Black Iron Results

Even without looking at the upgrade system's status screen Gordon already knew. Part of it was the change in how Alba felt in Alba's beast space allotment. But more than that it was the way the six species looked. The signs of a lichen's symbiote were numerous. The pale yellow filaments and growths embedded in their flesh were a death give away.

Alba had spread itself among all the little animals. Even the clams were no longer translucent eggs with a murky nucleus. Now they were just little cells, not even with a hard shell yet. 

"What just happened?"

Gordon asked out loud.

"I think your lichen just assimilated all six species at once while still at the black iron level."

This came from Bonnie. She was stating the obvious, but sometimes the obvious thing made the least sense of all. Gordon needed someone else to confirm what was in front of his eyes.

"Wait double check to make sure that Alba hasn't progressed to the bronze green rank."