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Chapter 1637 - Mutation Suite
🕑 Added 2025-07-16 02:00:08 +0000 UTCOne of the most deeply contested grudges amongst the Cults is held between the followers of Theorazzn and Morribolg of the Fetid Earth.
Perhaps this reflects the long-held myth that the two Ancients themselves are bitter rivals who competed over the fifth stratum, trying to find who would succeed in the race to paint it in their own image.
Morribolg is said to be a creature of water, earth and death, a unique combination that came to be known as ‘Fetid Earth’. Without a solid form, the Ancient is a vast mass of mud with incredible strength and endurance. More than this, anyone touched by Morribolg, legend has it, is doomed to die, unable to escape, the life being sucked from them on the spot.
The location Morribolg is believed to have surfaced during the Rending has not recovered to this day, a seeping wasteland of death and destruction referred to as ‘Never Swamp’ by the locals.
- Excerpt from ‘Collective Wisdom of the Cults’ by Granin Lazus
As always, there was the initial rush as all that was contained within Anthony’s core washed over them. The combined minds of Granin, Torrina and Corun werewas far more powerful than any of them were alone and they parsed it almost as fast as it came in. After a few moments, they were able to piece together the full breadth of Anthony’s status.
Name: Anthony
Level: 360 (Mythic) (VII)
Might: 380
Toughness: 342
Cunning: 228
Will: 195
HP: 684/684
MP: 1100/1100
Skills:
General:
Grandmaster Excavation (V) Level 10; Master Grip (IV) Level 40; Expert Stealth (III) Level 20; Tunnel Compendium (V) Level 11; Diamond Mind (V) Level 80; Grandmaster Stamina (V) Level 46; Unseen Dash (VI) Level 32; Expert Efficient Movement (III) Level 20; Master Observance (IV) Level 40; Manifold High-Focus (V) Level 80;
Mana:
Advanced Mana Craft (VI) Level 84; Condensed Mana (V) Level 80; Grand Finer External Mana Manipulation (V) Level 80; Mana Hoarder (V) Level 63; Multi-Layered Mind Magic Affinity (VI) Level 46; Extended Directed Mana Sensing (V) Level 80; Master Healing Magic Affinity (IV) Level 40; Advanced Omni-Elemental Affinity (VI) Level 121; Master Mana Masking (IV) Level 32; Wood Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Metal Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Lightning Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Master Force Magic Affinity (IV) Level 40; Master Barrier Magic Affinity (IV) Level 40; Grandmaster Gravity Magic Affinity (V) Level 80;
Pet:
Far-Flung Pet Communication (IV) Level 38; Core Crafting (IV) Level 20; Pet Growth Speed (I) Level 5;
Defensive:
Divine Exo-Skeleton Defence (VI) Level 111; Flicker Dodge (VI) Level 93; Grandmaster Endure (V) Level 80; Expert Mandible Parry (III) Level 20; Precognitive Agile Defence (IV) Level 40;
Offensive:
Guided Acid Shot (V) Level 12; Grandmaster Precise Shooting (V) Level 16; Void Chomp (VI) Level 40; Expert Chomp Combo (III) Level 15; Spear Charge (III) Level 9;
Mutations:
Senses:
Broad Spectrum Intent Sight +35; Prescient Ripple Antennae +35 (Twilight Filament);
Defence:
Horizon Intensifying Compression Carapace (Gravity-Compressed Diamond) +35; Regenerating Amp Displacer Inner Carapace Plating (Boson Agitating Crystal Flesh) +35;
Physical:
Fortified Absorption Legs +30; Mandibles (Gravity-Compressed Diamond); Hastened Potent Regeneration Gland +30; Widespread Stinking Pheromone Gland +30; Expanding Discerning Compression Stomach +35; Coiling Hyper-Twitch Musculature +30; Distributed Instantaneous Sub-Neural Network +30;
Acid:
Hyper Thick Spreading Mana-Feasting Bind Acid Gland +35; Flexi Hyper Pressurised Scattershot Acid Nozzle +30; Enriching Draining Acid Concentration Gland +30; Viscous Enfeebling Acid Stimulation Gland +30;
Mental:
Indomitable Coordination Cortex +30; Crushing Gravity Well Main Brain +30; Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain +30; Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain +30; Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain +30;
Mana:
Vast Gravity Magic Gland (Resonant Well Stone)+15; Accelerated Might Infusing Collective Will Vestibule +35 (Soul Crystal); Grand Empowering Communal Spirit Nave (Soul Crystal) +35; Vast Impregnable Starborn Altar of Self +35 (Soul Crystal);
Species: Perfect Paragon
Skill points: 171 +325 - (skill fusions).
Biomass: 2284
None of the three had worked on a monster this powerful, nor one this evolved, and it was difficult to grasp it all. Anthony’s status was… a mess, especially compared to the carefully pruned and developed Skills of the monsters the Shapers crafted within the Cult of the Worm. They were trying to create lean perfection, but this was a true beast of the Dungeon, fighting for survival and figuring it all out as they went.
And it was this, less streamlined and organised monster who had thrived, where the carefully designed creatures had utterly failed. There was a lesson in that.
However… there was one detail that immediately infuriated the golgari.
[Anthony,] they growled in unison. [Why on Pangera do you have so many maxed Skills?!]
So many of them!? One or two was acceptable, but how long had it been since this moron had checked his status! The progress wasn’t stored if he didn’t level his Skills, it was simply lost!
[Yell at me another time Granin… and… company. This is hard. Get on with… that thing you were doing.]
[We were going to finalise your mutations.]
[Right. I… feel vaguely worried about that for some reason… but I can’t quite grab it. It’s fine. Ask if you have questions, otherwise try not to mess anything up.]
[There’s a lot of mutations to be done. We will need your input on a few of them.]
[Fine, fine.]
Wanting to work quickly, the triad scanned through the relevant information, concentrating on what needed to be done.
There were thirteen organs in total that needed upgrading at a final cost of almost two thousand Biomass. Some of those were important mutations, with the +35 options able to unlock powerful new options for Anthony, while others could be relatively ignored since the body parts were likely to be reset or fused in the upcoming evolution. The triad organised the mutations into those two groups so they could prioritise their efforts.
Important mutations:
Coordination Cortex.
Main Brain.
Sub Brains, of which there were three.
Sub-Neural Network.
Musculature
Regeneration Gland
Gravity Mana Gland
Resets and Fusions:
Legs.
Acid Nozzle.
Concentration Gland.
Stimulation Gland.
The three minds consulted and agreed that the final four organs would be best served with a fusion and reset. Anthony had attempted to make his acid more potent by purchasing several cheap body parts and mutations to increase its power and flexibility, but with the toxic mana within him, this was the perfect opportunity to try and fuse these organs together with his acid gland to create something far more powerful.
His legs were also due for a reset. If he got much larger they wouldn’t be able to hold him up properly and his earlier mutation selections weren’t as viable as they could be.
The triad settled on some generic options for these organs that played to the strengths they already had without wasting more time than they had to. They would be reset to nothing soon anyway, there was no need to spend too long on them.
After considering for a moment, the triad decided to work on the brains first and dove in.
The sub-brains were dedicated to maintaining Anthony’s host of mind constructs, and indeed were doing so right now. Specialised in handling mind mana, they were able to craft far more mind constructs than they could without this mutation, but there was a loss of efficiency here.
Anthony had enabled himself to create a large number of mind constructs, but those constructs still needed to utilise parts of the physical brain in order to do their work. Further increasing the sub-brains specialisation in mind-mana wouldn’t help, but increasing the cognitive capacity of the brains would. Significantly.
Three minds unified into one raced through the list of possible mutations, looking for candidates that suited their needs.
In all honesty, Anthony’s brains could use a reset, reforging them with a more powerful material than simple fleshy neurons, but with a list of other body parts likely to need resetting, it would have to wait.
After some time, they narrowed their options down to three:
Webbed Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain. This option would utilise mind mana, which the brain was constantly handling anyway, to stimulate added connections within the brain itself, essentially forming new neural links out of mana to make the brain matter more efficient.
Condensed Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain. This mutation would draw on Gravitational mana, which they didn’t understand but knew was present throughout Anthony’s body, to draw the brain inward and compress it, pushing the cells closer together, shortening the links between them and increasing processing speed.
Interwoven Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain. Less specific to Anthony, but well regarded in the Shaper literature, this mutation would serve two functions; linking the sub-brains together, and weaving greater connections between the neurons.
Ultimately, they selected the Webbed Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain. With a constant supply of mind mana, the brains would become twenty to thirty percent more efficient as the connections formed. Since Anthony supplied it already, there was nothing but upsides here. Adding brain mass to each of the sub-minds was also a far more attractive prospect with this mutation in place, allowing the benefits to compound.
For Anthony’s Main Brain, similar decisions had to be made. He had specialised this brain in two simple fields: condensing mana and handling gravitational mana. Little wonder his ‘gravity bombs’ were so effective.
Much like his sub-brains, he hadn’t given any thought to mutations that would enable his brain to work more efficiently in general. At this point, reinforcing the aspect he had already mutated would have diminishing returns. It was time to increase the effectiveness of the brain as a whole.
The Condensed option they had already explored was a strong contender here, as it would synergise well with the brain's intended purpose, handling gravity mana. To be sure it was the best mutation, they thoroughly examined the list and found another they found to be tempting.
Will-Forged Crushing Gravity Well Main Brain. The triad weren’t overly familiar with the power of Will that Anthony absorbed through the Vestibule. They only knew what Anthony had told them about it and what they could glean from his core. However, this option seemed very viable.
Utilising the power of Will, it would work to increase the processing speed of the brain, running the cells hotter than they should, but sweeping the waste away and preventing the neurons from burning out using that mysterious Will energy. It was something Anthony had in abundance already, so long as the Colony was somewhere nearby, and according to their calculations, would provide a greater boost than the other mutations they looked at.
They locked it in and turned to the coordination cortex.
This was where Anthony had placed the responsibility of increasing the efficiency of his brains. The coordination cortex worked to distribute tasks across the four brains and reduce the strain on each, ensuring they were each fully utilised and able to work harder for longer.
The triad dove into the list of options, looking for something that would provide the power boost Anthony would need. Mutations for the cortex were somewhat limited in scope, the organ could only do so much, but they were able to find one they liked.
Event-Horizon Indomitable Cortex. Drawing on the power of Gravity Mana, this mutation would, somehow, dilate time within the cortex itself, allowing for what appeared to be lightning fast processing. It was expensive in terms of mana draw, but Anthony was more than capable of providing the power necessary, and would even recoup a percentage of the cost via his Resonant Well Stone Gravity Mana Gland.
They locked it in and moved on.
Comments
Meir Banon
Tftc
Loulatsch
Gandalf is one of the ancients who is responsible for the itch. Doesnt that mean he is the bad guy?
alt31415
Well, 'know'. They just know that 'for some reason, this mutation is affecting time'.
Tommy Gallery
Really hoping that despite the rough shape he's in, Anthony gets to talk to Gandalf. He's got some serious questions that need to be answered.
Mo Alawami
Would mutating stop Anthony from cleansing himself? I hope they have enough healers and mages around him to keep the toxic mana at bay. I guess that was the plan anyways as he's evolving for what could take weeks!
Rahsheem Reid
Cult of the Ant coming soon to a strat near you.
Brandon14754
The eyes are on the list to be reforged but they're already maxed out on mutations, this is just the list of what needs to still be maxed out. You can see the acid gland also isn't on the list despite the acid gland is gonna be reforged.
Gonvas
Guided Shot and Expert Chomp Combo are also outdated. Don't worry, it was already reported.
CentaureHeart
I think you left Void chomp in, it should be Starcrusher. Also, Anthony's laziness aside, don't the skill influence evolution as well? Shouldn't they each be increased before evolution?
Collector of Stories
I hope that they also are able to reforge his eyes. After his legs they are one of his biggest weak points
Brandon14754
Nice catch
Pandelion
Shouldn't the Max level be 320 instead of 360?
BelligerentGnu
Holy shit, if only he'd let them in earlier, eh?
Koala Man
I think they plan on evolving Anthony to utilise the toxin within him , like what happened to tiny , imagine how potent his acid glands could be incorporating that stuff . Oh he could end up with some resistance to the fifth strata filth too
Brandon14754
Rinoz disliked all the monstrous series where the MC immediately ditched their monster forms so chrysalis is literally built on the premise that monsters get more monstrous and can't obtain a human form
ManguKing
I wonder if I'm the only one who doesn't want Anthony to become some giant ant and would rather him be more along the lines of Meruem from HxH
Brandon14754
For reference there's only 4 things still on that list that haven't been mutated so all 4 of those will probably be done next chapter, and which what rinoz said in the comments of the last chapter we'll probably get to see the evolution options during the final chapter of this week in 2 days, then we'll have a week break
Brandon14754
lol anthony has 17 maxed skills
Peculiar Oranges
This can't be the whole chapter D: 2 weeks for what comes next?!
artisticVulpes
Ah, now they know that Time is Tangentially related to Gravity.
Wensber
Thanks for the chapter!
alt31415
“pushing the cells closer together, shortening the links between them and increasing processing speed.” – That… sounds like a good way to get a stroke, to be honest. Loving these +35 mutations’ flavor, honestly. Though I’m worried if the itch will make Anthony lose focus on battling the toxin… though if he can survive I also wonder if the boost to his brainz will let Anthony actually push back the toxin without needing to surrender his evolution to the 3.
Rekcus
I'm very happy to be seeing Anthony's stats and upgrades, but I would still like to complain that we haven't seen the pets stats for far too long.
Buck
Wow! Looking good so far!
Isiah Debarros
Oh I like the idea of him using it to upgrade his acid
Enzo Elacqua
Maybe with this brain boost Anthony will be able to more directly involve himself in the evolution. I hate the idea of him losing agency on one of the most exciting part of the story, though I get the need to prioritize streamlining everything after his messy evolutions so far. Still hope he gets at least veto power or something
Dust Russell
OHHHOHOHOHO!!! THIS IS GONNA BE SO GOOD!!!
Markel Creek
I was a little worried they would mess something up, but they seem alot better at this than anthony🤣
shawn B
Finally the mutations have begun!
ChillyPepper
The one time he vaguely remembers the itch, and he can't finish the thought to prepare himself :P Going to be worse than the toxic mana, looking forward to seeing tier 8!
ChildConsumer
Thanks for the chappy!
