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.]

evolutions? Or

my skill levels were low back then, and still are now, compared to yours I suppose, so I wasn't

[… why?]

Sophos are listening along the communal line as Formo queries me. I'm

hand I can't be bothered to micromanage every little thing, on the other, they have their own minds, even if they're pets! They can decide what they want and how

just find it interesting that your pets were able to make

[Really?]

intervene. The Lightning Fist Ape is an interesting creature, but it chews up its own mental attributes every time it evolves until it eventually becomes effectively mindless. We rarely bother with them due to the hassle, but if you

[Uhh, that's great advice.]

reign.

[Thanks!]

MUCH POTENTIAL THIS NEW SHADOW BEAST HAS,] another member of the Crinis fan club

is pretty darn close to evolving right now, aren't you

[Ah! Yes, Master!]

see that by looking at

you look at her core without touching

can almost feel the Sophos

hardly waste time on core shaping our

SIX?!

Ant monster and I'm

[YOU DID WHAT?!]

All of the Sophos turn to stare at

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

BLASTED THING TO

[INCREDIBLE!]

[INSPIRED!]

IS WHAT

back to his head thumping loudest. [CREATING A NEW SPECIES IS A GRAND ACHIEVEMENT! ESPECIALLY FOR A LOST SOUL SUCH AS YOU!

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

to admit for a second there I thought you guys might get angry at me for making

WE'VE FOUGHT OFF SWARM MONSTERS DOZENS

[HUNDREDS!]

ARE NOT INTIMIDATED

know, that's nice to hear. It's good to find people who aren't afraid of

WE ARE

who are dedicated to core shaping after I was inspired

[OUTRAGEOUS?!]

[HOW DARE YOU, INSECT?!]

[NOW, THAT IS THREATENING!]