Gawd. Mutating is such an itch in the thorax. Once more, only once more and I'll be done for my current evolution. Though that means I'm drawing ever nearer to the next tier, and who can say how many mutations I'll have to go through in that one? If I reset my carapace, I'll have to go through all of those again, and I have to say they were some of the worst. My entire body, more or less, is covered by the exo-skeleton, and when it changes size or shape, the sensation is truly maddening.

The equivalent for a human would be their skin changing in size or composition over the course of a few minutes.

Horrific. But that's for future Anthony to worry about. Current Anthony isn't going to waste another moment thinking about it, not even in a sub-brain.

I mean, why would I? I've got mad SKILLS to be thinking about. I've been grinding my magic hard, as always. Having multiple brains is a wonderful hack in this regard. No matter how busy I get, I can always have a couple of constructs whipping up a spell and flinging it at a nearby target, or straight up into the air, whenever it's done. This has resulted in some rather delicious gains in key skills.

The final goal is always kept in sight! Gravity Mana Specialisation!

I'm probably not there yet, but when I get through enough ranks of new mana types it’ll surely open up.

All right, time to take a look at what I'm working with.

Awww snap. Finally, I've achieved the long sought after upgrade to my biting skill! I've been operating on Doom Chomp, or Doom Chomp, as I've come to think of it, for such a long time. Doesn't have the same heft without that special emphasis within my mind.

Ah yes, it feels like yesterday when I first experienced the true joy of having the energy of my body, or stamina, manifest itself as jaws of pure light that slam shut in front of me. A special moment in my history, of that there's no doubt. Then, the fusion of all of my bite skills gave me the ultimate chomp, that eventually became the pinnacle which came to be feared across the Dungeon.

What could the upgrade be?

[Doom Chomp (V) -> Void Chomp (VI) - A devastating chomp that rips into the material of existence itself.]

That's it? I mean, that's awesome, but that's short. I can't freakin' wait to take this for a test run. This is a big ticket item! A rank six skill! We are freaking flying, baby! One skill point down, let's keep the party rolling! Whoo!

Sometimes you just have to punch it with a whoo.

As I browse through the impressive list of skills that I've acquired over the journey, I can see a couple of other nice jumps that I've reached.

Expert Grip is jumping up to Master Grip, which is nice. I need all the help I can get when I'm this heavy…

Dash has reached rank five! I'm super happy about that one. Flash Dash (V). Sounds impressive! If a bit wordy…

Mana Masking can promote up to rank four, another win for the stealth approach.

Mana Sensing is promoting up to rank five. Definitely going to be helpful.

Oho! Mana Craft is punching up to rank six! Nice one! That's going to be a big deal. That skill is literally the lynchpin of all magic in this world, governing the ease and grace with which one can grasp and shape mana. I can't wait to see how it feels!

Force Magic going up to rank four is nice, without being a big deal.

Exo-Skeleton Defence is jumping up a rank! Also a big deal. Dodge is up to Grandmaster, as is Endure. An all-round increase in my defensive manoeuvring, capacity to avoid attacks and absorb impacts. Winning all around!

Acid shot is up to rank five, as is precise shooting. I'm especially happy about the second, as it affects all aiming, which includes spells.

Oh! Charge and Mandible Spear have both hit the third rank and can be fused! I wonder what the new Skill is called?

Spear Charge?

… really? Isn't that just literally combining the key words of the two skills? Such laziness, Gandalf! That's beneath you.

Chomp Combo has reached rank three as well, which is going to be even more devastating with the Void Chomp. Actually… I could hardly sustain a Doom Chomp combo… the new Void Chomp… oof. It's going to be rough.

Still, this is an incredible wealth of progress! I'm excited!

Looking over all the skills that have progressed into the higher ranks, I'm satisfied with how far I've come. I know Granin likes to say that any skills lower than rank six are basically pure garbage, but I haven't been alive that long, I can't be expected to push myself ahead that far.

In fact, I can probably thank my life of near ceaseless, desperate combat for my rapid advance up the ranks. So hey, an endless series of life and death struggles is good for something, at least.

Punch it with a whoo? Probably not the time.

After looking over all of my skills, I confirm the purchases, knocking a decent total off my skill points, but not really threatening it overmuch. I've racked up a hell of a lot of skill points. I really need to see if there's anything new to buy. Probably not right now, though. I have a lot of new abilities to get used to, so I'm going to sit on what I have for the time being.

When I hit confirm, the warm drizzle of new knowledge creeps over my brain. Then it keeps on a creepin', then some more, until my mind is literally shivering under the deluge of new information.

I probably shouldn't have done all of this at once! A single rank six skill is packed with a lot of stuff, and I just dropped like four of them on myself!

I wouldn't say the sensation is unpleasant, like the mutation itch. It's more like how a single shiver running down your spine is basically fine, but a thousand at once is a rather intense experience.

I hold still on the spot, vibrating as the intense sensation fills my brain. It eventually fades, and I take a look at my complete status, basking in my own glory.

Name: Anthony

Level: 84 (Rare) (VI)

Might: 205

Toughness: 180

Cunning: 145

Will: 100

HP: 360/360

MP: 768/768

Skills:

General:

Grandmaster Excavation (V) Level 1; Master Grip (IV) Level 1; Expert Stealth (III) Level 18; Tunnel Compass (IV) Level 17; Iron Mind (V) Level 15; Master Stamina (IV) Level 22; Still Meditation (IV) Level 39; Flash Dash (V) Level 1;

Mana:

Advanced Mana Craft (VI) Level 1; Condensed Mana (V) Level 1; Grand Finer External Mana Manipulation (V) Level 1; Mana Hoarder (V) Level 1; Layered Mind Magic Affinity (V) Level 36; Extended Directed Mana Sensing (V) Level 1; Expert Healing Magic Affinity (IV) Level 3; Advanced Omni-Elemental Affinity (VI) Level 25; Advanced Mana Masking (IV) Level 1; Wood Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Metal Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Lightning Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Advanced Force Magic Affinity (IV) Level 1; Advanced Barrier Magic Affinity (III) Level 12;

Pet:

Further Pet Communication (III) Level 20; Core Crafting (IV) Level 18; Pet Growth Speed (I) Level 5;

Defensive:

Divine Exo-Skeleton Defence (VI) Level 1; Grandmaster Dodge (V) Level 1; Grandmaster Endure (V) Level 1; Expert Grace (IV) Level 1; Master Mandible Parry (III) Level 1;

Offensive:

Guided Acid Shot (V) Level 1; Grandmaster Precise Shooting (V) Level 1; Void Chomp (VI) Level 1; Master Chomp Combo (III) Level 1; Spear Charge (III) Level 1;

Mutations:

Senses:

Focal Compound Eyes +30; Future Wave Sight Antennae + 30 (Twilight Filament);

Defence:

Thickened Complete Diamond Carapace +30; Fortified Healing Inner Carapace Plating +30;

Physical:

Fortified Absorption Legs + 25; Mana Drenched Mandibles +30; Hastened Potent Regeneration Gland + 30; Widespread Stinking Pheromone Gland + 30; Expanding Discerning Stomach +30; Coiling Hyper-Twitch Musculature +30; Distributed Instantaneous Sub-Neural Network +30;

Acid:

Propagating Mana-Feasting Bind Acid Gland +25; Guided Hyper Pressurised Scattershot Acid Nozzle +25; Thickened Draining Acid concentration gland +25; Exhausting Thickener Acid Stimulation Gland +25;

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:

Forceful Unending Gravity Magic Gland +30; Might Infusing Collective Will Vestibule +30 (Soul Crystal); High Purifying Communal Spirit Nave +30;

Species: Colony Paragon

Skill points: 68

Biomass: 508