>>5412790>>5412791>>5412794>>5412795>>5412799The Flounder Feeders have even further refined their filter organ, allowing it to extract close to half of their heavy metal intake and process a larger, purer fraction into their exterior. Now, death by heavy metal poisoning has dropped to nearly match the attrition rate of autoimmune disease, both extremely common, both extremely fatal, but neither guaranteed. As a consequence, their shells are not only shinier but thicker and feature streaks of inert lead and even other metals, such as copper and iron. In a gentle bit of natural selection, the Flounder Feeder’s stomach grows larger and its acid fiercer, allowing them to process even more nutrients from their prey than before. With their blubber storing calories as fat, the Flounder Feeders are now constantly eating to store as much as possible, because they have no reason not to. These allow the Flounder Feeder population to surge, eclipsing the Ripple Trackers, before a brief, chance resurgence of the old sterility gene negates the growth they've made.
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