I always expect to get knocked out when evolving but this feels slightly different . I don't feel like I'm being pulled downward into slumber but quite literally being pulled downward!
I can feel my consciousness being pulled down into my core, dragged away from its home in my ant body in a non-pain free process .
What the heck is going on here!? I was just about to evolve and enjoy my rise to triumph! What the heck is this? Is this some punishment for hitting Tiny too much? He deserved it! I swear!
Did I kill too many humans? Is there god going to take punishment on me for reaping juicy experience from them? Those were bad people! Probably!
To tell you the truth I don't know!
Despite my protestations and desperate flailing with my mind I have absolutely no control . Like a water balloon held in an iron fist my mind can only slosh about as it is inexorable pulled away, into the core, and then down, further down . A tiny thread like tendril has extended from the dark and connected to my core and it's through this thread that I am drawn, dragged even .
Like Alice tumbling down a rabbit hole I can sense myself sinking down a winding path, twisting here, turning there and always spiralling further downward, to the very center .
Of what I have no freakin' clue . As a disembodied mind I don't really have access to a whole lot of sensory options . None, is the precise number now that I think about it . I think Vibrant would die of sheer boredom in this place! Not to mention Tiny, he'd have nothing to fight! Or eat… .
Crinis would probably be quite fine though, now that I consider it . She'd miss the sensation of touch obviously but she's used to going without the others…
I continue to babble to myself to on the surface level of my mind mainly to distract from the sheer existential terror I'm experiencing .
I'M FREAKING OUT OVER HERE!
It isn't often your consciousness is quite literally dragged out of your body and pulled to a new location whilst you spin, completely blind and unaware of the process going on? How often could that possibly happen to a person!? It's only the second time I've ever experienced this sensation!
. . .
The realisation stills my pounding… mental… heart . . For a single second .
Actually… I did go through this whole thing before once didn't I?
I can remember, vaguely, what it felt like when I … died, I guess? I could feel my mind slipping away from my body, pulled out and dragged through who knows what to who knows where . The hunger and sensation from my old body just faded away then everything went white and then…
[Then you heard a voice which welcomed you to your new world]
Yeah! Then Gandalf spoke to me and everything got started on this crazy antventure…
… .
Gandalf!?
[Is that what you call me, young one?]
Well… . . Yeah? That is certainly the voice of the Gandalf the Grey and I'll say the same even if you don't let me pass…
[Pass where?]
… . Doesn't matter I suppose . What's going on here exactly O Bearded One? Could I perhaps be returned to my body please?
[Your core has reached the level of density required for me to reach out to you in this way young Anthony . It is kind of … traditional, that I speak to those like you personally at this point of their new journey]
Uh… . Don't you talk to me almost constantly? Every time I level up and so on?
[Those communications are a little more … subconscious . For me to reach out to you with my active mind requires a little more… sturdiness on your part . You have reached this point very quickly I must say, you must have adapted to the monstrous life well]
That sturdiness comment is a little disturbing . I reached this point quickly? Compared to what? The other people like me? Just how many people do you drag in here Gandalf? Are you in the habit of abducting people?
…
Can I go away now? Please?
[I reach out to grasp an existence like yours and bring them into this world periodically . It helps… various things]
What do you mean 'like me'? I don't recall there being anything particularly special about me?
[Oh you don't? I have found it takes a certain resilience of mind, a certain … . Insanity, to allow a sentient creature such as a human to survive the transition to life in the Dungeon of this world without… breaking . I try to find souls such as yours, souls that have lived a life of deprivation and suffering . I find they are better equipped to handle the madness, slaughter and solitary life of a monster]
… . .
… . .
But… I don't particularly see myself as having suffered a horrible life or anything though? It was bit tough sometimes but, everybody hurts, you know?
… .
(There is a slight stunned silence between the two us for a moment)
…
[You starved to death at age fifteen… . ]
… .
Well … yeah I know that right? But I always thought that was a bit more common than people gave it credit, you know? People starve to death all over the world, many of them younger than me . That's not so bad .
… .
(I'm not sure that Gandalf was quite expecting the response he is getting)
[Weren't you also abandoned by your parents?]
…
I wouldn't necessarily say abandoned… They did disappear one morning with all of their clothes and any belongings that were worth anything . Not to mention my relatives immediately stopped answering my calls, leaving me stranded with debtors on the door… . But hey… could have been worse .
[Could have been worse?!]
Sure! … Could have had my leg cut off .
…
…
[Didn't that happen too?]
Well… . A bit .
[A BIT?!]
Fine! Sheesh! So what!? I still had my pets at least .
[Ah yes, your pet colony of ants . You fed them everything you had, didn't you? Until you starved to death]
Can we stop talking about the death and such? I'm more of a forward looking person…
[Would you describe it as sane for a person to feed a colony of ants above themselves to the point they died from it?]
Not everyone has my sense of responsibility and devotion Gandalf, what can I say?
[That is the reason I reincarnated you as an ant, by the way, I thought it would be a … comforting form for you]
So it really was pet ants = ant rebirth!? Dammit!
[You don't like it?]
… . It worked out ok in the end but I have to say Gandalf, it was quite a shaky start!
[Yes, many don't make it past the first few days, despite my best efforts]
So . . What happens to those who … don't make it?
[Death, of course]
… .
(Yikes!)
[I hope you can continue to succeed young Anthony, who knows, perhaps I'll see you in person one day]
In person? Like . . You're not a spirit or something? Where the heck are you?
[If you go down far enough, you should find me]
I just might you know! (not in a million years)
[You may not have a choice… Good luck!]
With that I feel my mind once again being manipulated by a power beyond its control, flung back out of wherever the heck I've been and up, up, up through the tendril and slammed back into my core .
Ouch!
From my core I can feel my consciousness once again settle inside its rightful house . Before I can even begin to process the bizarre conversation with He of the floppy hat I sink slowly into sleep as the evolution process takes hold of me properly .
Dangi . . .
Chapter end
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