Day 15 of coral excavation:

Today I was going to take things easy, everything is in order, and all I need to do is get those last few XP points and Bam, done.

So there I was soundlessly sleeping when a horde of the little buggers came crashing through.

I got 30 of the bastards before they scattered; it was a long and grueling battle, but I now have the necessary experience for evolution, just one more. That's great and all, but how did they get in my "cave."

After doing a quick perimeter check, I find that they've been drilling near one of the heart veins of a nearby coral. A trip to the west stockpile, and that's a non-issue.

Either way, I got one of the High priority targets; it looks the bloody same as the other fish, maybe a bit bigger? The only difference is that my new mana eyes can pick up a strong-round signature in the center of it. I believe that is what the status explained to be a core.

And seeing as it's being picked up by my eyes, it must be related to my MP stat, magic? My original plan for my growth was to be a magic-charged warrior. As my focus in the early game would be my body, I would be too far in the "body" tree to branch to do actual magic, but if all I need is a core, then it should be possible to go on a balanced route.

Now balanced route "classes" would be: Enchanters, Magic Swordsmen, Summoners, Paladins, etc. The balanced route classes have unlimited growth as each part of their kit is compounds on the other. The problem is that they all cost resources a lot of resources. I will have to have a constant flow of materials or food to keep any of these paths open for any length of time, and it gets more noticeable the farther I go.

Right now, crafting classes are out; I doubt I can get my hands to work, let alone find materials. That leaves me with my original choice; mana-charged warrior but with a bit more flair or some type of summoner. Wizardry and magic-centric classes are getting kicked for the same reason as crafting, and generally, beginner mages are notoriously soft. I'm a crab, but I doubt that would help me with my survivability if I chose magic.

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Before I deal with the coup de grace, let me just double-check my status:

Name: Garand

Level: 4

Might: 30+10

Toughness: 18

Cunning: 35

Will: 35

HP: 55 +20/80

MP: 0

Skills: Excavating level 1; Sideways Scuttle Level 2; Grip Level 4; Excavating Bite Level 2; Molt level 3; Stealth level 4; Grab level 2; Dash level 3;

Mutations: Sharp Blood Drinking Dark Exoskeleton +5, Boring Spongy Mandibles +5, Swift Cracked Dark Legs +5, Duel Shadow Eyes +5, Far Bulbous Antennae +5, Spreading Shadow poison Claws +5

Species: Hatchling Abyss Crab (Brachyuran)

Biomass: 135

Skill Points: 1

Everything is in order; the new skills are leveling well, biomass stores are at their highest for mutations immediately after evolution. Yup, all good now for the VIP. A cylinder with teeth on one end and a sail-like tail on the other pitch-black skin and no noticeable facial senses. I have the fish? Under some ruble to keep it from running, I pick it up with my claws using my grip and grab skill in a flash of the eye using my mutation. A good synergy, holding it down, I wait for it to succumb to the poison. Afterward, I bring it to my Mandibles and shell an unexpected synergy based on my mutations.

My shell has absorbent properties, same as my Mandibles; at first, I was stumped why my Mandibles had the prefix spongy, but now I do.

I can supposedly absorb any liquid, gas, and energy, though one at a time; I tried shadow and blood and ended up poisoned for three cycles.

Cycles are the time between my natural molts, and they are standard no matter the level.

A day has 6 cycles.

Absorbing blood is an odd sensation like I'm drinking sweetened air thru my skin, the healing properties of which make this somewhat addictive.

[You have defeated Level 1 caucus Pisces]

[You have gained XP.]

[You achieved Level 5, One skill point awarded.]

[You have reached the level cap, evolution menu available]

Before that; eating the mana core out took no time though I wasn't ready for what came after:

[Compatible monster core detected. Would you like to use the core as a foundation or reconstitute a monster?]

What???