Previously on Chrysalis...
Anthony returns to the safety of the nest to rest and prepare for the next phase of his plan, accompanied by several battalions and a chorus of overly devoted human priests. Seeking to understand his new evolutionary gains, he begins experimenting with the Everflowing Well of Living Waters, a mysterious organ that initially seems to devour his mana without result. After feeding it a significant amount of energy, the organ finally reacts, producing highly condensed liquid mana at an exponential rate. While the output is immense, the organ demands even more energy to sustain the reaction, leaving Anthony to wonder if he has discovered an unlimited source of power or a dangerous trap.
Of course, there is a catch. Naturally. Infinite mana? Such a thing defies the fundamental laws of this world! If I could truly grant myself an unlimited supply of mana, I could roam the Dungeon with total freedom, even ascending to the surface as a tier eight monster! My spellcasting would be literal madness. I could deploy Gravity Well after Gravity Well without ever running dry, and those are just the basics.
I could theoretically manifest a pocket of ultra-dense mana simply by venting it from my body repeatedly. In theory, I could simulate the environmental conditions of a lower stratum, or perhaps even two, if I were persistent enough.
But reality isn't quite that simple.
After I injected a staggering quantity of mana, the reaction commenced. Upon inspection, I realized it can sustain itself by cycling liquid mana back into the Well to keep the process alive. Naturally, the output exceeded the input, and the organ's temperature climbed steadily with every passing second. For the sake of scientific discovery, I continued to pour in energy, providing the Well with exactly what it needed to maintain momentum. Eventually, the heat became so intense I feared I might be incinerated from the inside out. Just as I suspected the Well might spontaneously combust, it stopped taking in energy, eventually slowing down until it settled back into a dormant state.
What remained, clinging to the exterior of the Well in defiance of gravity, was the "profit"—the surplus energy it had expelled that couldn't be recycled. To put it mildly... it’s a massive amount. It is so incredibly dense that I can't even begin to calculate the exact MP value it represents, but it is immense. At least several thousands.
As I wait for the Well to cool down and become operational again, I contemplate the massive implications of this new organ.
Possessing a massive reservoir of mana is excellent, but how vital is it truly in the long term? Extremely, as it happens. While the Dungeon as a whole holds nearly infinite energy, any specific location has a finite supply. When combat erupts, combatants immediately begin vying for that local pool. This is especially true when skilled magic users are involved. While monsters naturally absorb mana, groups of trained mages make the struggle for control over ambient energy their very first priority.
I, however, can walk around with a reserve of thousands of MP tucked away inside my own body where it is untouchable. Even enemies who possess external energy manipulation skills far beyond my own won't be able to sever my connection to mana as long as I have this device under my carapace.
Furthermore, the organ hasn't been mutated once yet. I have no doubt that I can boost its efficiency, extend its duration, or perhaps even alter the specific type of mana it produces. I might even reach a point where it runs almost constantly, serving as a permanent energy source.
Who can say?
Based on what I see, this organ is already incredibly powerful. Before I start tinkering with it and adding mutations, I’ll experiment with it a bit longer, but I’m already excited by the potential it represents.
The Everflowing Well of Living Waters.
It carries the Anthony seal of approval.
The next major item on my testing list is the industrial manifold now integrated into my expanded commercial empire. I’m obviously not testing that inside the nest, and I wasn't about to try it in the tunnels where it might accidentally cause a gruesome end for the delvers I'm trying to squeeze for profit. Since the tunnels surrounding the nest have been cleared, I'll give it a go the next time I head out.
I mean... given that it retains all the properties of my previous acid organs, combined with the energy of Theorazzn providing unexpected perks... I’m actually a bit worried about the kind of "product" my business is now capable of manufacturing. Hopefully, it won't be too catastrophic.
Hopefully.
Well, while I’m taking a break in the Colony, I might as well handle some mutations. In private. That humiliating public spectacle I made before my evolution will never happen again! This gives me a perfect excuse to distance myself from the screaming priests who are currently performing at maximum volume.
Once I’ve found some solitude, I open my menus and begin scanning, locking in several choices.
Upgrading my tendons all the way to +30 is an obvious priority. Having every tendon in my legs snap away from my carapace simultaneously was... less than ideal. I’m not eager to attempt another empowered Dash until I’m certain I won't immediately wreck my own body.
Though that might just happen again at +40.
I’m tempted to start mutating my regeneration network, but honestly, it makes me a little nervous. The system is already so frighteningly effective that tampering with it might cause things to spiral out of control.
Still, it is undeniably strong. It would be foolish to ignore it entirely, and I do have some experience with its mechanics. I might as well look into the basic mutations at the very least.
Reviewing the list for the regeneration network is just as daunting as I anticipated. Some of the initial options involve "increasing the healing fluid increment," which is just a fancy way of saying "more healing per strike." Interestingly, some mutations focus on the reabsorption rate of the healing fluid, which caught me off guard. It isn't exactly pleasant having my system flooded with liters of healing fluid, so faster reabsorption would be nice, though I suspect the primary benefit is actually reducing fatigue.
According to Granin, producing all this healing fluid is supposedly very draining on the body, especially in short bursts. A standard monster would be completely spent after maintaining the network for just a few minutes. Since I am fueled by the pure Will of the Colony, I don’t really mind the stamina cost.
There are also mutations specifically for that, lowering the stamina required to produce the fluid, now that I’m looking for them. Once again, I can probably skip those.
Deciding not to go overboard, I raise the regeneration network to +15. The first mutation boosts the healing increment, which will accelerate the network's exponential growth. The second mutation improves the fluid's efficacy, making it more potent. Basically, every drop of fluid will fix more damage. At +15, I merge the effects and move on to other business.
Actually, while I'm at it, I should check my species status. I honestly can't recall what Granin told me before the evolution.
Name: Anthony
Level: 11 (Mythic) (VIII)
Species: Endless Paragon
Huh. That sounds better than I remembered. Nice.
