Chrysalis

[Do you guys mind? My pet is feeling a little put upon here.]

As one the Sophos turn on me.

[MIND YOURSELF, BOY! THE EXPERTS ARE TALKING!]

Yikes. Not one to mince words, this one. Although, I could say the same for all of the Sophos I've met. They seem universally loud and pugnacious.

[THAT'S HIS PET, YOU NINCOMPOOP!]

[HOW DARE YOU!]

[OH, I DARE THAT AND MORE!]

[FORMO, YOU SLACK JAWED NINNY! I'LL MAKE PAJAMAS OUT OF YOUR FAVOURITE PET FOR YOUR WORDS!]

[YOU WANT TO TRY IT ASONAN? I'LL TURN YOUR HOUSE INTO A BIOMASS PANTRY. AND LAUGH! HEARTILY!]

[Calm down! Sheesh! No need to get so worked up!] I interject.

They turn on me once more.

[THIS- ahem. This is merely banter, old boy. Conflict between Sophos is- well, its unheard of.]

[AND NOT JUST BECAUSE WE CAN'T TALK!]

[OH HO! JOLLY GOOD JAPE!]

[QUITE SO!]

I'm not sure if my burgeoning headache or weariness will become more pressing in the short term. These damn Sophos are exhausting.

[WE WERE MERELY EXAMINING THE CHOICES YOU'D MADE WITH YOUR PET!] the one named Asonan shouts at me.

[I don't see why it's so interesting] I said, honestly. [For the most part, I let Crinis make her own choices.]

Silence fell at my words as the Sophos sightlessly stare at me for a moment before they turn back to studying Crinis.

[Anthony, you really let your pets make their own evolution decisions?]

[Yes?]

[Even that one?] Formo points and Tiny as the ape continues to shovel handfuls of Biomass into his face.

[Yep.]

didn't design their evolutions?

Crinis before I reconstituted her, but my skill levels were low back then, and still are now, compared to yours I suppose,

[… why?]

line as Formo queries me. I'm not sure why they have such an

on the other, they have their own minds, even if they're pets! They can decide what they

interesting that your pets were able to make quite

[Really?]

attributes every time it evolves until it eventually becomes effectively mindless. We rarely bother with them due to the hassle, but if

[Uhh, that's great advice.]

reign. But I can respect your

[Thanks!]

NEW SHADOW BEAST HAS,] another member of the Crinis fan club interjects. [IT'S

is pretty darn close to evolving right

[Ah! Yes, Master!]

by looking at her

can you look at her core without

feel the Sophos around

skills Anthony. We hardly waste time on core shaping our real pets until we reach rank

SIX?!

whole new species of Ant monster and I'm only rank three

[YOU DID WHAT?!]

in the sconce at that. All of the Sophos turn to stare at me once more, but this time the air

uh. I modified the Queen's core to produce offspring more like me and the

A BLASTED THING TO

[INCREDIBLE!]

[INSPIRED!]

FANTASTIC IS WHAT IT

SPECIES IS A

with a chorus of "GOOD SHOW!" and "INDEED, YES!" from

a second there I thought you guys might

SO EASILY FRIGHTENED! WE'VE FOUGHT OFF SWARM MONSTERS DOZENS OF

[HUNDREDS!]

NOT

know, that's nice to hear. It's good to find people

WE ARE

colony who are dedicated to core shaping after I was inspired by Formo's

[OUTRAGEOUS?!]

[HOW DARE YOU, INSECT?!]

[NOW, THAT IS THREATENING!]