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Chapter 1255 - What Wouldn’t You Become?
🕑 Added 2023-11-08 10:20:20 +0000 UTCMaster approached, an enormous core held firmly in his mandibles.
[Hey there, Crinis! Hope the consultation went well. Did the rock-heads have some good suggestions for you?]
Crinis writhed her tentacles happily as the giant ant approached and placed the core down in front of her.
[They did. Though I don’t think you should talk about them that way. I get the feeling they wouldn’t like it.]
[Bah. Granin gets mad no matter what I say to him. Ignoring them, I’m glad you were actually willing to correct me on my poor behaviour! That’s a step forward in your quest for independence!]
Held in a small ball with only a dozen or so limbs out, Crinis’ body froze in shock.
[Oh my goodness! I’m sorry!]
[And you addressed me without saying ‘Master’! Smashing out the milestones one after another now, Crinis!]
[AHHHHHH!]
Her master folded his legs with a sigh and poked the quivering lump of immaterial flesh that was her with one antenna.
[You know you don’t have to call me ‘master’, I’ve never once asked you to, right? I have a name, just call me Anthony. Well, when you’re ready, I suppose. I don’t expect you to completely change your attitude overnight.]
[W-w-w-what are you saying, Master? Why would I want to change? You deserve my respect!]
[Look, if you don’t want to change, you don’t have to, I don’t really mind. Call me whatever you want. You’ve been a good and loyal friend to me for a long time now, you’ve earned at least that much.]
Her Master gave her a final poke with one leg.
[The whole point is that you become independent enough that you do what you want to do, rather than what you think I want you to do. Now hurry up and absorb this core, you need to evolve! I’m kind of excited to see the result, I’ve not seen this far in your core’s evolutionary path, so I’ve got no clue what might happen. No doubt, it’s going to be something awesome!]
At those words, Crinis felt an odd sensation around her core, but truly, she didn’t understand it. What she wanted? She wanted to serve her master, the one who had brought her into this life by using a core. It wasn’t any mystery, there wasn’t any doubt, not for Crinis, of how or why she’d come into this world. She was a pet, and she felt that bond to her Master deeply. Unlike what he appeared to expect, she didn’t resent it, not in the slightest. In fact, she embraced it.
[Am I not allowed to stay the way I am?] she asked quietly.
Halfway to the exit, Anthony turned around.
[Crinis, you can do whatever the heck you want to do, and I’ll support you. That’s what friends do.]
Then he was gone.
[Would you like to use the evolution menu?]
[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:
- Mind Shredder
- Immaterial Grasper
- Mind Sculptor (special)
- Void Render (special)
- Thing Between (rare)
- Dweller In Darkness (rare)
- Infector (rare)
She had hoped, desperately hoped, that she would have a Mythic option, as her Master had, but it appeared it wasn’t to be. Perhaps her species simply didn’t merit such an option at the seventh tier.
She raised two tentacles and clenched the ends in determination. If she couldn’t become a mythic monster at the seventh tier, she definitely would at the eighth. She would stand alongside the person she admired eventually, no matter how much effort or pain she needed to endure to get there!
Although, by that time, perhaps he would already have evolved into something beyond her reach….
There was no need to be downcast, this was a great occasion! Even if she couldn’t achieve a mythic evolution, she would once again be on the same tier as her Master. So long as she wasn’t a burden, she was happy.
There were three rare evolutions to examine, so she looked at each in turn.
[Rare Evolution: Thing Between (rare). +70 Bonus to Cunning, +70 Bonus to Will, +80 Bonus to Toughness, +80 Bonus to Might. Already, the physical word has but a tenuous grasp on you, to the Thing Between, even those flimsy chains are broken. Go where you will, and bring harm to that place. Tri-Legion Tentacles will be reforged into Phantasmal Matter (warning, this will reset all mutations). Shade Phase Organ will be reforged into Universal Phase Organ (warning, this will reset all mutations). A Dimensional Weave Eye will be added for free.]
This evolution was interesting. Crinis quite enjoyed her unconventional movement. Already she could slip through shadows in a limited fashion, and also pass through solid matter, though at an exorbitant cost. Were she to choose this evolution, she would become even less tethered to physical limitations.
With the last of her tentacles changed from shadow flesh, no major part of her body would remain completely physical except her core and organs. She could do a lot with that sort of freedom, reach many places others would much rather she couldn’t get to….
Tempting.
[Rare Evolution: Dweller In Darkness (rare). +60 Bonus to Cunning, +60 Bonus to Will, +120 Bonus to Toughness, +120 Bonus to Might. A creature of shadow now rises to become something more. No longer be at home in the darkness, become the darkness. Tri-Legion Tentacles will be reforged into Darkness Flesh (warning, this will reset all mutations). Shadow Eye will be reforged into Vanishing Darkness Eye (warning, this will reset all mutations). A Light Annihilator gland will be added for free.]
Another interesting choice. She’d worked hard at her ability to control and manipulate Shadows, but not this evolution promised to lead her down a more powerful path. Not shadow, darkness. How would the properties of Darkness Flesh and Immaterial work together, if at all? Perhaps she would need to consult the golgari again….
She liked this option. It was another angle toward getting the power she desired, another shape in which she could grow. What of the last?
[Rare Evolution: Cerebral Infector (rare). +100 Bonus to Cunning, +100 Bonus to Will, +40 Bonus to Toughness, +40 Bonus to Might. The mind is a malleable thing, you know this already. The Cerebral Infector does not simply break minds, it shatters them, then recreates them in your image. Thought Scraper Talons will be granted for free. Spirit Scalpels will be granted for free. Terror Injector will be granted for free.]
Now this tantalised Crinis. She delighted in terrifying her foes, in making them run, in breaking them. It was a fitting punishment, in her opinion, for those creatures daring to raise their claws against her Master.
Cruel, some might say. She believed her cause was just, and that was all that mattered to her. However, did she want to continue down this path? Was that all she wanted to be?
She wrapped her tentacles around herself and pondered.
If she were being honest, and her Master had encouraged her to be true to herself, then shredding the minds of her foes was… a hobby, a side interest, not her true purpose.
Her true purpose was to be useful to her Master, not to fall behind him and be by his side. She would protect him. No matter what.
To that end, which of these evolutions would grant her the power she needed. Not desired, needed. Her Master had many foes, and would have many more before he was done.
She considered once more The Dweller In Darkness.
That was, after all, where she felt most comfortable.
Comments
taukid
Never been a fan of crinis' cruelty. Just kill them and end it :/
Joshua
Cerebral is best. She could do everything with it by creating minions
Brudog2
I agree
Roombot
I love a good yandere. Especially one who's made of terror and gratuitous murder
Roombot
I demand more Travelin' Tolly! Accede to my request or face my impotent wrath!
Roombot
She could live inside his carapace though 🤣
Rahsheem Reid
Really surprised there was no mythic option for crin. Probably not enough resets along the way. But there is still Tiny and this conversation should prove hilarious and really valuable for the future
Briar
Crinis is so ridiculously adorable.
Grey Knight Lord
Odin has been described as having blades for hands, a lithe(Agile) body, dark black Demon Skin, and not much else. He also has blinking eyes.
Nathan Quitugua
I feel Crinis is definitely going to be going for dweller in darkness. If she goes for Thing Between, she'll be able to follow Anthony everywhere no matter what...but she won't be able to cling to him like she likes to do. :P
alt31415
Nice chapter! Time, hopefully, for Tiny. (Also, did we ever get a description of what Odin looks like?) Will Anthony have the presence of mind to ask the golgari about the glowing people in his nave? Who knows?!
alt31415
Lol, imagine Tiny's the only one who gets a mythic of the pets.
Anton Shomshor
I’d like a POV from the nameless ones witnessing Crinis’ new form
Grey Knight Lord
I honestly don’t think Odin has much chance to get a Mythic at tier 7. For one, he has not gotten perfect mutations and core upgrades every evolution like Tiny has. I am really hoping Tiny gets one.
mly85lc
At this point I'm hoping Odin got himself a mythic Evolution only be oneup by tiny. Someting like world first monkey nebual altar guardian/mentor have exstra brain in "his" image get thinking do in peace, cunnicn now bulk the beef, have that brain work as figh..... mentor young healpfulls at navea. plus Fight more in your sleeps by making your spirit material in front off belivers in all level of this world.
Khajar
It would make sense, since Anthony and Sarah got it, and they're also from the 1st.
Heara17
I think that Tiny will get a mythic evolution, since he is from the first stata.
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
ZaneofBane
I suspect she's going to become MASSIVE.
strainge guy1
Now to see what Tiny will be
fair3238
First, and for the first rare evolution description ,isnt it supposed to be "physical world" instead of "physical word". Correct me if im wrong. Keep up the good work
