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 sothing. 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 , 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 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 ti is right to dive into the nus and have a good look at what's available, but before I do, there's sothing I want to confirm.
[Hey, Invidia.]
The envy demon flaps his little wings and turns that enormous green eye on .
[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 ca from? Or were you just getting a strong urge to blow things up without knowing why.]
He ponders for a mont.
[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 sa?]
[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 .]
His eye flashes bright with determination and I feel my heart bleed for the little guy. He doesn't want so big bad reaching out and ssing 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 soone take control of you. We'll go down there and kick him right in the backside. I'm talking a hostile takeover of the comrcial zone.]
It might just be , but I feel like I can see a glimr 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? Aww
[Alright then. Look out for for a minute, gang, I'm going to do a little mutating. You might need to deploy the ergency screen, Crinis.]
[Roger!]
She's practised the manoeuvre nurous tis, using her shapeable form to cover 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 sothing to fight if he got too bored. Best not to take chances.
Now then, ti to jump into the nu!
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 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 nus and start flicking through the options for my carapace. It's almost enough for to clack my mandibles with happiness as the nostalgia wave rolls over . Look at these old options that I considered the first ti I mutated my shell. Elental 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!
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