As I keep stuffing my face, Granin and I discuss my various body parts and what might qualify as a good option for a 'reset' in my next evolution. I remain a little cagey about a few things, such as the existence of the Vestibule, but I try to be as honest as I can during our discussions. A few things get ruled out pretty fast. No need to do anything fancy with the pheromone glands at this point, for example. I'm not even sure what sort of new functionality I would gain for my pheromone gland. Demon pheromones? Pheromones made from flas? Geh.
In this way we eliminate candidates and before long we arrive at a shortlist. Carapace (obviously), Mandibles, Acid Gland, Legs, Regeneration Gland, Eyes. All the big ticket items. Would be great to do my brain, but it's not even mutable at this point, so it can't be reset. The carapace is there for very clear reasons. I was promised a reset of pure diamond and by Gandalf, I'm going to get it. If an option appears to reforge my mandibles into so aweso demon chitin or sothing of the sort then it would surely be a significant boost to the strength of my bite, which is always handy. My legs are an obvious weak point and although the diamond carapace does offer them so thin protection, changing their base properties to sothing more durable would help to keep from being legless quite as often. The Regeneration Gland is a (literal) life saver and a significant upgrade there would be incredible. My vision speaks for itself. Better eyes ans better life. Being able to see stuff coming is a useful trait to have, and with the reset, who knows what sort of crazy options I might see?
I personally feel like there's a strong chance that the Vestibule will co up as an option to be reset in the evolution choices, given that my current species includes the term 'juvenile'. It would make sense that the natural progression would be to a 'mature' Colony Paragon of so variety, and the key organ of this species is the Vestibule. Exactly what sort of option would be provided to reforge the Vestibule itself, I've no idea, but I think it will be powerful. There is the likelihood that such an upgrade would have adverse side effects, such as giving the Colony an even larger window to sneak their Will into my mind, but there's a good chance that the trade-off will be worth it.
[You might want to rethink your idea of picking carapace on this evolution,] Granin tells .
[What!? My carapace is a life-saving, incredibly shiny part of my body! What could possibly be more important than that?]
Granin holds up both his hands.
[Whoa there. It's beautiful and amazing, we all get that, just take a second to hear out.]
He waits until I settle back down and get back to shovelling Biomass into my face before he continues.
[I totally agree that your carapace is important, it's your foremost defensive tool after all, but there are two good reasons that you should hold off during this evolution. Firstly, the options you may get at this stage of evolution are inferior to what you'll get next ti. In my opinion, your carapace and plating, upgraded to 30, are going to be sufficient to protect you through the third strata. If you evolve before you attack the fourth, you'll be able to upgrade to a much better base material.]
Sothing about the tone of his thought suggests he knows sothing he hasn't said.
[Do you happen to know what I might get if I hold off?] I ask pointedly.
He nods.
[There are a few different diamond flavoured materials you could see, but all of them are good. Living Diamond, Void Diamond, Liquid Diamond, just to na a few. All are seen mostly on the fifth strata but there's a chance they'll show up when you evolve to tier seven.]
Holy moly! All of those sound so aweso! Liquid Diamond?! How does that even work?!
[Alright,] I say, trying to hide my excitent and totally failing, [what about the other reason.]
[The other reason is the inner carapace plating. I actually love this mutation and I think it's done more than you realise to keep you alive to this point, but it can do more. The synergy between the carapace and plating isn't what it could be. I'm suggesting that when you reset your carapace, you reset the plating at the sa ti. This will let you pick options that harmonize, and allow you to reconfigure your mutations to line up perfectly, giving you the best possible outco. Does that sound reasonable?]
He does make a good case.
[Alright, I'm convinced, and I'm also full. Step back a second for , would you?]
The golgari Shaper hurriedly steps out of the way and I back up a bit, my gaster having swollen to absurd proportions after cramming both of my stomachs full of Biomass. Geh, I feel like I'm gonna chuck. Is this what a replete feels like? I used to wonder what it was like to be one of those ants who just hung around inside a nest and allowed other ants to fill up their social stomachs with food to the point they could move. Living food storage units…
Alright, with all of this Biomass, I should have enough to at least make a serious dent in the remainder of the evolutions I need to make. Let check what's going on in here. According to the nu, I have seven body parts still in need of mutation, so of them more than one. Eyes, pheromone gland, Neural network, my three new acid additions and the Gravity mana gland. I think it makes sense to start with the eyes and take them from 20 to 25. Let's take a squiz at the options.
[Alright, I think I'm going to focus on my mutations for the mont. If possible can I get so privacy for this?]
It's hard to tell, but I think Granin quirks an eyebrow at my words.
[You sure you don't want any advice on this?]
[Ah, no. I think I can handle this bit. I'll be sure to speak to you again before I evolve, don't worry.]
He shrugs.
[Alright then, have it your way.]
He turns around and after a brief argunt with Torrina in which she gives a massive case of stink eye, he leads the triad out of the chamber.
[Alright team, let's assu formation C!] I instruct my pets.
In an instant, Crinis has leapt into action, blanketing the chamber in complete darkness using her magic whilst also expanding her body to cover my fra in a sphere of inky black shadow flesh. Invidia uses his shield magic to erect opaque barriers before every door fra, blocking line of sight as well as physical entry into the chamber whilst Tiny takes up a vigilant guard position halfway between the entrances and my own body.
There, now there's no chance anyone will see when I mutate. Now I can focus on the nus. Let's do this!
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