RinoZ
patreon
Chapter 1647 - Deep in the Centre of the World
🕑 Added 2025-08-06 02:00:04 +0000 UTCWell, I’ve been on this ride before. Spinning like I’m going down the toilet, only to sink so far and deep I can only imagine I’ve landed ri
Well, I’ve been on this ride before. Spinning like I’m going down the toilet, only to sink so far and deep I can only imagine I’ve landed right in the middle of Pangera, right at the core.
Of course, I have no way to confirm that, I’m just a disembodied consciousness along for the ride. How does that even work, by the way? Who is Gandalf that he can just snap my mind out of my body whenever I evolve? Not that I mind, really. Our conversations are somewhat enlightening. Well, that’s not true, but I do like meeting new people, even if they don’t answer any of my questions.
I have to say, this time around, I’m pretty happy to be out of my body. Holding back Theorazzn’s damned curse isn’t a good time, and after my horrifically shame-inducing itch explosion, the spread had gotten bad.
I’ve worked so hard to hide my secret from the Colony, and now it’s been exposed for all to see! I’m so annoyed!!
In fact, if I get an answer to anything, I need to know why I’m the only one who suffers from this damned itch! It isn’t fair, dammit! Gandalf must reveal this secret to me if it’s the last thing I do!
[I must reveal… what, exactly?]
Gandalf! You can’t sneak up on me like that! I’m just a disembodied mind, I have no way to know you’re coming!
[You persist in calling me this name.]
You aren’t going to tell me your real name, are you?
[No, I am not.]
There you are, then. Gandalf.
[Fine. Now what are you complaining about?]
The itch! The damned itch! Every time I mutate, it itches like crazy! I figured it made sense, since my cells were changing or whatever, but nobody else goes through it! Not even other reincarnated people! How is that fair?
[Well… the Dungeon isn’t exactly designed to be fair.]
Wait. You designed it? The whole Dungeon?
[No. I did not.]
Come on, I might be dead in a minute, you should give me at least one answer!
[Oh, I don’t believe you are going to die, otherwise I would not have summoned you here. I have no interest in talking to those who have no immediate future.]
Well, you might not know this, but I’ve got Theorazzn’s toxic goop infecting me. It’s not looking good. It certainly wasn’t when I left, anyway, and I can’t imagine it’s gotten better.
[You will be surprised, I think, when you wake. Some grudges, it seems, are genetic. Even I had not imagined that something like this was possible. I can well imagine the fury of that irritating starfish when they learn of what has happened. How delightful.]
Gandalf chuckles to themself, but I’m left confused.
Starfish?
[Theorazzn. If I were to describe the creature to you, they would be something of a cross between a crab and a starfish.]
Oh… weird. I thought for sure they would be a slug.
[Well… they are something of a slug as well.]
That… that isn’t making much sense to me. How in the heck am I supposed to picture that?! Anyways, all of this is beside the point. Your cryptic talk of grudges and such is meaningless to me. The itch! I demand answers!
[You are being particularly irritating this time.]
I’ve had a bad day.
[Considering the life you’ve lived, that must be some day.]
Honestly… yes. Even for me, this one has been poor.
[Only poor? That sounds more like you. Very well. I will take a look. Give me a moment.]
I can’t really describe what it’s like to have your mind/soul picked up, turned upside down and shaken, but that’s exactly what happens to me in that moment. It’s a profoundly strange experience. Honestly, I recommend it. If anyone else from the Colony comes down here, I’ll get them to ask for it.
[They don’t come here. Very few do.]
I thought you spoke to everyone like me, at least? All of the reborn people?
[I do, but only once for most of them. Before they reach another evolution, they either go completely insane or become uninteresting. You, on the other hand, continue to surprise me.]
Well… that’s good, I suppose.
[As for your… issue. I truly have never seen this before. You aren’t supposed to be able to feel the changes taking place at the cellular level. Nobody is. An organism doesn’t feel it when new cells are created, so how are you able to experience these changes?]
I don’t know! Weren’t you going to tell me? You’re the wise wizard with the eyebrows of incredible expressiveness! Between the two of us, it’s obvious who has the answers.
[I don’t… never mind. This is… interesting. I can only imagine that your soul is somehow embedded more deeply within your new body than is normally possible. Are you… sure you weren’t an ant in your previous life?]
You know very well I was a human! I had hands! I had two legs! Which is an inferior number of legs, of that I’m fully aware, but two nonetheless!
[I do know that,] Gandalf muses. [Fascinating. Even regular monsters aren’t so fully integrated with their bodies. I wonder how this could possibly have happened?]
So… can you fix it?
[Do you want me to?]
Well, I won’t lose any sort of competitive advantage, will I? I mean, this isn’t the only reason I’m still alive or anything, is it?
[If anything, I believe it’s a disadvantage, as your most recent mutation period has proven.]
Great! Well, fix away! I’ll be glad to be rid of it.
…
…
…
You aren’t going to fix it, are you?
[No.]
WHY?!
[Because it’s interesting.]
Comments
Mechame
LOL I love Gandalf
Caleb Herring
Love it!
dothuman
As far as I can tell, Gandalf has never actually lied to Anthony. What would be the point? And he did say pretty explicitly that he isn't an ancient. He's also said he is neither Pangera or the System itself, so that really only leaves him as some kind of actual deity.
dothuman
I think Anthony has completely forgotten they exist at this point. It's on character for him, at least. I bet Sarah and the Triad still give them a little time every now and then, though.
Kewi397
Hey, I know this is off topic, but im going through past audiobooks and a question occurred. What are we doing with those 2 female imprisoned golarie? Are they still imprisoned? Did we get any useful information out of them or if they were of any use? If I remember correctly, Anthony last bust them or the author last talked about them was book 5
Ruwa
Dammit gandalf!!
Buck
Damn you, Gandalf!!!
Sargon Yami
Negotiate for copensation
alt31415
99% of 'Anthony was eaten by his ants' theorists quit just before it's confirmed canon!
Sargon Yami
Anthony should negotiate for compensation for the itch.... maybe an ascention core
Chien Do
Then the system trolls him: Anti-itching => I, itching Ant
Loulatsch
This chapter hardens the suspicion of gandalf being an ancient
Pockman
Next chapter: After shouting many curse words from my old life, I eventually grew exhausted. Which is strange, in this in-between state. “Screw you and your bushy beard. Hope it falls out”
Brandon14754
I bet yarrum (the one who told grannin Anthony HAS to succeed) is really happy about this outcome
Crimson wolf
I'm guessing since he died next to his pet ant colony, a couple of their souls clung fo him when he was picked up probably cause he was the one who fed them before himself or something.
alt31415
LMAO yes, go Gandalf-Probably-Odren
BelligerentGnu
Wow Gandalf, you just lost any and all sympathy points. Die like your centipedes.
shawn B
Lmaooooo
Napalm078
Anthony is [Ant]
Kewi397
That was a good chapter. I would love to hear the other ancients reaction to the snails cleansing his mana. Maybe his anger is truly unleashed and he yells at all the slime guys to attack the purified section of the dungeon.
Tag
I literally laughed out loud at "[Because it's interesting.]"
TheLostGolem
Imagine that Anthony gets an Anti itching mutation for his brain as the first purchase.
Ether's Blessed One
Odren the Father of Monsters.
jeffrey niski
I love gandalf chapters
Ether's Blessed One
Ahahaha, You should've known, Anthony. A wizard is never late or early, especially in his fun and amusement. Phew, haven't gotten a great laugh like this in a while. I like their interaction a lot, so amusing and comedic. I'll have to go read those evolution again.
Yeslek Nnamhctits
Long may he itch!
Nicholas Pankratz
Because it’s interesting lol 😂
Aaron Schwartz
is anthony finally going to ask this guy which one of the ancients he is? since its pretty obvious by now that he is one... I forgot all their names, but the last time there was a list I had guessed it was the one called the father of monsters. His name started with an O I think.
Brian Pierce
Haaaaaaa
KooZnack
Thanks for the chapter!
