Chrysalis

I'm kind of surprised that the hatchling, I mean Brilliant, didn't try and escape after evolving, but here she is obediently waiting for me after waking. Has she finally learned her lesson? That would be a good thing indeed! Growth! Actual growth! And here I thought I was going to have to change her name to Massive-idiant.

[Well, well, well,] I look down on the emphatically no-longer-a-hatchling and clack my mandibles happily, [tier five. You made it to the big leagues! A big bad ant now! This is actually the level that the majority of the Colony hasn't reached, you're now part of the elite.]

I can tell that she wants to reply something to the effect of 'naturally' but knows that she'll get a thackin' for it. As she should! Who did all the work!?

[I feel good,] she eventually says, [strong. I feel like I can see things more clearly than I could before.]

[Oh? You mean you understand things better? Or your literal sight has improved?]

[…Both? I think?]

[Interesting. Well, I'm keen to take a peek at your core and see what you chose. Hold still for a second.]

I reach down with one antenna and throw my mind into her core, swimming through the rush of mana and information that is held within until I manage to sift it down to the parts I understand.

Name: Brilliant

Level: 1 (Special) V

Might: 50

Toughness: 50

Cunning: 150

Will: 150

HP: 100/100

MP: 0/250

Skills:

Advanced Digging (II) Level 9; Acid Shot (III) Level 5; Expert Grip (III) Level 15; Crunching Bite (III) Level 16; Rapid Dash (III) Level 19; Exo-Skeleton Defense (I) level 4; Advanced Stamina (III) Level 13; Mana Craft (V) Level 4; Finer External Mana Manipulation (IV) Level 27; Earth Mana Affinity (IV) Level 9; Shadow Mana Affinity (III) Level 7; Light Mana Affinity (III) Level 15; Mind Mana Affinity (II) Level 6;

Mutations:

Rapid Energy Reactive Exoskeleton +20; Enhanced Vampiric Mandibles +20; Mighty Gripping Legs +20; Clarified Mana Weave Eyes +20; Delicate Mana Sensitive Antennae +20; Concentrated Melting Acid Gland +20; Broadened Pheromone Language Gland +20; Elevated Mana Core Lattice +20; Piercing Dungeon Oracle +20; Weaving Dimensional Eye +20; Purified Energy Stone +20; Mana Crystal Weave; Brain;

Species: Mature Omni-Seer (Formica)

Skill points: 22

Biomass: 24

Wowee! She's got more mental stats than I do! Considering that she's essentially abandoned physical development, I shouldn't be too surprised, but it still stings a little. Unlike me, she invested the whole lot into a single brain rather than spreading it out, which means she has quite the oomph behind a single line of effort, as opposed to my more diversified efforts. Eventually she'll reach the required rank in mind magic and then be able to craft the constructs, much as I can. I see she even went to the effort of making her brain mutable, which makes sense.

Since she became a Mature Omni-Seer it's clear that she followed through an evolution chain and the main reward appears to have been the Mana Crystal Weave, a rather potent organ, if I do say so myself.

Brilliant has gone down a path that I myself will probably have to consider rather soon, the road of investing in the core itself. She has two organs that interact directly with the gem that sits in her centre, first was the Core Lattice, a web of fine crystalline lines that branch off the core in a breathtaking structure. The purpose of this organ is multifaceted, allowing mana to flow in and out of the core more easily, as well as granting finer control over it in the vicinity of the core. Now she's added the Weave, a sphere part crystal, part flesh that the lattice connects to, further enhancing the effect and making Brilliant exceptionally sensitive to the teensiest vibration of mana that occurs within her frame.

She's basically set herself up as a detector of all things, able to sense everything that occurs around her to an extraordinary degree, particularly in the realm of mana. I can understand why also, she is desperate to understand and investigate all that goes on and she has given herself the tools to make that happen. With these mutations, she's also turned herself into a powerful all-round caster, with a steady flow of energy and very fine control over it.

With a few more skill levels under her belt she'll be able to pump out some mighty impressive magic, no doubt about it. With her absurd rate of improvement, I'm sure it won't even take her long! Dammit! This feels unfair on quite a few levels…

On the other hand, she's done basically nothing to make herself more survivable. Her toughness is too low, she can't heal herself, and her defensive Skills are still paltry garbage. If I hadn't insisted on making her run so much, her Dash would still be in a terrible state.

[All in all, I like what you've done,] I congratulate her as I remove my antenna. [You'll be able to puzzle out the secrets of mana and whatever the Dungeon hides in no time. This can only be good for the Colony.]

[Naturally,] she says smugly as she rises, [there's not going to be anything on this world that I won't be able to figure out. All I need is a little time.]

[I hope you're right, there is still way too much that we don't understand.]

Now that she's reached tier five, I feel less like I need to be actively pushing her and feeding her experience, but I still think she's not quite ready for her life as an independent champion. The moment I let her loose, she's going to start attracting a following and become another powerful and relatively independent force within the Colony, just like Vibrant is.

Vibrant obviously works together with the Colony and is a massive contributor, but she's also a little tough to slot into plans and tends to make life a little difficult for other members of the council without intending to. I fully expect the same will be true of Brilliant soon enough. She'll help us progress, of that I have no doubt, but things will get a little messy along the way.

That's a good thing in the long run, the way things happen around here can be a little too rigid at times, I think having Brilliant and Vibrant around to upset the balance is going to be healthy. I just want to make sure that she's ready.

[Alright then, Brilliant,] I tell her, [one more trip and that's it. You'll have graduated my teaching and will be able to make your way in the Colony however you see fit!]

The little ant freezes on the spot before she turns her whole body to look me straight on.

[Are you serious? One more. That's it? One more and I'm free?]

I flick my antennae, a little annoyed.

[What do you mean 'free?' You aren't in prison! Forget it. Yes. I mean it. After this trip, you can go where you want, do what you want, investigate to your heart's content.]