//------------------------------// // Chapter 20 // Story: Subject to evolution // by Dramize the Salamander //------------------------------// Day 93 I woke up to the seen of a treacherous glade with dark twisted tree with glowing green pustules that spewed a corrosive bile at whatever popped them while releasing toxic gasses into the air. Corrupted creatures were going around eating those who hadn't changed while dark green emerald spires erupted from the ground and a purple powder fell from the sky. I yawn before getting up and shaking off the powder and flying up to a wonderful sight the corruption was spreading on it's own and would engulf everything soon, so I could relax. I closed my wings and let myself fall into a falcon dive aimed at the expanding ring of murky navy blue water that surrounded our home before changing into beast form and relaxing in the waves and I apparently wasn't the only one as every one else showed up in beast form before changing to normal form to laze around. Elytra and our nymphs jumped into the water with me along with Cadaia. Buzzelga and Acid were napping on the beach with six large eggs between them while Velger was making glass statues with her magic and her flames and Whisper was fishing with her web as Glyph watched the sea from a tree branch she was hanging from. I was great everyone was calm and relaxed as Glyph's sea foam green clouds circled our island spreading corruption with green rain showers from time to time as we rested. I was a nice and calm day until a giant crab claw attached to a long white tentacle knocked me and Elytra out of the water before several other tenticals and a large shelled squid rose out of the water looking ready to attack only for a silver chitin covered sea foam green tentacle with a long barbed hooks at the end of it pull the beast back down into the water which turned purple for a second before Jinx came up in a new form dragging the squid which as now gushing blood from several small holes in it's forehead out of the water with two sea foam green tentacles that were coming out of her upper back that were lined with barbed serrated hooks that latched into the dying kraken like creature. Her claws were webbed and alligator like but thinner to match her trim body type that was a thinner mirror of Cadaia except with salamander influenced changeling legs. Jinx smiled at us as she sat back and relaxed with us as we all snacked on her kill watch the horizon as the sun moved to set on a beautifully calm day. Acquired Stinging cells Evolution Acquired bio-luminesce Evolution Acquired Luminesce ball Evolution Day 94 While the corruption was spreading on it's own everyone decided it was time to finally create a true hive using the chambers we already had underground as a starting point and expanding from their. So I sent Whisper's and Glyph's scouts to explore the place while I thought about how to use the whole island and maybe the creation of a castle. I moved back outside and spread my wings taking off for the top of the mountain when suddenly the death queens emblem started to glow. "You have done well for yourself my son." Said a familiar voice that echoed through my mind. "Mother what do owe the pleasure?" I thought as I landed on the snowy mountain top. "Just checking on you progress like how my sisters are checking on their chosen and I must say I was right for choosing you. You even exceeded the origin queens expectations." Valgrasa said the joy in her voice easily evident. "Glad to have made you proud mother." "Good but I have a warning before I go. Watch that filth of chaos Discord don't trust him, his power is nothing to be played with." "I will, don't worry. I thought as Valgrasa left my mind giving me time to think about how I was going to deal with Discord if he did try something because she was right. As I kept pondering I saw Whisper come out of a cave I had never seen before with a smile on her face so used this to get my mind off my troubles and ask her what was in the cave. Whisper blushed her smile never leaving her face as she brought me back to the cave showing me the contents and their was only one thing in it a live Cerberus tied up, it's body bloated and in pain as I could see small worm like out lines moving around it's body. "Are those what I think they are?" I asked getting a nod from Whisper as she held her stomach blushing. I gave her a warm smile before congratulating her on her larva that were moving under the large beasts skin feasting on the dog before leaving wondering when she was pregnant in the first place as the scouts and Elytra came back with a detailed map of the chambers and what was in them and Elytra saying she would deal with the hives creation . Day 100 I sat on my ruby throne in the partly finished castle we were building as Elytra was directing the everyone else on the use and shaping of corruption and crystal as Velger directed the actual hive structure with Whisper assisting. I yawned as I waited my eyes feeling heavier with each second as I fell into a dreamless slumber until I felt an icy touch caress my check. My eyes shot open to meet Elytra's as her hand moved to play with my red web mane her frost sticking to me with the gentle touch as she shifted on my lap kissing me on my check. "Is it time my queen?" I said as Elytra got up with a smile her fangs shining In the low light of flaming wisps trapped in crystal lanterns that decorated the now completed throne room making me wonder how long was I asleep. "Yes my king the crystal have been infused with the corruption of the others now all that is left is your piece." Elytra said as I got up her frost melting as my inner fire started to awaken with my anticipation as Elytra motioned at the door which opened to reveal an young female nymph that was carrying a clear crystal that was resting on a large ruby which she kneeled and presented to me. As I grabbed the pendent I could feel the gem pulling at the corruption inside me as it rested in my claw glowing red as a black dot started growing from the center until the crystal turned black . The Castle shook as the floor in the center of the room opened up to reveal a large black orb that floated up and seemed to pulse with sinister energy as prismatic steam flowed from it. My crystal rose up from my claw before and flew in to the orb causing it to pulse red for a few seconds before the steam turned black and corruption started to flow from it like water from a spring into the chamber I was resting in as it hovered and the origin queen's symbol appeared in green on it. Castle started shaking again as the stone heads modeled after everyone's beast form started spouting the black water in to pools lined with gold and silver marking that lined the room. "So Elytra what have you created?" I asked not knowing what to make of the orb. "This Drasa is a library that will soon contain the evolution memory of all evolving allowing our hatchlings to hatch augmented and any current ling to rearrange their evolutions." Elytra said with a happy smile. "The origin Queen show it to me in a dream a few days ago." I was impressed as I walked up to orb feeling the cool smooth surface that seemed to pulse with power almost like a soft but strong heartbeat. Elytra walked up behind me getting in close as she whispered into my ear. "I knew you would love it and you can repay me later but for now." Elytra moved away a smile on her face. "You need to go help with the relocation of the nests to the nursery." I smiled as I moved away from the library and watched Elytra take a seat on her diamond throne as she looked down on me. "As you wish my queen." I said with a low bow before leaving to help with the nests relocation which took the rest of the day to finish due to trying not to burst or kill Whisper's somehow still living egg sac.