Chrysalis

Chapter 2

The world before the System Descent is mystery to us now, any records of that time disappeared during the Rending or were lost in the centuries since. How did those people judge each other, unable to view themselves with perfect numerical accuracy as we so easily can today?

Was that society a more equitable place? When the worth of a human being can be weighed with such precision, strict roles and structures are easy to maintain, perhaps back then, when the qualities of each individual were more nebulous, it allowed greater freedom, greater choice in a persons' life? Many believe the System elevated us, empowered us to fight back against the great cataclysm, but many of the wise question this narrative, we know what we gained in the Descent, but we can no longer recall what we lost.

Exert from page 15 of "Ruminations on the pre-Descent society" by Illarion the heretic.

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Okay. So I have a skill point and a body point to spend? If this is a game-like situation then I would be able to open some sort of menu in order to spend my points and improve myself. How do I access this menu here in my tunnel though?

Erm. Level up!

No, that didn't work.

Escape! Escape key!

… Nothing.

I mean, worth a shot right?

Sigh.

Status!

Whoa!

Name: Anthony

Level: 1

Might:15

Toughness:12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 30

MP: 0

Skills: Digging level 1; Acid Shot Level 1; Grip Level 3; Bite Level 2

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica)

Biomass: 1

Skill Points: 1

Wow, this is really interesting! My status huh?

The first time I saw these numbers I thought they looked high but perhaps they are actually really low? I can't imagine a hatchling ant worker has an impressive status in any way. And what are these skills?

I can hold onto things

Ability to hold onto surfaces and objects without letting go, for example, walking

Gandalf! My lord! My savior! Truly

the status to explain the skills

ceiling? I totally forgot ants could do that. I'll have to try it as soon as

do my other

to accurately and forcefully apply a bite using

digging to increase efficiency

from a distance using a natural acid from

Okaaaaay.

earth that were able to shoot formic acid from their rear zone. I must belong to a monstrous species of formic acid spraying ant then. This could be very helpful, it gives me an option to attack without getting too close to my opponent, a course of action that I

on the roof, dig and shoot acid? That doesn't

I have no real idea where I am, I have no idea what kind of creatures live in this place other than ants like me and Croca-beasts, I've no idea where the surface is or if the surface even exists in this world. I can't communicate with anything since I'm fairly

want any information I'll have to get it myself. Out, in

Hmmm.

That's so scary,

there with who knows how many unknown horrors as a lone

Came down Anthony, stay cool. Panic will not help this situation in any way. Stay rational, stay

final question is, what can I

like to spend your

I absolutely would oh wise and magnificent Gandalf, bringer of hope, bringer of light, may

status, a window opens within my

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

can use skill points to purchase new skills or upgrade existing

improve or modify aspects

[Skills available to purchase:

your ability to hide and move

Increases speed over short distances but increases stamina

1 sp, more accurate and powerful

bites pierce more and are more difficult

sense: cost 1 sp, improves sense of

improvements available

harden your exoskeleton to

mandibles and improve

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

increase sensitivity to air current and

the concentration of

It's very difficult to choose! I

my enemies, tunnel sense would make it harder for me to get lost whilst

prioritise my survival. I can only improve and grow here if I can survive. Taking abilities to help me fight would only be suicide, if I attack a monster I can't defeat then it'll be game over straight away, improving my speed will be a

newly hatched ant worker, I have to assume I am close to

I have made

Eyes +1 and

like to purchase Eyes +1 and the

Yes, please.

over my eyes, like a thousand mosquito bites erupting at

Gaaah!

scratch this itch, I

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