All mine… You’re all mine… Try as you will, there is NO escape..

I think to myself, as my prey struggles in my threads.. It’s one of those bison, a herd was passin’ by, and I caught this dumb dumb hangin’ a li~ttle too far from the pack.. You know, it’s funny, when I last faced these guys, I was 1/10th their size, now it’s the other way around.

I wonder how these things breed so quickly though, especially with that massive size, I know boarboras can just duplicate themselves, so they have no attachment, I saw them eating each other all the time.

But you.. you’re still struggling, I could bisect you into multiple pieces, and you can tell…

You still have something to live for.. You have others to return to, someone to return to…

…

Fine.

I watch as the bison runs off, away from me. I wasn’t hungry anyways...

I guess I should return, I’ve eaten enough as it is..

So, how long ‘till our next metamorphosis?

We’re still very far from it, not even the Bison are larger than us anymore, so they haven’t done nearly as much for us as they used to. Honestly, if we could have killed Growlgith without Glantinazor’s Doom, imagine how powerful we could have become with all of that Meat..

It’s not like we could have won without it. He would have wiped everyone out if Glant didn’t have that power.. Though, we would have never fought him in the first place, if Glant didn’t have that power.

Right, and we couldn’t ask Glant to use Life on the body, it might have resurrected the damn thing- wait-

No, it can’t be that simple..

Well, I mean, why couldn’t it?...

Glantinazor never saw her die, so I guess he might have not thought about it..

We have to ask him immediately!

Yes!

Let’s go!

I continued forward, I prefer to not use the teleporter, I don’t want to get lazy.

“Is that a pond king?” I heard from a distance, it completely shocked me- who said that?

I look around to see who it is, it’s a plump old man, he’s staring at me while rubbing his chin. “I haven’t seen one of these in.. Well I would say around 2,000 years.” Let’s connect.

Demi - “Hello.”

“You can speak, what an amazing discovery. Do you have a name?” He smiles gently, his eyes sealed, as he approaches. Usually he wouldn’t look particularly strong, but I’m a pond king, I’m born with the strength to overpower men, but this guy shows no aggression or fear, I can tell he’s strong.

Demi - “Yes, my name is Demitallis, I was just returning home actually. What’s your name?”

The old man takes a seat on a fallen log. “My name is Eizodine. Would you like to share some tea with me, Demitallis?” He says, as he pulls out a tea set from his sleeve.

Demi - “Oh, I can’t- Yes, I would love to, thank you.”

I gather some wood I was resting on and place it in front of him, making sure to keep it dry. He aims his index and middle finger, and flicks them quickly at the wood, happily lighting a small fire on it.

...

We sip the tea. I can’t taste it, but it’s nice to watch him enjoy his tea at least. “I’m on my way to visit an old friend in Neotopia. How about you?” He takes in the tea easily, slowly enjoying it..

Demi - “I see… One of my Brothers can wield Life Magic, we recently lost someone, and I wanted to ask him if his Life Magic could bring her back to life.”

Eizo is surprised at the mention of life magic. “Yes, I’ve met a few wielders of such power before. They can bring a corpse back to life indeed, but that’s all Life will do. It won’t retain its memories. Listen, young Demitallis, you should let them rest, and live on in your memories. That is how you honor them in death.”

Demi - “Maybe you’re right.. I never really got the chance to meet her, she was taken from me the day I was born, I guess I just wanted a chance to truly get to know her...”

“I know it must be hard, you must have been so excited to tell your brother of this discovery, and here I have come to snuff out your hopes. You carry a great love with you, Demitallis, but you must also carry great acceptance and respect for what could, will, and of course, has happened.” Eizo finally finishes his Tea, setting down his cup..

Demi - “Thank you, Eizo, this means a lot to me. Honestly, I kind of find it funny how someone like you could so easily trust a pond king.”

“Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life’s true delights.”

He waves as he walks away, on his way to Neotopia.

Later, I find myself home again, I don’t think I’ll be asking Glant about his power, Mother would be here with us, if she could truly be brought back.

This place has really been improved..

Alicen had a great time showing everyone around, there’s so many new facilities, and we even have a grand castle with a super massive nest that I can rest in at any time, it’s got enough room for a Great Lake Elder, so I have tons of room to grow in it. We have all the facilities you would need to build a functioning society.

“Oh, Demi, welcome home!” Lex says, him being the first to spot me, everyone in the immediate vicinity noticed soon after and greeted me along with him.

Demi - “Hi Lex, I was just out getting something to eat, I’ve been trying to grow strong as fast as possible.”

“I know right? I’ve been making tons of progress too, I’m way stronger than I was, and I’ve even learned Plasma Magic. Someday we’ll be able to defeat Arigold, and we’ll be truly free.” He says happily, flexing excitedly. We’re nowhere near Arigold’s level, but I can tell we’re approaching it. We’re growing so quickly every day! “So, how have you been, Demi?” He calms down, and we start walking.

Demi - “I’ve been fine, I was talking to this kind old man in the woods, he gave me some nice things.”

Lexi - “Oh, well, what did he say?”

Demi - “He told me I have a great love, and what I need is great acceptance and respect.”

Lex nods slowly as he thinks about this.

Lexi - “Ah, that makes sense..”

Demi - “Yeah, I was originally planning to ask Glant about bringing Mother back to life with his Life Magic, but the old man told me that it would be more respectful to let her rest, and remember her in my memories.”

Lexi - “I’ve never really thought about it that way, he sounds pretty cool, you should introduce me to him at some point.”

Demi - “His name is Eizodine, he and I shared tea.”

We enter the castle, and everyone in the main hall greets us quickly. “It’s been nice, but I have to go, Demi, Vexalan wanted to look around Neotopia with me.” He says, as he begins to walk away.

...

Demi - “Hey, Lex, what do you.. What IS Vexalan to you?”

Lex stops, and turns around to reply to me.

Lexi - “She’s my sister. Why do you ask?”

Demi - “Ah- No reason, I was just curious.”

I don’t know if they’ve noticed, but I have. I know why everyone has a B-Side Counterpart that is the opposite gender to them.. It makes me uncomfortable, so I don’t like to dwell on it.. Thankfully, since the majority of us are actually Demi-Humans, their variety is pretty high.

Anyways, let’s move on.

Once I get to my room, I rest in my nest.. It’s situated at the peak of the castle. The room is pretty large, no walls, just pillars that hold up the ceiling, so it’s nicely aired out. My nest has a dedicated teleporter for just me, and anyone I chose. That’s about all there is really, I asked that they keep it simple, since I’m now above all of those worldly desires. Well, I do have souvenirs I’ve been keeping in a special corner of the room, where they’ll be safe.

I have a flower from Genesis Haven, it’s called the Soulbloom, it feeds off of Soul Residue, which is a substance that is produced from souls present in the area. The stem is pure black with a black substance pouring from its leaves, the flower is similar to the Dahlia in shape, but it’s colors are a pure, translucent white. Fragile, that’s the best way to describe this flower, it’s petals are so delicate, that they would fall to even the softest of breezes. I’ve left it in a glass container with holes to let the mist escape.

The next item is from Marigold, it’s the end piece of Lixza’s curse, the one that pierced Mother, it’s an impressive little piece of machinery, fragile as it is.

The next one is one of Growlgith’s scales, repaired with Glant’s Life Magic. The scale has 3 colors, black, purple, and blue, and its edge is razor sharp.

The next Item is from Neotopia. The item is a shard of glass from when Arigold destroyed the Citadel. It’s super tough.

I like to take random items from the areas I’ve been, they’re good reminders of all the places I’ve been. Oh, I almost forgot.

I push some water out of my body, it’s like a floating river that reaches to where my items are. I pass a teacup I was holding through it, and place it next to the other Items.

Thanks, Eizodine.

I can branch out and snake my Water through the air, I was never capable of this as a puddle kid, I know it has less meaning when I just say it, but I’ve grown so big!

I create multiple sculptures from my water, they look pretty good since I’ve gotten way stronger, and better at controlling the individual drops. When it comes to actually moving my water around like this, I leave it up to my subconscious, I consciously map out what I want, and then my subconscious whips it around.. It’s weird to talk about it like that, like it’s Chamber, or Fear.. I guess their presence has brought up a new perspective in me, I never really thought of my subconscious as a separate entity… I can tell how much more powerful it is compared to me..

Anyways, I wanted to work on my Skills, I need to be stronger, I’m barely above the strength of a normal man. Which averages around 20,000 to 80,000 I find. Soldiers are of course multiple times stronger than that, and they have way more combat orientated Skills.

If we want to be a Hero, we’ll have to be over a hundred times stronger than we are now.. Growlgith alone was over 1,000 times stronger than we currently are.

Skills can supercharge our stats, but they require constant activation, like Mana Storage and Mana Regeneration. We created a semi-consciousness that only knows how to compress our body when moving around. Making more semi-consciousnesses could be too expensive on our Stamina and Mana..

An extra consciousness to constantly activate the Mana Generation and Storage should be worth it, they could even try to actively improve the Skills.

That’s a good idea, they’ll increase our capacity over time, so we’ll slowly grow stronger and stronger!

But it doesn’t matter how much Mana we have if our opponent surpasses us in every other stat, so we HAVE to upgrade those too, and we can’t consume our own Mana to do so.

The closest thing we have to even achieving that is Energy Magic. Even so, it’s not like we can just energize our body, and expect it to work, we’d most likely just heat up. Life Magic wouldn’t be the answer either, it doesn’t outright create biomass, it just paves the way.

So in other words, we can’t just will ourselves to be more powerful.

I almost believed it did for a moment really, what with everyone being so strong. I guess everyone is just determined enough to not get themselves killed, nobody wants to be cannon fodder.

Well, if you don’t have some sort of pride, I doubt you would even care about living, so of course the majority of people want to be strong.

I guess more Thread Skills?

That sounds like a good idea, the Tough Threads don’t cost too much Mana, and they’re surprisingly effective.

Yes, Thread Skills, coming up with different Techniques would be a good idea.

I was thinking of tons of different Techniques!

You’re not taking the Flamingo Guy’s Skills.

BUT HE’S SO COOL-

No. They’re his, we are our own string user.

Fine… But those are legit the only ones I could think of..

Don’t flamingos have incredible heat resistance? How’s that translated into string powers?

It’s not supposed to, it’s just a children’s show.

Oh, well okay then.

We’re getting off topic.

Right, right, let’s brainstorm for a while now..

I like the idea of a Thread Bullet as our ranged attack, we can’t expect to engulf our opponents in Flames, they’ll just take the mana from our Mana Zone. Besides, they’ll be super hard to spot, so our opponents won’t see them coming.

Fine, you’re right about its usefulness. An Ability to snake our threads around would be useful, so we don’t have to just build it around our opponents.

A Thread armor sounds like it would be useful too. Aside from covering ourselves, we could also make armor for the others. Speed-weaving Techniques, I guess.

I don’t think I need to know how to make Thread clones, we can just make a Semi-Consciousness for that. It’ll cost some essence, but it’s useful.

…

…

…

So that’s what was going on…

They weren’t a species, it was just a puddle kid that got strong, and produced multiple others like himself. And they produced more and more, until that happened..

So in other words, our species is far more rare than anticipated, we’re a fully conscious specimen of our own species. In other words, that infestation was actually one creature, like an ant nest, no wonder they never fought over territory..

Yes, so there was actually only one living puddle kid, we were made from him, but we were made better. There’s records of our creation back at Genesis Haven, they couldn’t have intentionally created something like us, if we leave it, they’ll figure out our past.

Should we tell them?

N-No, they probably wouldn’t believe us anyways, and if they did… Would they accept us?

We’re their younger sister of course they would-

No, we were 16 years old, none of them are above like, 12. We’ve been around for less than a month, and yet we’re mentally more mature than all of them. It’ll creep them out to think we were like a stranger the whole time. They won’t trust us.

They don’t have to know, we’ll reduce Genesis Haven to ground zero, we’ll make sure there’s no record of any of us.

Yeah, that’s the plan, I’ve lost enough as it is, I can’t lose them too…

There’s the Time Ability, I assume there’s people who can traverse time, we’ll have to be careful of them, they’ll obviously be able to go back and forward in time.

Maybe we can somehow isolate Genesis Haven? A combination of Space and Time Magic, only a master of both could reach it, but we’d have to obtain those elements, and I know it wouldn’t be easy…

...

I wanna continue creating Techniques, this is stressing me out too much…

Fine, you’re right, it’s too stressful, we’ll need to roominate on this later, we’re busy.

Well then, what else do we have?

We could use bearings to whip around our threads, or even smash things with it. Flail Techniques.

I like that, with a proper weight, we could use it to coil around foes, we could also use smaller ones for the snaking string, maybe even Bearings that hold their position.

That’s a great idea!

Jolly good show!

…

Okay we’ve got a problem.

We compliment ourselves way too much.

Well, it’s always good to have faith in yourself. But you’re right.

This sounds like it would be a common problem with people, they get trapped in their own personal world of agreement and praise.

Though it’s not like it would matter, if they could develop life sustaining magic like us, then it’s a completely viable option.. Well, it would if it didn’t seem so depressing, I wouldn’t wish that kind of existence on anyone, the existence of a lie…

Enough, we’re off topic again-

Right- Right- Focus- Focus-

*GONG~*

Wuh-

Oh, I tried to mimic the sound of a gong, I was hoping it would center our focus better.

I actually like the idea of tha-

We just talked about this.

Come on dude- okay, there’s nothing wrong with having faith in yourself, and praising yourself, but we understand we shouldn’t overdo it, lest we become close minded.

Fair enough, continue.

FOCUS-

*GONG*

???? - “Hey.”

Demi - “WHA- Th-This is a private connection! How’d you get on the network?!”

I actually set up a telepathy network that I share with everyone else, I disconnected because I didn’t want to be disturbed. Disconnecting from the network is the unspoken don’t disturb rule!

???? - “I didn’t- I’m sorry this is so sudden, I just had to say hi, mom said it would be okay this time.”

It’s a girl, her voice is light- but where is she? She has to be close, mana links can’t extend very far past the diameter of the island, it usually gets disrupted by something.

Demi- “But- Who are you? How are you contacting me?”

???? - “Oh, it’s a hidden mana link, Encryption Magic- I’m nearby, look to your uh, left of the shelf, I’m on the tall building, you can see my eyes, they glow like an owl’s-”

There she is- It’s dark, but I can see 2 glowing circles that are staring right at me, just like an owl.

???? - “None of your- uh- siblings know I’m here. Once again, I won’t be long, I just wanted to visit.. You’re so small…”

Demi - “You have a weird concept of small, I’m like a walking lake.”

???? - “Oh- ah- right, I guess you are actually pretty large-”

Demi - “In what way?...”

???? - “AH- No, not in that way! You’re not fat!”

Demi - “I’m joking, I know you didn’t mean anything rude.”

???? - “Oh. Anyways, thank you for hanging out with me for a moment. Mom told me to tell you she said; ‘Hello’ she’s really kind like that. Bwy-bwy~”

Demi - “Wait!”

And she’s gone, right after-

*GONG~*

Right, let’s get back to business: Technique Development.

I think we’ve spent enough time on our thread skills, we should work on other areas.

Our main powers should be water based, we ARE made of the stuff.

But string is so cool-

I don’t care.

Honestly, our body works too weirdly to really do anything too well, I guess string is just our favorite medium to channel our strength through.

I know. I just want other options, String is diverse, but not enough.

Alright, alright.

How about~ Explosions?

I guess that could work, good synergy with the string, maybe we could make a Mana Bomb that we crush in our body, and when we toss it, it’ll release all of the energy!

Good idea, I actually like the idea of explosions, it could be used as a defensive ability.

Explosive String! We could make a wire that explodes!

Nice! How about explosive bullets?

Okay, String, Bearings, and Explosions. What else do we have?

How about you come up with anything?

Are you serious? All three of us are coming up with this- Fine. Minion Construction, it’ll be useful to do what our lesser did, and create clones to work for us. Our’s will be smarter.

Alright fine, let’s see… Do we actually need much else?

Yeah, we have 20,000 siblings, we don’t really need to cover EVERYTHING.

You have a point. So String, Bearings, Explosions, and Clones. I guess that’s fine for now.

Speaking of…

Fine, but I need a moment.

IDM kicks in, and Mr. Fear begins. After a hot minute, I watch a part of my Body leaves me… There you are, you’re at the starting level, but don’t worry, we’ll take care of you.

I’m finished, she’s ready.

Thanks Fear.

No prob homeslice-breadslice.

Did you just-

???? - “Mother?”

Demi - “Ah- right, you need a Name…”

Fear - “Caroline?”

Cham - “We should come up with something from around here.”

Demi - “How about Arivan, do you like that name, Arivan?”

Ariv - “Sure? I guess it works?”

Demi - “You are so cute, I remember when I was small just like you!”

Ariv - “Really? How long DID it take?”

Demi - “I dunno’, a month?”

Ariv - “Wow!”

Cham - “You should have a Second Consciousness in there-”

C2EB - “Sup. I’m Chamber-2-Electric-Boogaloo. You can just call me EB though.”

Cham - “Cool.”

Fear - “How about the third one?”

Frig - “Fright, we figured we’d just copy what you’re doin’.”

Fear - “Like Mother like Daughter.”

Frig - “Hecks yeah!”

Demi - “Anyways, you’re basically a Clone, so you should have all of our Skills. On another note, we created you to serve us, but you’re not quite powerful enough for that, so we’ll be helping you get to that point.”

Ariv - “Right, of course Mother. Where do we start?”

Demi - “Well, with whatever we can find of course! Come on, won’t you join me for a bite?”

Ariv - “O-Oh, of course Mother!”

I flow out of my container, and look at Arivan, she’s so small, as small as I was when I was her age, I almost wish I still had that Bowl. Let’s get moving. I flow on top of Arivan to hold her in my abyss, and I jump from the island with great strength.

I land in the forest again, lookin’ around~ Nothing, of course. It wouldn’t be that easy.

Demi - “Are you alright Arivan?”

Ariv - “Y-Yes, Mother, I am fine!”

I release Arivan from my body. I’ve extended her weight to her maximum size.

I spread threads throughout the area- There we are, something just broke a thread. After about an hour I spotted it- It was another bison, this one’s a male, he’s hurt, must have been separated from the herd. You’d be surprised how sneaky someone like me can be.

I quickly kill the bison, and grab the corpse. I tear it apart as Arivan watches.

Ariv - “Poor Bison…”

Demi - “I admit it sucks to have to kill, but we must become stronger. I’ve almost finished. Are you ready?”

Ariv - “Yes, Mother.”

I place the broken up pieces of the Bison in front of Arivan, and watch her eat him piece by piece, it takes a while, but I can see she’s making lots of progress-

Ariv - “I’m ready to Evolve Mother!”

Demi - “You call it Evolution? I thought Metamorphosis fit better.”

Ariv - “I don’t really mind either way. Anyways, should I Evolve now?”

Demi - “Go ahead, I’ll bring us home while you do so.”

I pick up Arivan again, and watch as she falls asleep, a seamless pocket inside of me, I can feel her growing. I guess this is how it would have felt like…

Maybe just less painful.

End of Chapter 18: “Join me, and you will see..”

“Remember to always be grateful for what you already have, and remember to always strive to move forward.”

“Oh- Uh- Thank you, I guess?”

Thank you for reading.