Chapter 16- Max level?

"Ugh, that's- that's enough for now." Dragging his weak body out of the Mana Pool, Jared messages his two friends to halt their training for now. Having lost track of time, it was a different System message that snapped Jared out of his daze.

[Mutated Exoskeleton has reached max level and proficiency. 10/10]

'Finally. I don't know how long it took, but it only got harder and harder to improve our skills. Some of them even stopped improving after a while. Maybe we need to kill some creatures using them to actually improve them further.' Unsure as to the reasoning, Jared moves closer to his two friends, reaching out and touching both of them.

'Status, Companion Guidance.'

————————————————————

[Status]

[Name: Jared]

[Species: Formica Mana Superior*]

[Mana: 14/14]

[Skills:]

[Pheromone Production* (Level 4)

7/10]

[Mutated Exoskeleton* (Level 5)

10/10, Skill Evolvable!]

[Hive Control* (Level 2)

1/10]

[Minor Acid Shot* (Level 3)

7/10]

[Petrification Resistance* (Level 5)

7/10]

[Crushing Bite* (Level 4)

2/10]

[Venom Resistance* (Level 5)

2/10]

————

[Growth Points: 25/100]

————————————————————

[Status]

[Name: Char]

[Species: Minor Arachnid*]

[Mana: 9/9]

[Skills:]

[Low Venom Production* (Level 5)

8/10]

[Web Production* (Level 5)

10/10, Skill Evolvable!]

[Exoskeleton* (Level 3)

9/10]

[Hive Telepathy* (Level MAX)]

[Petrification Resistance* (Level 5)

3/10]

———

Growth Points: 10/100

————————————————————————

[Status]

[Name: Drake]

[Species: Lithoscale Lizard* (Defective*]

[Mana: 16/16]

[Skills:]

[Stone Skin* (Level 4)

4/10]

[Natural Camouflage* (Level 3)

6/10]

[Mineral Absorption* (Level 1)

8/10]

[Petrification Beam* (Level 5)

10/10, Skill Evolvable!]

[Venom Resistance* (Level 5)

2/10]

————

Growth Points: 70/100

————————————————————————

"Good job guys, it looks like we've all improved dramatically. Let's check out what this "evolving" is all about." More than content with their rapid progress, Jared prompts the system to evolve his "Mutated Exoskeleton" skill.

[The following are the possible evolutions for your "Mutated Exoskeleton."]

1. [Advanced Mutated Exoskeleton]

[The natural evolution of the "Mutated Exoskeleton" skill. This skill takes the increase in density and toughness of your exoskeleton to the next level. Your exoskeleton would easily be as tough as steel, with only a fraction of the weight.]

[Cost: 25 Growth Points]

2. [Mana Exoskeleton]

[Through prolonged exposure to absurdly high amounts of mana, your body has the potential to adapt to it. This skill grants increased resistance to mana in its natural form, potentially allowing you to swim in liquified mana perpetually. This skill also allows for a minor amount of mana to be stored in your exoskeleton, increasing your overall mana storage. Due to the high concentration of mana in the exoskeleton, this skill prevents your physical defense from increasing, instead focusing purely on mana.]

[Cost: 50 Growth Points]

3. [Infused Exoskeleton]

[While maintaining the defensive properties of your "Mutated Exoskeleton", this skill would instead focus on the elements. Using any element that you have an affinity for, you can infuse that element into your exoskeleton temporarily. During that time, your exoskeleton will gain the properties of the element, increasing your resistance to said element, as well as providing certain properties to your body. (For example, infusing your body with the fire element would increase your body temperature.) Each level will only slightly increase your defense, instead allowing for the elemental infusion to last longer.]

[Cost: 100 Growth Points]

"That- that's so expensive! How am I supposed to afford those, AND save up for evolution?!" Annoyed by the high Growth Point cost, Jared complains telepathically. "As of now, though, increasing my defense drastically may be the way to go. More mana would be amazing, but losing out on upgrading my defense would suck. And what good are the elements if I get crushed in one hit?" Jared reasons.

'I wonder why I'm able to evolve into these skills anyway. The advanced Mutated Exoskeleton makes sense, and I can understand the Mana Exoskeleton- I mean, I live next to a Mana Pool. But I've only used the earth element, how did I unlock a skill to fuse multiple elements into my exoskeleton?' Putting those thoughts to the side, Jared focuses on Chars' upgrades next.

[The following are the possible evolutions for Chars' "Web Production."] 

1. [Web Manipulation]

[The natural evolution of the "Web Production" skill. This skill allows for the remote manipulation of your webs, allowing for basic telekinesis. This skill only works on webs produced by the user. While subsequent upgrades will continue upgrading the strength and amount of webs produced, the primary function would be to increase the range and extent that which the users' webs may be manipulated.]

[Cost: 25 Growth Points]

2. [Venomous Webs]

[By connecting the venom production and web production centers of the body, the user is now able to create webs that contain venom. These webs are naturally weaker than their basic forms without venom but contain miniaturized crystals of venom. However, when these webs are broken, the venom crystals inside of them are released, piercing the target and injecting venom into their bodies. the amount of venom is low, although it is the most potent form of the users' venom. This potency relies on the strength of the "Venom Production" skill of the user.]

[Cost: 50 Growth Points]

3. [Mana Webs]

[Through prolonged exposure to high concentrations of mana in the air, your webs have the potential to evolve in "Mana Webs." These "Mana Webs" contain high amounts of mana, costing large amounts of mana to form. The base form of these webs is slightly weaker than their previous evolution. However, these webs possess the ability to gather mana over time, increasing their strength nigh-endlessly. This gathering ability only works whilst the webs remain intact. Upgrading this skill will increase the gathering speed of the webs, as well as provide a small boost of increased web strength.]

[Cost: 100 Growth Points]

"Alright, Char, those are your three options. Personally, I think the latter two options are the best choice, although I'll leave it up to you, okay?" Taking a few minutes to explain each of the options to Char, Jared decides to leave the choice up to her. 'It is her body, and her future, and none of those choices would hurt her or us, so I'll leave it up to her. Now let's check out Drake.'

[The following are the possible evolutions for Drakes' "Petrification Beam."] 

1. [Stone Gaze]

[The natural evolution of the "Petrification Beam" skill. The "Petrification Beam" evolves into a more potent skill, "Stone Gaze," allowing the user to selectively petrify specific body parts of the target. This refined control can immobilize enemies more effectively, as well as last much longer due to the increased concentration of the earth element. This skill can also be used to petrify the targets' entire body, although it is only slightly more effective than its previous evolution.]

[Cost: 25 Growth Points]

2. [Petrification Wave]

[An odd application of the "Petrification Beam" skill. The "Petrification Wave" skill is no longer released from the eyes of the user. Instead, this skill uses the body as a conduit, emitting a broader and slightly more potent wave of petrification energy, enabling the user to affect multiple targets simultaneously within a certain radius. Each upgrade only slightly increases its potency, focusing more on an increase of range without decreasing the effect.]

[Cost: 50 Growth Points]

3. [Stonebound Resonance]

[Casting off the power of petrification, the user becomes more aligned with the earth element. Similar to the "Petrification Wave" skill, the user's body releases a wave of the earth element, which can seep into the inanimate surroundings of the user. Using their alignment with the earth element, the user can use this implanted power to manipulate these objects, creating or changing them to suit the user's desire. The cost of this manipulation varies depending on the degree of change to the environment.]

[Cost: 100 Growth Points]

"And those are your options, Drake! Unlike us two, you have enough Growth Points to evolve your skills to the next level. Well, the first two options at least." Looking at Drakes' eyes glowing in excitement, Jared explains. "I think Petrification Wave would be the best for dealing with the ant colony, but the choice is all yours!" Having gone through all of the options with his friends, Jared waits for Drakes' decision. Once his choice was made... it was time to form their first Stronghold.