activity within the Dungeon has been placed into the hands of the Deep Legion. Despite their continual, overbearing and disruptive activities, Dungeon delving has been an economic cornerstone of Liria, and through the leadership of the Mercenary Union and the bravery of its membership, has this resource been exploited.�

Corrin gestured towards Titus. �Yet now we see the Legion come begging to our great queen for assistance in defending the city, proving their inability to meet their obligations, whilst jumping at shadows and insects.�

Queen Verita raised an eyebrow. �Your point being, Corrin?�

The Mercenary Union president bowed once more to the queen, her silky brown hair falling around her ears.

�The Mercenary Union once again petitions the throne to allow us direct authority over Dungeon access, allowing us to properly administer this resource and police our own members. We are supported in our petition by the Associated Merchants Guild,� she said, gesturing to one side.

One of the few non-humans in the room stepped forward, a Brathian, his silver skin containing an aquatic, translucent quality that revealed their people�s origins.

�Our projections estimate that a restraining of regulations around Dungeon exploitation would double profits within two years, your majesty,� the tall humanoid said.

Brathian voices had an almost singing quality to them, resonating in the air slightly after they had finished speaking.

The queen nodded thoughtfully, then spoke, �You are denied once again, Corrin. If you would dismiss the threat represented by an ant, then I highly recommend you brush up on your history. The land our beloved city is founded on once belonged to another kingdom, this queen will not repeat the mistakes of those rulers and underestimate the Dungeon. It is not a resource, nor a mine, for all the wealth and resources it brings us. It is a threat and should always be treated as such.�

The queen gestured towards Titus. �If you read that history, you will find it was the Deep Legion who liberated this land. For this reason, among others, the rulers of Liria have continued to place their trust in them.�

Corrin gracefully bowed towards the throne. �This loyal subject is more concerned with the future prosperity of the citizens than history. The Dungeon is to be respected, certainly, but not feared.�

The queen acknowledged her words with a wave of her hand and stood, drawing the attention of the room upon her. �The crown will place the royal guard at the disposal of the Legion for the duration of the wave. Let it be known that Liria places its trust in the Legion to oversee the Dungeon. Commander, how confident are you that you can exterminate this nest of monsters?�

Titus saluted, hand over his heart. �We are the Legionem Abyssi, the Deep Legion, your majesty,� Titus said, turning to face Corrin. �For over three thousand years, in all of the lands of Pangera, one fact has always been true. Under the ground, nobody can match our strength.�

That centipede was not a pretty sight. Ripped right in half with its internal organs spilling out. Urk�

However, I couldn�t pass up the precious opportunity that those hideous remains represented. Sweet, sweet Biomass!

Using all of my guile, I retrieved the corpse, one half at a time and returned to the security of my nest for the� feast.

Holy moly, this is awful eating.

Almost so disgusting I would rather starve. Almost. This is a very keyword, almost. Would you like to starve to death, Anthony, or eat this pile of smashed centipede? I would rather eat, but only just!

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Huh, it seems each creature usually contains one Biomass.

Something interesting that I paid more attention to this time is the leftovers. I can�t eat every part of these monsters, the fangs, carapace, teeth and anything else that is too hard for me to ingest, so what happens to these pieces?

After waiting more than an hour, a faint blue glow begins to surround these chunks and before my very eyes they sink into the ground.

What the� Creepy!

These leftover materials are being absorbed straight back into the soil? Does that mean this cavern network is absorbing monster pieces from all over? What for!

The more I learn, the more questions I have.

Well, now for the important business. I currently have three Biomass and one Skill Point to spend. Firstly, the Biomass. Despite my current level of improvement, my vision remains officially awful. My policy of assessing before fighting is unchanged, so improving my senses is a must!

[Do you wish to improve Eyes? This will cost 3 Biomass.]

Ugh. Here we go� Yes�

GUOOOH! The itch! It�s worse than before-eee! How? How can it be WORSE!

As if an entire swarm of bees decided my eyeballs were the greatest offence to their species, my eyes lit up with spectacularly intense itching. After much scrabbling, rolling, and beating my head against the wall, the feeling eventually fades away.

Phew� Now to the next task, assigning my Skill Point!

[Would you like to spend your Skill Point?]

Yes indeed!

The usual menu appears and another mystery is quickly solved. Now that my stealth has reached Level five, an upgrade is available. Looking through my list of skills to purchase, along with dash and the skills I�d seen before, is a new option.

[Stealth (I) [?] Advanced Stealth (II): Cost 1 SP. The upgraded Stealth skill further improves the skill holders� passive ability to avoid notice, while greatly increasing this ability when remaining still.]

Oh ho! When my skills reach Level five, I can upgrade them to an improved version at the cost of another Skill Point? Interesting! I�d be an idiot not selecting this skill. Not being seen is the same thing as being alive! The new passive seems very handy as well.

Now my status is like this:

Name: Anthony

Level: 3

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 30

MP: 0

Skills: Digging Level 4 (I); Acid Shot Level 3 (I); Grip Level 3 (I); Bite Level 3 (I); Advanced Stealth Level 1 (II); Tunnel Sense Level 3 (I)

Mutations: Eyes +3; Antennae +2; Acid Gland +1

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 0

Biomass: 0

Finally, Level three! I�ve come so far, I could almost cry.

This is my pride, my determination. I will conquer these caves and they will bow to my incredible strength!

�At some point in the future.

For now, I need to lay low and continue to scout. In a one-on-one fight with almost anything I�m going to flat out lose. But with Advanced Stealth, I feel more confident exploring the shaft, heading deeper into this place.

I wasn�t able to detect a pheromone trail in the cavern, and although I haven�t been able to scout it properly, I can�t deny I�m very curious to see what lies down below.

If I didn�t have the new upgrades to my eyes and stealth, I probably wouldn�t chance this.

Time to witness what lies in the depths!

Giving my antennae a quick clean�got to keep them shiny�I make my way out of the nest and back towards the vertical shaft. Okay, this is a little tricky. Moving directly downwards still makes me a little nervous. It isn�t something humans can have a chance to do after all. Walking down a wall is one thing, but walking down a black hole where I can�t see the bottom is another entirely.

Steady now, steady!

Making my way down the shaft, I realise it�s actually quite bright in here. The pulsing veins of soft blue light run the length of the walls, illuminating the rock in their glow. Although not as bright as regular daylight or a light from my own world, it�s a well-lit environment compared to what I�ve experienced so far in this place.

The walls pulse every minute or so, the light waxing and waning in intensity, giving the shaft a very organic feel. Also, it�s hard to detect, but I think the light is ever so lightly becoming brighter the farther down I go.

After cautiously climbing down fifty metres, something surprises me greatly.

What the heck is this!

Growing out of the wall, directly atop a light vein, is a small tuft of something similar to blue grass. Except in the centre of the small mound of plant matter, is a stalk atop which is a tiny blue crystal flower.

There�s plant life here in these caves! How? There isn�t any sunlight. Perhaps these veins are able to provide some kind of sustenance? The blue flower is extremely small, but by shoving my ant face right up to it, its exquisite detail comes into focus.

Just beautiful.

Leaving my discovery behind, I continue down the tunnel only to discover the small patches of grass with their accompanying flowers are appearing more and more often. Followed by the detection of another welcome surprise.

Pheromones!

My antennae waggle like crazy detecting the scent of the chemical trail left by my colony. My clan, my tribe, my people-insects!

I have chosen the correct path. Clearly the scout from my colony originated down here somewhere and pursued the thieves who raided our nest higher into the caves. What a brave scout. How diligent and bold! Giving his all for the colony, just as I shall when I get home. This is the ant way after all!

Excited by my find I continue on my way downwards.

Another forty metres and the shaft ends abruptly. There�s a narrow tunnel branching to the left. This tunnel is not at all straight, jagged corners and bends come one after the other, slowing my progress to a crawl.

I refuse to barrel blindly around corners in this place. There could be more spiders or all sorts of horrible things hiding in there. This goes double since I�m worried the monsters will be stronger down here than what I�ve seen so far.

To the right is a wider, less deathy sort of opening, and I take a chance to poke my head around the corner. To my shock, the tunnel abruptly opens wide. What. The. Hell. Is this?

Spreading out before my very eyes is an impossible vista. A looming underground world of incredible size, covered in strange, magical plant life.

Below me, bizarre looking trees and giant mushrooms cast deep shadows over a forest floor covered in grasses and plants similar to the strange crystal flowers in the shaft. The entire scene is suffused with that same blue light and the plants themselves possess the creeping veins of light twisting through their forms.

The entire scene pulses, just like in the tunnel walls.

This is insane. Gandalf, what is going on here? I did not expect to run into a flourishing ecosystem. How can an underground space of this scale exist? I can�t even see the other side! The ceiling alone looks like it�s sixty-metres high.

This place must be absolutely crawling with monsters.

The thought grips my little ant heart. Somewhere in this massive cavern my colony exists, or perhaps they�re even farther away than this and the scout passed through this area on its way higher up.

At any rate, I have to explore this space and I can�t help but feel depressed. This vista is exotic and exciting, but I can�t appreciate it while I�m in a position of not knowing the first thing about it. In such a massive open space, what size could the monsters have grown to? How much Biomass could they pile up in a flourishing area like this?

I have no idea, gah!

Firm your resolve, Anthony! You are going to make it. You will conquer this space and reunite with your colony.

I�ll retreat higher up and get some Levels.

Don�t look at me like that, this is clearly the sensible choice. I need to raise my Level and gain more mutations in preparation of exploring this space. I will conquer the known before I attack the unknown.

Back up we go!

I retreat up the shaft and regroup back in my nest. I�m feeling pressured by time now. If my suspicions are correct then the �main� tunnel up here is connected to the cavern I was in earlier, which is now fully occupied by soldiers. Assuming they could come down in this direction at any time, I have to stay safe.

Once they do, I won�t have access to the easier XP and Biomass and will be forced into the open space below without any further preparation. Taking all this into consideration�

I have to move fast. It�s become necessary to throw some of my earlier caution to the wind and make bold moves. Without XP and Biomass, I won�t survive pushing deeper into this place, and I can�t take my time acquiring said XP and Biomass as I�d like to. Time for this ant to go into battle.

My mind made up, I zip back out to the main tunnel and Stealth up to the ceiling, antennae waving in the air as I cast my eyes about to spot prey. If I want to maximise my Biomass gains then I should be sure to target creatures I haven�t been able to consume yet, ensuring I get the bonus point from Gandalf. Meaning I need to try and hunt one of the mollusc creatures, ugh, the tail rat, and if possible one of the croca-beasts.

I have no idea how the hell I would hunt one of those giant crocodiles. They are so much more frightening than everything else around here.

One of the slug creatures is sliding along on the wall to my left. I don�t have two days to sit around starving myself and obsessively study the creature. I�m going to have to move quickly!

Entering shark mode, I sneak up behind the hideous snail creature, making sure to avoid standing in its slime trail and keeping a constant eye on my surroundings to not get caught by anything as I�m hunting.

Up close, the creature is even less appealing and I swear at least twice my body length. It�s just a long slimy body topped with brightly coloured spines that seem to grow organically from the creature�s back. I absolutely won�t touch those!

Two stalks poke out from the front of the monster�s head, either eyes or antennae on the end, I�m not sure. They could be a vulnerable point to attack later. Drawing closer still, that thick covering of mucus its body produces, presumably to help grease its path and increase its speed, makes me wary from what I suspect the other reason is.

Backing away from the slug, I nip behind a rock and give it a surprise blast of acid!

Aaaand nothing happens.

The monster continues to slide along, totally oblivious to my sneak attack. I thought as much. That layer of mucus is protecting the creature from my acid and will do exactly the same thing if I try to Bite it with my jaws. I�d probably just get stuck!

Damn slug.

Of all the defensive measures you could employ, you had to use a slime barrier? Could you make this anymore disgusting for me?

If that�s the way you want to play, fine then. I�ll show you the power of a human mind!

Actually, this is a trick that even ants on Earth are able to do. As the slug continues to slide its way along the wall, I scout around for some dirt. Grabbing a mandible full I sneak up behind the slug and plop the chunk of soil on its side before immediately backing off, looking for a reaction.

Nothing. It isn�t clear the slug can even feel what I�m doing.

Gwehehehe.

I repeat the process four more times, piling up dirt on and around the same place towards the rear of the slug on its side. The dirt quickly soaks in the oozing slime. Once the soil has become a sticky ball of yuck, I grab chunks of it with my mandibles, peel it away and replace it with fresh dirt.

Repeating the process for ten minutes, I manage to soak away the defensive slime layer covering this one area. And the slug continues to show no reaction.

Let�s see what happens this time.

I retreat and find a sheltered spot before turning to present the b-zone and firing acid once again.

As soon as the acid impacts the slugs� delicate spongy flesh, the creature shudders with surprise. Felt it that time did you, slug? How about another shot!

Pow!

Nailed it again! The slug is visibly in pain now, its body recoiling from the burning. Actual steam rises from the sticky flesh of the monster as the acid eats it away.

Yuck!

Rearing back with its front half, the slug lifts its head from the wall with a sticky plop and turns towards the source of the damage. Detached from the wall, the creature�s foot, the undulant muscle snails and slugs use to move, wriggles in the air. The long stalks, far longer than what you would expect to see on a slug, wave wildly in the air, seeking the foe.

In that moment, my danger senses start tingling, and a thought flashes through my mind at light speed: how does one of these slow slug monsters get food up here? There aren�t any plants, so how do they hunt monsters?

No sooner does the thought occur to me, I dart out of cover and scramble away from the slug as fast my little legs will carry me.

Turning back, the slug is withdrawing in on itself, almost compressing its raised front half, and a mouth opens wide out of the slime, revealing a hideous maw of fangs. Bursting forward like a spring, the slug blasts out a massive spray of thick mucus, covering the rock wall behind me in a noxious, bubbling goo that eats away at the stone.

Whoa! Sticky acid! By the looks of it, that acid is much stronger than mine too.

Without pausing, I continue my retreat, moving up to the ceiling and getting lost amidst the rocks before I chance checking on the slug. The monster is enraged, eyes sweeping the rocks as it reorients itself and moves in my direction, its surprisingly vicious looking maw gnawing at the air.

That�s one ticked off slug. I really wish I�d considered what I would do if the monster turned out to be an acid spitting nightmare of death.

Too late to weep ant tears, since ants can�t cry anyway. Only thing to do is finish off this slug. Problem is, I have a limited supply of acid within me, usually only three or four shots worth at a time. I haven�t managed to time exactly how long it takes to regenerate each blast, so after firing one more round I won�t know when another will become available.

Since I can�t really attack the slug with my mandibles, the acid is my only option. Somehow, I have to land a decisive blow with my final acid attack.

I can think of one strategy, but I really don�t want to have to take such a risk.

Why have you forced me into this situation, Gandalf? If I wasn�t in such a hurry, I�d never even consider this!

Gritting my mandibles, I work my way from the ceiling to the wall, moving towards the slug, trying to keep my profile low by moving between uneven folds in the rock.

[Grip has reached Level 4.]

Finally! How long do I have to scramble about on walls and ceilings before this skill will Level up? Perhaps it only really considers time I spend fighting while on walls?

No time to worry about it now, battle is at hand!

The slug is moving through its own acid now, sliding over the adhesive muck without taking any damage. Darn that protective slime barrier. The monster likely hunts by immobilizing and burning its foe with this stuff before closing in for the feast.

Here goes nothing.

I�ve managed to close within ten metres of the slug. I�m sure it�s seen me moving but probably hasn�t been able to pinpoint me.

I take a deep breath and attempt my strategy. Standing to my full height, I proudly present my backside to the slug, waggling it about in front of the creature�s disbelieving eye stalks.

Get an eyeful slug! Like what you see?

Apparently even a monstrous slug creature over two metres long is unsure how to react to an ant wiggling its bum at it. The creature pauses in shock before rearing back with its toothy mouth wide open.

Now, fire!

[Acid Shot has reached Level 4.]

A shot so perfect even Gandalf approves!

The sizzling liquid erupts out of my gaster at tremendous speed, arcing through the air in a solid jet of death. The slug compressed its body, preparing to lunge and fire another blast when my own acid splashes directly onto its face, and most crucially, straight down the monster�s gullet.

The reaction is immediate. The slug contorts, falling off the wall and slapping wetly against the floor where it continues to writhe as the acid burns away inside it. The rocky protrusions along its back scrape and scratch against the stone with loud rasping noises. Hopefully nothing is drawn to investigate�

A flawless plan!

I�d hope by baiting the monster I�d be able to fire a critical shot inside its mouth, which I�d figured would be the only way I could deal fatal damage with one shot of acid, since the rest of the creature is still protected by its slime barrier.

I continue to observe my victim as it suffers under the effects of my attack.

I mean, I hope I dealt fatal damage�

[You have defeated a Level 4 Alcyoneum Slug.]

[You have gained XP.]

Triumph! The slug has finally gone limp, a two-metre-long sludgy picture of disgusting mollusc.

Now for the task of consuming my prey. I mean, now that I think about it� Do I really have to eat that? If an ant could vomit, I�d be on the verge of it now.

Don�t be stupid, Anthony, people on Earth ate molluscs all the time. You can�t afford to turn up your nose at any source of Biomass, so stop whining and dig into that slug!

Ugh.

On approach, I take note of its slime layer. The creature isn�t producing slime anymore, but most parts of it are still coated in the stuff. I�ll have to remove it before I can eat the whole thing.

Using more dirt to soak away the slime, I clean off one half before I start to eat it. Even more disgusting than I�d thought. I mean, the texture alone� I only manage to get halfway through before I become full. This is one big slug.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Alcyoneum Slug. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Alcyoneum Slug unlocked.]

[Alcyoneum Slug: Coral Slug. This creature uses powerful acid to attack its foes. Be wary of the poisonous spines on its back.]

[You have gained one Biomass.]

I�m not able to consume the rest of the slug immediately so I quickly dig a hole in the wall and bury it before returning to my nest. I can�t rest on my laurels even if I did just survive a nasty fight. Time is limited and my pace has to be high. Risks can�t be avoided.

I use my new Biomass to upgrade my Acid Gland, my primary weapon, to +2. After enduring the mutation, I return to the cavern to scout for more prey. I can vaguely feel the acid inside my Acid Gland building up again. At the moment there might only be enough for one shot. Not enough to take on a creature so I�ll have to continue scouting for now.

The improvement to my Grip skill is scarcely noticeable. Its slightly easier to carry my weight as I crawl about on the ceiling, but that seems to be it. Any advantage at all is well worth it I suppose. I wonder what Grip will advance into once it reaches Level five. You won�t cop out and just call it Advanced Grip, will you, Gandalf?

Moving quietly, I begin to scout up and down the tunnel, searching for opportunities. There are monsters moving in small groups here and there. A pair of lizard hounds are sniffing about, and a group of Claw Centipedes are similarly snooping, sliding around rocks and up onto the walls.

Out of the corner of my eye I happen to catch a flicker of movement and turn just in time to see a familiar shape ducking in between two stone outcroppings on the wall.

If it isn�t my old friend, the Thorn Lizard! I�m almost feeling nostalgic for the very first hunt. I haven�t seen another one of these creatures since the first one at the water pool.

Well then, the next prey is decided.

I can reuse some elements of my first plan for this attack. I�ll use the wall terrain and my acid to battle the creature. I won�t prepare a trap again. I�ll battle it head-on with acid and mandibles to see how I last.

I try to position myself above where I last saw the lizard and try to track it down. Using my improved antennae and eyesight, I�m eventually able to spot it tucked up against the rock, resting. My Biomass investments are continuing to pay off.

Having located the creature I slowly scrabble about, looking for footholds to position myself for the shot I want to take. I only have enough �juice� in the tank for one shot, possibly two. If I want to succeed in this hunt, then I need to make it count.

I shift across the roof to the other side of the lizard, opening up the angles to its face. Next, I painstakingly creep, one leg at a time, to get as close as I can.

Since the lizard is resting, I�m able to sneak within five-metres of the target, moving with such incredible patience it takes me almost fifteen minutes to close the distance.

It takes a lot of concentration to focus on being still for this long, and I�m exhausted by the time I�m in position. My last fight was too risky, this time let�s improve the odds as much as possible.

After slowly turning and presenting the blast zone towards my target I tilt my head and take careful aim.

Boom!

Bullseye!

At such short range against a non-moving target, I�m able to land my acid directly onto the face of the Thorn Lizard. The creature snarls and growls, shutting its eyes and using its claws to swipe the stinging acid off its face.

Taking advantage of the distracted target I close in quickly from above. The creature�s long spines swing wildly through the air as it sweeps its pained head around to dislodge the acid. I approach with caution, trying to avoid getting stabbed and poisoned before I lunge with a vicious Bite.

My mandibles aren�t a fantastic weapon at all. As a worker ant they�re intended for digging, shifting dirt and holding onto stuff, not piercing or cutting. For that reason, the �teeth� on the inside of each jaw are really flat and unable to rip or tear into creatures.

Some ants, like bull ants, have nasty looking mandibles, long and sharp. Others, like the trap jaw ant, have strong locking muscles that can coil like a spring before slamming the jaws shut with tremendous force.

Without any such potential, my bites are more like squeezing the poor creature repeatedly. I�m sure it�s annoying and each Bite isn�t doing a whole lot of damage. In which case I will make up for any deficiency with quantity.

Take that! And that!

Darting forward over and over again, I continuously crush the blinded creature�s head within my mandibles.

[Bite has reached Level 4.]

Another Level four skill, excellent!

The Thorn Lizard blindly stabs in response to my aggression, trying to catch me with its nasty spines, but the creature is too slow and its moves too telegraphed. Without a solid idea of my position, it�s forced into large movements that are too easy to see coming.

Eventually, the Lizard is defeated.

[You have defeated a Level 3 Thorn Lizard.]

[You have gained XP.]

Quiet was something commander Titus found very difficult to come across over the last few days. This expedition had come as a surprise, well outside of the usual schedule, and an endless number of things needed organising before departure.

The Queen providing her own personal Guards had been unexpected though helpful. The Legion had been expecting regular front line soldiers to plug the gaps. Worthy soldiers to be sure, but far from the quality and discipline of an outfit like the Guards.

With their assistance, most preparations were expedited the second they showed up in their burnished, decorative armour, polished to a mirror shine, and started demanding things begin to hustle along in the name of the Queen.

Titus brushed his hands across his desk�s smooth stone surface. Incredible stuff, stonewood. It grew just a like a tree straight out of the ground deep within the Dungeon, and was solid stone the whole way through. The flecked, dark texture of the stone always pleased him, to the point he�d hauled this slab back to surface on his own back in order to fashion this desk.

His hand drew down to the underside of the desk, right next to the wooden draws that had been attached beneath the surface. He pressed for a moment and waited. There was a soft click, and a small rectangular section of stone began to rise off the surface, its seams invisible just a second before.

Using one hand, Titus lifted the section up to reveal a small, fabric lined compartment beneath. Inside were six small glass vials capped with twisted silver that were carved with tiny but precise runes. Two of the vials were empty, but the other four contained a brilliantly glowing liquid, the blue light instantly filling the dark office.

With a sigh Titus began to roll up his sleeve. When the sleeve moved past his elbow, an intricate script began to appear, stamped onto his skin. Concentric circles of strange symbols, not inked onto the skin but imprinted in some way that left them pulsing with a semblance of life.

Taking one of the vials, Titus placed the silver cap directly on the centre of the network of symbols.

Slowly at first, then with growing speed, the circular designs on his arm began to rotate and emit light. As they gathered speed the liquid began to drain out of the vial. Faster and faster, they span until the sparkling fluid was completely gone.

Unclenching his teeth, Titus returned the vial, fixed his sleeves, and replaced the stone cover. It sank into position until the seams were once more invisible.

The injection lifted a weight off his shoulders. As if he�d been grinding his teeth, and only now did he stop and realise just how tight his jaw had been. The commander grimaced, hoping he wouldn�t need another one of those for a while.

Enough of these distractions. Time to get back to where a good Legionary belongs.

Abruptly standing, Titus moved to the corner of the room where his oversized battle-axe rested. Using a single hand, he hefted the huge mass of metal and threw the haft over his shoulder. He�d have to get the old thing sharpened today if he wanted to get it prepped in time for action.

Elsewhere.

�Do you have any idea why they�re bringing those guys down with us, Mirryn?� Donnelan asked.

Mirryn shook her head. She was also puzzled as to why the ragged group of a dozen prisoners, each of them sentenced to death, were being escorted into the Dungeon by a squad of senior Legionaries.

The two trainees had finally reached Level thirty in their respective jobs; Mirryn as a Ranger and Donnelan as a Fire Mage. When a Legionary reached Level thirty, they were able to be promoted to full Legionary status in an induction ceremony deep in the Dungeon.

Mirryn was excited to be finally inducted but also a bit anxious. None of the trainees had any idea what the ceremony was or why it had to be done deep in the Dungeon. The full Legionaries never said a word.

Not for the first time she was struck by exactly how much common people didn�t know about the Deep Legion, a private army that had existed for three thousand years. Ever since civilisation had been brought to the brink of destruction when the Dungeon first opened, the Legion became something everyone heard of but knew very little about.

She firmed her resolve. Soon the Legion�s secrets would be her secrets, and she would keep them well.

The two of them were currently stationed in what the trainees liked to call �newbie cave.� The monsters that usually occupied this cavern were the weakest one could find in the Dungeon, making it the perfect learning ground for newcomers.

Many would-be Dungeon mercs were still hurt here. No matter how many times they were told the Dungeon monster Levels are totally different to monsters on the surface, they never listened. A Level one monster down here could easily crush a Level ten on the surface.

Those stupid jocks were a constant thorn in the Legions side. Everyone wants to Level up, hunt monster cores and valuable components for profit. Few could bother to spare a thought for the Legion rescue teams, who had to constantly bail them out when they bit off more than they could chew.

Staging for the expedition had been going on all day and night. Supplies were brought into the cavern and lowered through a secret shaft in the wall. Donnelan had told her how the Earth Mages had undone their illusions and shifted the rock wall to reveal a supply elevator. Complete with rope pulley system, materials and supplies could be lowered deeper into the Dungeon and retrieved at another concealed location when the expedition reached it.

�Are you prepared for the expedition, trainees?� a confident voice said.

Recognising the sound of Tribune Aurillia, Donnelan and Mirryn immediately snapped to attention.

�Our armour and equipment have been checked and polished, Tribune!� Donnelan hastily reported.

The experienced Tribune chuckled in the face of his enthusiasm. �I wasn�t talking about your equipment, trainee. Every Legionary keeps that in top shape at all times.� Her blue eyes flashed icily, any soldier under her command would quickly regret it if they failed to do so.

�I was talking about up here,� she raised one hand to tap her temple with one finger. �The Dungeon is a dangerous place, even for old hands like me and the commander. The reason we live to get this old is because we don�t underestimate it. You two will be promoted when we get down below. That is a great occasion, one you�ll remember forever, but don�t let it distract you from our task.�

�We won�t, Tribune.� They snapped out quick salutes.

�Tribune, how much longer until we advance into the Dungeon?� Mirryn asked.

The older woman shook her head. �Eager to get started, are you? I don�t blame you. I was young once too. Shouldn�t be more than a few hours, then we�ll start sweeping the upper area clean before we set up the forward camp in the Forest Expanse.�

Phew, that was a furiously busy day. They�ve said in the past that great risk brings great reward and of course that�s true.

It isn�t like I didn�t know that already, but I�d hoped to minimise as much risk as possible. Circumstances have forced me into being aggressive, and thankfully it has paid off!

I check my status to behold my incredible bounty!

Name: Anthony

Level: 4

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 28

MP: 0

Skills: Digging Level 4; Acid Shot Level 5 (I); Grip Level 4 (I); Bite Level 4 (I); Advanced Stealth Level 1 (II); Tunnel Sense Level 3 (I)

Mutations: Eyes +3; Antennae +2; Acid +2

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 1

Biomass: 4

After consuming the Thorn Lizard and the remains of my Coral Slug, I had two Biomass. I held onto those and found another isolated Coral Slug to battle. By repeating my trick from earlier, I was able to deal critical damage by landing a shot inside its mouth. Only, speed was not on my side, and I didn�t manage to avoid the acidic mucus the monster projected.

Having that sticky goop blasted on me was bad enough, but oh boy did it burn. A section of the carapace on the back of my thorax partially melted, and I lost 10 HP before it stopped searing into me. Even just that small bit of acid was a third of my Health! I�m severely tempted to upgrade my carapace in the hopes it provides better protection, but there are so many priorities.

Thankfully after consuming the slug, which took a good while, I was able to regenerate eight HP and mostly restore myself to a picture of ant perfection.

After using so much acid in combat, the rewards have finally shown in the form of Acid Shot Level 5! Ready to be ranked up.

There are still a few basic skills I�d love to purchase, but I cannot pass up the chance to improve my most effective offensive weapon.

[Acid Shot (I) [?] Improved Acid Shot (II): Cost 1 SP. The upgraded Acid Shot skill continues to improve accuracy with ranged acid attacks while giving additional improvement to attacks from increased range.]

Buy!

Immediately the warm trickling sensation of skill learning melts through my brain. So nice.

With this additional range boost, I�ll be able to make more reliable shots from a greater distance, improving my safety as well as my ability to reliably output damage. It�s a win-win.

If only I had access to more Skill Points! I�ll have to Level up again as quickly as possible. So many skills are converging on Level four. I want to upgrade all of them if possible. Leaving them behind and losing out on XP would be a crime.

Now for the tricky bit.

The Biomass.

I really want to upgrade my Eyesight to +4. Having superior vision to other monsters has been critical so far in allowing me to locate isolated prey and prevent others from sneaking up on me. The advantage in senses must never be lost.

However, if I want to battle and gain more Biomass, then directly improving my combat effectiveness would mean improving my acid. This will then leave one extra Biomass I could spend on legs, carapace or mandibles, all of which would increase my capabilities.

Let�s work with a process of elimination. Carapace upgrade would probably be pointless, +1 won�t make much of a difference to anything, my defence is terrible, I�d rather work on speed first.

Which means that +1 Legs is tempting. I�d become a bit more mobile which would help for scouting, retreating and fighting all together, cost effective indeed. Mandibles +1 don�t tempt me much. Larger, stronger mandibles would help me dig, and sharper mandibles would help me fight a little but not much. The only creature I�ve managed to Bite much at all is the Thorn Lizard and they seem quite rare.

This leaves me with really only two viable paths: +4 Eyes or +3 Acid Gland with +1 Legs. Do I continue to place my senses at the top of my priority list? My instinct is to be more defensive. Moving into another unknown environment down below, I want to have every possible advantage I can get. That means being able to see the enemy before they see me.

It�s settled then.

[Would you like to purchase +4 Eyes? This will cost 4 Biomass.]

Oh boy� Yes.

Huuuu-AAAARGH!

I can�t describe the itch that overcame me at that moment. My eyeballs were literally growing and stretching, and my carapace shifted to make way for them.

Please, Gandalf� this torture� Make it stop! I hate mutating. Mutations are amazing! But mutating itself�

Eventually it settles down and my vision is improved.

Now that my eyes bulge farther out from my head, my field of vision has improved quite a bit. I can even see my own gaster waggling behind me when I�m facing straight ahead! Impressive.

My vision still isn�t what I�d like it to be, but it certainly is massively improved from when I was first reborn here in Pangera.

Sniff� You�ve come a long way, Anthony, and soon, soon you will be home with the colony.

No time to hang about being misty eyed! I have to continue to harvest XP and Biomass as fast as I can. Those humans will come roaring down into this cavern blasting everything they see before long.

Back into the main tunnel I go, scurrying onto the roof and once more going on the hunt. If possible, I want to take advantage of the bonus Biomass for new targets. Since I�m fully rested, it may be time to try and take on one of the blade-tailed rats.

The trick is finding one of them alone. They tend to move around in groups of two or three, and they can certainly move fast. There is also the possibility that their thick fur, which covers most of their body, will be able to nullify my acid to some extent. The only exposed targets I could aim for are their faces, feet and tails.

I�ll just have to wait and see if an opportunity presents itself.

Ooo, what�s this? I�m sensing vibrations from a disturbance up ahead, there must be another fight between monsters. I�ll make my way over there. Considering how often the monsters are battling each other in these tunnels it�s kind of surprising there are any left� where are all the replacements coming from?

Are they just popping out of the walls? Are they born, as I presume, I was? I wouldn�t put anything past this place. It certainly baffles me with its mysteries.

For example, isn�t it brighter in here, yet again?

The light from the tunnel walls seems to become more intense with every passing hour. I�m sure of it now. The light is definitely growing stronger. Why? There hasn�t been a single clue.

Since I don�t know, I�ll just have to keep moving forward.

Creeping up, there�s another group of four Claw Centipedes battling against three of the wolf-like creatures with the long, almost draconic tails.

It�s a fierce one. The centipedes are outnumbering their opponents, as usual. They really are the schoolyard bully of this place. But the hounds are flashing their huge fangs and swinging their powerful tails to fend off the assault.

Time for a young ant to make an intervention.

Making sure to stealthily move into a good position, slightly farther away than I would have previously been. I want to take advantage of my new skills to stay as safe as possible.

With careful aim I wait for the perfect moment. The melee ebbs and flows, with moments of sharp speed interspersed with lulls of posing and threatening. The moment the two sides break apart a little, I take my shot.

Bam!

A lightning-fast stream of acid erupts from my rear field, splashing over a Claw Centipede who had just raised its claws to clack threateningly at its foes. The creature reacts immediately by retreating and flipping its many-legged body over, trying to throw off the horribly burning liquid.

The hounds take advantage of the break in the enemy formation, pouncing forward. While two of the hounds keep the three healthy bugs occupied, the remaining hound charges the centipede to the left of the wounded one, cutting it off from its allies. This is shaping up nicely for the one-on-one segment.

This should be interesting. My money is on the hound.

The centipede seems to agree, backing away while rearing up its back section, threatening to stab if the hound approaches. This hound gives absolutely no fricks to the threat and leaps!

Thunk!

Pressured by the aggression, the centipede lunges forward with lightning speed, striking like a scorpion. Showing incredible agility, the hound is able to twist itself to the side, causing the venom spike at the end of the tail to strike stone.

Not willing to wait for the opponent to recover, the hound positions itself to the side, not lunging in to bite and putting itself at risk of the claws, but swings its thick, muscular tail with tremendous force.

Crack!

The centipede is crushed into the stone floor of the cavern. Deep cracks appear on its carapace after the kinetic force rips through its body, shattering the hard outer skeleton.

I�m stunned.

That was one fearsome strike! If I was hit by that I�d be squashed into a pancake, no doubt about it.

Scary!

The centipede doesn�t seem to have fared much better. It twitches on the ground, barely moving. The hound takes a step forward, a murderous glint its eye. Almost as if its thinking, �Take that you bug, how dare you threaten my greatness!�

Before it can deal the finishing blow, sizzling acid streaks through the air and sprays down the hound�s left flank, burning into its flesh.

Oops� Hehehehehe.

Sorry to interrupt your proud moment there, hound, but I don�t want this battle to end just yet.

Of course, one blast of acid isn�t enough to finish off a hound, but the same is also true for the centipedes.

The Claw Centipede I hit earlier has now recovered enough to join the fray. It advances cautiously to reinforce its two unharmed brethren against the two healthy hounds.

This is the critical moment. With one centipede essentially down for the count but matched against one fresh and one wounded hound, the battle has become quite even.

Though the centipedes seem a little unwilling to proceed with the fight. They continue to posture aggressively but don�t actively make any moves to attack.

The hound I injured is mildly damaged by my acid but not badly enough to keep it out of the fight. Disregarding the source of the mystery attack it returns to the aid of its allies in fending off the swarming assailants.

At that moment.

Splash!

Another fierce arc of acid is launched through the air onto the wounded hound. It howls miserably as the burning liquid strikes it once again, rolling and scrabbling at the rocks as it desperately tries to free itself from the goop.

A chance! At this moment the three living centipedes rush forward, hundreds of tiny legs skittering so fast the creatures almost seem to flow over the ground. Distracted momentarily, the hounds respond a bit too late, and one is quickly seized in the claws of an advancing centipede.

Snarling furiously, the hound tosses its head trying to dislodge the attacker before swinging its vicious tail around to slam the centipede away. Too late however, as another centipede has taken advantage of the moment and struck down with its poison stinger!

In the meantime, I have taken the chance to manoeuvre off the roof and down the wall, cautiously approaching the outskirts of the fight.

The poisoned hound howls in anger and throws itself at its attacker, striking with fierce claws and fangs. When another centipede approaches from the side, it is brutally slapped away with a swipe of the tail.

With one hound possibly fatally poisoned and other badly burned, the hounds are very much the worse for wear. Of the four centipedes, one is hanging on by a thread and the other three are all injured to some extent.

There isn�t a single pause in the carnage, and the poisoned hound, seeming to sense its demise, pushes further into the fray. Emboldened, the remaining hounds press forward on the attack.

[You have defeated a Level 3 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

After a few quick chomps with the mandibles the almost dead centipede is finished, and I quietly drag the carcass away to a secluded fold in the rock nearby.

The battle is really reaching a climax now on the other side.

The three remaining centipedes are giving their all to survive, lashing with their poisoned spikes over and over again, trying to ward off the desperate hounds.

The poisoned hound is labouring hard now, barely able to put up any kind of fight as the toxin takes its toll.

The final hound, suffering from claw marks and several bites, stumbles at a critical moment, allowing a centipede to catch it in the shoulder with the spike, sealing its fate.

The enraged victim launches itself into the centipedes, suffering bites and claw attacks. Enduring the pain, the hound pours all its momentum into a massive swipe of the tail, catching two centipedes and sending them slamming into the rock walls.

The stunned creatures can barely move after the incredible force has shattered their legs and deeply cracked their carapace in many places.

All that is left now is one wounded centipede and the burned hound. Both are severely injured, barely able to put up a fight. They circle each other, watching and waiting for an opening.

The hound is limping, its forelegs badly bitten. The centipede isn�t much better. Several of its legs are crushed, hindering its mobility.

Almost as if a hidden start gun has gone off, the two monsters converge, latching onto each other. The centipede has gripped the hound by the throat, the hound is crunching down just behind the centipede�s head!

Who will hold on?

It turns out neither, as both creatures gradually collapse, completely spent, unable to continue the fight.

Emerging from the shadows, I behold a scene of ridiculous carnage. The three hounds have collapsed, exhausted and on the verge of death. Their opponents, the centipedes, are similarly disabled, unable to defend themselves.

Hmm. Hehe� hehehe� Huhu-hahahahaaaa!

FOOLS! You were dancing in the grip of my mandibles all along!

Even if I beheld the entire process with my own eyes, I still cannot quite comprehend exactly how well this has all worked out for me. All of these creatures are on a sliver of Health. Effectively 1 HP. This is an unprecedented harvest of XP and Biomass!

It�s a little interesting how rapidly a person�s attitude can change, isn�t it? Not too long ago I was an average person. I lived in a normal society and wouldn�t consider harming another being. I�d never even been in a proper fight during my past life.

And yet, after being here for a few days I have already become accustomed to battles just like this. Being forced to fight and take the life of your own food quickly changes one�s attitude on the sanctity of life�

Perhaps in my mind I justify it by saying they aren�t people but monsters. Except, isn�t that what I am myself? Time to worry about that later! I need to secure the last hit on these hounds before the poison steals my XP.

Moving efficiently, I pass from hound to hound, using my mandibles to apply Bite attacks until the familiar and soothing refrain of Gandalf rings in my mind.

[You have defeated a Level 4 Lupus Draco Cub.]

[You have defeated a Level 3 Lupus Draco Cub.]

[You have defeated a Level 4 Lupus Draco Cub.]

[You have gained XP.]

And then I move onto the remaining centipedes. Sadly, one of them was unable to hold on to life and has already succumbed to its wounds, but the others are still kicking.

[You have defeated a Level 2 Claw Centipede.]

[You have defeated a Level 3 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 5. One Skill Point awarded.]

[You have reached the Level cap. Evolution menu available.]

Whaaaat! Gandalf, is it true? I can evolve!

No, Anthony! Don�t get distracted. No matter how much you love the idea of evolving, you have to secure this Biomass before anything happens. With all of these bodies just lying about, any creature is going to want a slice of the pie.

At this moment my antennae detect a trembling vibration shuddering through the air.

I immediately become still.

There, again! Faintly, a thudding impact is carried through the tunnel, originating farther up, towards the first cavern.

Wait� No, no, not now. Not like this. It can�t be now!

As quickly as possible I start chowing down, trying to consume as much Biomass as I can.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Lupus Draco Cub. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Lupus Draco Cub unlocked.]

[Lupus Draco Cub: Wolf Dragon Cub. The young form of the fearsome Wolf Dragon, they have a high resistance to flame]

Good to know. These creatures are only the young? Crazy.

Must keep eating!

The sounds are growing louder and I have a terrible feeling of exactly what is coming my way.

If only I had an extra hour, even ten minutes would be enough. Don�t think, just eat!

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Must. Keep. Eating.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Dammit, I�m getting too full to eat. I�ve consumed an entire Wolf Dragon at this point and my stomach is near to bursting.

Wait! I just remembered a disgusting thought. Something I recall learning due to my hobby of keeping a pet ant colony at home.

Ants have two stomachs. Scouts and workers don�t always carry prey back to the nest. Sometimes they eat and fill up their �social stomach� and once back at the nest, regurgitate the food for other ants to eat.

If I recall correctly, honeypot ants take this to a massive extreme. Some worker ants will turn themselves into living storage containers, their gaster swelling to ridiculous sizes as they stay in the nest and give food to their hungry colony.

So, if my personal stomach is full�

Time to fill the social stomach!

I move to the centipedes and start wolfing down food as quick as I can.

The rapidly growing sounds are like a whip on my back, urging me to work faster. I can make out the sounds better, the clash of swords and the roar of flame is growing closer and closer.

I need one more Biomass and then I�m outta here!

C�mon.

C�MON!

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Finally! Thank you!

Go, go, go, go. I need to get back to my nest and down the shaft as quickly as possible. I try to burst out with all my speed, only to find my back section is too heavy, weighed down by all of the Biomass. It�s dragging on the floor!

Nooooo. Don�t do this to me!

Scrambling as fast as my little legs will carry me, I drag myself towards the wall and start climbing. I�m so damn heavy.

Climb, climb, climb, you fat ant!

Slowly I pull myself up the wall and head towards the side tunnel where my nest is. The roar of monsters is ear-piercing as they throw themselves into battle against the clash of human soldiers ripping the creatures apart.

I can see my nest, only ten more metres.

And something else too� Soldiers are starting to come into view.

Advanced Stealth, I need you now!

Haul, Anthony, haul yourself up this damn wall!

More and more soldiers are appearing up the tunnel. Advancing in organised groups, they�re blasting apart every monster they see with coordinated fire, moving to side tunnels launching magic and arrows before sending pairs of soldiers in to make sure they leave nothing behind.

This is an extermination!

Finally, I reach my tunnel and rush as quickly as I can to my dirt wall. I pass through the gap I left at the ceiling�and I�m stuck!

My back section is too fat to fit through the gap. Dammit! I�ve got too much junk in the trunk to squeeze through.

Pull, man! I mean, pull, ant!

Using all six of my legs I Grip the wall as hard as I can and drag my body through the small gap.

With an audible pop I get through, the sudden momentum causing me to lose my grip and fall off the ceiling, landing flat on my face.

With this tiny bit of breathing space, I�ll spend my Biomass and haul ant-bum down the shaft!

[Do you want to purchase Acid Gland +3 and Legs +1? This will cost four Biomass.]

Go for it!

The horrible sensation of mutation immediately erupts, especially in my Acid Gland, but I don�t wait for it to subside. The fear of staying here and getting caught propel me to keep moving.

Straight away I crawl to the shaft and start making my way down, my increased weight slowing my descent more than I�d like. I�m having to carefully shift my bulky backside, making sure I�m properly supported before each step so I don�t immediately fall to my death.

Hopefully the +1 Legs will be able to sustain my bulk a little better and allow a safe journey.

When I�m almost halfway down, a muffled boom echoes down the shaft above, followed by dirt cascading down over me. It takes me a moment to realise what just occurred.

They�ve detonated my dirt wall! This means they�re coming past my nest and will find the shaft.

I redouble my efforts, accelerating down the wall at a dangerous pace. My claws slip and slide as I risk unsafe footholds to expedite my passage. Eventually I�m able to reach the bottom of the shaft without anything drastic happening, but I don�t feel safe yet.

I�m worried they want to explore this place and make the climb down, which means I can�t remain here for long. I leave the bottom of the shaft and make my way into the narrow tunnel that connects to the vast underground tunnel.

But before I exit this place, I have one important task. I can only hope that I have enough time.

[Would you like to use the Evolution menu?]

Yes, I would!

[Congratulations on reaching the maximum Level for your current species. Evolution will allow you to change your form and increase your stats as a monster.

Warning: Evolving will make securing XP and Biomass more difficult as fewer rewards are given for preying on creatures less evolved than yourself.

Your evolution options are as follows: � Mature Worker Ant (Formica)

� Condense Monster Core]

Oh ho! Two different options? I don�t have a lot of time here, Gandalf, hit me with the details!

[Mature Worker Ant � Advance from a Hatchling of your kind into an adult. Base stats will significantly increase, new skills will be unlocked.]

[Condense Monster Core � Condense Mana absorbed by the individual into a monster core. The core allows monsters to store and utilise MP. Can also be utilised to empower custom evolution. 100% of Mana required has been obtained.]

Oookay. The option that will provide a significant increase in stats is to advance into a mature worker of this wood ant species.

I�ll put that aside for now. The second option is very intriguing. Monster cores are a real thing in this world after all! What�s more, it allows me to store MP. Presumably storing MP will put my tiny feet on the path to being able to use magic. This is exciting!

Mind you, according to Gandalf, I�ve stored 100% of the Mana required. When the heck did I do that? Perhaps I�ve been absorbing some just by walking around, or maybe the water in the rock pool? Was that shocking taste my body drawing in Mana?

Advancing to a mature worker ant will give me the greatest boost to my survival chances, gaining stats and perhaps some useful skills. Condensing the core and opening the door to being able to use magic is incredibly tempting� It won�t boost my survival chances in the short term but in the long term it may pay off huge dividends.

This could be a time to take a risk to seize the late game!

[Would you like to spend this evolution to Condense your Monster Core?]

Yes!

My vision immediately goes black.

I don�t know how much time passed before I regained consciousness. The light slowly returns to my eyes and sensation to my limbs. Deep inside my thorax�the middle bit�a hot, boiling feeling is slowly fading away, drawing in a dense ball of heat. Probably my new core.

Groggily, I get my legs underneath me and start moving through the tunnel again. No matter how weak I feel, I cannot stay here to rest. Pursuers could be dropping down the shaft to investigate even now. I have to move.

My muddled thoughts gradually begin to straighten themselves and my coordination begins to return. As I navigate my way across the rocky tunnel, I check my status.

Name: Anthony

Level: 1 (core)

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 30

MP: 10

Skills: Digging Level 4 (I); Improved Acid Shot Level 1 (II); Grip Level 4 (I); Bite Level 4 (I); Advanced Stealth Level 1 (II); Tunnel Sense Level 3 (I)

Mutations: Eyes +4; Antennae +2; Acid Gland +3; Legs +1

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 1

Biomass: 0

Holy mother of downgrades! Why am I Level one, Gandalf? My hard work. My accumulated experience. All the ridiculous good luck I�ve had. It hasn�t been easy to survive to this point you know. Where is my justice!

Bitter feelings are rising in my heart as I survey my new status, but when I notice my MP has gone from zero to ten, it raises my spirits a bit. Looks like my hunch was correct and the monster core is the vital ingredient to mastering magic for me and my fellow creatures down here. This could explain why so many monsters were drawn to the pool in the first cavern I was in. By drinking the water, which was somehow suffused with Mana, they were able to absorb it and hasten the formation of their core.

When I think about it though, I�ve sacrificed a significant upgrade to my stats in order to condense the core which has given me, in effect, only ten MP that I can�t use. Was this really the correct decision?

I have to advance into what is likely more dangerous territory than I have experienced already, those increased stats would have been super handy. Worry weighs on me that I�ve made the wrong choice, the prospect of being able to use Mana was just too tantalising.

Returning to Level one may not be that bad. Doesn�t it mean I�ll be able to Level back up to five and evolve again? Which also means I�ll be able to gain more of the precious Skill Points as I do so?

Perhaps this is actually better. I�ll have a second opportunity to amass Skill Points as an unevolved creature, which could allow me to gain more Levels and Skill Points at a faster pace than evolving would have.

I have one Skill Point available right now but I don�t want to spend it yet. I have several skills at Level four which will need to be advanced once they reach Level five. I won�t even look at the skills menu in case mana shaping or spell chanting has appeared in the list. I may not be able to resist the temptation. Be disciplined, Anthony! Don�t let your precious skills waste away.

I�ve regained full control of my body and shaken the dust off my mind by the time I reach the end of the tunnel. Beyond here lies the vast underground space I glimpsed earlier.

Taking a deep breath, I walk out into the open air once again.

Really this place is so huge.

The roof might even be seventy-metres high now that I look again. So high I absolutely refuse to climb on it. One slip and I would certainly plummet to my own death. To my left and right the walls curve away into the distance to a place I cannot see, my Eyesight simply isn�t good enough, even at +4, to be able to see the ends of the walls.

This is something I�ve been thinking more about. As an insect, I don�t have regular eyes like a human, but compound eyes. This means a few things. Firstly, my eyes don�t need to be wet, so I don�t have to blink; more to the point, I can�t since I have no eyelids. Secondly, my eyes don�t have one point of focus. Unlike a human who can see the one place they are directly looking at in great detail, my eyes are able to look in many directions at once, but the detail is poor.

This explains why I�ve been so frustrated by the blurry nature of my vision, especially over a distance. It probably also explains why I�ve been able to avoid having anything sneak up on me, since I�m essentially watching every direction at once.

I still believe upgrading my eyes has been the correct choice and they�ll probably be the first body part I mutate to +5. Since skills can evolve at Level five, I�m really excited to see what will happen when a mutation reaches that Level. Will I be able to advance my mutations into some crazy new thing?

Any clues, Gandalf?

Crickets.

Ah well. I shouldn�t be surprised at this state. For all his immense wisdom, the grey one has been very taciturn, or perhaps he�s just shy? A little extra advice would surely be helpful though�

Enough stalling. There isn�t anything left for me to do but move into this new territory.

Leaving the shelter of the small tunnel and exposing myself to the open air of this incredible cavern, I make my way down the slope. And cavern isn�t even a large enough word to describe this place. It�s like a fully enclosed world, like a biome or terrarium.

As I descend, picking my way through the rocks, I strain my eyes to see as far into the distance as I can. Strange twisted trees, huge oversized mushrooms and a carpet of plant life underneath face me everywhere I turn. The whole� forest, pulses with the now familiar ambient blue glow.

This scene is just so alien. For the first time I really think to myself, �This is absolutely another world.�

I nervously poke the grasses and plants with my front claw, snipping at them to see if they react. When they don�t respond I move toward a giant mushroom. These things are easily twice the height of an adult person.

After a moment�s hesitation I prod it. After there isn�t any reaction, I tentatively give it a chomp with my mandibles. What is this thing?

The stalk of the mushroom is soft and fibrous, giving way after my Bite. The second my mandibles tear a tiny gap they immediately flare with pain and I swiftly pull back. What the hell was that!

Where I�ve torn the mushroom, a purple sap is starting to ooze out. Is this some sort of acidic sap? Checking my HP, it appears as if I�ve taken minor damage. Phew. Although it may seem silly to lose HP chomping on a mushroom, every piece of information I can gain about this place makes me feel a little more comfortable.

The mushrooms have acid ooze inside them, do not Bite.

Nice.

Feeling strangely encouraged by having my face burned by a mushroom, I begin following the wall around to the right, scouting the edge of the forest. I need to move away from the shaft in case the humans use it, but I want to stay close to the rocky wall so I can dig myself a hiding place farther around.

I won�t feel truly comfortable unless there is a place for retreat in case of trouble.

After ten minutes or so I�m beginning to wonder just how many creatures there are down here, since I haven�t seen a single one. Is everyone asleep?

CRAW!

Well, there�s my answer.

A piercing cry blasts out and echoes off the walls. Like lightning I stuff myself between some rocks, trying to get as much cover as possible. A few seconds later the source of that terrifying cry reveals itself.

First one, then another and another blurry shape peels off the ceiling and unfolds massive wings before plunging down in the forest. Each of the creatures has a wide fanged maw and reaching, grasping claws on the ends of their feet. Seven of them in total have dropped down like comets, and from all the scuffling and roaring they are clearly battling against something over there.

After a few minutes the flying monsters lift up above the trees once more, but they seem to be struggling with something. Moments later their still struggling prey becomes visible as the flying monsters drag it into the air.

It�s a massive centipede, easily twice the size of those in the tunnels above. Its body is covered in savage claw wounds, and it can do little more than weakly thrash as the triumphant hunters ascend with it in their claws, back to their hidden nest in the ceiling above.

SCARY!

I�m willing to admit it. I was a little overconfident. With my skills improving and my core being condensed, I was feeling quite strong. Not that I could devour all in my path but that perhaps I could hold my own as I explored.

NOPE.

Did you see that centipede? It was massive! Clearly the evolved form of the creatures I�d seen above. How is that fair, Gandalf? If I�d evolved into a mature ant worker, would I be three metres long and two feet thick?

How much Biomass is that thing worth!

Not to mention as soon as it exposed itself, death rained down from above.

I shudder to think what would have happened if I�d been crawling about on the ceiling or gone farther into the forest.

I steel my resolve. The creatures were bound to be stronger here. And the risk was apparent when I chose to spend my evolution on my monster core instead of boosting my stats.

I refuse to believe there isn�t something in this enormous underground world that I can hunt. Advance, Anthony! Relying on my stealth and my superior senses, I will survive.

Refusing to be cowed by the sudden display of lethality from this place, I resolutely advance into the forest.

Stealthily, of course.

Moving properly amongst the foliage, with these bizarre trees and fungi above my head, I could almost believe I was on the surface, since the rock ceiling is too obscured from here.

The strange foliage of the trees is interesting. I presume the trees don�t need sunlight to survive, since there isn�t any down here, so why do they have these strange fleshy leaves? Rather than having many individual leaves, the trees have huge long ones that hang down, some of them almost to the ground. Most of the leaves are a deep shade of purple, but others tinge into red, creating a remarkable display of colour everywhere I look.

Presumably these trees are gaining energy from the veins of light. I�m guessing these are Mana veins that twist everywhere through the floor, branching into their endless patterns.

Until I�m 100% certain these trees aren�t venus ant-traps, I�m going to carefully avoid touching those leaves. It wouldn�t shock me if even the plants down here are deadly.

It isn�t long before vibrations tickle my antennae. Crouching low, trying to take advantage of the vegetation that covers the floor, I move in the direction of the disturbance.

I can�t chicken out, there is only one way to gather information and progress in this place, and that is to move forward and seize my chances.

Like a stalking panther I keep my posture low and move in a wide arc towards the noise, my eyes watching every possible angle simultaneously. My antennae poke forward, sticking out of the brush ever so slightly, feeling for vibrations.

[Advanced Stealth (II) has reached Level 2.]

Fantastic! An advanced skill Level up. It has taken a very long time. I assume advanced skills require far more use before they Level up than their basic counterparts needed. Thankfully this skill, which I rely on the most, has Levelled at the perfect time. With renewed enthusiasm I continue to stalk the vibrations.

I find what I�m looking for in the shape of a hulking croca-beast. Why the heck are there so many of these monstrosities around here? Thanks to the pristine white robes of ascended Gandalf that it wasn�t an evolved version!

I have to admit, I�m still terrified of these things.

This was the first monster I�d ever seen, and it was eating an ant alive. If ants could have nightmares, I�d still be having them over that.

This particular croca appears to be wounded. Across one of its arms is a wide slash, dripping with green blood, as well as a few other slashes. The beast is breathing heavily through its massive maw of curved fangs. It appears this croca-beast has been involved with some heavy fighting.

Don�t focus on the teeth, Anthony!

This is a golden opportunity, a heaven-sent chance. I�ll never get a better chance than this to take on one of these horrible crocodiles one-on-one and finally put my fear of these creatures behind me. To seize the bonus Biomass I wasn�t able to get before.

Let�s do this!

Before I can talk myself out of it, I turn and blast the croca-beast with acid. Come at me, you giant croc!

My +3 Acid fires at lightning speed, splashing down the wounded monster�s side. I was careful to aim the acid so it would impact the existing wounds, hopefully causing more damage by seeping inside.

The furious beast roars with pain, its massive jaws wide open as it turns to face me. As it does so, POW!

Another Acid Shot directly into the creature�s face. About half the acid goes into the creature�s mouth while the other half blasts past the target. Overall, I�m satisfied with the shot. How do you like that!

If these monsters are going to keep letting fire acid directly inside their mouths like this, I�m going to have to patent this move. The dreaded �Anthony mouth shot!�

Sounds wrong, somehow�

The croc thrashes its head wildly as its throat burns. Combined with the terrible wounds it already sustained, this is clearly a bad day for this particular beast. Having decided on the origin of the ranged assault, the croc charges forward with its massive bulk, green scales glittering in the light.

Holy moly!

Quick as a flash I leap to one side, all six legs skittering as fast as they can to dodge the brutal dash. The croc has both hands out, long claws gleaming with cold light. As I attempt to dodge it takes a massive swipe at me.

Slash!

Throwing myself to one side, the air from the fearsome strike brushes past me. If that had connected it may just be lights out! I�m afraid this croc has more life in it than I assumed.

Focus, Anthony, there isn�t a way to back down now.

As the creature corrects its balance and turns to face me, I turn my head slightly to get good vision behind me and brace my legs.

Fire!

The creature stuns me by predicting the move, lunging to the left as the jet of hissing liquid flies through the air. Smarter than you look, eh croc? Had it been uninjured it may have escaped completely, but with its reactions dulled and its body not moving the way it wants, it isn�t able to fully escape the spray.

The bubbling acid eats away at the monster�s chest, in addition to the damage being done by the earlier two shots. I refuse to believe the croc has much more in the tank.

I keep moving. If I stand still the far larger monster will have a much easier time closing in on me for the kill. In a straight up fight it�s obvious who would have the advantage.

The croc is labouring hard but murderous intent is oozing from every pore as I circle it from range.

Such a fearsome monster, this croc! Although it may be shorter than an average human, it is clearly heavier, its powerful frame packed with muscle. Not to mention, to someone like me who is probably only as tall as a person�s knee, this creature towers over me. The intimidation factor is real!

As if it knows the clock is ticking against it, the beast growls fiercely and charges, aiming to cut me off.

I have to dodge! But left or right?

All six legs kick into overdrive, moving so fast they almost begin to blur. I continuously feint this way and that, trying to throw off the creature�s rapid advances that are building a fearsome momentum.

The croc rears back with its right arm, claws fully extended. If I take this head-on I�m dead! Where do I go? My heart is pounding in my chest so hard it might actually explode.

But somehow, I�m able to stay cool.

In a flash of inspiration, I rush decisively in a direction the croc could not have expected, directly forwards!

Claws swoosh over my head, catching on one of my antennae and shearing part of it straight off. The blast of pain makes me feel nauseous, but I double down and Bite hard on the croc�s leg, hauling with all of my strength and weight to pull it down before it can regain its balance.

[Bite has reached Level 5. Upgrade available.]

Not. Now. Gandalf!

Actually, scratch that, now Gandalf! Now!

[Would you like to improve Bite to Crushing Bite? This will cost 1 Skill Point.]

Quick!

Before the croc can react, I rear back and prepare to chomp down on its leg in order to inflict some damage and drag the creature off its feet.

And something shocking occurs.

My mandibles begin to glow faintly, and a new strength builds within them. Is this my new skill? Some sort of active attack? Finally!

When I bite down with all my power the feeling of crunching scales reverberates through my jaws. This Bite is so much more powerful! The success of my strike has shocked me, causing me to pause momentarily and the croc leaps at the chance. Sacrificing its own balance, it turns and falls, swinging its tail and catching a solid blow across my body.

BAM!

The impact sends me flying three metres and pain explodes in my side. I push it away. I cannot lose this fight. I will not lose this fight!

I�ve taken a fair bit of damage from that impact. My carapace has been cracked in a few places and I think one of my legs may be broken.

As I steadily pull myself to my feet, I check my status. Yep, HP has been cut in half.

The croc must be suffering just as much. This is the final showdown!

Indeed, my opponent is struggling hard. Suffering continuous damage from my earlier acid attacks, not to mention the internal damage from the acid to the mouth, and my new Crushing Bite has caused a severe wound to its leg.

The croc is attempting to get back onto its feet. I won�t let it!

One leg dragging uselessly behind me, I stumble forward to pressure the foe, lunging and darting, not letting it relax and stand. The croc has a newfound fear of my mandibles, not willing to let me get a good bite in, it keeps swiping with claws and snapping its jaws.

Time is on my side in this battle. As long as I stay out of reach, I�ll be able to outlast it.

The croc knows this too. Rolling and twisting it flails out with its tail one more time, the long appendage whipping out and�

JUMP!

With only five functional legs I leap as high as I can and pull my legs tightly under my body. Missing by millimetres, the tail brushes the air beneath me, the incredible momentum of the strike throwing the croc onto its face.

Chance!

Nipping forward, I climb onto the croc�s back where it cannot reach with its claws or teeth and chomp with all my force!

Don�t hesitate, just chomp. Chomp. CHOMP!

The croc struggles violently but I Grip with all my strength and continue to Bite. The accumulated damage is too much for it to take, moving less and less before finally growing still.

[You have defeated a Level 5 Garralosh Infantem.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have achieved Level 2. One Skill Point awarded.]

[You have achieved Level 3. One Skill Point awarded.]

YESSSSS!

Anyone walking past would be treated to the truly bizarre sight of a monstrous ant standing on the back of its defeated foe and lifting its two front legs in the air, roaring silently with triumph.

I manage to make a few grunts of male dominance.

Did I just absorb the dragon soul? I feel mighty in this moment. I have truly conquered my fear.

That battle was so intense! I was driven to my limits and experienced tremendous pain. Actually, I�m still experiencing tremendous pain.

Ouuuuch!

One of my antennae has been cut clean off! It stings, Gandalf! It stings real bad!

I have to eat quickly and regenerate my HP. There isn�t any more time to stand here posing.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Garralosh Infantem. You are awarded one Biomass.][Basic profile of the Garralosh Infantem unlocked.]

[Garralosh Infantem: Garralosh Infant. The young offspring of Garralosh, this advanced creature is powerful. Beware the crushing jaws.]

Infant! These things are infants? What the heck is Garralosh? Are all of these the offspring of just one creature?

Worry about it later, keep eating.

Stuffing all of my stomachs full, I�m able to gain a further three Biomass from the� infant� giving me a total of four, and two Skill Points.

What a haul!

After consuming the creature, my HP has recovered to 23/30, giving me some level of comfort.

Rather uncomfortable staying out here in the open, the search is on for a section of soft ground to excavate myself a nest in order to rest and spend my points.

It takes only five minutes before I find a patch of soft earth farther into the forest. Working as quickly as possible I dig out a small nest, digging straight down and then across to make an L shaped recess where I can hide. Not willing to take chances, I cover over the opening to reduce the chance of me being spotted.

It�s hardly a perfect camouflage, but I�d rather have this at the minimum than no protection at all.

Phew.

I�m still coming down from the incredible intensity of that fight. I came close to death on multiple occasions but was able to pull through and win tremendous gains.

This rush is like nothing I�ve experienced before. I can now understand why some people are such thrill seekers back on Earth. But this goes beyond anything they could hope to experience. This was a real life or death battle!

As exciting as it was, I don�t want to get in the habit of challenging powerful monsters. I wouldn�t have gone into that fight if the croc hadn�t been injured in the first place. This was a lucky encounter, and I can�t let my victory get to my head.

Now to spend my incredible wealth!

With my newly improved Crushing Bite skill I decide to upgrade my Mandibles twice, using three of my Biomass, and spend the last one on upgrading my Carapace to +1.

This will broaden my offensive options and provide a tiny upgrade to my defence.

After enduring the mutation process�I hate it so much�it�s finally time to spend my precious Skill Points.

Two points to spend, this is unprecedented wealth. My power is growing at an accelerated pace!

Checking my skill list, all the skills I had before are listed, with one new addition.

[Dash: Cost 1 SP. Increases speed over short distances but increases stamina drain.

Slashing Attack: Cost 1 SP. More accurate and powerful slashing attacks.

Chomp: Cost 1 SP. A passive skill where bites pierce more and are more difficult to shake off.

Mana Manipulation: Cost 1 SP. Basic skill to manipulate absorbed Mana.]

It�s heeeere!

Mana Manipulation will open the gateway to magic powers. I couldn�t possibly be more excited for this!

I have one more point to spend. I don�t see much value in Slashing Attack, my claws are designed to grip surfaces, not fight. Since my mandibles have seen such an improvement I will double down and take the Chomp skill to stack buffs on my Bite attack. The Chomp skill adds piercing power and grip to my Bite attacks. With my shiny new +2 chompers and Crushing Bite skill, I might be able to do some serious damage in a fight now.

Once again, the warm trickling sensation engulfs my brain. Why is learning skills so pleasant but mutating so horrible?

Once all is said and done, I admire my new status.

Name: Anthony

Level: 3 (core)

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 30

MP: 10

Skills: Digging Level 4 (I); Improved Acid Shot Level 1 (II); Grip Level 4 (I); Crushing Bite Level 1 (II); Advanced Stealth Level 2 (II); Tunnel Sense Level 3 (I); Mana Manipulation Level 1 (I); Chomp Level 1 (I)

Mutations: Eyes +4, Antennae +2; Acid Gland +3, Legs +1; Mandibles +2; Carapace +1

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 0

Biomass: 0

Look at this incredible growth. My mutations are getting really nicely spread. It�s a little inevitable considering the way the system is designed. If I want to upgrade my Eyes again, I need an entire five Biomass. For the same amount I could get two or three upgrades for other body parts, providing a better upgrade to my overall strength.

Having reached this point, I�ve taken the lowest of the low hanging fruit. My Legs and Carapace are still only +1, but I really want to try and get my Eyes to +5. The main reason for this is to see what happens when a body part reaches that threshold. Will they be able to adapt or improve in some way, like skills do?

Learning the ins and outs of the strange game-like system that applies to me here in this world is the most important thing for me to do right now.

Thanks to my last encounter I�m finally starting to gain a little confidence. Perhaps I�ll be able to survive and find my colony after all!

I mean� I�ve always been confident! Heh� Alright then. Time to focus on the next task at hand. Along with my purchase of the Mana Manipulation skill, some knowledge on how to apply it has been planted in my brain.

It�s a little disconcerting to think that purchasing a skill is directly modifying my brain and memories. Exactly how intrusive is this system? I don�t really have the luxury of being able to worry about it, so I push any doubts out of my mind.

According to my new understanding, the Mana absorbed by my body comes from the air and is stored in my monster core. In order to use that Mana, I need to bring it out of my core and shape it. Hence, Mana Manipulation. With this skill I�ll be able to take the first step of using my MP to do something cool.

Time to make an attempt.

When concentrating, the core within me becomes apparent, sitting right in the centre of my midsection. It�s like a tight ball of heat, faintly pulsing with energy. That would be my Mana. Before I attempt to draw it out, I need to have a firm image of what I want to happen.

Something simple for the first attempt. Let�s go with� releasing it as a cloud from my mouth. Just a harmless puff of Mana from the mouth. Easy.

Focusing all of my mental energy on my core, I sink my mind deep within myself. My core is still tiny, probably the size of a grape. I believe I�ll get chances to grow it in the future. My max MP is only ten right now, surely that isn�t enough to do much.

My consciousness locks onto the core and draws within. I feel like I�ve been transported inside a crystal world. Fractal angles reflect off in every direction. Within this space, the Mana is floating lazily, turning in slow circles. Without anything to direct it, this is the state it will maintain.

I can feel the moment when the energy within begins to respond to me. Gradually it begins to move, to flow in the direction of my thoughts. This is so damn hard! Forcing with all of my mental might the Mana reluctantly moves out of my core and through my body.

The force is welling up in my throat like water caught in my oesophagus. Opening my mouth wide a small puff of glowing, transparent gas is released and quickly disperses into the air.

GASP!

That was so frickin� difficult. I�m exhausted just from that!

I get that my ability to shift Mana is as low as it gets, but I�m completely wrecked after just one harmless puff of Mana. Magic is hard.

Checking my MP consumption, I�ve only used two points. All that effort for only two points is a little depressing.

Nevertheless, the more I practice, the faster my skill Level will rise and the easier it will be to practice, causing the speed of my training to get quicker and quicker. An exponential growth loop. The faster I get through these early Levels, the faster my future my growth will be!

Summoning all my determination, I once again focus my mind on my core, trying to replicate the effect.

HRRRRRNG!

Puff.

Gandalf, this is ridiculous! How did you master these mystic forces? Do I need a beard and staff?

I managed to practice another three times, using all of my Mana. On the last one, my mental energy runs out and I don�t manage to force the Mana outside of my body, causing it to dissipate harmlessly.

I�m so exhausted by this process I decide to have a bit of open-eye to recover. I wish there were some way of knowing how much time has passed. Being born here with a smart phone would be way too convenient.

When I wake up, I assume it hasn�t been that long, maybe three hours. I�m guessing based on how full my stomach feels. Digesting all that croc will take some time.

I�ve also regenerated six out of my ten MP. I won�t bother trying to use it all up until I get back to full. If I were to make another three attempts right now, I�d only be mentally wearing myself down before going out, which is far too risky.

Even after emptying all of my MP practicing, I still haven�t gained a single Level in Mana Manipulation. I can already tell that mastering magic in this world will be a long project.

I can only take on that challenge if I manage to survive. Time to head out and scout!

Emerging from my nest, and taking a little time to conceal the entrance by covering up the hole with some dirt and vegetation puts me at ease. I may not even return to this nest but if I can create a few hiding places as I move around it will only improve my chances of survival.

With that job done, I take a quick note of my surroundings. There doesn�t appear to be any creatures nearby, nor can I detect anything with my antennae. Thankfully, as I�ve been digesting my Biomass, the injured antenna has begun to regrow. If I continue to secure food my sensory organs will be returned to their former glory. At the moment they are only running at about 70% of capacity.

I can�t get too mad about it. There was so much gained from that encounter, the price paid was easily worth it.

The priority for this mission is scouting, not combat. Unless I�m able to identify a truly juicy opportunity, I�ll be passing it up in favour of information gathering.

There�s been enough risk taking for the time being.

Satisfied there isn�t anything nearby, it�s time to move out, keeping low to the ground. The massive cavern is just so wondrous. Such a ridiculous amount of open space under the surface just doesn�t make any sense. I mean, I�m not sure exactly how large underground caves were on Earth, but you could probably fit a city inside here, so long as you lopped the top off the buildings.

It just doesn�t seem possible for it to be natural.

Shifting through the undergrowth, my eyes are constantly focused in all directions. I especially don�t want to be paid a visit by those horrible gargoyles from above.

The terrain in here isn�t completely flat. Here and there are hills and large rock formations reaching up towards the ceiling. It wouldn�t surprise me if many creatures made their homes in these places, nesting in a more secure location will always be safer but also invite competition. Let�s skirt around them for now.

Now that I�m inside such a large space, the weakness of my eyesight is weighing down on me. My compound eyes are fantastic for focusing in all directions at once, protecting me from ambushes, but not good at seeing things far away like a human. Even if the range has been upgraded by my +4 mutations. This means I can�t get a good idea of the whole area at once by looking from a high vantage point, like a tree, or through a clearing in the trees. I have to move and get somewhat close in order to build up a map of what I see in my mind.

[Tunnel Sense has reached Level 4.]

Which is exactly what this skill is useful for. By maintaining my sense of direction, I can get a rough idea of what landmarks are placed where.

About time you Levelled up, Tunnel Sense! Some skills really do take much longer than others to skill up.

Wait�Something�s coming� Possibly something big. It�s vibrating through my feet and antennae. I scan the terrain. The thick, pale mushroom stalks sprout straight out of the rock here and there supporting the multi-coloured caps above them. The strange trees take up spaces between them, their twisted roots creating a gnarled carpet, spreading out from the trunk and piercing into the stone floor.

I can use those!

Instead of running and perhaps getting caught, I�ll need to rely on my Stealth to protect me. This creature could have incredible hearing or sense the air vibrations caused by my running. They could be incredibly fast and chase me down. I just don�t know. Better to hide.

I move to a particularly large tangle of roots and climb through them, concealing myself against the dirt and behind the strange wood. With careful positioning of my head, I�m able to see some of what transpires nearby.

Thud. Thud.

Those heavy footfalls are growing closer and louder. This is definitely a huge monster. When I finally lay eyes on it, I almost pass out.

What the hell is this thing!

An enormous scaled hand grips the hard ground. Each scale is a polished, dark green that practically glows with the reflected light of the forest. Vicious claws tip each digit, curved blades that taper into a fearsome point. What sets my poor heart beating the most is that each of these claws is probably the size of my head. Thick, powerful ropes of muscle on the hand drag the rest of the monster forward.

The long, pointed jaw, studded with teeth precede the recessed, chilling eyes of the beast. Many teeth can be seen even with that massive mouth shut, giving the impression of a menacing grin. There is a cruel intelligence gleaming within its gaze, striking fear into the heart of every creature unfortunate enough to cross its path.

Across the back of the monster, the overlapped scales are broken up by bony protrusions that end in spikes easily a foot long. With its body kept curiously close to the ground, its movement is sinuous and swift. As it passes by, a second set of shorter, but powerful arms halfway down its body are supporting its low profile.

The creature growls and huffs explosively, releasing a sudden flare of red flame, causing me to almost squeak.

Finally, the powerful rear legs come into view. It�s clear from their positioning that this creature could easily stand on its hind legs should it choose to, but has evolved in such a way that it can move swiftly low to the ground like a crocodile.

The monster is roughly twelve-metres long from snout to tail.

Twelve. Metres.

That�s almost forty feet. That�s like four basketball hoops stacked on top of each other. That�s almost the length of a bowling lane.

Sure, that length includes the creature�s long, muscular tail but�

Isn�t that too stupidly BIG, Gandalf!

That monstrosity is so huge I could never hope to challenge it. What the heck is a giant like that crawling around up here?

I mean, judging by the appearance this is clearly an evolved form of the croca-beast�I just can�t bring myself to call those huge monsters an infant. The crocadilic features are clear, but what I didn�t expect was the extra set of arms, the breathing fire and the stupidly huge increase in size.

These things are so much larger than the croca it almost beggars belief. Is it entirely possible that this titan is actually two evolutions away from the monster I defeated? Judging by the size of those scales, I don�t think my acid would even be able to chew through it. This creature is like a tank. Its weight alone must be several tons. If there is anything here larger and more deadly looking than this thing, I�ll head back up and take my chances with the humans!

Vibrations shake my tiny legs as the tremendous weight of the monster continues to impact heavily on the ground with each departing step. It�s at this moment a renegade thought pops into my mind and I immediately move out of my hiding place and begin to shadow the colossal croc.

For some reason I thought of pilot fish on Earth.

These fish would attach themselves to a larger creature, like a whale or a shark, and follow it around, keeping it clean and eating the leftovers. The larger animal gets a free cleaning service to keep it healthy and the smaller creatures get protection and food.

I�m not about to waltz up to this behemoth and offer to brush its teeth, but I may just have found an amazingly safe way to move about for the time being.

Safe, Anthony? You must be outside of your mind!

Well, wait a moment.

It�s highly likely that almost every creature around here is going to want to avoid this thing like the seven plagues stacked on top of each other. Everything that doesn�t get out of the way quick enough will have to get past the big boy before they could have a chance at me.

As long as I�m not noticed by the croc, then I�ll be extremely safe! And Advanced Stealth has shown its prowess in keeping me hidden. If I continue to trail along and hide, I may get another Level in that skill while I scout around.

There are risks to this plan, but they are manageable ones.

I skitter along in the wake of the titanic monster. Due to its sheer size, it�s fairly fast, forcing me to have to scuttle along too quickly to minimise the sound of my passage. However, the bulky creature makes so much noise on its own, my pattering little legs barely register.

For the next hour I continue to creep about, remaining hidden from my unsuspecting bodyguard. The bizarre scenery of this forest continues to astound me as we travel. At one point we passed by an enormous flower, vibrant petals wide open to reveal a gleaming jewel in the centre the size of my own head.

I was completely stunned at the sight, but the croc continued to stomp past, unmoved. I didn�t get much time to inspect the flower, but I got some strange vibes from it. The petals spread in a dense overlapping fashion across the ground, and the centre of the flower faced directly upwards. Something unnerved me about those thick, fleshy petals. They almost appeared like a welcome mat, rolled out to invite a guest closer to where the incredible diamond like jewel grew.

I also received an unexpected benefit when a large centipede suddenly scuttled out of some bushes in front of the titan-croc, as I�d begun to think of it. One of those large, evolved centipedes would be a tough fight for me, one I possibly couldn�t win. To my new friend the titan-croc? Not even worth mentioning. Barely slowing down, the croc brought one of its claws crashing down on the centipede, instantly squashing it into paste.

What surprised me most was the titan-croc didn�t even stop to consume the precious Biomass. Didn�t even pause before continuing to advance. I remembered at that moment what Gandalf had told me in the evolution menu, that more evolved creatures received less Biomass from those less advanced than them.

Possibly this centipede was useless to the croc.

But that didn�t mean it was useless to me!

It�s possibly a sad reflection on my present life that I would gleefully run over to the smashed remains of a gigantic centipede to eat. The tremendous force of the claw had crushed the poor victim like a human stepping on a bug, causing the guts to burst out everywhere.

Ergh! I�m losing my appetite� But I won�t give up the chance for Biomass!

Remember always, if you would almost rather be dead, then you need to eat and live!

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Adultus Unguibus Scolopendra. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Adultus Ungiubus Scolopendra unlocked.]

[Adultus Unguibus Scolopendra: Adult Claw Centipede. This branch of evolution of the basic Claw Centipede vastly increases the base creatures might, without providing much boost to Cunning.]

Interesting, this seems to suggest there are other branches of evolution for the Claw Centipede? I ponder this concept as I quickly munch a bit more.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Right! I�ve barely consumed even a quarter of the creature before I decide my protection is getting too far away and I need to leave and catch up.

Just before I do, I notice something glittering in the remains of the adult centipede. Just behind the base of the monster�s head is a small, shining gem-like orb.

Is this� what I think it is?

Moving closer I grasp the object in my mandibles.

[Compatible monster core detected. Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute a monster?]

It is! A monster core!

I don�t have much time to think about what Gandalf had to say, my protection is getting farther away every second!

Reinforce my core!

The spherical orb immediately melts into thin air and a burning mist of energy swirls through my body before being drawn down into my core in a vortex. Faster and faster the energy circulates as it spirals ever downward while my own core grows hotter and hotter.

Eventually all of the energy is consumed, and with my core still burning inside I hurry off after the titan-croc while checking my status.

Name: Anthony

Level: 3 (core)

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 30/30

MP: 9/12

Skills: Digging Level 4 (I); Improved Acid Shot Level 1 (II); Grip Level 4 (I); Crushing Bite Level 1 (II); Advanced Stealth Level 2 (II); Mana Manipulation Level 1 (I); Chomp Level 1 (I); Tunnel Sense Level 4 (I)

Mutations: Eyes +4; Antennae +2; Acid Gland +3;

Legs +1; Mandibles +2; Carapace +1

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 0

Biomass: 2

New learnings!

I�m able to consume the cores of my fellow monsters in order to reinforce my own, and this has the effect of increasing my max MP.

Fantastic! This means I�ll be able to practice one extra time when I do my Mana Manipulation practice. It also means I�ve learned one more thing about the system that governs my growth in this place.

If I want to gain more and more MP, then I need to consume monster cores to do so.

That feels like it would be a massive challenge though. In order for a monster to have a monster core it must have reached max Level and spent an evolution on it. By definition that means the monster will be strong, not something I�ll usually be able to mess with.

I was lucky this time. I can�t expect I�ll be able to gain more monster cores this easily in the future.

Enough thinking! Time to chase after the titan-croc.

Even if it isn�t rushing, the sheer size of that monster means it moves fairly quickly and I really have to hustle to get back into my shadowing position behind the massive tail trailing the beast as it moves.

It isn�t long before we finally reach the place this unstoppable beast has been heading toward this whole time.

The forest gives way and an open vista appears before me.

It�s a lake.

A huge body of water, glowing with incredible light occupies a large clearing. After travelling for over an hour we�ve moved toward the centre of this huge cavern, but something tells me we haven�t even reached it yet.

This lake is easily a hundred metres across. There�s also small rivers and tributaries running off it. I suspect this lake is fed from an underground source, the water flowing up from beneath the rocky bed and overflowing to create these small streams.

What really dazzles me is the twisting ropes of blue light that rotate around each other in a stately dance within the water. Almost like a double helix pattern. These ropes appear to be connected to the source of the lake and drift around, pushed by some invisible current.

Mana!

I had seen this phenomenon before in the rock pool above, but it had been far, far weaker, the twisting ropes there almost invisible. Even so, the water had been suffused with Mana, causing it to draw monsters from all over the cavern to drink and absorb the energy, trying to condense their cores.

This water must contain truly dense Mana!

Just like before, all manner of creatures had been drawn to the water source to drink and absorb the energy. Perhaps a good chunk of these monsters had already condensed their core and were just restoring the MP they had used up. I have to test that idea.

A large tangle of the basic centipedes is here, and perhaps a slightly different one, something about its colour or shape, but it was concealed within the writhing bodies of the more basic kind. No way to be sure. Perhaps it was nothing.

An evolved version of the Wolf Dragon Cub is here. Larger and more intimidating than before, it has what looks almost like a lion�s mane around its neck, thick proud fur that projects pride and status.

I could swear the creature�s eyes were on fire. It�s hard to make out the details, but the air seems to be shimmering with a heat haze right around its eyes�

No, surely not.

There are other creatures I�ve never seen before. A gorilla looking thing with massive, thick arms and a bat-like face, and smaller monkey-like creatures swarming and screeching around its feet.

Over there are a few of those gargoyle-like monsters that descended from the roof. Past them is what I believe is an evolved Thorn Lizard. Not much larger than the original but more densely muscled, and its spikes are more menacing than before.

Another creature had the appearance of an armoured bison of some kind. Built with its legs low to the ground and thick plates of a rock type substance protecting its face and back.

More and more I spotted new types of monsters around the lake. The sheer variety was dizzying. Just how many different types of monsters are there down here?

It was going to be a real pain trying to remember all of this!

Unfortunately, most of them look too strong for me to deal with. I�ll have to continue to choose my targets very carefully.

As the giant titan-croc approaches the water�s edge, the nearby monsters wisely create space for it. The area the croca has settled in is a large, flattened muddy zone where the monster can stretch out its full length and lap up the Mana-charged water at leisure.

It sure looks good to be the king!

Even with all of these monster types around the lake, there isn�t anything that looks like it could go one-on-one with this guy.

What the heck was a Garralosh that it could produce such fearsome offspring?

Since the peace of the water seems to hold here as well, I move a little ways around from the croc and approach the water�s edge to get a taste.

ZAP!

Wow! That tingling, burning sensation is back in full force! The difference now is that after the feeling floods through my whole body, it then recedes back, like ocean water from a beach, drawing further and further in until it settles completely inside my core.

Checking my status, my MP has regained two points.

Right on!

I take another sip in order to refill myself to max and sit for a moment until the intense sensation fades.

Since I�m here at this lake and can essentially refill my MP for free, this is a perfect opportunity to train my Mana Manipulation skill. I can grind non-stop until hunger forces me to go out for a hunt.

Excited, I start snooping around for a place soft enough for me to construct a basic hiding hole. I manage to find a good spot close to where the titan-croc is currently flopping. I�m thinking that the presence of the dominant monster will help dissuade others from sneaking about here looking for prey.

With my small chamber excavated, I start training Mana Manipulation immediately, bringing it out of the core and directing it to my throat, letting it build up before releasing it in a small puff of magical energy.

Phew!

It�s still punishingly difficult, requiring fierce concentration on my part. Thankfully after my third attempt Gandalf chips in some moral support.

[Mana Manipulation has reached Level 2.]

Hooray! I�ve been waiting for those words.

I eagerly begin my routine again. There�s a barely noticeable change in the difficulty of drawing the energy out of my core and directing it to where I want it to go. One Level was never going to make much difference, I suppose�

However, with the support of my improved skills I�m able to completely exhaust my Mana, and my mind, with six complete sets of practice.

Completely drained, I drag myself back to the lake and start drinking to refill my MP. It takes a while to do this since I find the experience of absorbing Mana from the water to be quite intense.

The only thing I�m really disappointed in right now is that even though I covered so much ground when following the titan-croc about, I wasn�t able to find the pheromone trail laid down by the scouts from the colony at all.

Not even a sniff.

I ponder this as I continue to drink from the lake.

Wait!

If monsters from all over this area of the cavern have come here to drink, then there exists a possibility that members of my colony have also come to this location. I highly doubt a scout would pass such a rich Mana source as this and not mark it down for the rest of the colony to come and get a taste.

This could be it!

Once my MP is refilled, I immediately start to scurry around the lake, tippy tapping the ground with my antennae seeking the welcoming scent of my tribe. The severed one has continued to regrow and is about halfway back now, thankfully!

Other monsters eye me suspiciously but I don�t pay them much mind, even accidently walking over a Wolf Dragon�s tail without realising. Thankfully the monster was too shocked to react and too reluctant to break the water truce to do anything.

When I get halfway around the lake, my antennae start to tingle with a response to the now familiar scent. It�s here!

The expedition had been proceeding smoothly so far, something Mirryn was exceedingly grateful for. The Royal Guards and the Legion had cooperated in the clearing of the upper levels and hundreds of lower Levelled monsters had been destroyed in preparation for the wave.

It normally wouldn�t take long for such high-Level warriors to move through this area of Dungeon. To the higher Levelled Legionaries, this place was simply no threat at all. They could probably walk through with six monsters hanging off them and hardly take any damage.

Even so, to be completely thorough and clear out every side tunnel, every passage and all of the branches took a lot of time and effort. With two forces as sharp as the Guard, who only accepted the best, and the Deep Legion who lived for this kind of fighting, the task was done as quickly as it realistically could be done.

�Don�t they look relaxed over there,� grumbled Donnelan, indicating the senior Legionaries standing by the tunnel wall chatting and laughing together.

�I wouldn�t stare too much if I were you, and keep your voice down,� Mirryn whispered, keeping her hands on her crossbow and her eyes on the tunnel. �Aurillia is rumoured to have incredibly advanced hearing skills. If they hear you whining, you�ll be digging latrines into the rock.�

�It just doesn�t seem right that us lower Levelled trainees with weaker jobs have to do all the heavy lifting while the full Legionaries stand about and watch. I�ve launched so many fireballs in the last ten hours my fingers have almost burnt black,� Donnelan moaned.

Donnelan usually wasn�t the type to whine and complain when he was on the job, but fighting monsters and being on constant alert for the better part of half a day was enough to get anyone in a foul mood. To make matters worse, even the trainees were high enough of a Level that they received very little experience for using their skills or killing monsters this high up in the Dungeon.

�Hold on a little longer, you sook,� Mirryn admonished. �We�ll make it down to the first Expanse soon and set up the advanced camp. We�re scheduled to rest once the fortifications are in place.�

�Great, more digging.�

Mirryn could only roll her eyes at Donnelan�s continual complaints. She couldn�t blame him too much. Mages who specialised in fire magic like Donnelan were often called �Blast Mages� because they were effective in wiping out large amounts of lower Levelled creatures. Donnelan had been forced to work much harder than she had.

�How are you two travelling? Managing to stay awake?� laughed one of their Centurions, Alexi, as he approached to check on them.

The two trainees immediately saluted. �Just fine, Centurion!� Donnelan declared, his voice full of vigour. �I�m ready to serve another ten hours, easily.�

Alexi snorted. �No, you�re not, in another hour you�ll be snoring on your feet.� The well-built officer gave them both an encouraging slap on the back. �Remember, for you and the other trainees this mission is a rite of passage. Expect that you�ll be worked extra hard. By the time we�re done you�ll feel dead and reborn at the same time.�

Mirryn winced and Donnelan audibly groaned, which caused Alexi to laugh again.

�Don�t worry too much, me and the old fogeys will start to pick up the slack once we reach the first Expanse.� Alexi leaned closer to whisper conspiratorially, �you may not know this, but us higher ranked Legionaries are built to function a lot deeper in the Dungeon than this. It�s hard to show our stuff up here.�

Donnelan choked back a laugh. �What? Because the monsters are too weak?�

�Nooo,� Alexi drawled. �Because the Mana up here is too thin. The ambient level in the Expanse is just barely enough. You�ll see some good stuff then. Watch out for the commander especially, he�s a living legend for a reason you know.�

�Alexi!� came a shout from across the tunnel.

The three of them immediately snapped to attention. �Yes, Tribune Aurillia!�

The older woman was glaring at Alexi with a heat he could almost feel. �If you�re done running your mouth to the trainees, Centurion, then I suggest you take them to the supply cart and locate three shovels. We�ll need latrines dug once we reach the Expanse!�

Donnelan almost wept.

As the two trainees trudged away, cursing silently at their Centurion, Titus was chuckling quietly to himself.

�You think I shouldn�t be so hard on them?� Aurillia asked, one eyebrow raised.

Titus shifted his grip on the massive axe resting on his shoulder. Instead of answering the question he asked one. �Do you remember your promotion expedition?�

Aurillia grunted. �How could I forget? You ground us into paste, put us back together and then ground us down again.�

Her answer drew a fearsome grin from the commander. �Now you�re one of the finest officers I�ve ever seen. We don�t coddle Legionaries, Aurillia, we liquefy them so we can pour them into our mould. If those kids aren�t crying themselves to sleep tonight, we haven�t worked them hard enough.�

�And Alexi?�

Titus frowned. �I�ll have a word with our chatty Centurion myself.�

Aurilla winced. After a �chat� with commander Titus, Alexi wouldn�t be speaking for some time. The healing alone might take weeks.

�Is the Royal Guard clear on their duties until the wave, Tribune?� Titus asked.

�Yes, Commander. We can leave protecting the Dungeon entrance and the upper tunnels to them. I�ll have to thank the queen personally when we get back, her guards really know their stuff.�

Titus grunted. It was true the Guards were highly skilled, but he wasn�t sure it was necessarily the best idea for the queen to send her most competent defenders into the Dungeon to manage the upper tunnels.

With all of the tunnels swept, it was time to make the push into the Expanse. This is where the true strength of the Dungeon began to reveal itself, as well as its wealth. Monster cores were just one of the valuable materials that could be harvested from the depths. Minerals, powerful crystals, as well as the raw XP the monsters provided all commanded a price.

The deeper the expedition progressed into the Dungeon, the easier Titus began to move. After so many years of campaigning, it was difficult for him to spend such an extended amount of time on the surface. He wasn�t built for up there, writing letters and managing the budget. With his axe in hand and the Mana burning in his veins, he felt much more comfortable.

Within the hour the expedition was prepared to advance farther into the Dungeon. Titus positioned himself at the head of the caravan, leading his Legionaries towards the forest.

After ten minutes of marching, with the occasional pause to crush a few monsters that came their way, the tunnel opened wide to reveal the vast underground space that had been named the Forest Expanse.

The glowing forest spread before them in a wide arc, their faces illuminated by its blue light.

In orderly fashion the Legionaries moved swiftly to set up camp.

Earth Mages raised walls using their powerful spells to create temporary barriers made of the soft earth of the cavern floor. The trainees were charged with unloading the supplies from the carts, erecting the tents, and of course, digging the latrines.

Titus watched his troops go about their tasks with a critical eye. One hundred Legionaries made up this expedition, twenty of those were trainees on their promotion delve, the remaining were full Legionaries. Twenty-five auxiliaries were also part of the force, responsible for medical aid, logistics, and cooking.

The Deep Legion would construct a forward fort here, barricading the tunnel leading towards the city of Liria and defending it during the wave. From here they would also launch their scouting missions to locate the ant colony.

A monstrous roar from the edge of the forest alerted Titus. Bursting through the trees was a mature Lightning Fist Ape, its huge gorilla-like fists thumping into the stone as it charged, full of rage towards the Legionary force.

The commander could only sigh. This high in the Dungeon it was common to see monsters with stunningly low Cunning. He was hardly surprised a Lightning Ape would engage in such a suicidal charge, of the evolutions possible to the spark chimp, the Lightning Fist Ape was the only one that actually lost Cunning in the process.

In exchange they gained tremendous Might and a strong affinity to Electric Mana Shaping, which they usually discharged through their fists.

As the monster hurled closer, the rest of the Legion showed no reaction as the commander stepped in its path. When the beast was directly in front of him, its fetid breath washing over his face, Titus moved.

With one hand he hauled his famed axe, the enormous blade more a block of steel than a refined weapon, before he brought it down just in front of the charging monster. When the axe impacted the rock, there was a thud and a pause before a massive roar erupted, as if a meteor had struck the earth.

When the dust settled, a thirty-metre-long groove had been cut into the cavern floor, the severed corpse of the Ape cut directly in half, straight between the eyes, lay on either side of the cut.

The trail has been detected!

Members of my colony have been to this lake after all. This is incredible news. I could just wait for them to show up and follow them back to the nest.

Staying close to the lake I tip tap my antennae on the ground and follow the trail away from the water. It absolutely seems like a solid trail has been laid down here. The more often ants use a particular path, the more they will reinforce the trail with pheromones, making it more and more solid.

I don�t think this path has been in particularly heavy use, but members of the colony have certainly been here a few times.

I retreat to the safety of the lake and can�t resist a small dance of happiness. Nearby monsters are looking at me funny out of the corner of their eyes. It probably isn�t often they�re treated to some amateur ant freestyle tap. My new family is within reach!

After being on my own for days on end it�ll feel so nice just to see another entity that doesn�t want to eat me.

I�ll get to see my mother in another world, the queen. I wonder how big she is.

I really didn�t get to see my mother much back on Earth. Most of the time I�d been on my own. Hopefully this time I�ll be able to help out a bit more and we can work together!

Gah! I�m too excited! Need to chill, need to calm down.

It�s important I don�t forget where I am. This environment is incredibly dangerous. If I run about distracted, I�ll just get myself killed.

I scout around for a few minutes until I find a nice nest site and dig myself my now patented L chamber and close over the top.

Ensconced in total darkness, I once again begin the exhausting process of training my Mana Manipulation.

Puff.

The chamber is briefly illuminated every time the small cloud of Mana is released from my mouth.

Puff.

Eventually I expel my Mana, and fail at my last attempt to direct the energy due to my exhausted mental state.

The road ahead is still long.

Once this is done, I decide to rest, entering the state of torpor, the sleep equivalent of the insect. I�m getting more and more accustomed to this rest. Without closing my eyes, just going still and sort of zoning out for an extended period.

Eventually I wake, feeling rested and relaxed. Phew.

Too many exciting developments have happened. I need to continue to take it slow for a little while and take stock of things.

My original plan of staying here to Level up Mana Manipulation isn�t a bad one. The added benefit now is that if I keep track of the lake, there�s a chance I�ll be able to join up with a group of my colony mates and follow them back home to the nest.

The other option available is to try and follow the trail on my own. I�m reluctant to take that risk when it may not even be necessary.

I�ll stay here and continue to train up a few skills.

The other skill I want to increase is Digging. It may not be the flashiest skill, the best use in combat, nor particularly useful for anything really, but I like it!

If you had to ask me what the fundamental skill of the ant is, it would be their incredible capacity to construct their nests, and central to this is the ability to dig like a boss!

Besides, it�s super easy to Level up, all I have to do is dig. With this in mind, I start to make extensions to my small chamber, digging small, narrow tunnels in a few directions just a metre under the surface, diverting around, under or stopping a tunnel completely when I run into rock. For some reason the work is soothing. I�m almost humming to myself as I ship loads of dirt back and forth in my mandibles.

The ground here is particularly wet as well, I have to extend away from the lake. It isn�t long before I encounter tree roots and the buried stems of the giant mushrooms in my tunnels.

Every now and again I dig up to the surface to create a little ventilation and scope out what�s happening around the place. These mini exits also provide a nice place to ditch my soil as I go.

I get so engrossed in Digging, I didn�t even notice when the Level up notification for the skill came through. When I stop working and try to think about how much time has passed, I realise I must have been digging for almost six hours.

Level five Dig!

If only I had a Skill Point. I�d be super curious to see what this skill will upgrade into.

Come to think of it, I am getting a little hungry. Might be time to think about trying to hunt for some food. I should also check to see if my colony has shown up for a drink.

Excited, I rush back to the lake hoping to see my own kind there getting some refreshments. Unfortunately, it isn�t to be.

There is still a wide variety of creatures but I can�t see any ants amongst them.

Ah well. Hopefully next time! I guess the only things left for me to do is either try and go hunting or wait and continue to train my Mana.

Wait a sec�

What the hell is that!

In the distance are shapes making their way over the crest of a small hill overlooking the lake. At that distance I can�t see perfectly, but I can see enough to think I know what they are.

And they aren�t monsters!

Without a second thought I dive into my tunnel and start scurrying away from the lake and I don�t stop until I make it under the roots of a tree.

What the heck are humans doing here?

Those were definitely human shapes over that hill. Have they followed me here already? That�s way too quick! I came directly down a shaft, the most direct possible route. Who knows how many winding tunnels they had to go through to make it here.

Although I didn�t get a perfect look at them, something about these humans didn�t seem quite the same as the ones in the tunnels above.

Perhaps their demeanour? Something about the way they�d looked? I�m not sure�

I�m torn. Part of me wants to investigate but another just wants to get the heck out of here.

Dammit! I can�t just keep running every time I see a human. Even if they�re super dangerous, I can rely on my stealth to protect me at least a little. There is only so much I can learn by following the monsters around. By shadowing these humans for a while I might be able to learn a lot.

It�s decided then.

Deep breath, Anthony!

Making my way down my tunnel, I find an opening and carefully poke my head through. My antennae have almost fully regrown now, I�ll probably need to get more food into me before it will regenerate the final part. At least my senses aren�t affected too badly.

Ok, the coast is clear.

Slowly I emerge above ground and enter full Stealth mode, keeping my body to the ground and sticking to as much cover as possible. Moving in a wide arc I aim to circle around the back of the hill where I saw those figures, keeping myself out of their line of sight.

There they are!

I snoop a little closer until more details come into focus, hiding myself in some thick vegetation with my antennae poking out.

There are five humans, all with their back to me as they gaze down onto the lake, or more specifically, the monsters grouped around it. With their attention focused away from me, I take the chance to advance a little closer.

[Advanced Stealth (II) has reached Level 3.]

I love you, Gandalf. These feelings come from the heart, please accept them.

I can almost make out the words they�re saying, although it doesn�t seem to be in any language I can understand. They�re talking to each other and gesturing down towards the lake. Oh wait, they seem to have agreed on something.

I freeze as the five figures separate and ready their weapons. One of them raises their staff and begins to focus. Blazing runes form around the head of the staff and rotate at an ever-increasing speed until a massive fireball appears, burning brilliantly at the top of the staff.

The cry and roar of monsters reaches me as they notice this disturbance. It�s almost as if the monsters are shocked that there would be any sign of attack here at the lake.

Before they can react, the staff is swept down and the fireball rockets out of sight.

The fireball streaks out of sight like a meteor. The result of the spell doesn�t remain a mystery for long as a tremendous tremor rocks the ground, accompanied by a massive explosion lighting the area with a brilliant flash of light.

The roars and screams of monsters below fill the air. That blast must have wounded quite a number and aggravated a heck of a lot more. The other four humans are chuckling to each other as they brandish their weapons and begin to advance down the hill towards the lake.

The spell caster remains. I think it�s female. I�m finding it hard to tell, perhaps my eyes are still too poor to discern those details. She begins to prepare more spells, not quite of the same size as before, conjuring flaming lances out of thin air and sending them streaking into the monsters below.

It feels strange to see the peace of the lake broken in this way.

I mean, I shouldn�t be surprised, right?

Imagining that humans had come across a valuable resource. Would they share it? If they had the strength to take and monopolise it, would they leave it be and allow others to use it? I don�t think they would. They would lie in ambush and kill those who came. They would build fences and walls to keep others out. They would keep everything they could to themselves and grow their strength in order to continue taking and keeping even more.

The monsters here in this place are very stupid. If we look at the stats in the system, I can imagine most monsters I�ve seen have a Cunning less than ten. They can be tricked, baited, and easily trapped.

For some reason they don�t even think of taking and controlling the resource that is the Mana lake. They don�t even fight there, ensuring that they themselves and others can benefit. From a human standpoint, it�s stupid.

Not to mention, what are monsters to humans anyway? Just resources and experience. If I�d been born a human, I�d be doing exactly what they�re doing, right? I�d be attacking monsters and gaining XP, taking their cores to sell, and celebrating.

But I wasn�t born a human in this world.

I was born something else.

A monster.

And for some reason, seeing these humans here, breaking the peace of the lake�

It just really ticks me off. I don�t think too much, I just turn, take aim, and fire.

POW!

Sizzling acid streaks through the air directly towards the female mage. I�ve directed at the back of her head.

Splash!

The acid impacts a barrier of some kind, spreading over the surface to reveal a spherical, invisible shield covering the mage and protecting her from harm.

Startled, she turns around, trying to locate the source of this surprise attack. I�ve already buried myself back into the vegetation, completely hidden from view. I�m nervous she�ll be able to detect me using a spell of crystal like the guards in the upper cavern, but after staring hard at the terrain, she returns her focus to the battle happening below.

POW!

Once again acid arcs through the air, splattering over the barrier. The acid audibly sizzles in its attempt to chew through that layer of protection. The mage turns fiercely and launches a jet of fire from her hand, scorching the area behind her, sweeping the flame around like a flamethrower to burn away any cover close to her.

I�m not that close.

Still, the searing flames twinge my still healing antennae. Good lord that�s hot! I�m not even sure what it is I want to achieve with this intervention� I just wanted her to stop bombarding the monsters below.

Well, mission successful I guess, Anthony, what the heck are you going to do now?

The mage is still observing the flaming wreckage of the forest, trying to identify the pesky source of these acid attacks.

And I am not about to show my adorable face!

The mage is visibly irritated but her attention is quickly dragged back to the battle below. Her allies are probably relying on her support in their fight against the monsters, and she cannot afford to have her attention diverted.

Now that her back is to me, I take a little time to reposition myself, darting out of my cover to move slightly farther away. I dive in amongst the roots of a nearby tree and observe my target again.

She�s returned to conjuring the brilliant lances of flame and sending them flying into her targets. The lances begin as a hovering ball of dense fire before they streak forward, accelerating until they resemble a long spear of pure heat.

Just as she is about to cast again, I take aim and fire.

[Improved Acid Shot (II) has reached Level 2.]

Nice!

From this extended range my aim is less perfect, but the majority of the acid still splatters against that invisible barrier, eating away at the mage�s defences.

What I didn�t expect is what happens next.

With an audible shattering sound, the barrier vanishes and the acid covering the surface immediately drops through, a small portion of it falling directly onto the mage.

She cries in rage as the acid begins eating into her robes and tries to brush away the offending acid and protect herself from further damage.

I actually didn�t expect I�d be able to harm this mage at all. Seeing my acid doing its deadly work against a human is somewhat more shocking to me than I expected. Without the support of the magic bombardment from above, I imagine the other four fighters below will be having a harder time of it. My main objective has been accomplished in that the mage has stopped working. I decide to try and sneak out to see what is happening down by the lake.

Moving carefully, I emerge from my hiding place and sneak about in a wide arc, keeping a good distance away from the mage and the path her allies would take on their return. Skirting around the hill, I make my way back towards the side of the lake.

It�s a scene of devastation.

Dozens of monsters have already been slain on the edge of the water, some had clearly tried to charge up the hill only to be killed by the mage�s four allies without achieving anything.

The monsters on this side of the lake have already been routed, those prepared to charge and fight are dead while the more discreet creatures made good on their escape as soon as they could.

The humans are picking through the bodies now, using long knives they had strapped to their legs to open up the creatures. No doubt in search of their cores, cursing when their search fails or chuckling merrily when they pocket the shining, gem-like material.

The mage has made her way down the hill to her allies, and they laugh as she angrily speaks and gestures towards the hill, probably explaining the sneak attacks I performed.

One of the others, a particularly large warrior looking type, pulls what appears to be a bottle or flask from a carry bag on his hip and passes it to his wounded ally who gratefully accepts and drinks it.

Perhaps a healing potion?

Once they have completed their harvest of cores the five of them group up and make their way over the hill. Their silhouettes blur into obscurity the farther away they move and disappear once they crest the peak.

The edge of the lake and the distance up the hill are strewn with dead monsters and I feel numb.

As a former human and a current monster, what exactly is the morality of this world?

Regardless, there is a wealth of Biomass here and no monster would approve letting it go to waste. I�ll eat first, then think later.

Before the remains faded and were claimed by the Dungeon, I was able to gain seven Biomass, 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 Biomass and then filling my stomachs for a further four points.

[Basic profile of the Scintillam Hedw unlocked.][Basic profile of the Serpens Canis unlocked.]

[Basic profile of the Lacertae Terram unlocked.]

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

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

My intention had been to upgrade my Eyes to +5 in order 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 Biomass.]

I�m nervous about this�

�Yes.

[At this Level you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

Instead of the painful itch, the gruff yet soothing tones of Gandalf ring in my mind.

Aha! Level five is a significant milestone after all! As it should be. I�ve spent fifteen Biomass on my eyesight, reward me more!

Once the system finished speaking a long list of possible eyesight upgrades appeared within my mind. Seriously, there is so much to choose from. Heat Sensitive Vision, Motion Sensitive Vision, Mana Vision, See-through Vision.

Holy crap, 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 damn useful�I 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�s 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 lenses that you can move around, compound eyes are hundreds of individual lenses that are always watching the same angle but can�t move.

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

But my compound eyes are not as strong at focusing long distances like a human�s eyes.

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 farther away, giving me a small field of vision that can see a longer distance. I still can�t move my eyes, so to shift this field of vision I�ll have to actually move my entire head. With this upgrade I�ll be able to take the best of both worlds, long distance focus combined with surrounding awareness.

The ultimate eye! Joyfully I confirm my selection.

Oh God� I forgot the ITCH!

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

I�m being stabbed! Needled! My damn eyes!

Fgarp!

I�m reduced to flopping about on the ground madly scrabbling with my legs. Nothing helps. And it goes on. And on. And on.

Before finally it stops.

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

Nooooo� Yes.

GODDAMMIT!

Not nearly as bad but still horrible is the acid mutation. Since upgrading to +5 gives such incredible benefits, I want to advance everything to this Level as quickly as possible. Acid is already at +3 and doubles as my primary weapon at this stage, I�ll prioritise it first.

[Be aware, at your current stage of evolution you can longer advance your Eyes.]

Hmm� Until I actually manage to evolve myself, I won�t be able to get any of my mutations past +5, eh? Fair enough. With only two more Levels I�ll be able to evolve and I�d like to think it won�t take that long.

Having spent all my Biomass, I decide to stay in hiding and train my Mana Manipulation, expending all of my Mana in small puffs out of my mouth and completely draining my mental energy once again.

However, I am rewarded for my efforts!

[Mana Manipulation has reached Level 3.]

I immediately open my status to admire my progress.

Name: Anthony

Level: 3 (core)

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

Hp: 30: Mp: 1

Skills: Digging Level 5 (I); Improved Acid Shot Level 2 (II); Grip Level 4 (I); Crushing Bite Level 1 (II); Advanced Stealth Level 3 (II); Chomp Level 1 (I); Tunnel Sense Level 4 (I); Mana Manipulation Level 3 (I)

Mutations: Focused Eyes +5; Antennae +2; Acid Gland +4; Legs +1; Mandibles +2; Carapace +1

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 0

Biomass: 0

Mana expended and mutations complete, I�ll rest here for the time being before making any further moves. With the addition of these human monster hunters, this area has officially become even more dangerous. I have to make sure I maintain my best condition.

When I eventually awake my Mana has restored four points and I�ve digested a good amount of the food I�d eaten.

Poking my head out of my chamber I don�t spy any humans, so I emerge fully and take a look around with my newly upgraded eyes.

Whoa. This may take some getting used to.

The centre of my vision contains a small space that almost feels like a zoomed in view compared to the areas around it. And it isn�t like the more long-sighted areas blur into the lesser ones. There is a clear marked distinction between them, which makes sense since the upgrade has essentially improved a small set of my compound eyes and the lenses don�t really overlap in what they�re looking at.

As I turn my head the zoomed in area sweeps across, always remaining in the centre of my vision.

Gosh, it�s a little hard to keep track of two different tiers of eyesight. Having said that, I�m still extremely pleased with my choice, I�ll just have to adapt quickly. With this enhanced section of vision, I can easily scan the opposite side of the lake and inspect the creatures there. The titan-croc is still lazing about over there, probably sleeping.

I also quickly look about to check if any ants from my colony have made their way to the lake only to be disappointed. Still no sign of them.

Sigh.

While I�m here, I�ll drink from the lake to restore my MP faster and decide what to do next.

I�m not as inclined to stay here now, since I know there are human hunters walking about who can rain fire down on me at any moment. But I must gain XP and evolve. With the added stats and strength from my evolution, my chances of survival as well as my ability to gain Biomass will go up, hopefully by a lot!

With that done I�ll feel a lot more confident following the pheromone trail into the forest to track down my colony. Gaining information is still probably the most important thing right now, as well as hunting for prey. It might seem like an odd decision, but I think I�ll go and find the humans camp before doing anything else.

Since they are the most dangerous thing around it may seem strange to want to rush towards them. In reality, since they are so dangerous, I want to know where they are and what they�re doing.

With my new upgrades I can spot them from a much greater distance, otherwise I wouldn�t take this sort of risk.

Not sure what I�ll do once I find them to be honest, but at the very least I�ll be aware of the location of the threat.

Ok, it�s decided. Onward, to the human camp!

Moving with extreme caution away from the lake because, let�s face it, I�m fair game out here and there are many monsters who would love a slice of this delectable pie. In the war for survival, Stealth is still my most powerful weapon.

I�ve been able to gather quite a bit of Biomass, probably more than usual for a creature of my Level. Operating as a scavenger, picking up the rewards when others have done the dirty work. Unfortunately, this doesn�t work very well for XP.

With the exception of the completely bizarre battle between the Wolf Dragon pack and the Claw Centipedes, I�ve had to carefully pick and choose my prey in order to get XP and that remains the case.

It would be nice if on this trip I can successfully carry out a hunt on my own and defeat my opponent one-on-one. I need the confidence boost as much as the XP. I won�t be able to stumble across wounded opponents forever.

Keeping myself as hidden as possible I dart from cover to cover, keeping all of my senses sharp.

After that last stomach full I�ve returned to full HP and my antennae are showing no signs of the extensive damage it endured during my last fight, and my leg had healed long ago.

This forest really is strange. Every time I turn a corner, I see something weird I hadn�t seen before. Like this bright orange fern looking thing. The tip of every branch has a thin tendril of an almost weblike material hanging down to the ground.

Won�t be touching those!

Out of curiosity I flip a stone using my mandibles towards that plant, but nothing happens. My wariness doesn�t totally dissipate though. It�s possible the plant will only react when something organic touches it.

Instead of standing about eyeing off a fern I keep going.

I come across a few different creatures as I move in the general direction the hunters left in. A large pack of small, ape-like creatures were congregating around a particularly large tree. I give those guys a wide berth.

If only I had the support of more of my kind! Seeing these large groups of smaller monsters really gets me down for some reason.

There were also a few Wolf Dragon cubs on the prowl, yet another group I couldn�t take on.

Feeling a bit stifled by my inability to find something I can fight I decide to do something I wasn�t able to do before.

Climb a tree to scout around!

Finding a nice-looking tree, I use my claws and the potency of my Grip skill to swiftly make my way up and have a look about.

Ohhhh. I can see so much farther now. Behold the power of my improved eyes!

There�s a hill in the distance with a few shapes on it. Possibly tents? This could be the camp of the five hunters�

I shall investigate!

With my destination in mind, I continue to snoop about while making my way towards that distant camp. I don�t want to start any combat while those hunters are around. If they come over to investigate, I�m going to be really dead, really fast.

Eventually I make my way to the foot of the hill and start to take things very slowly, darting from cover to cover and avoiding any sound or sign of monsters.

About halfway up the shape of the human hunters at the top of the hill come into focus. They appear to sit in a circular shape on stones and bits of wood they�ve put together as chairs. Maybe they�re sitting around a fire pit or cookpot.

There�re three separate tents arranged in a semicircle around their seating area. A few large backpacks are strewn about the place, along with some monster remains they�ve been able to hold onto somehow.

A line has been strung across two poles. At first, I think they�re hanging their clothes from it but when I stare a little harder, I realise its monster hides are hung up to dry.

Clearly this group is here to hunt monsters and take cores and materials back to the surface for profit.

Deciding to watch them, I settled into a good position.

Now that I�ve identified where the camp is I have a crazy idea forming in my mind. Patience is a virtue to the monster. This is the first instruction in my creed.

After a few hours the humans begin to gather equipment, preparing to head out. They strap on armour, check the edge of their blades and banter back and forth.

Then something interesting happens. As a group they step out of the camp and once they are about ten metres away, they pause while the mage concentrates and prepares her staff. She focuses for an extended period, runes appearing and rotating around the head of her staff before she taps the foot of the staff against the ground.

Immediately a few stones I hadn�t noticed before flare around the outskirts of the camp, glowing brightly for just a moment before dimming again.

Once this has been completed the group heads towards the lake.

It seems they are just farming the lake, ambushing the unsuspecting monsters who have gathered, then returning here to wait until the lake has gathered together the monsters once again.

Fairly efficient way to slay monsters I suppose.

Just to be sure, I shadow the group until I�m certain that�s where they�re heading, then I double back and head towards their camp.

You guys must have harvested a lot of monster cores, eh? Be a shame if something were to happen to them�

Gwehehehehe.

I�m very wary of the spell that was cast as they left, however. I�m sure an alarm would go off or I�d be melted on the spot or something equally horrible.

There is no way I�m walking over that barrier.

I�m willing to try going under it though. Behold the power of Level five Digging!

Working furiously, I start to dig with all my might. I probably have a little over an hour if we account for the time to travel to the lake and back, as well as fighting and scavenging. Plenty of time to dig myself a small tunnel.

My mandibles work at lightning speed. Empowered by my Digging skill I can shift a surprising amount of dirt with each chomp, and it isn�t long until I�ve dug under the magic boundary and into the camp.

Muahahahaha!

Curious, but aware that I don�t have that much time, I start to poke my nose into the tents to inspect the stuff. More bags and goods meet my eyes. It appears the mage and another member of the group are sharing one of these tents together.

There are food supplies stored in a bag but that isn�t what I�m looking for. Using my mandibles, I grab the bags one by one and try to shake them open like an angry dog.

I don�t have hands! How else am I supposed to open them?

After ten minutes of shaking and tearing at their bags I manage to find what I�m looking for. Buried in the bottom of one pack was a smaller leather sack sealed with a drawstring pulled tight.

Not tight enough to stop these chompers!

After puncturing a hole in the bag, the precious wealth spills out before me.

[Compatible monster core detected. Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute a monster?]

Nice monster cores you have here, guys. As they say, finders keepers!

They have over twenty monster cores and I start absorbing them one after another. After I take my fourth one, Gandalf throws water on my burning joy.

[Monster core has reached capacity for your current stage of evolution.]

Dammit, Gandalf!

There are still seventeen monster cores left here! How could you do this to me? Despite running out of time I can�t help but agonise over the incredible bounty before me.

Eventually, I push the cores together using my claws and try to scoop up as many as possible in my mandibles. Due to how cumbersome my jaws are and how small the cores are, I�m only able to grab four.

Although my heart is bleeding, it will have to do.

Retreat!

Like a thief in the night, I scamper away with my treasure, crawling through my tunnel and then running down the hill and back into the forest.

I don�t go too far until I find a particularly large tree and dig a deep hole in an area shielded by the exposed roots. Inside I bury my pirate�s gold and carefully conceal my handiwork.

Hopefully I�ll be able to come back for these after I�ve evolved.

Good thing I can�t smile, otherwise my face would hurt. What a haul. Thanks, you stupid humans!

Now I have even more reason to try and Level up quickly so I can evolve. Once I�ve been able to do that, I can reclaim those monster cores and use them to reinforce my own.

The longer they stay buried the more nervous I�ll be that they�ll get discovered, either by the humans using some magical means I�m not aware of or perhaps another monster will sniff them out.

I have to evolve. I have to do it now!

First, I have to find something I can hunt. Too many creatures are still beyond my means to fight, even though I�ve come a long way in many areas, I still haven�t gained much combat strength. My heavy Biomass investment in my vision doesn�t directly make me a better fighter, nor do a lot of my skills, or even my reinforced monster core that now stores 20 MP.

I can feel the monster core within, burning away with more intensity than ever before. It�s also definitely increased in size. It was almost like having a burning stone in your gut, but in a nice way.

Kinda�

It doesn�t really matter though since I can�t use my MP to do anything useful at the moment. Hopefully once my Mana Manipulation skill has reached Level five I might be able to purchase new skills to unleash my magic potential.

For now, I�ll have to make do with my acid and mandibles.

I do have a target in mind, at the very least. I can probably fight them and they should be somewhere nearby.

It will be difficult though. They never fight fair.

Centipedes�

Back at the lake I saw a large tangle of the basic Claw Centipedes. If I can find a small group of two, possibly three, I may be able to take them on my own. I�ll have to be careful that none of the larger, evolved centipedes are anywhere around, I�m certain those could easily crush me.

Having decided on a course of action I make my way back to the lake in a wide circle. I do not want to run into those hunters, even though I wish I could see their faces when they get back to camp� Hehehehe.

I manage to sneak back and appear essentially on the opposite side to where the hunters had been fighting, close to where the titan-croc is still chilling.

What�s with this guy? Doesn�t he need to go out and hunt? It�s possible he already has, I suppose, while I was away. Regardless, this guy seems to spend a massive amount of time relaxing.

Luckily for me there is another pile of centipedes at the lake. Seriously, I hate the way these creatures pile on top of each other, constantly twisting and turning. They look like they�re trying to tie themselves into a knot.

Moving around the gigantic croc I get a few sips in from the water, filling my Mana back up to full and waiting for the centipedes to move.

After perhaps an hour the pile almost spontaneously disentangles itself and the centipedes streak away from the lake at full speed, all headed in the same direction.

Caught by surprise I almost lose sight of the horrible things before I start running after them.

These guys are seriously moving!

At least I don�t have to stay quite as close to keep a good eye on them as I did before. I�m a bit nervous though, moving at this pace it�s basically impossible to stay hidden from anything nearby. Those damn centipedes may be moving in a big pack but I�m not!

Thankfully we don�t travel far before we come to a raised mound in the forest. The mound is about two metres high and there are several holes around the outside. Almost without slowing down the bustling caravan of centipedes I�ve been following dive into the mound and disappear, leaving behind an eerie silence.

Oookay.

I guess I�ve found their nest?

Keeping a safe distance I circle around the nest, specifically watching the holes. There�s none that seem particularly large, so there may not be any of the massive, evolved centipedes here. I�ll have to stay careful, just in case one shows up.

Remaining cautious, I try to keep an eye on the nest and the forest at the same time. It�s possible a hunting party could return to the nest from behind me at any moment.

After doing a full circle, the mound is likely five metres in diameter, but the nest itself probably extends underground. At least eight centipedes are in there already and I�m guessing there are many more than that.

Just imagining the vile tangle of legs and claws inside there gives me the heaves. I hate these things.

Which is exactly why I�m going to hunt them.

The next step is to wait. Definitely not going to dive in and trash the joint, getting myself immediately eaten. I�ll bide my time until a smaller group leaves, either to visit the lake or to hunt. The odds will be against me, but I�m hoping that in a two on one or a three on one situation I�ll still be able to take them out, thanks to my human intellect and superior mutations.

I find a vantage point up a tree where I can remain perfectly still, maximising my Stealth bonus and keeping an eye on the nest. When my target number of centipedes leave, I�ll be ready.

Yep.

Any minute now�

Do something you stupid bugs!

After a few hours of waiting there has been absolutely no action from this mound. What the heck are they doing in there? Actually, don�t answer that.

Ten minutes later excitement fills me when a noise breaks the silence. At least until I realise it�s a group of six centipedes returning to the nest from the forest. Dammit!

After that a group of five head out towards the lake, and a group of seven head out to hunt. Then nothing. Those two groups come back and then nothing.

Are you teasing me you idiot centipedes! How scared are you?

Just when I�m about to burst with frustration a group of four clamber out of the mound, claws clacking, before they group up and move into the forest in single file.

Chance!

I�m too impatient to sit in this tree for days, waiting for the perfect opportunity. It doesn�t seem like these guys are going to move in anything smaller than a group of four, so I�ll have to take this fight, even if it�s a worse situation than I�d planned for.

I carefully make my way down the tree and give chase. Thankfully the targets aren�t running at their full speed. They�re moving carefully, scanning for prey and trying not to attract too much attention.

I�ll have to wait until they get farther from the nest before I make a move. The last thing I want is to get swarmed by reinforcements.

The other thing I worry about as I tail along behind the convoy of disgusting legs, is whether I should attack before they find their prey or wait and hope to battle a weakened enemy as they make their way back to their nest.

Normally you�d think waiting would be the best course of action. My concern with that is if I wait, this group of centipedes might be finished off by a stronger monster, one I won�t be able to tangle with. If that were to happen then I would get absolutely nothing.

No. I have to take the more difficult path and fight the four of them before they encounter any other monsters.

Having made my decision, I start to execute my strategy.

Accelerating, I move to a flanking position. The four centipedes are moving together in a line on my left. Remaining hidden from them I hurry forward, trying to get a little in front of them.

Ok. I�m in position. Take careful aim�

POW!

Acid flies through the air in a powerful burst, launched directly from my business district.

It isn�t easy to hit a moving target at this range, but my skills have stood me in good stead and the first shot connects nicely on the leading centipede.

The creature screeches to a halt and begins writhing on the ground while those following behind cluster around and fiercely clack their claws at the surrounding forest.

POW!

A second shot is launched directly from my commercial enterprise and connects with another centipede who joins his ally rolling about on the ground, trying to minimise the damage from the sizzling liquid.

At this point I turn to face my opponents and start viciously clacking my mandibles, stepping into the open to reveal my position.

Come at me!

It doesn�t take long for the two uninjured Claw Centipedes to notice my provocation. Seeing a lone hatchling ant, they are unafraid and charge me with all the speed their tiny legs can muster!

Just as I�d hoped.

As soon as they approach, I turn and run away, but not too far.

I dash directly to a tree I�d spotted earlier, and upon reaching it, grasp tightly with my claws and climb directly up.

The two enraged centipedes begin their ascent, clacking and snapping at my heels. In the distance their two injured allies are recovering and beginning to make their way towards us.

I turn my head slightly to eyeball the frenzied monster climbing the tree directly behind me.

Getting a good look are you, centipede?

Maybe you shouldn�t be quite so close to what some of my enemies have come to know as the Corporate Zone!

POW!

Point-blank acid jets directly into the centipede�s face. The monster shrieks and drops off the tree, rolling in the dirt at the base.

That leaves one healthy centipede on the tree with me. One-on-one. Ant to� gross wiggling thing.

The tree gives me a slight advantage in that the deadliest weapon of the centipede, the poison stinger, will be much more difficult to use here. I�m not sure they can support their bodies on this vertical surface if they were to let go with enough legs to bring the spike overhead.

Which means this will be a claws vs mandibles showdown.

The remaining foe continues to charge upwards, claws pinching and clacking as it advances. The pincers on this specimen seem a little larger than usual, it must have mutated them, dang it.

Nonetheless I brace myself to meet the beast head-on.

For a few seconds we nip back and forth, one advancing, the other retreating. I dart forward but lose my footing. A slight stumble at the critical moment!

There is triumph in the eyes of my foe. Triumph and a deep, burning rage.

The centipede lunges with fangs and claws, ready to deal the knockout blow. When it strikes, it hits nothing but empty air.

Aha! The perfect feint!

My acting skill is over 9000, dumb centipede!

I wait until the last moment and withdraw, my Grip skill and strong legs giving me the perfect control on this vertical battlefield. Once the centipede is overcommitted, I lunge forward with my mandibles wide open. Receive the Bite of my ancestors!

Once again, my mandibles glow and close with extreme crushing force. Empowered by the Chomp skill, the Bite easily splinters the carapace, crushing the monster�s head completely. Lifelessly it falls from the tree.

[You have defeated a Level 3 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

One down, three to go.

And the remaining injured prey aren�t dissuaded by my display of insect dominance and continue to attack. In their simple minds this is still a three on one and the enemy is only a single ant. They charge up the tree together, each on a separate side.

This isn�t good!

Scrabbling for grip I shift myself out onto a branch, moving away from the trunk. No matter what, I mustn�t get surrounded.

This branch isn�t thick enough to allow for a stable grip, it�s almost all I can do to hang on properly. Thankfully only one enemy is able to join me out on this limb, which means his allies remain circling the trunk and hissing at me.

My new dance partner creeps out on the branch, claws held at the ready. It�s only then that I start to worry about our weight.

CRACK!

Just ruddy perfect�

As the branch lurches, the beast and I are both rocked on our legs but I recover first. Have at you, centipede! Once more my mandibles stretch wide and crunch shut on a monster�s head, however this time I�m unable to deal fatal damage.

SNAP!

The branch breaks clean off the tree, sending me freefalling with a massive centipede trapped in my mandibles.

Twisting my body, I use my momentum to swing the creature down into the ground before I land with a sickening thud.

Gah!

I think I broke something� I landed heavily on my side, but at least I was able to protect my legs. Quickly, back on your feet, Anthony. No time to doze off! Shaking off the impact I scramble my legs beneath me and zero in on the centipede who fell with me. Unable to protect itself when it fell it seems to have ruined several legs upon landing. Seizing the initiative, I dash forward and finish it off with another Bite.

[You have defeated a Level 2 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

Two centipedes left.

The remaining foes are feeling less certain of themselves now, but they�ve little choice but to fight. They have to come down the tree to escape anyway. From the way they move I can tell they want to come at me together and I�m not sure there is much I can do about it.

Fingers and mandibles crossed. This is where it gets tough.

Moving cautiously, the remaining foes descend the tree, claws raised to attack at the first sign of movement. For my part I watch their every movement, waiting for the correct moment.

Both centipedes reach the ground at the same time. I turn and run.

Flee!

The sight of my rapid escape seems to bewilder my enemies for a moment before they�re seized with the desire to hunt and begin running after me with all their strength.

Fools.

POW!

One more acid blast is unleashed when they close in on me, scalding and eating away at the closest pursuer.

[Improved Acid Shot (II) has reached Level 3.]

Haha! Didn�t expect me to recharge a shot in such a short time, did you? Thankfully you guys are dumb enough to fall for the same trick twice.

While the unlucky centipede tries to cope with his second dose of +4 Acid, the other forms up to do battle. I�ve been able to create another one-on-one situation. Need to finish it off before the other enemy recovers and joins the fray.

I decided to make a risky play. I don�t want to drag out this fight and give my opponents the chance to bring their dreaded stingers into play, it�s the only thing that could finish me in one strike.

My foe draws near, feinting and posturing with jaws and claws.

I charge directly at it with full speed.

Bring it on!

The startled centipede reacts swiftly, snapping forward with its claws and grabbing hold of a leg with one and gouging a scrape in my face with the other. But my momentum isn�t to be denied.

With my larger and more powerful mandibles I dive forward and attack with my fearsome Crushing Bite.

[Chomp has reached Level 2.]

The centipede frantically tears at me with its claws, inflicting damage but it isn�t enough.

Crushing Bite!

[You have defeated a Level 3 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

The final centipede has suffered greatly from my two acid attacks and isn�t able to put up much of a fight. I finish it quickly with a few more bites and the sweet tones of Gandalf ring in my ears once more.

[You have defeated a Level 2 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 4. One Skill Point awarded.]

I did it. Victory!

I have triumphed over the hated foe. Four versus one and you still couldn�t get it done, you worthless crawlers. Haha!

I perform the best victory dance I can with my injured legs.

Checking my HP, I�ve been reduced to 20 but I�m not too worried. After consuming this Biomass I�ll be back up to full or close to it.

Speaking of which, these disgusting grubs aren�t going to eat themselves.

After consuming the lot of them, with a break in the middle, I manage to gain four Biomass and something else unexpectedly pops up.

[You have unlocked the intermediate profile: Claw Centipede.]

I�ve finally consumed enough of these things to open up the intermediate profile, eh?

Well, that�s secondary. My primary concern is that I�ve successfully reached Level four. Only one more Level and I�ll be able to evolve, finally! It�s so close I can almost taste it.

I have to make plans.

I climb back up into a tree and hide amongst the foliage to formulate my next moves. My fat abdomen makes things significantly more difficult but after some sustained effort I get up there.

Ok then, the first thing to worry about is what to do with my Skill Point. I could upgrade Digging, or I could wait and hold onto the Skill Point in case I buy something interesting once Mana Manipulation reaches Level five.

After considering it for a while, I decide to go ahead and upgrade my Digging. After all, what sort of ant doesn�t prioritise being able to dig!

[Digging (I) [?] Excavating (II): Cost 1 SP. Increases the ability to shift large amounts of material in a shorter span of time.]

Purchase!

If I need to save a Skill Point, I can always keep the next one. I don�t think I�ll be able to max out Mana Manipulation before I Level up again. After all, I�m going to keep on hunting centipedes until I get it.

Once I�ve evolved, I�ll feel a lot more confident following the trail back to the colony. Not to mention I can go and absorb those hidden monster cores.

Now the Biomass� four is such an awkward number! Just one more and I�d be able to take my Acid Gland to +5! Using it all now could upgrade my Mandibles to +4.

Arggh!

In the end I decided to upgrade my mandibles. That last fight wasn�t so one-sided that I felt completely confident going into the next one without any real improvement to my fighting ability.

[Do you wish to improve Mandibles to +4? This will cost 4 Biomass.]

Go ahead, chief!

My face is immediately on fire.

Just� WHY!

When the mutation is finally done my mandibles have become slightly larger and more menacing. These chompers are getting more and more potent all the time!

What sort of upgrade will I be able to get at +5? I can hardly wait. With my Biomass spent and my Skill Points used, I�m almost ready for action. All I need to do is wait for my digestion to kick in so I don�t look like I�m dragging an expanded sack behind me as I move.

While I�m stuck, I practice my Mana Manipulation a few more times, leaving myself gasping with something of a headache. It�s getting a little easier to move my Mana about but not much.

Since I�m already fairly well hidden up here, I may as well take a quick nap to get myself back to full fighting shape.

I woke up several hours later, ready for round two.

I carefully make my way back to the centipede mound and take up my scouting position high in a tree. If I spend any more time up tree�s I�m going to turn into a weaver ant. A fascinating species of ants that bend leaves and stick them together to create a nest. They even use their larvae to spit out a goop they use as a glue.

I�ll stick to digging.

For now, I return to the waiting game. There doesn�t seem to be much action, certainly no response that would suggest the members of this colony are upset that four of their number have gone missing. I would guess that it isn�t unusual that occasionally a hunting group would disappear, never to return.

After waiting patiently for several hours, with a few groups leaving and a few others returning, another contingent of four departs the mound and makes their way towards the lake.

Oh ho!

Going for a drink of that sweet, sweet Mana water, eh? I hope you enjoy that drink. For it shall be your last!

After the acquired targets have moved a good distance from the nest I climb down and trail along behind them. I�m not too worried about keeping close to this group, since they are heading to the lake, I have less fear of them being killed hunting.

I�ll set up an ambush and take on this group when they leave the lake.

Following along the trail I choose a large tree with a good view of the path the centipedes have taken. I want to see them coming so I prepare to lie in wait.

In the meantime, I decide to take a look at the intermediate profile of the Claw Centipede. Perhaps it has some useful information?

[Unguibus Scolopendra: Claw Centipede. Has strong claws and a venomous spike in its tail.

Might: 11

Toughness: 14

Cunning: 8

Will: 7]

Huh, so those are the base stats of the centipede? The Might and Toughness are quite similar to mine but the Cunning and Will are completely in the tank. I shouldn�t be too surprised I suppose. I doubt every hatchling ant has a Cunning as high as 25. My guess is that my high Cunning stat is the system assigning a value to my human intellect.

This is my real trump card. Without my ability to reason and make planned decisions, I would have been dead long ago. Not to mention I can easily exploit monsters with extremely poor smarts.

About an hour later my patience is rewarded. The four centipedes are returning and delightfully moving in single file.

Another visitor? Stay awhile. Stay forever!

POW!

With my steady position and aim bonus there is no way I would miss a long centipede moving in a straight line. The arcing stream of acid lands accurately along the targets back. A perfect hit.

The centipedes are immediately enraged, posturing fiercely around their thrashing comrade.

POW!

Another direct hit! One more centipede is sent writhing on the ground as they experience the terrible burning of my potent acid.

With two shots discharged I make my position known to the remaining healthy centipedes. Fiercely clacking my mandibles and waving my antennae, I display the insect equivalent of �come at me, bro!�

Just like before, the moronic crawlers are completely provoked, rushing forward to consume this pesky ant. As they reach the trunk of the tree, they grasp hold with their many legs and start climbing, directly into my third shot.

POW!

Yet another centipede has received my acidic blessing! The unfortunate victim tumbles out of the tree.

So far, the plan is working just as well as it did last time.

Only one target remains on the tree with me. Just like before I use my incredible acting skill to feint a slip and the centipede completely falls for it, allowing me to deal a decisive chomp!

Although I don�t quite manage to deliver fatal damage with this Bite, the cracked carapace and distorted shape of the monster�s head are telling of just how powerful that attack was.

Hissing in pain the centipede lashes out, catching a glancing blow on my head with its claws before I close in and deliver the finishing Crushing Bite.

[You have defeated a Level 1 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

One down, three wounded to go.

Checking my status as the remaining centipedes approach the tree, I see I�ve only taken one damage so far.

Good to go!

The three centipedes charge up the trunk together, but this time I don�t head out to a branch. I still don�t want to be surrounded, so I undertake another risky manoeuvre.

When a centipede is directly before me, I let go of the tree.

Unable to react fast enough, the centipedes can only watch as I crash into one of their number. My victim and I both tumble out of the tree, grappling and biting at each other before we hit the ground with a thump!

Desperately scrabbling to avoid the poisonous stinger, I use my momentum to roll away and back onto my feet.

My opponent is still struggling to right itself so I charge as fast as I can and attack with my mandibles.

Crushing Bite!

The mysterious white energy empowers my jaws as I crunch down with all the strength my face can muster.

[Crushing Bite (II) has reached Level 2.]

[You have defeated a Level 4 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

And then there were two!

Now for the tricky bit. The remaining two centipedes stick together as they descend the tree. I don�t quite feel like I have another Acid Shot in the tank yet. This is going to have to be done up close and personal.

As soon as they reach the ground the two monsters split apart and threaten me from two sides. Thankfully it isn�t hard to watch both at the same time. The advantages of compound eyes!

Not willing to give away the initiative I turn and charge the creature on my left. The centipede rears back, threatening me with claws and jaws.

Then I stop and charge in the other direction!

The monster who had been behind me froze in surprise. As I�d charged at its ally it had immediately raised up its rear section, revealing the deadly poison spike at the tip of its tail. The sneaky git thought to creep up behind me while I was distracted. It�s not so easy, chump!

After hesitating a beat, the centipede strikes with its tail, the stinger plunging toward me at lightning speed!

I�d been waiting for this.

Predicting the move, I dig my claws into the ground and leap to the side, letting the deadly tail pass by my left. Before the monster can recover and draw its tail back for another strike I turn and Bite.

Carapace cracks and crunches under the force and the centipede hisses with rage. I�ve managed to latch on and savage its carapace two thirds of the way down it�s body, crushing the muscles in the process. That tail is now useless.

Seeing the other opponent approaching behind me I waste no time and leap directly at the injured foe, taking blows from its furiously grasping claws. Shrugging off the pain I deliver the final blow with another Bite.

[You have defeated a Level 3 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

And now it�s one-on-one.

Unwilling to give the final monster time to raise its poison sting, I grit my mandibles against my wounds and charge directly at it. A quick status check shows I still have half of my HP left.

Easily enough to finish this!

No tricks.

The centipede and I charge and rip into each other, mandibles crashing, claws scraping and ripping at carapace.

But my opponent is no match for my superior mutations and skills.

[You have defeated a Level 2 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

Finally! Not enough to get Level five, but at least another four Biomass has been secured.

That one was hard, I�ve been reduced to just ten HP. Dents, scratches and cracks cover my poor carapace.

Can�t waste a second, have to eat!

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Om nom nom.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Wait, what is that sound?

Perhaps it wasn�t the best idea to fight and eat here, directly on the path the entire centipede nest takes to get to the lake.

Before my despairing eyes, another five centipedes are approaching, wriggling along in single file through the forest on their way to the lake.

When they see me, mouth full of dead centipede, they don�t even break stride and immediately charge.

Hey! Let�s take it easy fellas. Any chance we can discuss this? A peaceful resolution is always the best way forward, yes? We can agree that I have eaten those of your kind, those are the facts. But can�t we also agree that we are part of the circle of life? That all things are both predator and prey?

Didn�t think so.

Run!

I turn and fire off a quick Acid Shot, spraying the leading centipede�s hideous maw before I bolt into the forest. How the heck am I going to deal with five centipedes? I�ve only recovered about half my HP! This isn�t good, not good at all!

Any help, Gandalf?

Damn you and your incredible pipe smoking skills, you stupid wizard. I�ll say it, you�re late! Way late!

I could potentially make a break for the lake. It�s possible they wouldn�t fight me there, but being as injured as I am there isn�t any guarantee that I�d be able to outpace them.

I�ll have to fight this one out and there is no way I can fight fair.

As I run, I search frantically for something to use. And right there is a large tree with a wide trunk.

Before my opponents can gain on me, I run around to the back of the trunk, breaking their line of sight and haul myself up the tree as fast as I can.

Go, go, go, Anthony, pump those little ant legs!

Not far behind, the five centipedes arrive at the tree, the one I�d hit with acid lagging a little behind. They immediately start to climb after me.

I climb as fast as I can and out onto the thickest branch I see that�s still low to the ground. Having secured this tenuous safety, I turn to spy on the movements of my enemies.

When the centipedes see where I am they continue to charge out onto the branch, one of them crawling along the bottom of the bough and the other on the top.

Just before they reach me, I let go, throwing myself to the ground.

Landing with a thud, I push myself back up and check on their response.

Unwilling to jump after me they start to backtrack and climb down.

The centipede closest to the ground, far behind his allies, is the one I�ve hit with acid. As soon as his head is in reach I dash forward and Bite!

[You have defeated a Level 3 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

One down.

Now run!

As the rest of the centipedes make their way down the tree, I flee, trying to obscure my retreating form by running through foliage and behind trees.

When I find a particularly dense area of vegetation, I dive in and remain perfectly still. My best chance now is to let my Advanced Stealth do some work.

The rest of the centipedes aren�t far behind, but they haven�t been able to see where I went. Perhaps their eyesight is as bad as mine was when I hatched? I hope so!

The four of them move past me in a group, their own antennae patting about on the ground and claws snapping angrily.

A centipede has drawn within five metres of me, but I don�t dare move. I barely breathe. If they spot me, I�ll get ripped to shreds. Please centipedes� stay stupid!

Without any sign of me they split up and scout around. One scurries off to my left, another to my right and one heads back towards the tree. One centipede remains here, scratching around to get my scent or some sign of my passage.

In a one-on-one battle I don�t fear these monsters at all!

The clueless creature continues to search the area, turning this way and that as it attempts to locate that flighty ant.

Once it turns its back to me, I start to creep out of my hiding place.

Moving closer.

And closer.

And then I strike! Leaping forward, I deliver a ferocious Bite to the tail. I have to remove the chance of getting stung with this damn thing!

The centipede reacts slowly and I deliver a second Bite, shattering the carapace and rendering it useless.

[Chomp has reached Level 3.]

Holding onto the tail I drag the centipede toward me, keeping away from its claws to deliver another Bite behind the head, finishing it off.

[You have defeated a Level 1 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

Still not Level five? Argh!

At least I�ve knocked it from five centipedes to three!

Desperate to regenerate my Health I start eating as quickly as I can. Rather than worrying about being weighed down with Biomass, my precipitously low HP is a far greater concern.

Thankfully I�m not interrupted before finishing off the meal.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Checking my stats, Health has recovered to sixteen. Better than nothing!

With the centipedes split up and their numbers diminishing my confidence is growing. If possible, I want to finish them all off. I might gain enough XP to reach Level five and finally evolve!

I�ve managed to regenerate possibly two Acid Shots, increasing my options. You want to try and hunt me? You foolish centipedes� you will all become my prey!

Chuckling to myself I head towards the left of my previous hiding place. It isn�t long before I encounter the monster who headed that way, returning after a fruitless search.

Looking for me, pal? I was here all along!

As soon as the beast gains sight of me it hisses, clacking its claws in rage before it charges, directly into my b-zone!

BAM!

Acid to the face!

The creature releases a horrible shriek of pain but I won�t let it off and pounce directly into its claws to deliver the finishing bites.

[You have defeated a Level 4 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

The voice of Gandalf is still ringing in my head when I pause for a moment.

Did I see somethi�

Oh heck! In a very un-antlike move, I hurl myself to the side and roll as a vicious tail spike plunges through the air where I�d just been. Another of the centipedes returned while I tangled with my previous foe!

With its surprise attack having failed though, there is no hope for this monster. Regaining my feet I charge directly forward, not giving it a chance to position its tail for another strike. Leveraging my larger mandibles I go directly for the head, chomping down twice to finish it off.

[You have defeated a Level 2 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 5. One Skill Point awarded.]

[You have reached the Level cap. Evolution menu available.]

Oh yessss! It�s finally here!

Once again, I do the best happy dance an ant can manage. Mind you, with six legs I can really get some moves going.

Calm down, Anthony! Get your head back in the game, you�re not in the clear yet. Celebrate once you make it into a safe nest and not before. This is the way of the ant!

There�s no sign of the final centipede. Not wanting to waste the resource I chow down on the monster.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

All this fighting has really greased my digestive process. Now that I have four Biomass, I really want one more so I can improve my Acid Gland to +5. I�ll have to go back to the tree I jumped out of, hopefully the centipede I defeated there is still available.

I sneak through the forest back to the large tree. There still isn�t any sign of the last surviving centipede, but the remains of the one I defeated are still here.

Thank goodness!

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Let me just say this. If I never have to eat one of these disgusting bugs again, I�ll be a happy ant. After stuffing myself with the horrible things multiple times, I am completely sick of them.

I don�t even bother going back to look for the last two bodies. I�m completely stuffed anyway. It looks like that last centipede has successfully made an escape. Lucky thing!

I move back to the lake, making sure to stay on the titan-croc side of the water and scout around to locate my old hiding chamber. I�m so excited to evolve I�m practically shaking! I�m pumped for this. It really feels amazing to have finally achieved this goal.

When I find my old hidey-hole, I widen the opening and expand the chamber a little bit. It�s possible I may be larger after I�ve evolved and I don�t want to squish myself to death underground during the process.

Renovations complete, I hop down into the chamber and seal the entrance.

Time to make some serious changes.

Finally! Finally, I can evolve!

I�m emotional. It hasn�t been easy. I�ve had to struggle and use my wits, which aren�t much, but I finally made it.

Thanks for your support, Gandalf!

Thanks for persevering, Anthony!

Alright, let�s calm down and focus. This is serious business. The first thing I need to do is spend my five Biomass to upgrade my acid.

[Do you wish to improve Acid Gland to +5? This will cost five Biomass.]

Yes!

[At this Level you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

Nice!

A large list of potential options appears in my mind. So many choices! Searing Acid, Concentrated Acid, Freezing Acid. All of these sound amazing. I have to be careful with my selection, there�s only one shot at this and I don�t want to make a mistake.

Some of the upgrades seem to have an elemental flavour, such as Shock Acid, for example. I�m not sure if I want to take that path. For sure they all sound powerful but I don�t want my acid to become ineffective against creatures who are resistant to one particular element.

The Wolf Dragon Cubs are resistant to heat damage. If I were to choose Searing Acid then my effective combat options would be greatly reduced. There are potentially monsters out there who are straight up resistant to acid damage, which means I have one potential weakness already. I don�t like the idea of doubling that to two!

Reluctantly I put aside the awesome sounding elemental acid options and look at the remaining choices.

There�s an option to increase the aerodynamics of the spray, greatly increasing my range� I don�t really feel like I need that. I�m happy with my current range.

Another option keeps the acid burning for a longer time, basically increasing the duration of the acid�s damage. More damage sounds nice, though having to wait a long time for it to work won�t help in a pinch situation�

Oh ho! This option seems interesting.

[Restrictive Acid: This upgrade will cause acid to become sticky and solidify after being fired. This effect will make the acid adhere to the target and restrict their movement.]

I like this one. Not only will the acid stick to the target, which will have the effect of increasing my overall damage, it will also gum up the enemy and make it harder for them to move.

If I spray one larger enemy three times, I might have a chance to slow them down, and if I spray a smaller enemy once they�ll be much easier to avoid, increasing my crowd control options.

Confirm Restrictive Acid!

Oh God.

The +5 mutation is on another level. Truly, it elevates the word �itch� into a higher plane. I shall endure! I hope�

Finally, the horrible feeling deep within my abdomen begins to fade away. Phew� Right. Now for the big one.

Evolution!

[Would you like to use the Evolution menu?]

Heck yeah!

[Congratulations on reaching the maximum Level for your current species. Evolution will allow you to change your form and increase your stats as a monster.

Warning: Evolving will make securing XP and Biomass more difficult as fewer rewards are given for preying on creatures less evolved than yourself.

Your evolution options are as follows::

� Mature Worker Ant (Formica)

� Monster Worker Ant.]

A new option has appeared. What does this mean? Has maxing out my core unlocked a new choice? So, my two choices are to become a fully grown version of what I am now, keeping my species as Formica, or become a non-species-specific monstrous ant?

I�m not exactly sure what the benefits are of losing my species during evolution� I don�t want to consider this option. If I were to lose my species then I�m not sure I would be accepted back into my colony. Meaning I�d have to continue making it on my own in this Dungeon and even my own family would hunt me down as my enemy!

Too cold. That kind of life would be so damn cold! I�m already sick of being wary and fighting every creature I see. It would be so nice if I could find something that didn�t want to eat me.

I will remain as my current species and re-join my people!

Choose Mature Worker Ant, Formica!

[Your core has been formed and enhanced. It will provide bonus energy to your evolution.]

Aha! Forming my core and upgrading it will allow me to boost my stats further when I evolve? I made the correct choice condensing my core after all.

[Due to high Cunning stat, manual evolution has been unlocked. Would you like to enable manual evolution?]

Uh� Yes?

My mind is flooded with information and a large window with evolutionary steps and stat allocation screens unfolds. Why the heck are there so many options! I was almost looking forward to not having to choose anything, Gandalf, you crazy wizard.

Alright then. Being able to personally allocate everything does give me more control over the evolution. That seems like it should be a good thing.

Let�s have a look then.

There�s a set amount of evolutionary energy which has been boosted by my core and I need to spend this energy to change myself during the evolution process. If I had chosen not to use manual evolution� the system would make all of the choices for me, I guess?

As part of my evolution, I�ll gain a new organ, the Pheromone Gland. Nice! Then I�ll be able to lay my own trails. This will come in handy when I make it back to the colony, I�ll be able to create new paths to let my fellow workers know where the food is and so on.

And I get to choose one additional new organ� It feels kind of weird choosing new body parts for myself. Let�s have a look at the options then.

You must be kidding.

A massive list opened including everything from extra legs, a second set of mandibles, wings, additional eyes, camouflage skin, stink glands. Even the Coral Slug mucous skin is in here!

Or I could add a tail� what would an ant even do with a tail!

If you were to mix and match the options over multiple evolutions, you could turn yourself into a truly messed up looking monster.

There are also lots of internal organs and glands to choose from and some of them I have no idea what they even do. The adrenal hyper stimulator apparently induces a kind of frenzied, berserk state. Sounds risky�

It takes about ten minutes to scroll through all the options before I settle on one I really like.

[Regenerative Healing Gland: Can release a burst of healing fluid that will result in rapid regeneration over a small span of time.]

With this baby I can trade hits with other monsters and still come out on top. It also provides incredible insurance for emergency situations. If I�d had this gland when I was found by the five centipedes while wounded, I�d be able to regenerate a couple points of HP and not be in such a dangerous position.

Upgrading this gland to +5, might ensure I�m able to regenerate a lot of HP quickly and get some other cool options!

I lock in that selection and turn to my stats.

Might:15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

Looking at Might first, I have two options when I add stats. I can either increase my overall muscle mass, which will increase my size, or increase the muscle density which costs more energy but doesn�t increase my size by nearly as much.

Next is Toughness. I can either increase the solidity of my external defence or improve the robustness of my internal resistance.

For Cunning� whoa. Thanks to my already high Cunning stat, it is super expensive to increase it. Checking my options, I can improve my processing speed or increase my brain matter? That�s freaky. I can even add another brain!

Right�

It looks like I can add smaller, self-contained brain sections to look after certain processes on their own. There are a few animals like this. An octopus has a separate brain to manage each of its legs, or even a human who has a significant number of nerves attached to the digestive system. I could attach one to my acid release zone back in my business district that would handle aiming for me, effectively giving me automatic aim.

But doing anything like that costs way too much. I�ll leave it alone for now.

Adding to my Will can improve either Mana Manipulation or Mana Regeneration� since my Will is already pretty high, this isn�t worth it for now.

I decide to pour all of my evolutionary stats into Might and Toughness. For both of these I go for a 50:50 balance. If I put all my Might into just a size increase, I�ll end up with a higher Might score, but I�ll be far larger, which will make sneaking around and scouting more difficult. By taking the balanced approach I lose out on raw stats but gain in flexibility.

I hope.

When I�m done allocating this, the manual process is finished.

Uh, I think I�m good to go?

[Would like to confirm your choices and evolve?]

Yes.

The world fades to black.

Do monsters dream when they evolve?

I can�t even close my eyes, let alone properly sleep. When evolving, there�s no concept of time or sensation. I can remember confirming my choices and then� nothing. All of my thoughts vanished. Almost like my brain had been completely switched off and on again.

Whoa! What the heck? I feel� different.

Um� this is weird. My core is gradually cooling, as if it had been on fire just moments ago. What is that about?

It�s really strange. It isn�t like as a human you could go to sleep and wake up in a different body. Like, I can already tell I�m significantly larger than I was before�

Forget this, check the status!

Name: Anthony

Level: 1 (II)

Might: 31

Toughness: 22

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 50/50

MP: 0/20

Skills: Excavation Level 1 (II); Improved Acid Shot Level 3 (II); Grip Level 4 (I); Crushing Bite Level 2 (II); Advanced Stealth Level 3 (II); Chomp Level 3 (I); Tunnel Sense Level 4 (I); Mana Manipulation Level 3 (I)

Mutations: Focused Eyes +5; Antennae +2; Restrictive Acid Gland +5; Legs +1; Mandibles +4; Carapace +1; Regenerative Healing Gland; Pheromone Gland

Species: Mature Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 1

Biomass: 0

Hmmm� Hmmmmmm.

Huhaha� Hahaha� HAHAHAHAHAAAA!

Behold! Witness my power!

My strength has grown by leaps and bounds. I managed to more than double my Might stat and also increase my Toughness significantly. Evolution is clearly incredibly important to a monster�s growth in this place. After just a single evolution I�ve been able to make such a huge difference to my stats.

This is also due to my extremely wise decision to condense my core, as well as the good luck I had to reinforce it to the maximum before evolving. The bonus provided by the core was no joke and my evolution would not have been nearly so powerful without it.

I have to make sure I max my core out before I evolve the next time as well.

Ha! I haven�t even had a look at my new self yet and I�m already thinking about the next evolution.

Out of the chamber!

Chortling with glee, I dig myself out of my seemingly much smaller chamber and rush into the forest.

The evolution has done a lot. I�m significantly larger and probably twice as tall. Maybe the same for length? Which would make me roughly eighty centimetres tall and a bit less than two metres long.

Holy mackerel! If you�d seen an ant that size on Earth, you would absolutely lose your mind.

The size change has impacted me in other ways as well. My mandibles are significantly larger than before, with a little more edge to them, which should assist me in getting through enemy defences. I can also feel that my acid gland has increased in size along with the rest of me. Perhaps enough to store five or six shots at once.

I can also assume my stomach capacity has increased, allowing me to take in more Biomass in one sitting.

Ho boy, so exciting!

I jump about a little bit and turn on the spot, trying to get used to the feeling of my new body. I really feel much stronger than before and can�t wait to test it out.

Being excited is good but I need to chill out a moment. Checking my status again I notice that my Mana is empty, so I join the monsters around the lake for a quick drink. The titan-croc appears to have gone out while I was evolving. I�ll have to be extra careful since I don�t want to run into him away from this neutral territory. I take about half an hour to drink five times, taking it slowly and feeling out my new body.

What should I do first?

Considering how important it is to improve my monster core during an evolution, it�s even more important to secure monster cores.

The first mission is to go collect my buried stash.

It doesn�t take long to move around the lake and head towards the camp again. I try to stay hidden and not move on the path they took directly from their camp to the lake. Eventually I arrive at the tree where I buried the cores without incident.

Thankfully Gandalf doesn�t have an issue with me absorbing all four of them and my max MP goes up to twenty-eight.

Last time it took five cores to max me out. For this stage of evolution can I expect it to take ten or perhaps twenty?

No matter what, I have to get all of them before I evolve. The bonus is just too juicy.

With my first job done, the next logical step is to test my new body in combat. Although I hate to do it, I think targeting the centipede nest makes a lot of sense. I was able to defeat them before without evolving and the risk is low. Let�s go see what I�m able to do.

It takes about an hour to make my way back to the centipede mound and up into my scout tree. I�m significantly heavier, so climbing trees is a bit more difficult, but not much more since my weight increase is balanced with an increase in strength.

I�m not even sure how many centipedes I should take on at once. I was able to do three before my upgrade, four with a bit of trouble. Five was a nightmare from which I�d had to turn tail and hide.

Let�s start with four.

Despite me picking on these centipedes quite a bit, their numbers don�t seem much diminished, if anything there�s more activity here than there was before. Large groups of up to ten are leaving and returning with a higher frequency. What is going on with these guys? Population explosion?

I have to wait a fair while before a group of four heads out into the forest for hunting.

Once I spot my target number, I don�t miss the opportunity and immediately climb down to follow. I can move quite a bit faster now, with my longer legs and more powerful frame. I�m able to overtake the convoy easily.

For some reason I just don�t feel the same sort of tension I did before. I�m so much larger than these centipedes now. Where once they almost looked me in the eye, I�m now able to comfortably look down on them. Almost like I�m bullying the tiny little things.

Bah! No sympathy for centipedes.

Once I get in front, I don�t waste any time and place myself directly in front of them.

Welcome to your doom!

POW!

The first blast of Restrictive Acid is launched with superb accuracy, covering the lead centipede across its back and down one side.

Without studying the result too carefully I line up and fire again.

POW!

Take that! The second centipede is directly struck as it moves forward to assess the threat to its ally.

Come get me you glorified worms!

However, the uninjured centipedes don�t charge like they did before. Seeing the large, evolved ant before them they hesitate and remain with their wounded allies, clacking their claws threateningly.

Fine then. If you guys won�t come to me, I�ll go to you!

There are probably three more shots of acid left in the tank, but it�s time to get up close and personal. I won�t learn anything about my limits if I just shoot them down from range anyway.

The two centipedes I�ve already struck are struggling to recover their feet, the hardening, sticky acid is locking some of their legs and gumming up their body sections even as it continues to burn them. They won�t be able to fight for some time yet.

I charge and build up furious momentum. The fear in their beady, red eyes is almost tangible as I rush at them like an insect tank. Nothing fancy, just barrelling directly into the closest centipede, not giving it time to defend itself. The claws try to rip at my carapace but are simply not strong enough to do much to me.

I dart forward, my larger and deadlier mandibles glowing brightly. Crushing Bite!

[You have defeated a Level 2 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

One hit KO.

I didn�t even target the head. My mandibles simply shattered the defensive carapace and tore the centipede clean in half.

Holy moly!

The remaining unharmed centipede has approached with its tail high in the air, ready to strike. Instead of backing away I launch and catch the tail out of the air as it begins to descend and sever it with one more ferocious Chomp!

Then another to finish the monster off.

[You have defeated a Level 1 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

The two Acid Shot centipedes are still writhing on the ground, unable to even stand properly. My Restrictive Acid is super effective against these centipedes. Considering how many legs and segments they have it must be a nightmare for them if they get gummed up and can�t move half of their body.

I finish off the other two with one Bite each.

That was a demolition!

They couldn�t threaten me at all. A group of five, even six might be a sinch to take on!

This is the difference a single evolution can make. The massive adult centipede may even be within my grasp.

Though I said I�d never eat another centipede, I won�t let good Biomass go to waste.

I suspect my ability to gain Biomass from these guys will have at least halved. This is the penalty for being an evolved creature attacking those weaker than them. I�ll save any points I get until I can build up to five and upgrade my mandibles. Now that I�ve become this strong, I feel a bit more confident now.

At least, confident enough to follow the pheromone trail. Time to find my family!

Full of glee I head back towards the lake. My combat test run was a massive success! My newly upgraded acid worked better than I�d imagined, and the power of my Bite attacks has skyrocketed.

If I manage to get my Mandibles to +5, I wonder what I�ll be able to do then?

I�m at risk of getting a little carried away with myself again. Head in the game, Anthony, your new family isn�t going to find itself!

Once I arrive at the lake I make my way around to the pheromone trail, my antennae tippy tapping along the edge of the water. The usual collection of monsters has gathered, eyeing each other and getting a good drink of sweet, sweet Mana juice.

If I look at the water, it appears more agitated than it did before. The strange formations within the lake are moving more rapidly and I swear the lake is brighter. Ever since I arrived in this world things have been getting brighter�

Is this a seasonal thing? Are we coming out of underground winter and moving into underground summer?

Well, there�s nothing I can think of to answer that mystery other than wait and see what happens.

Excitedly I pick up the trail and start following it away from the lake.

The scent has become a little weaker over the last day or so, which means no ants have come through here and reinforced it in that time. In some ways I�m glad because it means that none of them have shown up when I wasn�t watching, which would have been depressing.

Even if the chemical signal is a bit weaker than before, it�s still strong enough that I can easily follow it into the forest. I�m feeling a bit excited now, moving into new, unexplored territory!

The weird plant life in the forest continues to perplex me. I�m finding shorter trees in this area, probably only a few metres high, though these ones are shaped like an inverted Christmas tree, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. The different levels of foliage appear to be swaying in the breeze, but each level sways in a different direction.

Weird.

Then I realise there�s no breeze.

Out of curiosity I flip a rock at the tree, and I swear the branches twitch to knock it away.

Ok then, staying away from that tree in the future!

I have enough trouble with the more regular monsters, I don�t feel any need to start tangling with the plants!

By relying on my Stealth, I�m able to avoid a few groups of monsters and stay on the trail as it winds through the forest. The scent doesn�t follow a straight line, instead it bends and curves, laid down in whatever path the first scout to come through here took as they wandered about.

A powerful roar explodes in the forest not far away from where I am, followed by the heavy impact of monster combat ringing in the air.

Yikes! Some monsters are getting serious over there.

I decide to investigate while keeping my distance. I don�t want to be dragged into what sounds like a battle of the big boys, but I wouldn�t mind peeking.

Sure enough, when I creep close enough to see the action, two monsters I�m still unwilling to tangle with are laying right into each other.

First is a titan-croc, possibly the same one from the lake, and the second is the massive bat-faced gorilla looking creature I�d seen before at the lake.

Although this particular gorilla is significantly larger than that one was.

He�s huge! The bat-gorilla king?

The titan-croc has stood up on its hind legs, the smaller and thicker midsection arms looking slightly silly waggling in the air not able to do much. The croc is still massive when standing semi-upright, easily four to five metres tall, easily matching the bat-gorilla in height.

This is a battle of the freaking giants! I refuse to believe these massive things have evolved once, as I have. Surely this size is the result of at least two, maybe three evolutions. How could it be fair otherwise? Eh, Gandalf?

The croc is slower on its hind legs but is able to swing its massive claws in devastating, wide swings, raking the air with those sword-like edges.

The bat-gorilla is far nimbler, ducking forward and back to avoid the claws. It doesn�t look nearly as solid defensively though, what with the croc�s thick hide nullifying its blows.

BOOM!

In a fit of rage, the ape smashes both fists into the ground and roars with all of its colossal might, veins bulging under its skin. Electrical energy starts flashing, first around the shoulders and then streaming down the dark arms, faster and faster. Those massive fists start to glow with the accumulated energy until loud crackling sounds emanate from both clenched hands.

That. Looks. Awesome!

The dreaded lightning-fist.

The incredible light show is dazzling. What on earth am I going to see next?

The ape bellows again and runs forward, massive fists crashing into the ground before leaping high, bringing both hands above its head for a massive two-handed sledgehammer attack.

The titan-croc stands its ground, watching the ape with reptilian cool before crouching and amassing energy in its chest that is released from between those dreadful jaws in the form of a searing ball of fire.

With a shattering explosion the ape tanks the fireball with its leathery bat face before the sheer momentum carries it forward, bringing both fists down with the strength of a colossus, discharging the rippling lightning through the body of the croc.

Both combatants stagger back after this incredible exchange and I remember to start breathing again.

That was hella impressive! At what point am I going to be able to do totally sweet moves like that?

Launching fireballs out of the mouth? Channelling lightning into the fists? Maybe after my next evolution? Please tell me after my next evolution!

The two monsters eye each other with baleful glares. These two seriously hate each other�s guts. Something tells me they may have fought before. After the last exchange, the damage to both monsters seems to be equal and they continue their standoff, chests heaving.

Some might think I would take advantage of this moment to pounce on the injured monsters, peppering them with acid while they�re in a weakened state and reap a fortune in experience and Biomass.

To those I would say: are you out of your mind?

I�m not going anywhere near these guys. Are you even seeing this? I�d be squished like a� a bug, I suppose.

Wait a second�

What is that?

A flicker of movement came from the other side of the titanic clash. I desperately turn my head to try and confirm what it was I saw.

I swear I just saw� antennae.

There it is again!

What I see next causes my heart to leap with joy.

First one, then another, then ten more ants emerge from the trees, antennae furiously waving this way and that as they move around each other.

My people! My tribe! My clan!

I can tell from their colouring that these are Formica ants. Just like me! I�ve found my colony at last!

Each of the ants is roughly my size though most are slightly smaller. There are a few hatchlings, just like I used to be, mixed in amongst them. Must be a group out of the colony to visit the lake, absorbing the Mana to try and condense their Mana cores. Good on you guys. Give it all for the colony!

What I see next causes my leaping heart to sink into a pit of despair.

The ants skitter back and forth for a moment and as one raised their abdomens high and begin to blast the two massive combatants with acid.

You did WHAT!?

I can�t believe my hundreds of tiny eyes. What the heck are you guys doing? Sure, there are more than ten of you, but those guys are freaking massive. The titan-croc by itself could snap all of you up in two minutes!

Before I can even think, my legs are moving. I don�t understand exactly why but I cannot let these ants get killed. Not now. Not after I�ve been searching for them for so long. Perhaps it�s a primeval instinct rising up from within my insect body that demands I defend my species. Perhaps I�m just desperate to meet something that doesn�t look at me as food. Either way, I feel compelled to act.

I will not let them die today!

Before the two massive monsters can react to the new threat, I�ve charged in, out of cover and into the open. Digging in my feet I spin to point my back at the two creatures.

Let me introduce you monsters to what is affectionately known as my business district!

POW! POW! POW!

I fire off three quick shots without aiming too much, all I want is the beasts to turn their attention to me. Hopefully that way my colony mates won�t be instantly crushed.

The three sizzling jets of acid streak through the air, impacting the two massive beasts and immediately adhering to them, burning into their flesh.

These guys are so large I don�t really have to aim to hit them. Though it would have been better if I�d been able to target my Restrictive Acid more carefully. Hitting their joints would have reduced their ability to fight, even if only a little.

My gambit pays off, the two huge beasts turn their back on the approaching ant force and face this new threat with primeval fury burning in their eyes.

Uh� Hey guys! Any chance you two are pacifists?

These monsters look like the absolute alphas of this place. I still remember how the titan-croc smashed an adult centipede into bits with a single swipe of its claws. Why on Pangera did my ant brethren decide to take on these things?

I seriously hope my ant brothers and sisters aren�t also suffering from an immensely low Cunning stat, because I deeply question the wisdom of this current course of action.

POW! POW!

[Improved Acid Shot (II) has reached Level 4.]

Before they can charge at me, I fire off two more quick shots, both aimed at the ape. Hopefully the extra acid will restrict its movement somewhat since it is by far the faster of the two.

Practically all of my ranged ammunition has been expended now. I have only one shot remaining. With acid being a damage over time sort of effect, hopefully we can all survive long enough to see the effects start to kick in.

My fellow ant kind are still bombarding with their acid, firing spray after spray. I seriously don�t want them to draw the aggro so I�m going to have to do something I�ll quickly regret.

I charge!

Witness me!

With the two brooding monstrosities looming over me, I dash directly toward them. These giants are seriously ticked off, drenched in stinging acid, some of it hardening and sticking to them, they�re ready to pound these offending insects into paste.

When they see me running at them, they both react aggressively.

The ape acts first, its superior reflexes and speed on full display as it rumbles forward to meet my charge. The ground thunders in response to the sheer bulk of the creature, its fists pounding the rock.

With its leathery bat face growing larger and larger in my vision I can really see the massive, curved fangs protruding from the monster�s maw with far more detail than I�d like. The ape gathers its strength and leaps high into the air.

I�ve seen this before!

With every ounce of strength in my body I hurl myself to the side just as those massive fists impact, shattering the ground with the kinetic force of the strike. Every ounce of my being is shivering after witnessing that force up close.

Even the spray of rock and dirt from the impact is almost enough to damage me.

Just how strong are you, you damn ape!

Just as I�m congratulating myself for my narrow escape, something flares up in my peripheral vision. Is that�

Jump!

Springing out with all of the energy I can pump into my legs, a searing heat begins to burn into me before a catastrophic explosion rocks the ground just beneath my feet.

That stupid croc launched a fireball at me when I dodged the ape!

Since when is your teamwork so good? Are you the new Colossal Brothers Duo?

That one nearly cooked me. If I�d been one second slower, I�d be a roasted ant. Even though I was able to dodge, I�ve still taken some damage and one of my legs is wrecked. It was closest to the ground when the explosion went off.

I curse my bad luck. I can�t afford to lose mobility!

I don�t have much choice. I activate my Regenerative Healing Gland.

Immediately an icy sensation explodes deep within my body before creeping down my veins and spreading throughout my entire frame. Yeouch! That feels so weird. Almost as if my guts had been put in a deep freeze.

This must be the healing fluid I�d read about. In the span of a few seconds the freezing, numb sensation has swept through me entirely, and as it recedes I feel better than I did before. Dings in my carapace have started closing over and my leg is almost back to full function after being a roasted entr�e just a minute ago.

Checking my status, I�ve regained five HP from what I had before.

It was a shame to have to blow it so early in the fight, but the regenerative properties of this new organ are impressive. I�m very satisfied with this purchase.

All said and done I�ve only managed to buy about thirty seconds so far. I hope that acid is doing some work, otherwise we�re all dead.

The gigantic monsters almost seem surprised to see their much smaller opponent still alive after their combined assault. I suppose these guys don�t usually have much trouble hunting in this place. Nothing else in this forest even remotely approaches their strength.

My fellow ants are still firing acid from above but some of them are starting to descend to enter into melee combat.

Are you guys frickin� serious? You�ll be torn to shreds!

Seeing several ants approach, the monsters face them.

I can�t let that happen.

My leg is as good as it�s going to get. Go, go, go!

With my enemies distracted and facing away I charge with every ounce of speed. Dammit, I should have taken that Dash skill ages ago. I need to be faster!

Running up behind the ape I spring high, mandibles glowing brilliantly white.

Crushing Bite!

My mandibles close on the wrist of the Ape with an audible crunch. If I can disable his hand, it will be a huge reduction to its ability to fight.

The beast reacts with incredible swiftness, rapidly swinging its arm and flinging me off into the air. Fortunately, I�ve had some practice with this lately. Tuck the legs and roll!

I land on my back, the hard carapace absorbing the impact and I roll over and over, dispersing the force and protecting my vulnerable legs.

When I slow down, I get back onto my feet and charge straight back into the fight. I can�t afford to let up for a second!

A few of my allies have reached the fight now, rushing in suicidally to bite and latch onto the gigantic creatures, headless of their own lives.

You idiots!

The titan-croc draws back one of its enormous hands, preparing to swipe down with its fierce claws.

Dammit!

Noooo!

Desperate to save my allies I turn on the spot and pray I have something left in the tank.

POW!

Once again, the sizzling acid streaks through the air. By some miracle my hastily aimed shot is right on the money, splashing the croc�s face where it immediately shows its restrictive properties, turning sticky as it solidifies in an instant.

The croc bellows in rage, swinging out with its prepared claw. Thanks to its vision being impeded the swing goes slightly wide.

One ant is still caught directly in its midsection and is instantly killed, torn to pieces by those terrible blades. The survivors close in and start chomping at the croc�s legs, some of them even climbing up the monster�s body to attack other places.

Why did I never think of that?

The massive monsters are still fit for fighting and I can�t be everywhere at once. I�ve done everything I can for the ants taking on the croc. Let�s hope they can survive on their own for a while. Time to take this ape out of the fight.

My Bite seems to have had some effect, its hideous bat features are twisted in rage and pain. Its dark fur, now almost completely matted with burning acid, is slowly being stripped away and the creature is carrying its right wrist, not willing to place its full weight on the limb.

This is my chance!

I run at the ape, posturing and snapping my mandibles, aggressively posing in an attempt to focus its attention on me.

The creature screams, different from before, this high-pitched shriek wobbles my insides and penetrates my mind, dizzying me and everyone else in range. This is like some crazy echolocation attack! The soundwaves are so strong that my whole body vibrates. After releasing this insane stunning effect, the monster leaps high, looking to squash me flat while I suffer from the effect of the scream.

But. It�s. Not enough!

Before he can land, I leap once more, this time in a direction he couldn�t expect, directly onto his body! Grip skill can also be used like this, monkey brain. As the Ape comes down with a shattering crash, I clutch onto his upper leg with all of the strength my tiny claws can muster.

With my newly improved Might stat it�s just enough to hold when the monster crashes to the ground.

Thankfully I didn�t neglect to toughen up my mental resistance when I raised my Willpower, otherwise I might not have been able to resist the effect as well as I did. If I hadn�t shaken off that stun, I�d be ant paste right now. Hopefully the other ants were able to manage ok, I don�t have time to check on them.

Don�t waste any time, Bite!

Energy mounts in my mandibles as they glow brighter and brighter before I close them with tremendous force!

Crushing Bite!

[Crushing Bite (II) has reached Level 3.]

The ape roars and starts slapping at itself to try and squash me or knock me off, much like a human swatting a mosquito, but I�m already gone, crawling around on the creature�s other leg preparing to deal another Bite.

Chomp!

How do you like that?

Not very much apparently. The monster intensifies its efforts to shake me off, but I won�t let go, I�m holding on with everything I can muster!

[Grip has reached Level 5. Upgrade available.]

Perfect!

[Grip (I) [?] Enhanced Grip (II): Cost 1 SP. Your feet become more resistant to effects that will limit their ability to grip, such as water, momentum.]

I�ll take it!

My claws grasp into the ape�s furry skin even tighter as I skitter around on his body trying to avoid the deadly slaps of his meaty hands.

Clambering up to his neck, and before he can react, I dig in for a massive Bite!

[Chomp has reached Level 4.]

So many Levels! This is probably the effect of battling such a powerful monster.

The massive beast shrieks in pain and hunches its shoulders against my mandibles. Something strange builds up within the ape. My feet are almost tingling.

Wait a sec�

JUMP!

ZZZZAP!

The tremendous electrical discharge flashes all over the creature�s body, crackling loudly and briefly blinding me.

Holy hell!

He turned himself into an electric bug zapper!

Arrghh. He fried two of my legs.! That seriously hurts� I won�t stop though. This bat-gorilla is going to get it.

Thanks to my amazing peripheral vision I can sort of make out what is happening with the croc. I think he�s been pulled to the ground, reinforcements might have come judging by the number of moving shapes.

Don�t get distracted. If these guys were to join forces we�d all be toasted insects.

By this point the bat-faced monster is seriously suffering. Drenched in burning acid, the visible burns must be excruciating. Without a hard carapace or even a leathery hide to protect it, the acid has eaten straight through his fur and has gone to work on his soft tissues. With no real resistance to punch through, my bites have been dealing significant damage as well.

He must be teetering on the edge by now. He has to be!

The ants here are my relatives, born from the same queen as me, my brothers and sisters! I never had much of a family on Earth, rarely saw my parents, and I had no siblings to speak of. Perhaps that�s the reason why I want to protect these monsters.

Maybe I�m just a fool, but I don�t want my idiot ant siblings to die.

Which means it�s you and me ape� Only one of us is walking out of here alive!

Red foam drips from the gaping maw of the wounded beast, mad fury burning in its eyes. You�ve got no chill, ape, that�s your problem!

My legs are still a bit shaky, that electricity zapped me fairly well. I don�t think my Regenerative Gland has anything left in the tank. If I survive this fight, I�m going to upgrade the heck out of that thing! Still no acid either. Going to have to finish it with the mandibles.

Steadying my feet, I begin to move towards the ape, circling around to the side of its injured hand. The next move will decide the battle. I watch the monster like a hawk as it glares back, almost mad with pain and anger.

Come on you big, dumb bat-faced chunk of Biomass. You�ve got a face not even your mother could love, come over here and let me Bite you!

My injured legs give way beneath me and I stumble, my poor face crashing in the dirt.

The ape howls in glee and dashes forward maniacally!

You really are stupid�

Just as it reaches me, looming over with its massive frame, both arms raised for the final strike, I propel myself and roll under it, dodging the deadly blow by inches.

Now!

I spring up next to the creature�s legs and charge up my mandibles for a massive strike.

CHOMP!

Just beneath the creature�s knee, ripping into his leg, the Crushing Bite audibly crunches muscle and bone as the Chomp passive helps my jaws puncture through any resistance.

The ape howls in pain and awkwardly swats at me, landing a glancing blow on my abdomen, but I�m not letting go.

Bite! Bite! Bite!

Slowly at first, my jaws close farther and farther until�

SNAP!

I�ve bitten clean through the leg!

My foe totters before completely losing its balance and falling to the ground with a crash. It lashes out with its injured hand, crashing a fist directly on top of my midsection.

My vision instantly blurs as the impact rattles through my entire body. Even off balance and with an injured hand this monster is still so damn strong! My carapace cracks in places as it absorbs the impact.

I hold onto consciousness desperately. I refuse to die now!

I can�t see clearly but I throw myself forward, hopefully at the monster�s head. All you have to do is Bite, Anthony! Don�t think of anything else, just Bite!

Chomp! Chomp!

Heavy blows rock my body and my eyes get darker and darker, but still I hold on.

Chomp! Chomp!

I�m not even sure where I am anymore. Not even sure what I�m doing. For some reason though I know I just have to keep biting.

Chomp!

[You have defeated a Level 13�]

Blackness.

Tribune Aurillia stared hard at the captive mercenaries, bound hand and foot, sitting on the ground before her. Two Legionaries stood guard on either side of the ragtag group, hands resting on blades, ready to execute their duty at any moment.

�You�re trying to tell me that a small acid spraying monster ambushed you, destroying your shield as you raided the lake and then followed you back to your camp, stealing a number of monster cores by digging under your wards.�

Nystina, the mage, nodded vigorously.

�That�s right. I never even managed to see the little bastard.�

Aurillia massaged her temples. �For some reason I�m not even that surprised to hear about mercs getting outsmarted by a monster.�

�Hey, screw you!� one of the larger men in the group shouted. �Who ever heard of a monster that smart here in the first Expanse?�

He did have a point, usually monsters in this area had exceptionally low Cunning. There were a few evolutions that made for large and relatively dangerous foes but almost all of those sacrificed other stats to enable that size and strength, which meant the monsters here were almost universally stupid.

�Putting that aside, you should have received the notification to vacate the Dungeon we sent days ago. Why is your party still operating in the Forest Expanse against Legion instructions?�

The group shifted their posture and avoided looking the domineering Tribune in the eye.

Aurillia cursed at them internally. Are you children?

�Uh, I think our communication crystal malfunctioned,� the mage finally offered. �We didn�t receive any messages.�

�And when you noticed that every other hunting party had vacated the area you didn�t find that strange? Or were you too distracted by the profits you could make having the entire Expanse to yourselves?� Aurillia said sarcastically.

She turned to one of the Legionaries standing guard and nodded curtly.

The soldier stepped forward, crouched, and punched the mage viciously across the face before turning to the largest of the fighters and kicking him directly in the chest. The man fell backwards, gasping for air as he lay in the dirt.

�You can�t treat us this way,� another of the fighters protested. �We�re registered members of the Mercenary Union.�

�Noooo,� Aurillia drawled. �You�re an idiot merc scum who got greedy and are going to pay the price.�

She turned to a Centurion awaiting instructions behind her. �Seize any materials from the Dungeon in their possession and confiscate their licences. Children who can�t play by the rules don�t get to play at all.�

Having passed her judgement, she stared at each of the mercenaries in turn. �If they complain too much, feel free to give them a little more Legion �hospitality.��

Shaking her head, the Tribune walked away. The mercenaries had been found a few hours earlier, retreating to their camp after farming cores at the lake. It wasn�t unusual for them to try and push the Legions authority to the limit. In recent years the Legion had made a special point of pushing back.

Of course, as soon as they did the Mercenary Union started crying foul to the queen about the abuse of authority. Just another thing for the commander to worry about.

She found Titus yelling at the trainees and directing them to the makeshift training yard they established as part of their camp. The exhausted young men and women began pairing up and sparring. The commander watched them sternly, barking out instructions whenever he noticed a mistake.

Aurillia joined him and explained the strange testimony she received from the mercenaries.

�Doesn�t this sound weird to you? Why would there be such an intelligent member of this species so high up in the Dungeon? Do you think this might be the same one the trainees saw close to the surface?�

Titus stood silent for a moment, chewing over the facts in his own slow and methodical way.

�I think it is,� he said. �Seems like too much of a coincidence that there would be two of them. If we agree it�s the same one, then how in the hells did this one ant survive our sweep of the tunnels to make its way here and then survive the monsters once it arrived? This monster has shown almost human levels of intelligence.�

The Tribune nodded in agreement. �For a creature as unevolved as this to show such a high-Level of Cunning is unheard of. Should we consult Alberton on this?�

The commander grunted. �He�d love to study a specimen like this, but we don�t have the time to waste. We need to clear out as much of the Expanse as we can and locate the nest of these creatures. If our little smart ant has made it this far then there�s a chance we�ll find it there and we can exterminate it along with the rest.�

He paused to bellow further criticism at his trainees before continuing. �We�ve seen monsters with close to human intelligence before. Judging by the number of offspring in the area we should surmise that old prick Garralosh has been around here at some point recently. Make sure the hunting parties are on alert, she shouldn�t be able to show her face this high up in the Dungeon but some of her higher-Level offspring might.�

Garralosh and the commander had run into each other a few times deep underground. The titanic and ancient creature was known to be the oldest and most powerful monster under Liria. Monsters that old and strong were unable to come this high up in the Dungeon due to the Mana being too thin to support their incredibly dense and powerful cores. Creatures like that had evolved so many times they effectively received a name from the system itself.

There were a number of scars on the beast�s thick hide from the very axe resting on Titus� shoulder. The old croc was clever though, and extremely cautious, slipping out of the traps they prepared for her without taking fatal damage.

�Something feels wrong,� Titus said, disrupting his Tribune�s wandering thoughts.

�Wrong, Commander?�

He nodded towards the forest below them. �I don�t think I�ve ever seen the forest look this bright. Spawn points are spitting out monsters almost as fast as we kill them, and the wave still hasn�t broken. It doesn�t feel like it usually does.�

Aurillia reluctantly agreed. �It does seem to be building in intensity faster than usual. What do you think it means?�

�I�m not sure. I just know I don�t like it. This wave is going to be a big one. We�d best be prepared for the worst.�

I can feel something under my head. It�s solid, like� a rock? My legs are so heavy. How long have I been asleep? I try to stretch my arms out and can�t for some reason� Where the heck are my arms?

Wait�

I don�t have arms anymore! Then it all comes flooding back. The fight, the ants, the ape. What the heck happened? Am I alive?

I try to spring to my feet, but a solid force is holding me down. What the heck! Am I still under attack?

My vision swings wildly before finally settling and I can see an enormous monster above me, pressing me down with one large leg.

What is this thing? Don�t eat me! I�m not delicious!

It takes a moment for my head to settle down. I haven�t been harmed I don�t think. The force on my back is pressing me down but not harming me in any way. I check my status. I�m at about half HP. I remember being next to dead�

Err� where did these Levels come from?

I�ve gained three whole Levels? Is this from the bat-gorilla? I don�t really remember how that fight ended.

And as I look closer at this massive monster above me� isn�t it an ant?

Like, a massive ant?

Hang on a second. The queen?

A truly enormous monstrous ant, easily four times my size is standing over me, pressing me down to the ground and watching me as I wake up. She leans in and her antennae begin to glow brightly.

When those antennae touch mine, a surge of icy energy sweeps through my body. I�m shocked at first but then it reminds me of something, my Regenerative Healing Gland! Is she healing me?

Checking my status, I�ve gained another ten HP. This is a bit of a surprise. The queen knows healing magic?

Suddenly the pressure from my back is gone and I can stand up. The queen turns away from me to pick something up in her mandibles and turns back, dropping a huge chunk of monster in front of me. I think this is� the ape�s arm!

After dropping off some food for me, the massive queen chirps in a friendly manner before wandering off around a corner, leaving me in a small dirt chamber on my own.

Ok, Anthony, let�s cool down and think about this.

Growl.

My stomach is seriously rumbling. Why the heck am I so hungry? Let�s think as we eat then.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Pugnus Fulgur Simiae. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Pugnus Fulgur Simiae unlocked.]

[Pugnus Fulgur Simiae: Lightning Fist Ape. Brutally powerful but severely lacking in Cunning, this monster has a strong affinity to lightning and can channel Mana into electricity.]

Not wrong about those electrical attacks. Yeouch! Quite the formidable monster, but I do have to agree, it was very stupid. I would hate to run into a monster that powerful with some semblance of smarts. Unable to trick it, I�d be quickly defeated.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Two whole Biomass just from eating one arm? That is unheard of! Is it because it�s an advanced creature of some kind? Possibly I was right and it was double evolved, so it provides more Biomass. It certainly gave me a heap of XP, enough to Level three times even after I evolved.

Although the pain of hunting them is real, the benefits cannot be denied. If I was able to get a whole one to myself�

Whoa, snap out of it, Anthony. You almost died fighting this one! No need to go planning to throw your life away already.

How did I end up here anyway? And where exactly is here?

Since the queen is here then that can mean only one thing. I�m in the nest! Since I passed out when battling, my allies must have dragged me here to be healed when they brought the food back. Which means the titan-croc should have also bit the dust.

Go team!

I�m not sure how I feel� I�ve been through a lot and risked my life multiple times to try and get back to the nest of my colony. Almost everything I�ve seen since I awoke in this place has been trying to kill me. I just wanted to be somewhere I wouldn�t have to be so cautious, so afraid.

Now that I�m here, I�m pumped up to check it out.

Just as I�m about to rush out of the small dirt chamber I notice something else glowing softly on the ground.

What is this? A monster core? As far as cores go this one is massive! Easily the biggest I�ve seen.

I move closer.

[Compatible monster core detected. Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute a monster?]

Is this the core of the ape? Did the colony leave it here for me? That seems� a little odd for a group of monstrous ants to do. Was it the queen? She does seem a little smarter than the others. Maybe she left this here as a reward.

You know, I�ve wondered what the reconstitute a monster option does. Reinforcing my core is hugely important since it will allow me to increase my ability further when I evolve, but� I really would like to know what the heck this option does.

Maybe I can just check it out without consuming the core.

[Would you like to reconstitute the monster?]

Sure?

[Manual Reconstitution is locked since requisite skills have not been acquired. Reconstituting monsters.]

Wait! No!

Before my eyes the precious core begins to glow brighter and brighter before it melts into a bright liquid that gradually reshapes itself. When the process is finished, the light recedes and a small monkey-looking creature is sitting on the ground looking up at me with its large eyes.

What. The heck. Is this!

The little simian has dark grey skin and tiny bat-like features, as well as soft black fur growing all over its body. The small chimp starts to look curiously around the room, eventually standing up and slowly waddling around with an awkward gate, as if it hadn�t quite worked out how to walk.

So, the core is gone and reconstituting the monster literally brings it back to life as an infant. What is the point of that? I could have used that core to reinforce my own, possibly getting some sort of bonus since it was such a large one!

I�m lamenting, seriously lamenting.

Ignorant to my pain the chimp is still waddling about scratching at the walls before it eventually walks over to me

What do you want, chimp? Wha�hey!

After hesitating for the moment, the tiny monster smiles and clumsily starts to clamber up my abdomen, eventually succeeding, and it happily sits on my back, hooting to itself in delight.

It looks so cheerful up there I decide to leave it alone. It isn�t like he can do much harm. Perhaps he has some sort of loyalty to me since I reconstituted him? The system didn�t have much to say on the matter. Although I can apparently learn skills to make the process manual. What does that entail?

The more I learn about this crazy system, the stranger it seems.

With my new passenger on board, I decided to go and explore the nest of my colony. Hopefully the other ants won�t eat him.

Walking out of the small dirt chamber, I enter a narrow tunnel that winds around some rock protrusions before joining up to another slightly larger tunnel.

A few ants are making their way back and forth, moving up and down the tunnel, looking super busy. At first I react with shock, seeing a monster up close usually means a fight is about to happen. These ants completely ignore me, hurrying about their business. It looks like they can recognise I�m the same species and from the same colony as them.

It�s kind of strange to think this is my first chance to see what I myself look like. These ants really are just very large wood ants. Normally, wood ants would create a large mound rather than digging into the dirt. I suppose their options are limited down here in these tunnels. Maybe they could make a mound in the huge cavern I was in before.

About half of the ants are still hatchlings, significantly smaller than I am, looking adorable as they rush past, their six legs almost a blur.

It seems safe. Time to keep exploring!

I decide to head down and run into two more chambers connected to this main tunnel by narrow paths. For whatever reason these chambers are mostly empty, just a few workers resting in them.

Farther down, however, the action is really happening.

Deeper in the nest, my passenger and I come across many more ants and it quickly becomes apparent why.

Dozens of small grubs and several larger cocoons occupy the space, carefully tended to and fed by more than twenty workers. The workers are constantly checking the white grubs, cleaning them and feeding them from their social stomachs, similar to the way a bird will regurgitate food for its young.

This is the brood chamber. The next generation of ant monsters are being raised here. This is super cool to see! One of my favourite parts of my ant keeping hobby was watching the workers raise up the future members of the colony, taking care of them until they were fully grown.

These monstrous ants follow a similar lifecycle to regular ants on Earth. First the queen lays the eggs which hatch into a larva, a small grub that needs to be fed and cared for until it becomes large enough to spin itself a cocoon and become a pupa. Inside the cocoon the ant slowly takes shape until it emerges, fully formed. After a brief period to allow for the exoskeleton to harden, the new ant is ready to roll.

The ape on my back is making low noises of amazement as it watches the hustle and bustle in the chamber. There really is a lot of movement. These monstrous workers don�t take their feet off the pedal for a moment.

If I look closely, I can make out a few unhatched eggs in the corner of the chamber. I guess that means that farther down from here I�ll find the queen.

Sure enough, in the chamber down below her highness is back to her regular duties. Dwarfing all of the workers in the chamber, the queen is constantly being tended to by her entourage. Bringing her food and cleaning her so that she can concentrate on laying eggs and growing the colony.

Honestly, I�m surprised to see so few ants so far. I don�t think this colony is very old. A wood ant nest can have up to half a million workers in it, and this one only appears to have more than a few hundred.

My antennae are constantly pinging in here, flooded with the scent of pheromone trails. Instinctively I�m able to understand what some of them mean, food over this way, brood are to go this way, and so on.

The trails are laid out so that workers know where they need to be going at any time. The more workers agree on a particular path, the stronger that trail will become.

The queen has seen me looking around and walks towards me, several ants crawling on her are forced to come along as well.

I�m still slightly intimidated by her. She is seriously massive.

Uh, hi� Mum?

The massive monster in front of me is technically my mother here in this world. The fact I�m here in the colony and not getting ripped to pieces is all the proof I could need. The queen, that is to say, Mother, inspects me carefully, checking if I�m still wounded before giving me a friendly pat on the antennae and moving back into the nesting chamber.

Well, she seems nice.

Speaking of which, I should check my HP. Looks like I�m up to about forty-one since eating that Biomass. Nearly back to full, feels good.

Now that I�m finally here I�m not exactly sure what to do next. I don�t have anything urgent that needs to be done. There�s nothing threatening around. No humans chasing me down, no enemy monsters to battle. Such a relaxing existence! I�d almost forgotten what it was like to not have my life under immediate threat.

I move out of the nesting chambers and out of the worker�s way, heading up the tunnel and into one of the empty side rooms. On the way I pass two ants carrying a weakly struggling live centipede down towards the area we just left.

Why would they leave it alive? Then it hits me. In order to Level up you have to deal the final blow. They are literally delivering XP to Mother! She doesn�t have to lift a finger to get experience and Biomass, the workers are just bringing it on their own!

What an enviable life.

It makes a lot of sense. The queen in an ant colony is literally the heart. The past and the future of the colony. Without the queen the colony would never have existed, and if she were to die the colony would cease to be. So, naturally, to keep everything growing and prosperous the queen should be as high a Level as possible, as well as gaining Biomass in order to mutate and become stronger. She probably has an egg production organ she can upgrade as well, increasing the rate she can lay and grow the workforce faster and faster.

Since I have the time, I decide to train my Mana Manipulation, forcing the energy out of my core and directing it out of my mouth. Every time the small puff of energy is released, the ape on my back goes crazy, giggling in delight and slapping at the cloud with his hands, dispersing the Mana.

Cute.

After discharging almost all of my Mana I�m getting hungry.

How about you, little guy? Getting hungry? I can�t actually communicate with my little passenger, but I assume he needs to eat in order to grow. Since I�ve reconstituted him, I feel at least somewhat responsible for making sure he can grow properly.

I�d better head out and get some food. It�s time for Anthony to contribute to the colony! Making sure my passenger is secure, I head back into the main tunnel and start sniffing around for the trails. I head farther and farther up, following both the trail I�m pretty sure indicates �food� and moving along with the other workers heading in this direction.

The tunnel branches a few times, but I keep choosing the path that heads most directly up. I want to get back to that massive area with the lake, since I�m somewhat familiar with that place. Hunting will be much easier there.

After almost ten minutes of travel through the narrow tunnel I emerge into the open space I had become familiar with. I�m standing on top of what is essentially an ant hill, a large pile of loose dirt that the workers had built up when they excavated the tunnel.

After all this time it feels quite strange to be emerging from a proper ant hill. A few workers are crawling up from the tunnel, each with their own varying level of mutation and evolution. I haven�t seen any ants more evolved than myself and honestly, I haven�t seen a worker quite my own size either.

It�s probably a bit unusual for a single worker to amass as much Biomass and experience as I have. Considering the ants hunt in large groups, the experience would be spread pretty thin, since only the ant who delivers the final blow gets any experience at all. On top of that, the fact they�re probably taking everything they can capture alive back to the queen, it must be very hard for an individual to get enough experience to evolve, let alone condense their core.

Not that I would really expect anything different from the workers, unselfish! Giving their all for the colony.

I also plan to contribute my share, but I certainly don�t intend to be quite as giving as my fellow workers. With my human intellect, I believe I can contribute my bit to the colony while also getting some experience and Biomass for myself.

Turning this way and that I can detect a few trails leading in a couple of directions. Just when I�m thinking about where I should go, a worker scurries back to the nest and brings with it a new scent. My senses are telling me that this new scent is a call for reinforcements! There is food this way and they need help.

Picking up the message, I decide to concentrate for a second and try to use my own Pheromone Gland. Obviously, it isn�t easy using something you didn�t even have in your previous life, but just like with the acid spray there are instincts packaged within my new ant body and I quickly work out how to use it.

I drop the same scent in order to relay the message farther down the tunnel and it isn�t long before more workers begin to climb up, rallying to the call for aid.

This is the organisation that makes ants such a successful species on Earth. Dominating the world of smaller creatures with their fearsome teamwork and relentless appetite.

With my message relayed, it�s time to go forth and render my assistance!

Running along the trail, I decide to quickly spend the Biomass I have in order to slightly improve my abilities. If I�m heading into another massive battle against gigantic monsters, I want to be at my best. I�ll leave the three Skill Points until later. Hopefully once I master Mana Manipulation, I�ll be able to purchase more magic based skills. At the very least I want to upgrade a few organs.

With three points to spend I upgrade my Regenerative Gland to +1 and then my Carapace to +2. Getting a little tougher and more survivable seems like a good move.

Although I do want to save up and get my Mandibles to +5 so I can choose an upgrade� I�ll have to do that next time.

Enduring the painful itching of mutation I race off down the trail with other ants boiling out of the hill behind me and my cheerfully yelping mini bat-gorilla on my back.

Exactly how I�ll be able to fight with this fellow around I�m not sure, but I guess I�ll figure it out as I go. Hopefully he�ll be smart enough not to get himself killed. If he were to die in a stupid way, it would double the pain of losing that monster core!

I intend to get some work out of you, mini-ape. You need to pay me back on my investment.

The wall on the outer edge of this open space rises before us. Wow. This feels like it�s a long way from the lake. Exactly how far from the nest are these guys wandering? There�s a small tunnel opening in the wall, maybe a cave, and ants are bustling at the entrance, battling against something inside. It looks like we�re raiding a monster nest. Judging by the size of the opening it shouldn�t be anything too massive. I charge towards the fight, ready to assist my brethren.

The noise and din of monster battle fills my ears; growling, roaring and thudding impacts from our opponents and an almost eerie silence from the ants as they endlessly advance.

You guys seriously don�t care about your own lives, do you?

I can minimise casualties if I get myself to the frontline. Brushing aside my smaller siblings I bull my way in until I come face to face with our foe: a pack of Wolf Dragon cubs that have made their home here in this cave.

There must be eight or nine of them in here! Several ants have already suffered severe damage from the fearsome impact generated by those muscular tails. Things are different than the last time I faced these guys in battle. I�m no longer scared of these unevolved monsters, particularly with an army of thirty allies behind me.

Charge!

Sensing the battle atmosphere, the little chap on my back is no longer giggling but snarling and glaring at our foes, gripping my back with all his strength and keeping his head down as he tries to intimidate the enemy with his squeaky, high-pitched voice.

Maybe when you�re a bit bigger they�ll be frightened of you, but not yet little guy�

With my improved Toughness and Regenerative Gland ready to go, I don�t care about taking a bit of damage and I push into the enemy, snapping and biting to draw aggro onto me.

A nearby cub tries to bring its tail around for a devastating smash but�

Crushing Bite!

The offending tail is caught in my mandibles. Take this! Chomp! My powerful mandibles tear through the thick muscle and sever the tail completely.

Ha!

Some of the hounds turn to bite and scratch at me, inflicting minor damage. That�s easily shrugged off and my chaos continues to rain in the enemy formation.

Bite!

I catch another wolf by the leg, crushing the limb and reducing the enemy�s mobility drastically. Shrugging off a few more blows I push past the line of foes and activate my Regenerative Gland.

The freezing sensation explodes within my body, spreading throughout my form within seconds, closing over my scratches and replenishing my HP. Now that I�ve broken through the enemy line, they are perfect targets for my acid!

POW! POW! POW! POW!

At point-blank range I blast acid into the cubs ranks, sending them into a frenzy as the burning fluid begins its deadly work. As soon as it impacts, the acid hardens, restricting their movement and slowing them down.

My reckless charge has forced the wolves to focus on me, exposing their backs to the rest of the invasion force who capitalise by pressing forward, literally climbing over each other to latch onto their enemies and bring them down.

The Wolf Dragons have been scattered and isolated, allowing the more numerous ants to maximise the advantage of their numbers.

I hover around the fights, lunging forward to deal the occasional Bite but letting the rest of the workers do the bulk of the work. At least this way they get to Level their skills. However, I need to be sure I manage to secure my own reward.

Crushing Bite!

Dashing toward a heavily wounded wolf, I deliver the final blow!

[You have defeated a Level 4 Wolf Dragon Cub.]

[You have gained XP.]

And another!

[You have defeated a Level 2 Wolf Dragon Cub.]

[You have gained XP.]

If the workers are annoyed at me stealing the experience, they don�t show it, relentlessly going about their tasks without pause.

I drag away first one and then the other bodies of my own kills, ensuring I secure Biomass for myself. I don�t expect I�ll be able to get much from these guys, seeing as they haven�t evolved yet, but something is better than nothing.

Seeing the food before him the little guy cannot resist his hunger and leaps, tearing into the food with his tiny fangs. I�m not too fussed, he can�t eat that much, and this food won�t help me a great deal anyway.

After eating I manage to gain two Biomass, which is consistent with my expectations. My assumption is that I gain only half the Biomass from a source that has evolved less than I have, that fraction may even shrink further if I were to consume a Wolf Dragon Cub after evolving again, perhaps down to a quarter.

Which means as I evolve, I�ll need to hunt tougher and tougher prey if I want to accrue Biomass at a decent pace. Which means I need to ensure each evolution is fully reinforced by a maximised core so I don�t fall behind in strength.

The little guy has finished up and scrambled onto my back again. I�m going to have to come up with a name for this little guy if this is going to continue. I�m not sure I can call him anything that would suit a small and cute creature like he is now if he�s going to grow up and be massive like the ape the core came from.

I don�t know� Tiny?

Sure, why not? It�ll be appropriate when he�s small and ironic if he ever grows up to be massive. It isn�t like I can verbally call him by his name anyway, this is purely for my own internal use.

With Tiny on board and the work here in the cave done, I decide to venture out in search of more prey. The rest of the workers have cleaned up the area, dragging the Biomass and any wounded ants back to the nest for healing. Looks like they�re smart enough to recognise the queen can heal their allies until they�re strong enough to regenerate their own Health.

Quite the successful raid for the colony. The first of many!

With Tiny firmly on board, I take a roundabout path back to the nest, hoping I can encounter something else to fight. I briefly consider putting my two Biomass into upgrading my Regenerative Gland, but I decide to hold on. Upgrading my mandibles could give me a huge boost to my offensive abilities. It will be worth saving and finding out.

There�s a lot of activity around me. There seems to be more than the usual number of monsters moving around in the open, at least from my limited experience. I don�t want to tangle with a large group of unevolved monsters, I�d rather find something that has evolved once so I get a decent reward in terms of Biomass.

And I have found just the thing.

Slithering through the underbrush is a monster I�ve not seen for some time, the giant centipede. It�s quite clear from the sheer size of it that this monster doesn�t compress its muscle at all during evolution. Instead it ramps up in size to get the highest Might gain possible.

I still think I can take it one-on-one. Particularly if I can get the jump on it. Thanks to me not being quite so large and my Advanced Stealth skill, I�m going to spot these guys first nine times out of ten.

The monster is snaking through the undergrowth in the forest on the prowl for prey. Little does it realise there�s an ant trail not far away. As soon as it came across one of those workers it would be done for, since reinforcements would overwhelm it if it chose to fight.

Perhaps even more unfortunate, this particular centipede happened to come across me.

POW!

Directly from the commercial zone my acid blasts against the Adult Claw Centipede, catching it across the midsection and a splattering over a few legs.

POW!

Before it can react, I hit it again! This time landing more on the tail and coating a few more legs down the left side.

I�m not too worried about inflicting significant damage with my acid, although every bit of hurt I can put on my target helps, my real aim is to let the Restrictive Acid do its work hampering the centipede�s movement.

Aggravated by this sudden attack, the beast snaps its jaws in rage and charges towards the source of the offending acid. I can already see its gait is a little awkward as a result of my sneak attack. The perfect start.

I move perpendicular to the creature�s assault, forcing it to constantly turn as it runs. The claws on this specimen look especially mean. Perhaps they�ve been mutated a few times. I�ll make a note not to tangle with them too directly.

As the beast approaches, I change direction, charging directly at it, forcing Tiny to grip onto my back tightly lest he fall due to the sudden shift in momentum. The little guy is completely fearless though, growling at our enemy with his thin, thoroughly unimpressive voice.

The centipede is quick to respond, flipping its back half into the air with shocking speed and stabbing downward with the vicious barb on its tail! I�m prepared for it, leaping directly forward with all six legs.

Whoosh!

The sting impacts heavily into the ground after rushing just over my abdomen as my jump carries me over the centipede�s head, between his claws and directly onto his body.

Haha! Climbing on the opponent is my new special move. Take this!

Crushing Bite!

I dart forward and deliver a powerful Chomp directly to the midsection of the monster as it attempts to withdraw its tail. The body on this beast is so damn thick I can�t fit my jaws around it, but nonetheless the carapace crunches and cracks under my assault.

[Chomp has reached Level 5. Upgrade available.]

Haha! I�ll take that right now!

[Chomp (I) [?] Piercing Chomp (II): Cost 1 SP. The upgraded Chomp skill is an active skill that greatly enhances the ability of a Bite attack to penetrate solid resistance.]

This skill is for piercing through solid defences whereas Crushing Bite is better for blunt force damage.

Let�s try it out. Piercing Chomp!

My mandibles are charged with energy, signalling the beginning of an active skill. Instead of being spread evenly across the flatter surfaces of my jaws, the energy gathers on the sharper tips, glowing brighter and brighter until those points shine like solid diamond.

I lunge, snapping my mandibles shut with incredible force. This time the pointed spikes of my jaws punch straight through the carapace as if it isn�t there, ripping into the insides of the monster and causing it to shriek with rage.

The centipede writhes because of my Bite, contorting its body into knots as it attempts to fling me off. I�m not letting go, buddy! All of your weapons are useless against me as long as I stay here. No jaws, no claws, and no tail sting.

Bite, bite, bite!

After three more Piercing Chomps I�ve done some real damage and the centipede is reeling, working even harder to throw me off. Claws and mandibles slipping, Tiny and I are sent flying through the air, thudding into the ground several metres away.

Ouch! With the little guy on my back, I didn�t want to execute my patented rolling landing in case he was crushed, so I angled my body to take the force of the impact directly on my gut. Turning my head slightly I can see the little dude is a bit dazed but otherwise unharmed.

This is going to be a lot easier when you can fight. After costing me a premium core you�re now causing me all this pain� I hope you�re worth it!

While I grumble to myself, the centipede is trying to get its feet working again in order to mount some sort of offensive. The Restrictive Acid has really gummed up quite a few of its legs and the internal damage I�ve caused is only hampering it further.

While you�re trying to get your feet under you�

POW!

One more blast of acid smacks the centipede directly in the face, effectively blinding it and dealing even more damage.

Nobody said I had to fight fair. In fact, it would be stupid to do so!

With its ability to see destroyed it becomes child�s play to move stealthily around the monster, biting at vulnerable areas and then retreating until it eventually succumbs to its wounds.

[You have defeated a Level 6 Adult Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

Phew! Didn�t take much damage at all in that encounter. Goes to show that the largest and most threatening monsters in this area are fairly stupid and can be defeated with the correct strategy. They gained their power by evolving in an uneven way, abandoning the more expensive brain development in favour of brute strength. In this sense I really have cheated the system by having a proper human mind from the very beginning.

I have to wonder why that�s the case. I guess my soul was brought here to this world after I died on Earth, but why? For what reason? And if my soul was put into an ant monster then why wasn�t that ant monster just the usual, stupid one? Why does this body have an advanced brain capable of properly housing my human mind?

It doesn�t seem to make sense.

Still ruminating, Tiny has already leapt off my back and started chomping into this new feast. Hey! How can you be so hungry already? You haven�t even done anything. That�s my food!

I rush forward to join him at his meal.

Om nom nom.

I�m determined to consume as much of this massive centipede as I can fit.

Between the two of us we manage to finish off just over half of the centipede and I gain four more Biomass. Evolved creatures really do provide more Biomass per pound.

Not wanting to waste the food, I start to lay a trail as I make my way back to the nest. When I get back to the ant hill I stand around waiting until a worker comes up and sniffs around, detecting my trail.

Come on guy, head over this way.

I lead the way a little, laying down the trail again to strengthen it until he starts to head off on his own. Eventually he�ll find the rest of that centipede and come back for reinforcements so they can bring the whole thing back to the colony.

Job done!

Good day for me, good day for the colony! Time to spend this Biomass and keep practising my Mana Manipulation.

Crawling into the nest I make my way down, checking in on the little larva crawling about and their attendant workers before retreating to one of the emptier chambers.

Once there I spend all of my regenerated Mana and I�m finally rewarded for my efforts.

[Mana Manipulation has reached Level 4.]

At last! Now I just need to keep pushing through until I get to Level five. The dream of being able to use magic is getting closer and closer.

Now for the mandibles.

[Do you wish to improve Mandibles to +5? This will cost 5 Biomass.]

I�ll still have one leftover, I guess I�ll save that for now�

[At this Level you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

The menu unfolds in my mind and I�m staggered by the sheer variety on offer. All sorts of elemental upgrades are here. Thunder Mandibles? Dealing electrical damage sounds rad as hell.

Perhaps I should pick Savage Mandibles? Or maybe Berserk Mandibles, where each consecutive Bite deals more damage? Vampiric Mandibles to drain Health from enemies with each chomp?

So many cool options! My eyes are boggling out of my head. It�s almost like I�m in a candy store. Dammit Gandalf, are you sure I can only choose one?

I need to settle down and consider my options carefully. With my acid I chose a utility option rather than a direct damage increase when I upgraded. For my mandibles I want something that makes my bites a more lethal weapon.

And I�m hesitant to take an elemental option, even though they sound extremely cool. There are a few options that do what I want but there is one that grabs my eye.

Infused Mandibles which allows Mana to be channelled through, increasing the damage of every Bite and providing a unique effect based on the affinity of the Mana used.

I have high hopes for this upgrade. At the moment I can�t use my Mana for anything other than practice. It serves no offensive purpose, and I can�t help but wonder if I�ll eventually be able to manipulate my Mana into different elemental types. If I�m right, then this could be a massive advantage, even if it is a long way off.

For now, this upgrade will give me what I want most, which is a rounded offensive boost.

Choose Infused Mandibles!

Ohhhh GOD!

My face! My precious FACE!

Once the mutation begins, my entire face erupts with painful itching. It almost feels as if wires are tunnelling through my head, connecting my mandibles and my inner body.

This is the worst!

It takes a long time for the mutation to end. When it finally stops, I feel like crying in relief and I�m again forced to remember that ants have no tears.

But my heart, my heart is weeping.

Getting stronger is an amazing feeling but the process completely sucks. Having spent my Mana and my Biomass, it�s time to rest up. I still have a couple Skill Points to spend but I�ll keep holding them for upgrades and potential magic skills.

Time for a nap!

Without further ado I flop onto my side and begin to drift into the dreamless state of torpor. Tiny scratches around for a while before leaning himself against my back. Before my senses finally fade away, I can hear him snoring softly behind me.

Aaand up!

With a jolt, I shake myself awake, ready to take on another day of challenges. Since there isn�t really any hurry, I make sure to spend the Mana I accumulated during my rest on more manipulation practice.

I try something different this time, inspired by the queen�that is to say, Mother�passing on her healing spell through her antennae. Using my mind to control the flow of energy in my core I direct it out, into my body and up through my antennae. Eventually the Mana is released as a brightly glowing wisp of smoke, drifting from the tip of each antenna.

After completing my training, I wake up Tiny who is still snoring happily�is it just me or is he a bit bigger today?�and wait for him to jump on my back before heading down to the nesting chamber.

With no rush to get started right away today, let�s take some time to play around with the brood.

The little white grubs don�t have much going for them at this stage in their development, no eyes or ears of any kind. They are totally dependent on the workers to care for them until they are large enough to spin a cocoon.

The little things are cute though. I try tickling them with my antennae and they start wriggling around happily, rolling away to escape. This starts a new game where Tiny and I take turns to roll the little guys back and forth as they wibble and wobble in delight.

Well, enough playing around, time to go and secure food for the next generation.

Wait, I smell something�

I rush out of the chamber and into the tunnel to see the workers rushing about, extremely agitated. It doesn�t take long for me to work out why. The scent I detect in the air is the pheromone for an emergency. All the workers are rushing down in response to this distress call.

What in the heck is going on down there?

Being larger and stronger than the other ants I push my way forward, Tiny in his customary saddle on my back, rushing down to the queen�s chamber.

The queen paces agitatedly, as many as thirty workers clustered around her defensively. There is one other tunnel leading farther down in this chamber and workers are streaming through it. That must be the source of the emergency!

Curious and alarmed, I charge, bursting into the tunnel and following my fellow ants. What the heck is going on guys? Tunnel collapse? Food located? Are we under attack?

After a few minutes of running I get my answer. The sounds of brutal impact and flesh being torn are ringing in my ears.

We�re under attack!

Defend the nest!

Roaring in my mind I double my speed. I�ll reach the front line and smash our enemies to bits. How dare they raid our colony!

When I make it to the conflict, I�m horrified by what I see. Broken and sliced bodies of my fellow workers litter the ground, and as soon as more arrive they throw themselves into the fray.

However, their sacrifice doesn�t seem to do much to deter the invaders.

Distorted, bizarre looking creatures loom before me, walking on four legs that end in strange, clawed feet. Their hunched upper bodies are grotesquely bulked with muscle, and they have almost no head or face to speak of. From the centre of their chest protrudes a hideous beak. Instead of arms, four glistening blades, made from bone or steel, I can�t say, extend from their torso attached to short limbs that allow them to slash and hack with brutal force.

What the heck are these things!

Have they climbed up here from farther below? They look like they mean serious business.

I don�t have the luxury of waiting. My siblings are being slaughtered. I have to throw myself into the fray!

Bullying my way to the front by shoving and dragging workers out of my way, I put myself at the head of the reinforcements. It�s difficult to see how many of these insane creatures there are since the narrow tunnel only allows two of them to fight at a time, but the tunnel is packed with monsters behind the leading figures.

This is going to be a tough battle, and I don�t want to take Tiny into the middle of this. I quickly shake my body left and right like a wet dog, until I dislodge the little guy. He cries out in protest but there is no way he�ll be able to make it through this battle on my back.

I can�t do any more for him than this.

Come on then you freaks, let�s dance!

Before the rest of my colony starts climbing over me to reach their immediate death, I charge, drawing the attention of our enemies directly to myself.

Slash!

I duck under the first strike but already there are more coming.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

With two of the monsters in front of me, there are eight blades creating a wall of death I can�t get through, each slash forcing me to duck or retreat.

Well, Anthony, if you can�t close without getting hurt, you�ll just have to get hurt!

Dodging left and right I dive forward, trying to slip past the deadly defence of these malformed creatures. The second I move the two monsters react, sweeping their weapons down and around to cut off any chance of escape.

Come on!

Thunk!

Agony blooms from my back as one of the edges cuts deep into my carapace, piercing and cutting into the muscle below. I grit my teeth and continue to press forward. You�ll have to do more than that to stop me!

My desperate lunge has brought me next to the creature�s legs. Their bulk and the narrow tunnel makes it difficult for them to turn and bring their weapons to bear on me and I certainly am not going to wait around to give them a chance.

Crushing Bite!

Mustering my strength, I crush my jaws down onto the closest leg, the dense muscle in my head powering them to close tighter and tighter.

Snap!

My mandibles meet each other, shearing directly through the limb, causing the creature to roar in anger as it loses its balance.

Since these monsters are soft skinned, I decide to attack with the Crushing Bite, the additional penetration of the Piercing Chomp would be wasted on these fleshy targets. I turn to the other monster and latch my mandibles directly onto its midsection, ripping a deep wound into its body. Not satisfied, I Bite again and again!

[Crushing Bite (II) has reached Level 4.]

My jaws are dripping with ichor and the monster is writhing in pain. The leading two monsters are sufficiently distracted to allow the rest of the workers to close in and get to work. Some of them are still injured by the furiously flashing blade-arms, but with their numbers, the ants begin to grip onto the limbs, pinning the creatures down.

I�ve already lost twelve HP from that one slash! And right behind the monsters I just attacked are two more and even more behind them.

I hope there aren�t too many, or this is going to be grim.

I have a little breathing room while the workers deal with the monsters next to me. Time to inflict maximal damage!

Turning on the spot I present my famed commercial plaza down the tunnel. The enemy are only metres away so aiming isn�t necessary. Once I�m in position I unleash the acid.

POW! POW!

Two blasts sizzle their way through the air before impacting directly into the massive torsos of these horrendous threshing machines. The liquid immediately begins to hiss, burning into their flesh, hardening and sticking as soon as contact is made.

Hopefully I�ve managed to slow their blades down a little.

Enraged, the two monsters start slashing wildly and even cut into the rear of their still struggling allies.

When the blade slices through the air and impacts into the monster to my right I seize on this chance and rush in. If one of the weapons is stuck in that poor guy, then it won�t be able to be swung at me! This should create an opening.

I cut immediately to my right, running directly under the lodged blade and up onto the wall of the narrow tunnel and onto the roof. The ceiling isn�t high enough to be out of reach of those sharp limbs, but of the four blades, only the upper two will be able to reach, cutting the number of worries in half.

I also have to consider I won�t be quite as nimble upside down. But it�s my best chance.

Crash!

The monster in front of me rips its arm-blade out of the grievous wound it caused its own ally and shifts its entire body to throw weight behind the strike directed at me, slamming the gleaming, hard edge directly into the rock in front of me.

Go!

I leap on instinct, avoiding the blade and landing on the powerful arm from which the cutting blade emerges. I scrabble to grip on the shifting flesh of the creature before my claws manage to arrest my momentum and dig in, allowing me to run over the shoulder and onto the creature�s back.

POW!

I take the chance to fire another shot at the bladed monster next to this one, splattering the beast across its flank with stinging acid. The creature turns as much as it can in the narrow space and I finally manage to spot the eyes above that savage beak, tiny red orbs that seem to burn with hate.

Shrieking loudly, the insane creature brings its upper two blades down on me with terrible force, the sharp edges whistling as they cut through the air.

Desperately I roll to the side, almost succeeding in dodging the strike.

Crunch!

The two blades smash down into the body of the creature I�m standing on, mortally wounding it. I lose two legs on my left side as collateral damage, the limbs sheared clean off close to my body.

The pain is intense! I didn�t think they�d be so crazy as to smash down on their own ally like that. They caught me unprepared.

Activating my Regenerative Gland, the explosion of freezing cold within is a welcome sensation. I won�t be able to get my legs back immediately, but it will surely help a little.

Moving is excruciating, but I scramble desperately, climbing onto the blade-arms before the monster can retract them for another strike. The limbs from which the blades extend are thick with ropes of dense muscle. It�ll be difficult to cut through this. Time to find out how my Infused Mandibles will go.

As I open my jaws wide, I activate my new mutation with a thought. Instantly Mana gushes out of my core, flooding through directly into my mandibles. I engage Crushing Bite at the same time and my mandibles begin to glow brighter and brighter. As the Mana builds within them they start to release blue steam.

Take this!

SNAP!

Infused with the Mana I�ve managed to regenerate since my last practice, my mandibles shear directly through the monster�s limb, cutting it off entirely.

Holy cow, that was effective! But it used half of my remaining Mana. I�ll only get one more of those.

My foe roars in pain as one of its deadly blades has been removed and I scrabble with my remaining legs to claw my way onto the monster�s back, a place of relative safety. By this time my Regeneration has done all it can for me, restoring eight HP, but it�s not enough to bring my missing limbs back, all I have are two small stumps that have emerged from my carapace. I can wiggle them a bit, but they�re a long way from a complete leg.

More of these vicious monsters are crowding in the tunnel, their razor beaks shrieking as they slash wildly into the air. How many of these stupid things are there!

I need to finish this one off and retreat to get my bearings back.

Crushing Bite!

I Bite into the creature�s back repeatedly, tearing into the muscle until my enemy collapses. I don�t stop there. I keep biting until the voice of Gandalf echoes in my mind.

[You have defeated a Level 14 Quator Ferrum Saevissimus.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 5. One Skill Point awarded.]

Nards! I was hoping I�d be able to evolve, which might have really helped me in this situation. For now, retreating to safety is a must. Climbing over the body of my defeated enemy, I make my way back to the frontline where my fellow workers have finished off the first two monsters and are swarming over them, consuming and pressing forward into the tunnel to continue the fight.

My eyes light up when I see the Biomass available in front of me. My Regenerative Gland is empty, but if I can snack up for a few minutes I might be able to gain some more HP. I won�t be able to regrow my limbs in such a short time, but every little bit helps.

Staggering, I push aside a few workers and start wolfing down food.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Quator Ferrum Saevissimus. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Quator Ferrum Saevissimus unlocked.]

[Quator Ferrum Saevissimus: Four Blade Berserker. This monster has four bone-metal compound blades on its upper body and enters a furious rage when in combat, increasing its strength but causing it to struggle to tell friend from foe.]

The profile makes a lot of sense. These monsters are certainly berserkers, hacking into each other without a second thought.

Workers continue to arrive, some of them climbing straight over me as I eat to enter the fight. I have to eat quickly and try to get back in there. These ants won�t be able to handle such dreadful monsters, no matter how much they outnumber them!

Fortunately, the enemy is having a tough time climbing over the bulky bodies of their fallen comrades, the narrow confines of the tunnel hampering their movements. The ant reinforcements make use of the distance to begin an acid bombardment, launching salvo after salvo of the burning substance at the foe.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

With three Biomass collected I immediately upgrade my Carapace to +3. Any little boost to tank up against those savage blades is welcome. This upgrade could be the difference between death and living on one HP.

Due to the current situation, the mutation itch that explodes all over my body barely registers in my mind. I have more important things to worry about than a stupid itch. My family is under attack!

More and more workers are flooding through at this point. There must be almost a hundred of them, fully half of the workforce. The rest are probably protecting the brood and the queen, which is a good idea.

With these numbers, we may have a chance!

Painfully, I drag myself towards the wall and manage to crawl about halfway up. I still have some acid in the tank, and I want to use it to support the rest of the workers on the front lines.

There�s a swirling maelstrom of combat down the tunnel. The first four Berserkers have been dealt with, but more are pressing in, their mad shrieks filled with bloodlust and the urge to kill. Workers are clambering over the dead, fearlessly charging to engage in greater and greater numbers.

I take a moment to aim carefully before firing.

POW!

The Berserkers are fairly large targets, and thankfully for me the area I want to hit is directly in the middle of their chest.

POW! POW!

Three blasts of acid arc through the air, hitting three separate monsters, splattering over their faces and beaks. I may not have been able to get their eyes since they�re set deeply into the chest, but the hardening, sticky acid burning into their face drives the creatures completely insane. They start to swing wildly with their four limbs, cutting into their own allies.

Take that!

Just as I rejoice, a commotion picks up behind me and I turn to see what is going on.

Is that� the queen!

A hoard of workers surrounds her majesty, some of them even trying to pull her into the nest back to safety. She fills the narrow tunnel, easily able to resist any attempt to remove her from the battle.

Her intelligent eyes survey the field. There�s a glint of anger there in witnessing the invading monsters and her fallen children.

She chitters angrily and gradually light begins to build in her antennae, growing brighter and brighter. This is far more energy than she used when she healed me. What exactly is she going to do?

Her antennae are holding so much concentrated Mana, it hurts my eyes. Whatever this magic is, it�s going to be powerful!

With a snap of her jaws, she releases the pent-up energy and it floods into the tunnel. In an instant, all of the ants are bathed in light, the magic pouring into their bodies like water.

That freezing numb sensation explodes as my body drinks in more and more of the magic. My injured legs have grown so cold they are painful and they begin to regrow right before my very eyes! Slowly at first, and then with increasing speed the flesh extends farther and farther down as I continue to greedily pull in as much healing energy as I can get.

Injured ants are staggering to their feet and back into the fight as their wounds close and limbs regrow with astonishing speed.

What incredible magic! I have no idea how much MP was required to pour out a spell like that, but it must have been insanely high. I have to revise my opinion of just how advanced a monster a Queen Ant is, she must have a seriously powerful core in order to fuel this kind of magic. Of course, she has the benefit of the workers bringing all of the resources they can to her, but it�s still extremely impressive.

Along with her healing magic, the mere presence of the queen has energised the workers. They�ve redoubled their ferocity, perhaps driven by an instinct to protect her at all costs.

From my perch on the wall, I watch as workers push forward relentlessly, biting, spraying acid, not even serious wounds stopping them anymore.

My legs have almost fully regrown, and my acid gland has also increased its production rate, enough for me to fire off two more shots.

I aim farther back into the darkness of the tunnel and unleash two blasts. That distance is the very limit of my range, and I can�t be too accurate. Hopefully the painful acid will cause the Berserkers to strike out at each other, making my life a whole lot easier.

[Improved Acid Shot (II) has reached Level 5.]

Nothing?

Do I have to raise it to Level ten before I can upgrade it now? Makes sense, I guess� I need to stop expecting the system in this world to make things easy for me.

Empty of acid and with my legs regrown, it�s time to get back into the fight.

The queen is not advancing and putting herself at risk, but staying back, watching her colony go into battle in defence of their home. I�m glad she isn�t going forward. The tunnel is too narrow for her to fight properly in this place anyway.

I move onto the ceiling and start making my way back to the front.

With their deep-set eyes being located relatively low on their bodies, I don�t think these monsters are able to look up very well. This proves true as I manage to sneak my way past the frontline. Beneath me, ants are swarming over their enemies, their numbers too large for the distracted and raging Berserkers to effectively keep off. Workers are climbing the walls, slipping under clawed feet and latching on with powerful mandibles, dragging the monsters down.

It feels like the tide is starting to turn.

If I can disrupt the enemy in the back, then life will get easier for the ants at the front as they make their way forward.

The acid attacks I launched have caused ample chaos already. Several Berserkers are heavily wounded and others are shrieking, arm blades slick with gore after lashing out at those around them.

I choose my moment carefully and drop down onto the back of one of the monsters, directly behind its upright torso.

I�ve really never seen anything like these monsters. A horrible mishmash of parts assembled into an insane killing machine. Something like this could only be the product of this underground realm. I cannot imagine nature producing a creature like this. What terrible intellect designed this madness?

Time to put the Infused Mandibles to work once more!

Mana floods out of my core and into my jaws, charging them with energy.

Crushing Bite!

The charged mandibles shear directly through the creature�s flesh, creating a massive wound directly in the monster�s back. Ichor gushes out, coating my head in the horrible stuff. The monster shrieks with ear shattering noise and desperately tries to throw me off.

My Grip won�t be denied and I hold on to Bite again. More and more Crushing Bites rip into the creature until it stops moving.

[Crushing Bite (II) has reached Level 5.]

[You have defeated a Level 11 Four Clawed Berserker.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 6. One Skill Point awarded.]

So much experience! These creatures must be advanced to have such high Levels and to improve my skills so rapidly.

The monster behind the most recent victim is distracted, battling against its neighbour. When the creature swings its massive blades, I hurl myself forward, running underneath it and ripping into its leg.

This time a Piercing Chomp!

My mandibles dig deep into the limb, the sharper parts penetrating right down to the bone.

The victim immediately rears up, stomping the ground with its clawed feet but I�ve already moved on towards its rear legs.

Chomp!

[Piercing Chomp (II) has reached Level 2.]

With massive wounds on two legs, the Berserker cannot properly maintain its balance and gradually falls to one side, slamming into the monster behind it.

That creature roars and begins to lash out, rampaging amongst its own kind.

These creatures are incapable of working together in a group. More to the point, they don�t seem to be the type of monster that would cooperate in the first place. They aren�t social insects after all. Why the heck are there so many making their way up here?

Eager to get the experience, I continue to Bite into the monster until I can deal lethal damage.

[You have defeated a Level 8 Four Blade Berserker.]

[You have gained XP.]

Not quite enough to raise my Level all at once, eh?

Complete chaos has swept through the ranks of the enemy at this point. They are killing each other almost faster than the ants can bring them down. Since the queen appeared, the battle has been one sided, the sheer number of ants doing enough damage to send the attackers into disarray.

I continue to run interference, chomping at a leg here and there to knock monsters over or send them into a frenzy.

I gain another Level in Piercing Chomp as I do and manage to finish off one more of the beasts, giving me Level seven before the madness finally ends.

The tunnel is filled with Berserker bodies. Many ants have fallen, though not nearly as many as I�d feared at least. The queen�s healing was able to save dozens of workers who had been wounded right at the beginning of the fight.

Workers are already starting to harvest the incredible wealth of Biomass around us, picking over the food, breaking pieces off and carrying them back to the colony or devouring it then and there, filling their social stomachs.

In all there were twenty-one invaders. Where they had come from or why they advanced up this tunnel from down below I don�t know. Were they forced out of their normal area and seeking food and safety higher up? These guys were certainly high Levelled, evolved monsters, not something I would expect to see here.

To tell the truth, I want to collapse this tunnel. If creatures like that can reach us by climbing up here, then I want to put a stop to it. My only worry is that workers would just open it up again�

I hear a squeaking sound next to me and I turn to see Tiny tugging at one of my legs.

Hey there, little guy, glad to see you were able to stay safe!

He is looking at the food around us with greed lighting up his eyes. Actually, I think he�s drooling.

C�mon, man� There�s no need for� just eat, would you!

I push him towards his meal with one leg. When he looks back at me, I push him again and he seems to get the picture, leaping forward to consume the Biomass.

Considering the sheer amount of Biomass here, this could be a massive boon for the colony. Many ants will be able to mutate, and the remainder of food will fuel the growth of the next generation.

Glancing back up the tunnel, the queen is nowhere in sight. She probably retreated into the nest and is preparing to lay a ton of eggs. The workers are going to be busy for a while.

Despite being completely exhausted, I drag myself over and start to eat.

I need to stock up on as much Biomass as I can.

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, I have to say your words are wise!

Time for a break.

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

Not to mention my Level has risen to seven. I�m practically swimming in Skill Points!

Another large discovery was also made. I was able to recover two cores from the Berserkers. Hoping 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 completed 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�resting within the colony is in order. I�m not leaving 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 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 to level it up.

Once my tank is drained it�s time to spend my Biomass! So much to spend. It�s hard to choose! I could upgrade my Carapace all the way to +5 and still have a point leftover. This is an attractive option, helping me tank up and pick a mutation advancement. I could upgrade my Regenerative Healing Gland to +4, which would be nice.

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

Damn 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 Biomass.]

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 I try not to be distracted by all the shiny 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 shell angled, or the Flexi Carapace that bounces 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. 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 of 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. No, no, no�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 whole thing feels like it�s on fire. Hot barbs of maddening itch pierce through me every now and 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 expression.

Damn 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. Here and there some parts of the shell reflect the light, shimmering occasionally in the gloom of this room. Don�t tell me there is actual diamond blended within my carapace?

Does this mean� my shell is now worth a ton of money?

I hope I haven�t just put a huge target on my own back�

Next order of business is to snack up!

This time I was smart enough to shear off some food and transport it back to my sleeping space once I was full. Of course, to prevent my fellow workers from taking it away I had to bury it and sleep on top of that spot.

Merrily I unearth my morning Berserker snack. Tiny and I dig in. A little dirt doesn�t spoil the food when you�re a monster eating other monsters. It all tastes disgusting anyway.

After finishing the meal, I gain another two Biomass, leaving me with three points.

I immediately use them to mutate my Antennae to +3. My offensive capability has increased, now my defensive capability has also increased, but I still want sensory superiority to be a focus. When I finally start to mutate past +5, I�ll return to upgrading eyesight and then antennae. Deep down, I want to find the other monsters before they find me. That just seems like a good policy.

After everything has settled down my status now looks like this:

Name: Anthony

Level: 7 (II)

Might: 31

Toughness: 22

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 50/50

MP: 3/36

Skills: Excavation Level 1 (II); Improved Acid Shot Level 5 (II); Enhanced Grip Level 1 (II); Crushing Bite Level 5 (II); Advanced Stealth Level 3 (II); Piercing Chomp Level 3 (II); Tunnel Sense Level 4 (I); Mana Manipulation Level 4 (I)

Mutations: Focused Eyes +5; Antennae +3; Restrictive Acid Gland +5; Legs +1; Infused Mandibles +5; Diamond Carapace +5; Regenerative Healing Gland +1; Pheromone Gland

Species: Mature Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 5

Biomass: 0

Such a quantum leap from how I was just after being born!

I feel happy I�m laying a solid foundation for future growth. Getting all of my mutations up and focusing on my core and magic skills will surely pay dividends in the future.

Since I�ve reconnected with the colony there�s at least some level of safety that surrounds me. Unless we continue to get attacked�

All of my Biomass and MP spent, I take Tiny out for a walk around the nest. There are many workers sporting new mutations today, some larger mandibles or longer antennae here and there. The colony must have consumed well over a hundred Biomass. It would be impossible for the queen to take all of it, so the workers were able to reap some rewards.

Paying a visit to the nursery, there are quite a few new pupa along one wall. This is the final stage of infancy, after they grow in these cocoons the new hatchling workers will emerge. What�s more impressive is the huge clutch of new eggs that have appeared in one corner. There must be dozens of them!

The queen really went all out.

If the colony can secure enough food to grow these guys into adulthood, then we could double in size very quickly, which would in turn help secure my own safety.

We will rise together my ant brethren!

Tiny and I play with the larvae for a while and then pay a visit to the royal chamber. Not unsurprisingly, the queen is taking a nap, resting after her exertions of the last few hours. She must have emptied out all of her Mana to cast that healing spell. I can vaguely understand just how mentally draining it is to shift that much Mana.

Quite a few workers are standing guard around her, ensuring nothing untoward happens to the most important individual in the colony.

Except for me that is. Heh.

With my inspection of the goings on of the colony complete, it�s back to my own quiet sleeping chamber to continue practising Mana Manipulation until all of my MP is spent and then I rest.

There hasn�t been a moment to be this lazy since my rebirth and it brings me a great deal of comfort to do so now. Perhaps my stress had been building up over this time? Sleeping and playing without having to worry for a brief time is such a decadent luxury in this life.

If something isn�t trying to rip your face off, then you are probably the one trying to rip something else�s face off. The never-ending war for Biomass and experience rages throughout these caves, from the open spaces to the deepest, darkest tunnels. Monsters are always hunting, hungering for more. Does it ever stop?

Where do all these monsters come from? And why? I still have so many questions about this world. For all of my success in surviving and growing to this stage, the thing I lack most is information. The kind of information a human society would have; history, geography, science. What in the name of all that is good is going on in this place!

The things that seem so insane must make perfect sense to the civilisations that live here. If only I could find someone to communicate with. Someone to communicate with and who wouldn�t cut my head off the moment they saw me�

The queen is about the most intelligent and friendly monster I�ve seen, but I can�t exactly communicate with her. Perhaps if she evolves further or gains enough Biomass, she�ll develop some capacity to convey information. Ant-speak? Telepathy? Something like that.

Nothing to do on that front except wait.

The cycle of rest continues for two more days. Wake up, practice Mana Manipulation until my MP runs dry and then bum around the colony until I get tired. By the end of the second day, I could swear the queen was throwing disapproving glances at me whenever I walked by. Like a worried mother fretting about her useless child.

Dammit, Mum! Just a few days off, ok?

The rest of the workforce never stops, not even for a moment. Endlessly running back and forth, venturing out to scout and find food then bringing it back, tending to the brood, cleaning up the nest, then entering torpor to rest before starting the whole process over again.

I honestly feel tired just watching them.

Tiny seems to be enjoying our vacation, lazing about on my back as we travel and sleeping at every opportunity. I can�t help but think he�ll get hungry if we keep slugging about much longer.

During my practice on the third day, the gruff voice of Gandalf finally comes through.

[Mana Manipulation has reached Level 5. Upgrade available.]

At last!

Your voice is like Mana from heaven to me, O Gandalf!

How long was this stupid system going to me make me wait�

How I�ve struggled, tempted constantly by the urge to spend my precious Skill Points. I haven�t even allowed myself to open the skill menu, lest I succumb and waste points I may have needed to learn sweet magic skills.

But now� Now my time has arrived!

Eagerly I whip open the skills menu to advance Mana Manipulation.

[Mana Manipulation (I) [?] Mana Shaping: Cost 1 SP. This advanced skill increases the ability to control Mana into specific shapes and forms required for casting spells.]

This looks promising. I�ll upgrade that one immediately!

Now for the second step, looking at the complete list of available skills. I�m a bit nervous before I open it. I�m really hoping for something good.

When I do finally open the menu, a flood of new options has appeared, completely shocking me! Skills I recognise from the beginning are still there, but many others have joined them. Combat skills, defensive skills, mental skills. So many delicious goodies, I can hardly choose! Before getting distracted, I quickly hunt down any magic related skills in the list.

[Forceful Mana: Increases the ability to release significant amounts of Mana in a shorter span, with greater impact.]

[External Mana Manipulation: Grants the capacity to control and manipulate Mana outside of the user�s body.]

[Mana Sensing: Gives the ability to sense bodies of concentrated Mana using the monster core.]

These three skills are directly related to magic or Mana in some way. Though I was hoping to be able to throw fireballs, it looks like I�m still in the beginning stages. I�m a simple ant, when I see Mana in the skill, I buy it.

As soon as I confirm my purchases the now familiar sensation bubbles up, like trickling water over my brain. New knowledge flows lightly into my mind, pooling into the cracks and crevices, filling up the places that were lacking.

I have only a single Skill Point remaining and there are still so many fantastic skills to choose from.

Just as I�m agonising over which to take, a name in the list catches my attention. I think� I know what this one is about.

[Core Mechanic: Enables the user to manipulate the structure of a monster core on a superficial level.]

Even though this skill does nothing for me in combat, healing, scouting or magic, I can�t help but think this skill could be key to my future in this world. When I reconstituted Tiny from a core, the system suggested that some skills would enable the ability to customise the process, probably in a similar way to how I could somewhat control my own evolution.

Despite being unclear on exactly what this skill entails, I choose it. I have a good feeling about it, and one Skill Point isn�t too high a price to pay to excavate new potential.

Now all my amassed SP has been spent!

I�m somewhat disappointed I can�t start using magic immediately but still satisfied to take every Mana related skill in the list. Hopefully soon I�ll be able to start slinging magic around!

Looking at Tiny as he lies sleepily on the floor reminds me of his adult form and the titan-croc engaging in battle. They were able to channel lightning and spit fireballs. Though it didn�t seem as if they were using magic in any intellectual way.

Is there another way they were able to gain those abilities? Perhaps during evolution they were able to develop an ability to naturally perform some actions with their MP. It bears thinking about. When I evolve again will be the time to shed more light on that. Something I hope will be coming my way when I reach Level ten!

Now that I have my new skills selected, let�s take some time to get a feel for what they do. The knowledge provided when purchasing a skill gives a sense of how to use it, but that doesn�t really compare to consciously utilising it.

First, External Mana Manipulation. This one is going to be a little tricky. Focusing my mind, abandoning my senses, I reach out with my thoughts. Gradually my consciousness unfolds into the open space, a strange sensation to say the least. Light flows of Mana surround me, slipping through the air like the waters in a stream.

Different than the concentrated, dense Mana in my core, these thin, elusive trails of energy are far more difficult to grasp. After ten minutes of trying to direct the path of the Mana and bend it to my will, I have to give up as my head is aching.

That is seriously hard! At this point I�m not even sure what practical use such a skill will have, but since it�s there I�m going to attempt to master it.

Next is Mana Sensing. According to my understanding I need to use my core as a focus for this skill. Much like I did when I practised Mana Manipulation, my focus sinks deep down inside the spherical gem that is my monster core. Inside, dense Mana swirls and billows like a hot fog. Rather than focusing on the energy itself, my mind expands to fill the space. Then I wait.

Gradually, the faintest echoes begin to register on my senses. As if a pebble had been thrown in a pool of water, tiny ripples lap against the edges of my thoughts. Slowly the ripples grow larger and more pronounced, until I can determine a direction, then a sense of distance.

I actually think� this is the queen? It�s difficult to interpret but I seem to be registering a strong concentration of Mana very close in the nest, below me somewhere. The only thing I can think of is the queen herself.

Phew!

This skill is also mentally taxing. I�m flat out drained at this point. My poor ant head is pounding.

Still, one more to test.

For the final time I focus down on my core and extract the energy, directing it towards my mouth just as I�ve become accustomed to doing. However, instead of releasing it I bring up more Mana, and then more, condensing it, compressing it into a tight ball of furious energy.

When I�m unable to compress the energy any further, I finally allow it to be unleashed from my open mouth. Instead of a small puff of cloud, the Mana explodes from my mouth in a powerful blast of pure force. The energy howls through the air and smashes into the dirt wall with an impressive impact.

I�m completely shocked!

Was that� The legendary shout!

I�m quite pleased with the display of Mana Force. With a blast like that I might be able to inflict some serious damage! With a few more Levels, it could be possible to reduce the amount of time required to prepare such an attack, to the point it becomes usable in combat.

With my mental energy largely exhausted, it�s time for one more nap before diving back into productive society. The shut-in lifestyle isn�t for me, and no self-respecting ant could possibly be happy living that way.

We are workers. We need to work for the glory of the colony. And let�s not forget about Leveling up so I can evolve!

Maybe my motives are not as pure as my fellow workers, but my results will be miles better. Let us see how an ant colony can prosper with human intellect helping them out.

Tiny is starting to look a little disgruntled. His tiny bat-like face is a bit sad around the edges and he keeps looking around for something, getting more and more dejected when his search comes up empty.

Getting hungry, are you, little guy?

One more sleep and then we�ll go out hunting, ok?

Settling down to nap, Tiny reluctantly joins me, leaning against my back as we snooze.

OK! I shake myself awake abruptly, causing Tiny to jump up with a small shriek, looking around wildly.

Nice energy, little fella, we�ve got a big day in front of us!

The cosy confines of our room surround us, the bustle of the colony largely outside our awareness here, so we can rest peacefully. The soft dirt walls show the scratch or bite marks from when the workers carved out this chamber. I�m still not entirely sure why it was dug at all, since the workers rarely come in here.

No sense being fussed though. It does work out to my advantage.

Blinking his eyes sleepily, Tiny climbs up onto my carapace and I rocket out of the room and into the tunnel. Workers are frantically running here and there as always and when I visit the brood chamber, there�s a large squad of workers fussing over the new eggs, ensuring they�re kept clean and at the optimal temperature at all times.

The colony is going to need a heck of a lot of food pretty darn soon in order to raise up this massive generation and I intend to make it happen.

The larger and stronger the colony becomes, the safer and more secure I�ll be in this world. Of course, while securing my own fair share of experience and Biomass.

Time to get to it!

With Tiny holding on I charge up the tunnel, frequently bumping other workers out of my way. I�m coming through, guys, pick up the pace, we aren�t driving Ms Daisy!

The closer I get to the ant hill in the forest, the more the walls of the tunnel begin to change. The glowing threads from my time in the earlier tunnels are starting to appear, thin at first but thicker and brighter the closer I get to the open space ahead.

Are these pulsing lines� growing down the tunnel? I�m positive they weren�t here just a few days ago! I�m not sure why, but I find it vaguely unsettling to think of these strange, branching vines of glowing light as a growing, living thing.

What are they?

I mentally shrug my shoulders. No answers to be had with that right now and I don�t see how I can get one in the future. Just need to keep an eye on the situation and maybe I�ll learn something as things develop over time.

Casting aside my concerns I focus once again on today�s mission. Securing food for the colony.

Emerging out of the tunnel and into the huge open space of the forest feels good. It�s nice to be out and doing something again!

Holy moly it is bright� Significantly brighter than before.

Not to worry, we have business to attend to.

A few workers are here and there on the hill, keeping watch probably, or waiting for a scout to return with news of food. Hold tight fellas, I have a feeling you�ll be hearing about it soon.

Full of confidence I dash down the hill and under the cover of the trees and towering mushrooms, the multi-coloured canopy shielding me from above. The undergrowth seems to be denser from a few days ago, as if feeding on the growing intensity of the illumination in the forest.

In fact, the entire space seems to have come alive with activity, like a rainforest after a storm. The sounds of monsters are everywhere, growls, roars and the ripping, tearing percussion of battle.

The area has become packed with monsters.

When these beasts run into each other, there is only one thing that will occur, a fight! Currently the area is filled with such combat, the strong consuming the weak, growing even more powerful from the experience and Biomass they harvested as a reward.

I don�t know why this area has become so populated suddenly. Perhaps it�s not just the vegetation, but the monsters are also linked to the intensity of the light in the forest. At any rate, this abundance of monsters is suitable for my purposes. If there is experience and Biomass to be gained then the colony and I will get our slice of the pie.

I climb a tree, hoping to spy an opportunity from the upper branches. Hauling myself towards the top I peer through the foliage, making full use of my eyesight to scout.

There�s a few mounds or hills that are likely to contain nests, but they aren�t exactly what I was hoping to see.

Maybe over this side� aha!

A larger tree bursts out of the canopy, standing taller and prouder than those around it. The large branches extend in a wide diameter, providing a tremendous amount of space and shelter within the embrace of those leafy arms.

Even from this distance the small shapes darting here and there high up in the tree are visible.

I memorise the location and descend, making my way back to the ant hill. There are still workers positioned defensively, darting here and there on high alert, ready to pounce on any perceived threat.

Excellent work lads, keep up the good work!

After thinking for a moment about how to perform this task I start to lay down the pheromone trail for food, heading away towards the large tree I�d spotted in the distance. After getting a hundred metres from the hill I return and lay the trail once more, strengthening it. Then I do it again.

Laying the same trail multiple times makes it appear more relevant and interesting to the workers, increasing the likelihood they will choose to follow it.

Sure enough, my effort is rewarded. A few workers emerge from the nest, and after sniffing around with their antennae, they start to follow along my path.

Well done my fellow colony buddies, I promise you most likely won�t regret this choice.

Hurrying off towards the large tree, I remember to continually lay my trail. Should give some thought to spending Biomass on my Pheromone Gland. Now that I�m actually using them to influence the workforce, it strikes me how useful it would be to send better, stronger signals and have the rest of the ants respond to my actions quicker.

Even now after laying the trail three times, I�ve only managed to draw a few workers along. If I upgraded to +3 or +4, surely I would receive a more enthusiastic response.

It�s so hard to decide where to spend Biomass in this place! All of the options seem so useful.

I move quickly so that I�m able to arrive at my destination well before those following behind. It isn�t long before that large tree looms out of the woods around me. Just as I�d seen from my scouting position, this impressive specimen is fully occupied by a huge number of those small monkeys I�d seen before, the spark chimps.

When they see Tiny and I arrive at the base of their tree, the chimps howl madly, pointing with their little fingers and screeching at the top of their lungs, causing an impressive cacophony of sound.

For his part, Tiny seems completely unimpressed with his ape cousins. His only response is a low growl in the back of his throat as he watches the canopy with hooded eyes.

You can really talk the talk, you little apes. Pretty soon we�re going to find out if you can walk the walk!

Up against the thick trunk of the large tree, I cautiously flex my mandibles. Hopefully these Infused Mandibles are up to the challenge.

Ignoring the deafening noise of the little chimps above me, I wander up to the base of the tree. The aggravation of the monsters only becomes more intense, the small creatures look almost comical with their faces twisted in incandescent rage, completely infuriated that a single enemy would dare approach their territory.

Turning my head, three workers have followed my trail to the area where I finished it, about fifty metres away from the tree. Once they arrive, they muddle about, turning here and there, searching for the location of the food which the trail indicated existed in this place.

Not to worry, chaps, I�ll be serving it up to you shortly.

Infused Mandibles!

With thought activation, Mana begins to flood out of my core, rushing through my body and into my mandibles. The build of energy becomes more and more intense until I almost wonder if there is anything I can�t Bite through with all this power.

Combined with the strength generated by my active skills I can pack a tremendous force into every Bite.

Under the bewildered and disbelieving eyes of an entire tree full of monstrous apes, I rear back my head and dart forward, unleashing the full force of my jaws upon the tree trunk.

Piercing Bite!

Crunch!

The sharp edges of my mandibles sink deep into the strange wood these trees are composed of, sending splinters flying into the air and bouncing off my carapace. After this Bite I don�t cut off the flow of Mana, letting it continue to pour out of my core and fuse with my jaws, vastly increasing their strength.

Again, Piercing Bite!

Crunch!

And again!

Crunch!

My Mana is depleting at a furious pace, the power of these mandibles does come at a steep cost. For a monster with a poorly developed core, they would be almost completely useless. Thankfully I�ve been able to reinforce mine quite a few times and I�ll only continue to improve it further in the future.

Crunch!

The apes above are completely apoplectic with rage, practically foaming at the mouth. They may have finally realised what I�m up to and some of them are starting to descend to contest my actions.

But it�s too late.

Crunch!

CREEEEAK!

Here we go!

With Tiny secured on my back, we dash away, moving across the path of descent. I turn my head to watch the show.

The huge tree, with all of its shocked occupants on board, slowly begins to lean over.

The apes become completely silent in horror as their world literally starts to fall around them, while they are still in it.

Timberrrr!

CRASH!

With increasing speed, the tree tilts and smashes to the ground with a tremendous boom. The whistling of leaves and shattering branches resounds through the forest.

Followed by the indignant howls of hundreds of tiny apes!

The three workers stare silently at the bizarre spectacle of a horde of injured apes pouring out of the wreckage of their tree home like angry demons. Possible even to a monster ant, this sight is truly something fresh and original.

For the colony!

Gleefully I charge into the gathering throng of ape monsters, Tiny hooting and roaring on my back like an enraged knight, who is also an ape.

The small creatures are scattered by my larger frame, literally bouncing off my Diamond Carapace when they attempt to strike. My assault sparks the workers into action. There is a fellow ant in a battle. Fight! Food! Two of the ants immediately turn and sprint back towards the colony. I�m not shocked by this. They aren�t running away in fear or anything like that. These workers know no fear. They are instead going to summon reinforcements with all the speed they can muster.

The remaining ant leaps into battle alongside me, latching onto the nearest ape with its jaws and engaging in deadly combat. My mission now is to delay and keep this one worker alive until our brethren arrive for the battle.

The apes are screeching mad as they rush to slay the would-be attackers, punching and kicking at me. Some even pick up improvised weapons like branches and rocks to try and increase their damage.

Muahahahaha! Useless! All of your efforts are for nothing.

My newly improved Diamond Carapace is the perfect defence against these sorts of impacts. My HP isn�t even dropping at all! The small monster�s physical strength is surely far beneath my Toughness to begin with. Also take into consideration the advancement of my carapace against physical damage, there is very little these chimps can do to me with their strength alone.

I rampage joyfully through their ranks, knocking them aside and sweeping through them with large swings of my mandibles. By playing with the chimps, the anger and fury on their faces only grows more intense. They redouble their efforts, grouping up to leap through the air and bring their fists down on my head with all of the force they can muster.

Is that all you�ve got? It barely tickles!

Whenever my lone ally starts to get surrounded, I charge in to clear away the swarm and draw the aggro back to myself. This is actually a lot of fun.

ZAP!

Ouch! Why you little�

So the little chimps have started to bring out their skills, eh? One of the apes is drawing his fist back after punching me in the side, electricity still sparking off his arm. You little monsters can use your electric skills, huh?

Checking my stats, my HP has dropped by one. Tsk. When I evolved, I was careful to increase my internal resistance, as well as my external defence, but against elemental damage like this my Diamond Carapace doesn�t help at all. Even though I�m able to almost resist the attack completely, it�s still enough to break through my defences and drain my Health.

Witnessing the success of this strike, more and more chimps begin channelling electricity into their hands and tiny jolts of electricity spark off their fur as the energy builds and builds.

I won�t let you!

Rampaging through their ranks even more vigorously than before, the apes are sent flying before they can fully prepare their strike. Tiny is hooting and hollering from his position on my back, occasionally lashing out with a fist or foot whenever one of the apes gets too close.

Despite my best efforts, several more strikes land on my body, discharging their electrical force through my frame and my HP drops by a few more points.

Maybe you chimps are going to get somewhere after all�

Kidding!

Regeneration!

The flood of icy sensation powers through my body, repairing all of the internal damage and brings my HP back to full in a matter of seconds.

All of your efforts are for nothing, apes!

Tiny remains completely unaffected by the electricity coursing through my body. Since he�s actually an evolved version of these smaller chimps, he is no doubt powerfully resistant to electrical damage to start with. I�m not sure if he�s even noticed it to be honest.

In the middle of the melee, I check on my ally and notice that more ants have finally joined the battle. Turning toward the direction of the trail, more and more are making their way down and into the fight.

Now the real power of the colony will begin to show!

More and more reinforcements appear, plunging into battle without fanfare or hesitation.

The sheer coordination and eerily silent aggression of the ants strikes me.

If a wave of soldiers were to appear, their gallant charge would normally be accompanied by battle cries, faces adorned with noble expressions of sacrifice, determination, and a thirst for victory.

This scene would stir the hearts of all who beheld it. It would bring tears to the eyes of elf maidens as they hastily composed epic poetry and songs about the dashing heroes who�d gone so boldly, so heroically into battle that day. Songs that would live on forever.

This moving scene would never occur where the colony is concerned.

The workers made no sound, no shout or roar in their advancement on the enemy. As soon as the ants were close enough to see the battle, they simply run to engage the foe. Their cold eyes show not a flicker of fear, hesitation, joy or triumph.

To me, this behaviour is heroic in another way. The ants are truly selfless. No consideration is given to preserving their own Health, willing to sacrifice their life at a moment�s notice to further the growth of the colony. They needed no high ideals to do this. They were not seeking reward or riches. In the minds of the workers this was their task, their job, their purpose in life.

I appreciate you, workers! Even if nobody else cares, I, Anthony, am deeply moved by your single-minded dedication.

Viva the workers!

Viva the colony!

It is for the sake of these workers and their growth that I�ve launched this anti-ape crusade. From the moment I approached the tree and cut it down, to all the time spent charging through the horde of monsters and knocking them around, I�ve been careful to injure the apes but never deal the finishing blow.

No, I�ve been saving all this delicious XP and Biomass for the workforce. After evolving and Levelling up, I doubt I�d be able to benefit much from these apes anyway. Instead of taking all of the resources for myself, I�ll help the colony by creating opportunities for my siblings to develop their strength, absorbing Biomass and gaining Levels, as well as providing food for the colony to grow the next generation.

More and more workers flood into the battle. As many as fifty of the monstrous ants have engaged in bitter combat, gradually overwhelming the apes with their vicious mandibles and acid bombardment.

The scene has become increasingly chaotic with acid raining from the sky upon ants and apes locked in deadly combat. Everywhere I turn there are groups of monsters battling to the death, workers darting here and there, using their mandibles to savagely bite down on enemies, even as the apes scratch, punch and discharge their electricity.

What a vicious melee!

I continue to run interference through the enemy ranks, scattering them whenever it seems like a worker will become surrounded or threatened. With all of these factors working together, it isn�t long before the entire horde of spark chimps has been defeated, becoming fuel for the powerful engine of the colony.

Feeling tired and satisfied, I survey the battlefield. Workers are picking through the remains of the apes, some of them already eating, others picking up the food and beginning to transport it back to the colony.

The workers are smarter than they appear in many areas. They know how much food the colony needs. Since we�ve successfully secured more food than the colony realistically needs to keep all of the members going, the workers will take it all for themselves rather than let any excess be wasted. Considering the first creature to eat a food source is the one to gain the Biomass from it, passing on food stored in the social stomach will cause the worker to miss out on nutrition but not Biomass.

Perhaps this is why the workers transport so much back to the nest. This way the queen and the workers who are full-time helping the brood are also able to amass Biomass Points.

In this way my goals have been met.

I�m sure lots of workers were able to gain Levels during this melee, not to mention the huge amount of Biomass consumed will allow many of the ants to mutate and improve the performance of their bodies. This will make the workforce more effective in fighting and growing the colony, which will in turn allow the workers to amass more experience and Biomass as they battle. This all creates a positive feedback loop that I have no intention of slowing down.

Oh no, get ready workers, there are no breaks on this train.

Hehehehe.

With all of this food lying about I make sure to take my own �tax,� as well as letting Tiny get his fill. My little ape friend is getting larger at an increasingly rapid pace, almost visibly growing with every passing meal. It won�t be long before he doesn�t comfortably fit on back and will have to get around on his own two feet.

About time, you slacker!

After filling up on the spark chimps I only manage to gain three Biomass, a long way from the wealth I accrued from the Berserkers. Those points immediately go into Regeneration +2 and Pheromones +1. The Regenerative Gland has proven to be incredibly useful and I�ll stick to my commitment to prioritise its growth. If I�m going to be conducting more battles with the workers like this, there is great value in improving my pheromones, allowing me to direct the flow of the ants faster and with less effort.

Since the colony has been provided with ample food for the time being, I�ll wait until my next campaign and spend some time working on my magic skills.

I really have too much to do at the moment! In addition to fuelling the growth of the colony, there�s finding more monster cores to reinforce myself to the limit before evolution, as well as mutating all my body parts to +5 and get to Level ten. Then I have to find the time to improve all three of my foundation magic skills.

Anthony, you are one busy ant!

Before leaving the area, I notice a few workers who are being left behind by the others, struggling with injury. Despite my best efforts I couldn�t be everywhere at once, some of the ants being injured was inevitable. I�m pleased enough that there were no casualties on our side, but it still gets my heart down to see these workers struggling with their wounds. One hatchling in particular has suffered three injured legs and cannot walk effectively, feebly dragging itself along the ground towards the colony.

Even with half of its legs broken, this little worker is still carrying an ape in its mouth as it pulls itself through the dirt.

Now that is some dedication.

Making my way over to the tiny hatchling, I gently pick them up in my mandibles. No worries little chap, this trip is on me.

Tiny, completely stuffed by this point, painfully hauls himself onto my back where he flops listlessly. Is this a food coma? Perhaps he went too far this time.

With my small passenger in my mandibles, who is in turn carrying food in their own mandibles, I make my way safely back to the nest.

Upon arrival, I head straight down to the queen�s chamber where I find Mother already busy healing a few of the injured workers, tapping them on the head with an antenna to pass on the healing energy.

Good on you, queen, keeping the family going full strength!

I deposit my fellow worker before the queen and look up to her gazing down at me with approval twinkling in her large eyes. Before I leave, she gives me a quick pat on the head with one foreleg and moves to heal the hatchling I delivered.

She really is smarter than the workers by quite a bit.

Time to go practice some magic!

My new Mana practice is a little more involved than my old method, since I now have three skills to train instead of one.

Mana Shaping is fairly straightforward to train: Draw the Mana out of my core, and rather than simply releasing it from my body, I hold the Mana within myself and attempt to create the simple symbols and designs the skill in my mind suggests I need to learn how to create.

I can only imagine that combined with other skills, these shapes will enable me to cast spells in some way.

External Mana Manipulation is similarly simple to practice. Just extend my senses to grasp hold of the Mana in the air and attempt to shift it around. Sounds simple, right?

Unfortunately, the above two exercises are completely mentally exhausting, even more than my original Mana Manipulation practice. I�m so damn tired! If I have to keep doing this every day for wizard knows how long, I�ll totally flatline mentally before I have a chance to hunt.

I�m starting to reconsider my earlier opinion on having extra brains. During my next evolution I might take a look and see if it�s possible to attach a sub-brain to my core or somewhere else in order to help carry some of this mental burden.

Such an addition would make practice far less burdensome and therefore more efficient.

What�s the big deal about an extra brain anyway? I�ve got six legs now where in the past I only had two, and frankly, it�s an improvement. There�s no need to get so fussy about such a small thing as the number of brains one has!

Probably�

After exhausting myself and not receiving any Levels for it, I drag myself out of the nest for the next part of my day, Tiny once again hitching a ride on my back.

How long will it take until he�s useful? He might be adorable in his mini form, but I�d rather he was larger and a bit more capable.

He�s nearly twice as large as he was when he was first formed out of the monster core. Consequently, he�s been able to eat more food which fuels his growth even faster. At his current pace I think he�ll probably be larger than me in the next four days. How long it will take for him to reach his original massive size, I have no idea.

As we make our way up the tunnel to the ant hill in the large open space, I can sense some agitation from the few workers ahead of me. Is something going on?

When we emerge into the open air, I take a moment to scan our surroundings. On the edge of the trees not far from the ant hill is the source of the workers unease. Two massive wolf-like creatures, their powerful, draconic tails twisting and lashing the air behind them, are prowling back and forth, watching the much smaller ants with greed in their eyes.

These guys are most certainly the evolved form of the Wolf Dragon Cubs I�d encountered long ago in the upper tunnels. Compared to their smaller selves, these guys are easily twice that size and their fangs and claws are larger, not to mention their most potent weapon, that muscular tail. I remember well the shattering force they can exert when swinging that fearsome thing around.

In fact, studying the two beasts more closely, the tail of one is significantly larger than the others. It also appears to glimmer in the light, as if covered by some kind of metallic sheen above the scales.

Could this monster have achieved a mutation advancement for its tail? I�ll need to be careful.

Now I�m left wondering why these two have appeared here and now. Are they related to the nest of cubs the colony raided a few days ago? Or are they simply eyeing off the tremendous amount of Biomass represented by an entire colony of much smaller and weaker creatures like ants?

If they try to raid this ant hill, they are simply courting death. I�ll easily rally the brethren and bring them down! In fact, even as the much larger monsters are eyeing off the colony, I�m busy eyeing them off, greed accumulating in my heart.

If I�m able to take these two down, there might even be a full Level in it for me, not to mention the Biomass. Between the two monsters I could expect five or perhaps even more points! Enough to possibly mutate my antennae and another body part as well.

Once the thought enters my mind it proves extremely hard to shake.

Get a hold of yourself, Anthony!

Don�t let greed push you to an unreasonable action. If I attempt to fight here, there is zero chance the colony won�t get involved and I don�t want any workers to die randomly due to my actions.

Does that mean I let these two stalkers go?

Absolutely not! Are you crazy?

Acting casual, as casual as a giant ant monster can, I join in a trail of workers drifting into the forest.

These guys never stop after all. Even if I�m practising magic or having a nap, the workforce is always going to be out scouting and fighting to secure food. Right now is no different.

Once I�ve followed the trail far enough that the plant life is obscuring me from view, I enter shark mode and Stealth into the undergrowth, making my way back around until I arrive behind the last position I�d seen the wolves.

Sure enough, the pair of them are still on the edge of the tree line, pacing back and forth with their eyes on the ant hill.

Going to take a bite out of the colony, eh?

What if the colony were to take a bite out of you?

Chuckling to myself, I look around for a nearby tree to give me the view I need. Finding a likely candidate, I climb up and cast my eyes about. Yes, from up here I have a clear view of the two Wolf Dragons. Not only a clear view, but also a clear shot.

If these guys want a taste of an ant, I�ll let them sample the products of my commercial district first!

POW!

The acid sizzles as it arcs through the air towards the two prowling Wolf Dragons. It�s unfortunate they had their backs to me and I wasn�t able to aim for their faces. Still, with a satisfying splash my first salvo hits just above the front left leg of my target.

Just after the first shot lands, I launch my second.

POW!

Without time to aim carefully, this shot isn�t nearly as accurate, catching the second monster on the flank.

Both creatures snarl viciously as the acid begins its deadly work, sticking and hardening, and eating into their body.

I�m satisfied with the first shot, catching the Wolf Dragon just above its leg will hopefully restrict its mobility, something these monsters have in spades. The second is a little unfortunate, but with the time restraints I wasn�t prepared to take the risk and potentially miss completely, so I aimed for a much broader area.

I don�t want to underestimate these creatures. They look powerful and extremely fast, with their long legs and powerfully built bodies, I�m sure they would outpace me on open ground. I�m aiming to use my acid to maximum effect by restraining their speed and getting early damage in before they close in on me.

Once they recover from their initial shock the monsters spring apart and run into the woods, roaring as the acid slowly bites into them.

Thankfully the first target I hit is already showing slightly reduced speed, that one leg not moving as freely as before. They are constantly scanning their surroundings with all of their senses. Since these guys are part-wolf, I assume they�ve inherited a powerful sense of smell. I highly doubt they have those large snouts for nothing!

Fortunately, my Stealth displays its strength. I remain as still as possible, maximising the benefit of my skill and the two large monsters are unable to pinpoint my location. Even with having a good idea where the shots came from based on the impact they experienced.

Still as a harmless mouse I wait, perched amongst the branches towards the top of the tree. The targets start prowling and rumbling growls are emitted as they stalk the area, hunting for my trail.

Haha! Exactly as planned.

Now that my enemies have been kind enough to slow down, I once again take careful aim, looking over my shoulder to direct my acid.

POW!

Bullseye!

The Wolf Dragon howls in agony as my acid splatters directly into its face, covering its eyes and nose before sticking and hardening, destroying its senses.

Take that, you stupid dog!

Swinging its head in frustration, the monster tries to swipe away the acid with its paws. When that fails it starts to furiously rub its head into the vegetation and dirt in a frantic effort to remove the hateful stuff.

Sorry, wolf, my Restrictive Acid isn�t so easy to get rid of!

My last shot has revealed my location at last and the second hound glares up into the tree.

Hello down there!

The wolf bunches its legs, preparing to leap, but then it surprises me by lunging and swinging its tail with ferocious force. That strange metallic tail crashes into the tree. At the moment of impact is a tremendous crack, and before my boggling eyes the trunk of the tree shatters.

Are you serious! He smashed straight through this trunk in one strike. Not that I have time to think about that, I�m falling! Before the tree hits the ground, I throw myself clear, using all of my legs to push off as hard as I can. Hopefully I managed to propel myself far enough that I make it clear of the crash zone.

Poor Tiny is thrown from my back when I hit the ground and roll, yelping in indignation as he smacks into the dirt. Hopefully he�ll be ok, I don�t have enough time to worry about my small ape companion at the present moment. I�m terrified a rather large part-wolf, part-dragon monster may be about to pounce and smash my head in with its bizarrely potent tail!

When I finally manage to right myself and take in my surroundings, I am once again surprised.

Where the hell did these guys come from!

Emerging from the forest are the most demonic looking rabbits I�ve ever seen. Bristling black fur, gleaming red eyes, savagely muscled frames, and instead of the usual charming rabbit front teeth, vicious fangs protrude from a hungry maw.

What�s more, there are dozens of them.

Leaping out of the woods the creatures are slightly smaller than me but still larger than a hatchling worker. They pounce upon the two Wolf Dragons, gnawing and biting at the much larger creatures. Some jump with their powerful hind legs, turn in the air and deliver powerful kicks to the flanks of the monsters.

Hey, those are mine!

It seems the sound of combat has drawn out more monsters from the woods to steal the Biomass out from under my very nose. I should probably have expected this. The forest is so packed full of monsters now that fighting almost anywhere is bound to draw attention.

I�m not prepared to give up my hunt to these pesky poaching rabbits. No matter how evil they look!

With the small horde of rabbits swarming over the larger hounds, there�s not much time remaining before they manage to overpower the already weakened wolf monsters. Against these sorts of numbers, I don�t have much choice. It�s time to summon the colony!

Stopping only to pick up Tiny and make sure he�s secure on my back, I run back towards the ant hill, dropping a food trail the entire way.

I don�t stop when I reach the nest either, I climb all the way up the ant hill and down into the tunnel dropping the trail the entire way. After running down the tunnel a ways, I run all the way back, laying down a second layer of pheromones to strengthen the scent, further motivating my siblings.

I�m hoping that by running down into the nest I�ll be able to attract more of the workers deeper in, amassing a larger force more quickly. I need all of the ants I can get as fast as possible!

Bursting out of the top of the hill I sprint into the woods, overlaying my own trail all the way. A few workers have already begun sniffing about, making their way along the path. I breeze past them, running at full tilt with Tiny hooting in delight.

Chaos reigns on the scene of the battle. The two Wolf Dragons are in bad shape, bleeding heavily from a number of bite wounds all over their bodies.

The rabbits have also paid a price. These Wolf Dragons are evolved monsters after all, they need to be respected. The broken bodies of several rabbits litter the ground here and there, torn by claw and fang or smashed to a pulp by the incredible strength of those tails.

I don�t have time to hesitate. If I wait, the rabbits might finish of the prey before I get a chance.

Charge!

I barrel into the fight like a tank, knocking aside the smaller rabbits with my weight and momentum, throwing myself towards the most heavily wounded wolf monster. The beast is in a terrible state, my acid having burned into its face, resulting in it being almost incapable of defending itself against the predations of the nimble rabbits.

I�ll put you out of your misery!

The monster hears me coming and turns to face my onslaught. There is little it can do. Without slowing, I hurl myself directly for the monster�s throat, latching on with my mandibles.

Crushing Bite!

My Crushing Bite crunches with a sickening force directly on the poor beast�s throat, destroying it immediately.

[You have defeated a Level 4 Crevit Lupus Draco.]

[You have gained XP.]

[Basic profile of Crevit Lupus Draco unlocked.]

[Crevit Lupus Draco: Grown Wolf Dragon. The evolved form of the cub, this larger, more powerful creature has a greatly increased Might, allowing it to strike brutally with its scaled tail.]

Not enough experience to give me a Level, but the low Level of the monster makes me hopeful it might have given up an evolution and condensed a core, not that I have time to extract it right now.

Final blow dealt, I am immediately set upon by a definitively un-fluffy horde of rabbits. I�m not too worried about their assault since my shiny Diamond Carapace will repel their efforts. Its incredible hardness is Gandalf guaranteed!

I am swiftly disabused of that notion as several rabbits bare their notably long fangs and manage to puncture my shiny hide ever so slightly. What the hell? I�m supposed to be as hard as a diamond! Is this false advertising?

Small stinging pains remain wherever the rabbits have bitten me and I quickly check my status to confirm exactly how much Health I�ve lost.

Phew!

Thankfully the damage is minimal, just four HP, but I�m still fairly shocked to see those fangs are able to defeat my sturdy carapace. This isn�t good. Those little buggers are going to be able to rip right into the workers when they arrive.

My concern is a beat too late as my siblings have responded to my pheromone trail. Upon seeing the conflict, they throw themselves into battle, rushing in to bite savagely at the first rabbit they see.

Damn workers! Can�t you hesitate, even for a second?

Now I�m terrified my actions are going to put a significant number of my colony brethren six feet under, not in a digging sense but in a burial one. Dammit, Anthony! Get in there and help your people!

Ignoring the rabbit monsters who are literally hanging off me, I charge out of the centre of the battle to where the ants have begun to fight. Tiny starts pounding the rabbits in their face with his little fists with all the strength he can summon. He doesn�t seem to be doing much damage, but at least some of the rabbits are irritated enough to let go.

Nice assist, little buddy!

Reaching the ants, I spot a steady stream of reinforcements arriving from the hill. Roughly twenty ants are here already, moving to the nearest enemy and latching on with their mandibles, causing many rabbits to shriek painfully and lash out with their powerful hind legs.

A few ant hatchlings are sent flying before I even get in position to help.

I wince when they crash into the ground. One poor sap even collided with a tree. Hopefully they can last long enough for the queen to heal them. I�ll take them myself as soon as I�m able!

Once at the front line, I lash out left and right with my mandibles.

Crushing Bite! Crushing Bite!

Two rabbits are heavily wounded when my powerful jaws clamp down on them with vicious force, snapping bones and shredding muscle. I�ll leave them to the others to finish off as the fight is quickly escalating. More and more ants are engaging the enemy and the black rabbit monsters are causing savage wounds with every bite.

With a little breathing space behind me I turn my head slightly to get a quick look and then blast out another jet of acid, catching an advancing rabbit directly in the chest.

Trying to sneak up on me, you little varmint? Let my acid take a bite out of you!

My unfortunate victim screeches in a high-pitched whine that grates on my ears. I thought rabbits were supposed to be quiet creatures. Apparently, they don�t like acid. Who knew?

I swear more rabbits have arrived since this combat began. I thought I�d only seen around twelve, but there must be at least twenty across the field.

The remaining Wolf Dragon is snarling a constant low growl as it continues to lash at the monsters around it with tail and fangs. Since all of those creatures are demon rabbits, I�ll happily leave it to its business and turn my attention back to assisting my fellow ants.

More and more small puncture wounds appear in my carapace with every charge through the combat, acting as a living shield to my smaller brethren. I�m starting to hope these blasted fangs aren�t poisoned, or I might really be in trouble.

Crushing Bite!

I manage to latch onto a rabbit right around the neck as it was distracted by other workers gathering around it. The creature struggles, kicking out with its powerful hind legs directly into my thorax beneath my head. The impact of the kick rocks me backwards but the shock is readily absorbed by my powerful carapace and I manage to maintain my Grip.

Say goodnight, bunny of the burning hells!

CRUNCH!

My two mandibles meet each other in the middle, having shorn through what had before kept them apart.

[You have defeated a Level 3 Dens Sanguinem Leporis.]

[You have gained XP.]

Ignoring the fight continuing immediately around me, I take a moment to chomp down on the rabbit I just finished off.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Dens Sanguinem Leporis. One Biomass awarded.]

[Basic Profile of Dens Sanguinem Leporis unlocked.]

[Dens Sanguinem Leporis: Blood Tooth Rabbit. This monster is known for its affinity to shadow and the powerful fangs capable of draining Health from the victims of its bites.]

Wait a minute� likes shadows and dark places, long life-draining fangs� are you telling me these are vampire rabbits?

I mean� Really!

Checking my status, I�ve lost over twelve HP so far, most of it chip damage from the repeated punctures these damned fanged bunnies have inflicted. Engaging my Regenerative Gland, I welcome the icy burst that washes through my body, closing over holes in my carapace and restoring my Health to near full.

The battle continues to rage around me. More and more ants arrive every second, perhaps as many as fifty now. The rabbits are finding themselves pressed back as the sheer swarm of the colony is providing more targets than they can comfortably deal with.

Ha! You damn demon rabbits of Hades! Behold the power of our colony!

Three hatchlings battle a rabbit together, each of them latched on with mandibles, pinning it down and restricting its movement. The three smaller ants are desperately holding on, their legs splayed and claws dug hard into the ground as the stronger rabbit monster thrashes in a wild attempt to set itself free.

I�ll help you, young�uns. I leap forward and bring my mandibles down on the rabbit in a vicious strike, biting deep into the monster�s hide.

[You have defeated a Level 2 Blood Tooth Rabbit.][You have gained XP.]

The three hatchlings don�t even spare me a glance, let alone a friendly wave of the antennae in thanks before they rush off in search of another target.

Shouldn�t have expected anything different, I suppose.

At this moment, as all around me monstrous insects do vicious battle against large black, red eyed rabbits, I had to think that something was truly odd going on in this world.

It�s also at this moment a veritable flood of centipedes breaks into the battle from the surrounding woods.

What is this madness? Why on earth are these damnable centipedes barging in here!

I guess it makes sense. The sounds of monster combat have been ringing through this area of trees for quite a while now. Not to mention the powerful smell of the freshest food is permeating the area, filling the air with the rich and delectable scent of Biomass.

This place is basically the underground monster equivalent of a supermarket. Its shelves laden with heaped goods, the ripest produce delivered direct from the farm, fully organic and ready for consumption.

It�s hardly surprising that when the forest is, for whatever reason, packed to bursting with monsters, the chaos would attract poachers, frenzied by the very idea of experience and food for the taking. Somewhere nearby there must be a centipede mound, similar to the one I�d preyed upon earlier. There must be at least thirty of the horrible things slithering and climbing over each other in their desperation to feast.

Perfect, just perfect. All I wanted was to snack on some part-wolf, part-dragon monsters and here we are in this ridiculous melee.

What worries me the most is the escalation of battle will only increase the noise and draw even more monsters into the fray. The only thing that could possibly make a monster turn a blind eye to this banquet is if a creature with overwhelming strength were to seize control of the field, scaring away competitors with its presence.

If that happens, the colony will miss out on this golden opportunity.

This is a feast even larger than what we were able to harvest from the spark chimp tree. The shear wealth on offer would fuel the workers to hundreds of mutations, possibly even evolutions! The workers would benefit tremendously, growing in strength and sharpening their skills. Not to mention the food would allow the colony to raise hundreds of new ants.

Greed is exploding in my heart taking in the sight of monsters engaged in ferocious battle. Every single one of them is a bag of XP and Biomass. And I want it all. Every last bit of it.

There is nothing as ravenous as a colony of ants. On Earth, regular, tiny ants are so abundant they represent almost 20% of the mass of all animals on the planet. There is no other creature that consumes more of the world�s tiny life forms than ants. They are the terrors of the undergrowth and all things are their food.

Here in this world, we are larger, capable of feasting not only on the smallest of lifeforms, but on all of them.

I can almost feel a heat rising in my body pondering the possibilities. Is there really anything that can match us here in this world? If my colony is able to grow and reach its full potential, is there anything that could resist us?

The colony right now is only a few hundred ants and only a single queen.

What if there were five, even six queens? What if there were hundreds of thousands of workers? Millions�no, billions!

We could sweep these caverns clean. An unstoppable wave of monsters that would carry all before it.

I�m not really a violent person. I wasn�t in my past life, that�s for sure, but now that I�m an ant and the colony has become my home, I want them to survive. Not just survive, but thrive and reach their full potential. It could start here. Right now.

As the centipedes crash into the back of the conflict, sandwiching the unfortunate rabbits between them and the ants, I start to drop the emergency pheromone. The nearby workers pick up the signal and start to copy me, blanketing the area with the scent. My antennae explode with sensation as the same signal repeatedly pounds into my senses.

Emergency! Battle! Defend the colony! Summon the workforce!

The entire area is saturated with the message. Workers disengage from the battle to run back to the ant hill, spreading the trail all the way to the top of the hill and down into the tunnels. Every worker will pick up the message, even those tending to the brood and the queen. The queen herself might even appear, much as she did before.

It�s definitely a risk. If she were to be set upon by gargoyles from above or even a giant bruiser like Tiny was, or the titan-croc, I�m not sure if she would be able to survive. I�ve no idea how capable she is in combat after all.

But it�s worth it! If we can win here and take all that�s on offer, it will explode the colonies strength and supercharge its growth. We need to roll the dice!

Invigorated by the incredible opportunity dropped into my lap, I return to battle with renewed purpose. The ants on the fringes of the fight have begun to unload their acid bombardment over our heads, targeting the newly arrived centipedes on the other side of the field. Blast after blast of sizzling acid streaks through the air, falling like rain on the centipede horde.

The rabbits are in a frenzy. Pinned between two hostile monstrous swarms, they have no option except to fight their way to survival. They battle with renewed ferocity, biting savagely at ant and centipede alike.

In the midst of the fray the remaining Wolf Dragon continues its rampage, completely surrounded by smaller monsters that bite and pull at it, trying to drag it to the ground. The larger beast responds with vicious swings of its tail, sending the unevolved monsters flying through the air with every sweep of its tail.

I charge back into the swirling midst of the battle. Ants climb over each other and on my back. Those at the frontline constantly bite, pulling at the rabbits and dragging them down. I lash out to my left and right every time I see a target, exclusively using Crushing Bite.

These rabbit monsters have no hard external defence, and the Crushing Bite is definitely the skill to yield me the most damage per Bite. Every time my mandibles clamp down, biting deep into soft flesh, the rabbits howl and screech. Their pleas fall on deaf ears as the unstoppable tide of ants continues to push forward.

Every now and again the XP notification comes through, the gruff yet soothing voice of Gandalf letting me know one of the victims was finished off by my strike.

As the fray wears on, my stamina is gradually being drained away and I feel increasingly more tired. Ever since I first saw my mandibles glowing with power, I wondered where that energy came from, if there was some sort of cost associated with my active skills.

It seems I was correct to think so, but only now, in biting dozens of times in such short succession have I been able to directly feel the energy draining out of me. It�s my stamina! With every snap of my mandibles, that exhaustion increases.

But I won�t stop! Until all this Biomass has been claimed for the colony, I refuse to stop!

[Crushing Bite (II) has reached Level 6.]

[Crushing Bite (II) has reached Level 7.]

Dammit! Just how many of these stupid things are there?

The rabbits have been defeated, their beady red eyes lifeless, while the centipede and ant armies continue to clash over the top of their remains. At the rear of the battle, ants are extracting wounded and dragging them back to a temporary holding pile at the base of the hill, waiting for transport down to the queen.

Some of the wounded are so desperate to fight they try to drag themselves back to the front with whatever limbs they have left. One nearly legless hatchling was trying to pull itself back to the battle using only its mandibles!

The emergency pheromones have summoned almost all of the workforce. Over one hundred monstrous ants answered the call, emerging from deep in the nest to do battle in the name of the colony.

Every time fresh recruits arrive, they unload all of their available acid on the enemy before advancing to the front lines. Due to their assistance, we now significantly outnumber the centipedes, almost two to one. The fighting is so hot and close, the centipedes are struggling to utilise their most deadly weapon, their poison sting. With the two sides pressed so close together and insects climbing over each other, it�s too hard for them to raise their tail section high enough to strike, giving the ants yet another advantage.

We can win!

As soon as my confidence was beginning to rise, just when victory had been secured, was the exact moment I was thrown back into the pit of despair.

It always seems to work like that, doesn�t it, Gandalf?

I continue to support my colony brethren in the battle for our future. I�m totally exhausted, having bitten so many times the muscles in my face are sore. What�s even more irritating, in order to support my fellow workers I�ve been deliberately wounding my enemies but not taking the extra time to finish them off before moving on to the next target, leaving the crippled victims behind for the rest of the ants to deal with.

Despite my best efforts there have definitely been casualties on the ant�s side. Without an upgraded carapace like mine their defences were like paper in the face of the rabbit�s fangs. Some were instantly killed when receiving a bite to the head.

Others have fallen to the centipede�s claws and jaws, battling in places I couldn�t see or reach in time. My heart is heavy knowing some of my own siblings have been laid to rest as a result of my actions. I have to comfort myself with the knowledge that victory will benefit the colony as a whole, and that is the goal the workers truly strive for at all times.

However, almost as if mocking me, the ground begins to shudder beneath my feet. Powerful vibrations rattle through the ground over and again, surely in response to some rather tremendous feet.

Please don�t tell me�

My despair takes material form, when crashing through the trees in an appearance worthy of a final boss, is a massive titan-croc flanked on either side by two croca-beasts, almost like henchmen following their leader.

Why are you stupid monsters so organised in such a dumb way suddenly!

The new arrivals growl menacingly, the rumbles vibrating the air so powerful they send my antennae dancing. The lead titan-croc surveys the field of lesser monsters with discernible greed lighting up his eyes. Even for an evolved creature like him, the sheer amount of food here will be enough to fuel his mutations and the two goons following him.

Lured by the noise and the aroma of Biomass, these big baddies have arrived to wrap up the battle and stake their claim. Not many monsters would be willing to battle such colossal powerhouses. What kind of suicidal creature would take on those kids of odds?

This ant right here!

I refuse to surrender the spoils of war. The colony has already sacrificed precious workers in this battle. We will not walk away with nothing to show for it because a few fat crocodiles turned up.

The only thing that�s changed is the menu!

Of course, completely exhausted and punctured with minor wounds, I have no idea how I�m supposed to deal with these powerful monsters. The titan-croc alone could probably fireball us all to hell.

I barely have enough acid in the tank for a single shot.

Then I spot something. Salvation is delivered.

In our darkest hour, she will be the light.

The top of the ant hill begins to shudder, as if a large monster were pushing through from the inside. The very top of the hill shakes, some of the loose dirt collapsing inwards and more spilling out, rolling down the slope as the shaking and shuddering becomes more and more pronounced.

Bursting from the top of the hill comes an enormous ant, her long antennae swinging angrily through the air as she clacks her massive mandibles threateningly.

With another heave, she pulls the rest of her body from the tunnel that was never dug wide enough for her to easily move through. When the colony was threatened, she once again ignored her guards and rushed to the battle!

Easily five times my size, the queen looks down on the battle imperiously from the top of the hill, her antennae already beginning to surge with healing light.

Mother is here! And she looks mad�

Her eyes hold a dangerous glint as she takes in the scene. The pile of wounded, struggling ants at the foot of the hill, and the deadly combat continuing within the trees where ants and centipedes clash.

Then she looks at the huge interlopers, still eyeing the battle and awaiting their moment to strike.

I�m nervous now. If the queen is killed then everything will be lost! I wasn�t too concerned when only rabbits and centipedes were about since I didn�t think they�d be able to harm her majesty at all, but it�s different now.

The croca-beast may not be up to the task, but the titan surely is.

Come to think of it, I really have no idea how strong the queen is in a fight.

I mean, her primary purpose is to lay eggs, which isn�t exactly a combat role. She�s also specialised in healing magic, which again doesn�t lend itself to direct combat.

I�m really worried!

Mother doesn�t seem to share my concerns as she chitters angrily. After a moment of concentration she releases her powerful healing spell. A wave of light rolls out from her antennae, flowing over the ground and encompassing all the ants in the wounded pile before rushing into the forest in a tide.

The healing energy laps against me like the waters of a river. I greedily drink it in, recharging my energy and healing my small wounds, restoring my HP.

The workers are being re-energised, throwing themselves into the fight with renewed frenzy. This wave of healing has stamped an end to the hopes of the centipedes in this conflict. Already outnumbered, the return of injured ants has only tilted things further against them. Their snapping claws sound despondent and hopeless, where before they were aggressive and vicious, almost as if they can sense their impending doom.

The three large interlopers, the croca-beasts and their leader, the titan-croc, have seen enough. With the combat reaching an end they want to sweep away whatever resistance remains and claim the Biomass for themselves.

Their indignation is almost palpable when a few small worker hatchlings start to drag away the food. A few rabbit bodies are already being taken over to the nest from the back of the battle. Looking at their furious eyes I can almost hear them smirking as they think, �How dare these puny monsters take away our Biomass! Know your place, midgets!�

Up yours, Croc! I�ll let you experience the fury of my soul!

As the massive titan-croc rears back to his full height and steps forward through the trees, his subordinate henchmen advance on his flanks, looking like little bullies.

For some reason it really bothers me that these damn crocs are cooperating. Since when did this sort of thing happen?

Aren�t you guys supposed to be the lonely kings of the jungle!

I try to blend in with the rest of the workforce, gradually pushing myself closer to the massive beasts through the bustling crowd of workers. At the same time, I reach internally with my mind, grasping hold of the vaporous energies within my core.

With the force of my mind alone, I direct my Mana to flow out, concentrating it into a tight ball in my throat. The monsters draw closer, powerful fangs gleaming in the brilliant light of the forest. I continue to force more and more energy out of my core and into the powerfully swirling marble of Mana I�ve formed within me.

Idly I wonder what might happen to my head if I were to lose control of the Mana.

Best not to consider it really�

[Mana Shaping (II) has reached Level 2.]

[Forceful Mana has reached Level 2.]

Oh ho! Even in this situation I can�t help but be a little excited at my Mana skills improving. The process of shifting and condensing the Mana becomes slightly easier. It isn�t much, but every little bit helps.

In my peripheral vision, sitsthe queen, unsatisfied with merely healing the colony, has begun to advance down the hill.

Things are going to get very dicey in a moment.

The pressure continues to build within my throat, the small spherical mass of Mana is becoming tighter and tighter, the dense energy fluctuating and spinning wildly as more and more Mana is forced into it.

I�m reaching the limits of my tolerance. I have to act soon!

The queen is advancing into the forest, her personal swarm of guards forced to move with her. It�s clear she intends to personally enter the battle and defend her colony against these interlopers.

I think if these damned croca-beasts hadn�t shown up, she would have been content to just release her healing spell and retreat back into the nest. With such a large portion of her children under threat she must feel compelled to act.

A caring mother, striding into battle for her family� it�s very moving. And no, I�m not crying! I can�t cry. I�m an ant. But within, I am deeply moved by this maternal devotion.

For the moment, I�ll gloss over that this situation is entirely my fault�

On my back, Tiny has continued to survey the battlefield, hooting aggressively at our foes and occasionally lashing out with his little fists whenever he can locate a target. I�m impressed the little fellow has managed to maintain his seat all this time. It couldn�t have been easy in the swirling melee.

I�m drawing closer and closer to the titan-croc as it draws closer to me. They�ve almost reached the ants now. Just a few more metres and those claws will begin to reap a dark harvest of ant experience. I won�t let it happen!

Suddenly accelerating, I charge out of the pack, brushing aside my fellow workers in my mad rush to reach the crocodiles before they�re able to act. I want to draw their attention away from the colony as much as possible. I have to be fast!

Go!

My Force Mana sphere is as dense as I can make it. No matter how I try, I can�t force any more energy into it. And it�s wildly spinning inside me. A tiny, ultra-dense, hot fog of Mana just begging to be released.

At the edge of the field, I climb onto the back of a nearby worker and leap into the air. Directly before me the titan-croc looms. Cruel eyes stare into mine. Massive jaws part to reveal a wealth of barbed teeth, ready to snap out my life.

Delivered to you fresh like the cold mountain winds, receive the shout of my people!

Opening my mouth, I release the energy I�ve contained within. Like a directed explosion, the Mana bursts out with irresistible force, as if I shot a cannonball from my mouth.

Time slows as I float through the air. Or perhaps my perception speeds up. The chaotic motion around me stills and the small details become larger and larger in my eyes. The huge bulk of the titan-croc, it�s maw opening wide, ropes of saliva clinging to each tooth, ready to crunch down on this meal that has delivered itself by airmail.

The two croca-beasts on either side ignore me, preparing to advance into the horde of ants with claws bared, their arms already drawn back, thick cables of muscle bulging beneath their scales.

Behind me the workers continue to battle the centipedes, a ferocious melee of insect vs insect in all its savage glory. Only a few workers have responded to the impending threat of croca-beast. Their antennae slowly twitches in the air as they turn to face this new threat, no fear or shock showing in their faces, only dedication.

Then the magic is released.

A concussive force erupts, bursting into the air with the power of a battering ram. With my heightened senses, the very air itself is visible, warping and twisting around the fearsome energy.

It was difficult to aim after leaping into the air, so my blast doesn�t smash into the titan-croc�s mouth as I�d hoped, but rather cannons into its chest. At that moment of impact, the monster�s face changes. An ever so slight flicker of surprise registering in the eyes.

Then the strange sensation of time slowing ends.

And the titan-croc catapults away into a tree like a crocodilic missile.

The tree splits in half against the enormous mass of monster crashing into it like a thunderbolt. The burst of noise is deafening.

Then silence.

Then Gandalf.

[You have defeated a Level 12 Crescente Gula Garralosh.]

[You have gainedXP.]

[You have reached Level 8. One Skill Point awarded.]

One. Hit. KO?

Are you kidding me!

The titan-croc lies amidst the broken remnants of the shattered tree, unmoving. The monster�s massive chest appears to have been caved in, as if struck by a giant�s hammer. The two smaller croca-beasts are wearing an expression that could only be the heartless monster equivalent of shock.

I land before them, looking up at their crocodile faces.

They don�t seem to quite understand what it is they�re looking at.

Then Mother arrives.

Moving with the irresistible power of a freight train, the queen crashes into the croca-beast on my left. Her immense jaws scissor the croca-beast across its midsection, directly cutting the dreadful monster in half.

Holy heck, Mother! How much Biomass did you spend upgrading your mandibles? They look sharper than mine!

After defeating the first croca-beast so decisively, the queen turns on the second, her powerful mandibles clicking ominously, covered in ichor. The monsters in this place do not know the word retreat, and the remaining croca-beast shows no sign of backing down. I don�t know if these creatures are incredibly brave or just immensely stupid.

The queen doesn�t slow down, aggressively advancing on the final monster, who roars and swings one powerful claw. The queen doesn�t even react, allowing the claws to rake into her carapace. The force of that impact would have sent me flying, but she doesn�t budge, cold eyes staring down at the croca-beast with contempt.

Only when the croca draws back its arms do I see the blow hasn�t even left a mark on the shiny dark carapace of Mother. Exactly how highly upgraded is this queen!

Then I remember the dedicated workers. Constantly battling for food and returning as much of it as possible to the nest for the queen to eat. Not only giving her the energy to produce the young but also allowing her to take in ferocious amounts of Biomass.

There is no doubt she�s the most highly mutated member of the colony, probably possessing many mutation advancements to boot. For whatever reason, they seem to be the less ostentatious kind. I can�t really see a visible difference in her carapace or mandibles, yet they are clearly immensely strong.

Not wasting the opportunity given by the opponent�s reckless strike, Mother opens her jaws wide and plunges them down, all of her crushing weight behind the strike. Even the powerful croca-beast is no match for the queen in a contest in strength and is smashed into the ground, pinned by those potent mandibles.

After adjusting her grip slightly, Mother puts the beast out of its misery.

So strong!

What the hell was that? I don�t think even the titan-croc would have been able to resist her strength for long. I had no idea you were so strong, Mother!

The queen doesn�t seem too fazed by the experience. Standing tall, she surveys the battlefield with her cool, imperious gaze. Merely being in her presence has driven the workforce into a frenzy, redoubling their efforts and driving the centipedes completely into the dirt. The battle is all but over, many workers already having switched to transport duty, moving injured ants out of the fight and breaking up food for transport back to the nest.

We�ve won! The spoils of war shall be ours.

When the queen spots me dancing in triumph, she makes her way over to me, suddenly casting her immense shadow over my face.

Uh, hi. How are you, Mother?

Raising one powerful foreleg, the queen slaps me on the head. Not hard enough to injure me but certainly enough to smack my head down into the ground and make my brain spin.

Before I can recover, she�s already started to make her way back to the nest, a detachment of workers following her every move.

Did I� Did I just get told off by Mother?

This is quite depressing.

I understand why. Despite the fact that this victory will provide the fuel to ignite the colony�s engine, at least thirty workers have laid their lives down here. Those thirty workers would still be alive if not for me starting a fight so close to the nest, drawing in the workforce and being unable to contain the conflict.

The other thing I hadn�t considered, is that although this food might allow the queen to lay many eggs, there are now thirty less workers to help hunt for them, feed and care for them, which will stretch the remaining workforce right to the limit.

Sigh�

I hope the queen isn�t too mad. I�m definitely reflecting on my mistakes�

The aftermath of a monster battle is a fairly gruesome place. Especially when it�s ants picking over the field.

This area of the forest has a veritable carpet of deceased monsters. Black furred rabbits mixed with centipedes and the two Wolf Dragons cover the ground. On top of them, the ants make another layer, bustling with insect urgency. Their job is now the rather messy work of butchery. Most of these workers are still hatchlings, only a few having evolved into Mature Workers like me. This means they can�t carry an entire monster body back into the nest in one go and are forced to break up the food and transport it in pieces.

All around this somewhat distasteful work is being done. Workers using mandibles to carve away and lift their prize, merrily sprinting off towards the nest to make their delivery as quickly as possible and return for more.

Even with over sixty workers here it�s going to take a little while.

With the queen retreated to the nest, I�ve decided to stick around until the workers have completed their task. If more monsters come to act like vultures and try to steal our hard-won prize, I want to be here to help defend it. I didn�t struggle this hard and make the queen mad just to risk losing everything we worked for!

And glancing over the remains of the battlefield fills me with a slight sense of accomplishment. Each of those monster bodies represents experience that has been funnelled into the workers, fuelling their growth and bringing more and more of them closer to evolution.

As long as the colony can last until the next generation emerges, we�ll be in a tremendous spot, growing explosively and becoming safer.

Tiny�s already started to feast, his little hands shovelling Biomass into his face with incredible speed.

Slow down there, little buddy. You might get a stomachache.

I�m pleased to see his appetite has increased. The sooner he grows and begins to show the fearsome strength of the monster whose core he was reconstituted from, the better off we�ll be. Knowing his core came from a creature strong enough to go toe to toe with a titan-croc makes me hopeful that Tiny will be able to exert that same kind of strength in the future.

With all of the monsters here focused on the Biomass, I have a different prize in my sights.

There are a few large, evolved monsters in the bunch and hopefully they will have some cores for me. I refuse to evolve without maxing out my core!

First up, the two Wolf Dragons, gaining not just Biomass but also a possible gem. My own core is deep within the centre of my body. It�s been thereabouts in every monster I�ve found one in so far. Chew, chew, chewing to eat my way down to find it.

I gain two Biomass from the first before I decide there probably isn�t a core. Rather than finish it off, I rush to the other one, pushing a few workers out of the way in order to secure my place to hunt for that precious sphere.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

[Compatible monster core detected. Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute a monster?]

Bwahahahaha! The prize is mine!

Even though I have the Core Mechanic skill, I�m not willing to waste any monster core on practicing it until my most important goal is achieved�the maxed-out core.

Absorb that thing!

As the core melts into the air, the energy flows into my own, strengthening and enlarging it, increasing its capacity to store the Mana infused in this world.

Excellent! Keep hustling, Anthony, there is more to go.

Having checked both Wolf Dragons, it�s time to abandon the centre of the battle and sprint over to where a few workers are starting to pick over the croca-beasts.

Mine, mine, mine!

Pushing them aside, I greedily dive into the first croca. This one was the monster the queen directly cut in half, making it fairly easy to look for the core. After barely eating at all, I decide there isn�t anything to be had and hustle to the next one.

Hopefully my worker brethren don�t feel I�m being too greedy� If I can evolve with a fully maxed core, I�ll be able to repay the investment many-fold! Forgive me, guys.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

[Compatible monster core detected. Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute a monster?]

Yessss, reinforce dat core!

A pleasant stretching sensation occurs as my core absorbs more energy, growing denser and larger. The power!

With this, my Max MP has reached 40. Double what I was able to sustain before evolving. Does this mean I�ve reached my maximum?

Only one way to find out. Crossing my metaphorical toes, the titan-croc is up next. The body was leaned against the stump of the shattered tree, it�s chest a broken ruin.

I cannot believe I was able to fell such a massive creature in one blow. The power of Forceful Mana is not to be underestimated! It may be a little cumbersome to use in a fight right now, but with more Levels and a stronger core, what sort of power will I be able to unleash? My mind is boggling.

Concentrate on the present, Anthony. Control your drool, man!

Almost unable to believe it�s dead, I tentatively approach the titan-croc, fearing the massive creature could open its eyes and start wrecking my face at any moment.

Which is impossible. The all-seeing voice of Gandalf spoke to me, so the beast is surely dead. The whole situation just feels unreal. It wasn�t long ago I was riding on the coattails of one of these monsters, depending on it for safety and feeding on the few scraps it left behind.

Now I have conquered one and will feast on Biomass. No need to hesitate any further, time to dig in!

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Crescente Gula Garralosh. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Crescente Gula Garralosh unlocked.]

[Crescente Gula Garralosh: Growing Maw Garralosh. The evolved form of the Garralosh Infant, this still growing offspring of Garralosh has reached its development stage. Able to convert Mana to fire, beware of the fireballs released from its mouth.]

What the hell?

Are you telling me this enormous monster, the beast of nightmares dubbed the �titan-croc,� is still in its development stage? Exactly how stupidly massive are these damn things supposed to get!

And again with the Garralosh� All these damnable crocodiles are the offspring of a single monster? Is this thing like the croc version of Godzilla? How would something that big even move through the tunnels down here?

Gah, don�t even bother guessing, Anthony. You still have very little idea what lies in the tunnels beneath this place. For all I know, if you go deeper, you might find even larger open spaces than this. Huge areas the size of continents. Why the hell not? I didn�t think an underground area like this one could possibly exist, but here I am, chewing on a giant croc-monster right underneath a sparkly glowing tree with purple leaves.

So, who knows?

I�m not going to prejudge anymore. I�ve been shocked so many times, there�s no longer a point.

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Thanks, Gandalf. Nice to be kept informed.

[Compatible Special Monster Core detected. Would you like to reinforce your Core or Reconstitute a monster?]

A what? Special Monster Core� What the heck is that?

After thinking for a moment, I decide to dig out the core and take a look at it. After a few more minutes of chomping, I�m able to free the core and drag it out with my mandibles.

It�s frickin� huge.

What the hell is with this core? It�s massive! Easily larger than the core that birthed Tiny.

This titan-croc must have reinforced the heck out of his core for it to reach this tremendous size. I�m absolutely gobsmacked.

I can�t be exactly sure how large my own core is, but I�m certain it can�t be even close to half this size, maybe a fifth as large?

According to Gandalf, I can absorb this bad boy. Seems bizarre that a core this large is still compatible� Maybe because the titan-croc has also only evolved once?

I feel a little nervous about this. It should be fine� right?

Uh� reinforce my core?

[Your core has already reached maximum capacity for your Level of evolution. Absorbing the Special Core will take you beyond this limit. Do you still wish to proceed?]

What the heck! So talkative all of a sudden. Why can�t you just give me information when it�s not the last possible second!

My core did cap out at 40 MP. For some reason this core is special and will allow me to further improve my core beyond the normal limit?

Doesn�t this mean my evolution will be even further fuelled next time?

Maybe there�s a downside to absorbing the core now. Perhaps I�ll only be able to draw limited benefit, say only increasing my max MP by four points, whereas if I waited until after I evolved to absorb it, I could take the full benefit and get eight.

It still seems worth it to take the core now. Knowing a stronger monster core means more energy to fuel evolution, I just can�t turn it down.

Reinforce my core!

The enormous core, gleaming like a lustrous pearl, began to dissolve, the solid matter it�s made of released into the air. Energy swirled and flowed in tiny particles dancing and spinning. Each individual particle met another and those two met another. The dots of energy grouped into flowing streams trailing through the air.

Eventually these streams begin to draw towards me, flowing directly through my physical self as if it weren�t there and drifting towards my core. The energy acts almost as if it were water circling a drain, looping around the core in wide circles before the loop closed tighter creating a faster flow the closer it gets.

As the energy meets my core, the spherical gem begins to grow, greedily absorbing every particle of light that touches it, using that energy to construct itself anew.

More and more energy flows with every second, growing faster 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 drawing deep into my core.

It. Hurts!

The further my core expands, the more a dull pain throbs in my abdomen. Distant at first and increasingly sharper with each passing moment.

I clench my mandibles and brace myself against it. C�mon, Anthony, you can take it.

More. More. MORE!

Oh, the sheer agony! My core is a screaming mass of pain, ultra-dense and far larger than it should be for a creature of my strength.

And deep inside, that core is unstable. Growing too quickly and holding too much energy. Damn it hurts!

Finally, the titan-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 noticed something was wrong, coming over to place a gentle paw on my back. Thanks, little buddy. That�s really nice.

OUCH!

Damn this core! I don�t recall Gandalf mentioning the searing agony involved when pushing your core beyond your 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, excitement replaces some of the trepidation. Do you know what this could mean for my next evolution? Will new, rare options be unlocked? Maybe there�ll be a heck more evolutionary energy to spend upgrading my stats. Perhaps this will provide enough to afford that subsidiary brain for magic!

I�ve managed to amass seven points of Biomass so far from this battlefield. As for the remains of the former titan-croc, I�ve barely managed to touch it. I�m in so much pain, I seriously don�t want to eat any more. Frankly, I don�t want to do anything anymore. I need a nap.

But I force myself to keep working.

I refuse to let this wealth of Biomass go to the colony completely. They can have the rest. This titan-croc is mine. I�m allowed to be this selfish, right? I�ll conveniently ignore that I gobbled up all the cores from the large monsters�

With Tiny helping me along, I limp towards a tree near the croc and begin to Excavate a temporary nest. I would normally drag this food back to our own little chamber within the colony, except 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 burying those in my new hiding hole. The carcass is so large it takes almost an hour to complete this job, and several times I have to chase off a few workers coming over to grab a bite.

And the flaring agony I experienced has receded to a lesser, consistent pain that batters constantly in my mind.

Ugh� I hate this.

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

After one more look at the now bare area, I wriggle myself down into the chamber. Once Tiny has joined me, I close the entrance.

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

Zzzzzzzz�

Several hours later I startle myself out of torpor, snapping awake in an instant. I�m up! Phew, good sleep.

The pain of my core has been downgraded to a persistent ache. I can probably attribute this to my insides being squashed by the larger than intended core occupying too much real estate.

Not to worry! As soon as I evolve it�ll be nice and snug in there once again.

Tiny gradually shakes himself awake. He�s grown again after stuffing his face yesterday. Honestly, I think he�s grown a little too large to comfortably fit on my back, which is a little sad. I am glad he�s managing to get larger and stronger though.

You�ll prove yourself useful eventually, you little ape!

Now that my core has reached its maximum potential, plus a bit more, I don�t really begrudge him the core I spent to bring him to life. It all worked out in the end, and I got a little monkey buddy for my trouble.

My mind now turns to the business at hand. Namely, continuing to eat this Biomass! I�ve resolved that until all this beast has been consumed, Tiny and I will live the shut-in lifestyle. We won�t leave until the meal is over.

I estimate we�ll be able to fill ourselves up at least once more, possibly twice, before the food is entirely gone.

C�mon, Tiny! Time to dig in.

Om nom nom.

Gah, I�m stuffed! Tiny looks so full he�s practically a monkey basketball. That�s another seven Biomass in the tank. Such riches!

Being so full, we decide to sleep again. A well-deserved holiday after our efforts.

When we awake, we finish off the food and I gain another four Biomass.

Rest in peace, titan-croc. I will never forget the mutations you allowed me to gain.

Checking my status, I have amassed a ridiculous eighteen points of Biomass! This is so many points, I almost don�t know what to do with it.

Settle down, Anthony� let�s start planning out the costs now. I need nine points to max out my antennae, so there goes half of my wealth immediately. I�ll have another nine whole points to spend. I can upgrade my Regeneration Gland to four with my remaining points. I really like the regeneration and have already promised myself to prioritise it. Two points remaining�

Guess I could spend those on either pheromones or legs.

Legs would be useful in general. Running around, climbing, these are all things I do constantly. Pheromones will help with managing the colony and workers. I mean, an extra +1 isn�t going to make a huge difference to either choice, so I�m not too concerned.

I think I�ll take pheromones. The ability to move the workforce faster, even by just a second, could be critical at some point. Not to mention, we�re going to need a lot of food to keep growing the colony. The more successfully we can hunt the better off we all are.

[Would you like to upgrade Antennae to +5, Regeneration Gland to +4 and Pheromone Gland to +2? This will cost eighteen Biomass.]

Heck yeah!

[At this Level you can choose a mutation advancement. Please select from the menu.]

Here we go!

The dizzying number of options unfolds in my mind like a flower. There�s always such a ridiculous number of suggestions. What on earth am I supposed to pick!

Enhanced Sense Antennae for an empowered sense of smell? Sounds handy. Bladed Antennae, equipping each antenna with a bladed tip and turning them into weapons? Holy heck! Precognitive Antennae, sensing vibrations from a moment in the future? Are you frickin� kidding me? How would that even work? I�m a little leery of this one. Witnessing getting splatted a hundredth of a second in advance� there wouldn�t be a whole lot I could do about it.

There are a few that tickle my fancy. Such as the Mana Detection Antennae, allowing the appendages to sense the flow of Mana. I do already have a skill that will hopefully be able to perform the same job. Another choice improves the strength of any magical energy channelled through the Antennae, making me wonder if the queen selected this upgrade�

Gah! The extra options really make my head spin sometimes.

As usual, I need to decide exactly what I want my antennae to be for and choose the advancement that will make them better able to do that job.

If I wanted to make myself a purely magic focused monster, the Antennae magic enhancement would be a very solid choice, letting me build advantages on advantages. However, I�m not the sort of person to go for the specialist option. Perhaps it isn�t the smartest path, but I don�t want to be bad at any particular aspect and cover that up by being especially strong in another.

Perhaps my magic would reach greater heights with an advancement like this. Only, wouldn�t my sensory options be too limited? I just don�t feel comfortable moving away from what the antennae were originally designed to do. Which is to detect stuff, be it scent or motion. I�ll narrow my options down to those that increase my detection ability.

After letting go of some of the juicy and far out there selections, I settle on a few that seem to make the most sense.

Of those, the one that purely enhances smell is probably the most pedestrian. This option is a little beige even for me.

Another choice adds more sensitive hairs to the outside of the antennae, turning them into potent motion sensors. While I like this idea, I also don�t. Being able to detect movement without having to see it is kind of cool, but because I�ve invested so heavily in my compound eyes, which also have a huge range of sight, there isn�t a whole lot of need for more motion detection.

An option that really piques my interest is one that allows the antennae to develop heat sense. If I�m understanding the description correctly, the antennae will mutate to include a heat source sensitivity, kind of like having thermal vision for your nose.

This sounds like a good idea. It will provide a new option covering something that was lacking before. I�ll be able to detect monsters around corners by the heat they give off, potentially detecting creatures underground or inside nests before they�re visible to my eyes. It may even be possible to count the centipedes inside that centipede mound without ever having to stick my head in it.

Infrared Antennae. I�ll choose this!

Well� isn�t this nice�

I�m. On. FIRE!

How is it possible I continue to forget this stupid itch!

The antennae are the worst. A horrible burning itch drilling right into my head. The intensity is right up there with the regeneration and pheromone glands. Why dammit, why!

Eventually the nightmare stops and control is regained.

Every. Damn. Time.

Somehow, I manage to push the horrible sensation that accompanies every mutation into the back of mind almost immediately after it happens. Is it just that I don�t want to remember these terrible experiences?

Quite possibly.

With all of the mutating done, a single Skill Point awaits to be spent. I�m not too sure on this one. I�m building up more and more skills, and they�ll need upgrading eventually. On the other hand, there were many useful skills I skipped over in order to invest in my magic related skills that I could make good use of now.

No, I�m determined to spend it. There are several skills I�ve been hungry for and I shall resist the urge no longer!

[Exo-Skeleton Defence: Improves the user�s ability to utilise their external skeleton to deflect blows and resist damage.]

I wanted this skill to assist my desire to tank up, but couldn�t afford it, choosing to prioritise my magical path at all costs. Now I shall cleanse this regret!

Confirm this purchase. Gimme!

When it is all said and done my status now looks like this:

Name: Anthony

Level: 8 (core) (II)

Might: 31

Toughness: 22

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 50/50

MP: 50/50

Skills: Excavation Level 1 (II); Improved Acid Shot Level 5 (II); Enhanced Grip Level 1 (II); Crushing Bite Level 7 (II); Advanced Stealth Level 3 (II); Piercing Chomp Level 3 (II); Tunnel Sense Level 4 (I); Mana Shaping Level 2 (II); Forceful Mana Level 2 (I); External Mana Manipulation Level 1 (I); Mana Sensing Level 1 (I); Core Mechanic Level 1 (I); Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 1 (I)

Mutations: Focused Eyes +5; Infrared Antennae +5; Restrictive Acid Gland +5; Legs +1; Infused Mandibles +5; Diamond Carapace +5; Regenerative Gland +4; Pheromone Gland +2

Species: Mature Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 0

Biomass: 0

My foundation is becoming increasingly solid. The original goal of upgrading all my mutations to +5 and stacking as many mutation advancements as possible is slowly coming to fruition. Once I get my Regenerative Gland to +5, I�ll only have two more body parts remaining and perfection will be reached!

Now that I�m Level eight, I�m anticipating an evolution at Level ten. With my beyond perfect core, I�m ready to do that at any time. Everything is coming up, Anthony.

Opening my small chamber, Tiny and I step out of the darkness and into the bright light. What a nice break we had. I feel refreshed and newly improved, bursting with vigour and drive! Although I�m still in pain�

Tiny has also benefited from our time of sleeping and feasting. His growth continues to accelerate. He�s probably double the size he was when he was first born. No longer able to ride comfortably on my back, he�s going to have to walk and climb as best he can.

Keep up, little guy! We don�t have all day.

The ape monster seems almost a little petulant being forced to run alongside me, using his knuckles to propel himself much as a gorilla would.

Up on the ant hill, the usual workers are in attendance, carefully watching the forest. Several move in and out of the nest, heading out between the trees to follow trails or scout for food.

Hopefully they don�t run into too much trouble. The forest is absolutely crazy at the moment.

Tiny and I advance down into the cool shade of the nest. The veins of light are continuing to extend themselves into the tunnel, the thin tendrils at the end moving almost visibly at the edges.

Deep in the nest there is a frenzy of activity, and it isn�t hard to see why. While I was sleeping and eating, the queen and workers were busy laying the foundations of the colony�s future.

Checking into the brood chamber, a huge number of eggs laid after the Berserker invasion have hatched into little larva. The newly hatched monsters fill the chamber to the brim! The workers have made use of all the available food we�ve secured and stuffed the little grubs full.

The poor little things have almost gone spherical. Are they grubs or bowling balls?

I try to resist the temptation to roll them around. I�m worried they�d roll right out of the chamber and fall down the tunnel.

I know we need them to grow quickly, but seriously guys, show a little restraint!

The larvae can barely move; they�re so full. The workforce is in attendance however, monitoring each grub to ensure they�re in peak condition. Judging by the size of their abdomens, these workers all have fairly full social stomachs. I wager that as soon as a grub shows any sign of digesting, the only fate that awaits it is to be packed full once again.

Good luck, larvae! Do your best to grow into strong ants.

Most of the larvae that were in here before have either spun their cocoons and become pupae or already completed this phase and graduated into Hatchling Workers. New brethren for the workforce are always welcome.

Exiting the brood chamber, I head farther into the nest and notice a new tunnel cut into the wall on my left. Curiously, Tiny and I wander down it to find out why.

I was right to think the brood chamber was full. the workers appear to have agreed with me and dug out another one!

After the colony absorbed another big chunk of Biomass, the queen got right to work. In the dark chamber are ten workers tending to a massive clutch of eggs. There must be two or three hundred of them here!

Well, this is what I was hoping for when I brought the colony into that fight. These eggs and larvae in the chamber above represent an incredible opportunity for the colony. If they can mature and hatch, the workforce will grow from around two hundred workers to well over eight hundred. With those numbers, we�ll be able to jumpstart the growth of the next generation and the generation after that. It won�t be long until this colony is filled with thousands of ants.

Then what could possibly stop us?

Dreams of the upcoming ant conquest will have to wait for a while, there�s a massive amount of work to be done before then.

With Tiny by my side, I pause to consider what my next move should be. There are a few options for the next course of action to be carefully considered before I simply run off and engage in something without thinking it through.

The war turned out ok for the colony this time. Even so, there are the deaths of tens of workers resting on my head and it could have been far worse. Even I didn�t know the Forceful Mana ball would be able to one shot the titan-croc. If it hadn�t, the entire battlefield may have become a sea of flame, barbequing dozens more workers. My own siblings!

I must avoid making such errors going forward. I certainly don�t want to get belted on the head by the queen again.

The tunnels leading farther downwards that connect to the queen�s chamber concern me. The Berserkers were able to invade through those tunnels and cause major problems. Without me intervening, the colony would have suffered far worse than it did. I�m a bit scared to go there though. If tough monsters like the Berserkers are running away from down there, I�m not really prepared to go and scout it out by myself.

After I�ve successfully evolved, I�ll be a little more confident to explore those deeper areas. Hopefully my stats will receive a sizable boost that might enable me to be a bit more survivable against whatever threats lie below.

Let�s hope the queen and the rest of the workforce can fend off any threats from down there long enough for me to reach the required Level.

The next option is to continue the colony growth plan and start fights, using pheromones to bring the workers into the battle. This strategy revolves around feeding large amounts of experience into the workers to increase the overall strength of the colony.

I�m concerned though. With the area above being so dense with monsters, it will be almost impossible to start an isolated fight to accurately judge the odds in advance. The war is a perfect example. If I try to bring the colony to fight, it�s almost a certainty more and more monsters will show up, drawn by the noise and the promise of food.

Too risky. I�ll have to abandon this option.

What should I do? Do you have any answers, Tiny?

The little ape looks up at me, absent-mindedly scratching at his leg. Those large eyes of his are completely vacant, appearing almost devoid of thought. There is trust in those eyes, confidence in my ability to lead him to food. It�s just hampered by a stunning lack of original thought.

You�re a trusty companion, Tiny, even if you are dumb as a brick.

Let�s attack this problem from another viewpoint. What are the roles workers perform in the colony? Taking care of the brood�not really my style. There are plenty of workers for that. Defending the nest�I�m the best fighter for sure, but I don�t want to just stand around and wait for something to happen.

Scout?

The scout has the role of ranging far from the nest and locating food, identifying threats and bringing information back to the colony.

Surely a cool, powerful and incredibly well-built ant such as myself is perfect for a role like this? I�ll be able to proactively protect the colony and support the workers if I find them in trouble.

Not to mention I�ll have a bit of autonomy in terms of hunting. Rather than starting a massive fight, I can pick and choose targets.

To be honest, I also really want to evolve as quickly as possible. My oversized core might not be as agonising as it was before, but it still hurts! Like a persistent toothache, the pain is constant and always grating on my mind.

I want it to go away!

Which means, my mind is made up. Tiny and I will form the advanced scouting team of the colony and venture forth into the open space, brave great danger, explore the unknown, and hunt our prey for the good of the colony!

Before we leave, I drop down into the queen�s chamber to check things out. Predictably she�s sleeping, probably exhausted by her participation in the battle followed by egg laying.

Not to worry.

Onwards, Tiny!

With my ape companion in tow, we climb towards the peak of the ant hill and the open space above. It takes Tiny longer to climb now that he can�t ride on my back. I don�t mind too much, it�s nice to see the little freeloader doing some work for a change.

During my time in the nest, I�ve been trying to adjust to my new antennae advancement. It�s been more difficult than I thought to understand the information they�re passing to me. I mean, if you compare it to my human body, the only way a human detects heat is through their skin. As an ant, I have a carapace so my capacity to sense temperature has been fairly poor.

Now my antennae are acting like little heat sensors, showing me sources of heat in my mind that my eyes can�t detect. For example, I can feel the heat given off by a worker even before I see them. This is particularly disorientating when that worker is around a corner or in a separate chamber.

All I need is a bit of time. I�m confident that with more experience I�ll be able to react swiftly to the information my new sense is giving me.

Tiny managed to make his way to the top of the ant hill, looking rather tired after the journey. Ha! No more slacking for you, monkey boy.

The usual group of workers are milling around the hill on defensive duty, moving this way and that as they eyeball the surrounding terrain for threats. There are a few trails of workers moving into the woods, but I don�t join them. Instead, we head in a different direction, towards the area the battle against the rabbits and centipedes occurred. I turn about until I determine the angle the centipedes came from. The huge number of crawlies that joined in, and at such speeds, suggests there is a sizable centipede mound somewhere around here.

I don�t really want to attack the nest itself, I also want to know if there is a large collection of monsters that are close to the colony. Once again, the forest is completely alive with noise. Everywhere I turn, monsters battle and hunt each other.

My new senses are flooding my mind with information, and it is difficult for me to interpret it all quickly. There are heat sources everywhere! Small monsters up in the trees, packs of them roaming together on the hunt.

It takes all my Stealth and Cunning to navigate my way around without running into a fight I don�t want. I�m strong enough to fight most of the monsters for sure. Except I can�t tell what else might pop out of the woodwork and bop me on the head.

Hang on� What�s this? I�m detecting something a little odd with my Infrared Antennae.

Concentrating hard, I crouch and move towards cover. This heat signature feels a little different than the monsters from before� Seems to be coming from behind that tree.

I�m still a little confused by this heat sense, so I�ll play this slow. Creeping forward one foot at a time I try to minimise any noise. Something is telling me I need to be careful right now.

I give Tiny a look and try to motion him to stay quiet. The little ape looks at me blankly with his wide eyes and I give up.

Just� stay quiet, would you!

I�m trying to circle around this tree at a slight distance, working the angle to get a peek at what my heat detection says is there.

Slowly making my way around, I manage to get a slight view of whatever it is.

I think that�s� a hand?

Is this a human!

That is definitely a human here behind this tree! What the heck are they doing here?

I have to admit a chill struck my heart. They are really close to me. It seems bizarre since I was a human not too long ago. In this life, however, humans have been nothing but trouble.

Inching around slightly reveals it�s one of those black clothed soldiers from before. They chased me out of the upper cavern and the tunnels, and now they�ve shown up again!

What the heck is your problem, guys?

To be honest, if I wasn�t such a friendly ant, I�d be starting to take it personally. I don�t recall doing anything, except being a monster, that would cause them to pursue and hate on me to this extent.

It dawns on me just how close we are to the ant hill and my heart grows colder, entering serious winter territory. Have they spotted it yet?

I highly doubt the workers or the queen would be able to stand up to humans. Having been one myself, it isn�t hard to imagine the kind of strength an organised human society would be able to muster in a place like this. I�m sure the system has been studied endlessly. All sorts of skill combos researched, magic systems investigated, and engineering feats accomplished.

The colony is still very young. Not many workers have evolved out of the hatchling state. Not to mention the entire colony population is under one thousand. We�re still weak�far too weak�to even consider fighting against trained soldiers.

For the first time I started to consider having to fight against people, my old kind. If this soldier located the nest and went to report back to the rest of them, what would I do? Just let them go?

Would I really be able to bring myself to kill them? Even to protect the colony?

Gah! I don�t know the answer to that� What is with this sudden existential dilemma? I can�t just throw away my fifteen years as a human. I may be a proud ant worker, but that�s only been for a month or so.

In any case, I don�t know exactly what this human has seen. It�s possible they still have no idea where the nest is. Don�t panic, Anthony, we might still be ok!

I retreat slightly, doing my best to remain fully concealed. I really don�t want to attract any attention to myself right now. Using one of my legs, I grab Tiny and hold him still. Thankfully he�s smart enough not to protest out loud, although he does look at me reproachfully.

Damn ape! You want to get killed?

The female soldier is crouched behind the tree, surveying the area. She has black leather armour with a few metal plates stitched into it around the shoulders and flanks. Her blonde hair is tied back to ensure it doesn�t obstruct her face or view. And her ears� well, they�re visible enough to determine she�s not an elf.

Dammit�

You idiot, Anthony, focus!

This soldier is equipped for combat. A longbow case is strapped to her back and a shortish-looking sword rests in a sheath on her hip.

Honestly, this is the best view of a human being I�ve had since being reborn in this place. There is a lot I can learn by checking out the equipment and uniform.

Hardly daring to breathe, Tiny and I wait, concealed in the brush to the human�s right side. We�re probably only five or six metres away.

After ten minutes or so the soldier rises from her position and begins to make her way through the forest decisively. After a few moments I lead Tiny and we follow at a distance, being careful to minimise sound.

Thankfully there is so much combat going on these days, it isn�t hard to conceal our traces.

[Advanced Stealth (II) has reached Level 4.]

Oh! Stealth! My first purchase and most faithful skill. I knew I could rely on you.

Even after all my gains, Stealth is still such a valuable purchase. I highly doubt I�ll ever be able to evolve to the point where I no longer have to fear anything in this place. Is that even possible for an ant? My hope is that the colony can grow strong enough that I can depend on the collective to keep me safe and let me live out my life in this new world as best as I can.

That isn�t too much to ask for, is it?

I was never very ambitious as a human. Don�t really think I should change that now that I�m a monster.

After following this soldier through the woods for a while, she meets up with another human dressed much the same as she is. The only real difference is the weapons. Where she has the bow and sword, this chap appears to be armed with a staff of some kind.

Have I seen these two before?

I�m getting a vague sense of deja vu. Before I was able to advance my eyesight it was really hard to make out the fine details. I wouldn�t have been able to identify a person from their features before.

Perhaps I glimpsed these two as they chased me out of the tunnels�

At any rate, they�re here now, talking softly to one another. They don�t even look at each other. Instead they constantly eye the surroundings for danger. Looks like they know how to stay alive in here at least. There are monsters absolutely everywhere right now.

In fact� my antennae twitch, picking up a heat signature approaching from my right. Thankfully I�ve managed to remain hidden and whatever is coming is headed directly at the human duo.

This could be interesting.

From the woods emerges a strange looking creature that I�d never seen before. Huge, massively muscled arms covered in bristling fur are the first things that strike my eyes. Those powerful limbs end in massive hands, each the size of my head. Black, jagged nails extend from each finger.

Atop the monster�s broad shoulders rests a massive lion�s head, lips drawn back in a dreadful snarl, revealing the long, curved fangs within.

The king of the jungle? Except with massive arms and hands. What the heck kind of monster is this?

The beast�s eyes are yellow, beholding the humans with a dreadful glee.

You know, in some ways I agree with what you�re thinking, massive lion beast. You charge in, see these thin, small, and weak looking things in front of you, what sort of self-respecting monster would think they�re any type of threat?

If you�re a dumb monster who was probably born yesterday, what would you know of the power of the human mind and its ingenuity and endless capacity to invent ways to kill things? You see these scrawny meat bags and they look like free Biomass. Of course you try and eat them.

The lion monster roars hungrily and pounces!

The female soldier frowns and whips her blade from its sheath and braces it in two hands, plunging it forward like lightning. That was so fast, if I was physically capable of blinking I might have missed it!

The strike plunges into the lion�s shoulder, biting deep. The monster growls viciously as its blood begins to flow. The attack thwarted, the lion steps back to prepare another swing, massive hands more like battering rams as it punches.

Before this punch can even connect, the male soldier has raised his staff. From the tip emerges a blazing spear of flame that streaks through the air and impales the lion between the eyes, killing it instantly.

Yep. Thought so.

The two humans move toward the corpse in a businesslike manner. The female soldier braces a foot against the body to pull her sword out and carves into the monster�s chest while the male stands guard, his staff raised.

Eventually the digging is rewarded with a core, pulled out of the monster�s gory chest. They move on, not hanging around in case more monsters are attracted by the smell.

Well� don�t mind if I do!

Tiny is already salivating next to me and by the time the humans have moved ten metres away we have already crept over to take a bite.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Leo Ogri. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Leo Ogri unlocked.]

[Leo Ogri: Lion Ogre. This monster is most feared for its massive strength. Two overdeveloped arms allow it to cause incredible damage with fists alone. Some Lion Ogres are known to grip crude weapons, such as rocks or branches. They are, however, quite dim.]

A Lion Ogre, eh? I�m not even surprised.

Tiny and I spend five minutes feasting, gaining two Biomass before we dash off in the direction the humans went, following the trail.

It doesn�t take long to catch up, since the soldiers are moving cautiously, attempting to avoid the notice of the thronging monsters in the forest.

Every now and again one of them looks up, doubtless keeping an eye out for the gargoyle monsters that nest in the roof. There haven�t been any signs of those things for a while now, but I don�t doubt they�re still up there somewhere.

Fingers crossed that when they do show up, they decide to swoop down on someone else.

The two soldiers move with practiced ease, avoiding pitfalls and reading the signs of monsters being nearby.

I�m honestly impressed by their level of knowledge. They seem to know precisely where every monster nearby is without having to lay eyes on it. I�m desperately hoping that doesn�t include me.

Or Tiny.

The way they move seems to indicate they know where they are in the open space and exactly where it is they want to go. How are they doing that? Are they able to track their locations based on familiar features of the rock up there?

That makes so much damn sense I�m shocked I never thought of it before. After the thought occurs to me, I start to glance up, using my Focused Eyes to pick out obvious features to try and recall later.

After an hour of travel, we arrive at what appears to have been the destination the soldiers were heading for.

A large hill rises from the forest floor and on one side a tunnel has been cut, leading down into the hill. At the entrance to the tunnel, two more soldiers are standing guard, longswords on their hips and large shields across their backs, attempting to appear inconspicuous, not wanting to draw too much monstrous attention.

The two I�d followed salute at the entrance, hands over hearts or some such and then enter the tunnel. Their dark uniforms blend into the shadows as they move out of sight.

Dammit!

If only I had mind reading or telepathy or something. How am I supposed to glean information from these people? They must know so much I couldn�t possibly find out on my own. A veritable goldmine of information is sitting right there and I can�t access it in any way. Gah! This is maddening.

I decide to stay and watch this apparent human camp for a while. There isn�t anything more threatening to the colony than an attack by these damnable soldiers. In my capacity as a scout, it is my duty to observe until I�m satisfied they pose no threat.

Two hours later, my dedication to the cause has somewhat faded. Tiny has grown completely bored and is having a nap behind me. Thankfully there�s enough background noise to wash out his gentle snoring.

The two guards out the front were rotated and replaced by almost identical guards. The new guards were not the two I�d followed, so there are at least a minimum of six people within this camp.

Their boots are fairly distinctive, made of black, stiff looking leather and laced from the heel to halfway to the knee. The breastplate also appears to be made of some kind of stiff leather, dyed black and stitched with a gold embroidery. I think there�s an insignia on the armour, but I can�t quite make it out.

The arms borne by each soldier appear to be slightly different. One has two short swords strapped across the back in an X. The second uncased a crossbow from their back when they came out, slotted a bolt, and cranked back on the shaft before taking up his post.

Seems like a bit of an odd army. Almost every individual is armed with a different weapon.

After some thinking, the light armour they wear makes a lot of sense. At first, I�d expected they�d be loaded up with massive plate armour like a medieval knight. Except, when considering the size of some of the monsters, their potential strength, and how sharp some of their limbs are� What the heck would a suit of metal armour do? Absolutely squat!

I could probably punch straight through metal armour using a Piercing Chomp. Other than slowing down the wearer, I can�t imagine armour achieving much at all. Unless they have something better than steel to work with.

Eventually, two more soldiers return from the forest, joining up with their fellows and entering the tunnel. Shortly after, the whole crew emerges, ten soldiers wearing that same identical armour. At least, I imagine it�s the whole crew. They talk to each other but I can�t understand a single word of it. Though I am able to hear it well enough that I�m confident they aren�t speaking any language I�ve ever heard before.

Fantastic. This makes the dream of communication ever more distant. Not only can I not vocalise, I can�t even understand the language.

Several of the soldiers appear to be carrying heavy packs. Seems they�re moving out of this hill and heading to another campsite. It isn�t long before the soldiers group up and start to move. I hesitate. The direction they�re travelling is still directly away from the colony.

I�m already over an hour away from my home nest, do I really want to travel any farther than this?

Not to mention, following these humans is still exceptionally dangerous. There are ten of them now. I assume they could annihilate Tiny and myself in a heartbeat were we to be found.

Best to play it safe.

I�ve learned a fair bit of information already. I know where their forward camp is, that they�re here, and I�ve managed to witness some of their skills in action. That�s not insignificant.

I consider trying to head into the tunnel and investigate their little base, but in the end, I reluctantly dismiss the idea.

There is way too much risk involved. These people look like professional soldiers, not ragtag mercenaries like the last camp I invaded. Also, I wasn�t able to witness the defences being set up like I did before. There could be any number of traps inside and I�d have no idea.

I�ll back off.

After the humans have departed, I start to journey back towards the colony with Tiny. Keeping my eyes on the roof of the cavern, I try to follow a few of the landmarks I remember from my way here. Despite getting muddled a few times, I manage to get back to the general area. Why the heck didn�t I leave a trail?

I need to be extra careful when I�m out scouting now that I know human soldiers are moving through the cavern. I honestly thought I was free of those killers. The way they moved, exterminating every monster they found without mercy still sends a shiver down my spine.

Only one thing can be done to be safer, become stronger and evolve! If I can evolve and help grow the colony even further, hopefully we�ll be able to live free of human interference by being too much of a pain to deal with.

For now, my priority is to hunt and get Levels. Just two more Levels are all I need!

Once Tiny and I made it back in the general vicinity of the nest I climb up a tree and start scouting out possible prey. Any target needs to be chosen carefully. I get more experience from taking on evolved monsters. Though some of them are a lot stronger than others. I�d rather fight three evolved centipedes at once than have a titan-croc get the jump on me.

I must choose my prey wisely.

My core still throbs inside my body. Hopefully it won�t be long before I can release all the potential held inside. I wonder what I�ll become?

The Legionary camp is a hive of activity. Patrols come and go in a steady stream under the watchful eye of the officers. Monster suppression has been difficult this expedition, and preparations for the wave are not going as smoothly as the brass expected.

Tribune Aurillia was concerned. Her experience and expectations were continually being defied. The situation at hand refused to conform to historical norms.

Every day squads left the outpost and moved into the Expanse, exterminating monsters and hunting down spawn locations. Whenever a spawn point was found the Legionaries would trap it, killing the beasts the moment they were formed.

This was the typical procedure employed by the Legion when preparing for a wave. The goal was to reduce the number of monsters before the inevitable clash. Trapping the spawn points in normal times would drive mercenaries and Dungeon explorers insane, effectively reducing their ability to earn income. The Legion took no chances when it came to a wave. Every monster they could reliably kill they would.

Something was different this time. For every spawn point they were able to identify and neutralise, another four would appear the next day. Despite marshalling more resources and bringing reinforcements down from the surface, they were simply unable to kill monsters quickly enough to meaningfully thin them out.

Even the commander had acted, entering the Forest Expanse on his own and emerging several hours later covered in gore with a bag full of cores on his belt.

Aurillia chuckled at the memory. Several trainees had asked who was going to accompany the commander as he prepared to leave. Senior Legionaries just looked at them as if they were insane. If anyone could keep up with him, they would be welcome to go.

Emerging from the woods came the ten-person strong trainee unit, returning from their scouting assignment. They�d been sent to do reconnaissance on the far side of the Expanse. Locating the ant nest remained a priority, despite the unusual circumstances propagating each day.

The weary soldiers marched single file through the gate, shoulders slumped under heavy backpacks, eyes red from little sleep. Their uniform leather was scuffed and stained in several places, indicators of battle and combat.

The tribune approached the squad. When they saw her coming, they snapped out salutes, their discipline bringing a smile to the weathered features of their officer.

Every trainee had become especially nervous around their superiors. The centurions, tribune and even the commander himself found every opportunity to find fault with them. Uniform dirty? Go run laps. Poor form when saluting? Two hours in the training yard. Make a mistake in the training yard? Stay in the damn training yard and work until you pass out.

All of their nerves had been frayed right to the edge. It was almost a relief when they�d been sent out to scout the far side of the expanse. Fighting their way through hordes of monsters and watching their backs every waking moment for several days almost seemed easier than staying with their officers.

�What do you have to report?� Aurillia said.

Trainee Mirryn stepped forward, having been appointed the leader of this squad. �The squad was able to reach our designated coordinates approximately thirty hours ago. We identified four spawn points in the surrounds and were able to effectively seal them all. A list of monsters identified and defeated has been compiled for your inspection, Tribune.�

Mirryn drew a scroll case from her waist bag and presented it to Aurillia, saluting once more as she did so.

The tribune raised an eyebrow as she accepted the case. Clearly the trainees were starting to realise just how exacting the standards would be for them on this delve.

Aurillia opened the case and unrolled the parchment within, casting her eyes quickly over the lists and numbers, her experience allowing her to absorb the information in a moment.

�And what of our quarry? Were you able to locate any ants?� she asked, stowing the parchment in its case. The paper would go to the administration auxiliaries, the bean counters who tallied all this information for reporting to the Legion brass and the Lirian government.

Their faces immediately twisted upon hearing the tribune�s words. They�d failed to find the ants despite their searching. What concerned them most was the punishment that awaited them if the tribune decided to view this as another �failure� on their part.

Mirryn cleared her throat. �We were unable to locate any sign of ants or the nest itself, Tribune. The increased monster activity has made solo scouting extremely difficult, dramatically reducing our scouting range and efficiency.� She paused before continuing, �it�s still possible the ants are operating in the area we were sent to search. I recommend a team be sent to scout the area again more thoroughly.�

Before she was halfway through her reply, the faces of her squad members had gone pale. Their minds were spinning with the possible penalties that would be heaped on their heads for not only failing, but admitting they�d found it too difficult and recommending another squad go fix their mistakes.

Not that they disagreed with Mirynn. They�d just hoped it could have been phrased a little more� gently.

Contrary to their imaginations, the tribune simply nodded. �Trainee Mirryn, you may dismiss your squad to recuperate and then remain here, I�d like a word.�

Somewhat dazed, Mirryn turned to the other members and dismissed them. The squad shared relieved smiles and made their way to the tents reserved for resting. There wasn�t much recreation of comfort afforded to a Legionary in the Dungeon. At the very least a hot meal, cold wash and good sleep was assured.

Watching the others clap each other on the back, Mirryn couldn�t help but feel a little apprehensive towards her officer. Tribune Aurillia had the reputation of a demon in normal times. In the Dungeon she had proven to be five times as strict.

The older woman didn�t immediately speak, gesturing for the younger trainee to walk beside her as she turned and wandered deeper into the camp. They passed the workshop area, where diligent Legion craftsmen and women worked to process raw materials harvested from monsters. There was little priority given to collecting resources on this expedition. Killing the monsters was far more important than harvesting. If a Legionary brought down prey close to the camp, then it would be wasteful to let the Dungeon reclaim it all.

Hides were boiled and treated, and bones shaved, powdered or heated depending on their properties. The Deep Legion seldom sold anything they collected, preferring to give their own craftspeople the opportunity to create weapons and armour in-house. Any excess would be stockpiled or transported to a Legion branch in another city, sometimes another country.

The tribune exchanged a few greetings with the hard working auxiliaries. These men and women would never be full Legionaries, but they were deeply valued nonetheless.

�Your squad won�t be going back out to scout tomorrow.� Aurillia raised her hand to cut off Mirryn before she could protest. �No, not because of any failure on your part. The commander and I have determined that it is becoming too dangerous in the Expanse to continue sending out small squads. You�ll be concentrating on clearing monsters closer to the camp.�

The younger woman frowned. �With respect, Tribune, we don�t need to be coddled.�

Aurillia barked out a laugh. �Do you feel as though you are being coddled down here?�

They were so far away from coddling they could scarcely remember the concept.

�No,� she said.

The tribune nodded. �Things aren�t normal. We�ve had a report from headquarters that conditions deeper in the Dungeon are even worse than what we are experiencing here. We�ve ordered every available Legionary from Liria to report here to support the wave defence.�

Mirryn was confused. �Tribune, how would the headquarters on the surface know more about conditions in the Dungeon than we would? We are in the Dungeon.�

Aurillia eyed the younger woman for a brief moment, long years of experience, pain, loss and triumph moved behind those eyes.

�Do you really think the Deep Legion has its headquarters on the surface?�

Mirryn could hardly process what that meant. The Liria headquarters was inside the Dungeon somewhere?

�Why would you tell me this now?� she asked.

�It is time for you trainees to learn a few more things. After all, at the conclusion of this expedition you will either be a full Legionary, privy to all our secrets, or you will be dead.�

To hunt under these conditions, one needs to be cunning. After all, what was it that allowed humanity to rise above their competitors to be the dominant species of Earth? It was their minds. Their ingenuity!

Combined with a tendency to avoid considering the consequences of any particular course of action, this trait, more than any other, propelled humanity to great heights.

When faced with this environment, in which an ant must truly struggle to hunt, to provide for his family with the necessary sustenance to survive, what could I possibly do? Regular hunting is impossible. More and more monsters are appearing at any given moment. Successfully battling a monster one versus one and then being able to consume or transport the Biomass without attracting attention would be rather difficult.

So then, time to use the ol� noodle to solve this problem. Draw on a little bit of that divine spark of intelligence that my previous life gifted me.

What have I come up with?

Pitfall traps!

I shall utilise traps, thus combining my two identities in one. The cleverness of a human and the capacity to dig a hole in an ant!

I know, all right� Sure, it�s not that clever, but it is the best I could come up with.

At a reasonable distance away from the nest, a few hundred metres, I�ve begun construction of a large pitfall trap. The construction has been more difficult than I initially expected. While there�s plenty of dirt, the farther down I dig, the more bits of rock start cropping up. Fortunately, the Mana Infused Mandibles prove up to the task and I�m able to break it up after expending a fair bit of effort.

The Excavation skill has once again proven its worth and I�ve already gained a Level in it due to my efforts. It�s interesting to notice how the Excavation skill functions. Rather than creating a magical shovel of light that emerges from my face to help me dig�which would be awesome � I almost feel as if my instincts are being guided by a knowledgeable digging master.

When finding a location for my pitfall traps, certain areas were more appealing as suitable for digging, and others I felt should be avoided. I honestly don�t know how I knew, I just did. When I�m digging as only an ant can, using my mandibles not only as a shovel but also as a bucket, my instincts whisper, �don�t dig that spot yet, the soil will crumble,� and �tilt your head to this angle, the result will be better.�

The overall effect minimises mistakes, and efficiency is increased, resulting in a larger area dug in less time. I can only imagine that if the Excavation skill becomes maxed out, I�ll become some sort of digging god. Never making an error and working so fast that vast underground tunnels will be carved out in a single day!

As it stands, it takes several hours of hard work before I�ve been able to dig a wide and deep pitfall sufficient enough to hold most monsters�about two metres in diameter and five metres deep. I�ve been an industrious little ant!

At the bottom of the pit, I�ve dug a small tunnel that runs several meters parallel to the forest floor. My intention is that within this small offshoot tunnel I�ll have a private space to hide and consume prey.

Several times during the construction I was forced to abandon the site and hide in a tree when I detected monsters coming. Given the crazed attitude of all these creatures lately, they would battle to the death the moment they laid eyes on me�I�m so irresistible! The resulting kerfuffle would draw in more monsters and my entire trap plan would go to waste.

The hunter must display patience for best results.

Tiny spent the entire time up in the tree. I didn�t really trust him to dig, and I certainly didn�t trust him not to fight when anything showed up. Honestly, he slept most of the time which probably worked out for the best.

After covering the pitfall with a light layer of vegetation as a disguise, there�s nothing to do but await the juicy prey that will fall directly into my greedy mandibles.

Muahaha!

However� I still haven�t caught anything. Plenty of monsters are moving through this area but they�ve been lucky enough not to step on my trap. Damn monsters, why is all this good fortune being wasted on you?

I wrack my brains. What could I do to increase the efficacy of the trap?

Bait! I could bait the trap which would help draw monsters directly to the pitfall. Now for what to use�

Tiny coughs abruptly in his sleep, sharply interrupting his gentle snoring and drawing my sharp gaze to his resting form.

Bait, eh?

I won�t! Too much could go wrong if Tiny were bait. I refuse to let him die until he�s paid me back in full for the core I lost on him!

Although, it would be nice to dangle this loafer from a branch�

I can only be patient and wait for a monster to fall into the trap. Once I have one catch, I can save some of the Biomass to use as bait.

And this idle time should not be wasted. The spirit of the worker pulses within me, demanding my time be used productively. For the colony!

Ranging a little distance away from the trap, I survey the terrain for a space that will suit my needs, finding an appealing patch of earth thirty metres away. If one trap should prove insufficient, then more must be constructed. Don�t underestimate the enthusiasm for digging that runs through my ant body!

Much like the first time, a huge part of the effort is spreading the dirt around in a way that looks reasonably natural, creating an enormous mound directly next to your hole is not necessarily the greatest way to lure prey. One�s pitfall trap does not require advertising.

After thirty minutes of digging, I�m startled out of my reverie by a crash followed by an indignant screech.

What!

I�m so shocked that I was frozen for a moment. I swear, when I get to digging it�s almost as if I fall into a trance. For some reason it just feels so nice to dig as an ant. As if I�m fulfilling my life calling. Truly, my reason for being a worker is to dig.

Scuttling over to my original pitfall, I immediately detect that some unfortunate monster has fallen prey to my rather crude and ungraceful trap.

Collecting itself from the wreckage at the bottom of the pit is a rather furious looking blade tailed mouse.

POW!

You�ll be even more irritated after becoming acquainted with my Restrictive Acid!

After blasting the mouse with a solid dose, I climb down and finish it off.

[You have gained XP.]

Excellent. The pitfall trap has borne fruit!

Not much fruit to be sure. A small, limp sort of fruit. Perhaps a grape. But fruit nonetheless.

After some consideration I decide not to consume this mouse. When I see Tiny going for it, I have to slap him on the head before he can get his hunger under control. Being patient now, by giving up this little bit of Biomass, greater rewards will later be reaped.

I pick up the body and carry it out of the hole before resetting the brush over the trap. Once this is done, I ever so carefully place the remains of the mouse in the centre, stepping as lightly as a dancer so as not to fall into my own trap.

The fact I was able to catch anything at all is something of a relief. I was seriously concerned all of this digging would achieve nothing except help me along the path of ant-Zen.

With a proper lure in place the trap will hopefully be able to perform better and bring something a little more tangible for Tiny and I to feast on.

With the original pitfall running at full capacity, I put Tiny back into his tree and move to the second construction site, always using my heat sensitivity and eyesight to avoid having any monsters come across me as I work.

Now, to perform my true calling and dig!

The second trap is almost halfway done when another crashing thud, followed by a furious roar, pulls me from my digging trance. A visitor has decided to grace my humble hotel! Welcome, dear guest. Manuel, take their bags!

Chortling to myself, I crawl out of my second pitfall and rush to the first. Tiny is standing up in his tree abode, excitedly staring at the hapless monster caught in the pit. The little ape is practically drooling, he�s become so hungry.

I get that you�re hungry, little guy, but really! Try to maintain a little dignity.

As much as I try to ignore it, my stomach is also growling. After all this digging, I�ve worked up quite the appetite.

Approaching the side, I peer down to see exactly what monster I�ve managed to reel in this time.

Greeting me from the bottom is a particularly furious looking giant centipede. The centipede begins to right itself after a mess of sticks and foliage tangled in its legs.

This guy again, huh.

Where once upon a time I felt hugely threatened by the massive centipedes, I just can�t muster the same fear for them anymore. They might be larger than the original Claw Centipedes, they still remain fairly stupid with limited ways to attack. In fact, due to its increased size and reduced mobility, the most threatening weapon of the Claw Centipede, its poison spike, is rendered almost completely useless against me.

POW!

I dispense justice in the form of acid from my business zone before leaping directly into the pit to do battle.

There were several reasons why I thought pitfalls would be a safer way to hunt in the current forest. One is the ability to isolate the fight somewhere the sound and scent of battle would be somewhat muted. Combined with the natural advantage of battling against a monster after it�s fallen and become entangled, this method seemed promising.

So far, it has proven to be effective. I�ll be interested to see if I can finish this battle quickly enough without drawing any further monsters from the surroundings.

Just as the centipede rights itself, my acid rains down, entangling legs that had only moments ago become free. Hissing furiously, the centipede writhes and twists in knots as the pain and discomfort mounts. At this time, I land directly onto the carapace of my prey, gripping tightly with my claws, pushing my Enhanced Grip skill to the limit.

Take this you lively bug, Piercing Chomp!

CRUNCH!

My mandibles pierce into the carapace like a hot knife into a refrigerated spread of some kind, savaging the internals of the centipede.

The monster shrieks in agony and attempts to use its body to bash me into the wall.

Slam!

Ouch! Damn centipede, receive the bite of truth.

CRUNCH!

My Diamond Carapace absorbed almost all of the impact, so very little actual damage was received from that desperate manoeuvre. What concerns me is the noise attracting more monsters to the scene. I retaliate with another bite.

This time, having already punctured the enemy�s defences, I utilise Crushing Bite to inflict maximum damage, my mandibles ripping deep into muscle and organs of the centipede.

The centipede loses most of its fight, unable to properly move the latter half of its body, there is little it can do to avoid fatal damage.

[You have defeated a Level 6 Adult Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

Nice!

Quick as a flash I move to secure the Biomass, dragging it into my prepared side tunnel and out of sight. Crawling out of the pitfall, I reset the screen except for one small section. I�m hoping this will prevent the smell from escaping too much and make my hiding place a little harder to find. Claws crossed it works out.

Having taken these measures, I retreat back into the trap, bringing Tiny down so we can finally sate our hunger. Down in the dark tunnel we greedily chow down. Tiny in particular shows his vastly increased appetite after going hungry for too long.

Yes. Eat, my young ape, eat, and grow strong. You�ll pay me back in labour eventually. I�ll work you like a slave�an adorable chimp slave!

After completing our meal I�ve gained one Biomass, which brings my current total to four. Just one more and I�ll be able to upgrade yet another body part to +5. Excitement builds for what sort of upgrades I�ll be able to choose from for the Regenerative Healing Gland!

I think of Tiny at this moment. This little guy must have eaten something like fifteen, maybe even twenty points of Biomass since I reconstructed him. Where have all those points gone?

The little ape notices me staring and stops wiping his bat face with the back of his arm, staring back at me curiously.

I can�t detect any change to his fur or hands. His eyes look the same. No noticeable difference in his arms or legs. Has the Biomass been spent or is it all being saved up? Maybe he can�t spend it until he matures to a certain point? He certainly couldn�t be called anything like fully grown at this stage.

Well, not much I can do about it at this point. I�ll just have to keep feeding him and see what happens.

We were undisturbed during our meal, something for which I am extremely grateful. I couldn�t recover the mouse bait. I think the centipede dove on it and ripped it to shreds as it fell. After making sure Tiny was securely positioned in his tree, I reset the first trap. It will probably take longer to get another sucker to slip into my pitfall, so I�ll get back to work on the second one.

Could we have saved some of the centipede to use as bait? Yes, yes we could. Did we do that? No.

We were pretty hungry.

A few hours later the second trap was finished despite a few interruptions. A gang of unevolved centipedes, a croca-beast and the elusive dog-snake, which I�d not seen moving around before, passed through the area. Sadly, none of these monsters fell into my clutches so I simply hid myself away, emerging once they�d gone by and happily continuing my work.

I�ve also managed to achieve yet another Level in Excavation! It�s quite pleasant to gain Levels without having to risk my own life for a change.

Once the second pitfall was completed, I didn�t immediately cover it, instead adding another off-shoot tunnel. While I was at it, I decided to join the two tunnels together. I mean, why not? This necessitated a lot more digging and effort, particularly when I ran into a rather stubborn block of stone which required me to use my Infused Mandibles to cut through.

Eventually the two traps were joined at the bottom of the pitfalls by a somewhat winding tunnel roughly thirty metres long.

Holy heck, that took ages. Now I�m bloody starving again�

CRASH!

ROAR!

What the dickens! Another customer?

I rush down my narrow tunnel to the original trap where a furious croca-beast thrashes and twists its way out of the vines and branches used to secure the cover. Success! Another visitor to the pitfall hotel. You can check in, Mr Crocodile, but you can never leave.

Exploding out of the tunnel, I utilise my speed to harness the element of surprise. A huge part of my trap strategy is to finish every battle swiftly to avoid unnecessary noise.

Thankfully the monster hasn�t had any time to survey its surroundings and hasn�t even noticed the small tunnel. The last thing this croca-beast expected to see was a worker ant rushing at it, mandibles shining with Infused Mana ready to bite!

Crushing Bite!

SNAP!

Closing my mandibles with ferocious force the mighty croc wails in distress as its leg is directly shorn through. Your scales may as well be papier-m�ch� in the face of the Mana Infused Mandibles!

With one leg severed, the croc falls to the ground, the narrow confines making it extremely difficult for the monster to orient itself. For me, this terrain is perfect. After my initial strike I sprint past and straight up the wall, trying to gain the high ground.

It�s over now!

I fire a blast of acid at the creature, who by this time is surely wondering what it did wrong in a previous life to deserve this kind of treatment. Just an innocent croc monster out for a walk in the forest, and now this. Down a leg and covered in acid at the bottom of a pit.

Not to worry, these circumstances won�t be troubling you for long!

I fire a second blast, treating the beast to another helping of the restricting property. Unable to stand, covered in acid and completely furious, the croc has no choice but to succumb to my finishing bite.

[You have defeated a Level 3 Infant Garralosh.]

[You have gained XP.]

Standing over the defeated croc, I can�t help but think, isn�t this working super well?

This time I manage to restrain Tiny and myself long enough to save some bait for both traps. Due to having to feed the stupid ape and reserve some of the food, I only take a single Biomass for myself since it�s enough for my needs.

With five points of Biomass, I�m ready to select a mutation advancement once again! I cannot wait until I can look at my status and see every available body part has been upgraded to +5. What completeness, what symmetry! Such a perfect being I shall become.

No, I�m not a neat freak� I think.

After resetting my original trap and baiting my second, I retreat to the underground tunnel with Tiny to select my mutation.

[Would you like to improve Regenerative Healing Gland to +5? This will cost five Biomass.]

Oh yeah!

[At this Level you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

The list in my mind unfurls like a banner. A long menu of delectable choices laid before me, ready to peruse. The thing that kills me the most is every single time I do this I can only choose one!

Ok. Calm down and let�s have a look.

Ooooo, I can upgrade the number of HP that gets regenerated, upgrade the speed of the regeneration, make it refill faster so I can use it more often, excess regeneration fluid can be converted into MP�Holy moly!

Slower working regeneration fluid for a greater boost over time, rapid response regeneration fluid stored in smaller pockets around my body that automatically heal wounds when they happen�

I could pick any of them and be happy!

Once again, I must use my laser-like focus to hone in on exactly what it is I want my Regenerative Gland to do! Which is quite a simple thing to do really. I can clearly recall my thoughts when I chose this body part to begin with.

This is my get out of jail free card! I chose it to help me out of a jam when nothing else was working. To help me sustain in the battle after I have received significant damage.

This means I don�t need it to heal more HP over a longer time and I don�t need it to heal smaller wounds instantly. I need a big burst of healing in a short time, to overcome a critical hurdle and put me right back in the fight.

When the berserkers attacked the colony, I was out of action due to missing legs. The memory of having to scrabble about, unable to use my mighty weapons due to lost limbs is so painful. The regeneration was able to heal back some HP and kick start the leg growth process, but it was ultimately the queen�s healing prowess that put my six legged-self back into the battle.

The upgrade I really want is this one:

[Limb Regeneration Gland: Rather than increasing the HP that is restored, this upgrade greatly enhances the Regenerative Gland�s capacity to restore missing or damaged limbs in a timely manner.]

This is going to help a lot!

It isn�t as if the Regeneration Gland won�t restore HP at all, but it will be able to restore missing body parts much faster than before.

Come to think of it, I�ve had legs chopped off, antennae cut off� since when did I get so used to having parts of my body removed and then grow back? Spending time in this world is really starting to twist my perspective.

Well, it isn�t as if I need to keep my human way of thinking. I�m not even a human anymore. It�s only natural that a few aspects of my mindset would change. Here in this world for example, I have to directly kill in order to eat. Whereas I, like most humans, would never have had to slaughter my own food when I was on Earth.

I�m not sure if this makes me more respectful of life or less�

On the one hand, I have to kill a lot of monsters in order to survive. On the other, at least I�m not lying to myself about the lives that are sacrificed to sustain my own.

Something to think about another time, now it is time to mutate.

Confirm my selection!

Oh, right, the itch�

Huu-garka-fludge!

When the itch fades, I�m gasping on the floor of my narrow tunnel while Tiny watches with a faint tinge of amusement in those vacant ape eyes.

Yuck it up, monkey breath. You�ll get your chance to mutate. Just watch when I point and laugh at you when you writhe on the floor!

With my Regenerative Gland mutated, my status has now come to look like this:

Name: Anthony

Level: 8 (core) (II)

Might: 31

Toughness: 22

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 50/50

MP: 50/50

Skills: Excavation Level 3 (II); Improved Acid Shot Level 5 (II); Enhanced Grip Level 1 (II); Crushing Bite Level 7 (II); Advanced Stealth Level 4 (II); Piercing Chomp Level 3 (II); Tunnel Sense Level 4 (I); Mana Shaping Level 2 (II); Forceful Mana Level 2 (I); External Mana Manipulation Level 1 (I); Mana Sensing Level 1 (I); Core Mechanic Level 1 (I); Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 1 (I)

Mutations: Focused Eyes +5; Infrared Antennae +5; Restrictive Acid Gland +5; Legs +1; Infused Mandibles +5; Diamond Carapace +5; Limb Regeneration Gland +5; Pheromone Gland +2

Species: Mature Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 0

Biomass: 0

Yesss! Only Legs and Pheromones to go before I have achieved the perfect all-round status of mutations.

In total, I�m going to need another twenty-six Biomass to max out everything.

Come on man, twenty-six? It�s so many! Mutations are expensive. If we assume I get another mutation advancement at +10, which may not even be the case, it will take forty Biomass to take a single body part from +5 to +10. If I don�t get the advancement until +15 then it will take one-hundred and five Biomass for a single mutation advancement!

Ugh�

Hopefully, when I get stronger, I�ll be able to hunt prey that will provide more Biomass. It�ll take a hundred years to upgrade everything if I have to keep feasting on unevolved monsters.

CRASH!

Speaking of which, another customer. Welcome to the business district!

Turns out a Lion Ogre has tripped into the second pitfall, lured by the faint scent of Biomass lingering in the air due to my bait. I�ve been trying to use only the right amount of bait. Not too much to bring in monsters from far away, but not too little that it�s impossible for the monsters to detect it.

Thankfully the balance seems to be about right.

I treat the Lion Ogre as a serious opponent, since they look like they can do some serious damage with their grotesquely over muscled upper bodies. After dosing the creature with a few shots of acid and launching a surprise Chomp, the monster doesn�t get much chance to fight back before falling to my sneaky assault.

[You have defeated a Level 7 Lion Ogre.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 9. One Skill Point awarded.]

Oh ho! Thank you, Gandalf, for your blessing! So close to Level ten and evolution. Argh I can hardly wait. I�m so excited I�m basically dancing on the spot.

Whoops! Better stow away this food before anything happens.

Cover over the top of the pitfall, drag the prey into the tunnel. The Lion Ogre is so large at the shoulder I have to break it up in order to fit it all through. Tiny has awoken once again, ready to eat. You always sleep when the work is happening but always wake up when it�s time to eat, eh, Tiny?

Despite my grumbling I don�t begrudge my little ape his meal. Grow up nice and strong, Tiny!

In fact, I don�t take much Biomass for myself, just two points. After Tiny has eaten until he�s about ready to burst, I use what�s left to rebait the trap. Every time this little chimp eats and then sleeps, he wakes up discernibly larger. I want to pack this little guy full of Biomass until it starts running out of his nose and let him sleep to see if I can accelerate his growth. For some reason, I just feel that he needs to be in fighting shape as quickly as possible.

Perhaps I�m just finally getting sick of his slacking.

Predictably, after packing the food into his face until he can barely move, Tiny rolls himself away to a comfortable spot in the tunnel and falls asleep. He didn�t quite finish the entire monster himself, but he came rather astonishingly close considering the relative sizes! Has he upgraded his stomach to include a pocket dimension or something?

With my own successful Level up and mutation, as well as the prospective growth of my little ape friend, I�m certainly hopeful for the possibilities tomorrow may bring.

I manage to pass a fairly profitable day in this manner.

During the quiet moments, I constructed a third pitfall trap and added it to my expanding network, Excavating another tunnel to connect it all together and gaining another Level of Excavation as my reward.

My crude traps have proven surprisingly capable, netting a consistent flow of prey I�ve been able to finish off and conceal within my tunnels in short order, feeding the majority of the Biomass to Tiny and taking a little for myself.

Over the last day I managed to take four Biomass for myself, which I�ve stockpiled for the time being. I�m close to taking two upgrades to the Pheromone Gland, but I don�t particularly see the need. It isn�t as if I�m cooperating with the colony right now, so the pheromones won�t help achieve anything.

I did start to feel a little guilty about leaving the colony to its own devices for this long. After digging out the third trap, it seemed beneficial to connect the ends. And thus began the arduous process of connecting my small network of pitfall traps to the main nest by way of a rather long underground tunnel.

This particular project will take a long time to actually complete. Especially considering the need to return to the traps to check on the situation every now and again, as well as making frequent, ever longer trips to transport the dirt and rock I�ve dug back to the surface.

Trying to discreetly dispose of all this dirt is proving more and more difficult. I�ve had to travel ever farther away from my pitfalls to find a good space and the area around my traps is starting to look a little odd, with small piles of dirt and stone popping up everywhere.

Thankfully, whenever monsters stomp through the area, they tend to scatter the dirt and pound it into the ground, concealing my work to some extent.

The biggest change over the last day has been Tiny. My loafing ape friend has been living the perfect life of luxury, waking up in time to feast and immediately sleeping. Every time he wakes up, he�s grown a little larger. After repeating this process four times, he�s shown significant growth, basically equalling me in size.

Your springtime of youth is finally here, Tiny! Entering the growth phase is an important time for any monster. Perhaps Tiny is now in his teenage years. All he wants to do is sleep and eat. I�m half expecting to find him in the tunnel scratching crude graffiti on the walls and listening to punk music.

Joke aside, the little guy is no longer that little. If I can continue to feed him at this pace, he�ll be able to display some strength in combat sooner rather than later. I can already see his arms starting to thicken up!

After killing a few more monsters I�ve gained the experience, but I haven�t managed to get that crucial Level ten. Every time I finish off a monster now, I await the pronouncement of Gandalf with all of my soul. He refuses to give me those sweet, sweet words.

I know patience is required but it�s so hard when the goal is so damned close!

I should just dig some more, let the feeling of ant-Zen wash over me and take away my worldly desires.

I return to digging out my tunnel, eager to connect my small network of traps to the colony. Gradually I lose my sense of time as I work, it�s just so satisfying.

There are no needs, no desires, or wants. There is only the soil and rock in my mandibles, and the peace of�

CRASH!

Prey! Get �em!

Dropping the hunk of rock I�d been carrying, I sprint towards my traps, eager to reach my next victim in moments.

Furiously scrabbling at the walls of the pit and tearing apart the branches that have fallen around it is a rather large, agitated rabbit.

Rather than the smaller rabbit I encountered during the brawl next to the ant hill, this one is larger and more brutish, its fur thinner and patchy, almost as if the creature were sick. The thickly muscled limbs testify to its brute power, which only makes it appear even sillier with the small bunny ears emerging proudly from the top of its head.

As it thrashes, I manage to get a decent look at the face of my prey. A more beastly and hideous face I haven�t seen yet. A fetid, diseased pallor, fluid leaking from each eye and missing teeth are the first impressions I get, and further glimpses don�t improve my opinion at all.

This rabbit looks absolutely disgusting. The stench of death seems to ooze from every pore of the monster�s body, filling the air and washing into the tunnel. I almost feel as if my whole body is in pain just by looking at the beast.

Wait a second�

Quickly checking my HP, I learn that I am in pain! I�m losing Health just by being near this thing.

How is it damaging me just by being nearby? I�ve never seen anything like this. The longer I delay, the more Health I�m going to lose. Stop slacking about, Anthony, get in there!

POW! POW!

Reaching the opening of the tunnel, I present the back-zone, eyeball it over my shoulder and unleash two blasts of the Restrictive Acid, catching the monster across the chest and one front paw.

I don�t want to take too many chances with this beastie. I�m concerned I may get poisoned or diseased if I were to be bitten or scratched during the fight, best to slow it down first before I tussle in close quarters.

I�d happily wait and give it a few more bursts before fighting, but my HP is ticking down every second and I can�t wait for too long. This thing needs to be finished as fast as possible.

As the beastly rabbit roars and groans, its patchy fur proving little protection from the burning liquid that covers it, I hear a surprising sound.

Before I can dash forward and apply the righteous fury of mandibles to this rotting rabbit, from behind me, screeching in fury, comes Tiny. His bat face is twisted in rage as he hurtles forward using his knuckles and hind legs to propel him.

I can�t even react before my ape friend has thrown himself on the much larger rabbit, punching and biting in a frenzy.

What the hell. Suddenly you want to fight? Why now, you slacking ape!

Hurriedly I charged after him, not wanting to see any harm come to my friend and investment after all this time.

The rabbit reacts aggressively to Tiny�s assault, yowling in a high piercing wail that drills straight into my ears, seeming to attack my mind. Not enough though! Shaking off the distraction, I charge up my Infused Mandibles.

You�re not going to last long, you damned rabbit! You and your death aura are not long for this world.

I use my Crushing Bite at the same time, maximising my damage and ripping straight into the nearest limb, the front leg on the rabbit�s left side. As my mandibles crunch home, something feels off. The flesh of the creature feels thin and weak. Ghastly juices and ichor pour out, all over my face.

Oh. My. Gandalf.

What the heck is this disgusting stuff? Ugh! Kalla frazzle, it�s in my eye!

As soon as the liquid hits me, a burning pain resonates through my head. Is this acid! Has this stupid monster got acid blood or something?

My HP is dropping even faster now. If this stuff eats through my carapace and into my head, I�ll be done for. Activate Regeneration!

This darned rabbit is one nasty customer! Standing next to it will cause damage and apparently biting into it also causes damage.

What the hell.

In the end I still have to finish it off as fast as possible. As the regenerative fluid flows through my body, I keep the Mana pouring out of my core and into my mandibles, preparing to take the damage and continue to chomp!

Shockingly, this half-dead looking rabbit is still able to use the limb I attacked, despite a good chunk in the middle of it being crushed to bits. Since the rabbit is twice my size, it looms over me when it manages to get its feet under it.

Tiny continues his rampage, thrashing the rabbit on its back, punching and tearing at it, inflicting whatever damage he can. This is a completely new Tiny I�m witnessing here today. What happened to your chill, little guy?

The rabbit lashes at my carapace with a paw swipe, claws dripping yellow, virulent looking fluid emerging from between the toes. I don�t yield to this! Trust in the Diamond Carapace! Rather than dodging I brace for the blow and prepare my counterattack. I need to deal decisive damage, lest all of these damage over time effects drag me down!

BAM!

The paw smashes into my side. Man, those claws are sharp! Sparks fly as those disgusting claws rake across my hide, gouging into the carapace but failing to break through.

Phew! Now receive this bite.

My mandibles, charged full of Mana roaring out of my core, are ready to clamp down. I just need to maximise my damage potential.

Instead of trying to attempt anything fancy, like reaching for the neck, I lunge before the rabbit can recover its balance, aiming directly for its midsection. This is going to hurt�

Crushing Bite!

CRUNCH!

With all my strength I rip directly into the creature�s torso, shredding muscle and bone. That disgusting ooze erupts again, coating my head and jaws, but I don�t stop.

Bite!

CRUNCH!

The fetid flesh parts so easily under my assault, I�m not even sure I need to use my Infused Mandibles to inflict serious damage, but I won�t turn it off. This thing needs to go. I can�t even see Tiny now. My vision is blocked by this acidic fluid and the monster itself.

One drawback of having to attack with your face, is there is extremely little distance between my eyes and the enemy�s body. I�m basically getting an eyeful of suppurating rabbit flesh and fur. If it weren�t for my compound eyes giving such a broad range of vision, I�d be super disoriented doing this.

Bite more and die, you damn rabbit!

CRASH!

A tremendous force smacks me into the ground, causing my legs to splay as the rabbit brings both fists down on my back in a hammer blow. The sheer mass of the creature adds force to the strike, knocking the wind out of me.

Guh� That one stung.

I hastily check my HP. Thirty left! With this acidic fluid on me, my Health pool is rapidly shrinking. I need to finish the fight.

Shaking off my dizziness, I push myself back up before the rabbit prepares its next strike and dive forward once again. You. Will. Get. Bitten!

CHOMP!

Utilising the Piercing Chomp this time, my mandibles rip into the wound I�ve already carved, the pointed edge of my mandibles tearing deep into the rabbit�s chest, destroying it internally.

Under my assault, the rabbit finally shudders and grows still. I hastily withdraw my face and retreat in time to see the foe slump to the ground defeated.

My face is still burning. I�ve never fought a monster that was more of a disgusting pain in the butt than this thing.

At least� I got the� experience?

Tiny is standing astride its back, his right fist plunged deep into the monster�s back, his arm crackling with blue electrical energy.

He slowly withdraws his hand, the flashing and arcing electricity fading. There�s a satisfied look on his bat face as he shakes his limbs out as if just finishing a draining workout.

I look from Tiny to the monster and back to Tiny. The monster is clearly dead. Did you kill-steal me, you cheeky ape? Unbelievable!

I�ve not heard the voice of Gandalf. This can only mean one thing. I didn�t get the last hit!

Tiny jumps off the monster�s back and runs towards me, his face shining with a pleased light. He honestly looks like a puppy. A bat faced, ape-puppy.

You�re lucky I like you, cheeky ape!

I can�t be mad at him. I reach up with one of my legs and give him a pat on the head. You did good, little guy, even if you stole my XP and delayed my evolution, I�m not mad. Oh, whoops, my claw might have been a little tight there on your head. Sorry, buddy.

Well, what do we do with all of the Biomass? Is this stuff even edible?

After the burning of my face has faded, I check my HP to ensure my Health isn�t still going down. Thankfully it isn�t. Whatever was causing that constant Health loss is clearly no longer in effect now that the monster is dead.

Remembering that nauseating feeling of biting into the creature, I gingerly approach it. Hoarf! The smell is terrible. Like someone had a pet rat that died, was left in the cage for a week and then flushed down the toilet after dropping a possessed deuce. This here, this is a new low in the realm of smell.

Are you just gonna let the Biomass sit there, Anthony? You have to at least try it, man!

Ok, ok, ok. Here it goes�

Oh, my word. Oh heck. HURK!

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Quantum Mors Labor Tabes. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Quantum Mors Labor Tabes unlocked.]

Gasp! Just� just let me breathe for a sec. Phew. So, monsters can throw up.

I mean, the taste was very similar to the smell, so I shouldn�t be too shocked, but holy moly. That was next level.

Let�s check this profile.

[Quantum Mors Labor Tabes: Decaying Death Rabbit. Evolved from the Blood Tooth Rabbit, this monster has adapted the shadow affinity of the base creature into a fearsome death affinity that manifests in a malicious aura that drains life from all around it, causing the monster to lead a very solitary life indeed. The body of this monster is filled with death energy at all times which will have several effects.]

You don�t say? You know what, if I was to describe the taste of a body filled with death energy this would likely be it. Was this some form of zombie rabbit? Is that what you�re trying to tell me, huh? Zombie rabbits now?

There is no way I�m eating the rest of this thing.

Even Tiny is looking at me as if I�m insane for trying it. Are you the smart guy now, eh! Just because you�ve grown a bit and can fight, you�re going to get all uppity with me?

What a waste. I�ll guess I�ll just have to wait and hope this place will reclaim this mess. I don�t think I have to worry about monsters being attracted by the smell. Rather than the juicy allure of food, this is more the horrific stench of the damned.

In fact, this thing might even discourage monsters from entering this area and make all three of my traps useless! Please just disappear, you horrid mess!

While I�m waiting, I�ll return to digging. Too many developments are happening here, I need to clear my mind. The body of the Death Rabbit melts into the soil and vanishes about half an hour later, taking that reeking stench with it. A pleasant surprise is that after all the remains have faded, a small round gem is left lying innocently in the dirt.

A core!

Since I don�t have a particular use for it, I�ll leave it partially buried in the wall of my underground tunnel for now where it won�t be disturbed. I�ll definitely come back and experiment with this later.

I reset the trap, minus bait, and return to Excavating.

About an hour later I received a pleasant surprise.

[Excavation (II) has reached Level 5.]

[Tunnel Sense has reached Level 5. Upgrade available.]

Oooo. Tunnel Sense must have been Levelling as I tried to aim this tunnel at the nest while digging. This is nice, I haven�t been able to upgrade a skill for some time.

[Tunnel Sense (I) [?] Tunnel Map (II): Cost 1 SP. This upgrade improves the sense of underground direction with a powerful memory aid, allowing for the full recall of tunnel layout.]

Sounds nice. I�ll take it!

Once I confirm the upgrade, that strange sensation flows over my brain, like someone tickling my mind. When the feeling eventually fades, I eagerly attempt to think about my Tunnel Sense and something shocking appears in my mind.

It�s a map! A three-dimensional map of all the tunnels I�ve seen. This is insanely useful. Suspended in my thoughts like a picture, I can recall all the details in every tunnel I�ve crossed, everywhere in the open space, and inside the nest connected together in one giant map.

There�s even the marking I left in the tunnels when I fled the upper chamber. This is so good! I�ll never be lost again no matter where I go underground. I�ll always be able to dig my tunnels exactly where I want them. And my trap network has almost been connected to the nest. Only a little farther and a slight course correction are needed.

My Tunnel Map skill is Level one though, which means it must be able to Level up. I shouldn�t think of it as perfect. There must be something to improve about it or it wouldn�t gain XP, surely?

At any rate.

All praise the Tunnel Map and all praise to Gandalf!

Full of cheer, I get back to digging. Reconnecting with the colony is a top priority to see how things are going and help as needed. And as a bonus, my trap network can assist the colony�s growth as a safe way to secure Biomass.

Once I�ve achieved this, I�ll keep hunting until I�ve evolved. Then, fortified with my immense new strength�hopefully�I�ll keep scouting, pre-emptively protecting the colony from danger and seizing whatever chances I can find to improve myself. At least, this is the plan.

It takes another hour to finally break through to the nest. My tunnel has connected to the shaft that descends from the ant hill about a third of the way down. I didn�t want to dig farther. It would make the tunnel significantly longer, and if I connected it to the brood chamber it would pose an unnecessary risk to the colony itself.

Dirt and rubble falls into the tunnel, dropping down to the colony below. Oops, sorry about that! A few workers making their way up and down look at me oddly before going back on their merry way. Everything seems fine, I guess? I might wander down and check how things are going.

Descending into the nest, the workforce continues to be busy in my absence. Food is being shuffled around and the nest is constantly maintained. Poking my nose in on the brood chambers, the larvae are bigger but don�t look nearly so full. In the new chamber, the many eggs that were stored there have hatched except the larvae look anything but full.

We have a food issue.

Not to worry, little grubs, I shall provide. Straight back to the trap network I go!

Tiny is still sleeping, slumped against the tunnel wall with both arms tucked under his chin. The guy is much taller than me now, which is an achievement for him even if I�m longer than I am tall. Gone are the days I could look down on his bat face.

Seems all the traps are set but no prey thus far. Hmmm. The colony needs an injection of food to keep the brood growing. I could leave my trap network and risk hunting in the open. That could get complicated� Best case, I get into a nasty fight which may drag the workers in again. Worst case, I get myself killed, buried beneath a flood of monsters.

Reluctantly I decide to wait. The idea behind the trap networks is solid and has proven to be effective so far, allowing me to fight prey one-on-one and quietly dispose of the Biomass without attracting unwanted attention. With humans scurrying about above ground and the hordes of monsters swarming everywhere, discretion is called for.

If the trap network is not getting results quickly enough, add more traps!

Work on traps four and five begins, now! Before they�re finished, a small group of Wolf Dragon Cubs tumbles into a pitfall and Tiny wakes in time to join me in battling them. Between the two of us, they�re quickly dispatched. Tiny even steals one last hit from me. I don�t mind that, however.

I give one body to Tiny and use two others to ensure all my traps are baited, which leaves one to donate to the colony. Gripping it in my mandibles, I carry it back to the junction between my tunnel and the colony and drop it on the edge.

It isn�t long before a worker spies the Biomass and grabs it, carrying it back into the heart of the colony to be dispensed.

Good on you, buddy!

Feels good to contribute to the colony again. If even only a little.

Back to the network I go. I spend another day battling the soil and occasional monsters before my new traps are fully prepared and baited. Tiny takes a good chunk of the Biomass and I forfeit my share to the colony for the time being. Those larvae need feedin�. I�m so exhausted by this point that I fall into a very welcome state of torpor.

Feels good to nap.

Crash!

I startle awake to the welcome sound of snapping branches and rustling vegetation as another pitfall cover collapses under the tread of a monster. Hopefully not an unevolved centipede again. What is the point of fighting a single centipede, honestly?

I prod Tiny awake and scurry off towards the trap, six legs flickering with speed. Time is always of the essence when a trap is triggered. The faster I get there the more disoriented and tangled the prey will be.

ROAR!

An ear splitting, shattering roar echoes down the tunnel.

The sheer power of that roar hits me almost like a physical blow. The blood inside me runs cold. What the heck was that?

Approaching the pit, the head of a terrifying monster glares at me. Seems this monster is too large to fit entirely in the pitfall, and appears to have stepped on the pit with its front legs and tumbled headfirst. I can only imagine the rear of this creature is currently sticking out above ground, its bum exposed to the air even as its face is ground into the dirt.

It would all be so amusing if it weren�t for just how fearsome this creature looks.

It�s a bear. A massive, massive bear. Thick dark brown fur streaked with green frames, its brutal, furious eyes. Its snout opens wide to reveal its gaping map as it roars again, stunning me senseless with the force of its rage.

Holy moly!

Two front paws, each the size of my midsection, scratch, and shove at the ground, trying to push its massive body out of the hole. On the end of each paw, long claws gouge into the ground, raking long grooves into the dirt walls of the pit.

You know what. I don�t have to fight everything that drops into my traps, right? Not sure if ant vs bear is something I want to experience. Could just let this one go, right?

As I�m wavering in my decision, this enormous bear is almost blind with rage as it struggles to right itself, a shuffling noise picks up behind me, and my heart just drops.

Please don�t. Just� Not now.

My silent pleas go completely unheard as Tiny dashes past me, his eyes alight with the joy of battle and his body radiating enthusiasm for the fight.

I mean� I� fine.

FINE!

You may be dumber than a stump that has been uprooted and carved into the shape of a smaller, less intelligent stump, but nobody could question your courage, Tiny.

Or are you just too stupid to understand the concept of odds? How could I let Tiny risk himself and not assist? Obviously, I cannot. This action will not stand. Onward, Anthony, to battle!

I kick the motor into high gear and hurl myself forward as fast as I can. I want to try and reach the bear before Tiny does, so I can draw the aggro and protect my ape friend.

You haven�t finished paying me back yet, Tiny. You�re not allowed to kick the bucket!

When Tiny notices I�m about to overtake him, he speeds up. Stop it, you stupid ape! I�m trying to save your damn life.

Oblivious to my good intentions, Tiny is sprinting with all his ape might, grinning from ear to ear and screeching out his simple-minded lust for battle.

Bless you, you idiot.

Gritting my mandibles tight, I exert every ounce of my strength into my legs, moving them so quickly they flicker in my eyesight. Is this the legendary shadow step technique?

It�s enough. Triumph surging in my heart, I pass my ape companion at the last possible moment and break out of the tunnel and into the open pit.

Ha ha! Take that, Tiny, you slug!

Oh right, the bear.

Before I have a chance to throw the brakes on, I smash into the bear, effectively head butting it rather close to the eye, and quite hard due to my impressive momentum. The bear of course is extremely impressed by this action and attempts to repay me by levering its face out of the dirt and biting my head off.

Duck!

The massive jaws snap shut directly over my head. Thankfully, I�ve learned from experience and pull my antennae down when I duck. I�m not losing my antennae this time!

Now I�m face to face with a truly terrifying and enormous bear monster. The scale of the monster is truly impressive. This thing is probably the same size as a full size Tiny or the titan-croc, but is likely even more massive. I suspect this thing weighs more than those monsters. It�s packing some serious heft.

Watch out! Paw!

Leaping back, I manage to avoid a fearsome swipe of the beast�s paw, the claws whistling past my face.

At least the monster is considerably restrained in this pit, it�s massive upper body and head occupy almost all the available space, making it rather crowded now that Tiny and I have joined the fray.

It would be nice if I try and build up a Mana ball to blast this thing. But with Tiny deciding to engage in the melee, I have to stick in close quarters to divert its attention. In these narrow confines, I can only make use of my finest ant-like qualities to make the best of this situation.

Scrabbling up the wall, I make my way out of the reach of those fearsome teeth and begin to charge up my Infused Mandibles. Waves of Mana flow from my core, streaming through my body and charging my mandibles with vibrant energy.

Hope you�re ready for this, bear!

Crushing Bite!

THUNK!

Holy bristling eyebrows of the white wizard, that is tough!

When I snap my mandibles on the bear�s hide, right on his flank, it�s like I�m digging into a tree trunk with a knife! This bear is tougher than anything I�ve come across so far. I can�t bite through it, even with Infused Mandibles!

The bear roars indignantly in response to my attempted wounding and struggles even more violently to free itself, managing to push its paws under its face and start to lever his head out of the dirt.

I�m not sure where Tiny has got to, no doubt punching the bear in the eyeball or something else horrifically dangerous. In order to keep the monster distracted I keep biting, hoping to carve through this creature�s ridiculously thick hide!

Using the Piercing Chomp this time, I bite again at the monster�s side.

THUNK!

What the heck is this bear made of!

His hide feels as tough as nails. My mandibles, aided by the bonus penetrating power of the Piercing Bite can dig deeper than before, but I still don�t feel as if I�m getting meaningful internal damage to this monster.

This guy�s a tank.

From the other side of the bear, above the constant grunting and growls, I can hear the chirping crackle of electricity. Tiny�s warmed up his fists and is ready to go to work!

There comes a thumping and the entire body of the bear flashes with electrical light. The bear groans and slumps momentarily as the potent energy rips through its body.

Nice, Tiny! I�ll give him another chomp!

THUNK!

Dammit!

I think I was able to bite a little deeper that time, but this bear is a tough nut to crack. I try to pull more Mana from my core, drawing it out faster and faster before I pack it into my mandibles, causing the light they give off to be more intense each passing second.

As the bear makes more headway in extricating itself, I decide to jump off the wall and clamber onto its back. I latch onto the beast�s fur with all six of my claws, holding fast even as I�m rocked back and forth. From this vantage point, its hind legs are getting a decent hold of the ground outside the pit, allowing the monster to pull itself out more effectively. It won�t be long now until this guy is free.

If possible, I need to deal some damage before then.

I pour more and more of my Mana into my mandibles, causing them to crackle with intense power. I swear my face feels like it�s on fire. I don�t think this is particularly safe�

Taking care not to hit Tiny, who continues to fling lightning punches into the bear�s side, I aim and quickly fire off some rapid acid shots!

POW! POW! POW!

How do you like that?

To be honest, this bear doesn�t seem to mind all that much. The Restrictive Acid is doing its job, hardening and sticking to everything that it hit. It�s sizzling and biting into the creature�s hide on its right side and front leg. Only the bear doesn�t respond in any meaningful way.

I think he�s too strong for the restriction to be effective and his hide is too thick for the acid to deal any real damage.

If this bit doesn�t work, then I hope I can grab Tiny in my mandibles and drag him into the tunnel where the bear can�t follow, because we might be snowed!

My last-ditch effort is gearing up to be the Forceful Mana shout, but I�m not sure I can fight this creature head on and condense enough Mana to do the kind of damage we need.

Whatever, just bite now and worry about the rest after!

Piercing Chomp!

CRUNCH!

Snapping down so hard the muscles in my head positively creak, my mandibles gouge into the bear, meeting the incredible resistance that had frustrated me so far. They keep going, biting deep.

Finally!

[Piercing Chomp (II) has reached Level 4.]

This time I got a reaction.

The bear bellows in outrage and violently twists itself left and right, redoubling its efforts to extract itself. Pushing hard with its front legs and lowering its back, it manages to lever enough momentum to drag the top half of its body up, pressing its paws into the pitfall wall to prevent falling in again.

Time for one more Piercing Chomp!

CRUNCH!

Every part of my face is screaming, and I�m not sure if it�s because I�ve focused too much Mana or that I�m on the verge of pulling a face muscle. My mandibles bite home, ripping through the bear and lacerating muscle and bone.

The bear roars furiously and slumps down slightly in response to my assault, giving Tiny just enough time to ready himself in the bottom of the pit. He charges himself up with electricity until it crackles over his arms like writhing electric eels before leaping and delivering a two-handed punch directly to the belly of the bear.

I have two thoughts at this moment. First, good job, Tiny, that looks so awesome. Second, don�t you dare steal the last hit from me, you cheeky ape!

As the electrical attack zaps straight through the beast, stunning it and causing tremendous internal damage, I pull everything I can from my core, desperate for one last strike.

The place where I�ve bitten the bear twice now is looking quite rough. The bear�s brown and green hide is torn and punctured, offering far less protection.

This will be the last strike. I really don�t think my mandibles can take any more Mana. I swear they�re starting to give off smoke!

Crushing Bite!

Tearing straight through the monster�s defence, my mandibles exhibit unparalleled crushing force, tearing through bone and organs without mercy. I ram my face into the wound, giving myself a truly unpleasant eyeful while allowing my mandibles to reach as deep into the bear�s vitals as possible.

This had better work!

My mandibles can take no more and the flow of Mana from my core slows before stopping entirely. I�ve spent almost all my Mana on these few bite attacks!

But it worked.

[You have defeated a Level 14 Ursus Terra Tyrannos.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 10. One Skill Point Awarded.]

[You have reached the Level cap. Evolution menu available.]

Take that, Tiny. The XP is mine!

I�ve finally done it. FINALLY!

I played the patient game. Minimised my risks. Limited my exposure, which slowed me down for sure, but I�ve finally reached this point. I�ve been so tempted. Lord knows how tempted I�ve been to dash out of the tunnels and into the forest, battling monsters with reckless abandon!

It would have been glorious. A sea of battle and endless challenge. Only a true monster would be able to rise above that struggle to evolve. The choice of the brave, the bold and courageous!

Also, the choice of the idiot.

I, Anthony, am not an idiot. I think. The proof is in the pudding! I�m alive and I�ve reached Level ten without drawing unwanted attention or putting the colony at risk. Who could possibly argue that I made the wrong decision?

Bwahahahaha!

Honestly, I�m extremely delighted. Tiny is giving me a look of betrayal, as if I�d stolen candy straight from his hands. Are you that addicted to kill-stealing from me, you cheeky monkey?

Cheer up, Tiny. We�re going to have plenty of Biomass for the moment.

As pumped as I am to evolve, we have to deal with everything in order. Things must be in their proper place before evolution can occur. For now, we have an enormous bear worth of Biomass that we need to handle.

For starters, this bear is so damn big we can�t just drag it down into the tunnel in one piece, so the unpleasant task of butchery falls to me. Now that the monster is no longer alive its unnatural Toughness is somewhat reduced. Despite being rough going, I manage to get all the food down into the tunnel. Then I take a few more moments to reset the cover of the pitfall.

Down in the tunnels, Tiny is already drooling all over himself, ready to start cramming his face. There is so much food down here it�s taking up an inordinate amount of space. No way we finish all of this in one go.

May as well get to it!

Om nom nom.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Ursus Terra Tyrannos. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Ursus Terra Tyrannos unlocked.]

[Ursus Terra Tyrannos: Earth Bear Tyrant. This monster is known for its extreme Toughness and strength. Surprisingly fast, this beast is ferocious and easily aggravated. Known for its affinity to the earth and natural environs, this monster has powerful regenerative abilities.]

It was tough alright. Not sure I was able to witness these regenerative abilities though. Perhaps Tiny zapping him with electricity mucked up his internals.

At any rate, he�s food now.

By the time Tiny and I are groaning from full stomachs, I�ve managed to stow away seven points of Biomass from the bear, which takes me up to 15. Despite this, we�ve only eaten half of the damn thing!

Before mutating and having a nice nap, I start transporting the remainder to the colony. On the third trip I�m met on the way by a fellow Mature Worker Ant. There seems to be more of these guys around now. Perhaps the experience harvested by my earlier actions has been successful as I�d hoped?

When we pass each other, and something I�ve seen a few times but haven�t experienced much myself happens. I have seen ants do this a lot in the wild and in my own pet colony when I was a human. When two workers meet each other, they frequently inspect each other using their antennae. Communicating in some strange way, checking the scent of the other ant to ensure they�re of the same colony.

So as this worker comes towards me, it approaches me head on, stops, and we engage in a short moment of slapping each other about the antennae.

It�s almost like an extended high five. Though I�m not precisely sure what information is communicated, there�s a vague feeling we�re generally pleased to see each other. Then off he goes, exploring the tunnel towards the traps, probably following the scent of the Biomass I�ve been carrying.

I pass the same worker on the way back. Apparently, they had little trouble finding the rest of the food and have started transporting it to the nest. I can probably leave the rest of that task to the workers who will no doubt show up after following the trail.

Looks like my trap network will officially become colony territory soon, as I�ve no doubt these workers are going to start laying down food pheromone trails leading here. This could be a good thing in the end, as I may not even need to be here for the traps to provide food for the colony. If I set and bait the traps before leaving, there will probably be some workers hanging about looking for food due to the trails. When a monster falls into the pit, these workers will attack and call for reinforcements. Together, they should be able to take on most monsters without my help.

This could work out much better than I thought.

With the rest of the bear taken care of, it�s time for the next order of business. I need to spend my Biomass!

I need twelve points to take my pheromones from their current +2 all the way to +5, which will leave me with three, enough to take my legs from +1 to +2 and have one point left in change.

It�s a shame I couldn�t fully upgrade everything prior to evolution. I don�t think it would make much difference to anything, but for the sake of completeness I�d been hoping for it.

Don�t be too choosy, Anthony. Be grateful for what you�ve got.

Ok, here we go!

[Do you want to mutate Pheromone Gland to +5 and Legs to +2? This will cost 14 Biomass.]

Yes!

[At this Level you can choose a mutation advancement. Please select from the menu.]

There must be some juicy choices for this one!

The menu in my mind, an almost extravagantly long list of possible upgrades to choose from, each with its own pros and cons, doesn�t fail to impress. Longer Lasting Pheromones, Wider Range Pheromones, Mind Affecting Pheromones, Sensory Manipulation Pheromones? Poisonous Invasive Pheromones!

Holy crap! There are so many ridiculous options. Control your saliva, Anthony. Preserve your dignity as the highest Levelled worker in the colony.

There are more and more juicy choices appearing every moment. Who would have thought the Pheromone Gland would have such a wide variety of directions to choose from? Offensive, Defensive, and Manipulative Pheromones, it�s all here!

Then I see an option I�m not sure I can turn down.

[Pheromone Language: Vastly increases the variety of pheromones produced and increases the sophistication of the pheromone release system, creating a more robust way of communicating using pheromones.]

I could� talk?

This would actually give me the ability to talk? That�s fantastic! I�ve been living inside my own head this entire time. It would be wonderful to be able to talk, even if I�m just talking to myself. I don�t have vocal cords, the best I�ve managed so far is to snap my mandibles at things in an attempt to express mood.

I�m not exactly sure who I�d be able to talk to. I mean, the workers can sense pheromones, but without this particular upgrade they wouldn�t really be able to talk back. Would they be able to understand what I�m saying?

Even if there is nobody in the colony I can speak to, this is the only method I�ve come across that gives me a chance to communicate at all. If I pass it up, who knows if I�ll be able to find another option? Perhaps at some point telepathy will come up as a brain upgrade or a type of magic I could learn. And how far in the future would that be, if it even happened?

No. I�m not willing to let this chance slide, I will seize it.

Select the Pheromone Language upgrade!

Time to writhe on the ground again� Rachafluzzz!

After a few minutes, when the mutation is completed, I stand up and inspect my status.

Name: Anthony

Level: 10 (core) (II)

Might: 31

Toughness: 22

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 50/50

MP: 50/50

Skills: Excavation Level 5 (II); Improved Acid Shot Level 5 (II); Enhanced Grip Level 1 (II); Crushing Bite Level 7 (II); Advanced Stealth Level 4 (II); Piercing Chomp Level 4 (II); Tunnel Map Level 1 (II); Mana Shaping Level 2 (II); Forceful Mana Level 2 (I); External Mana Manipulation Level 1 (I); Mana Sensing Level 1 (I); Core Mechanic Level 1 (I); Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 1 (I)

Mutations: Focused Eyes +5; Infrared Antennae +5; Restrictive Acid Gland +5; Legs +2; Infused Mandibles +5; Diamond Carapace +5; Limb Regeneration Gland +5; Pheromone Language Gland +5

Species: Mature Ant Worker (Formica): Skill Points: 1

Biomass: 1

This is it. This is me before my second evolution!

Biomass spent, food dispensed, traps are taken care of, and Tiny is happily sleeping off his food coma.

The time is ripe!

There is something rather exciting and freeing about being able to become a completely new creature via evolution. A human changes over their lifetime, going from baby to toddler to child to teen to adult. The process is so slow that the change doesn�t always feel meaningful. Only in hindsight can you appreciate the different stages of growth.

I didn�t even make it to adulthood in my life as a human!

I�ve not even been in my new world of Pangera for a single year and I�ve already reached my second evolution. If I were to line it up with the stages of human life, then I began as a baby monster, currently I�m a toddler monster, and I shall promote myself to child monster!

Considering how weak the ant species is individually, these analogies feel pretty accurate.

Ok, no more stalling, Anthony. Time to go for it!

[Would you like to use the Evolution menu?]

I would!

[Congratulations on reaching the maximum Level for your current species. Evolution will allow you to change your form and increase your stats as a monster.

Warning: Evolving will make securing XP and Biomass more difficult as fewer rewards are given for preying on creatures less evolved than yourself.

A Special Core has been detected, by advancing your Core beyond normal limits, special options may be available.

Your evolution options are as follows: � Juvenile Queen (Formica)

� Soldier (Formica)

� Monster Worker Ant

� (Special) Command Ant (Formica)

� (Special) Mind Ant (Formica)]

What the heck? So many choices! I only had two last time, and one of those involved changing my species. Let�s slow down and not prejudge. Take the options one by one and let the system explain.

[Juvenile Queen (Formica): A young queen of the Formica species. This evolution includes wings and an egg laying organ allowing the new queen to begin her own colony.]

Ok. Wings, egg laying. All very queen-like stuff. Just one problem. One little query that I have� I�m a boy! Why the heck do I have a queen option?

Wait.

I remember now� How could I be so stupid? I�ve known this for ages. All workers in a colony are female!

I�m a female ant! Dammit.

Is it funny, huh? Taking someone who was a boy and stuffing them into a female monster body. Is this your hobby, you lousy bearded buffoon? May your robes be ever grey!

Grrrrr�

Look, when I calm down and think about it, being a male ant wouldn�t be that good. Male ants basically mate with a queen and crawl away to die, acting like disposable fertilisation machines who are usually eaten by the colony. In this world, I�m not even sure male ants exist. The queen seems to be doing just fine without mating, laying eggs at a steady rate. I�m not really sure monsters in this place procreate in a normal way at all.

I guess gender isn�t that important to a monster. But still! I�m annoyed.

Not sure I want to be a queen anyway. The wings sound awesome. Being stuck inside the colony laying eggs? I mean� I may be moving away from my humanity, but laying eggs out of the business district just doesn�t sit right with me.

Next option.

[Soldier (Formica): A larger, more combat-oriented worker. This evolution includes +10 Might bonus to size.]

Avoiding the queen route, becoming a larger, fighting oriented worker would be the choice. This selection seems to come without any free body upgrades and instead grants a significant boost to the Might stat, all of which is dumped into size. With all the energy in my core I could probably take my might score up another ten or fifteen points easily, making me a seriously strong ant.

Sounds interesting, but let�s move on.

[Monster Worker Ant: Losing the species Formica and becoming a generic Monster Worker Ant. This selection allows two free body part choices as compensation.]

This selection is back. I would lose my species and this time get two free choices of body parts. Is this because my species would change but generally everything else would stay the same?

As nice as two free new body parts would be, I would be forced to abandon the colony and go back to leading the solitary monster life. I guess I�d still have Tiny with me� I�m reluctant to take this choice. I like staying with the colony, it�s almost like having a family, something I didn�t get to experience as a human all that much.

Just having a place with other creatures in it who won�t attack me is a nice feeling.

I don�t think I�ll take this choice.

Now for the real juice. Let�s see if the special evolutions meet my expectations!

[(Special) Command Ant (Formica): This special evolution unlocks a new evolutionary chain, a Formica Commander. With this evolution comes a +5 bonus to Might and a choice of Aura Gland which would be tuned to affect nearby monsters of the same species.]

Oooh. Special indeed! This choice completely lives up to the hype. A new evolutionary path of commander ant, eh? The Might bonus is nice, plus there�s that free Aura effect to buff nearby workers. That is super sweet!

When I fight with the colony, all of the workers would be stronger? Oh boy, that is really tough to pass up.

One to go.

[(Special) Mind Ant (Formica): This special evolution unlocks a new evolutionary chain, a Formica Mind Ant. This evolution grants a +5 bonus to Cunning and a free Magic Affinity Gland.]

Ohhhh baby. This is also tasty! Cunning was freakin� expensive to upgrade last time, so a free boost is pretty damn attractive. Not to mention the Magic Affinity Gland. Maybe it lets me produce one kind of force naturally. Like how Tiny can make lightning or the titan-croc spits fireballs.

As expected of the special evolution choices. They really do live up to the billing. I definitely plan to choose one of the special options. They both give me choices that are extremely tempting and hard to come by, with the added bonus of not removing my Formica species tag, so I don�t have to risk expulsion by the colony.

But which one to choose!

The Command option is obviously more fighty, and the Aura bonus is so tasty. The idea of being an incredible ant general, leading troops into battle is so appealing my heart is thumping just picturing that stirring scene.

Whereas the Mind Ant, magical ant supreme, fast tracking my development as a monster magic user, giving me a free affinity to boot. I could be spitting fireballs or lightning, or goodness knows what! I don�t even have a clue what the extent of the possible choices could be.

This is hard!

I mean, the Commander choice obviously makes me stronger when acting together with other ants. The Aura will be able to show its full effect only when I�m with the rest of the workforce. Whereas the Mind Ant will be more suited to a lone ant style. Although that isn�t to say I wouldn�t be effective when fighting together with the colony due to my increased magical prowess.

The queen may even have a magic affinity organ for healing magic, making her the ideal support mage. I could do something similar or just max out on damage�

I can�t decide! I need some time to think.

It would be so nice to have someone to consult on this�

I only just gained the ability to talk and I�ve yet to test it out. Maybe I�ll try to chat with a few ants, see if the queen is awake. I doubt they�ll be able to understand me, but I might get some inspiration during my trip.

After checking on my traps and making sure Tiny is still sleeping soundly, I make my way down the long tunnel towards the colony. On the way, I try to get the hang of my new Pheromone Gland.

Using it before was extremely easy. My ant instincts were able to discern which scents could be released and there�s only about eight to choose from. Post upgrade I can tell that the number of scents has dramatically increased and the organ itself has improved the complexity at which it can release them, blending them to create an even wider variety of signals.

As part of the mutation process, my innate understanding of the gland has improved, though I still need a little practice properly controlling it. After all this time being unable to speak it feels strange to be communicating. Even if it is via a sophisticated scent language.

Let�s try this�

�Hoii!�

Er�

�Happo!�

Nope.

�Hello!�

Ahha!

A passing worker stops and gives me a few friendly taps with the antennae before moving on.

What the heck? Was that ant responding to my greeting! Just to check, I wait for another worker to move past and I try again.

�Hello!�

Again, the worker stops and engages in what I�m increasingly interpreting as the ant high five before moving on.

This is working. They can�t really talk back, but at least they�re able to detect the friendly nature of my communication.

I could almost cry. It�s so nice to speak!

Now that I know I can talk to my colony members, even if they can�t talk back, I don�t hold back and start to throw words at every worker I meet on the way into the nest.

�Hey, how are yor?�

Still needs a bit of work on that one.

�Hoos that work goging for yar?�

So close!

�Blice to see you agarn.�

Nearly had it!

As I wander about cheerfully greeting the ants, they typically respond in the same way, by tapping me about the antennae before going back on their way. I�m not really fussed by the lack of response to my blather. Just talking and getting the hang of my new mutation is reward enough for me.

Checking in on the brood, the little grubs are looking a little larger and a little less sad than they were before. Pleasingly plump and growing they�ll become new workers soon enough.

After shouting, �See you flater!� to the workers, I make my way down to the queen�s chamber. By this time, I�ve gotten used to saying whatever is on my mind to every ant I see. So when I walk in front of the queen, who is accepting a grooming from her attendant workers, I give a friendly wave of the antennae and say, �Hey there! How�s it hambing, Queen?�

Ponderously the enormous ant turns her head before looking down at me with her large, unblinking eyes.

�Hambing?� she said.

�Uhhhh�� She can talk!

The queen continues to give me a quizzical stare while I remain dumbfounded.

�Hambing?� she asks again.

This sensation of talking and listening using scent is very different to what I�m used to. When the queen speaks, I�m finding my antennae are not only able to distinguish her words, but also the difference in tone and voice. Her voice sounds patient and warm.

I concentrate harder to try and not make a mistake in my words.

�I uh, misspoke, your, uh, queen� ness.�

�Ah,� she said, turning away and becoming still as the workers continue to groom her.

I�m still a bit stunned. The queen can use Pheromone Language too? Did she choose this as a mutation advancement or is it something she gets for being a queen? Does it really matter? I have someone to talk to!

After a moment, I try to strike up the conversation again.

�Hey, Queen, uh� How are you?�

This is apparently the best I can come up with.

Once more, she troubles herself to face me before replying, �Well. Are you well?�

I�m almost giddy. A conversation. An actual conversation!

�Oh� uh, I�m good! I mean, well!�

�I am glad,� she says, beginning to turn away again.

�Could I get some advice?� I blurt out.

The queen looks back to me, patiently waiting for my words. Talking to a giant monster ant is a little more difficult than I expected it to be. Much more difficult than, say, having a chat with your school friend, not that I did much of that�

It seems kind of obvious, but I need to keep in mind that the queen isn�t human and unlike me, she never was. I�m not exactly sure how her mind works and what�s important to her. She�s probably not even that old. I mean, technically in this world I�m less than a year old! Not that it really matters to monsters, I guess.

�I�m uh, getting ready to evolve. I just wondered if you� had any advice on what I should choose?�

She didn�t respond for a long moment, and I was starting to think I might need to repeat the question when her antennae reached down and tapped mine before tapping me on the head.

�I sense a strong core in you,� she said.

�Uh� yes?�

�You have fought well for our kind. Choose as you wish and continue to use your strength on behalf of our family.�

�But I�m not certain what evolution is best!�

I can sense a faint amusement in the words of the queen as she responds to me.

�All paths lead to greater strength, and greater strength will improve the lives of our people. To the colony, it matters not what you choose.�

Having said that, she decisively turns away, giving me one last pat on the head with her antennae. I think I�ve gotten all the help I�m likely to get from her majesty at this time.

I start to make my way back to my trap network. Putting aside the buzz I�m getting from having my first conversation in months, I have to say that what the queen had to say makes perfect sense from the colony perspective.

Every evolution makes the monster stronger. The colony itself doesn�t give a rat�s backside which one you pick, so long as you use your new power to assist the growth of the colony.

In the end, it just comes down to my personal preference. Do I want to be a Commander or do I want to be a Magic Ant?

A general or a wizard.

I mean, when I think about it like that� It has to be a wizard, right? Like, this is magic we are talking about. MAGIC. I could lord over the battlefield like a friggin� god if I can throw fireballs and lightning bolts around. Even what little magic I�ve seen has been super powerful!

I want to be a magic user, for sure. Mind Ant is the only way!

I rush back to the trap network and find everything much the same as I left it. Tiny�s still sleeping and the traps are prepared but without any prey for the moment.

Excellent.

Waste no more time on your doubt, Anthony. Commence the evolution!

Select Mind Ant!

[Your Monster Core has been formed and enhanced. It will provide bonus energy to your Evolution.]

[Manual Evolution is active.]

As it did the first time, my consciousness is pulled into the evolution space, with dizzying menus and options available to customise the process.

The first that strikes me is that I have far more energy to spend this time around. My core only contained 10 MP when I first evolved and that provided a significant boost to my stats. This time I have five times that amount. I can�t wait to see what I can do with it.

The first order of business is to select my Magic Affinity Organ.

[Magic Affinity Organ: This body part will attach to the Core and drain magic power from it, converting that magic power into a specific type of energy to be used by the owner. This shortcuts manual energy transformation and makes the selected type of magic much easier for a monster to use. When the organ is filled, the drain on the Core will cease.]

Basically, the organ takes MP from the core until it�s full, converting it into the type of energy I select when I choose the organ itself. All right then, let�s see the list!

Holy mother of Gandalf! Why is this list so long?

All the usual elements are here: fire, water, lightning�clearly Tiny has this one�air, earth, poison, metal, wood, light, dark and more. Then there are some more far out ones: death, mental, space, entropy, time, healing, creation, illusion, chaos and on it goes!

What the hell am I supposed to choose?

Ok, ok, ok. Seek calm, seek calm� Imagine digging. Digging away at the soil one mandible load at a time, tunnelling into the earth for ages and ages�

Phew.

Think through the process logically. Firstly, we will put aside all the natural elemental choices. Why? Because they�re boring! I�m sure they�d be powerful and effective, but they sound so simple! Shoot fire or ice� simplistic. Who�s to say I won�t be able to just learn that magic without the aid of an organ? I�ve seen humans casting fire spells and I�m fairly certain they aren�t drawing on special body parts or monster cores to do so.

If they can cast that magic, then, as a former human, I can cast it as well. It would be a waste to select something plain like that for my one choice organ!

No, no, no. I�ll have to choose something wilder. Something strange and difficult. Something that would be far harder to learn on my own!

But which to choose?

Which magical energy type�

Death sounds awesome. An unstoppable tide of undead ants would be metal as heck. Only, my own family would need to be killed first. Plus, there may be a chance I�ll end up zombified like the Death Rabbit. No thanks!

Time? I mean, time would be amazing but how the heck would it work? Stopping time? Speeding up time? Travelling through time! Maybe too complicated. I don�t have the brainpower for that.

Entropy? Perhaps a bit too grim and macabre.

I want something I can use in a fight, that also has some utility to make use of outside of combat in a significant way. I will always choose the all-around option.

No weak points is my motto!

Perhaps it is wasteful to think this way. I just don�t like the idea of something that has only one purpose. I want options, dammit!

Illusion? Too artsy. I was always terrible at mental imagery and drawing.

Space? Could be amazing� I�m not certain it�ll be fighty enough though.

Healing is tempting, except it won�t help me out much when I�m on my own.

Chaos? Sounds a little� unpredictable?

Mental would almost certainly allow telepathy of some kind. I�m not quite as starved for conversation now that I have the Pheromone Language though. There�s always a chance I�ll be able to gain this ability another way without spending this precious selection on it. I�ll pass on this for now.

Maybe� maybe this one?

Gravity.

I feel like it has potential! What does Gandalf have to say about it?

[Gravitational energy allows for the creation and exertion of push and pull forces beyond natural limits.]

Sooo� What would happen if I used my Forceful Mana ball and made it out of Gravitational energy? Would I be able to push monsters away more powerfully?

Could I lift them into the air and drop them?

Could I make myself float?

Could I crush my enemies into the ground?

Could I even squash them in on themselves, squishing them into a tiny little ball, compacting the Biomass into a super dense bite-sized snack!

I like it, I like it a lot! I�ll pick this one.

With that selection out of the way, time to decide what to do with the remainder of my evolutionary energy. I�ve got cash to spend and I�m gonna make use of it.

The first thing is my +5 bonus to Cunning for choosing Mind Ant. With my Cunning already so high, the cost of five Cunning is extreme. Far higher than spending on Might. By my estimate, that +5 to Cunning would cost as much energy as +20 Might.

After all, the Might stat is effectively adding more muscle, bone and sinew, whereas making changes to Cunning involves creating and connecting millions of neurons to form new and better brain matter.

I�ve decided to use my bonus and some of my reserve to do what I didn�t dare consider in my first evolution�create a second brain!

Normally, creating new brain matter would be a rather complicated affair. Thankfully it�s relatively simple for me. The evolution menu assists and guides my thoughts as I try to shape what I want. A small, additional brain to help bear the mental load of shifting and shaping Mana. Practicing my Mana skills has been so mentally demanding that the rate of progress is too slow. In addition, practicing these skills leaves me so tired, I can�t reasonably be Levelling these skills and doing something else at the same time. To raise my skills all the way, I�d have to become a recluse in the colony, letting the rest of the workers feed me and never leaving. I�m not about to become a sponge!

Hopefully with this second brain I�ll be able to reduce the strain and practice my magic skills while also hunting and Levelling. Maximum efficiency!

In the end I use a significant amount of my energy finalising my new brain matter, resulting in an overall gain of +7 to my Cunning. There isn�t any point investing in this brain if it isn�t able to perform its job properly, so I gave a significant amount of extra kick in there to make sure it can take the load I�m going to demand of it.

There really isn�t enough energy left to consider going into the body part menus. Idly I take a quick look at the Aura organs and their cost in energy is simply staggering! For a moment my heart twinges with regret but I push it to one side. The organs are in the menu. There�s still a chance I�ll be able to purchase one in a future evolution down the road.

The focus for this evolution is building the magical foundation!

I briefly consider putting more energy towards Cunning but eventually dismiss the thought. The cost is simply too high and there�s lower hanging fruit to pick. I turn my attention instead to the Will stat. This one is also costly. Although, boosting the strength of my thoughts and my mental defences will serve me well in my pursuit of magical excellence.

After weighing the gains against the costs, I spend a good chunk of energy on my Will, raising it by +4.

About thirty percent of my evolutionary energy is left to spend and I apportion it evenly to Might and Toughness.

To get more bang for my buck, I reluctantly decided to emphasise size over density, going for a 3 to 1 ratio. This will make me significantly larger than before while giving a higher raw stat boost. For Toughness I make the split roughly the same, increasing my external defence over my internal by a 3 to 1 ratio.

Anthony is beefing up!

I was already able to fight reasonably well against most creatures in the forest. Hopefully with these upgrades I�ll be physically capable of holding my own before my magical abilities can Level up and show their true strength.

After every last drop of evolutionary energy has been spent, I take a step back and have a look at my stats.

Name: Anthony

Level: 1 (core) (III)

Might: 41

Toughness: 29

Cunning: 32

Will: 22

HP: 64/64

MP: 50/50

Skills: Excavation Level 5 (II); Improved Acid Shot Level 5 (II); Enhanced Grip Level 1 (II); Crushing Bite Level 7 (II); Advanced Stealth Level 4 (II); Piercing Chomp Level 4 (II); Tunnel Map Level 1 (II); Mana Shaping Level 2 (II); Forceful Mana Level 2 (I); External Mana Manipulation Level 1 (I); Mana Sensing Level 1 (I); Core Mechanic Level 1 (I); Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 1 (I)

Mutations: Focused Eyes +5; Infrared Antennae +5; Restrictive Acid Gland +5; Legs +2, Infused Mandibles +5; Diamond Carapace +5; Limb Regeneration Gland +5; Pheromone Language Gland +5; Gravity Magic Gland

Species: Mind Ant (Formica): Skill Points: 1

Biomass: 1

This seems satisfactory to me. As a trade-off by focusing more on size I�ve been able to gain a solid ten points of Might. I�ll probably need to focus on increasing my muscle density in a future evolution so I can regain my balance between size and strength.

With my increased external Toughness and my Diamond Carapace, I�m more confident than ever before in my defence. Despite the relatively smaller stat changes, my gains in Cunning and Will are the big-ticket items in this evolution. Though the numbers may be small, I�m sure the results will be impressive.

Checking over my body parts, I�m still annoyed I haven�t managed to get all of them to +5. The long-neglected legs will be next, followed by my new Gravity Gland! I can�t wait to advance them both. It�ll be harder though, since after this evolution my ability to take in Biomass will be penalised yet again. Even a titan-croc will provide half the Biomass it did before since I�m actually further evolved than it is.

Bwahahahaha! Feels good.

Ok, confirm the evolution!

My mind starts to spiral away, like water down a drain when the plug is removed, and before long, everything sinks to black.

Consciousness slowly returns by drips, a tiny thought falling on top of a little sensation until my mind pools together and I awake.

Hah! Whoa!

For some reason I feel like I was deep under that time. I technically don�t sleep, so fully losing my awareness is becoming more and more strange. The sensation of actually �waking up� is kind of unnerving.

The next thing to hit me is�

Ah! Everything feels weird. My body is larger, my brain is different, I have new organs and my carapace feels strange. This sensation is really weird!

I mean, it was bad the first time. This evolution, however, has been a much larger change overall.

Especially the brain. The feeling of having more brain than before is so odd I can�t even properly define it. It�s like I can think� more? As if I�m constantly thinking about the flow of energy in my core, which is almost empty, even when I�m not thinking about it�

The other thing is the sharp increase in size. Last time I spent my Might equally between size and density, so my change in height and length wasn�t quite as pronounced as it is this time. It�s hard to estimate clearly, but I think my size has increased by about thirty percent. That�s a lot!

I take a moment to stretch out my legs and wiggle each of my three body segments, trying to become accustomed to the new me.

Waking up as a whole new creature is just so bizarre. I don�t think I�ll ever get used to it. I can almost feel that I�m leaving my human-self further and further behind with every evolution. I mean, I have an extra brain now for goodness sake!

It�s ok, just going to take a little getting used to, nothing to worry about.

I start flicking my antennae around to get my bearings. I�ve been sleeping for a little while, though not too much has changed in here. Tiny has woken up but doesn�t seem willing to bother himself by moving at all. I think he�s waiting for more prey to drop into the traps.

Here and there a few workers are poking about, attracted by the scent of prey that lingers in this place. This is good since they�ll be able to assist and call for aid if anything were to fall in.

I�m so excited to try and practice my magic skills. It�s a shame my core has basically been emptied over the course of my evolution. I won�t be able to do much. This first test is all about checking it out and seeing how effective it is.

Eagerly, I sink my mind deep into my core. So fast!

Almost as if I was already there my mind flashes into the core, the trailing wisps of magical energy floating and billowing like smoke. I tease some of energy out, grasping it in my thoughts and directing it out of my core and into my body.

The sensation is so strange. Compared to before the strain is greatly reduced.

Before, moving the Mana was like lifting a super heavy rope, which had to be dragged about to put it where I wanted it to go. Mana Shaping was even more difficult. Not only did I have to lift this stupidly heavy rope, I also had to try and make designs and patterns on the floor with it, and if a mistake was made, the whole thing would get knocked out of order.

Now the weight of the rope has been reduced. Actually, that isn�t even it. The rope still weighs the same but someone else is helping to carry it, so I can mostly focus on moving rather than lifting it.

What makes the feeling doubly strange is that the person helping me lift the burden is also me, from a different part of my mind.

It�s� odd.

And the effect is everything I hoped for! Without the sheer, mandible gritting difficulty of moving Mana, I can instead devote my mind clearer to the task of shaping and directing the energy.

So much better!

This is going to make my magic skills practice dozens of times simpler.

Excited, I activate my Mana Sensing ability and am pleased to discover just how much quicker and easier it is to activate.

Immediately my mental senses extend, reaching out into the tunnels around me. There�s the core I saved and stored away in the tunnel wall. And what�s this? I�m detecting another one nearby�

Tiny?

That cheeky little chimp has a core already! I thought his core was consumed when he was recreated? Did it grow back? Or did he already gain enough experience to condense one?

I guess it doesn�t matter. For now, the core is small, not containing much energy at all. I�m going to have to help him charge that thing up so he can evolve with a little more pizzazz!

Finally, I exert my mind on the external Mana in the air around me. This is still very difficult. My new sub-brain is able to lend a hand, but shifting external Mana is far more difficult than shifting internal Mana. Thankfully it isn�t as draining as before. I�ll still be able to practice it.

My priorities will be on raising Mana Shaping and Mana Sensing for the moment. Forceful Mana has proven to be effective, but the efficiency is terrible. I can practice Mana Shaping for a long time using the same amount of Mana that firing one Forceful Mana ball would take up.

My Mana regeneration will be slower now than it was before, having to fill two pots whenever my Gravity Magic Gland bottoms out to empty, like it is now. I�m so excited to see what I can do when that little thing is packed full of energy and ready to go!

I can feel it now. A slow drip of Mana is being diverted from my core and into the new body part where some process is being undertaken to transform it, changing it into the new Mana type.

There is still something I need to experiment with that I haven�t really had a chance to do yet. The Core Mechanic skill. I feel like it will do something critically important but I�m just not sure what.

I have a vague feeling in my mind. Scattered thoughts that tickle away at the edges of my perception, thanks to the ideas planted in my head when I purchased the skill. They hint at some amazing possibilities. With my second evolution successfully concluded I think it�s time to divert a little attention to exploring this skill.

I crawl along the now cramped tunnels and use my larger mandibles to lever the core out of the dirt. Once I have it, I move back toward Tiny and away from the workers. I�m a little concerned they might try and grab it, returning it to the queen before I get a chance to check it out myself.

The queen has enough cores for the moment, thanks guys! This one is mine.

When I finally drop the core onto the ground near Tiny, the bat faced ape monster looks curiously at the little spherical crystal. For a moment I think he�s going to snatch it up but before I can even prepare to slap him on the head, he�s already grown tired of it and rolled back over.

Odd� I thought he wanted this to reinforce his own core. Seems like he�s not too interested. You�ll max out that core, Tiny, even if I have to ram monster cores down your throat!

Just not yet.

Turning my attention back to the spherical gem I bring both of my antennae into contact with it before activating the Core Mechanic skill.

A wealth of information blooms in my thoughts. All sorts of things about the monster the core came from, the Death Rabbit. More importantly, I can sense the� instructions of the monster, the DNA. It�s almost as if within this core is the design and instructions for the Death Rabbit and I can read them all.

Not only that, I can change them.

I can redesign this creature using the Core Mechanic skill!

There is so much information contained within this core. It�s hard to describe exactly how my mind perceives it. Kind of reminiscent of a massive filing cabinet full of data, numbers, and values, but I can�t open all of the drawers.

I can sense there are things I don�t have access to, things beneath the surface that my current Level of skill won�t allow me to influence. Still, this is a big development! Using this skill, it would be possible to custom design your own monsters. Tweaking every body part and stat, potentially even their behaviour.

Let�s give it a try! I�ll do something simple to start with. Take the instructions regarding the statistics and shift them slightly, swapping points from Might to Toughness. Simple.

How hard can this be?

Hrrrruuungaflooey! Are you kidding me!

One measly attempt to exert my mind and change the instructions, and a powerful resistance yanks against my will. The information recorded in the core does not want to change. Only by supreme effort of mind was I able to shift it ever so slightly and grip the change tight in my mind, refusing to let it return to what it was before.

After holding my change in place for a few seconds, it gradually settled and became stable. The new normal for this monster core.

Holy munching mandibles that was difficult!

To be honest, if I hadn�t upgraded my Will and Cunning, I�m not even sure I would have been able to do it at all. Clearly the path of core manipulation is just as draining as that of magic, requiring extremely potent mental resources to use these skills effectively.

There�s definitely a tremendous amount of potential in this skill. I�m not exactly sure what I want to do with it, but Levelling it up and hopefully upgrading it at Level five will reveal more secrets and uses. Besides, it would be a waste not to try and make use of my new mental faculties. If I have the juice, I should put it to use!

Heh.

CRASH!

Oh, hello! Seems some prey has decided to drop in. Dashing towards the source of the noise, there are several workers already ahead of me, rushing to the scent of prey. The Hatchling Workers look even smaller after my size increase. Little adorable things scuttling about under my legs.

To think I was one of them not that long ago. Desperately trying to scrape XP and Biomass out of the hostile caves by myself.

Not to worry, little guys. Together we shall overcome.

The prey turns out to be another large centipede, which is quickly covered in acid and carved up for transport. More and more workers appear once the message gets out, pooling into a solid crowd chomping on the Biomass before long. I manage to snag a chunk and give it to Tiny before returning to the rabbit core and burying it in the wall again. I want to see if I can keep making changes to the same core to grind out XP for the skill.

No sooner have I finished burying the core, I�m disturbed by yet another crashing sound. Another trap has been triggered!

This particular prey is sensationally unlucky, falling into the pitfall at a time when the traps are swarming with workers. Many of them working over the centipede and others just milling about, attracted by the pheromone trails left behind by the traffic.

Our new guest is a Wolf Dragon, writhing and rolling at the bottom of the pit, attempting to release itself from the vines and branches. I wince as many of them are snapped by the creature�s struggle. I�m going to have to replace all of those, you mutt.

Behold the fury of the insect!

Workers are already launching acid and preparing to swarm the beast. I simply join in the tide and land a few pleasing chomps before the monster is put out of its misery. For some reason the traps seem quite popular at the moment. Before the ants can start their messy work of transporting the Biomass, I activate Mana Sensing to see if there�s a core in the body. Sadly not.

I manage to secure another slice of Biomass for Tiny and sneak a few mouthfuls myself. I don�t gain any points but it�s enough to abate my hunger a little.

Tiny fed, I crawl up my pitfall traps and start to reset them, covering over the opening with layers of branches, vines and vegetation until they blend with the forest floor.

I manage to pick up on something almost as soon as I crawl out of the dirt and into the open. There are a freaking ton of monsters about. Like, a lot.

The sounds of prowling beasts are everywhere. Low growls rumbling through the air and the snarling, furious impacts of battle are in almost every direction. Where the hell are all these guys coming from?

Several times I have to pause my work and descend into my pitfalls and out of sight when groups of monsters or particularly large individuals pass through. With so many enemies in the area, it�s even more important that the colony keep a low profile. Even if they�re enormous for ants, and even if there are hundreds of them, the colony does not have the strength to fight off a never-ending horde of larger, stronger beasts.

The pitfall trap plan is working well for the moment, no need to change course.

In fact, the pitfall trap is working even better than anticipated. With a steady stream of workers scrabbling around the trap network, attracted by the calls to battle and food trails, I�m not really needed to help them win the individual battles against their surprised and incapacitated victims.

With the traps set, I can trust the workers will be able to handle the situation on their own. The only problem I can imagine is if the workers start to climb out of the pitfalls and explore the forest above, potentially attracting monsters that will start a loud fight.

To try and prevent this from happening, I do several laps around the upper edge of every pitfall, laying a thick pheromone message of �Dangerous! Don�t come here!�

Claws crossed the workers will comprehend the message and won�t climb out of the pitfalls. I can�t really think of anything else I can do. The workers should be able to take care of the prey that drops into the network whenever I�m absent.

When the work on the traps is finished, I�ve managed to regenerate a bit of Mana, which I immediately put to use practicing my Shaping skills. The difference in difficulty to before is like night and day, putting a smile on my ant dial even as I continue to draw the Mana out of my core and bend it to my will.

[Mana Shaping (II) has reached Level 3.]

Yes! Already the sub brain is paying dividends.

As a bonus, I�m not even particularly tired after emptying my core. What a refreshing feeling.

Tiny fell asleep after finishing off his snack and I rudely poke him awake with one foot. C�mon, you ape, let�s go exploring!

I�ve been cooped up in the trap network for a while now. I want to head to the top of the ant hill and see what�s happening in the forest.

Tiny complies, grumbling along with my repeated prodding and we head towards the nest and up the tunnel to the ant hill. My little ape friend is getting less and less little with every passing meal. The tunnel is going to get a bit cramped for him soon. I might have to make a few modifications in order to ensure my ape companion can fit.

After a bit of climbing, we emerge out of the top of the ant hill and survey the forest. Time to go scouting.

Ever since I arrived in this strange underground forest it has been bustling with activity. Monsters appear from all over the place, coming out of goodness knows where and constantly fighting.

But now� something seems a bit� off.

As Tiny and I emerge on the top of the anthill, we�re greeted with a sheer wall of sound. The cacophony from the surrounding trees and giant mushrooms is piercing. Howling roars filled with endless bloodlust and thirst for battle echo from the ceiling to the distant walls over and over again.

The forest has lost its chill.

I think we can officially call it. There is absolutely nothing calm about this forest in the present moment. Is everyone having a bad hair day? Wake up on the wrong side of the� cave?

And from the colony perspective, elevated above the tree line, a few things have changed.

There aren�t any trails of ants leading off into the forest. Having a quick sniff around, the scent paths have dissipated as well. Conditions out in the woods must have gotten too hot for the workers to handle, so they�ve retreated into the nest. Even the ever-present guard detail is positioned higher up the mound than before, retreating from the trees close to the base of the ant hill.

For whatever reason, the place is going completely gonzo.

Every time I come up here, I think the monsters have reached peak crazy town, but it looks as though there is always further to go!

Tiny doesn�t seem to care. His somewhat glassy-eyed stare darts from sound to sound, almost as if he�s calculating the nearest fight he can hurl himself into. If you start running off into the forest, Tiny, I swear on the facial follicles of the bearded one I will drag you back into the nest by your head!

Almost as if he can feel my simmering rage, the bat faced ape settles onto his heels, adopting a waiting posture.

Damn right!

I�m determined to scout the surrounding terrain. If the humans have returned or there are creatures massing against the nest, I want to know about it. I can�t be gone for long, however. The fact the workers have effectively abandoned food gathering operations up here means the colony is even more reliant on the trap network than I thought. Without me to undertake the tedious work of resetting the pitfalls, that food source will quickly dry up.

I�ll give myself a few hours, see what I can see and return.

Onward, Tiny! Let us move out.

With my ape companion in tow, I cautiously make my way into the forest, ensuring Tiny stays behind me at all times.

The Stealth skill must show its incredible strength now.

Luckily it does. As we slowly make our way through the forest, we are frequently held up by battling monsters of all kinds. Some types I�d seen before, others were entirely new. Possibly the most fearsome was a silver panther looking creature. With each swipe of its paws, blades of air would fly forward, slashing through everything they touched.

No thanks!

When I saw what was going on, Tiny and I backed up and skedaddled out of there. After half an hour of careful stalking I finally come across something I�d been wanting to find for a long time. In the centre of a small clearing is an ugly looking mound with several holes punched in the side, each about fifty centimetres in diameter.

The mound itself is three metres high and I suspect the space inside extends down in the ground.

This here, is a centipede mound!

Probably the source of those darn crawlies that barged into the fight with the rabbits. We aren�t far from the nest here in this location. If possible, I don�t want to leave this mound undisturbed.

How to deal with it though? Only myself and my ape companion are here. I�m not convinced we can take on every centipede inside that mound. There could be as many as fifty in there, slithering over each other in a hideous tangle of legs.

Yuck!

I settle Tiny a little distance away and creep forward, antennae pointing directly at the target.

My heat detection is picking up a whole mess of sources inside there. No doubt about it, this pile of dirt is jam packed full of Claw Centipedes.

Out of curiosity I briefly engage my Mana Sensing and what I see is quite surprising.

From within my mind, the eddy and flow of magic is revealed, constantly shifting in the space around me. To this sense, dirt and rock are meaningless and the movement of Mana within the mound is clear.

Two small beads of light pulse with energy inside. Two monster cores!

Something else though�

Deep in the base, several metres below ground, the Mana there is dense. Rather than wisps of smoke, the energy is moving in potent ropes, twisting, and rotating like a miniature storm.

What the heck is down there!

I seriously want to know. I want to know so bad.

The only way to look is to somehow deal with this entire mound of centipedes� I think it�s time to break out the big guns!

Cautiously, I retreat to the tree where Tiny is waiting, about fifteen metres away from the base of the mound. Scanning the surroundings, I have a moment of peace in which to do my work without being interrupted. To be sure, Tiny and I ascend into the tree and do our best to blend with the foliage.

Gripping tightly to a branch with my claws I begin to employ my most potent move.

Reaching inside of myself I can sense the Gravity Magic Gland and the mysterious energy held within it. Carefully, I begin to draw out that power, bringing it toward my throat to condense it, forming a small ball of furious gravitational force.

Even after nearly a day, and with how enhanced my core is, my Gravity Gland is still not full. With my sub-brain offering a heightened awareness of all things core related, there has definitely been a steady drip of Mana flowing out of my core and into the new gland.

The conversion rate seems really slow. The gland is only thirty percent full after charging ever since my evolution.

I�m starting to think gravitational energy might be super hard to make. At my current rate it would take several days for the gland to be fully charged from empty. There�s no way to know yet if that would be the case for every type of energy. I suspect if I had chosen fire or one of the other elemental selections then the process of converting Mana to that energy type would not nearly be so slow.

It�s possible other types of energy are even more demanding. Time and space are potentially just as difficult. However, the slow rate of charge actually reinforces my confidence that this was a good choice. If it was easy to do then I would have waited until I could have done it manually myself. There would be no need to invest a precious body upgrade to achieve this result. Since Gravity magic appears to be so difficult, choosing to shortcut the process of converting raw Mana into gravity energy is well worth it!

With my sub-brain helping reduce the strain, I continue to draw out the energy from my new gland and pack it tightly into a tiny ball sitting in my throat. The energy flows like immaterial water, hundreds of small streams leaving the gland and twisting through my body before they are caught by the rapidly growing ball.

Thanks to the reduced effort I�m able to keep a better eye on my surroundings during the process. Concealed high in the tree and unmoving, my Stealth skill can display its full potential. I�m not concerned I�ll be noticed. Tiny, however, is becoming increasingly difficult to hide. He currently looms over me even after my evolution. He�s achieved roughly half of his full-grown size at this point. On the one hand, I�m glad he�s getting stronger. On the other hand, we want to hide more than we want to fight right now!

He�s doing his best, I�ll give him that. In my nearly three-hundred and sixty degrees of vision, I can see him behind me, curled into a ball, resting on the intersection of the branch and trunk. It looks like he�s snapped a leafy branch off and is holding it in front of his body to try and conceal his muscular, gorilla-like frame.

The idea itself isn�t bad. It�s just� he�s chosen such a tiny branch that he is barely covered at all. Overall, the picture reminds me of a person trying to cover their privates with a fig leaf.

Still, it appears as if he put some thought into it, which is a win.

From the mound, a centipede sticks its nose out of a hole and peeks about before retreating out of sight. I think these creatures are also finding it difficult to hunt in the current forest. Where once upon a time a roving gang of five centipedes were enough to threaten most things, the number of larger and more threatening beasts is constantly growing. One of those Lion Ogres would thrash a dozen unevolved centipedes without an issue.

My guess is the centipedes in this mound are clustering together and leaping on any prey that approaches too close to their nest, using their full numbers to suppress the foe.

Which means the number of the little crawlers inside the mound is extremely high.

Excellent.

As more Mana pours into the force ball, a qualitative change occurs. I can already tell the gravitational energy doesn�t quite feel the same as normal, raw Mana. The colour is certainly different. Normal Mana is an intense, bright blue sort of colour. This energy is a deep purple. In my mental awareness, the ball of dense power is growing darker the denser it becomes.

Then, with an almost audible sound, the force ball changes. From a small, tightly packed energy cloud, it suddenly shrinks and congeals itself into a perfectly spherical, rapidly rotating sphere. The colour has become so deep, the purple appears deeply rich and thick. As soon as the change happens, the pressure on my mind to control the process has doubled! The energy in my gland roars out in a constant stream, almost against my will, getting pulled into the sphere faster and faster.

The ball appears almost like a spiral galaxy in my mind�s eye. The flowing Mana is caught in the irresistible pull of gravity as it circles around the sphere in tighter circles before finally merging with it. With each passing moment the sphere grows imperceptibly larger and the pull on my Mana becomes more powerful.

What the heck is this?

Have I made a Mana black hole or what! I have to frantically focus all of the mental energy I can summon from both of my brains in order to maintain even a semblance of control over this thing. If I lose concentration for even a second, I�m not sure what would happen as all this Mana packed into the sphere would slip out of my control!

[Forceful Mana has reached Level 3.]

Not now, dammit! Claws crossed this skill improves my control and not the speed that the Mana is compressed.

When the last faint trails of gravitational energy have been drawn out of my gland, there�s an almost unstoppable pull beginning to affect the Mana inside my core. Not good! If I don�t release this thing it could drain me completely dry of Mana. Even if I don�t want it to!

I open my mouth wide.

The centipede mound is perfectly still before me.

The dense ball of Mana, so deep is the purple now it appears black, gradually becomes still.

I bring all my Will to bear on the sphere, forcing with every ounce of mental strength. This is far more difficult than the normal Force Mana ball. It�s like I�m shifting a mountain with my bare hands!

Slowly, minutely, the sphere begins to move. With every moment I continue to exert my mind it accelerates out of my throat and out of my mouth.

BAM!

Like a dam breaking, once the momentum has risen from a trickle to a stream, it explodes into a torrent.

As soon as the gravity sphere leaves my mouth a high-pitched shriek shatters the silence. The sphere blasts forward, slowly rotating all the while. An unfathomable pulling force can be felt, ripping leaves out of the tree I�m standing in as it streaks away.

In response to the sudden cacophony, centipedes begin to pour out of the mound, claws thrashing in the air as they rush to meet the threat.

It�s too late for them.

Even before the sphere impacts the nest, several centipedes are caught in the inexorable pull. Though they attempt to resist, the monsters are ripped from the ground and drawn towards the sphere. Once they come into direct contact with it, they�re ripped apart.

[You have defeated�]

[You have defeated�]

Ignoring the notifications, I stare wide eyed as the sphere thuds into the mound.

At first nothing.

Then the sphere flickers and rapidly expands. In a moment it has grown to be a swirling vortex of death at least three metres in diameter. Everything close to the edges is pulled in by the unfathomable force and summarily destroyed.

After a second the sphere flickers again and vanishes, taking with it the awful shrieking.

In the mound a large spherical chunk has been cleanly carved out, exposing the inside of the nest where the unsightly remains of dozens of centipedes can be seen.

[You have defeated�]

[You have defeated�]

[You have defeated�]

As the voice of Gandalf rains like a chorus in my ears, I can only behold the destruction wrought by my new ultimate attack in awe.

I shall call it� the Gravity Bomb!

The effect of the Gravity Bomb is far beyond my expectations. That was only forty percent of the gland being charged! What would one hundred percent look like? I shudder to imagine. To be honest, I�m not even sure if I�d be able to control that much energy. The Gravity Bomb I just fired had almost escaped my grasp, even with my upgraded mental capacity.

Just goes to show how difficult magic is to perform in this world. With the heavy investment to upgrade my mental capacity, it isn�t necessarily going to be enough to take me all the way to the end of the magic road. In future evolutions I may need to keep pouring energy into expanding my sub-brain and increasing my Will stat.

For now, the results are certainly good enough.

[You have gained XP.]

[You have gained XP.]

The voice of Gandalf continues to echo like a chorus in my mind dozens of times, announcing the same message.

[You have reached Level 2. One Skill Point awarded.]

Even after smashing all of those of Claw Centipedes, I only gained enough experience for one Level. The penalty for defeating creatures a whole two evolutions below me has made itself known.

In the aftermath of the Gravity Bomb, an eerie silence descends. Tiny and I make our way down the tree to survey the damage. As we grow closer to the mound, several centipedes crawl out from deep within their nest, having been protected from the blast by their position below the ground level.

These guys are seriously mad. Claws snatching at the air and mandibles viciously chomping in a clear display of rage. Tiny and I are quite delighted to see them and happily hurl ourselves upon the foe, ready to do battle.

I�m especially glad to see these centipedes survive as they are perfect for training a new skill I�ve wanted to Level up for some time.

My Exo-Skeleton Defence!

This purchase was part of my effort to tank up, buffing my defense to the point I wouldn�t have to fear little beasties like these guys. There hasn�t been a good opportunity to test it and gain experience in it yet.

This handy skill doesn�t improve my carapace in any physical way. What it does do is give me insights and instincts to help make best use out of my external skeleton. I can feel the skill at work in my mind as I close in on the Claw Centipedes and deliberately allow them to strike my body. Seeing the angle of the attack, I almost subconsciously shift to present a greater slope to the enemy, blunting the impact and reducing the surface the clawed beastie can grab hold of.

Gwehehehe. Behold my skillful maneuvers!

Ouch!

Another Claw Centipede approached from the side and bit me! Damn thing. Clearly my skills need improving�

In this way I allow several of the skittering monsters to attack while I stand there and take it like an ant! I try to react as fast as I can, adjusting my position with all the speed and precision I can to reduce any damage taken.

To be honest, very little has gotten through. My Diamond Carapace and improved Toughness is showing itself to be more than capable of blunting the attacks of these monsters. My double, core boosted evolutions are in full effect now! These unevolved centipedes are simply no threat!

[Exo-Skeleton Defence has reached Level 2.]

Haha! The perfect way to improve one�s defensive skills? Taking blows from weak enemies. This is the ultimate wisdom of humanity on display, you foolish centipedes!

Four of the ugly monsters have me surrounded now, battering me on all sides as I continue to make small adjustments in my stance and posture.

[Exo-Skeleton Defence has reached Level 3.]

Bwahahaha�Wait, Tiny, nooo!

Having finished off his own opponents, my ape companion has gleefully rushed over, impressive fists crackling with blue electricity. In only a few short moments he has pounded my training centipedes into paste.

As I stand stunned and staring, Tiny turns his bat face towards me, beaming with pride.

Well done, buddy� Well done.

Tiny flaps his little bat ears and leaps into eating, scooping up handfuls of monster and cramming it into his face.

Gross.

Ok, fine then. I hunt around the mound, curiously prodding here and there to see what I can find. After searching the outside I manage to find a small, tennis ball sized lump which I cannot really describe. When I try to pick it up, I find it�s seriously heavy.

Is this the compressed remains of the Gravity Bomb? Did it really manage to squish all that dirt and Biomass into this little ball!

That is a truly terrifying level of compression. It�s like having a car crusher launched from my mouth.

Kind of a shame I can�t really eat this ball. It would appear to be a rather disgusting cocktail, three parts dirt, one part crushed centipede. There�s probably a couple of points of Biomass mashed into here. What a waste� but a stomach full of dirt wasn�t really what I had in mind for a snack

Tiny will probably eat it.

Now where were those cores?

I detected two monster cores, as well as that strange convergence of energy at the deepest recesses of this nest. I�m very keen to discover just what on Pangera that was.

Quickly activating Magic Sensing, it seems as if one of the cores has simply vanished, perhaps crushed by the Gravity Bomb. The second is deep in the mound, close to that strange energy.

Climbing over the edge, I get my first glimpse of the inside of the centipede�s home. It appears as if the outer layer of the mound covers a large hollow space on the inside. A space that extends several meters underground. These mounds contain even more space than I�d assumed! No wonder so many centipedes can fit in one of these things.

Right at the bottom of the mound, the open space converges again into a narrow hole that extends deeper still. There�s an extremely bright source of concentrated Mana down there. The energy is so thick I can visibly see it swirling in place, leaking out of the dirt and hovering like smoke in the air.

What the heck is this?

There�s also a centipede attempting to hide itself by curling its body beneath the Mana. This centipede appears to have a slight blue tinge to its carapace and is slightly smaller than the normal Claw Centipede. This must be an evolved specimen!

Attempting to hide, eh? Perhaps you were smart enough to realise you couldn�t win in a fight against something that could obliterate the nest in one hit? Thought your only chance to survive was to conceal yourself down here, eh?

Tough luck, buddy. Nobody slips past this ant!

Before the monster can discover it�s been found, I present the commercial harbour to the foe and blast it with acid!

POW!

A horrified screech can be heard. The monster writhes in a vain attempt to charge out of its hidey hole towards me in one last desperate charge.

CHOMP!

[You have defeated a Level 3 Nobiles Iuuenes Scolopendra.]

One snap of the mandibles is enough to fatally wound my smaller opponent. Weak! This is an evolved monster?

Better grab a bite.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Nobiles iuuenes scolopendra. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Nobiles iuuenes scolopendra unlocked.]

[Nobiles iuuenes scolopendra: Noble Centipede Young. This evolution of the Claw Centipede is weaker than the base monster in terms of raw fighting strength, but instead gains intelligence and the ability to coordinate its more primitive brethren.]

Interesting. This evolution is like a leader caste? It appears as if the centipedes who successfully evolve into the Adult Claw Centipede have to leave the nest of their kind. They could hardly fit after all. Whereas this evolution stays in the mound and helps coordinate their fellow kind.

Also, young? That word leads me to believe there are quite a few evolutions ahead of this Noble Centipede, increasing its Cunning and becoming a more capable leader.

Interesting indeed�

I rummage through the Biomass until I manage to locate the monster core which I quickly absorb, taking my maximum Mana up to 52.

It�ll be a long road to 100.

I then start to consume the food, watching the bizarre Mana phenomenon below me. What on earth is going on down there?

By the time I finish my meal, gaining another two Biomass for my trouble, I get an answer.

As I ate, the Mana cloud beneath me grew more intense, radiating a blinding glow that forced me to turn my head away to avert my eyes.

Curse my lack of eyelids. Sometimes an entity just needs to blink!

There is a bright flash and the intensity of the light fades, allowing me to observe what the heck just took place.

The Mana cloud is still there, lazily swirling as the glowing energy leeches out of the walls. And there is also a centipede! A brand new Claw Centipede uncurls itself and upon seeing me staring down at it, immediately opens its claws and charges.

CHOMP!

[You have defeated a Level 1 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

That was one short life�

Holy bushiness of the grey one! This is a spawn point?

I�d yet to gain any confirmation of how these monsters were being created. I hadn�t seen any monsters procreating, giving birth or any such thing, but that didn�t mean it didn�t or couldn�t happen. Here though I have proof. Evidence! Monsters are spawned from concentrated Mana points in the ground, possibly also in caves.

But why? And how! Is it the Creation Mana I saw in the menu? If so, who is doing the creating? Is this simply a natural phenomenon, a bi-product of Mana? It seems ridiculous to suggest that in any place this strange energy forms, monsters will begin to spontaneously pop out of the ground.

Just what is going on?

This explains the behaviour of the centipedes. Makes so much sense. Of course, they would construct a mound around a spawn point. Reinforcements would literally pop out of thin air and begin to work with the rest of them.

Perhaps in each mound a Noble can also be found? Is it the Noble Centipede that gathers its followers together, creating the mound around a spawn point? Or do the centipedes perform this action themselves?

Interesting, nonetheless.

Of course, the other aspect of this discovery is what it could mean for the colony.

A spawn point is essentially a creature manufacturing location. The Mana cloud is already beginning to recover its intensity, growing brighter with each passing second. It is entirely possible this location will spit out a new centipede every hour. Free food for the colony! An endless supply of weak individual monsters to plump up those larvae and swell our numbers.

The only problem is� how to connect it to the nest without drawing too much attention. We aren�t too far from the ant hill, it should be possible�if tedious�to dig a tunnel connecting this location to the nest. Such an endeavor would probably take a full day of digging, even with the Excavation skill.

Once connected, the question becomes on how to manage this location. I would probably need to put down a pheromone trail to bring workers here so they are in position the moment a centipede spawns.

It doesn�t seem worth it to create such a long tunnel and divert the workforce just for one centipede an hour� but securing such a safe and reliable food supply is also important.

With a sinking feeling, I gradually realize what I should do.

It makes a lot of sense to connect this spawn point to the colony underground, so the tunnel will be constructed. To make the investment of workers worth the time and effort, I should also create another pitfall network here, ensuring a few workers remain in this location and still be efficient in food gathering.

This will increase the amount of work I need to do in terms of trap resetting. Once a day should still be sufficient for both networks.

The only problem I have is, this is going to be a whole lotta digging�

Time to embrace the Zen of ants. Dig, Anthony, dig with your very soul!

In the end it took me almost two days of non-stop work.

Tiny amuses himself by smashing the spawned centipedes and consuming the Biomass, then napping until the next one spawns, roughly an hour later. I�m starting to notice a few more changes to my ape companion. His hands seem larger, his fur thicker and even his eyes appear to be sharper than before. I can�t be certain, but I think he might be starting to spend the Biomass he�s gained. Perhaps he couldn�t before since he wasn�t sufficiently grown?

In any case, if he is getting stronger then it�s all for the best.

I lost myself to the timeless mantra of the ant, digging, carrying dirt and rock to the surface, only to return and dig again. I�m once again grateful for my improved stats since I was able to power through the work better than I could before.

I was also able to Level the Excavation skill another two times, raising it to Level 7.

Through stubborn, mandible gripping bloody mindedness, I managed to complete the project.

Five new pitfall traps, covered, and baited with fresh centipede await their first clients. I took the time to lay down my warning message to keep the workers from climbing out of the traps before laying another trail of �food this way� back to the colony.

After connecting the main tunnel, I visited the first network to see how things were getting on. Four of the traps needed to be reset, which was pleasing to see. Judging by the number of workers scurrying about, they�d been quite successful at grabbing food from this location and were keen for more.

I re-lay the food trail a few times until a couple of workers from the ant hill shaft are lured across to the new trap network. When they get there, I manage to shoo Tiny away from the spawn point long enough for the new workers to find a freshly created Claw Centipede. They quickly dispatch it, rushing back to the colony with the Biomass and laying down more pheromones to recruit further workers to this location.

Excellent.

I hold down the fort until the number of ants has risen to a suitable level. I wile away the time by practicing my Mana Shaping and dispatching the lone croca-beast who dropped into a pitfall.

Once again, I fed the Biomass to Tiny and let the colony take another portion. The croca, despite still being fearsome beasts, are unevolved after all. If I were to eat them, I�d end up with a full stomach and little else. Rather than waste so many points of Biomass, Tiny and colony will gain the full benefit.

Finally, as the number of workers increases, I feel comfortable enough to take a well-deserved nap. Which is to say, torpor.

HAGA!

After shaking myself awake it�s pleasing to see the second network has become reasonably populated with workers, enough that I feel comfortable leaving the area to them and moving on.

After one last sweep to reset the traps at both networks, I kick Tiny awake, and we are ready to depart and explore!

Hopefully the colony can benefit from all of this work I�ve done.

With the family as well provided for as I can manage for the time being, Tiny and I venture out from beneath the surface and into the forest, resuming our role as scouts.

I really wish I could find out why the forest has been so much more active than when I first arrived. Is this a permanent increase in monsters or will it start to die down after a while? Because it�s getting increasingly crazy up here.

My fuzzy companion and I almost immediately encounter a Bear Tyrant battling furiously against a Lion Ogre. The massive monsters slash and bite, every blow carrying their immense weight and force behind it.

The Lion Ogre leaps in an attempt to utilize its impressive fangs, trying to rip a huge chunk out of the indomitable Bear. However, the part-lion monster is shocked to find just how tough that hide can be.

Growling like a rumbling volcano the Bear Tyrant shrugs off the Ogre with a toss of its head before drawing back one paw for a colossal strike. The small puncture wounds on the bear�s back are closing over, even as it strikes savagely against its foe.

As impressive as this fight between these monsters is, are you guys really sure you want to be slugging it out in this place?

Sure enough, drawn by the roar of combat and the scent of Biomass, more monstrous beasts begin to show their faces. First a small pack of Wolf Dragon Cubs, then a titan-croc thunders into the scene, followed by a horde of blade tailed mice.

Tiny is practically clawing at the ground, desperate to throw himself into what I can only describe as a monstrous blender of death. Only my indomitable stare and a few threatening snaps of the mandibles prevent him from embracing his inner lemming.

At about this point I decide to nope! the heck out of there. There is no way that melee stops growing anytime soon. If I thought I could get away with it, I�d love to try and nip up a tree, charge a truly massive Gravity Bomb and drop it on the lot of them. After two days of solid digging, the Gravity Magic Gland is about eighty percent full, twice what I had available to annihilate the centipede nest.

Best to err on the side of caution. Some of these monsters might detect me while I charge up such powerful magic. If I were to be attacked with all that energy stuck in my throat, who knows what could happen?

With an increasing cacophony of sound, Tiny and I retreat and find another path. The scene does bring into the focus the biggest problem I have hunting out here on the surface. Any sort of fight is going to escalate into a similar picture in this forest. Even moving about undetected has become more difficult, testing my Stealth to the limit.

Eventually, I�ve had enough.

I�m so tired of bumping into monsters I could fight and win, only to have the Biomass and XP slip out of my mandibles!

There must be a better way to scope out the situation than this.

Grudgingly, I shepherd Tiny to the edge of the forest where the trees and overgrown mushrooms give way to the sheer, craggy walls that support the colossal ceiling to this comically large underground space.

It takes two hours of careful treading, during which I Level up Stealth, before we manage to reach the edge of the forest and take shelter amongst the stone outcroppings at the base of the wall.

Tiny despondently scratches at the rocks as I ponder our next move. I don�t doubt he still regrets having to abandon his plan to submit himself to mortal danger for little to no reason. You may be an increasingly strong lightning ape with a bat face, but you are thick as several bricks stacked on one another, aren�t you, buddy?

This open space has become too deadly for safe travel. Too dangerous for safe hunting. And generally, a massive pain in my ant backside!

Actually� that might be the answer.

The open forest has become a complete no-go zone. An area probably filled with monster spawn points, pumping out fresh Biomass 24/7 like a franchise fast food joint. The rate of monster appearance and the general Level and evolution seems to constantly be climbing. If the forest is out, let�s try and explore a few tunnels!

There are several tunnels that connect to the edges of this massive place. I arrived through one such tunnel after all. There are also caves and small monster habitats that have been carved into the outer wall. All these places are probably much safer for me to conduct my investigations and hunting.

This could work.

Excited, I rouse Tiny with a quick poke, and we begin to clamber over the rocks as we follow the edge of the forest around the wall. I don�t want to get too far from the anthill, so we move clockwise, a path that will take us close to the hill from our current position.

We still come across the occasional monster. They simply wander out of the woods, look around and return to the forest when they can�t find anything.

It�s during one of those moments, as Tiny and I scurry behind a few rocks waiting for a strange panther-like creature to get bored and leave, that the voice of Gandalf perturbs my musings.

[Advanced Stealth (II) has reached Level 6.]

Oh ho! After all my sneaking about through the forest of death I finally get another Level in Stealth, excellent!

Seriously though, this skill is hard to raise! Perhaps I need to be more consciously hiding from a particular target for the skill to gain proper experience? I don�t know. The Level has raised, this can only be a good thing.

After a further ten minutes of searching, we discover a tunnel entrance part way up the wall. From the outside the tunnel appears to be slightly narrow. Tiny should still fit ok, if a little squeezed.

It isn�t hard for me to skitter up to the opening, but my ape companion has to make a more difficult climb before he can enter. Not in the open spaces anymore, Tiny. Welcome back to the tunnels, ant country!

Once inside, I almost feel relieved to be in the narrow, stony confines of a wild, unexplored tunnel again. The walls are brightly illuminated by the scrolling veins of light that have become so familiar to me now. In fact, the light is pulsing more rapidly than ever before. The tunnel is so well lit it almost feels like daytime in here.

Curiously, I activate my Mana Sensing skill and sure enough I get a strong response from the walls. This provides the final proof that these twining vines are in fact full of Mana. Almost like veins transporting Mana throughout this entire underground realm. The realization is quite strange. Almost like I�m inside a giant organism, the tunnels forming the arteries that move the blood-like Mana throughout a peculiar body.

Muahaha! Here in the tunnels my supreme senses are once again able to display their full dominance. Enhanced compound eyes. Heat detecting antennae. Mana detection. All of these things combine to ensure nothing can sneak up on me.

In fact, it will be I who will do the sneaking!

So long as Tiny stays a reasonable distance behind.

According to the Tunnel Map this cave winds slightly downward and curves to the left. There are various twists and turns, but that seems to be the overall trend. After being in the forest where mayhem currently reigns at all times, entering these quiet tunnels is a shocking difference. Being able to hear the faint echoes of my legs skittering or Tiny�s hands gripping the rocks has me jumping at shadows.

Wait a sec!

My antennae furiously wiggle in the air, attempting to confirm the faint sensation I just detected. Yes! A heat signature has whispered against my antennae. Something is approaching.

Turning quickly, I hustle Tiny into a crevice against the wall and wait, hoping we haven�t been discovered. I want to be able to get the jump on these monsters, whatever they may be. This ant is hungry for battle. Mainly for the XP and Biomass. But also, to battle!

This may just be another aspect of my adjusting attitude after being reborn in this world. The thrill and excitement of fighting for your own food, the contest to see which lifeform is worthy to go on, growing stronger on the remains of the other�

It�s just really fulfilling� somehow.

I tense myself when the heat readings draw closer. I think I�m picking up multiple heat sources actually� or perhaps one large one? No, definitely multiple sources, each very similar. Perhaps multiple monsters of the same type.

I�m still not used to my Infrared Antennae sense, dammit!

A moment later they come into sight. There are three of them, climbing upside down on the roof. First impression? These guys didn�t skip leg day. Each of them has four seriously long legs, similar to a spider�s legs, that extend far below their heads before reaching a joint and returning to grip the ceiling. Suspended in the middle of these limbs is their main body. Similar to a leech, they resemble a tube with a hideous fanged mouth capping one end. Two clawed hands extend from the center of their torso.

I�m not currently seeing any eyes on these things. Can they see at all?

Just as the trio of� spider leeches, is about to pass over my head, I reposition myself to display the business district in all its glory. Thankfully my subtle movement isn�t spotted and the tree monsters pass over Tiny and I without twitching.

POW!

Receive the acid of justice!

The spider leech bringing up the rear is doused in Restrictive Acid before it has a chance to respond. The sticky acid immediately congeals, and steam begins rising from it as it burns away at its soft body.

My victim unleashes a horrifying yowl that penetrates my ears. Holy heck! It sounds like one hundred cats just got trod on their tail. What is this ungodly noise?

All three monsters turn towards me with dizzying speed. Before I can release my second acid blast the world goes black.

What the heck happened. I can�t see a thing!

My antennae continue to wave frantically and I�m relieved to find I can still detect the body heat of our three opponents, as well as Tiny next to me. Gritting my mandibles, I activate Mana Sensing as I dodge to one side.

No sooner had I leapt to the left than I feel a sharp wind rush past, followed by the crunching sound of something piercing into stone. Yikes!

Unsurprisingly, each of these monsters has a core, lighting them up like a Christmas tree. Although it�s distracting and difficult to keep the skill active for a long time, I�m going to leave it on for the time being. Combined with my heat detection, it�ll allow me to locate the enemy at the very least.

Tiny started bellowing in rage as soon as the lights went out, growing frustrated that he can�t strike at his enemy in the darkness. Electricity begins to crackle around his body, twisting and writhing down his arms like deadly serpents. He has no idea what to do with it and continues to shout and beat his chest, daring the enemy to show themselves.

I refuse to slow down and continue to dodge here and there, anticipating a strike at any moment. My senses are telling me that the three spider leeches are still attached to the roof, roughly where they were when I last saw them. Which leads me to believe they have some method of attacking from range. I can�t sit still!

Sure enough, as I continue to erratically leap from place to place, I hear the occasional crunch as some projectile smashes in the rock and dirt around my feet.

This is dangerous!

Turning suddenly, I rush with all my strength and then up the wall. Three versus one, they�ll certainly win the ranged battle, so I�m going to join them on the ceiling! Frankly it�s my favorite place to fight.

[Mana Sensing has reached Level 2.]

My sub-brain is burning out. Maintaining the detection skill requires a lot of concentration and I�m not really helping to carry the load with my main mind, since I�m focusing on the fight. Hold on for a bit longer, little brain!

Whatever they�ve done to block my eyesight is still in effect. The entire tunnel has become completely dark. Not a whisper of light is reaching my eyes, even from the walls under my very feet. I can�t imagine anything natural would be able to produce such an effect, it must be a magical phenomenon of some kind.

Now I�m even more keen to take a bite out of these creatures. Anything with a core advanced enough to cast spells must have evolved several times. Give me that Biomass!

I skitter up the tunnel wall in a zigzagging pattern, dodging projectiles as best I can. Watching from the sidelines, my little ape companion has finally had enough. I can almost feel the rage burning in his bat eyes as he opens his maw wide and unleashes a piercing supersonic scream.

As the waves of sound wash over me, I manage to resist the mind-numbing effect, but the spiders don�t appear to have been so lucky. Their heat signatures flinch and the Mana in their bodies has been disrupted for a moment.

And a moment is all I need! With the speed of a leopard� ant, I dash forward on the ceiling to engage in upside down combat.

Approaching from the monster�s left, I weave in between its long legs and clamp down with a mighty crunch!

How to describe the feeling of biting on a spider legged-leech monster�s tube-like body?

Disgusting.

Seriously disgusting.

My mandibles snap shut with a horrible squelching sound, like feet stuck in deep mud, before the monster basically pops, showering my face with indescribable substances.

I mean� YUCK!

Dammit, Gandalf!

[You have defeated a Level 16 Tenebris Serpere.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 3. One Skill Point awarded.]

I may be covered in goop, but worth it!

As the now lifeless body of the monster loses its grip and falls to the floor, I�m already advancing on the second spider leech, mandibles open wide and ready to deliver justice.

Sensing my approach, the monster quivers and leaps off the ceiling, seeking to put some distance between us. The flow of Mana flares in the creature�s core for a moment and I scrabble to dodge, just as another sharp impact threads between my legs, narrowly missing.

What the heck is that spell!

The spider leech may have been pleased with its strategy for a moment but after it lands and attacks, it is soon set upon by a truly irritated Tiny. Swinging wildly with his electric fists, my ape companion soon manages to connect with his invisible foe and splatters them in a single punch.

Meanwhile, I commit to the final target, running a random pattern to throw off the projectiles, I close in, charging my Infused Mandibles to end this in one shot.

SNAP!

The monster manages to narrowly avoid my strike, jerking back at the last moment. I still manage to seize one of the legs.

CRUNCH!

Showing no mercy, I sever the leg, closing my ears to the almost demonic yowling of the beast as I plunge forward to deliver a Crushing Bite!

POP!

[You have defeated Level 14 Tenebris Serpere.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 4. One Skill Point awarded.]

Ugh� Disgusting!

Flush with the glow of a hard won victory, Tiny and I are unusually not looking forward to the next reward. The Biomass.

Whatever was blocking our sight ended with the defeat of the last monster, clearing our vision to take in a truly wonderful scene.

The monsters practically exploded when bitten. Remains are scattered over the tunnel floor in a truly unpleasant image. Something this abstract would have to be a Picasso. The spattered goop certainly leaves a strong impression.

Sharing an unwilling look with Tiny, we both begin to pick over the tunnel floor, looking for something that looks like edible Biomass.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Tenebris Serpere. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Tenebris Serpere unlocked.]

[Tenebris Serpere: Dark Crawler. Produced in the Monster Forges of the Troglodyte engineering guilds, these creatures are tailor made for reconnaissance and stealth missions, deploying an arsenal of shadow magic for offensive and defensive purposes.]

Uh� What did you say? What exactly am I reading here? Produced. Monster Forges. Troglodyte Guilds.

What the heck is all of that?

These truly unpleasant to eat creatures were created by� Troglodytes? I�ve never heard of a Troglodyte. What the heck is that?

Well. Focusing back on this fight, the XP from these creatures was perfectly acceptable. Two whole Levels! Not to mention the three cores I�ve been able to secure because of this battle. Such rewards are almost unprecedented.

Surely this cannot be an omen of something bad about to happen�

Ok, nothing terrible so far. I won�t count it out yet.

After splitting the Biomass with Tiny, I gain a further four points, leaving my total on nine. Enough to take my Legs from +2 to +4 and enhance my Gravity Gland to +1 with one point spare.

I confirm those upgrades, distracting myself from the unpleasant itch by rounding up the monster cores we�ve gained. Three small, round gem-like stones sit on the dirt in front of us. Apparently, these monsters were engineered or created outright by a kind of people called the Troglodytes.

I wonder if there�s anything special about these cores?

Extending my antennae to touch one, I activate the Core Mechanic skill and study the information contained inside. There is still much I can�t see in there, but from what I can see is quite shocking. These monsters have almost no Toughness at all, and very little Might. The energy is instead diverted into Cunning to make them more intelligent, and towards magical proficiency, including a Shadow Magic Gland.

These are probably the first monsters I�ve seen with such tanked physical stats in favour of mental and magical prowess. It makes sense if you consider them as designed monsters. Compensating their physical weakness by equipping them with a darkness cloud spell and whatever projectile they were firing.

Out of curiosity I try to shift the values a little, just divert a touch of energy over to Toughness and it�s utterly impossible. When I attempt to make the change, there�s that mountain again. Except this time, I might as well be lifting it with my fingers. There is no way that is going to happen, Gandalf. No way at all!

Although it was difficult when I made a change to the undead rabbit core, it was nowhere near this hard! Perhaps the more a core has been engineered and changed the harder it becomes to make additional changes. I can test this theory by working on the rabbit core again when I get back to the nest.

Well, since I can�t practice on these cores, I may as well absorb them!

[Compatible monster core detected. Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute a monster?]

Reinforce that sucka!

I take in two of the cores which increase my MP by three points each. Very interesting. For the final core, I push it towards Tiny and try to get him to absorb it.

Tiny stares blankly at it for a moment before pushing it back to me.

Thinking he didn�t understand what I wanted, I use my mandibles to push it right up to him and then step back.

He looks at the core.

He looks at me.

He sits down.

He looks back to the core.

Then he picks up the core and throws it at me.

You damned cheeky ape! That hit me right in the face.

Losing my temper, I pick up the core in my mandibles and rush at him. He seems stunned to see me charge, but I don�t give him a chance to escape and start beating him over the head with the core.

Whack! Bash!

Absorb the stupid core, you moron! Don�t give me any of your cheek.

After hitting him probably ten times, I notice I�m only hitting him with my mandibles now and the core is gone. Stepping back, Tiny is looking at me with a reproachful expression, clearly not happy with my violent treatment. I gift you a core and this is how you react? I had to beat you up before you would even accept it.

Hopefully you�ll remember this lesson next time I pass you a core.

If my thoughts are correct, then Tiny has only evolved once, from those small apes to his larger gorilla form. If he�s going to follow me around then he needs to be as strong as possible. It�s worth it to invest cores to ensure his evolution provides the largest gains possible.

With the rewards distributed, I start to think about whether I should investigate further into this tunnel or retreat for the time being.

There was something strange coming from the tunnel in front of us. What the heck is this� My antennae start to wave vaguely in the air as I try to understand the feeling I�m getting.

I think this is� Air pressure?

Like, wind. From the tunnel?

How does that make sense? You would only get wind underground if something large is pushing the air as it rushes� down� the� tunnel?

My heat senses begin to detect a massive heat signature approaching, fast. Not just fast. Olympic sprinter fast!

By the shining beard of the wizardly one, get the heck out of here, Tiny!

I grab my ape follower by the arm and start sprinting back towards the forest. It�s already too late. Turning my head slightly as I run, a looming shadow grows in the tunnel, filling the empty space with impenetrable shadow.

Almost unwillingly, I activate Mana Sense and my mind is rocked with a blinding light radiating off a truly massive monster core.

I quickly shut off my Mana Sense, but before I do, I vaguely pick up on a strange concentration of Mana positioned just above the core.

I don�t have any time to think about it though.

Knowing I can�t run, I dive into the scant cover provided by a fold in the rock and Tiny leaps in after me, fairly crushing me with growing bulk. Sigh. This must be a comical sight. A giant and a gorilla trying to hide behind a bit of rock that is almost large enough to fit a medium sized puppy behind.

As the approaching darkness grows ever closer, a terrifying sense of foreboding grows inside me. There is something especially scary when you know there is a giant monster in front of you and you can�t even see it!

Whatever it is, it slows down and the impenetrable darkness gradually fades away, revealing the beast one feature at a time.

It�s a massive worm, with a huge, segmented mouth filling the tunnel from top to bottom, blocking my view completely. The outer skin of the worm appears to be thickly armoured. I can hear it grinding against the rock as the monster moves.

Is this it? Worm food, after all this time? I don�t want to go out like this!

An irascible voice erupts in my mind. [What in the BLAZES do you chaps think you are doing here?]

Uhhh� Was that the worm?

[No, it isn�t the worm, you BLIGHTER! Humph. No respect these days, that�s the trouble with the Dungeon nowadays. No RESPECT at all!]

As the gruff voice continues to echo in my mind, the gigantic worm gradually stretches and thins itself out to reveal a smaller creature riding on its back.

This new monster is like nothing I�ve seen before. Eyeless, earless, with a large bulging forehead that tapers down to a wide, toothy mouth. The leathery looking skin is a splotchy red colour and wraps around a scraggly, unimpressive frame. Thin, stick like arms and legs emerge from a torso so thin the ribs are showing.

[Troglodyte? Where in the BLAZES did you get that thought!]

This guy is so touchy. Judging from the �sound� his voice makes in my mind, I definitely consider him to be male. He sounds like a British general from the 1800�s.

Oh, uh� I looked at the� Dark Crawler core and it said they were engineered by Troglodytes� so I assumed�

[BOSH and POPPYCOCK! Only the BLASTED system in this Dungeon refers to my great people as �cave dwellers!� We refer to ourselves as the Sophos and have done so since before this SMARMY Dungeon existed!]

Uh� poppycock? What is a Dungeon anyway?

[You are inside the Dungeon, you BLITHERING simpleton! You�re smart enough to talk to me but have no idea where you are?]

I�m� not local? Sir?

I have no idea how to talk to this guy. He doesn�t have eyes I can focus on and I feel rude staring at his wrinkly forehead.

[What do you mean not local? You�re here, aren�t you! I can�t imagine a BLASTED thing like you could get out of the Dungeon at all. Those DUNDERHEADED surface dwellers lack the sophistication and senses of us Sophos! If they�d seen you, they�d think you were any old monster and squashed you flat, I dare say.]

Despite his voice frequently rising to a mighty roar, filled with energy and outrage, his body never moves, not even a twitch. The juxtaposition of voice to frame is completely bewildering. It�s making it hard to focus on all the incredible information he�s passing me!

Please, sir! I haven�t had a chance to ask anyone as� knowledgeable, as yourself about this Dungeon. If I�ve caused offense by eating your crawlers, I am very sorry. I thought they were just monsters and attacked them.

[Just monsters? BALDERDASH! I laboured many hours in the monster forge to produce those beasts. How am I to complete my reconnaissance of the forest Expanse without them? HMPH! If you weren�t so unique, I�d have already fed you to Crinitus here!]

You can tell I�m not a normal monster?

[Of course! What do you take me for? Some primping, pink, puffy HUMAN? My people are renowned over Pangera for our unsurpassed mental magic. UNSURPASSED I SAY!]

Ahh, yes! Clearly unsurpassed!

My bootlicking seems to mollify him a little. Kinda hard to tell since he basically has no face. I try not to think such thoughts too loudly, lest he pick up on them and feed me to his worm.

[Hurumph! I could detect the movement of your thoughts long before I came upon you here. Clearly not the mind of a monster spawned from this WALLY of a Dungeon. What say you, ant? How did you come to be?]

Uhhh� How can I explain this? I, uh, died? On another world. And then I� woke up here in an ant body.

[By the magnificent minds of the mighty Sophos! You were reborn here, you say?]

Shocked by the sheer volume of the response I can barely think of a reply. There�s definitely a headache brewing.

Yes?

[I see!]

A moment of silence follows as my brusque new associate absorbs this news. [According to the recorded wisdom of my people, you are not the first we have encountered in these circumstances.]

Really? Holy moly! You mean there have been more people like me that were reborn in the Dungeon as� monsters?

[Yes.]

�Are they still around? What happened to them?

Another pause.

[Most were driven rather insane. At least they had been when they encountered us. Others were killed either by the Dungeon or hunted by surface dwellers.]

For once he gets through a full statement without shouting. Perhaps he understands how that statement would make me feel.

Insane? Driven mad or dead?

[You don�t seem particularly insane.]

Uhm, no?

[Interesting. You don�t find your new environment to be� difficult?]

I guess so? I mean, I�m pretty used to being on my own with nobody to talk to. It kind of feels nice to be out and about doing things. Lots of excitement and action. You know?

[You were a human previously, as I understand it from your thoughts. You don�t find it strange to be a monstrous ant?]

It did take a bit of getting used to, I guess? I don�t really think I had that much time to worry about it really. I was too concerned about staying alive. Then I was too busy trying to Level up and evolve. I found the colony and looking after them has been fun. I suppose I already had a human life, and it was ok to be something new the next time around.

More silence. I wish this guy would move or something! I can�t even tell if he�s breathing.

[Well, that is GOSH DARNED IMPRESSIVE I SAY! A good STIFF UPPER LIP, that�s the stuff! You won�t survive long in the Dungeon being SOFT!]

Holy Gandalf! He got his pep back in a hurry.

[You know, I do seem to recall word that one of your kind had survived and gone deeper into the Dungeon. Whether or not they had come from the same place as you before they were reborn, I dare not say. If they went deep enough, they might have even encountered the creatures in old records. Many powerful monsters who survived many battles and descended deep beneath the surface. To my people they are known as Ancients.]

Ancients, eh? Seriously though, just how deep does this Dungeon go? We must be nearly a kilometre down where we are. Surely it doesn�t get much deeper than this, right?

[Bwahahahahaaaa! Oh, I SAY! what a jape! Were you a joker in your last life? Haha! I say indeed!]

I�m wrong then, am I?

I can almost hear him mentally wiping a tear from his non-existent eye as he replies.

[We are INDEED a kilometre under the surface. Common knowledge amongst my people puts the radius of Pangera at slightly over 10,000 kilometres. As far as we know, the Dungeon extends all the way to the centre.]

Right� Why are things so stupidly dangerous already then. Not even 1% into the stupid thing?

[Well, because of the wave of course!]

Wave!

[My PARDON old BEAN! I shouldn�t forget you know nothing of this place. Have you not noticed the number of monsters and the density of Mana has been increasing over these last weeks?]

I have!

[INDEED! Soon a phenomenon known in this world as a �wave� will occur. Simply put, the Dungeon will start to spit out massive numbers of monsters, pretty much constantly for a short period, usually between one day to a week.]

This is a bit alarming.

Isn�t it already spitting out massive numbers? And where will they come from?

[Haha! This is just a DRIZZLE before the STORM my boy! When the wave breaks you can expect the spawn rate to go up at least ten times! TEN TIMES I SAY! The other blasted thing about a wave is that the BLIGHTERS will pop right out of the walls! Don�t even need a spawn point.]

Out of the walls! By the bristling bushy beard of big G�

All around me the pulsing Mana lines curling throughout the tunnel in their ever-splitting intricate scrollwork appear incredibly threatening. Monsters will start ripping straight out of the walls?

Wait. Haven�t these Mana veins been extending into the� nest? The colony!

[Oh yes. This wave promises to be RATHER UNPRECEDENTED! We�ve not had a wave build this high for AGES. I myself was sent to estimate the strength by scouting the forest. You wouldn�t happen to have any intelligence for me on the spawn rate OLD SPICE?]

My mind whirls with confusion and panic, and I barely manage to formulate a reply.

Uh. I found a� spawn point for Claw Centipedes, it produced a new centipede every hour, that I saw, uh� sir.

[OH, I SAY! That is bad news INDEED, I think this wave promises to be a BLIGHTED DISASTER!]

His response startles me.

Is it that unusual?

[Those hideous things would usually spawn at half that rate leading to a wave! If we were to assume the wave will be double the size of a normal one, that would already be disastrous. When did you measure the speed of this spawn point?]

He seems very intent with this question.

�Yesterday?

[Hurrumph� Bad news indeed. INDEED, I SAY! I think you may find the rate has increased even further over the last day. These things will accelerate faster the closer we get.]

A thought occurs to me.

Is it really ok for you to be sharing this information with a strange monster? Even if I am� somewhat unique?

[We Sophos are pacifists for the most part. Against the Dungeon we will show NO QUARTER, but to other intelligent life, we like to foster positive relations. We have dwelt underground on Pangera for thousands of years before the Dungeon extended out of the depths, and here, we still remain.]

He moves his body and gestures down at the fearsome worm beneath him.

[We have adapted ourselves to survive in this place. These OLD DOGS learned a few new tricks, haha! However, our fundamental way of life has not changed. Should you find your way to my people, they will welcome you so long as you do not harm us.]

I hardly expected to hear this kind of talk from him, considering the manner of his arrival. He has certainly been very helpful.

Thank you, sir! Do you have a name? In case I see you again?

[Well said, lad! My name is Formosus Bellus Pulcher. I was given this cognomen due to my incredibly handsome form, as you can no doubt testify!]

I can detect no sarcasm at all in his voice�

Well then, Formo, could you tell me more about the other monsters like me you mentioned?

[Oh yes! Ha! Now let me consult my people for a moment.]

You can still talk to them?

He doesn�t respond. After a moment�s thought, I activate Mana Sensing and look closer at this strange but friendly fellow Dungeon dweller.

The blazingly powerful core of the monster he�s sitting on is wildly distracting. This worm has a core easily twice the size of the queen�s, if not larger! I shudder to think just how strong it is. Good thing Formo turned out to be so peaceful.

Ignoring the blazing sun that is the worm, I take a good look at this Sophos.

The first thing I notice is he has no core. Which must mean he isn�t born from the Dungeon and is instead a natural creature of this world. Regardless of not having a core, he is clearly able to control Mana extremely well. The Mana around his body constantly swirls and flows. If I focus heavily, there�s a faint, shining bridge of Mana, shaped like a braided rope, connecting my mind and his. Could this be how we can communicate? Is this Mind Magic?

The energy is clearly not of the normal type. Rather than blue, it�s a shimmering golden colour. If I hone my focus, another bridge is visible leaving Formo, vanishing into the far distance. He really must be communicating with his people goodness knows how far away. Incredible!

I desperately try to examine the connection he�s constructed to my mind. If I learn how to do this, I�ll be able to communicate telepathically! Even without having to invest in a magical energy gland.

The little details I can perceive start to sharpen, and it leaves me in awe. The construction of this bridge is breathtaking. Each thread twisted precisely in a pattern that supports and extends, allowing two minds to interact. My control is far away from being able to achieve something on this level.

[Ahem, yes! As I was saying. According to the records, we encountered an intelligent monster who claimed to have been reborn into this world seventy years ago. After many years of struggling, she was able to evolve enough to push into the deeper Dungeon, and we haven�t heard from her since. Her name was Sarah, as we understand it.]

That sounds like a name from Earth! Is it possible another person like me is still alive here in the Dungeon, somewhere deeper?

I�d love to try and find them. Only I don�t think I�m strong enough to survive that far down. I�m not even 1% of the way to the middle! I must admit that news has been a blow to my ego. I thought I was finally becoming strong. It seems there is a long way to go.

Hang on. Something has changed. There�s a different feeling in the air and I can�t quite work out what it is.

Temperature?

No. My heat senses aren�t noticing anything strange. What the heck could it be?

[Oh, bother.]

For the first time my new Sophos friend seems to have completely lost his vigour. He sounds� worried?

What is it Formo? What�s happening?

[Look at the walls, lad.]

Confused, I turn toward the tunnel walls. I can�t quite see anything new, maybe? I�m not sure. The pulsing veins of Mana are still there, the same as they ever�Wait. WAIT.

They seem a little� dimmer.

Quickly activating my Mana Sensing I stare hard at the walls. Yes! The Mana level is slowly dropping. The difference is incredibly faint, almost imperceptible, but it is absolutely dropping!

Isn�t this a good thing, Formo? We want it to go down and slow the spawn rate, right?

The Sophos has begun to move his physical body, patting his fearsome worm-mount and stirring it to alertness.

[No, lad. Think of the waters of your own world, Anthony. When a giant wave comes to the shore, the water will first retreat, yes?]

How the heck did you learn my name, Formo?

[With our minds connected for so long, it is natural I can glean many things. It is very difficult to keep secrets amongst my people. The Mana is acting much like the water in your world. It will retreat and dim to almost nothing before crashing back with irresistible force.]

Then that means�

[The wave is coming, lad. One day, maybe two.]

Holy moly, I need to get the heck out of here! I have to save the colony!

[What you choose to do now is up to you, my boy. Take your pet and find a safe place. I hope you both will survive the coming disaster.]

Wait� pet?

[Yes. Your pet, lad. Right there.]

He actually troubles himself to point at Tiny after I continue to stare blankly at him.

Tiny is a pet? How is he a pet? I reconstituted him from a core, does that make him my pet?

[Of course, it BLOODY does! Do you think monsters in this Dungeon are always so loyal to others? When you reconstituted him from a core, he became attached to you. In this world we call them pets. Have you not taken any of the Pet Management skills from the BLASTED system?]

Pet skills? I think I might have seen some there� I didn�t think they applied to me!

[How you have survived this long is a DARNED mystery, a MYSTERY I SAY! Raising, controlling and engineering pet monsters is how we Sophos have survived to this day! We are the best in the world at it, lad. WITHOUT COMPARE! Raise young� Tiny, well and he will protect you!]

The giant worm has roused itself now, it�s cavernous mouth writhing and flexing as it slowly begins to turn around, digging itself into the rock wall of the tunnel.

[I must return to my people now, lad. They must be warned of the scale of this disaster. I fear this wave will be greater than anything seen in a thousand years. We Sophos will not be caught unawares!]

Ok! I�d better get back to the colony. They have no chance of survival without my help.

[Right, you are YOUNG CHAP. I say you go and give the Dungeon a jolly what for! Do your best to survive and we may meet again.]

With that, the worm expands its head, hiding the shrivelled form of Formo from view. Accelerating with each passing moment, the worm burrows directly into the wall, shredding through the rock and dirt as if it were paper.

Just how long is this freakin� worm!

Tiny and I watch in amazement as the scaly, rocky form of the worm continues to move past us in a seemingly never ending, ever accelerating blur.

Finally, it tapers and disappears, leaving Tiny and myself staring at an empty tunnel with a brand new to hole in the side.

A moment later, I shake myself out of it. I don�t have a second to lose, I SAY!

Dammit! I�ve picked up his speech pattern.

I need to get the hell out of here. Only a day, two at the most, before an endless horde of monsters starts leaping out the dang walls and ripping into the colony�the brood! Those poor helpless larvae will get shredded to bits.

I don�t have enough time. I have to get stronger. I have to save my family.

Only problem, I have no idea how I�m going to do it.

Tiny and I sprint back towards the forest. Even as I run, I start trying to practice my Mana Shaping, desperate to do anything that might improve my chances of survival and allow me to help the colony make it through the upcoming struggle.

I have the Gravity Magic Gland, and that�s awesome, but other than the Gravity Bomb, with all its flaws, I don�t have a method to use it.

My best chance of getting stronger in the short term is to try and find a way to apply the gravitational energy in a battle that doesn�t require me to hide and charge it up for minutes at a time.

It is ridiculously difficult to do anything at the same time as manipulating Mana, but I�m going to do my best�

Arrr, nuts, I tripped!

Tiny and I continue to retreat to the nest as fast as we can. I continuously attempt to draw out and shape Mana, frequently stuffing it up and tangling my legs in our haste. This is so damn difficult! How did that stupid wizard perform so much magic on the back of a horse?

I�m not sure if this will help anyone in any way, but I�m feeling desperate to get stronger. With only a day or two left until impending Armageddon, I must improve at something!

The entire conversation with Formo keeps running through my mind. So much new information to drop on a person. Might just take me ages to comb through all the gems my chatty new friend dropped in our brief exchange.

Tiny and I make it back to the open space of the forest without incident, although I do trip a few times.

Even with my sub-brain assisting to draw the Mana out of my core and direct it, to manage that process, seize the prepared Mana before shaping it into one of the many patterns the skill-inserted knowledge is telling me to use, is exceedingly difficult.

I must practice! Back to the nest, Tiny, with all speed!

The forest is just as chaotic as when we left it a few hours ago. We don�t waste time trying to sneak through now. As we encounter creatures, we simply continue running, leaving a trail of bewildered and confused beasts in our wake.

However, some give chase, bellowing their challenge as they crash through the brush, snapping branches and crushing the undergrowth beneath their feet. If I�d not been distracted with Mana Shaping, I might have anticipated this. There�s no stopping now.

Stop chasing us, you idiots! There are a thousand other monsters you could fight, why don�t you just leave us alone? Can�t you see we aren�t interested? Nobody likes a desperate monster.

It�s no use.

With their blood up, every monster is seeing red and it isn�t long before the one or two creatures tailing along behind us have attracted the attention of others nearby.

Gradually, more beasts emerge from the trees, chasing the tails of the monsters who are chasing Tiny and myself.

Naturally, the increased ruckus only manages to draw yet more monsters out from between the trees and giant mushrooms. Soon, a conga line of bears, chimps, giant rabbits, centipedes and other monsters I�d not yet seen has formed behind us.

Are you serious! How stupid are you, monsters? I don�t have time for this.

When we reach the anthill, there must be more than a hundred monsters behind us, all hurtling forward, ignoring the cavalcade of ravenous beasts behind, solely focused on the target in front of them.

I�m speechless.

Just how dumb can these beasts get?

All I wanted to do was get back quickly!

[Mana Shaping (II) has reached Level 4.]

Not now!

As Tiny and I begin our sprint up the anthill, the guards look at the train of monsters and immediately prepare to fight. One of them ducks into the nest, off to summon reinforcements to deal with the threat.

Dang! You guys couldn�t just run away for once?

I�d been hoping we could just duck into the nest and leave these stupid monsters to battle it out amongst themselves whilst I tried to devise a �save the colony from the deadly wave� plan.

Alas, it is not to be.

Clacking my mandibles in irritation I turn to face the oncoming beast-conga once I reach the top of the hill. Tiny, tired of running and eager for battle, takes his cue from me and gleefully readies himself to fight, electricity already sparking off his body.

After all the effort I went through to avoid this very situation, one run through the forest and here we are. A massive brawl right on top of the anthill!

The full train of monsters suddenly pause as the creature before them stops.

There is a moment of stillness.

The beast immediately in front of me is a heavily mutated Wolf Dragon. Any monster that can survive in the forest these days is going to amass Levels and Biomass at a furious rate, I suppose. In fact, all the monsters out there look pretty darn tough.

The beast paws at the ground, baring its teeth in a menacing snarl, its powerful tail swinging and curling behind it.

Look, you stupid monster, you chased along behind me and brought this enormous trail of villains here to threaten my nest. Do you know who I am? Do you know what I do here?

I guess I only have one question left for you, Wolf �

Do you want to dance?

Perhaps sensing my change in my mood, Tiny hoots in delight and beats his chest. Those fists and that chest are still getting larger by the day. I would estimate Tiny has achieved half of his previous size and he is certainly growing stronger. Judging by his bristling fur and thick, meaty fists, I�m starting to suspect he�s already achieved a mutation advancement or two.

Unable to contain himself anymore, the ape bounds forward, and with one swing of his arm delivers a stunning uppercut to the chin of the Wolf Dragon. The poor beast is shattered by the blow and cartwheels backwards, smacking directly into the monster behind it.

One punch!

I never saw you doing push ups, Tiny. You certainly never went for a run. Where did this strength come from?

Like a starting gun, Tiny�s aggression seems to have been the signal to all the attending combatants to commence the festivities. With a mighty roar, the second major battle to be conducted next to this anthill has begun!

Filled with rage, I begin to channel my Mana into my Infused Mandibles and then, almost as an after-thought, I try to channel Mana from my Gravity Magic Gland instead of my core.

To my surprise, it works. The deep purple energy flows out from my body and along those familiar lines through my head, pouring into my mandibles and dyeing them with the energies colour.

Gravity Mandibles! What the heck do these do?

As the Mana continues to build up, I vaguely feel as if I could reach out with it. As if it wanted to take hold of something. With more Mana flooding into the mandibles every moment, the feeling only grows stronger.

I charge toward the melee and spot my target. An Adult Centipede is slipping to the front lines of the battle from the flank, already raising its tail for a sneaky poison attack.

You never lose your cheap tactics, do you, centipedes?

Without entirely knowing how, I extend the gravitational energy from my mandibles toward the centipede. Like a rope, it twists through the air with blinding speed, almost as if I�d fired a grappling hook.

A strange sensation of latching on reverberates through the coil of Mana and into my mandibles, and again, without really knowing how, I pull on the rope.

With spectacular effect.

As if kicked by an invisible giant, the centipede is yanked into the air towards me! The movement defies all the laws of physics, pulling this far heavier creature without moving a muscle.

I doubt the poor centipede has any clue what is going on, as it is very suddenly airborne, flying in a straight line to the waiting jaws of a particularly menacing ant.

The Adult Centipede hurls through the air as if pulled by an invisible string.

Haha! Behold the power of Gravity Mandibles!

After my evolution, these larger centipedes don�t look nearly as threatening. I could defeat them easily before, and now that I�m so much larger, there is no lingering fear of them at all.

CRUNCH!

I greet the arriving monster with a fearsome snap of my jaws, directly severing the creature in two.

[You have defeated a Level 6 Adult Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

This is amazing! The power of gravity, eh?

With my first foe defeated, I turn my eye to the progress of the battle.

What had begun as a long line of monsters battling each other has squashed into a broad, circular grand melee, with monsters hurling themselves into the fight as far as my eyes can see. The constant noise from all this fighting is only serving to attract more creatures, and with each passing moment, the fight extends farther into the forest and grows even louder.

Tiny is already in the thick of it, smashing out devastating electrical punches with reckless abandon, the joy of battle sparking in his bat eyes. I hope he doesn�t get carried away.

As a matter of fact, it wouldn�t do for a master to be outperformed by his own pet!

Just as Tiny is about to join battle against a fearsome looking antlered monster, I reach out to it with my gravitational energy and latch on, yanking it toward me and right out from under the confused ape�s nose.

Haha! Take that, you ape.

This monster is a little quicker to react, lowering its many pointed antlers toward me and bellowing with fury at having been summarily pulled through the air.

Yikes!

Jumping out of the way, I totally forgot that what the beast was being pulled towards was none other than myself.

Idiot!

CRASH!

Luckily the sudden change in direction was enough to throw the point of impact off, and the antlered creature smashed into the anthill beneath my feet. Even so, my legs get clipped, and I�m sent spinning madly into the dirt.

Shaking my head, I get my feet under me and prepare to do battle with this new beast. My opponent looks like a buck, or at least, what I imagine a buck would look like if it had been on a steady diet of steroids and its antlers were made of glittering steel.

This beast is absolutely bulging with muscle. What sort of gym junkie of a deer are you! You need to be more mindful of your health, deer. Those supplements aren�t legal.

Staggering to its feet, the poor monster is looking a little worse for wear after the sudden journey it was forced to undertake. I won�t miss this chance! Dashing forward, I don�t give the beast the time to gain its bearings and chomp down on one of its legs with my mandibles.

Crushing Bite!

The deer howls in agony as my mandibles squeeze down on the leg, tearing muscle and splintering bone. Monsters in this Dungeon don�t go down without a fight, though. Before I can release my grip and bite again, the deer has swung its head, smashing into me with those fearsome metallic horns.

Crash!

The impact staggers me but my carapace holds up under the pressure and isn�t punctured by those sharp tips.

Thanks for giving me your neck.

Chomp!

[You have defeated a Level 9 Rapit Cervum.]

[You have gained XP.]

Now I�m getting into the swing of it. Just to satisfy my curiosity, I quickly lean down and take a bite out of the creature.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Rapit Cervum. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Rapit Cervum unlocked.]

[Rapit Cervum: Bulky Deer. This impressively muscled monster is incredibly strong and specialises in offense, being somewhat vulnerable. Its metallic element antlers are a deadly weapon.]

Bulky Deer? Even the system thinks this creature is overly ripped.

As I turn to identify my next target, the first of the colony�s reinforcements has begun to appear. Too fast, you guys! Why don�t you stay down in the nest and let me deal with things for a while?

It�s no use. In a trickle that quickly swells to a flood, more and more ants pour out of the top of the anthill. As soon as they spy the sprawling melee, these workers don�t hesitate to leap in, charging without pause or thought for personal safety!

Streaks of acid fly into the air, workers presenting the business district to their foes and letting fly. In mere moments, almost all the combatants close to the anthill have become drenched in acid.

And then more.

And then more?

Holy heck, how many of us are there now!

When I last checked there were several hundred workers and hundred more broods waiting to hatch�the new workers born after the first big battle next to the anthill. Judging by the sheer number of Hatchling Workers emerging from the top of the nest, some of these must have completed their pupal stage recently.

There must be five hundred monstrous ants here!

Several workers seize on the Biomass I�ve already secured by yanking it towards me and start dissecting it for transport.

Seeing the hordes of workers so close to me sparks a sudden thought. Rather than the workers running out into the battle and risking their lives, what if I brought the battle to them?

No sooner had the thought occurred, I reached out and latched onto a fearsome Lion Ogre rampaging through smaller foes at the foot of the hill.

Come on up, big guy!

Once again, the monster is yanked my way as if fired out of a cannon. By shifting my position at the last moment, I make sure the poor beast slams into the side of the hill without crushing me to death.

When the dust settles, a dazed and angry Lion Ogre is starting to pick itself up, not realising it is currently surrounded by hundreds of monstrous ants.

In an instant, the monster is completely covered in hatchlings biting furiously and spraying acid at close range.

Lion Ogre, your sacrifice shall not be in vain.

Checking on my gland, my Infused Mandibles are draining the gravitational energy at a rapid pace. Each use of this new ability is fairly Mana intensive. If I can pluck a few more monsters out for the colony to take care of, that would help the situation greatly.

Even as the Lion is enduring its final moments, I�m already searching for another target.

Aha, a croca-beast!

YOINK!

After casting my hook, the unsuspecting monster is yanked at speed, slamming into the anthill as I dodge to one side at the last moment. Once again, the monster is completely covered in workers before it can make sense of the situation.

Hopefully I can do this for a bit longer and keep most of the ants out of the main battle as long as possible!

The croca-beast doesn�t last much longer than the Lion Ogre. With the sheer number of swarming ants, any individual monster is going to get chomped apart without any chance to retaliate.

I almost feel sorry for these guys. Covered in much smaller monsters that bite and spray acid from point blank range. The croca-beast had six Hatchling Workers pulling on just one leg, ensuring it couldn�t move, before I looked away.

It�s a tough Dungeon. Don�t look at me like that, croc!

Clearly, I don�t feel too badly for the monster since I�m already searching for another.

There, that Adult Centipede!

YOINK!

Aha! Another gym-bro Deer!

YOINK!

Yet more victims are pulled to the top of the anthill, only to be summarily devoured by the hungry swarm of hatchlings.

It doesn�t take long before I start to see workers transporting the Biomass down into the nest, already industriously dispensing food throughout the colony. And at this point, the gravy train is over. As fun as it�s been pulling monsters out of the battle to their immediate doom, the drain on my Gravity Magic Gland has been severe. I�m already down to twenty percent!

Reluctantly, I shut off the Infused Mandibles and the Mana gradually fades out. At least the advantage of the Gravity Gland shows itself in my still fully charged core. If push comes to shove, I can still activate my regular Infused Mandibles to give myself some added cutting power.

Somewhat at a loss for what to do next, I survey the situation.

A scene of pure chaos meets my eyes.

All around the base of the anthill a wild free for all is taking place. Larger monsters stand tall amidst a veritable sea of smaller beasts. Titan-crocs, Bear Tyrants and Death Rabbits are all battling against each other, while around their feet, spark chimps, centipedes, blade tailed rats and others crash into each other like waves breaking against each other.

What a catastrophic scene! This is the last thing I wanted to happen leading into the wave. I should be talking to the queen and trying to work out a strategy to ensure the colony can survive. We don�t have time for this stupid free for all.

Glancing at the workers around me, their blood lust is up. There is Biomass to be had for the colony and by golly they are going to go and get it! I don�t think I could possibly dissuade them from doing something so fundamental to their identity.

They are at the very least cautious enough to continue launching acid into the crowd of monsters swirling around the base of the hill. With the combatants so thick on the ground it�s impossible to miss. Hundreds of individual shots are launched into the sky, literally making it rain on the crowded creatures below.

With five hundred ants firing their acid at once, it makes for an impressive sight. Hopefully Tiny managed to avoid getting hit�

Thinking I may as well join in on the action, I present my commercial zone to the enemies and pick out some of the larger targets in the fray.

POW!

Take that, titan-croc!

POW!

Take a second shot, titan-croc. I hate you guys!

POW!

Stupid Bear! Feel the burn of my acidic justice.

Since my evolution, my acid gland has expanded its capacity, allowing me to fire ten shots at a time. I continue to pick out the largest and most threatening targets in the crowd to inflict my Restrictive Acid upon, hopefully weakening them for the battle to come.

Even as the acid burns away at dozens of monsters in the melee, I�m still concerned for these workers advancing into that maelstrom. Several hundred of these workers were only just hatched. If they die now, they won�t be able to protect the colony during the true disaster on the horizon!

I�m so annoyed at myself. I tried so hard to avoid bringing harm down on the colony, and now, because I was in a hurry, I brought the very disaster I was hoping to avoid at the moment I could least afford to do it.

Dammit, Anthony, you�ve got to fix this somehow!

At this moment, the anthill shudders beneath my feet. The dirt is shifting, as if something in the ground were pushing upwards.

My heart sinks at what is about to happen.

Sure enough, two long antennae emerge, followed by a massive ant head. In a familiar scene, the peak of the anthill collapses as the queen drags herself out and onto the field of battle.

Dammit, not this again! What if something happens to her?

I run up to the queen. I�m not even sure why. Perhaps to try and reason with her so she goes back down into the nest?

�Queen! What are you doing up here! Shouldn�t you go back down into the colony?�

It�s kind of strange. I actually �shout� in the sense that I �speak� loudly with my pheromones due to the sheer amount of noise around us. It�s completely unnecessary since we�re communicating with smell rather than sound. I could whisper, barely releasing any scent at all and she would still be able to understand me perfectly well.

�The colony is threatened,� she replies. �We must defend it.�

�Do you need to be here though?� If the queen ends up dead because of this, I�ll be giving myself a right kicking to say the least. This is my mother we�re talking about!

�I will protect my children!� the queen replies in her deep, matronly voice.

Without delay, she races down the anthill, charging with unstoppable momentum. The workers eyes are literally on fire, blazing with a feverish energy so intense it may as well scorch their foes to death before any bite is applied.

I can�t stop them now�

Everywhere workers are rushing into battle, eagerly, joyfully even. With the queen by their side, they are implacable. I feel as though I need to keep reminding myself that these are ants, not people. A person would hesitate, whereas these workers will gladly die for the colony.

The only way to protect them now is to fight! If I destroy every monster here, then there won�t be any left to kill my fellow ants. Let�s do this, Anthony!

Chaaaarge!

I hurtle down the anthill with such speed I feel I�m in constant danger of tripping. I�m going so fast I pass the queen and find myself in front of my fellow ants. In the brawl below is Tiny, mighty fists swinging, hooting in triumph as he moves from opponent to opponent, destroying his enemies with electrified punches.

As the combatants at the base of the hill grow rapidly larger in my sight, I begin infusing my mandibles with Mana from my core, causing them to glow brighter and brighter.

Closer! Faster!

Out of the melee I pick one target, a mighty Bear Tyrant, mottled green streaks through his fur glowing with fierce energy as the wounds and cuts in his body regenerate at a tremendous pace.

I rush in, mandibles wide�here we go!

This is it. To save as many members of the colony as possible, I have no choice but to fight.

Come on then, Bear. Let�s see how you go!

Pushing off all six legs, I leap high onto the bear�s back. These stupid Earth Bear Tyrants are a pain in the neck to kill with their innate toughness and regeneration. I was able to kill one before I evolved, so I�m sure as heck going to kill one now!

Mandibles fiercely glowing, I crunch down on the bear�s back.

Piercing Chomp!

The Mana charged mandibles, powered by every ounce of strength I can summon from the musculature of my face, dig deep into the bear�s hide.

ROAR!

Enraged by this sudden strike, the Earth Bear Tyrant twists, trying to see what creature dared to strike at it in such a manner.

It�s me, fool!

Piercing Chomp!

[Piercing Chomp (II) has reached Level 5.]

Unrelenting, I draw out yet more Mana into my mandibles and chomp again, my jaws penetrating ever deeper into the bear�s indomitable hide.

The bear is seriously angry now. Not to mention in severe pain. My second Piercing Chomp has rendered the bear even more vulnerable to my jaws. In response, green energy flashes through the monster�s hide and the wound I�ve caused visibly closes before my eyes and the bear reaches back to try and claw me from his back.

Not happening, Yogi!

Focusing my Will, I draw out more Mana from my core, forcing it into my mandibles until they hurt.

Crushing Bite!

This time I target the wound I�ve already created. At first my mandibles thunk into the fur from before first slowly, then with increasing speed, tear through the muscle and start to crush the bone.

Ha! Take that!

My victim bellows in pain and throws its body to one side, rolling onto its back to throw me off or crush me.

I�m too quick for that! Leaping high, I launch myself from my perch, landing on the ground nearby. As soon as my foe has regained its feet, I charge in fearlessly. You won�t get the time to regenerate, bear. You�re mine!

Surrender your Biomass to me.

My mandibles are aching from the sheer amount of Mana I�ve forced into them, but I don�t stop the flow, instead I increase it. Unseen by my opponent, I fiercely bite down on a back leg, crushing the muscle in my vice-like mandibles.

The bear staggers, the wound crippling.

It brings terrifying teeth and claws to bare but I�m already gone, circling around with my greater mobility and jumping onto its back once more.

Crushing Bite!

Before the wound I�d previously caused can heal over I bite again. Tearing open the gash and ripping into the soft tissue.

Again!

Crushing Bite!

This time my mandibles shred deeper, dealing critical damage. The bear slumps to the ground and I bite one last time to finish it off.

[You have defeated a Level 8 Earth Bear Tyrant (III).]

[You have gained XP.]

Having defeated the bear, I slowed the flow of Mana, not wanting to exhaust it so early in the battle. A high amount of Mana is unnecessary for most foes. Of all the creatures I�ve met, only these damn bears have been able to display such a tough defence!

Who�s next?

The maelstrom of battle surrounds me on all sides, my compound eyes giving me a near three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the chaos.

Isolated duels and mass battles are occurring everywhere, and now the wave of ants has crashed into the fight. Hundreds of workers, biting furiously and tearing at every limb they can get to. Acid rain still falls from above, splashing over every monster, seemingly regardless of friend or foe.

The damage is starting to pile up. Many monsters are looking the worse for wear just from the sheer volume of acid being projected by so many ants.

Come on, Anthony! This battle has just begun.

I turn to a monster who has its back to me and charge, mandibles wide.

[You have defeated a Level 2 Infant Garralosh.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have defeated a Level 9 Decaying Death Rabbit (II).]

[You have gained XP.]

[Crushing Bite (II) has reached Level 8.]

Gah! Those Death Rabbits still taste disgusting.

Surrounding the Death Rabbit is a horde of the smaller Blood Tooth Rabbits. Having defeated their evolved defender, I descend on them like thunder. Every snap of my jaws sends another rabbit to the beyond.

They pepper me with bites, extended fangs screeching against my Diamond Carapace.

[Exo-Skeleton Defence has reached Level 4.]

[You have defeated a Level 3 Blood Toothed Rabbit.]

[You have defeated a Level 2�]

[You have defeated a Level 3�]

[You have reached Level 5. One Skill Point awarded.]

When I can see no more rabbits, I scope out another large monster to target. They are the greatest threat to the workers. The more I can take out the better!

There�s a titan-croc currently duking it out with a dog-snake. The snake is massive, probably an evolved version of the smaller kind I�d seen earlier. It�s snarling, wolf-like head darting here and there, snapping with bone crunching force at the croc, who rips back with its own fearsome crocodile teeth.

The snake�s long body coils and whips around as it moves, crushing smaller creatures under its bulk with every twist. The body must be at least twenty metres long. At its thickest it�s almost as thick as I am!

Sorry, snake, you�ve got to go.

Snapping and biting, I force my way through the battle towards my target. This is going to be tough, but I�ve got to try! If it�s left alone, something that large will just roll over the hatchlings without even having to think about it.

Dodging left and right, lashing out with my mandibles, I begin to draw out the gravitational energy, letting it flow from the Gravity Magic Gland, and then compressing it into a tight ball of death.

The Gravity Bomb!

To try and handle this violently fluctuating energy in the midst of a battle is going to be tough. Hopefully it doesn�t spin out of control and kill me!

I almost can�t take a step without running into another monster, each one of them is red-eyed and ready to fight to the death. The fervour of the fight has infected them with unstoppable bloodlust.

Moving inexorably forward, I get battered and bitten, slashed, and belted from all sides. I can�t react and respond to every strike. The majority of my focus is being dedicated to handling the growing Gravity Bomb in my throat, gaining energy and density with each passing second.

Snapping left and right, I bisect a centipede and shear straight through the leg of a Wolf Dragon before continuing on. I can�t afford to stop for a second, as the Gravity Bomb grows larger, more and more of my attention is required to contain it.

The mass of energy is starting to rotate faster as it greedily sucks in all the gravitational Mana I can provide. Holding nothing back, I draw out every drop I have and send it circling into the Gravity Bomb.

Suddenly, it undergoes that qualitative change I observed last time, changing from an ultra-dense fog into a seamless sphere, so dark as to almost be black.

Just in time, I can�t hold on any longer!

I�ve reached within twenty metres of my chosen targets. The fearsome snake has wrapped itself around the titan-croc, constricting its arms and savagely biting its constrained prey.

Perfect for me. Feel the wrath of Anthony!

Opening my mouth wide, I release my grip on the Gravity Bomb. It blasts out, filling the air with a piercing wail. Even through the din of monstrous battle, the Gravity Bomb cuts with ease. The horrific, high-pitched shriek assaulting every monster�s ears.

The dog-snake immediately sees the source of the noise and tries to disengage itself, but the croc, ignorant of the danger, seizes on its opponent�s sudden attempt at retreat. Titan-croc latches on with its claws and bites the snake, locking them both in the path of the bomb.

The Gravity Bomb howls through the air like an angry demon. The air itself is sucked into it, causing a rushing wind as it cuts across the distance.

Trapped in the grip of the giant croc, the unfortunate snake frantically twists its body in an attempt to escape the impending threat to no avail.

Upon impact, the Gravity Bomb flickers before expanding in a blink. The high-pitched shriek turns into a thunderous roar as the two hapless monsters are gradually pulled inside, consumed by the ball, and other nearby monsters are also caught in its inexorable pull.

Like the maw of an insatiable demon, the black sphere drags its victims in before they completely disappear, crushed within the void.

[You have defeated a Level 9 Canem Pythonem (III).]

[You have defeated a Level 8 Growing Maw Garralosh (II).]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 6. One Skill Point awarded.]

Though the horrific sight persists for only a few seconds, the impact it has is immense. Nearby monsters, suddenly freed from the gravity that seized them, slump to the ground, their desperate efforts to resist no longer required.

Several of these monsters flee into the forest! Perhaps they were so startled by their near-death experience, the bloodlust was knocked out of them.

Whatever the reason, the panic proves contagious. More monsters flee the field, their fear spreading to others who, intimidated out of their frenzy, retreat into the shelter of the forest.

Yeah, you better run!

Because my core and gravitational energy are completely exhausted. I�m so tired!

Even with so many adversaries retreating, the battle rages on. The workforce continues to be locked in combat with other smaller creatures. Here and there a larger monster is swarmed, covered in over a dozen workers at once and pulled to the ground.

The queen stands tall above the fray, her antennae flaring brightly with healing Mana every now and again as she targets smaller groups of workers for her ministrations. To my relief she hasn�t pushed herself to the front line, risking becoming separated from her protectors. Instead she�s remained close enough to help where she is needed, lunging to chomp at troublesome enemies and withdrawing slightly to continue healing the wounded and seeking trouble spots.

While she probably could rampage through the monsters, I�m glad she hasn�t. If she were to die, the colony would have no future.

Despite being so drained, so long as the workforce is engaged in battle, I will be also. A dedicated ant worker has no time for slacking! Staggering back into the fight, I chomp left and right at every monster who crosses my path.

The more Crushing Bites I dole out the more drained my stamina becomes, my physical exhaustion rising to match that of my mind. I continue to be battered on all sides, smaller monsters rushing in biting and slashing as I doggedly push through their ranks like a car slowly forcing its way through a crowd.

Eventually I�m forced to activate my Regenerative Gland, largely because one of my legs becomes completely crippled. My Diamond Carapace can deflect most of the harm, but enough 1 HP hits will eventually mount to serious damage.

Thankfully the Limb Regeneration proves up to the task and my leg is mostly reformed within a minute.

My mind grows increasingly dull as the battle rages on. My actions are almost completely mechanical. Step forward, bite, bite, bite, look for more enemies and continue the process. I can barely even acknowledge the voice of the system in my head.

[You have defeated�]

[Crushing Bite (II) has reached Level 9.]

[Exo-Skeleton Defence has reached Level 5.]

Finally, there comes a time where I chomp on a monster, only to find nothing but worker ants picking over the Biomass.

A carpet of remains covers the ground, the anthill rising out of the carnage like a tall spire emerging from refuse.

As my tunnel vision slowly expands, I take in the sights. Hundreds of workers are still alive, seemingly unwearied, dragging away Biomass and lifting it in their mandibles before making the journey up the hill. Here and there are large bodies being picked over by ten or more workers, industriously carving up the spoils.

The field has been surrendered to the ants. The sheer number of us, combined with my own intervention, was enough to chase away all but the most suicidal of monsters, leaving the colony as the ultimate victor.

Tiny staggers over. The poor ape is covered in wounds, and still holds a broad smile plastered on his bat face.

You dumb ape� I�m glad you�re still alive.

Having seen me and made sure that I�m ok, my ape friend turns and begins to chow down, wolfing Biomass into his face with wild abandon. It�s a good thing, the food will help close over those wounds faster. The big guy must have gained a ton of Levels in this fight. Should check and see if his core is ready to evolve.

No rest for the weary!

Shaking myself and using my own antennae to slap my face, I try to wake up my exhausted mind, much like a human slapping themselves on the cheeks. There is extremely important work to do.

I didn�t intend to cause this enormous battle on the doorstep of the colony. Since it�s happened, I will not waste the opportunity provided to help the colony survive.

The Biomass can go to the workers and queen, I don�t need much. The cores are another matter. I have to have those. Tiny needs to evolve and I need to raise the Core Mechanic skill as quickly as possible. Judging by the ridiculous power demonstrated by the Sophos Formo and his rock worm of death, it�s possible to modify and raise monsters to be superlatively powerful. If I can get my skill high enough, maybe I can engineer Tiny or the queen and improve our chances of living!

I briefly activate my Mana Sensing and cast my awareness about, seeking those little concentrated balls of Mana that are the cores.

I�m quite pleased by what I see. Plenty of them around! In fact, there is a very large one walking right up to me.

Oh, wait�

�Hello, your, uh, majesty!� I stutter, dropping my Mana Sensing and greeting Mother as she looms over me.

Thwack!

My head is knocked down as the queen whacks me across the head with one of her antennae.

Ouch. I deserve that.

�You must learn to be more cautious, child,� the queen warns me gently. �You must not endanger your family.�

I squirm internally at her words. Family as a concept is� a little difficult for me to understand. I mean, my family certainly fed and clothed me most of the time, but even this experience of being disciplined by my mother is a bit new.

It feels� nice, I suppose?

�I�m sorry, your majes�Mother. I uh, learned about a great danger and was trying to return and warn the colony.�

�Danger? What danger do you speak of?�

�Actually, it�s going to happen very soon! I�ve been told that in one or two days there will be a �wave� of monsters. Our enemies will appear at incredible rates, coming straight out of the walls! They could appear right inside the colony, right inside the brood chambers!�

As I�m speaking, I realise just how crazy this sounds. How crazy this is! I�m talking to a giant ant queen, who is probably only a few months old. I probably know more about the Dungeon than she does at this point. And, what I know came from a single conversation. How is this even going to work?

�Do you believe the colony is threatened?� the queen�s calm, soothing voice breaks into my swirling, tired thoughts.

�I do.�

�What should we do, my child?�

That simple? You believe me just like that! You�ll listen to what I say so quickly?

Almost as if she can sense the direction of my mind, the queen answers my inner doubts.

�We are family.�

Ok then� I guess we are.

I mean� It�s a little odd. I was a human before, after all. I may not have lived what people would call a �normal life,� but hey, I went to school�a bit�I saw people, ate regular human food, sometimes.

Now I have a giant ant queen staring down at me, insisting she and my many siblings are my family now.

For some reason I�m surprisingly ok with that. I mean, I�ve known intellectually the queen is my mother and the workers are all my siblings. Now I feel as though I can really accept it.

I had a pet ant colony as a human. I kept them contained and fed them. Watched the colony grow and cleaned out their spaces. In some ways, they were the most constant members of my household. I saw them every day, which wasn�t true of anyone else.

Perhaps that�s why I don�t really mind being an ant. If I�m going to be a member of this family then I have to do my best to save them!

I start thinking out loud.

�Ok then, Queen, I don�t think we�re uh, strong enough to survive the wave. If our nest is invaded from the outside as well as the inside, we could be completely wiped out!�

Concern grows within the queen�s intelligent eyes and she taps me with her antennae, urging me to continue.

�I think we need to move the colony! We need to get somewhere� else. Somewhere safer.�

�Do you know where we should go, child?�

Err� No?

We live in the Dungeon, and from what I�m told the entire place is going to become a death zone for up to a week. I don�t even know that the surface will be safe from the impending danger!

But it may be safer than the Dungeon.

If endless numbers of monsters will be fighting and going crazy through these tunnels, going to the surface might actually be better. Of course, that doesn�t mean running headlong into the humans. That would be suicide. With my Tunnel Map, the entrance I first encountered the humans is clearly marked. If we can find a way to the surface far enough away from a human settlement, we might be able to remain undetected and ride out this disaster!

Am I crazy? If the colony relocates to the surface, there�s a chance we�ll get killed by those powerful human soldiers. Burnt to death, cut to pieces and slaughtered without mercy.

If we stay down here, will the outcome be any different?

We have to take a chance.

The queen has waited patiently as my thoughts run in circles. My resolution firms when I see her commitment to waiting for my directions.

�We have to dig a new tunnel to the surface!�

The queen slowly digests this bombshell, taking time to think them over.

Then she responds, �What is the �surface?��

Of course, how could she possibly know about it?

�We�ll dig a new tunnel upwards, that bypasses the existing Dungeon passages. If we can dig far enough upwards, we�ll be safe!�

Hopefully that is simple enough for her to understand what I�m getting at.

She pauses for another moment, her monster intelligence mulling over this suggestion. My nerves are on overdrive while she puzzles out exactly what this means to her.

To my surprise she calmly nods.

�We will do as you suggest, child. Where should the family dig?�

Phew! At least the first hurdle has been cleared. If the queen has agreed to my plan, then I might have a chance of getting the workers to cooperate. I�m not exactly sure how the pecking order works in a monstrous ant colony. In a normal ant colony on Earth, the queen doesn�t actually �rule� over the rest of the ants. In fact, she�s basically dragged around by the workers and expected to continuously lay eggs.

The workers run the colony on a kind of democratic system. For example, if one worker finds a good place to move the nest, they�ll lay down a trail and start moving the brood. If other ants find the trail, they�ll check it out and if they agree with the first ant�s opinion, they will join in. When enough workers have agreed on a course of action, it will happen. It isn�t always so smooth, of course. Sometimes the workers don�t agree with each other, and you�ll have two competing sets of workers, each moving the eggs and larvae to two different places!

In this world though, the queen is intelligent, not a mindless egg laying slave, and she�s far from a helpless creature at the mercy of the workers. If anything, she is probably closer to what most humans think an ant queen is like on Earth. In charge, making decisions and actively helping to direct the future of her family.

I�m not sure exactly what she can do to direct the workforce. It�s clear they can understand my pheromone language to some extent, perhaps she can just talk to them.

I shake these thoughts out of my head and address the queen once more.

�Let�s sweep clean this battlefield first. The Biomass is too valuable to the colony for us to abandon it. Once that�s done, I�ll start digging the tunnel. If you can help get the rest of the� family� digging, then we can make faster progress. Hopefully we can dig our way clear of the threat in the next two days.�

Even in the time since I spoke to Formo, I�ve already noticed the brightness of the forest has diminished. The Mana is continuing to recede, just as the Sophos predicted. The forest is going to grow even dimmer, perhaps even fading to black, before the wave breaks.

Satisfied with our discussion, the queen gives a few more friendly taps on the head with her antennae before retreating to the security of the nest, leaving the workers to do what they do best and complete the work required to harvest the Biomass the colony demands.

As the queen ambles away, the workers are doing just that, combing over the battlefield and collecting the spoils of war. As more time goes by, the number of ants showing visible signs of mutation is increasing. Here and there a worker with longer antennae, or stronger looking legs, or larger mandibles can be seen.

This is excellent news! If the workforce becomes stronger, then we�ll have a greater chance of survival.

I proudly watch the workers rushing about. This is my family now, and every one of these ants is my sibling. I didn�t have any brothers or sisters that I knew of in my last life, going from that to having hundreds is a bit of a shift.

Enough sentiment! I have important work to do.

Flipping my Mana Sensing back on, I glance around and try to identify the location of as many cores as I can. I have to secure all of them. Every last one!

Rushing around, I commence the messy task of extracting cores from monster remains. I desperately need to rest, but the impending danger of the wave requires I push beyond my limits.

When finished, the haul is definitely worth it.

In these dangerous times, with battle being constant in the forest, many monsters are fighting and Levelling up at a rapid pace. Which means the number of cores to be found in the surviving monsters is higher than what I experienced before.

When we�re talking about a large-scale battle where hundreds of monsters died, we are talking about a good haul of cores!

Over twenty in all.

Not to mention the special prize! I wandered over to what was left of the larger monsters who had been caught in my Gravity Bomb.

A small, ultra-dense ball of Biomass was sitting on the ground, looking more like a model planet no bigger than a tennis ball.

After nearly breaking my neck trying to lift it, I had to give up.

This thing is stupidly dense.

Determined, I try to nibble at it. When nibbling fails, I attempt full on chomping. It�s like smashing my teeth on a gobstopper. After a little persistence, I�m rewarded!

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Canem Pythonem (III). You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Canem Pythonem (III) unlocked.]

[Canem Pythonem (III): Dog Python. Evolved from the smaller Dog Snake, the sheer brute strength of this monster should not be underestimated. Capable of constricting its prey to death in a matter of seconds, the speed of this creature, combined with its powerful canine senses, make it a deadly hunter.]

This Biomass is so condensed I managed to get a whole point from that little mouthful! As intriguing as this is, the real prize is lying in the foliage nearby. That is a fairly impressive looking core!

Gathering the large Python core�it�s definitely from the Python, judging by the tail section next to it�I bring it to the rest of my hoard and transport them all into the first trap network, burying them with my Death Rabbit core.

This is the most precious harvest of the battle. Great plans are in store for these resources! I need to work quickly though.

Before beginning that work, I make one final trip to the field to gather some Biomass for myself and collect my now almost spherical ape. Are you made of rubber, you stupid gorilla! How do you fit so much food in your stomach?

Tiny appears happy to simply lie on his back, rolling about gently in contentment, his distended belly proudly displayed to the forest canopy.

Really classy, Tiny, you surely are living your best life.

By this time the industrious workers have done a fairly good job of picking the field clean. I head back to the condensed gobstopper of Biomass forged by my Gravity Bomb.

Standing over it, I have to say it doesn�t look that impressive. A small ball that doesn�t really look like meat or food of any kind. The ball is a kind of orange colour, streaked through with different layers and the occasional splash of other colours. Peering closer, it reminds me a little of the planet Jupiter from images I�d seen in textbooks.

Tentatively I try again to lift it. No success. Most of the Biomass of two giant monsters is packed into this little ball. There must be easily over a ton of material in there. Not all that surprising, I can�t lift it.

I�ll have to eat as much as I can here and now!

Crouching down, I start gnawing the hell out of the thing.

Om nom, nom, nom, nom.

Yield to me you damn sphere!

Om, nom, nom, nom, nom!

[You have gained one Biomass.]

This is going to take a while. I feel like a dog chewing on a bone�

NOM NOM.

After a solid twenty minutes of chewing, I�ve managed to gain six more Biomass. The rate at which I was able to extract the food was slowly starting to increase towards the end. Chipping away at it seemed to loosen up the Biomass a little. With more time, I�d be able to get a whole lot more, but I can�t afford to hang around.

I just have too much to do!

The food does a lot to re-energise me, helping to close over my smaller wounds and refresh my mind somewhat. I still desperately need to sleep� It�ll have to wait a bit longer.

Having eaten, I hustle back into the nest and make my way down to the queen�s chamber. Ants are desperately running about, passing food around, feeding the larvae and presenting Biomass to the queen.

The only problem is she shows no interest in eating.

I can subtly tell the workers are distressed by this. A small pile of Biomass is growing in the queen�s chamber, and the workers are wandering back and forth with no real idea on how to proceed if the queen won�t start eating.

When I bustle in, the queen perks up and pushes through the crowd of workers towards me.

�Are we ready to dig?� she asks, the concern thrumming in her �voice.�

�Good to go!� I hope my tone is enough to reassure her.

I move over to the slowly dimming walls of the chamber and start to feel out the dirt with my antennae. I�m relying on my Excavation skill to guide my instincts and detect the best place to start digging.

In my Tunnel Map, the entrance where I encountered the humans is marked roughly two kilometres to the� let�s say west. That isn�t far enough away to be certain we are clear of human settlements.

I don�t know if the entrance I found is in the middle of a thriving city or a cow paddock. Just knowing humans are there means we need to surface a good distance away. That means we need to dig not just up, but diagonally away from that entrance.

There�s a patch of wall that feels the most promising to my tingling instincts and I start digging. I want to pitch the tunnel upwards about twenty degrees. By the time we reach the surface we should be a long distance away from that dreaded entrance.

If we run into an already established tunnel, we�ll have to back up, close off a section and dig around it, we cannot risk exposing our escape route to the wave.

Even as I dig, the glowing blue veins that have penetrated all the way here to the heart of the colony glow brightly in my face. Towards these curling lines of light, to which I once felt such fascination, now only dread remains.

As I begin to remove the dirt, the lines fade and vanish on the soil that is no longer connected to the wall, as if it were part of a circuit that had been disconnected. When the Mana fades, the dirt looks perfectly ordinary, as if there had been nothing different about it before.

�We should dig our tunnel here, your majesty!� I use my antennae to indicate the angle we should dig. �If we dig in this direction, we might be able to escape the worst of the wave. Get the workers to dump the dirt in the tunnel leading down from this chamber, if we can block monsters rising from deeper down, that would be a bonus!�

Having said my piece, I take a clod of dirt in my mandibles and retreat to the lower tunnel where we battled the Berserkers. If more monsters like them, or worse, were to attack during the wave, we would be in serious trouble.

Even this long, spiralling tunnel has become filled with the Mana veins. When the wave breaks, and if Formo is correct, this entire tunnel would start to spawn monsters.

We would surely be wiped out had we not been forewarned! I have to make sure I pay the Sophos back for their help if the chance ever arises.

Returning to the queen�s chamber, I�m shocked to see the queen herself digging away at the wall.

A nervous swarm of workers is bustling around her, even climbing over her in their attempt to render assistance.

She�s gently encouraging the workforce with her soothing voice. �Come, little ones. Let�s dig a new tunnel here. Dig quickly, children.�

Although they cannot reply to her, the fervour of the workers to respond to her words clearly demonstrates their understanding. The workers are practically vibrating with eagerness, and it isn�t long before a long chain of ants has been established, feverishly digging away at the wall with the queen�s assistance, while others cart away the dirt and dump it in the tunnel below.

Watching the ant�s furious pace, my clenching heart eases a little in my chest. Perhaps we might be able to make it after all. They may not be the sharpest tools in the shed, but when it comes to work ethic, I can�t imagine anyone being able to beat a colony of ants.

I have to work just as hard!

I�m so exhausted, my mind feels wrapped in a fog� No! No time to slow down, there is too much to do and only a little time in which to do it.

I�ll leave the digging to the colony for the time being. There are other things to prepare for the upcoming struggle that the others can�t handle.

Emerging into the first trap network, I find Tiny has settled himself down to happily sleep off his meal. This ape has gotten seriously larger. It won�t be long before he reaches his full size at the pace he�s going. Considering the amount of Biomass he packed into himself today, it wouldn�t surprise me if he wakes up another foot taller.

Snoring softly, the little bat face seems too peaceful when asleep. It�s a little difficult to associate this restful scene with the hooting, battle crazed gorilla I�d witnessed not long ago.

I�ll let him sleep. Better he gets rest while he can.

Digging away a patch of soft earth, my treasures are revealed. The cores.

Looking down at the glittering, gem-like spheres, my heart slowly begins to burn with anticipation.

If the Sophos can engineer such powerful pets, then why can�t I?

And if I can, then what�s to say the whole colony couldn�t?

My glittering prizes are spread across the tunnel floor. A collection of precious gems ready for my mental ministrations.

Pushing away fatigue, I shake myself a little, slap my antennae on my face and begin to work.

My antennae stretch and touch the first core as I activate my Core Mechanic skill. My mind is flooded with information regarding the creature this core came from. All their basic stats and skills are laid out in a dazzling mental map. Rather than a solid menu, the values and ideas are communicated in pictures or colours.

It�s pretty disorienting, I�m gradually starting to get the hang of it.

I prepare myself mentally for a moment and then push with my mind, catching hold of one of the stats and shifting some of its value to another. Doing so requires immense effort. My mandibles are tightly clenched and a pounding headache is coming on.

With that done, I wrap my thoughts around the change I made like concrete, holding the values down as it tries to slip away and change back, squirming like an eel in my mental hands.

Stay put, dammit!

Eventually the change I�d made settles and grows still, no longer fighting against me. Slowly, I release my grip. My mind feels stiff with throbbing pain, like hands that had been holding something down too tightly for too long.

That was just one small change! It�s insane how difficult this is.

Comfort comes with the idea that as I Level up the Core Mechanic skill, the burden might lessen, allowing me to progress more rapidly.

By the gnarled staff of Gandalf, I�m so tired�

Bah! A worker knows no such weariness. Push through, Anthony.

Bringing my antennae to the same core once again, I throw my mind into the strange swirl of information contained inside. Gathering my Will, I try again to exact the same change I made before, shifting a piece of Toughness into Might. This time it�s even more difficult! The core resists my efforts to change it with even more vigour, stretching my mental resources to their limits.

This would simply be impossible if I weren�t a Mind Ant.

I refuse to fail!

You will be conquered by me, you stupid inanimate gemstone!

Hrrrnnng!

By supreme effort of Will I enforce the change I desire on the core and hold it in place as it writhes against my mental barriers. After a time, it stops resisting and I collapse to the floor in exhaustion.

[Core Mechanic has reached Level 2.]

Ah� Ahha! T-triumph! Ugh�

I pick myself up from the floor and collect the core in my mandibles before placing it to one side next to Tiny.

I select another small sample from my collection of spherical gemstones and place it on the floor where it sparkles innocently. Totally belying the pain and suffering this innocuous thing will soon inflict on me.

No whining, Anthony! The colony needs your skills. Suffer like you love it.

Stretching forward once more, I activate the Core Mechanic skill and bring the strength of my Will to bear.

Agrupanuf!

[Core Mechanic has reached Level 4.]

Vic� tory�! BAH! I�m awake!

I snap out of torpor with a vigorous shake of my body, startled by my unexpected loss of awareness. I managed to get through six more cores, making two adjustments to each before my Core Mechanic reached Level four and I effectively passed out from exhaustion.

That could have been dangerous! How long was out of it?

Tiny is still sleeping soundly, a small pile of seven cores in the dirt next to him. Relieved to see my ape still resting, I turn to the tunnel walls and attempt to judge how much time I�ve missed based on the change in brightness from the Mana veins that have even managed to push their way into this tunnel network.

The light radiating from those veins is probably half what it was before. Does that mean we�re halfway to the start of the wave? Will the Mana rush back immediately once the walls are completely dim or will there be some time spent in darkness before the wave breaks?

Frustration grips me. I just don�t know enough! If I had just ten more minutes with Formo I could have learned so much more.

No time to cry about spilt Biomass. Even if I hadn�t wanted to rest, my mind is feeling much refreshed. And I still have a heap of unmodified cores here to help push through to Level 5 and advance the skill.

Determinedly I grasp another core in my mandibles and bring it to a clear patch of tunnel floor before activating the skill and continuing my work.

First core done!

Second core done!

Third core done!

Hoo boy! Need a breather�

Fourth core done!

[Core Mechanic has reached Level 5. Upgrade available.]

Thank, Gandalf! Holy moly that is tiring. The improving skill Level has surely helped, but the task of modifying the cores is still intensely draining. It�s like trying to hold a cube of water in shape with your hands.

Eagerly I jump into the menu to check out the new skill.

[Core Mechanic (I) [?] Core Engineer (II): This skill allows the user to exercise finer control when making adjustments and reveals a deeper layer of information within the core to be manipulated. Cores may also be fused.]

Buy iiiit! Gwehehehe.

This is the first step on the long road the Sophos have walked, manipulating monster cores to create invincible monsters.

I grasp another core and activate the Core Engineer skill.

Once again that dizzying rush of information invades my mind, and this time the knowledge is even denser. Beneath the surface details is now a deeper layer. As soon as I identify it, I let my mind sink to it, ready to flex my new skills.

Behaviour, evolution paths and advancement choices can all be adjusted! The Core Engineer skill not only allows the user to adjust the stats and skills of a monster, but also its evolutionary path.

This must be the secret to how Formo and his kind are able to custom design such fearsome beasts to meet their needs. They can take a base monster and customise it for the present, as well as shape its evolution well into the future! This helps explain how it takes so long for them to grow their monsters. The Sophos probably begin with a low-Level monster. Likely one that hasn�t evolved in the first place, then shape and direct it over multiple evolutions. They probably have directions and paths they�ve worked out over hundreds of years of trial and error, like recipes, allowing them to produce exactly the monster they want.

Fearsome�

I�m still a long way from that Level!

The other side of this skill is just as important. Core Fusion? Allowing me to combine cores�

To test my thoughts and exercise the hidden instincts the skill has implanted in my mind, I take two small cores I�ve yet to tamper with and place an antenna on each before activating the skill.

Immediately the dazzling information of two cores is slammed into my mind, nearly stunning me insensible with the sheer volume of data. Pushing the mental strain to one side, I follow the half-realised pathways forged in my brain as I learned the skill and begin to draw the two cores together.

They resist each other. Furiously.

Like magnets of opposite poles, the two cores fiercely resist my efforts, pushing at each other, trying to shove each other away. Except in the implacable grip of my Will, they have no choice.

In times like this I�m thankful ants don�t sweat, because I would be dripping buckets! Through sheer force of mental effort, I push the energy contained in each core together and hold it there against the powerful resistive forces.

And hold it.

And hold it!

Gradually the two cores begin to fuse. The physical gems grow softer and begin to emit a blinding light as they melt together.

The two small cores now no longer exist and in their place is a slightly larger one. I wearily activate the Core Engineer skill on the new core and shudder at the tangled mess of data.

Yuck!

[Core Engineer (II) has reached Level 2.]

Phew!

It appears my fusion lacked a bit of elegance and control. The result of combining the two monster cores is not a functional new monster species, but a tangled mess of data that contains more energy than either of the two cores held separately. That would make one horrible mess of a monster!

If I were to reconstitute this core, the monster created may not even be able to functionally live and immediately pass away.

Not a pleasant fate�

With my Core Mechanic skill successfully advanced to Engineer, and my first test of core fusion complete, it�s time to move onto the next phase of preparations.

I�ve already collected a small pile of cores that I modified twice next to where my ape friend is snoring soundly.

Formo indicated there are several skills that relate to �pets,� the term the Sophos, and perhaps others in this world use to refer to monsters that have been reconstituted from cores.

I honestly can�t remember finding any such skills when I was last browsing the list. Then again, I wasn�t looking for them. With some Skill Points up my sleeve, I want to take another look and see if I can find something that will help me harness the strength of Tiny to battle the upcoming wave.

Opening the skill menu with a few practiced thoughts I begin flipping through it, looking for anything that touches on the word �pet.�

Naturally, armed with this new information, I manage to find a ton of skills related to pets.

Skills that make it easier to handle a larger number of pets, skills to help raise the pets more quickly�that must be referring to the time and Biomass required to grow the monster back to full size�skills that allow you to monitor the pet�s stats. Even a skill to accelerate the Levelling speed of your pets.

No wonder the Sophos were able to utilise their Engineering skills to survive so long living in this place with their weak physiques. By Engineering monsters and controlling them with all these skills, they would be a fearsome opponent indeed.

Most of these skills don�t seem that appealing to me, however. I don�t really want a massive army of pets. It seems fairly redundant since I�m already surrounded by hundreds of monsters. Rather than that, a small number of strong pets seems more desirable. Allies that can protect me and the colony until it can better protect itself.

I didn�t really mean to take any steps down this �pet� path. Reconstituting Tiny was an accident. But since having him, I�ve found myself growing fond of the big lug. I had to raise him after all. From a little chimp back into the mighty gorilla he�s now become.

I�m going to make sure he becomes the best ape he can be!

Instead, the skill that catches my eye is this one:

[Pet Communication: Establishes a mental link between pet and master. Increasing Levels in the skill will improve the clarity of the link and the distance at which it can be utilised.]

If I can speak more effectively with Tiny, he�ll become a lot more helpful. Able to receive a few instructions rather than just running off and fighting everything he can see.

Learn this skill!

When I approve the Skill Point expenditure, the now familiar trickling feeling shivers through my mind.

While I�m at it, I also check out the now available advanced version of Exo-Skeleton Defence.

[Exo-Skeleton Defence (I) 🡪 Advanced Exo-Skeleton Defence (II): Improves the ability to utilise the nature of an external skeleton to fend off physical damage.]

I�ll take that as well!

With a few Skill Points spent, it�s time to commit to the next phase. [Wake up, Tiny!]

I try to use our newly established mental link to communicate with my sleeping ape friend. A small presence in my mind pushes back like a petulant child. I don�t think he wants to wake up.

[Wake up, you ape! We have some stuff to do.]

Once again that presence seems to roll over and wave me away, the mental equivalent of pulling a pillow over your head.

Going to be like that, eh? Eyes narrowed, I pick up a core and approach my drowsing companion.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

[Get! Up! Get! Up!] With each word I smash the core in my mandibles on his head.

Ignore me, will you!

It isn�t long before Tiny has responded to my affectionate request to wake. He sits against the tunnel wall staring at me reproachfully and rubbing his head.

[Tired�]

A deep, sullen voice echoes in my mind. The voice of Tiny! The skill is working well. [We�ve got stuff to do, buddy. A big day for you in particular!]

Tiny looks at me blankly before his eyelids slowly start to droop.

BAM!

[Owww!] Tiny grumbles.

[Take this core and use it!]

Impatiently I drop the core in front of him. Trying to sleep in front of me again� I mean really!

Tiny looks at the core and then back to me. I can sense the bubbling confusion in his mind as he ponders over what it is I want him to do.

[Use the core to reinforce your own!]

[Core?]

[Yes, core! That thing there, on the ground.] The nerve of this guy, seriously�

[This?]

[Yes!]

[Core?]

[Yes!]

[Don�t know how�]

ARGH!

Not the first time I lament that Tiny seriously struggles with a limited mental capacity. To put it bluntly, this ape is dumb. Strong, but dumb as a stump. Last time I had to belt him over the head with the core until he instinctively fused with it.

Looks like I might have to repeat the process.

With an evil glint in my eye, I retrieve the core from the ground and slowly approach my nervous ape pet.

[Will you absorb the core, Tiny?]

[Absorb?]

BAM!

[Ow!]

[Absorb it, dammit!]

BAM!

[Ow!]

BAM!

Thwack!

Ah�Different sound� Checking my mandibles, the core I�d painstakingly modified twice has vanished. Thank goodness!

I pat Tiny on his sore head with my antennae. [Good job. You did it!]

[Did� it?]

[Yes, you absorbed the core! It�s gone, see?]

[Ohhh!]

A light seems to have been lit in those dim eyes as he finally begins to understand what I want him to do. Perfect!

[Now absorb this one!]

[Absorb?]

[Make the stone vanish. Reinforce your own core!]

Another blank stare� Sigh�BAM!

[Absorb the core!]

BAM!

Thwack!

Aha!

Tiny has both of his large gorilla hands covering his head. I almost feel sorry for him. My poor simple minded ape buddy. This is for his own good. He must be getting close to evolving after that last battle. He went on a massive rampage! I have to max out his core as soon as I can.

I grab another of my modified cores, planning to save the untouched ones so that I can continue to practice.

[Ok. Now this one!]

Tiny stares at me through his fingers with deep sadness and trepidation in his eyes.

[Why don�t you just take it without me having to hit you with it then!]

I pop it on the ground in front of my defensive ape friend.

[Pick it up!]

Being able to communicate with him is so nice! I get the feeling he might not be enjoying the experience much, however.

He reluctantly picks up the core. The gem looks so small in his meaty gorilla hands. I suspect he must have advanced his hands in some way. They surely look stronger and more powerful than they did before.

With the core resting on his massive palm, he looks at me tentatively before briefly concentrating. With a short flash of light, the core melts into his body and vanishes.

[Yes! You did it! Well done, Tiny.]

I shower him with praise and repeatedly pat him on the head with my antennae until the silly gorilla is wriggling with joy, a broad smile on his bat face.

Dawww.

[Now this one!]

I continue to pass Tiny cores until, after the eighth one, he shakes his head and taps himself on the chest and says simply, [Full.]

A wave of excitement rises in my chest. I can practically feel my eyes flashing with evil light as I turn to look at the massive snake core.

Time for dessert!

The large snake core glitters in my eyes as I take it over to the rest of my cores. While I can easily see this core is powerful, I�m not certain it�s powerful enough for my purposes.

Using my antennae, one placed on the large core and the other on one of the smaller ones, I activate the Core Engineering skill and try to combine the two.

Fierce resistance meets me immediately, pushing back against my mind until a pounding headache erupts between my temples. ARGGHH. These stupid cores. They think they�re all that!

Come on!

Forcing with all my spirit I mentally smash the cores together and hold them tightly, refusing to allow their energies to budge even a millimetre apart. The larger core exerts far more force than the smaller one, pushing back with an almost irresistible pressure.

But my Will is indomitable! Surrender to me, you stupid rock�

Hrrrn-kassafraz!

The two cores melt together, or more accurately, the smaller core is pulled into the larger one and they fuse together.

With the sudden release of pressure, I collapsed onto the floor of the tunnel. Ugh. This is way too hard. Can�t allow myself to slump for long. Picking myself up, I peer carefully at the massive core, my antennae tapping over it intensely and listening for the voice of Gandalf.

[Compatible core detected, do you wish to reinforce your core or reconstitute the monster?]

As if I would want to reconstitute the mess of a monster this core contains after I smashed another into it. All I want is to try and manufacture a special core!

Determined, I grasp another small core and begin the process again.

Hrrrn-gapaaa!

Success!

Gasp�so hard�

[Compatible special core detected�]

Yes� YESSSS! Mwuhahahaha!

I gleefully grasp the core in my mandibles and take it to my trusting, unsuspecting pet. [Tiny, use this core as well.]

The bat-faced gorilla stares at me for a moment before shaking his head and tapping his chest. [Full.]

[I know, buddy, but you can take in one more. Just this one.]

[Full.]

BAM! BAM!

Absorb the special core, you disobedient ape. I just spent so much effort making this for you!

BAM!

Thwick!

What the heck is thwick?

Retracting my mandibles, my heart lifts when I see the core is stuck to the top of Tiny�s head like a spherical hat, and his ape face is scrunched in concentration and pain. The energy within the core is leaching out and into the suffering ape. As time passes, the core grows smaller and smaller as the suffering on my friend�s face becomes more intense.

I can totally sympathise with my poor ape buddy. I clearly remember the pain of having that special core push your own capacity beyond the limit. Endure it, Tiny! This will unlock a whole new future for you.

As more time passes the expression on Tiny�s face turns from one of suffering into a snarl. His broad shoulders heave and his powerful fingers claw deep trenches into the tunnel floor as he embraces the beast within.

You can do it, Tiny, endure it!

Mercifully, the process is finished and the core has been fully absorbed. The poor guy is still growling, his fists clenching and unclenching.

I tentatively approach him and pat him on the head with my antennae. A strong feeling of guilt is rising in me. I really don�t want to see him in pain. I raised him from when he was just a core, after all! I try to firm up my resolve by reminding myself that this is for his own good.

[Evolve, Tiny! You need to evolve and get stronger, then you won�t hurt anymore!]

He doesn�t hear me. His beady bat eyes are filled with anger and pain, his mouth is wide open in a silent scream, revealing his fangs. Tension fills every line of his face.

[Come on, Tiny. You�ve got to evolve. It�s the only thing that will help!]

I move closer to my suffering pet to try and soothe him with my presence, stroking his head with my antennae and encouraging him, urging him to begin his evolution. I�m not even 100% certain Tiny has reached his max Level. Given the ape�s intelligence, it would be very hard for me to try and extract that information. I could have taken the skill that lets me see his stats but I�m reluctant to part with a Skill Point just for that. Any reasonably intelligent pet would be able to communicate that to me on their own, surely?

Even if he can�t evolve, I�m living proof a monster can live with an oversized core for an extended period. If he can�t evolve right now, then surely it isn�t far away. The main point of my soothing is just to try and help Tiny calm down and adjust to the painful bulge of his new core.

Gradually, Tiny is able to relax, his muscles unclenching and uncoiling one by one as his breathing dwindles from a whistling grunt. Slowly but surely, he grows more still until his eyes slowly close, and he falls back to sleep.

Poor guy, he really struggled with that process.

I don�t know if he�s evolving or just sleeping, but I�m glad he�s no longer in pain. Despite feeling terrible about inflicting such harm on my loyal friend, I can�t help but be excited for what the future holds for Tiny. I don�t think many monsters are able to push their core beyond the limit and achieve a special evolution in this Dungeon. After all, without a human-like intellect, how would they be able to recognise the benefits?

Perhaps such monsters capable of a more intelligent reasoning are common deeper in the Dungeon? The rabid beast-like monsters up here are certainly not up to that sort of thinking. If one of them managed to achieve such an evolution it would be by pure accident.

Hang on� what�s that?

Despite having turned my back, I can still make out something going on with Tiny. A shift or ripple in my peripheral vision. Snapping back to him my heart leaps with joy.

The ape�s skin appears to be roiling with energy! It�s an almost ghastly sight as the fur and flesh of my pet appear to balloon and flow like a liquid, or a sheet blowing in the breeze. I�ve never seen it myself, but I think this can only be one thing.

Tiny is evolving!

Before my very eyes, the changes continue rapidly. Even as his body continues to shift like clay, his fur is growing rapidly, going from short and bristly to silken, stubby growth, to long hair in only a few moments. In some places his body sinks and collapses while others bulge out with rapid expansion.

As the process continues, he definitely grows larger. Quite a bit larger! His hands go from a dark brownish colour to a brilliant blue in what seems like a split second. When I lean closer to inspect the change, I�m almost fried by a sudden blast of electricity exploding from his hands, spreading to cover his whole body.

All over him twisting ropes of electrical current appear and disappear every instant, sizzling with power and raising the temperature of the tunnel to a boiling point.

And still he continues to change!

I wait patiently, watching every shift and detail of the evolution, my heart pounding with excitement.

When the evolution is finally complete, I�m truly awed. Tiny has become twice his previous size, completely dwarfing me and the tunnel in which we sit. His massive form is hunched over, shoulders pressing against the roof.

His fur has grown, hanging down from his long, powerful arms. Some of the finer hairs rise from his body, almost suspended in the air. I suspect the electrical energy in his body is constantly running a current through him, causing some of his fur to rise like this.

Suddenly, he opens his eyes and looks around in confusion.

I hesitantly try to speak to him. [You ok there, Tiny? How do you feel?]

He swivels his beady eyes over to me and they gradually focus. Then, he grins a wide grin. His bat features split to reveal his glittering mouthful of fangs. Tiny thumps himself on the chest with one blue fist.

[Tiny feels strong!]

He certainly looks really strong. The size of the guy! I think it�s clear that almost all that evolutionary energy went into Might. Somewhat sadly. I really wish a sliver of that energy had made it to buffing up his brain power.

Well, it isn�t all bad I suppose. Since Tiny has me to help him do the thinking, and he can now receive my instructions, being as good as he can at fighting is probably for the best. Especially when considering the upcoming crises we�ll soon face.

The final thing I need to do is complete my mutations. With eleven points of Biomass to spend I�ll be able to select a mutation advancement for my Legs and upgrade my Gravity Magic gland twice.

I open the menu, not even listening to the prompts of Gandalf. Lemme check out dem legs!

Ho boy! Look at all these juicy options. So many selections to choose from!

Let�s see now� legs that stick to surfaces? Peh, I can already do that. Legs with barbed spines emerging from them to stab enemies? Ouch! Legs with extra running speed, frictionless feet for sliding, legs with skin between them to allow for gliding? What the heck?

I�m tempted to take an option that just makes me faster or something plain like that, until my eyes fall on a choice that piques my interest.

[Absorption Legs: Connects the core to the feet, allowing the monster to draw in Mana from the surface it is standing on.]

With this option, running around in the Dungeon will let me draw in Mana from the walls and floor? If the absorption rate is decent then this could provide the missing link to my magic practice! If I can refill my core and the even more Mana hungry Gravity Magic Gland faster, they will become much more useful.

I�ll take it!

[Do you wish to select Absorption Legs and improve Gravity Magic Gland to +3? This will cost 10 Biomass.]

Hit me�flanargle�AHHH! The itch, stupid thing!

Most of my preparation in this place is done for now. With Tiny�s successful evolution, it�s time to re-join the colony and do our part to assist the digging efforts! I ask Tiny to bring along the remaining cores and we leave the trap network, heading back to the main shaft before we make our descent to the main nest.

The tunnel walls have grown eerily dim. I haven�t experienced this low a light level ever since I was reborn in this Dungeon. The change in condition is disturbing, making the tunnels feel more threatening and oppressive. Shadows dance menacingly across the walls, the patterns of light breaking every time we move.

Tiny is squeezing through, hunching his shoulders forward to the point he�s almost kneeing himself in the face as he walks. In one hand he cups the remaining cores protectively against his chest.

We descend the main shaft in silence. The absent workers and darkness press down on our mentality. The only sounds we hear are the echoes of our movements. It seems insane that in a few short hours this empty place will become a monster filled death zone.

I�m almost pathetically grateful when the noises of the colony reach my ears at the lower end of the shaft.

Being ants and incapable of any sort of speech, it isn�t chatter but a scritching scrabble of thousands of legs and the grinding of dozens of mandibles as the colony hauls dirt, working at a ferocious pace.

Tiny and I descend into the queen�s chamber to discover the room is completely packed with hundreds of workers. Other than a few workers tending to the brood, almost every ant must be here in this tunnel.

They climb all over each other, some heading out and down to the lower tunnel with jaws full of dirt and others running back to collect another haul.

�Keep working, children,� the warm voice of the Queen sings out, gently encouraging the colony.

I honestly don�t think the workers could work any harder! They�re practically vibrating with energy, so eager to work at the side of the queen as she digs.

[Tiny, go down to the lower tunnel and make sure nothing goes wrong,] I instruct my ape friend.

He nods before lumbering off, gently pushing his way through the bustling workers, still clutching the cores in his hand. They mostly disregard his presence. Some workers even start climbing over him, just walking up his arms and down his back as they move through.

Taking a breath, I start to push my way through the worker frenzy, using my larger size to force aside the much smaller hatchlings. So desperate are the others to contribute, I eventually have to resort to quite rigorous methods, knocking other ants out of the way or climbing on top of them in order to get to the front.

I don�t find it annoying, rather it shows how serious they are about the task. These are the sorts of people�ants�you want working on your side in a disaster.

Once at the front of the tunnel, I can only be impressed with the progress. With the queen working at the head of the line, her enormous mandibles carving up the dirt and rock at a constant rate, combined with a veritable army of assistants carting it all off, progress has been rapid indeed.

But it still isn�t enough.

The tunnel has already extended roughly two hundred metres away from the chamber, far from the several kilometres it needs to be! At the moment there probably isn�t even room to put the brood and all the workers inside this tunnel.

And when I consider Tiny�

No way we all fit!

�Hey there, Queen!� I say as I rip into the dirt with a frenzy.

It�s convenient to be able to talk without moving your mouth.

�Welcome, child,� she responds, similarly with her mandibles loaded with dirt.

The two of us attack the wall, mandibles tearing away large clumps of earth which we then turn and fling behind us, allowing the smaller workers to do the job of hauling it away.

We aren�t the only ones at the front. At any one time there are near to a dozen workers extending the tunnel one mandible load at a time. Most of these ants gather up their diggings and cart it away themselves, creating a never-ending exchange of workers at the front.

The queen and I remain constant, mandibles pumping like piston engines until my face aches from the sheer repetitive effort. Thankfully the feeling of ant-Zen returns, the indescribable feeling of doing what it is you were born to do. My primitive ant senses are flooded with contentment.

I can�t afford to waste any time though! I regretfully shake off the restful mindset. Digging doesn�t require much thought, so I should dedicate this time to practicing my valuable Mana skills.

Surrendering my digging to my mechanical instincts I use my Will to summon the Mana from my core and begin my Shaping practice. With the assistance of the sub-brain, the Mana is drawn out easily, wispy tendrils of strange energy that respond to my thoughts start to form into mystic patterns within my body.

I still have no idea what these patterns are for or what they represent. They were imprinted in my mind when I learned the skill without any sort of explanation. I�m guessing the only way to learn what each is for is by testing, which could be quite dangerous.

I�m resolved to try and begin the experiments away from the colony as soon as my skill reaches an appropriate Level. The difficulty to form many of the shapes is still high, and my success rate, not to mention the speed of forming them, is far too low for practical use.

Practice and then more practice. Let�s do it!

Just like that, the queen, me, and the entire colony dig for our lives. We dig desperately, endlessly, with a single mindedness only an insect can possess. Losing myself to the repetitive motions of my mandibles and the formless Mana within me, my body and mind almost separate from each other.

After an indeterminate amount of time my awareness snaps back when my core has been emptied. Not even a faint mist of Mana remains.

Checking my stats, my Mana Shaping has risen by two Levels!

Now to wait for my core to refill. Hopefully my new Legs will be able to assist with that.

Mana veins don�t exist in this section of tunnel, since we�ve dug it so recently. I don�t feel any Mana coming to me through my feet.

We�ve been digging for a while� I�d better go check how dark the nest has become.

Titus was worried.

It was almost impossible to notice under the weathered lines of his face cut deep over years of campaigning. Except there was an extra furrow in his brow, a little more tension in his stare.

Tribune Aurillia noticed. After so many years serving in the Legion she was able to detect the subtle changes in her commander. The tightening of his shoulders, the way he constantly thumbed the blade of his famed axe, testing an edge he kept razor sharp for the better part of thirty years.

It wasn�t often Titus was worried.

��suspicious activity on the part of the Mercenary Union and Merchant�s Guild, as well as a shift in the rhetoric of the Church of the Path have been reported over the last two weeks. Our strategists suggest the possibility of a coup in Liria is rising by the day,� Aurillia reported.

Titus nodded absently, his iron gaze never leaving the forest Expanse that spread out before them from their vantage point on the camp walls. The forest was dark. Very dark. Even the monsters seemed to sense something was coming. The din of combat, constant over the last week, had faded away to nothing.

There was a tension in the air, as if every living thing in the Dungeon was waiting, ready to spring into violent battle at a moment�s notice.

�Do you have any instructions to relay to the surface, Commander?� Aurillia queried.

Her commander didn�t respond. Titus� gaze remained pensively on the Expanse, his ice blue eyes reflecting the dying light from the trees.

�What do you think the Dungeon was like before the Rending, Tribune?� he asked.

Aurillia was taken aback by this seemingly unrelated question. After a pause to consider her response, she answered, �Nobody knows the condition of the Dungeon before the cataclysm, Commander. No one even knew it existed.�

Titus shook his head. �Of course, I know that. I asked what you think it was like. Use your imagination, Aurillia.�

The tribune was confused. �I don�t know, Commander. We know the Mana level on the surface rose dramatically. I can only imagine the Mana level underground surged to incredible levels.�

�I think the Rending was a wave,� mused Titus. �I think it was just a very large, very long wave.�

This wasn�t an unheard-of theory regarding the Rending. Just, no wave had ever come remotely close to replicating the world-shattering effects of the cataclysm that created this Dungeon age.

�You�ve read the reports from our neighbouring Legionary outposts?� Titus asked.

�I have.�

�The Mana levels have been rising all around us, not just locally. The change has been even, no variation at all. Readings in Banron are the same as ours. I wonder just how far this wave is reaching? It may be covering the entire frontier. Perhaps even farther.�

�Surely you aren�t suggesting this is the beginning of a second cataclysm?� Aurillia scoffed.

The signs were worrying, but the cataclysm? The civilisations on the surface, humanity itself, had almost been wiped out at that time!

A moment of silence descended as Titus stroked his grizzled chin, contemplating the dim light reflected in his eyes.

�I don�t know,� he said. �But I�m not sure. Something is different about this one. I just wish I knew what.�

Another break in the conversation fell. Side by side, the two veterans spent some time lost in their own thoughts until Aurillia felt compelled to speak.

�Do you have any instructions regarding the situation on the surface, Commander?�

Titus slowly nodded. �I want every member of the Legion above ground to make immediate preparations to depart for our position within two hours. Not a single trainee or auxiliary is to remain behind. I don�t care if they have to burn the Loremaster�s library to the ground, Alberton needs to be down here also.�

�Everyone?� gasped Aurillia. �You�re going to abandon the queen? Do you think there won�t be an insurrection?�

�There will be a coup and the queen will be killed,� Titus said.

�Then why?�

�The politics of surface kingdoms is of no interest to me. Nor should it be to you, Tribune. Our duty and our focus lies in the Dungeon,� Titus replied firmly.

�But the queen has been a loyal supporter of ours for decades. You�re talking about Alberton�s aunt!� Aurillia protested. She couldn�t believe Titus would be so cold hearted.

Titus� jaw visibly clenched and a spark of anger ignited in his eyes.

�Listen to me, Tribune,� he said tightly. �We stand on the verge of an unprecedented disaster. The only thing standing between the city of Liria and a flood of monsters are these fortifications,� he emphasised his words by slamming a fist down on the compacted earthen walls, �and the Legionaries who followed our orders to come here. The queen has left herself vulnerable and I can�t do a damned thing about that. I will protect my people no matter the cost.�

Faced with the slowly burning rage in Titus� ice blue eyes, Aurillia could only swallow her protests.

�It will be done, Commander,� she assented.

Titus simply nodded and faced the camp itself. Temporary buildings erected by Earth Mages were constructed in neat rows, dotted here and there with canvas tents and open forges.

The men and women of the Legion who joined him on this expedition were all present here in this camp. Nobody had been allowed to venture out a centimetre since the light had begun to fade.

�I want you to send a message to Rixard,� Titus suddenly said.

Aurillia was taken aback. �My son? Why?�

Titus dropped his chin to his chest before looking back up and continuing to speak, �I want him to pass a message onto the Mercs and Merchants.�

Aurillia felt her heart grow still. �I�m not sure why you couldn�t just send a message directly, Commander. My son is only a low-level merchant in the city. They won�t hold the message in any higher regard for being delivered by him.�

Titus chuckled and shook his head. �Aurillia,� a note of warning entered his tone, �don�t play games. Not with me.�

It was the tribune�s turn to drop her head as her commander continued.

�I know Rixard has been passing information about our movements to the Mercenaries. Information he�s been stealing from you. They will listen to him. Letting them know we were aware of their little mole will send another message also.�

�How long did you know?� Aurillia whispered.

Titus snorted. �You didn�t try to hide it, Tribune, you wanted us to know. We found out years ago.�

Aurillia gathered herself and saluted her commander. �I�m ready to accept my punishment, Commander.�

Titus held her stare. Her gaze never wavered. She�d been prepared for this moment for a long time, he supposed. To her astonishment he simply waved her away.

�I�m the last person who will judge another for a wayward child, Aurillia. The fault is not yours. Get Rixard to tell them we will hold here for two weeks. Two weeks only. After that, they will be on their own.�

�Where will we go, Commander?� the relieved officer asked.

�Down.�

Clapping Aurillia on the back, Titus moved away from the wall and began to walk through the camp, having a quiet chat with his soldiers as he passed by, a joke here and there, a bit of encouragement, the occasional stern word.

Wherever we went he was met with respect, determination and idolisation shining in the eyes of his Legionaries. He knew it was there. Knew what they thought of him. As much as it was embarrassing, he welcomed their hero worship so long as it led them to do what he asked. He could keep them alive that way.

He didn�t feel much like a hero. His back hurt, his knuckles ached and the cartilage in his left elbow made a grinding sound every time he hefted his axe. It wouldn�t be long now before the Legion retired him to the stone.

In attempting to leave the front of the tunnel, I�m forced to push my way through the innumerable eager workers piled up behind me, ready to contribute to the dig. Letting my smaller siblings climb over the top of me in their eagerness to rush forward aids my efforts. At this point the walls and ceiling are also covered by workers. Truly a three-dimensional work effort!

Once through the worst of the crowd, I begin to make better progress. I was probably only digging for a couple of hours, but the tunnel has become much longer. Perhaps double in size.

This is the power of the Excavation skill! Not to mention being significantly larger and stronger than the rest of the workers� Anyway! Progress has been made.

When I arrive in the queen�s former chamber, I�m shocked by what I see. Or rather, what I don�t see.

It�s completely dark! I can barely see a thing. The illumination caused by the Mana veins in the walls has vanished, plunging this chamber, the entire nest, and I can only assume the whole Dungeon, into pitch black darkness.

It�s a bit spooky.

Placing my fancy new feet here and there on the Dungeon walls, I try to see if there is any Mana to soak up. Unfortunately, I�m coming up empty. The Mana veins are bone dry.

Thinking back to what Formo told me, that must mean the Mana has completely receded. After which it would come rushing back� like a tidal wave�

[Tiny? Can I get you to come back up here to the chamber?]

The ape�s agreement is tangible in my mind without him having to form words.

While I wait, I continue to shift my feet about, doing an awkward ant dance as I try to sense the presence of Mana returning.

Nothing at the moment.

Hang on, where�s the brood? The larvae and pupae? I don�t think we�ve secured the next generation! Feeling about desperately with my antennae, I make my way towards the heat signature given off by the newly dug brood chamber above the queen�s room.

Dammit! The entire brood is still here in this room.

Inside the chamber, no more than five workers are tending to the next generation, shifting them about, cleaning them and ensuring they have food.

We must get these guys out of here!

Rushing forward in a panic, I can�t think of anything better than to shout, �We have to move them, it�s dangerous here!� and grab the closest larvae in my mandibles.

The attendant workers seem stunned by the sudden intrusion, antennae swirling in the dark as they �listen� to my message. Remarkably, after a brief pause, they too pick up a larva and start running after me.

Thank goodness!

With a small wiggling grub in my mandibles, I rush back into the queen�s chamber where Tiny has arrived, the enormous ape humming to himself contentedly as he rests on his backside.

[Stay here, Tiny. There will be a fight soon.]

[Fight!]

Tiny visibly perks up at the prospect of combat. Small sparks of electricity twist and sizzle in the air around him as he stands up and looks around for something to punch.

[Soon, I said!]

I roar at him as my small convoy of workers rushes into the tunnel after me. About one hundred metres in, before the crowd becomes too large, I carefully place the young larva down and shout, �The brood has to be moved here!� as loudly as I can.

Having delivered this stirring speech, I turn and run back to the brood chamber.

There are almost five hundred of the little buggers. If they can survive to maturity then the colony will nearly double in size! I can�t let them die pointlessly when the wave starts.

Rushing into the chamber, I grab the first larva I can see. The small white grub wiggles in protest at being manhandled but I don�t have the time to be too gentle. Deal with it, grub, I�m saving your life!

Sprinting back out of the chamber, I�m relieved to see a flood of workers running in, roused by my crude summons. There are two things that ants will protect at any cost, the queen and the brood. Both represent the future hope of the family. Nothing must be allowed to happen to them!

When I return to the queen�s chamber my heart sinks. I�ve felt something. Something from my feet. It�s faint. So faint, but I�m certain of it. From the tips of my little ant claws the faintest sign, almost undetectable, is a soft breath of Mana being absorbed.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, it�s coming! We don�t have long, hustle, Anthony! Get your damn hustle on!

With renewed vigour I sprint to deliver my wriggly charge as fast as I possibly can, legs flailing with incredible speed.

�Let�s go, people! Danger is coming! GO, GO, GO!� I shout at the top of my pheromones.

[Tiny, it�s coming!]

Receiving my warning, Tiny positively bounces on his feet, arms swinging with anticipation. I mentally sigh. The eager gleam in his eyes at the promise of battle surely hasn�t changed after his evolution.

As I sprint back and forth, aided by dozens of other workers, the panic in my heart grows with every step of my feet. My legs begin to thrum with energy as the light returns to the walls. The near complete darkness is gradually chased away as the veins curling through the walls begin to glow, pulsing rapidly with Mana.

I�m really worried!

Fear pierces to the depths of my very soul when I think about what would have happened if I hadn�t spoken to Formo. I�d be staring at the walls thinking how nice it was that the light was coming back.

Even having spoken to him, I don�t really know exactly what this wave will look like. Which only adds to my anxiety.

My fellow workers and I continue to race back and forth, carting our protesting and uncomfortable young from their cosy brood chamber to the dirty and crowded tunnel.

Stop squirming, you little ingrate!

On my fifth trip the light has risen back to the level it was before it began to fade. And it continues to rise!

Then I notice something else.

I�m puzzled at first. Eventually I figure it out and that realisation causes me to nearly trip and send my present charge flying from my grip.

There are heat sources coming from the walls. All. Over. The place. I can barely sense them but I�m sure of it. As the Mana returns, small spots in the walls have started registering to my antennae. With every second that passes they grow larger and larger.

Ohhh boy!

This isn�t just one or two, there are dozens of them! My antennae start to spin wildly when I realise I�m getting more readings from farther away in the nest.

[Here we go, Tiny. It�s about to get hot in here!]

Tiny can sense it too. I have no idea how, but he begins to stare hard at the walls, electricity crackling in his eyes alongside the rage. He really seems to be working himself into a frenzy!

Dropping off the larva, I return to the nearly blindingly bright queen�s chamber. My legs are soaking up Mana so quickly, the floor feels hot, as if I were standing on a hot plate.

So much energy! It�s almost unfathomable just how much Mana is rippling through the walls. Just what could someone do with all this power? If this scene is being replicated throughout the entire Dungeon, thousands of square kilometres� I just� I can�t bring myself to think where it all comes from.

There must be a source, right?

Unease and fear shift in my heart. Something capable of a feat such as this�

With just a tiny fraction of this energy. With just the smallest taste of the Mana thumping through the walls in just this one chamber, I can create an all-devouring sphere of death.

I shudder to think what the forest looks like right now.

As the heat signatures bloom, I can�t help but turn constantly to stare hard at one and then the next, never knowing exactly when one was going to burst into life. The tight packages of blazing heat don�t grow at a constant speed. One will flare brightly, making me turn, only for it to fade slightly while another explodes with growth. Over and over, it happens until I�m dizzy from spinning.

I almost want them to start leaping out of the walls, just so I know it has started.

The ants continue their constant shuffling, bringing the brood into our escape tunnel before leaving and returning to bring more. The escape tunnel itself remains blessedly dark, untouched by the veins of light flaring brighter and brighter each second.

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

What the heck was that!

From one side of the chamber is a faint scratching, like claws� or teeth� on stone. I can�t be certain, but I swear that sound is coming from inside the wall�

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

From every side. Up the shaft. The brood chamber. Everywhere in the Dungeon, that horrible scratching erupted into a cacophony of sound.

The walls are burning so brightly my antennae feel like they�re practically on fire and my heart is pounding. This is almost more than one ant can take!

I clench my mandibles to stop their shaking.

Stupid Dungeon� Stupid monsters. Y-you want some of this? You want to come�to come in here and fight me? Well come on then! Show me what you got!

CRASH!

Right in front of my eyes an arm punches out of the dirt, sending a shower of loose earth flying throughout the room. I flinch back instinctively and before I can recover, Tiny is there.

One titanic fist is ablaze with electricity and his lips are drawn far back in a ferocious screech as the ropes of muscle in his shoulder shift and send that fist cannoning into the ground.

A shrill scream rings out, muffled by the dirt, but Tiny isn�t done.

Ripping his hand back out of the ground, the monster is gripped between his thick fingers. The beast looks nothing like anything I�d seen before. Ink black with long thorny tentacles growing from a torso that is more mouth than body, four thin, double-jointed arms emerging at jarring angles.

This monster follows no natural design. I�ve never seen anything remotely like this on Earth! What the hells is it?

The newly born monster shrieks and writhes in his grip, tentacles and clawed hands lashing at Tiny�s long arm. The rage in the great ape�s eyes burns ever brighter, matching the glow of the current pulsing in his hand.

The lightning grows stronger and stronger until electricity is coiling around the monster�s body like crazed snakes. The creature shrieks higher each moment until, with a sizzle, it grows still.

Tiny� you cooked it� with lightning? That is badass, little bud�

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

More and more monsters explode out of the walls. Hands, claws, scales, and fangs tearing through the dirt all around us. Some ants get caught as they run with the newborn charges in their mandibles, limbs appearing from the walls and floor to scratch at them.

Dammit!

Instantly I�m running past the crumbling walls exploding with thrashing limbs and gnashing jaws.

Crushing Bite!

Snap!

Without mercy, I bite down hard with my mandibles, shearing straight through a limb that had only moments ago prevented my sibling from moving to the escape tunnel.

�Run to the tunnel!� I project with all my might and hope the ants are able to smell it amidst all of this chaos. Their antennae may be covered in dirt, which would interfere with their sense of smell.

I throw myself to the next trapped worker, desperate to free them all. In my peripheral vision, Tiny appears to have simply gone mad.

His body is so charged with electrical energy his long hair is almost standing straight up, giving him an unearthly, almost demonic appearance. His long arms smash repeatedly into the walls as monsters emerge. The tremendous impacts send shockwaves rippling through the soil.

He plunges one hand into the earth and pulls it out with a bizarre, hooked worm creature wrapped around his arm, leech-like mouth restrained in the ape�s fist.

With a mighty bellow, Tiny channels his electricity into his arm, roasting the monster in seconds before turning and flinging it into the face of another creature charging at him from across the room

A scene of chaos!

As the monsters emerge, they are not dedicated to fighting only us, or coordinating with each other. They rip and tear into each other just as quickly. Even if they�re the same species!

The entire Dungeon is supposed to be possessed by this madness.

The wave. It�s crazy!

I run along the trail of workers, snapping, and biting at everything that obstructs their path towards the escape tunnel. My main purpose isn�t to kill these monsters, but to try and get every worker I can to safety.

�Into the tunnel! Into the tunnel!� I constantly shout as I snap at claws and arms that threaten them.

What is the state of the brood chamber in all this chaos? Did we get all of them out?

Worry pierces my chest when I think about the defenceless grubs that may not have been shifted in time.

I need to try to save them!

[Tiny, protect the tunnel!]

I can�t even be sure the ape heard and understood me in all of the madness, but I don�t stay to check. Speeding toward the chamber, I start channelling my Gravity magic into my mandibles. Any ant caught or stuck on their path towards the escape tunnel, I immediately reach out with the gravitational energy, yoinking them to me and closer to safety.

I get a few very startled looks after they�ve unceremoniously flown right at me. I�m not sure if it was the shorter distance or finer control on my part, but the ants manage to land on their feet, the larvae they carry safe and sound.

Phew!

Most of the monsters I�d first sensed growing in the walls have emerged by now, snarling and biting, tearing into the first thing they see. So many of these monsters bear no resemblance to anything I�ve seen so far in the Dungeon. Inhuman, illogical, unnatural creatures of darkness and shadow. Impossibly large mouths, limbs bent at insane angles and with more joints than they could possibly require.

These monsters were taken straight out of a nightmare!

But I won�t be distracted from my purpose.

When I see no more ants emerging from the brood chamber, I charge along the wall and make my way inside, threading between the creatures, lashing out with my mandibles whenever I�m threatened.

Strange as they may be, they still don�t like it when I chomp one of their limbs off.

Bursting into the brood chamber my heart drops low in my thorax. There are still dozens of larvae here. Tiny little grubs that are completely defenceless against the nightmare horde that has emerged from within the very walls of their sanctuary.

Already several young have been destroyed by the conflict.

Dammit� We weren�t fast enough.

Little grubs they may have been, they were members of my family! They have become the first members of our colony to be sacrificed to the wave.

Regret floods me. If I�d kept a better track of time. If I�d been a little quicker. A bit stronger. I could have saved them.

Hold on. One larva in the middle of the room is wiggling furiously towards me as vicious beasts battle all around it. Just before it gets stomped under the foot of an ignorant combatant, I flash back to my senses and activate my mandibles.

YOINK!

The tiny grub flies through the air, rocketing out of the brood chamber and slamming directly into my face.

I didn�t have much choice. If I tried to catch it in my mandibles, I�m likely to injure the thing, they�re so little and spongy! Using my face to absorb the impact may not have been the most sophisticated of solutions, but it seems to have done the job.

The lucky grub squirms with joy at its emancipation. This larva seems unusually active and aware for a creature nearly without senses.

You ok there, little one?

I couldn�t save the others, but I�ll absolutely save this one!

With no more workers inside the chamber, and hopefully none coming back, I turn my back and leave, unable to do anything for those that remain inside.

Come on, Anthony, get this little one to the escape tunnel. Save this one larva. Then you can vent your rage!

My eyes are nearly blinded by my grief and guilt. I�m determined to see this one to safety. Lowering my head, I bull my way out. Monsters screech and scratch. One scythe-like limb stretches out of the darkness to scrape along my side, sending sparks flying as it scores my Diamond Carapace.

I don�t respond, I can�t respond. I won�t risk anything until I can save this defenceless member of my family.

Before me a horrific monster rises, twisted and broken like a spectre of death itself. The painful stinging of death energy rolls over me as it draws closer.

No!

The HP drain might be something I can deal with, but it�ll be enough to kill this larva in just a few seconds.

[Tiny! Kill!] I roar in my mind.

From the other side of the queen�s chamber, a deafening shriek overpowers the snarls of the chaos as Tiny unleashes his mind affecting vocal attack. All monsters in the room shudder with pain as the sound scatters their consciousness.

Without ears, the grub is sheltered from the attack, but the power of the sound waves vibrating through its fleshy body threaten to shake the poor thing to bits.

The nightmare beast before me reels backward, disoriented from the blast. Before I can even react, a blinding flash of light erupts in my peripheral vision.

Tiny is still channelling electricity throughout his entire body, looming over the monsters around him like an angry god, the current in his hand flashing ever brighter.

With anger contorting his bat features, he throws his hand towards where I stand.

I have no idea what he�s doing at first, but a moment after he thrusts his hand, a terrifying arc of electricity bursts forth, burning the monster before me to shreds!

Nice, Tiny! Motor on!

Legs scrabbling in the dirt as fast as they can, I stumble and lurch my way forward, sacrificing balance to eke out every ounce of speed I can muster. Go, go, go, Anthony!

Dive!

The mouth of the escape tunnel is in sight. Workers have already formed a defence line, using their numbers to try and fend off their attackers.

Spotting a gap in the line I hurl myself through the air, leaping for the finish line.

A sudden, sharp pain explodes from my abdomen. Looking down, a hideous beast with tremendous spikes on the ends of its limbs, climbs out of the dirt beneath me. One arm has been extended, the spike piercing straight through my abdomen and coming out of my back.

Holy crud that hurts! My HP has plummeted!

Save the little one first, I�m so close!

Thudding painfully onto the ground, that terrible spike still piercing me from beneath, I drag myself towards the escape chamber, the little larva still gently gripped in my mandibles.

Scattering earth and new limbs click as the beast emerges from the dirt behind me.

I�m nearly there! Just a few more feet.

This wound is excruciating!

Inch by inch, I move towards the tunnel, my blood staining the earth of the queen�s chamber. Another worker notices me approaching and rushes forward, closing the gap between us in just a second. Tenderly the worker takes the larva and rushes deep into the tunnel. The last I see, the little grub is limp in the workers mandibles, hardly moving at all.

I hope you make it, little one.

As for the thing behind me�

You should never have stabbed me in the business district.

Taste my justice!

The monster behind me has ripped itself free and is approaching its already skewered prey.

Unfortunately for you, standing behind me is not a good place to be.

POW! POW! POW!

Firing blindly, I rapid fire three shots, splashing the unfortunate monster all over.

Ha! Take that, moron!

Reeling in pain as the acid burns furiously away at its flesh, the creature pulls itself backwards, simultaneously ripping the spike out of my body. My mind completely blanks out due to the sheer agony tearing at my psyche. That one stings!

Activate the Limb Regeneration Gland!

As the regenerative fluid courses through my body, hopefully closing over the holes I have above and below the abdomen, I can finally turn to face my adversary.

Able to stab me straight through the Diamond Carapace, this creature must have some serious chops.

What looms before me is truly a nightmare beast. Two enormous elongated, double-jointed arms protrude from the front of the body, each limb tipped with needle points that glitter in the light. Suspended between these two limbs is a withered, tattered body with a curling, hooked tail dragging across the ground.

Come on now, monster! That doesn�t even look practical.

My Health, which had plummeted down to half after being pierced, is recovering rapidly as my healing gland does its work. One heck of a good purchase, that!

Eyeballing my foe, I feint left and right, trying to buy a few more precious seconds for my wounds to close. My enemy hesitates then screeches horribly, its tube-like mouth distending to ridiculous proportions before it raises one spear-tipped limb and slams it down at me.

The Restrictive Acid is doing its work! The creature is so much faster than it looks. Those fearsomely pointed arms flash through the air and plunge deep into the earth as if sliding into warm butter.

I was barely able to dodge that strike. Only by flinging myself to one side was I able to avoid it by the slimmest of margins! Despite looking so distorted, this monster really means business. That speed and penetrating power are a serious threat, able to stab straight through my sturdy defences.

If I continue playing for time, I might just end up getting stabbed through the head. Go for the attack!

When the creature is retracting its arm, I lunge, channelling Mana into my mandibles.

CRUNCH!

Summoning my strength, I bring my jaws down on the offending arm with a vicious Crushing Bite. My mandibles clamp down before the beast can retract its fearsome weapon. With satisfaction, my mandibles rip and tear, but I�m disappointed they didn�t cut straight through. Not even the Infused Mandibles were up to that task!

The monster rears back, hissing sharply in pain.

Ha! How do you like�it smashes down with its other arm.

Whoa, there!

Flinging myself to the right, I�m able to narrowly dodge. How is this thing so fast? When the arm raises, there�s almost no time to dodge because I�ve never seen the thing come down! It�s like it just teleports into the ground.

This must be a skill or mutation of some kind. Even with my Restrictive Acid covering the creature, it can still muster this level of speed. If I hadn�t hit with the acid, I�d probably be dead right now, speared through the head by a limb I never saw move.

Part of me shudders in fear just thinking about that scenario. The terrors of the Dungeon really are innumerable. How is a humble ant colony supposed to survive?

Thanks to my compound vision, I can see the colony hard at work at this moment.

They aren�t advancing out of the escape tunnel, which is good news, but holding the line, two hundred workers strong, devouring any monster that dares to approach the wall of ant-kind blocking the entrance.

Good on you, colony! Keep up the good work.

Tiny�s rampage continues. His new form is fearsomely strong, blasting out electricity and using his sheer physical force to smash his opponents to paste. He can�t keep it up indefinitely, though. Wounds are already cut into him and his electrical energy isn�t inexhaustible. That blast he sent out across the room must have cost him dearly, as the sparks radiating off him have dimmed considerably since.

The wave shows no sign of abating either. New heat sources are growing in the walls and monsters are already filling the nest to the brim. This is truly going to be an endless wave of monsters. Formo wasn�t kidding. If anything, he might have understated the danger!

I have to deal with this tough enemy and see what I can do about the situation here in the chamber. If the ants can�t keep digging, we�ll eventually be overwhelmed. The colony has many numbers, but not enough to fight this never-ending flood of nightmare beasts.

I change the Mana I�m channelling into my mandibles, flipping the switch and bringing out my gravitational energy instead. Before the creature has time to rebalance, I reach out with the energy and latch on.

Why don�t you come over and say hello at my kind of range, beastie boy?

YOINK!

Haha! Have I sabotaged your plans?

The monster freezes in shock as it suddenly rockets through the air. Completely unprepared for such a sudden flight, it�s guard is wide open.

CRUSHING BITE!

Crunch!

Digging in my feet to arrest the momentum of the creature as it slams into me, I bring my mandibles down directly on my enemy�s face. At this close range, tiny gem-like eyes surrounding the tube mouth are visible. As if the body were studded with little rubies. Each of those dozens of eyes is wide with terror as my jaws clamp down harder and harder, crushing the flesh even as it cracks the bone.

Have another!

CRUSHING BITE!

With a horrific squelch, the monster�s flesh is compacted as whatever skeleton it had shatters under the force of my bite.

[You have defeated a Level 1 Nocte Cuspide Vermem.]

[You have gained XP.]

Muahahaha! Take that!

Seriously though, aren�t these things too strong for Level 1? You just hatched out of the wall, you should be weak as a kitten!

Swiftly checking my surroundings, there isn�t anything about to stab me in the face, so I take a chance and chomp down on a few mouthfuls of food.

I need to keep healing myself!

[You have consumed a new source of Bioamass, Nocte Cuspide Vermem. One Biomass awarded.]

[Basic Profile of the Nocte Cuspide Vermem unlocked.]

[Nocte Cuspide Vermem: Night-Spear Worm. This darkness-affiliated monster has low mobility to a lack of limbs but compensates with extreme power and speed possessed by its two stabbing arms. Beware the piercing power of these spears, they are capable of punching through all but the toughest defence!]

Yeah, thanks for that. I think I�d worked out that last bit for myself actually�

After a few more mouthfuls I gain another Biomass point but I�m forced to stop eating as more monsters close in on my position. Not necessarily looking to fight, but posing enough of a threat that I can�t continue to leisurely enjoy a meal.

Rude things. No manners here in the Dungeon, none at all.

With one more point, I could have mutated my Gravity Gland to +4! I�m not sure if that would have helped much right now, but I�ll take anything I can get at this point.

I need to try and settle this situation as best I can. What I can do? I can�t blindly fire off Gravity Bombs in this narrow space. I could hit Tiny, or collapse the ceiling on myself, or get caught in the bomb myself!

What a death that would be, sucked into your own black hole of doom�

PASS!

I don�t really have any other tricks.

Ok, Anthony, it might be time to experiment with Gravitational Energy and Mana Shaping! Hopefully something good happens.

There is so much Mana flooding through the walls that, to be honest, it�s almost intimidating. My Absorbing Legs never ceased feeling like they�re on fire. Energy gushes through them ferociously, pouring into my core at a constant rate. Even though I�ve used some Mana from my core and Gravity Magic Gland, already I�m nearly topped off.

Even the regular Mana regeneration I get from the Mana in the air is higher. The air is so rich with the strange energy. If I can find more ways to apply my Mana in a combat situation, then this wave would be the perfect environment for a magic oriented ant like myself.

As fearsome as my physical abilities are, thanks to my investment of evolutionary energy and my many mutation enhancements, my current species is Mind Ant. I�ve poured a lot of Skill Points, time, and energy into developing my ability to use magical energy. If I�d had a little bit more practice, I�m certain I could have worked out some sweet attacks.

Now that the wave has hit, I�ve no choice but to try things and see how it goes!

This isn�t a bad place to test it. The colony is holding the line at the tunnel entrance, refusing the enemy advance and swarming anything that comes too close. So far, this tactic is proving successful. Any monster that dares approach the wall of ants is quickly pulled forward, dragged directly into the middle of the mass of workers and set upon, carved up and sprayed with acid before they can even ask for a cup of sugar.

I�m not exactly sure why the ants aren�t suicidally charging into the fray as is their usual style, but I�m extremely grateful for it. Perhaps it has something to do with the brood? With the future generations of the colony at stake, the workers are refusing to abandon them, instead defending with all they have.

It almost brings a tear to my eye. Go for it, workers, fight for the future of our family! Defensively though�

That will give me room to work.

Of course, Tiny might be hit, but he�s strong enough to survive, surely. I can�t imagine anything I can produce with less energy than the Gravity Bomb would be able to hurt the big guy.

As battling monsters encroach on me from every side, gaping mouths and elongated limbs lashing at each other, I reach deep within, stirring awake my sub-brain and grasping hold of the ethereal energy of this world.

Mana is difficult to explain. How it feels, how it looks in my mind�s eye, the way it moves, it�s hard to find the words. Stored inside the Mana sources of my body, the energy is dense, hanging like a thick fog over the ground, a haze or mist that can�t be seen through, a low-lying cloud of sparkling power.

When I reach for it, the cloud stirs and shifts, like a living creature reacting to its owner�s voice. In equal parts I call to it and take hold of it, not roughly�like grabbing a cat by the scruff of the neck�but firmly, holding it by the hand, leading it where I want it to go.

The Mana doesn�t exactly fight against my control, it just feels� heavy. As if weighed down by an inertia I must overcome by sheer mental effort. Even with my sub-brain, the amount of willpower required to finely control the energy is no joke.

The more precise my control needs to be, the more effort required. To move the energy in a certain direction isn�t that difficult. To move it into an exact direction and form an exact shape is a far, far greater challenge.

Much like rolling a ball. To send it out in front of you is simple, even if the ball is heavy. But rolling it exactly five and a half metres with a ten-degree spin to the right? Hard.

This is where the Mana Shaping skill comes into play.

It helps to guide my hand, implanting in my mind the instincts and nous needed to understand just how much force is too much, exactly how to achieve that curve or to realise when a mistake has been made.

The other aspect of the Mana Shaping skill is the patterns I received when I learned it. All skills come with knowledge. It could be said that all skills are knowledge, and Mana Shaping contained more than most. Not just the control aspect, but numerous specific shapes and patterns that I should direct my Mana to form.

The only problem I have is that the knowledge of what each shape is for wasn�t available.

Well, that and the problem of the shapes being extremely difficult to form correctly. With my Mana Shaping skill improving as I grind, the work has become easier but it�s still immensely difficult to achieve the precision required every time.

In my last round of practice, I was able to get the shapes to form correctly only around 50% of the time. I wasn�t game to activate them, surrounded by workers and the queen.

Right now, I�m going to see what happens.

Cross all your claws, Anthony, and hope something good comes out!

Drawing out the dark purple gravitation energy stored within my body, I begin to direct it into the first pattern I think of. This shape resembles a circle that loops in on itself, forming many concentric circles that eventually shift into a sphere. The extra difficulty comes in due to the fact you have to �draw� the shape in two places at the same time, directing two streams of energy simultaneously.

The sub-brain helps immensely with the split focus. Due to having to keep an eye on my surroundings, I can�t divert all my focus to just forming the pattern. I�ve retreated myself to as close to the corner of the chamber as I can, hoping to avoid attention by remaining still and quiet. In a room full of frenzied monsters lashing at everything they see, it isn�t an especially reliable strategy. Several times I have to shift my position or dodge out of the way of other monsters grappling each other.

My first attempt collapses and fizzles out as I can no longer hold the threads of energy together. Dammit! Who asked for magic to be this hard, Gandalf? All you had to do was shout a few words and wave a stick around, right? Any chance you could throw that ring my way?

Didn�t think so.

Backing myself tightly against the wall, I begin another attempt.

Even as the Mana is being drawn out of the gland, my feet, planted firmly against the walls, continue to draw in more energy. My core has been topped off already and now the excess energy is being fed into the Gravity Magic Gland, where it�s converted to the new Mana type.

Focus, Anthony!

Once again, I painstakingly begin to form the pattern within myself, controlling the energy to create every loop and whorl with as much precision as I can. I divert even more attention to the effort, allowing myself to be buffeted and struck by several monsters as I concentrate on the shape.

Slowly the pattern begins to take shape. Directing two separate streams of gravitational energy with my mind, laying them down symmetrically in the three-dimensional pattern of pure magic within me.

My mind aches when I lay the final sections of the pattern. Every pattern I�ve tried becomes more intricate towards the end of its formation, and this one is no exception. The finest of circles spiral inwards and outwards, outlining the now spherical mana construct in nearly invisible layers of energy.

BANG!

A powerful fist smashes into my side, sending my body reeling to the side. So engrossed am I in completing the construction, I don�t even notice. So close! So close!

GOT IT!

With a sudden flash of energy that radiates through my body, the pattern has been completed! A new awareness arises in my mind. One I�ve felt every time I managed to complete the shape. What is required now is to hold the shape steady, using my mind to lock it in place and then �power it� by pouring more Mana into it until it�s ready to take effect.

As my body continues to be buffeted by attacks, my focus remains internal, directing more and more energy out of the gravitational gland and into the construct I�ve formed inside me. I have absolutely no idea what will happen when this takes effect, but it better be good!

The pattern glows more brilliantly with each passing moment.

At first, I�m encouraged by the sheer amount of energy required to power this shape, but as more Mana is consumed, I begin to grow concerned. What if the effect takes place in the colony as well? I don�t want anything too explosive!

As the Mana continues to flood into the shape, I start to blindly run away from the colony, skirting the walls, running straight into other monsters getting bashed away, just to create more distance.

Something clicks, like a block falling neatly into place or a switch suddenly flicking the lights on.

When the construct is finally charged with a ridiculous amount of Mana, almost 30% of my total gravitational energy capacity, it activates.

The sphere of intricately formed shapes and patterns begins to move, gradually at first, gaining speed like a locomotive, spinning, and rotating in a breathtakingly elaborate dance. What�s alarming is that the pattern continues to draw on my Mana even though it�s completed.

What�s going on!

In the next moment, my question is answered. The outer layer of the sphere rapidly expands outwards, exiting my body and encompassing an area within a five-metre radius around me in a flash. The core of the construct remains rotating inside me, pulsing with energy and continuing to soak up Mana at a dizzying speed.

I don�t even know what�s happening! This Mana field has expanded around me? What on Pangera does it do!

Now that the construct has been completed and powered, for the first time since activating it, I return my awareness to the outside world, leaving the task of supplying the energy to power this spell to my sub-brain, which is more than up to the task.

Ouch! I�ve been beaten and knocked around a fair bit. There�s a few cracks and dings in my carapace, the Diamond Carapace proving its worth against these more mundane strikes from weaker creatures.

The battle continues to swirl around me, monsters throwing themselves into every fight in a wild frenzy. Yet more creatures are starting to emerge from the walls and the cycle of monster spawning continues without slowing. Like more meat thrown into the grinder!

The actions of the monsters close to me change the moment the sphere of Mana expands. As soon as my spell is activated, the creatures, moments ago engaged in furious combat, instantly slump to the ground as if smashed in the head with a brick.

What is this?

There isn�t any visible difference to the environment around me. I feel perfectly fine. Whatever the spell is doing doesn�t seem to affect me in any way. Five metres around me, the spherical barrier of Mana slowly rotates, a mystical pattern drawn with dark purple gravitational Mana.

The creatures within the zone are definitely acting strangely. I stare at them, baffled. There is no force at all that I can feel. Maybe it only has an effect on others?

A monster nearby is aggressively swinging a claw close to the edge of my sphere. When the arm passes inside the edge of my spell, it�s immediately dragged down, pulling the monster�s shoulder until it�s slumped forward, trying to withdraw its arm to outside of my range.

Could it be? Is this what I think it is! The legendary Gravity Domain?

The nearest monsters are painfully trying to push themselves back onto their feet. No doubt about it. They appear to be weighed down with a ton of invisible bricks.

Inside the sphere, the enemy monsters are affected by a powerful gravity field that pulls them to the ground. Incredible!

This also explains why the drain on my energy is still ongoing at such a fast pace. To maintain such a strong effect over a large area, you would expect to have to pay a heavy price in energy. At the current rate of consumption, I�m probably going to run dry of gravitational Mana in just a few minutes.

That doesn�t matter though, this is great! I almost can�t believe my eyes as I take in the pitiful sight of these horrific monsters who, moments ago, were savagely fighting and tearing each other apart, now struggling to get their feet under them.

The Gravity Domain. So powerful!

I can�t waste this chance.

Tentatively I approach the closest monster. I intend to be cautious until I know a little more about how this new spell works.

The creature sees me and snarls, using all its strength to push its upper body up to attempt to swing. Once all the body weight has been placed on that one arm though, the creature collapses back to the earth.

Fearsome! I guess I�ll just dart forward and chomp down with a bit of a bite then, shall I?

Crushing Bite! Crushing Bite! Crushing Bite!

[You have defeated a Level 2 Morsus Yog.]

[You have gained XP.]

It may sound cruel and inhumane, but biting down on that horrific mouth monster while it couldn�t lift a finger to defend itself was� just so invigorating!

Muahahahaha! It�s time for the feast!

Fully aware that this ability won�t last for long, I leap into action. Every monster caught in my field becomes weighed down by the irresistible force of gravity. Some can cope better than others. But even the hardiest monster in the room, suddenly finding its combat ability cut in half, is no match for me when I�m totally unencumbered.

Bite. Bite. Bite. Bite. Bite!

Every bite is a Crushing one. Don�t stop, just keep on biting!

[You have defeated a�]

[You have defeated a�]

[You have defeated a�]

Bite and Bite some more! MUAHAHAHA! Crushing Bite! Crushing Bite!

[Crushing Bite (II) has reached Level 10. Advancement available.]

So delirious with battle am I, that I hardly notice the message at first.

What is this? Crushing Bite has reached the Level cap? Fantastic! Let�s advance it immediately.

[Crushing Bite (II) 🡪 Shattering Bite (III): This advanced skill allows the user to manifest their bite as energy to extend the range of the attack beyond their physical body. Of course, attacking with the physical body will cause significantly more damage.]

BUY IT!

Is this the type of skill used by those soldiers to fire blades of light from their swords and so on? I can extend a metaphysical set of mandibles to bite stuff? Unreal!

I have to test it immediately.

Gleefully I approach another monster burdened by the crushing pressure of my Gravity Domain.

Activate Shattering Bite!

An immense drain on my stamina and a weariness seeps deep into my already tired body. Holy heck the cost is high.

Vigour returns to me immediately as my mandibles begin to shine with a brilliant light. Slowly the light becomes more intense and then expands beyond the limits of my mandibles, creating a ghostly set of jaws three times larger than my own that hover in the air, mimicking every movement of my actual mandibles.

This is sweet!

Shattering Bite!

With one savage lunge, my ghostly mandibles are brought down on my struggling foe. They crunch with vicious force, puncturing the monster�s head and popping it like a melon.

Gross� But also, amazing. So powerful! Not to mention, for the first time, I�m able to bite something a slight distance away from myself. Which means when the beast was defeated and exploded everywhere, I didn�t get all the goop on me!

I hate having to clean monster guts off my antennae. This skill is the best!

My Gravity Magic Gland is starting to run low. I can�t afford to waste any more time. Unleashing my inner beast, I rampage, smashing my way through the queen�s chamber and crunching every monster I can see.

I leap on another monster only to find it�s the beast Tiny is fighting. Now on the back of this nightmare creature, I�m staring face to face with my faithful ape companion.

Tiny is looking fairly beat up, but the savage gleam in his eyes and fearful snarl on his face tells me he�s enjoying the opening stanza of the wave. His electricity seems to have run out. Only a few small sparks zap off him here and there, but his lethal fists are still plenty weapon enough.

It takes a moment for me to realise it, but there is something else strange about him.

[Tiny, do you feel heavy?]

The giant ape is standing smack in the middle of my Gravity Domain and appears to be completely unaffected. I know he�s strong, but I don�t think he�s so strong that he could stand there without any visible sign of difficulty under the burden of this potent gravity.

Tiny just stares at me confused for a moment before looking down at himself and patting his stomach. Looking a little hurt, he raises his head and firmly shakes his head.

I wasn�t calling you fat, you ape!

Since it appears my pet doesn�t suffer under the debilitating effect of the Gravity Domain, Tiny and I are able to make quick work of the first wave of monsters before retreating back to the entrance of the escape tunnel and the welcoming horde of ants there.

Despite having mostly cleared just this one room, there are still more monsters growing within the walls even as I catch my breath. Tiny and I are spent forces. My Gravity Magic Gland is completely tapped out and my repeated use of the Shattering Bite skill has drained my stamina to the point I�m physically exhausted.

Tiny isn�t in much better shape. Whatever the source of his lightning, he�s running on empty. By throwing himself so willingly into the fray, he paid a price. Although I�m sure his gains in Levels and skills have been high, the poor ape is in desperate need of a rest. His chest is heaving and blood is trickling from several cuts, matting his long fur.

He doesn�t look miserable though. If I were to describe the look on his face, I would say he looks� satisfied. This battle hungry ape! He�d probably jump straight back into the fight if I gave him a chance.

I too was able to harvest a few Levels from the fight. For now, we need to take care of the most important resource during this wave.

Food!

Although it might seem as if the wave would make procuring food a simple affair, the opposite is true. With monsters fighting everywhere, there may be food all over the place, but it�s going to be difficult to actually get to the space to collect and then safely consume that food.

Not to mention we need to procure enough Biomass to sustain not only myself and Tiny, but the entire colony, including the larvae and the queen!

Right now, the entire queen�s chamber is full of Biomass waiting to be harvested. Everywhere else in the nest the roar of combat still is rages in an endless battle. We only have a limited reprieve before the fighting starts again. My heart grows cold at the true terror of the wave.

Tiny and I are completely exhausted and must rest. We may have won a reprieve for the colony, but for how long? Five minutes? Then the chamber will once again fill with monsters and the battle will continue. Except Tiny and I will be in no state to fight.

Only ten or so minutes has passed and already reduced to such a state� this is going to last for at least a week!

I sure hope we can dig our way out�

�Everyone, gather up the food and bring it into the tunnel! As fast as you can!� I urge the defensively positioned workers.

The workforce has been doing an excellent job of blocking entrance to the tunnel, even hanging off the roof to completely bar entry to hostile monsters. I think their desperation is borne out of their instinct to protect the larvae sitting behind them at all costs.

The ants have already caught and consumed several monsters, snatching up anything that came too close and bringing it down through sheer numbers.

Thankfully the workers respond to my urging and mobilise, hurriedly dragging what Biomass they can back into the tunnel. As tired as we are, Tiny and I contribute as well. The colony usually allows us the space to collect and consume our own food anyway.

The few monsters that emerge in the chamber during these few hurried minutes of work are set upon by the workers before they can even fully emerge from the ground, adding their own Biomass to the collection.

For a few frenzied minutes we scrabble around, hauling as much of the precious food back into the cramped tunnel as we can, even as more monsters begin to approach from the connecting tunnels above and below, drawn by the scent of Biomass.

Three minutes later, Tiny and I are resting behind the defensive wall of workers blocking the entrance to the tunnel. On the other side are more workers, teaming up to break down the Biomass and distribute it to the brood just beyond them and the workers digging at the tunnel end further away.

This wave is seriously deadly.

I won�t be able to fight for a few hours probably, and inside the escape tunnel I�m unable to absorb Mana through my feet which will greatly slow the recovery of my gravitational energy. My core is full, to be sure, but it takes time for the energy drained off to the Gravity Gland to be converted via whatever voodoo takes place in there. Even if the ambient Mana level is high, it will take time for me to get back to a full tank.

Not to mention I�m freakin� tired! My stamina is completely drained. Every one of my legs is aching. The only cure is to eat and sleep. If I push too hard, I�m only going to collapse in the middle of a fight. Where would the colony be then? Actually, what would happen to Tiny if I were to be killed?

I glance over at Tiny. He�s already stuffing his face, his large bat mouth stretched wide to shovel in the food as quickly as he can. Noticing my look he freezes for a moment, one hand drifting down to his stomach, perhaps to check just how flabby it is.

Nobody is calling you fat� just eat!

When I turn my head away, Tiny pauses for a moment before he seems satisfied that I�m not watching and begins stuffing his face again.

I can still see you�

Shaking my head, I focus on my own food. I�ll have to start eating if I want anything left to me.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass, Dentes Umbra. One Biomass awarded.]

[Basic profile of the Dentes Umbra unlocked.]

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass, Luminare Imp. One Biomass awarded.]

[Basic Profile of the Luminare Imp unlocked.]

[Dentes Umbra: Gnashing Shadow. This many-jointed mouth on limbs is a base level monster of the darker reaches of the Dungeon. Its fearsome maw and deceitful nature are its main weapons.]

[Luminare Imp: Lesser Imp. The weakest and most pathetic of the semi-demonic monsters. The Lesser Imp are still a significant threat when underestimated. It has surprising reach and claws that can inflict a nasty curse.]

As I eat, I investigate the profiles of the monsters I�ve defeated. As I�d suspected, these enemies do not belong to the normal categories I would expect to fight in the forest.

It seems the higher levels of Mana caused by the wave are not only causing such high numbers of monsters to spawn but also more dangerous species to appear. Species that perhaps would not normally have been seen this high in the Dungeon.

Hooray.

If the Mana levels continue to rise over the course of the wave, then the monsters that spawn will become increasingly dangerous as time passes. This makes it even clearer that fleeing the Dungeon altogether was the correct choice. I can�t know just how powerful the monsters will become if we stay down here.

Even though the Gravity Domain is strong, I can�t be trapped into thinking it�s all powerful. A monster with a powerful enough physique will be able to withstand the pressure and fight. If I overestimate myself, I�ll only get killed foolishly.

After the first brush with the wave my status looks like this:

Name: Anthony

Level: 8 (core) (III)

Might: 41

Toughness: 29

Cunning: 32

Will: 22

HP: 50/50

MP: 50/58

Skills: Excavation Level 7 (II); Improved Acid Shot Level 5 (II); Enhanced Grip Level 1 (II); Shattering Bite Level 2 (III); Advanced Stealth Level 6 (II); Piercing Chomp Level 5 (II); Tunnel Map Level 1 (II); Mana Shaping Level 6 (II); Forceful Mana Level 3 (I); External Mana Manipulation Level 1 (I); Mana Sensing Level 2 (I); Core Engineer Level 2 (II); Advanced Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 2 (II); Pet Communication Level 1 (I)

Mutations: Focused Eyes +5; Infrared Antennae +5; Restrictive Acid Gland +5; Absorption Legs +5; Infused Mandibles +5; Diamond Carapace +5; Limb Regeneration Gland +5; Pheromone Language Gland +5; Gravity Magic Gland +3

Species: Mind Ant (Formica): Skill Points: 4

Biomass: 11

After eating, I now have enough Biomass to advance my Gravity Magic Gland to +5, thus completing my perfect, all +5 physique. Sadly, due to the wave, I�m too tired to take the full measure of joy from the accomplishment. The omnipresent threat to the colony, my adoptive family, and myself is simply too pressing to allow much room for other emotions.

Heading down the far end of the tunnel, even the indefatigable queen is flagging, in desperate need of food and rest. Without the ability to transport the dirt out of the tunnel itself, the workers have been piling it close to the entrance, narrowing it considerably.

At some point we�ll have to try and shove as much dirt as possible out into the chamber and perhaps seal the entrance.

I�m in two minds about sealing the entrance to the queen�s chamber. On the one hand, we�ll be protected from the monsters, at least a little. On the other hand, we need to fight monsters to eat. We might be digging this tunnel for several more days. Food supply is going to be a problem if we cut ourselves off from the Dungeon.

After I�ve seen that the digging is continuing as quickly as it can, I return to the tunnel entrance where Tiny has fallen asleep. The massive ape blocks off almost half the tunnel space with his prone frame, not that the workers seem to mind. Any traffic simply walks over him or climbs up the walls to go around the slumbering brute.

He needs a good rest, he worked hard.

With a little time and space, I need to spend my Biomass points to improve myself. Every advantage must be sought in order to combat this threat!

[Do you wish to improve Gravity Magic Gland to +5? This will cost 9 Biomass.]

[At this Level you may choose a mutation advancement. Please select from the menu.]

I can�t even muster my usual glee at being able to peruse the menu of available options due to this gloomy atmosphere. Though there are more choices than I�d imagined available.

I can cause the gland to regenerate the energy faster by increasing the conversion speed, have the gland draw in ambient Mana to regenerate on its own rather than siphoning energy from the core, increase the density of the Mana, whatever that means.

I think the option I want is as unexciting as I think it will be effective. I haven�t found a way to use the gravitational energy that is cheap in terms of the amount of Mana required and for some reason I don�t think I�m likely to. The gravity effects of spells seem to be rather powerful or grandiose, which makes sense. It�s gravity after all. To achieve those effects the cost must also be considerably high.

[Deep Gravitational Energy Gland: Greatly increases the capacity of the gland, immediately doubling the capacity and further increasing the capacity with further mutation.]

That�s right. When it comes to Gravity Magic, what I need is more!

More spells! More time! The thirst of these spells is no joke. It must be slaked.

Maybe being able to fill up the tank faster would be better for the short term, but I still think this mutation will prove useful during the wave and be more effective afterwards.

Confirm it!

Bugaaaa!

The Gravity Gland is positioned right next to my core, deep inside my thorax. Needless to say, it�s an extremely awkward place to have an explosive itch.

Rolling around on the ground enduring the mutation process doesn�t prevent the colony from doing its work. Workers delivering food to the far end of the tunnel simply climb over me or, at one point, stop walking entirely and drag me to one side so I no longer block the traffic.

How rude!

I�m too absorbed with my own struggles to take much notice though.

As it always has before, the feeling eventually fades leaving me even more exhausted and simultaneously satisfied. It always feels like an accomplishment when I manage to reach the +5 milestone. Now that I�ve achieved +5 across the board, I suppose my next goal is +10?

I don�t know when the next mutation advancement happens. Could be +10 or even +15� I�ll just pick something and keep improving until I hit the advancement, if it comes.

As much as I want to lie down and rest next to Tiny, I don�t. Instead, I drag my sorry self to the entrance and push my way past the smaller workers until I�m standing on the front line. The sudden glare of the light, which had mostly been blocked by ant bodies, is almost blinding compared to the darkness of the escape tunnel. The veins of Mana are so bright they almost blend, the walls becoming one complete light source.

Monsters have continued to spawn in the chamber, even if only a few minutes have passed since it�d been cleared. Already six creatures are engaged in a desperate struggle.

Seriously, I wonder what on earth the forest is like right now? We�re far from any spawn points that I know of down here and there are monsters popping up constantly! It must be sheer madness.

I leave it all to my imagination. I�m certainly not going up there to check�

The sounds of battle still echo out from the chambers above and the tunnel below with a new sound also ringing through, eating. Seems some monsters have been able to defeat enough enemies and secure some space for themselves to take in Biomass. With mutations and the experience gained from surviving the first wave, these monsters will have a decisive advantage over any newly spawned creatures. If they can stay alive long enough and heal from their meal, they�ll be able to quickly advance, possibly mutate or condense a core.

The wave will send the usual cycle of monster growth into overdrive. The freshly spawned Level one creatures will be shredded by those that managed to survive before them. The lucky few who can survive deep into the wave will have had their growth accelerated dozens of times.

Dammit. I�d love to go out and hunt those monsters down, kill the threat before it can become too serious, but I dare not risk it. Exposing myself to such danger when I�m this weak, potentially bringing harm to the colony as well, is simply not acceptable.

Until Tiny wakes up, I�m going to take responsibility and defend the colony. After a few hours I�ll get him to take over for a while so I can sleep. The tunnelling must continue at all costs!

Very slowly I advance until half of my body is in the chamber with the other half sitting in the escape tunnel. Rearranging my legs slightly I manage to balance myself so the front four are in contact with the chamber floor, keeping the back two supporting the business district.

Immediately that fiery sensation fills my feet. The feeling doesn�t go away either, it spreads up my legs and the absorbed Mana is transported towards my core. From there, a steady stream of Mana is being sapped away into the improved Deep Gravitational Energy Gland, there to be converted over time.

There is just so much Mana here! I just can�t explain how it makes me feel. Insignificant, in a way? Impressed�awed even?

A piercing hiss intrudes on my thoughts. Not from inside the chamber but from above. What the heck? My body tenses up.

Even the monsters already fighting inside the room flinch and step back, giving each other some space as they assess the situation.

From the shaft above, first one, then three, then dozens of dark tentacle-like appendages descend into the chamber, licking at the walls and curling around the rock outcroppings.

Supported on these limbs, a writhing mass which somehow connects to form one whole, enters my sight, that sharp, almost metallic hiss cutting the air.

Holy. Moly.

That thing is hideous.

Either this creature was spawned in the last few minutes or it�s a monster that has been victorious against those that it spawned with and evolved already.

It doesn�t really matter. This thing looks nasty!

Luckily, I have an answer for it.

Hopefully, it doesn�t attack too quickly�

Our new squiggly companion has certainly struck some fear into the hearts of each monster inside this room. They cower backwards in a decidedly non-monsterish manner as the new challenger descends.

I immediately start to draw on the Mana inside my core, pulling out great streams and starting the process of compacting inside my throat. Whatever this monster is, I�m not mucking around. I�m going to give it both barrels of a Forceful Mana shout!

Hear the roar of my soul!

I don�t have to use the Gravity Bomb every time. The normal Mana from my core has proven deadly enough on several occasions. Whatever this monster is, let�s hope it proves just as susceptible.

With the aid of my sub-brain, I begin to compress the Mana as quickly as possible, straining my already tired mind to its limit.

Brilliantly illuminated by the light, the strange new monster is a bizarre creature to behold. It lowers itself to the floor, the only visible part of its body being the dozens of tentacle-like appendages that extend and curl at impossible angles through the air, all emerging from within the central mass.

I�m not even sure this creature has eyes. How exactly does a wiggling mass of noodles make sense of the world anyway?

As the creature settles upon its mass of tentacles, it seems to be getting a feel of its environment, by just� feeling about with its many, many appendages. Around the chamber, long, distended limbs feel their way about like sniffing dogs, slithering their way towards the occupants.

As it happens, the creatures already in here fighting are closer to the tentacle thing than the escape tunnel. And even though they�re shrinking back like the savage and wild beasts they are, eventually one of them is cornered by those snuffling limbs.

What follows is a horrifying scene.

As soon as that tentacle contacts the monster�s leg, the rest of the limbs snap into action, whipping through the air like lightning. Up and down the length of each tentacle, glistening hooked barbs emerge. As those dark appendages lash around, the thorns rip and tear at unfortunate victims.

In a solitary second, the target monster, a Gnashing Shadow, has been completely enclosed, hidden from view. The tentacles pulse and flex, tearing away at the beast trapped within without letting a sound escape. In complete silence, we witness the end of that monster in horror.

Holy heck! What a way to go�

As soon as those tentacles whipped through the air to strangle the victim, I began drawing Mana out of my core even more frantically, siphoning out everything I can and then compacting it viciously in my throat.

Go, go, go, go, go!

The horror show isn�t over. Suspended on yet more of the shadowy tentacles, the main body of the monster shivers before the broken body of the prey, still totally enclosed, starts to be dragged towards the centre of the room.

The spherical, nebulous body wreathed in tentacles that seem to float weightless in the air, appears to� unfold, and an impossibly large maw opens wide, grotesquely curved fangs emerging from seemingly nowhere.

When the trapped monster is dragged close enough to that mouth, the entwined tentacles lift and deposit it directly inside. The remains of that monster disappear in an instant. The only sign it existed at all is the gnashing and crunching emerging from that nebulous main body in the centre of the room.

SCARY!

What the heck was that, Gandalf? By your flowing and munificent beard, tell me what the heck was that!

The mouth! The teeth! This is getting messed up.

Compress that Mana, Anthony, with all the speed in your two brains!

Horrified by this display of predation, I�m seriously shook!

Sadly, for my lidless eyes, the activities of our new visitor don�t end there. Having almost silently slain and consumed its prey, the tentacles once again go hunting. Slithering and seeking through the chamber for more creatures to hurl into that hungry maw.

My heart clenches as those tentacles twist their way through the air toward the edges of the chamber. Toward the escape tunnel. I�m not ready yet, dammit! I need more time.

I hold my nerve as those ghastly appendages silently seek their next victim. The other monsters aren�t so constrained. One of the remaining beasts surrenders to either its fear or its bloodlust and howls a piercing battle cry before dashing towards the nearest limb.

Sharp claws glisten in the light as they draw a cold arc through the air, slicing one of the tentacles into pieces.

Foolish�

Before the beast can even celebrate its short-lived triumph, the others flash with impossible speed. Barbed hooks once again reveal themselves before the tragic victim is encased by dozens of tentacles, silently rendered apart in a matter of seconds.

The prey is dragged towards the central mass and fed to that endless mouth.

I use all the time I can to condense more and more Mana. I don�t want to release a weak blast. This monster means business! If I don�t finish it in one shot, I may not live to make another attempt.

[Forceful Mana has reached Level 4.]

Nice! That might help the process go a little faster.

Even as it feeds itself, there are still tentacles spread throughout the room, not actively seeking prey but twitching and shifting every now and again, seeking a stray foot or arm.

Suddenly it strikes me what this creature reminds me of, a jellyfish. This is like some sort of nightmare jellyfish! Hunting through touch, using many seeking appendages. Those barbs might contain poison as well.

I shall dub this frightening beast the Jellymaw!

It�ll do�

Having consumed another monster, the Jellymaw seeks new prey, the tentacles drifting and floating through the air as if it were water. There are very few monsters inside the chamber now. All of us are scattered around the edges of the room, pressed against the walls.

After checking out the area in which the first two monsters had been located, the Jellymaw begins to widen its search.

My heart chills when it becomes apparent just where those seeking limbs are headed.

I guess we wouldn�t be so lucky as to avoid danger three times in a row.

Gradually they twist and turn their way through the air, creeping ever closer to where the colony protects the entrance to the escape tunnel. Oh man, if the tentacles touch the other workers before me, what would happen? This monster could latch onto dozens of ants at the same time if it wanted to! One tentacle alone might be enough to rip apart a hatchling.

Only one thing to do�

Oh boy�

Slowly, I step forward, emerging from the wall of workers until I stand completely exposed. Of course, I�m frantically compressing Mana inside my throat the entire time.

As the vicious tentacles pass by, I stretch out one antenna and lightly tap it.

I really wish I could close my eyes for this�

Quick as a flash the remaining limbs streak through the air. Before I can even blink, I�ve become completely surrounded, vicious hooked barbs grating and scraping against my Diamond Carapace.

Come on carapace, hold out for me!

Checking my HP, it�s only gradually being shaved away as I get compressed within the Jellymaw�s grasp.

I can�t believe how strong these tentacles are. I�m being compacted in here! In fact, I�m fairly certain several of my legs are broken�

Hold on, Anthony! Just keep compressing that Mana!

I pretend to struggle against the restrictions, wiggling and trying to force my legs to move. The tentacles continue to grind against me, trying to rip into flesh and tear me apart.

Damn that hurts!

After a few moments of struggling, I go limp, hoping the monster will think I�m dead.

I think it worked� the grinding stopped.

I�m being pulled now. To the centre of the room where the monster prepares to feed. This is my moment.

Prepare to receive the Dragon�s Breath!

Being thrown into the mouth of oblivion isn�t exactly what I planned for myself in my second life. I guess things don�t exactly turn out according to plan all the time.

For instance, I was reborn as an ant rather than a human. Hey, no use in complaining.

As the tentacles part to reveal the cavernous, impossibly wide mouth of the Jellymaw, a tingle of fear shivers through my carapace.

The inside of this monster is simply� black. I can�t see a throat or anything! Long curved fangs emerge from pure darkness and outline that gaping void, empty of any trace of the creatures I�d seen consumed before.

What. The. Heck.

I don�t have much time to admire the scenery! Let it have it!

Opening my mouth wide I unleash the tightly packed Mana concealed in my throat. Like an explosive given a tiny outlet, the pure force of energy roars out of my mouth in a focused beam of destruction. Idly I wonder why my teeth don�t get shattered by the blast as it canons out of me, but I may just have to put that down to my perfect aim and control.

The moment I unleash my strike the world flickers before my eyes. The mass of tentacles that is the Jellymaw vanishes from before me. My vision is filled with a flurry of hooked appendages and cascading dirt as the kinetic force of my blast slams into the far wall of the chamber, obliterating the other monster who happened to be skulking there.

[You have defeated a Level 2 Lesser Imp.]

[You have gained XP.]

Sorry, buddy. That wasn�t on purpose.

Finally, my feet hit the ground and I can tell I�m a sorry sight. Three of my legs are busted from the pressure the tentacles applied. Thankfully not all on one side, so I can still walk somewhat. Numerous punctures and scratches mar my carapace after the barbs tore into me as best they could.

Checking my Regeneration Gland, I can�t help but curse internally. Still not topped off. I could activate it, but instinct tells me the effect will be exponentially better if I hold off until the gland is full. I�ll have to cope with my injuries for now.

May as well collect the Biomass while I can. Need to get something out of this to help me recover.

I begin to drag myself across the chamber, snapped legs trailing in the dirt and firing hot lances of pain directly into my mind. I don�t think I�ll ever get used to having so many broken legs. Although I can�t really recall what it was like to have only two. I think I heard somewhere that the human mind can adapt to a new environment in only two weeks. It�s been significantly longer than that and already it feels as if some aspects of being a human are starting to feel strange in my memory.

Like� hands? I haven�t had hands for a long time. I mean, do you really need them? Mandibles seem to work out just fine. Guess I don�t have to open any doors, which helps.

The Jellymaw lies in a coiled heap at the edge of the chamber, looking more like a tangled rope than a horrific monster. It�s still alive. The announcement from the system hasn�t come through yet. Not going to fall for that one again.

Behold! The power of human learning!

Drawing closer, it becomes apparent how the monster managed to survive my shout. At the very last second the beast brought every tentacle it could in front of its face to block as much energy as possible, angling the limbs to try and deflect the strike.

It was barely enough. Most of those fearsome appendages have been destroyed or heavily damaged. They�re twitching and flopping on the ground as the beast attempts to protect itself.

The core of the Jellymaw wasn�t able to escape my strike. Half the core is a molten mess, sagging and weeping what I assume is ichor from its collapsed head. The mouth is nowhere to be seen.

I force another step closer, encountering one of the injured limbs and suddenly I sense danger. Several tentacles whip through the air towards me and the core unfolds to reveal that black hole of a mouth. Half of the teeth are missing now, but it�s still fearsome!

The tentacles lash at the ground, hauling the body of the monster into the air as it collapses down on the position where it sensed that touch.

But I�m not there anymore.

IDIOT!

Trying to outsmart the great Anthony? Only in the dreams in which you yourself are dreaming of outsmarting me!

Cautious to the extreme, I retreated as quickly as I could�admittedly not very quick�the moment I touched that loathsome tentacle.

The beast fumbles in confusion as it fails to find anything. Tentacles flopping about, attempting to seek its foe even as the creature breathes heavily, clearly on the edge of death.

You need to settle down, Jellymaw, and become my food!

Shattering Bite!

Pouring out the last of my energy, I manifest the mandibles of energy, bringing them down with the force of a collapsing mountain on the main body of the Jellymaw.

Under the immense pressure exerted by my mandibles, the beast has no choice but to give up the ghost.

[You have defeated a Level 4 Crinis Inanis (II).]

[You have gained XP.]

I�m� so tired�

In the wake of my triumph, I wobble on my three remaining legs, my vision fuzzing to black before I manage to take hold of myself.

The last Shattering Bite pushed my limit right to the edge. But I had to be sure I finished it off. This monster was such a pain in the gaster to deal with.

Exhausted, I pull myself towards the remains of the beast and immediately begin to feast.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass, Crinis Inanis (II). One Biomass awarded.]

[Basic profile of the Crinis Inanis (II) unlocked.]

I�m too tired to read the damn profile. Just let me eat. Even shifting my jaws is almost too much effort.

I can�t even be bothered checking if there are more monsters in the room. I just have to eat.

My sight blurs several times and the pains in my body fade to dull aches before roaring back to the forefront of my consciousness. I focus all my willpower on mechanically eating. Move the jaws and take in the food, repeat, and so on.

When I�m halfway through consuming the creature and beginning to feel full, I slowly and painfully drag the Biomass back towards the colony.

My mind is on autopilot now, I�m barely thinking at all.

Other ants have appeared around me, grabbing hold of the food and dragging it back to the escape tunnel. They�re pulling me towards safety as well, making sure to avoid dragging at my injured legs.

When I sense the relative darkness of the escape tunnel embrace me, I pull myself free from the workers and move back to take my place at the entrance. One ant among many protecting the entrance to our safe passage.

Tiny is still sleeping, healing his injuries, and recovering his strength. I refuse to rest until he�s ready to take my place.

With a thought, I activate my Regeneration and the healing fluid floods my system, stimulating my cells, snapping my bones back into place and repairing my joints. Hopefully it will be enough.

Once again, I take up my vigil. I will keep my family safe.