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?

Does this mean I can

surfaces and objects without letting go, for example, walking

Gandalf! My lord! My savior! Truly your beard is the

built into the status to explain the skills when I

walking on walls and the ceiling? I totally forgot ants could do that. I'll have to try it as soon as I get out of here, why would you walk on the floor if

my other skills do

the ability to accurately and forcefully apply a bite using

sub-conscious guidance when digging to increase

attempting to attack from a distance using a

Okaaaaay.

spraying ant then. This could be very helpful, it gives me an option to attack without getting too

the roof, dig and shoot acid? That doesn't seem like a lot of

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

I'll have to get it myself. Out,

Hmmm.

That's so

how many unknown horrors as a lone little ant monster?! Madness, madness

Anthony, stay cool. Panic will not help this

question is, what can I spend my

you like to spend your

magnificent Gandalf, bringer of hope, bringer of light, may your beard be

with my status, a

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

points to purchase new

can be spent to improve or modify aspects of your

[Skills available to purchase:

1sp, improves your ability to hide

speed over short distances but increases stamina

cost 1 sp, more accurate and

1sp, bites pierce more and are more difficult to shake

sp, improves

improvements available

exoskeleton to improve resistance to

+1: toughen mandibles and improve their

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

+1: increase sensitivity to air current and

+1: thicken the concentration of

options! It's very difficult to choose! I have to think

sense would make it harder for me to get lost whilst underground,

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

worker, I have to assume I am close

have made

Eyes +1 and

purchase Eyes +1 and the

Yes, please.

a maddening itch burst over my eyes, like a thousand mosquito bites

Gaaah!

Gandalf! I can't even scratch this itch, I might

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