RinoZ
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Chapter 1642 - On the Clock Evolution
🕑 Added 2025-07-28 13:02:33 +0000 UTCBy this time, the Colony had somewhat managed to hold Anthony down using some sort of threaded rope, magic and sheer weight of numbers. He was still wiggling about, but his range of motion had been greatly reduced, which made keeping in contact with him much easier.
[Anthony,] the triad said, trying to break through to him. [We have two options that should help you survive, do you have a preference?]
[I’d prefer it… IF MY FACE WASN’T ON FIRE!]
[The evolutions!]
[GAH! Fine. Gimme a sec!]
They waited as patiently as they could while he struggled to access the menu.
[I hate them both! Acken! Flacken! ITCHY! Bulwark! Go with that one! EVEN IF IT SUCKS, DAMMIT!]
Well, not that they didn’t know how he would feel about it before, but at least he’d been able to make the final selection on his own. It was clear at this point that the potent mana left behind by Theorazzn had completely skewed the evolutionary options available to him, and destroyed his chance to advance along the path he had carved for himself.
The triad were furious at having to make these compromises, at having to curtail the potential of such a promising monster, but nothing mattered if he didn’t survive, that was obviously the most important thing. Anger boiling in their hearts, they locked in the Bulwark, and set to work.
A tier eight mythic monster had an absolute ocean of evolutionary potential available to them, and many, many potential purchases to be made.
Acting in unison, the three golgari surged into action. There were many things that needed to be addressed, and they had long prepared for a possibility such as this.
The three had made a study of ant physiology, and tore through Anthony’s physique like a hurricane, adjusting, shifting, realigning and perfecting his musculature. It required almost no energy to do so, but would result in a noticeable difference in power. The default was not necessarily correct, and this was one such instance.
In addition, Anthony had not been overly careful in the way he had expanded his size and added additional muscle. The density and bulk were generally spread fairly evenly, but an even distribution wasn’t the best way to achieve an optimal result. Further corrections needed to be made, condensing muscles in certain areas, shifting mass from one place to another. In particular, the muscles in the head connected to the mandibles needed a significant amount of work.
After this initial pass was complete, Anthony’s body was much better streamlined. With more time, they could squeeze a few more percent out of him, but that was a luxury they could not afford.
Next, they distributed the free stats gained from the evolution, of which there was an abundance. Anthony’s size would again need to increase, if only to fit everything he needed to cram into his body, but the bulk of the physical energy was spent on condensing key muscles. With all of the room, the brains were expanded, gaining a great deal of processing power before they needed to start condensing the grey matter.
Defensively, the carapace was hardened and thickened, the joints reinforced and slight adjustments made to his shape, making it more difficult for enemies to target his vulnerable points. In particular, attention was placed around Anthony’s head. The giant ant had quite frequently damaged himself using his own abilities, and his new chomp attack had proven to be especially potent. Thickening the carapace there, shaping it to better deflect the power unleashed by his mandibles, would hopefully reduce the damage he did to himself.
Next, the triad turned their attention to the purchases they wanted to make. First of all, a Mind Construct. A very specific organ, it would act as a construct would, taking in raw mana and converting it to the desired attribute. With careful positioning, the triad was able to ensure a steady drip of mana would be pulled from the core and fed to the organ without spending any energy to forge an actual, physical connection.
With mutations and an eventual reforge, Anthony would be able to very efficiently create the mind mana that he constantly needed without having to devote any of his own mental resources to the task. Further freeing up his brains for more important work, the purchase of this organ was more than justified.
Next, Anthony had been at pains to try and address the weakness that was his legs, increasing the speed at which they could regrow, but it simply wasn’t enough. Although the triad planned on a reset for his limbs, it was necessary that energy be spent on a better solution.
Vestigial Limb Incubator.
This would place six small organs adjacent to each of Anthony’s legs. Should one be damaged, the existing leg could be disconnected and the vestigial limb would take the place of the lost limb. Combined with mutations and healing fluid, the new leg could grow to an acceptable size in a matter of minutes, rather than hours.
The three had long considered Anthony’s… rather unique collection of senses. He had, thanks to his origin as an ant, a very broad ability to see, though his compound eyes began at an exceptionally poor baseline. His antennae, covered with fine hairs, were extremely sensitive to touch and smell, especially so after their reforging and subsequent mutation. In addition, he was able to sense future echoes, adding yet more information to an already crowded picture.
Reaction speed was key to the giant ant’s survival strategy, which meant rapidly processing this sensory information was critical. Shaving even a fraction of a second from his response time could be crucial. To facilitate this, they purchased an add-on to his existing brain structure: A Sensory Processor.
Looking at the work they had done, the triad could only brace themselves. They had barely made a dent in the vast reservoir before them. There was still much to do.
Comments
Azril Aditya
I hate this evolution
Alvin
Really glad I came to these comments to see that RinoZ is cooking coz my heart was breaking!!
Ragged
Rinoz, I need you to cook on this one, I am a little sad that he can't go Colony Ascendant cuz that shit sounds cool af but you're the man and an author we can trust 🖊️ 🔥 🔥 🔥
Sargon Yami
Why do people think the baby snails whose entire empire was destroyed and turned into the krath can or even should be able to do something?
Brandon14754
For context rinoz asked on the discord people to calm down and let him cook
Gonvas
Let's see what RinoZ is cooking 😉
zozzy the beast
Save him from a crappy evolution chal children. Maybe their song can neutralize the toxin. That's why the ancient I won't try to spell wants them gone so badly.
zozzy the beast
I'm hoping the chal kids can help him. I know it's the authors choice but getting the poison evolution would be a mistake. He's the eldest if he becomes insanely toxic he can't stay with the colony. To an ant the colony is all.
alt31415
XD
Guant
I get the feeling that Gandalf will help since he’s one of the ancient 19 himself.
alt31415
Still can't over people freaking out over this. Like yeah, it sucks for Anthony but... things are allowed to go wrong for the protagonist???
Gonvas
Ch 1396. It was consumed in a 4 way rank V fusion to create Manifold High-Focus V.
Sargon Yami
well anthony becoming a corrupted fifth stratum monster was not on the bingo card of most people (he should no longer be able to life in the purefied land and every diplomatic link can now be forgotten). especially because nothing in the evolution even states that it will help. it could even just ad another corrution on top of the ancients ones. the triad only asumes it will help they have no evidence for that believe.
Kewi397
I’m listening to book 4 and I just noticed something. I don’t think Anthony used meditation skill for the entire 5th floor. The book reminded me that he has that skill, but I don’t remember him using it at all during this entire floor
Collector of Stories
It’s at moments like this that you need to remember to trust the author. Obviously this is less than ideal but Rhino has to have some sort of plan
Colin C
Yeah, still waiting for the revelation of how the chal chorus will impact Anthony.
ZaneofBane
I feel like the other ancients are going to punish Thorazz for this one. He may have shaved off some of Anthony's potential, and if the other potential ancient dies, it's a risk to their plan.
Mo Alawami
I don't think this evolution is that bad, until we compare it to the first one and our past expectations. It still sounds powerful and super helpful in combating toxic mana, which Anthony would probably have to deal with again soon. Maybe even to a higher level, so this might be blessing in disguise. Still wishing on a miracle though so we get that sweet first option 🥺. Maybe by song?!
Anthony Romanov
All hope rests with Gandalf!!!
Greyg
People are angry and want him to take that chance, but is an organ or reforge good enough to deal with an Ancients toxin the evolution menu gives an out that otherwise might not exist Tinys evolution was similar at a low tier with a special shadow mana. Logically there would be no discussion, as Anthony shouldve been fully corrupted on or after initial dip in the pool of filth. Logic or limitations inside unknown deep magic dungeon planet though aren’t logical like Anthony creates blackholes inside a planet logically that’s suicidal
Robling49
couldn't they take the first evolution then get him an extra organ to deal with the bad energy?
Greyg
Some of them overlap a little a few have multiple elements that fuse into different effects like water and darkness another was water earth death then the worm was Earth/metal maybe likes eating the rock people then another more pure metal emphasis on sharpness i think Anthony so low tier in comparison the eventual fusion of differences makes something unique
Nyther of Fyre
There is still time, nothing has been truly locked in
Hayden Leech
I think Anthony once looked at world infused organs once and saw it was wildly outside the energy budget. It’s probably still extreme.
TheLostGolem
Okay. So I'm seeing all the negative views on this evolution and honestly, I don't see why everyone is so upset. Anthony isn't getting all the benefits of the first evolution for free, but he still has a ton of evolutionary energy to spend. It's entirely possible that they just purchase the stuff using that. The Golgari can just be like, Hey World-Infused Flesh Musculature? Brains reforged into Radiant Dynamo Matter?A Core of Ascension? All that stuff sounds great, so we'll just buy that since we have so much to spend. So we get some of the benefits of the first evolution option while Anthony also can now comfortably annihilate the rest of the 5th stratum so that no Ant has to go through that ever again.
Napalm078
Viva la Evolution!
Bethany Bluebird
Thank you for the chapter <3 I know you're catching a lot of flak about the evolution.. but sometimes sacrifices need to be made and the less optimal path taken to survive. And this evolution could open up excutong new future paths! So... PRAISE! PRAISE BE TO THE GREAT ONE!! PRAISE HIS GLORIOUS SHININESS!!
Brandon14754
This always happens, it happened with larvel god, it happened with the evolution before etc.
Noquele
I trust in lil chal bros, they will safe Anthony from this miserable evolution path. Have faith all. For the Colony!
Baconwargod
Yeah this sucks balls.
blue turtle
Yea the choices suck there is already contanimination based ancient , it wouldnt make since for there to be anotherone.
Ether's Blessed One
Hey, I'm just waiting for Gandalf to come and says: You shall not choose these.
Ether's Blessed One
No, not the grubs tickling. Anthony: Am I here just to suffer??!!
Skipping
I’ll trust the process
Isiah Debarros
They're literal babies. Are they have some ancestral knowledge they would have no way to modify his evolution choices at all.
Isiah Debarros
I mean, it's just a little bit strange why everybody is so upset. We've seen something like this earlier in the story and tiny is on the path that he wants to be instead of the one that he was pushed onto Anthony is just gonna sacrifice the organ he got for this evolution at tier 9 for the ones that are more in line with his wants
Isiah Debarros
I mean, if they took the one that he wanted, he would've died. It's the same situation that happened with tiny. They took the one that he wanted of the ones that would've saved him and next evolution he's gonna be able to fix everything and probably will sacrifice the organs that he doesn't want for more energy on his path
Isiah Debarros
I mean, it's gonna be like what happened to tiny
Loulatsch
Wow, so many comments just its a really disliked direktion of the story.
artisticVulpes
Ok... I hate this whole evolution thing! This is a terrible choice! Anthony HATES this, I hate it too! The first evolution was the best one! I don't think that this is salvageable if they pick this terrible evolution! Polishing SHIT is STILL a SHIT!
Victor Desantiago
Nice chap overall, just wondering about the Legion, those guys would be glad to give Anthony a hand 😆
TheLostGolem
Still Waiting to see what the chal decide to do, since that's a hanging plot point. Theorozann was insistent that the singing must stop, so there must be a reason for that. Imagine that they interfere with the evolution process through singing to convert the toxic aspect to a purification aspect.
TheLostGolem
So, looking at how things are going, Anthony is going to be a highly toxic gravity based super ant, which sounds awesome. Downside, his grub tickling days might be far behind him.
BelligerentGnu
May a twist save this Evo, because it's a massive bummer.
jeffrey niski
Also I think this evolution is when Anthony does the big sleep
CentaureHeart
Welp there it goes, kinda feels like the Triad took the easy way out. I mean, if you're going to help him, just do it well. They litterally took the first solution that popped up. They are even saying that they have this juge reservoir of energy to use and they couldn't even try and find a solution in there ? Anyway, sorry Rinoz, thanks for the chapter ^^^
bobby2dreki
Wait, I forgot the Chal's!!! Indeed let them come in time to somehow fix this evolution mess.
Greyg
Lies my bias is right demiurge all over agian i want my fortress realm
jeffrey niski
Everyone definitely big mad about this evolution choice.
Greyg
Rinoz everyone is mad at the raise of Dark Anthony i still imagine the evolutions as a web not so linear imagine you plan on making the next evolution something more aligned with his previous path of ant godhood, but whatever dark Anthony is in control now only the chal can change it
jeffrey niski
We gotta trust the author guys.
Sargon Yami
Lets say he somehow lifes with it till tier 9. All i can see is him spending all his energy to get ride of the toxin and cortuption organs thereby reduxing his potential even further
Gonvas
I don't get the angle of he's now dangerous and blue mana now poisons him. From the description, this is not like T7 major option where he spread corruption with a passive aura. And he isn't covered in 5th stratum toxic materials that may react to blue mana...
Gonvas
Anthony fuses 4 organs -> less mutations -> less itch. Triad buys a set of new organs 🤣🤣
Alex Shinall
NGL I'm hating this entire evolutionary process. Anthony has no agency to pick and choose his own upgrades, and now he's stuck with a subpar upgrade. I'm holding on to hope that something good happens during the upgrade.
Sargon Yami
i really don't like this evolution and don't think this works in general. first the evolution: Anthony should reject it no matter the cost for him as soon as he finds out what they do. the evolution goes against everything he is and has done. the most important thing for anthony is the colony, not his survival (he starved himself to death for his ents on earth) this evolution invalidates all of that. he is now a walking Toxin source that should be poisend by being in the fortress, threatens to harm/corrupt his sisters, he can't play with grups anymore or anyone really. his entire Colony life is upended by this evolution. the core of his being. hell if that goes through he probably would just make a sucide run against some floor 6 or higher enemy.... the second option probably would have been better at least that way he would have been a colony itself. second... why did anythony wait till he hit the toxins anyway? he knew they threw them in and that he was slowly tumpling into it. so why wait with the escape till it was to late? what the hell was his plan. he even had internal dialugues about escaping before that but ... simply didn't? but third and probably a hugh problem as well. why exactly is Theorazzn doing this? the ancients want another ancient so why sabotage instead of challange? anthony got kicked off his path towards a evolution that is simply far worse what the hell. the demon challanged anthony but didn't aim to fuck him up like that. allready wrote a post but maybe this puts my thoughts in better words. by the way smooth of the triad to hide the other options from him. PS: i had a few minutes to think about what i wrote is .... rather negative towards you RinoZ. and while i mean what i wrote i want you to know that it is nothing agains you but more about my frustration.... ok doesn't sound better but i hope you know what i want to say.
fair3238
Hope Rinoz can turn this evolution into something fantastic. i've been waiting for evolution chapter for so long for it to bum into something uninteresting
Tomislav Fistrić
Damn... There goes Gravity ant... Don't like this evolution one bit... And what is this infection core? Anthony is gone....
James Seymour
I hope the chal can help correct this somehow
Shakyamunie
TFTC ! If they really don't go with the Ascendant my only hope now is that just like the Chal, the megapool of cleansed mana inside the fortress changes Anthony during his evolution, makes him a pure mana version of his evolution, after all it's the moment where he is supposed to be the most sensible to modifications. That or a supersong from the kiddos snail that somehow affects his evolution. I would really hate it if he becomes basically a fifth strata monster...
Charles Long
Please for the love of the colony let the chal fix this. this feels horrible and my motivation to read plummets.
Guilherme Alves
I hope this means he becomes somewhat resistant to the fifth and can rampage on the slugs for forcing him to take the sub optimal option
Kris Piskorski
Don't like the evolution but I love that they will be able to finally optimize most of Anthony's body like he wasn't able to
kev mil
I can't wait to see what the chal do here. I hope they are able to help correct Anthonys situation
shawn B
Damn… so we’re really leaving the perfect path
CallMeTee
This is such a huge bummer. I have faith that Rinoz will turn this around somehow, but right now, it feels like the entire beginning of the story is getting invalidated. Yes, technically Anthony gave his nod of approval, but it feels like this entire section of the story has removed his agency, made him into a much more passive figure, with a large amount of repetition, and delayed gratification. If the ultimate payoff is a terrible evolution...I'll be pretty disappointed honestly. Hopefully the Chal arrive and fix this somehow.
Rahsheem Reid
Today is my Friday at work and for there to be a triple chap during my boring day was very appreciated. Thank you RinoZ
Meir Banon
Tftc
Brandon14754
Sweet hopefully he'll get infinite self propagating gravity mana from the bulwark evolution
Sargon Yami
Hate it. Why should anthony even accept to a danger for the colony he should reject it. He is now a danger for all his sisters, the colony, can't play with the grubs anymore and the fortress should now be poisen for him. This completly sucks
Toni Rayner
Heck yes enjoying the heck out of this mutation really bummed he couldn't take the first option though.
Miguel Angel
Oh, the potential...
