The hive on the border of the Eternal Rift kept sending out bugs with botched evolutions. The tunnels used to dump their bodies were filled to the brim, proof that the genetic bombs planted by the two entomologists had detonated successfully—and that their effects were still spreading.
"This hive is done for."
On their way back to Shadowdeep City with samples collected from the tunnels, Terra Nova reported to Murphy with absolute certainty:
"A fringe hive simply doesn't have the breeding capacity to overcome that sabotaged genome. Even if they clear the mycelium from the nest, newly hatched bugs will keep showing signs of uncontrolled evolution.
"The faulty genes have already spread, like poison poured into a reservoir.
"The shadow elves don't even need to attack. This hive will keep weakening until most of its bugs lose the ability to evolve on their own. They'll no longer be able to hatch gene messengers, which means there'll be a gap in the combat intelligence they've gathered on the shadow elves.
"I think this would be an excellent place to observe them.
"Perhaps you could order the ratmen to keep watch over it. The bugs will keep breeding, and the ratmen need food. Now that they've learned the cooking techniques of the Otherworld, this hive—which will eventually lose its ability to fight—could become the perfect food source for the ratmen living nearby."
"You mean have the ratmen try their hand at animal husbandry?"
Murphy asked in surprise.
"Raising bugs sounds horrifying enough. I can't help thinking the ratmen might get in over their heads."
"Actually, I got the idea from Little Ashina's suggestion just now."
Nova rubbed her temple.
"Considering the brave warriors are bound to kill the Scale Father, we need to think about what will happen to the swarms already