Chapter 280 The modified aphid (1/2)
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 b.l.o.o.d.y 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-compet.i.tive 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 Bioma.s.s 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 ama.s.s 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 Bioma.s.s that it excretes. I'll be ok for the moment thanks friend, let me take a quick look at your core.
Looming over the creature I extend my antennae to tap it on its green carapace and activate Core Surgery. My mind is suddenly flooded with information and the inner secrets of the Aphid Monsters are laid bare before my all seeing eyes.
It takes a few minutes for me to piece together the information into a more cohesive picture. What I see is frankly a little surprising. Offering Bioma.s.s for free? Innocent little bugs, living a life of non-violence that would make Ghandi proud?
I was naïve!
These little b.u.g.g.e.rs are poisoners! Tainted Bioma.s.s! A betrayal of the highest order. Within the core all of their secrets are laid bare and plain as day I can see the process by which the offered Bioma.s.s is produced.
The creatures essentially extract nutrition from the trees, which are themselves high in concentrated mana, due to their position here in this expanse, 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 'Bioma.s.s infusion organ' for want of a better name, uses mana and a chemical process to 'encode' the sap into Bioma.s.s, which the aphid can then use on itself. Not a whole lot of Bioma.s.s is produced this way but it's better than they would get from fighting, that's for sure.
But there is a further process beyond this, another organ that instils the Bioma.s.s with a subtle venom, something that won't take effect immediately, but should a creature frequently make use of the Bioma.s.s from these critters, the toxins would build up in their bodies until they died.