Chrysalis

It’s been a long time coming, but finally it’s here. I’ve been tier eight for a while now, and I know it’s been weighing on Tiny, Crinis and Invidia that they haven’t been able to keep up. Strong as they are, invading the sixth at their current level of power would be risky, and when it comes to my closest friends, that’s more risk than I’m willing to accept.

If we’re all tier eight Mythic monsters, though? Then that’s a pack of powerful, no-nonsense monsters that anything we run into down there isn’t going to want to mess with.

Gathering all three of them up doesn’t take long. They’ve been inside the fortress for a while now, working on their statuses and preparing themselves to evolve, doing research, examining their options. Even Tiny! Basically doing all the things that I usually refuse to do.

I’m very proud of them.

When they’re all gathered, I can tell how excited they are. They’ve worked extremely hard to reach this point and fought many strong opponents during the wave. Even Invidia has been on the front foot… not that he has feet… and trying to gain Levels as fast as possible. When fighting on the platform wasn’t enough, they started to take turns roaming away from the fortress in the nearby tunnels, just to get more opponents.

[Well done, team!] I congratulate them all with a happy clack of the mandibles. [You’ve done it, reached the Level cap, and just in time!]

[I reached it a weekssss ago,] Invidia says, holding up a single hand.

Tiny grunts, irritated and holds up three fingers.

[Two days for me…] Crinis grumbles.

[Hey, you’re better at fending off the smaller stuff than taking care of the bigger stuff, Crinis. It hasn’t been easy for you to take down the big opponents, don’t feel down, you should be very happy with the effort you put in and the results you achieved.]

Crinis wiggles a little in happiness.

[Thank you, Master.]

[Thank you, Master.]

[Clone Crinis, don’t talk to me right now.]

[Oh, sorry.]

There’s two of them now. Sheesh. Actually, that gives me an unpleasant idea.

[Crinis… any plans you have to modify or add to your number of clones during this evolution have to be approved by me personally, is that understood?]

The place the author publishes this chapter is its official page, while the version shown here was taken without permission.

[... Dammit.]

I knew it! Just how devious is she getting? In the back of my mind, I’ve been thinking about Gylax and what he said to me about possibly setting my pets free. Of course, I totally intend to do so if it's possible, but I’m starting to get worried about what the consequences might be. If I’m not careful, Crinis is going to abduct me and keep me prisoner in a cave. Or lock me in the shadow dimension somehow.

[Tiny, you’re aware of the restrictions regarding your Cunning during this evolution, aren’t you?]

The big ape gives me a thumbs up and a big smile.

[And I’m going to further order that you aren’t allowed to modify your intelligence in any way after you evolve. No mind melting organs or mutations that lower your Cunning. Alright? Same Cunning from the moment you evolve, to the next evolution.]

The longer I speak, the more unhappy Tiny looks, his previously enthusiastic thumbs up wilting with every word. When I’m done, he looks decidedly unhappy, but nods in understanding.

I still think he’s up to something, but after giving him a hard, many-lensed stare, I decide to let it go.

[Add another ten to the required Cunning stat.]

Now I’ll let it go.

[Invidia, I want you to think about adding a little defensive capability with your evolution. You're such a glass cannon and it’ll be hard to protect you all the time down in the sixth. I don’t know exactly what it’s going to be like down there, but it seems highly dangerous. Don’t make us worry, alright?]

[I will do assss you suggessssst.]

It’s not his fault, he was designed to be the way he is, the best possible magic demon that a team of golgari Shapers could create. Physically, he’s only slightly stronger than a starving kitten and a single solid hit would be enough to absolutely disintegrate him. Of course, it’s not easy to get that hit, given his prowess at blowing things up and weaving shields to defend himself, but I’ve been starting to think that it isn’t going to be enough down there.

I can absorb bolts of lightning… well, I can heal away the damage, but Invidia? No way. Obviously all three of them are going to consult with the golgari, who know far more than I do about this sort of stuff, but I wanted to say a little something to my friends before they head off for their meetings.

[I know you’ve been thinking about this for a while now, but I just want to remind you not to take away from the things that make you special in order to make up for the ways you might think you’re lacking. Crinis, you could hit harder, sure, but being able to fight the sheer number of opponents you can is an incredible strength and not something all of us can do.

[Tiny… I know you’re going to make yourself hit harder… in fact… this advice probably isn’t appropriate for you. You’re only going to think about making yourself better at what you already do.]

Thumbs up.

[And Invidia, don’t be afraid to diversify. You’re smart, you know what makes you strong, and how you can get stronger. Spend your evolutionary energy wisely, with a focus on yourself, and you’ll be fine.]

[I willssss. Thankssss you.]

I look at the three of them, emotion swelling within my carapace. Were it possible for me to have a tear in my eye, I would.

[You guys are the best,] I tell them. [Thank you for being with me all this time.]