It doesn’t take too long for me to finish yet another shelter. Accompanying the usual message is something unexpected but welcome.
> You’ve constructed a simple silk sanctuary. You gained some experience.
>
> You gained the weaving skill!
Huh, interesting. So, I don’t gain a construction skill but something specific to the material I’m working with. Would someone who builds brick houses gain a ‘brick laying’ skill then? Or is this another example of me being limited by what I am.
Not that I’m complaining. A construction skill would likely give me a weaker boost than weaving, even if it were more versatile.
Suddenly, I know it’s time. It seems I won’t get a chance to reach level 6 or higher. At least not before I evolve. I mean, metamorphose.
It makes sense, I’ve been at it for many months now. And yes, most of that was spent just chilling in my spot and waiting for moths, but time waits for no one. Let’s just hope I gain something good, since I’m going to be losing my silk production ability.
How does my status actually look like after all this time?
> Name:
>
> Creature type: Glow Worm
> Path: Path of the Mindful
>
> Level: 5
>
> Strength: 1
> Dexterity: 1
> Constitution: 6
>
> Ego: 10
>
> Skills:
>
> This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
>
> >> Weaving level 1
> >> Meditation level 64
>
>
>
> Abilities:
> >> Silk Production
> >> (innate) Metamorphosis level 2
>
> Perks:
> >> Squinting Eye
>
> Traits:
> >> (innate) Bioluminescence
> >> (innate) Past Life! Holdover
> >> (innate) Reincarnator
> >> (innate) At Least A Little Human
Ah, my beautiful status sheet. Ever expanding, if only slowly.
I am a bit surprised about my base Ego being as high as 10. I didn’t even have to put any stats in it and it’s already my highest stat. it is a soul attribute though.
Hold on… does that mean it won’t reset once I reincarnate? Should I focus all my stats into it now?
Wait, no, forgot about my one and only perk. I’ll lose access to it once I lose the perk. Damn it!
Alright then, note for future self: if possible, stockpile attribute points until you can put them into something permanent. That should do it. As long as there isn’t a bullshit mechanic like with my permanent ability selection.
And now it would seem my time has come to an end. No, that sounds too ominous. I’m not dying. I’ll simply become a different creature type.
Once I’m ready, I let my instincts, or perhaps the ability, take over and guide me through the process. The first step of which is a bit surprising.
Not because of what it actually is. But because I take the structure of my simple silk shelter and I start modifying it, changing its shape here and there to make it resemble less a hammock and more… cocoon.
OH, hell yes! I finally get a cocoon! I must be truthful and say that I was disappointed when my caterpillar-self got a chrysalis instead of a cocoon. And I’m just going to ignore why my shelters already resembled glow worm cocoons a bit.
Once I’m done and am snuggly fit inside, I get ready for the next step. The painful dissolving of my body. Last time I barely got to this step before passing out. I’m not sure if that was from the pain or that I didn’t have a brain though. Maybe a bit of both.
This time, however, I have an ace up my sleeve. I’m holding out hope that a level 2 ability will give me something better than a level 0 one.
And indeed, as I’m slowly liquified and the pain hits me, I manage to hold on to consciousness. It’s not easy, not at all, and much of my mind is focused on just staying awake. And yet, it is enough.
Enough for me to notice a faint feeling in the back of my mind. Just the barest hint of something, barely distinct enough for me to see it.
It’s a choice. A bit of potential I can assign somewhere.
Before I can do so, the pain becomes too much and I pass out. The last thing I sense is my unmade choice defaulting to a set path.