Chrysalis

In my quest to domesticate the aphid, there are a few options available. I could try and tame them as they are, not changing them in anyway, though I'm not sure exactly how that would go. Aren't monsters supposed to be brutal, ruthless and cold-hearted killing machines? The very idea of a monster that seems this peaceful doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Although, when you think about it, the life of insects on Earth are just as bloody and merciless as what goes on here in the Dungeon. Ants, spiders, mantis and others battle constantly and without pity, ants themselves kill more insects than any creature on the face of my old planet, seizing the protein of their fellow insects to feed to their larvae to fuel their growth. Even in that ultra-competitive environment, aphids exist. Harmless creatures who curry favour with other, stronger insects by offering them food.

So I suppose it shouldn't be too surprising that such a monster exists here in the Dungeon, prepared to offer its predators an offering of Biomass in order to continue to exist. I can't help but be curious about them. A quick core inspection should help me work out exactly what the situation is.

Approaching the little bugs who continue their placid existence, latched onto the slender branches and fleshy leaves of the large trees, I can tell that several of them have detected my approach as they turn their little bodies to allow themselves to continue feeding yet keep an eye on me at the same time. A few of the larger specimens are what I'm after. Thanks to my mana sense I can detect that they contain cores.

How on earth they amass any experience at all, I've no idea, but apparently they must, there are at least three of the little blighters on this tree alone with cores.

Tentatively, I approach one of the large specimens and the creature quickly turns to present its food court and offers me a glistening globule of Biomass that it excretes. I'll be ok for the moment thanks friend, let me take a quick look at your core.

on its green carapace and activate Core Surgery. My mind is suddenly

What I see is frankly a little surprising. Offering Biomass for free? Innocent little bugs, living a life of non-violence that would make Ghandi

I was naïve!

of their secrets are laid bare and plain

drawing water from the mana infused pools that about in this expanse. Most of the sap that they extract is used as simple food, fueling their growth and sustaining their lives, but part of it is drained off into a separate process. A 'Biomass infusion organ' for want of a better name, uses mana and a chemical process to 'encode' the sap into Biomass, which the aphid can then use on itself. Not a whole lot of Biomass is produced this way but it's better than they would get from fighting, that's

that instils the Biomass with a subtle venom, something that won't take effect immediately, but should a creature frequently make use of the Biomass from these critters, the toxins would

Sneaky devils!

gift, acting for all the world as if it were as

disappointing. My hopes of providing a herd of aphids to the colony are still very much alive, I'm just going to have to alter

but that doesn't help that much. I'd have to change every aphid individually, which

No.

is required here. I need to solve the problem of the poisonous Biomass a large number of aphids at once, whilst maintaining their relatively low intelligence and weak