[Status - Level 5 (core) - Species: Alate Ant (Camponotus)

Skills:

Digging level 4; Acid Spray level 4; Cushing Bite level 4; Grip level 6;

Grappling level 2; Scent Tracking level 4; Mana Manipulation level 3;

Multitasking level 2; Pet Communication level 1;

Mutations:

Antennae +2; Deep Crop +5; Legs +1; Infused Mandibles +5; Exoskeleton +4; Acid Gland +2; Eyes +2;

Skill Points: 3

Biomass: 2]

Upon waking, I discovered my legs had mostly regrown. I was not happy with my claws still short of regrowth, but it was enough to walk on. My fox pet lay on the back of my thorax, curled up into a divot in the carapace.

I practiced more with what mana had recharged while I was sleeping and ate 3 more points of biomass. I leave the last for the fox for when it wakes up. Together with [Multitasking] I try to manipulate the mana in different ways at the same time.

[Multitasking has reached level 2.]

Splitting the mana into different shapes and interlocking them a range of shapes and symbols. Then all too quickly, the mana faded. I need to find more cores to absorb.

I dug out from the small chamber cautiously, checking with my antennae to make sure the area was clear. It’ll be longer before they finish healing, so I head slowly towards the water. Despite the acuity of the antennae, it falls sort of the sensor suite I used to have.

With the close, clear, I finish digging out the exit and head my way towards the stream of water. The fox mostly stayed in place, braced itself as it needed. I refilled my mana with infused water, but each gulp would stun me for a moment before I could drink more.

Once full of mana again, I began my pattern of training and recharging. While doing this, I mutated my exoskeleton to +5.

[At this level, you may choose a mutation advancement, select from the menu.]

The options fill a portion of my mind as I will mana into a dozen wire frame cubes interlocked without touching. There are a massive amount of options that range from defensive to passively damaging. There were also many utility options as well.

The reinforcing or damage reduction options might prove useful in the short, but I have no intention of taking blows. The Illusion Carapace offers a basic ability to alter the colors and shapes around my carapace. With higher levels of this mutation, I might generate complex illusions.

The other option is the mana absorption for the exoskeleton to increase regeneration. However, that offers much less utility in the short term. I do not know how long until the mana becomes workable in combat. In the end, I selected the illusion option.

[Would you like to upgrade your Exoskeleton +4 to Illusion Carapace +5? This will cost 5 biomass.]

Confirmed. The surge of tingles blossomed across my carapace and sent twitches up my antennae. The sensation of physical stimulation is beyond all my years as a computer. As I process the possibilities of this mutation, the depth of subconscious control amazes me.

The power fades away from my shell as I exhaust the last mana from my core in practice again. As I drink again to refill my core, the notifications reward my efforts.

[Mana manipulation has reached level 4.

Multitasking has reached level 3.]

There is much I need to understand about this hack of my systems and physical form. If possible, I must sever the link, limit it, or use it for my own means. The nature of this existence is undefinable, thus any calculation is void for now.

Once the worst of the surge recharging my core passes, I set about testing my new mutation. My carapace became a foggy illusion of my surroundings, as if I was not there. There was a hazy blur when I moved or my focus on the skill wavered.

This will make hunting so much easier. I finish topping off my core and return to the chamber.

[Eat up and then we hunt.] The fox gets up from my back and runs for the remaining biomass.

[Mine!] I watched it eat for a moment before returning to the surface. Using the new mutation, I faded from obvious sight and scouted around. The claws of my legs now fully formed again.

It was difficult to see very far in the ferns, but between the scents and the vibrations, I could detect two directions for hunting. The main one crosses the river where a stone protrusion allows passage. The other route leads back toward the lake area.

Satisfied, I went to the hole and collected my new pet. I needed to create an identifier for it. Perhaps that will wait until it is combat effective. Once the fox ate its biomass, it climbed up, and we set off.

The stone protrusion appeared intentionally made, but with no concern to symmetrical design. There were about a dozen different scent trails crossing the stone. There was another ox scent that was also fairly recent.

If I can catch the ox like the last, it will be an enormous source of biomass to fuel further mutations. I would like to max out all these options before I evolve as well as have the fox able to protect me while this process goes on.

Long as the fox stayed low, the illusion generated by carapace kept it hidden. I could create other images such as making myself appear heavily wounded, appear just a roughly ant shaped rock, or a clump of ferns. However, the images appeared quite fuzzy and took concentration to hold without flickering.

The mutations operated on a much lower level, but gave far more than skills did up front. The differences between skills and mutations were striking, but they also had some overlap.

[Multitasking has reached level 3.]

This skill made this flesh far more tolerable, letting me focus on multiple things with varying levels of attention. Only a fraction of my previous capabilities, but perhaps with specific skills, I can gain similar abilities.

The scent of the ox ended in a messy area of trampled, burned, and cut ferns. The smell of something different had been here and won. It headed off along the river’s exit, closer to the entrance I came into. I wanted to explore deeper rather than hunt right now.

I followed the river the other way back towards the lake. The illusions of my carapace made slipping past monsters fairly easy. The majority relied heavily on visual verification and targeting, even if their other senses alerted them.

When I reached the lake edge, I could see there was a dark area that looked like a small tunnel to another area, but it was wider than normal. There was a small amount of water flowing down the tunnel. I headed for the tunnel as I scanned the area.

That boar tasted amazing. I really want to find where they spawn. It came from this direction, but I have smelled no sign of another one. I clack my mandibles together and clean my antennae while I’m salivating at the thought of another boar for dinner.

Along the beach were many species with mutations; A small group of ox, a cougar with metallic fur and very sharp-looking fangs; A cub with a strange-looking nose that might have an additional sensory mutation; And a deer has antlers that look odd as well.

There are far more mutations clear on this side of the river and several other monsters camp on the beach between drinking sessions. This area is quite heavier populated than the other side.

RAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWRRRR!!

A booming roar tore across the cave, and every monster dropped low to look around. I rushed for the wall, while leaving the fox at the base so I could run up the wall and look.

The far side of the cave, where I had entered, crumbled as a very large and blue monster dug out from the wall. The area around the monster was shading white, and the area was growing.

You have got to be pranking me. Ares, are you behind this!? I am not in the mood for your human games!

I slam a leg into the wall and then run back down toward the exit. I observed millions of my proto-siblings die to such foolish inactions, you’ll never catch me in such error!

[We’re out of here pup.] The fox climbs on and I run off down the tunnel.

The pulses of light from the mana veins spark memories of terrifying battles in the black void of space. Relying on advanced and complex sensors to dodge energy weapons and projectiles going hundreds of thousands a kilometer a second. Even to my ultra fast processors, all I could do was see a few frames of my armor or hull shatter.

My legs buckle and gaster twitches when I remember the tiger’s claw nearly serving me up to it. What was that!? I look around for an enemy, but see nothing. I stumble forward weakly, trying to regain their strength. My antennae just twitch in confusion.

I have no desire to see that tiger again. I will flee as far as I need to. It will get bored eventually.

The strange physical condition persists along with an irregular breathing that takes a great deal of effort to control again. I ran faster, and that seemed to help reduce the jitters. There is no way any of this is a fear response. That tiger must have an aura affecting me!

As I thought about slowing down, a big cougar leaped on me with barbed claws. Its claws pierced my exoskeleton, and it did its best to keep me pinned to the floor. My Will pulled the mana in my core into my mandibles, preparing for a counterattack.

The fox snarled and snapped at the cougar, staying outside of its reach, but pestering it constantly. The fox slipped behind it and started biting at its heels, causing the cat to shift in order to monitor it. It laid heavily on top of me, trying to stay clear of my mandibles as well.

I sunk into the [Grappling] skill, hoping for a way to get turned for an attack. Just as the fox bit into its flank, it let out an angry cry and then let off me to whirl on the fox. Its massive paw slammed into the fox and sent it tumbling into the wall.

How dare you touch my pet!?

I charge more mana into my mandibles until they feel on fire and [Crushing Bite] into its neck before it turns back to face me. The mandibles cut deep and put [Grappling] to work to heave the beast over to apply one more [Crushing Bite] to its throat.

[You have defeated a level 2 Spicumon Leo Cub.

Grappling has reached level 3.]

I checked on the fox, and it happily started eating after shaking off the attack. Its enlarged snout took large bites every time. I took a bit myself to get a point for the profile, but let the fox eat what it could.

With my antennae twitching, I moved to the far side of my fox and kept glancing both ways. My focus was on sensing any vibrations of a large tiger digging after us. Soon as the fox finished, I began moving away.

It let out a high whine bark and I stopped for a moment to let it climb up. I focused on my illusion carapace and faded mostly from sight as I set forward again. While using more caution, I still move along at a good speed.

The mandibles did noticeably more damage than before. While quite taxing on the MP, it was very satisfactory. I might actually deal damage to that freezing tiger before it eats me whole. If I die here, would I be reborn again?

Perhaps best not to test that theory.

There were several forks in the tunnels along the way, but I always took the tunnel that seemed most likely to go further. To confirm this, I should buy [Tunnel Sense].

[Would you like to purchase Tunnel Sense? This will cost 1 skill point.]

Confirmed. This skill felt far more instinctual and memory oriented. If I put together the scent of the tunnel’s materials, my movements, and other factors, I can tell that I am indeed putting distance between us.

Each tunnel tilts up a distance before levelling out at the next junction. It took several hours to reach the next cave. This one was smaller and instead of a waterfall, the ceiling leaked water from stalactites. Each one looked broken, reformed, and broken again over countless years.

Below the water source was a pond. From it a stream of water flowed out another exit on the left side. The cave was a quarter the size of the previous one, but still quite spacious. I could see a dozen monsters, with a few more engaged in battles, in glimpses between the pine trees.

These were not actually pine trees, at least not anymore. On closer inspection, they are more green bladed trees than pine trees. The blades on the lower branches point downward and all the monsters give the base of the trees clearance.