After my chat with Granin and the team I say goodbye and head off onto the plains to gather my thoughts. Al tags along with us, it seems he’s interested in seeing how the current dilemma is playing out around the stratum, so he wants to see it with his own eye.

From what we’ve learned, it’s clear that the struggles experienced by the Colony here in the third are caused by an Ancient. Doesn’t sound like Arconi-douche is even actively doing something. He, or it, or whatever, is just awake, which is apparently enough to infect every demon in the Dungeon with their nonsense.

It’s ridiculous! I might have a connection with the Colony around me, but at least I’m not influencing their behaviour! At least, I hope to Gandalf I’m not. I certainly don’t want to! If anything, I hope their responsible attitudes rub off on me a little. I’ve been blundering blindly forward for so long that it almost feels alien to try and plan ahead.

But that’s what I’ve been doing now! Gweheheheh.

I’ve reset my carapace and mandibles, but I’ve yet to mutate them. I wanted to take out the new model and give it a spin before I tried to think about what I might want to do, mutation wise. There’s a lot to consider after all. I think the time is right to dive into the menus and have a good look at what’s available, but before I do, there’s something I want to confirm.

[Hey, Invidia.]

The envy demon flaps his little wings and turns that enormous green eye on me.

[Yesssss?]

[According to what Al over there and even Granin had to say, every demon can feel the influence of Arconidem. Does that go for you too?]

Say what you will about the little guy, he has one heck of an intense stare when he wants to.

[Yessss,] he confirms.

Hmmm.

[Did you know what it was? Where it came from? Or were you just getting a strong urge to blow things up without knowing why.]

He ponders for a moment.

[I didssss not know. Orssss, I knew, but wassss not aware.]

I can kind of understand where he’s coming from. He knew instinctively what was going on, but didn’t actively think about it.

[Is it getting stronger? Staying the same?]

[Stronger.]

[And how do you feel about it? Can’t be pleasant, having these thoughts and feelings injected into your head.]

[I am notssss pleased. I wissshhh to control mysssself. I will notssss have it takenssss from me.]

His eye flashes bright with determination and I feel my heart bleed for the little guy. He doesn’t want some big bad reaching out and messing with him from the depths of the Dungeon. He’s his own chap, with his own goals and dreams.

How dare that Ancient sack of silliness try and take that away from my friend?!

[Well don’t you worry,] I tell him, [we won’t let someone take control of you. We’ll go down there and kick him right in the backside. I’m talking a hostile takeover of the commercial zone.]

It might just be me, but I feel like I can see a glimmer of gratitude in the fluttering demon. He doesn’t say anything, just nods his eye and floats over to rest on Tiny’s shoulder.

Is he embarrassed? Awwwww.

[Alright then. Look out for me for a minute, gang, I’m going to do a little mutating. You might need to deploy the emergency screen, Crinis.]

[Roger!]

She’s practised the manoeuvre numerous times, using her shapeable form to cover me in the event of an embarrassing itch reaction. Down here on the plains, who knows who might be able to see?

[If you spot any tier fours or higher, you can squash them for experience. Just don’t go far.]

That last bit is for Tiny. He’d run off looking for something to fight if he got too bored. Best not to take chances.

Now then, time to jump into the menu!

I’ve got a lot of options for things to mutate, obviously every organ in my body needs to be boosted up to +35, which is going to take an absurd amount of Biomass. One hundred and sixty five for every organ I have. Thanks to the resets, I also have to bring a number of organs up from zero. My Nave and Altar both need mutating, as does my Carapace, Mandibles, Inner-Plating and Gravity Magic Gland.

Now obviously, the ultimate goal is to create synergy. My mutations and the materials my body are made of should work together harmoniously to create an effect greater than the sum of my parts.

I don’t want to go too crazy right off the bat, so I’m going to stick to the carapace, mandibles and plating for now. I need more work with the Altar before I try to mutate that. I’m not yet sure what it needs to function better than it currently does. It feels completely overpowered to me already, what more could I possibly want from it?

I definitely need to upgrade it before I get into a fight with those tier eight demons, but it’s too early now.

I jump into the menus and start flicking through the options for my carapace. It’s almost enough for me to clack my mandibles with happiness as the nostalgia wave rolls over me. Look at these old options that I considered the first time I mutated my shell. Elemental resistance, thickening and hardening, even the spiky carapace mutation!

Diamond carapace is still here in the list. As if I’d want to coat my new exo-skeleton with a layer of inferior, if sparklier diamond. It’s interesting that the option is even still there, considering how much of a waste it would be. Just goes to show that the system doesn’t protect a monster from making inferior choices.

One is free to waste their mutations should they lack the foresight and wisdom to select the best options.

… I feel like a chill just ran down my spine. I lack foresight and wisdom! I lack them a lot!

I’m worried now. I need to double and triple check any mutations before I confirm anything. Deep breaths, Anthony. I can do this. Let’s get to picking!