'Combining Dash and Fire with an Advantageous Attack was pretty effective;. I didn't expect to get Pack Tactics in on it, but I suppose they didn't question an unknown rabbit being there.

  'I probably should plan out more combo attacks though, and build a few stronger forms. In the meantime, let's get a new Skill!'

  I'd love to take the foxes form, but how could I even imagine passing up on such enticing potential abilities?

  I select Shadow Step and switch to my Menu, only to be interrupted by a new window:

  'Well, that's better than I expected; I figured I'd just get a skill I couldn't use yet. I guess having a core already affects what it can do?

  'But I fear it may force a level up when complete, so I need to try to get as many Victory Points as I can first. At least it doesn't hurt this time.'

  I continue on, adding the higher level Horned Rabbit to my form options and return to the Armored Dire Rat form.

  'So- new forms: I've got a Komodo Lizard and a leveled Horned Rabbit. What can I do with those? I could add armor with stonebark or steel. Ooh, what if I mix Komodo with steel armor and mix in Lightening Eel?'

  The form isn't complicated and comes together easily. While I'd love to shoot Lightning bolts from my mouth the natural, non magical ability lends itself better to the new metal scale coating, allowing me to cover myself in an electrical shock. I add in spider venom to my bites to replace the natural "bacterial infection" they spread.

  Now, the rabbit. The fire Infusion worked well: it'd be cool if I could mix in stonebark with it and literally burst into flames, but I don't really want to burn to death.

  'No, wait- it's magic. Can I do that?'

  I mix the stonebark into the form, smoothing the areas around the joints to quiet movement. I Infuse its skin with Fire Mana, allowing me to wreath myself in flame. The idea isn't much different from the lizard, but the mechanics are: the fire wreath can be a continual cantrip casting, but doing so takes a surprising amount of Mana dedicated, enough that I can't add in a leveled version.

  'OK, so I've got a Steel Komodo and Fire Stonebark Rabbit. Can I do anything with the squirrel? Ooh!'

  I remember thinking I wish I had the spiders Wallwalker ability so I could shoot Spines at the squirrels as the Fire Urchin. So lets put all those together!

  I mix spider Into the squirrel form, repeating the spine creation process used for the Urchin on its tail, but making sure to carry over the Wallwalker skill. Inspired by their love for bombs I Infuse the spine tips, allowing them to explode on impact. I may not be able to launch them the same way as the Urchin, but instead have to throw them like a javelin.

  'Actually, I've got a better idea.' I decide and make another adjustment, removing the impact explosion and moving it closer to the base, twisting the spell to allow it to fire directionally. Pushing the magic to work the way I want isn't easy; I settle on a single turn of direction, allowing the needle to be thrown in one way, then adjust mid flight to hit the target, essentially creating a magic bullet that can turn around corners. 'I have to make it trigger within a set range, but it's enough to get around a frontal defense.'

  I review my latest creations, feeling like they fit the description of a Tank, a Fighter, and a Ranger. 'I've got a form for all occasions. Though right now if I fight I'm limited until the "Monster Core Integration" is done. Considering it's still at 01%, this may take a while.

  'I think once it is done I'll attempt to Devour another crystal. I don't know what I may find in the future, but I need a little more variety in my Spells.'

  —

  'Ha! Take that you jerk!' I mentality berate the deer, inflicting it with a movement limiting effect as it's kept doing to me. Sort of.

  I expected an easy fight against what I thought was a normal deer. That's what I get for making assumptions instead of actually checking, but in my defense the "Deer Treant" looks exactly like a normal deer from a distance. Once you get close however, you can tell it's made of wood. "Get close" being the important part, because by then it's already seen you.

  The Steel Komodo scales are impressive, preventing me from being damaged by the Deers normal attacks, but I'm so much slower that I can't land a hit on it without using Dash. I also suspect its wooden body is preventing it from being affected by my Shock skill.

  Perhaps it's getting frustrated too, because it keeps using cantrips to wrap me up in Vines, giving it time to make several attacks that still do nothing.

  But now that it's lost a leg, the tables have turned! Bwa-hahaha!

  "What? No! Get back here!" I growl as the creature runs away on its newly regrow leg. I give chase for a moment, but it's too far gone by the time Dash is available to make pursuit possible.

  Since creating the new forms a day ago I've been meandering through the forest, hoping to find a few slightly higher level creatures before I reach the waterfall- and likely end of the area based on the nearing left wall. I've managed to kill two common squirrels, three Level 1 Horned rabbits, and a Common Deer.

  None of which gave any Victory Points.

  Once I realized the last deer wasn't normal I had high hopes for it, but now that opportunity is gone with the treant.

  The "Monster Core Integration" is only at 07%, and until it's done I'm not only unable to cast Spells without using a crystal, I'm also unable to use Mana Flesh, reducing both my attack and defense strength.

  I freeze in my tracks: I know it didn't die of blood loss, and my current forms bite does instant damage instead of damage over time.

  Which means, like with the fox, something else finished it off.

  I absentmindedly lick my lips. 'Maybe my lucks not run out yet.'