Tiny Dungeon

Valterra turned his attention to the mantis in charge and found it singed almost beyond recognition but nonetheless glowing with the light of Evolution. He soothed the creature's worst wounds with Aether so that it wouldn’t die in the coming days or weeks it took to evolve. Then he engaged the System and watched the words unfurl before him.

Your “Pack-Leader Mantis” is ready to evolve!

Please choose from among the following evolutions:

Marauder Mantis (Rare)

Battle. Blood. Mayhem. This is what the Marauder Mantis lives for. Seeing the fear rise in the hearts of those it fights as it tears through their weak attempts at combat. Larger, faster, and stronger than its former self, this insect fights with a cold detachment even as it glories in the blood spilled. With its predisposition for strength, it will not form a pack with anything less powerful than itself.

Aether-Bane Mantis (Exotic)

Having fought against creatures of a magical nature, this insect has evolved to be a perfect counter. Its very nature is now an antithesis to Aether itself beyond absorbing what it needs to survive. For this reason, it can no longer grow and will not evolve further but is a terror to any being that relies on Aether for life.

Mantis Pack-Lord (Rare)

A direct upgrade to the Pack-Leader Mantis this insect has evolved to lord over its lesser kin in all respects. Often presiding over a horde of its kind it can have multiple Pack-Leaders under its sway, providing it with a steady supply of food and the capability of taking down even larger prey.

The options filled Valterra with glee but also consternation. He could only choose one and that seemed a poor reward for a creature that had almost died protecting him. Two of the options had the Mantis losing his pack that he had fought so hard for and Valterra wouldn’t stand for it. He had never modified a creature on the cusp of evolution before but there was always a first time. As the first Dungeon to use a Hunting-Pack Mantis as a main Dungeon Monster, he had control over its evolutionary paths which included the Mantis Pack-Leader and these options before him.

So he dove into the mantis’s mind in order to ascertain what he wanted to be. This would be a personal evolution, one that might pave the way for the species as a whole. What Valterra found was encouraging, at least to him. The mantis was concerned for its pack primarily and it hoped they had survived in its own limited way. The rest was red-hot rage against the invaders that had slaughtered its way through the pack mixed with a desire to bathe in their blood.

Valterra could feel its desire for strength, not just for itself but for its pack as well. He respected that. He would need such determination if more invaders came and he was sure they would come. Since he couldn’t actually manipulate the current options, since he didn’t have them, he set about creating his own option based on the amount of internal Aether the Mantis had to evolve with. He went ahead and just called it the Evolution Pool.

He started with making it larger but that consumed a good chunk of the Evolution Pool. So he reduced it back down and instead focused on making it faster, stronger, and more intelligent. Intelligence really stressed the pool but he still retained a good chunk by the time he was happy with its base form. Then he began to manipulate the Aether within it. He strengthened its ties to its pack but also allowed Aether to pass through the bond. Each kill would strengthen the whole, similar to how the Danians grew in power.

Valterra paused in his work and looked over at the first colony of Danians to find them glowing with evolutionary light as well. Good. He would go to them after this. He still had quite a bit of Divine Potential left to spend from Trik’Weri’s reimbursement. Speaking of Divine Potential. As Valterra returned he focused on the Mantis and its bonds. He nodded to himself.

He would bestow a Name upon the species as a whole. It would be conceptual, of course, not individualized. His instincts told him that individual Names were much more powerful. This would be similar to naming a room within his Dungeon, not that he had done that yet. The concept would apply to all of the members and thus the effects would be lesser but more widespread.

He crystallized the image of what he desired and then imparted it upon the insect and watched as the Name was accepted and its Evolution began. Divine Potential, around 300 of it, flowed from his Core to fund the Naming. When it was done he looked at the new creature tag with no small amount of pride.

Emergent Lord of the Red Tide (Unique, Divine - Rare)

Blessed by Valterra Unok’Davaas, this insect is an emerging Lord of the Red Tide and an instrument of his divine will. Its growth is now tied to that of its horde. The greater the horde, the greater the one who leads them.

Name Given!

[The Red Tide]

The Wrath of Valterra Unok’Davaas manifested.

Congratulations Dungeon Core! You have created your first Concept!

Concepts are powerful tools to further manipulate your Dungeon. Creatures falling under a particular concept will naturally adapt to fit its tenets. This Title may be granted to any creature but it is recommended to let them be attracted naturally as their nature dictates. You may also strip a concept from a creature or prevent a creature from falling under its sway.

Progress to Core Evolution:

5%