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

to hold onto surfaces and objects without letting

return of Lord Gandalf! My lord! My savior! Truly your beard is the most

the status to explain the skills

ability to hold onto stuff with my six legs, including 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 you

my other

forcefully apply a bite using fangs, mandibles or

when digging to increase efficiency and

shot: assists accuracy when attempting to attack from a distance using a

Okaaaaay.

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 think would, at the moment, lead to my

bite, crawl on the roof, dig and shoot acid? That doesn't seem like a lot of tools to survive in

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

I want any information I'll have to

Hmmm.

so scary,

knows how many unknown horrors as a lone little

help this situation in

what can I spend my points on

like to spend

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

to improve or modify aspects of

[Skills available to purchase:

ability to hide

speed over short

sp, more

cost 1sp, bites pierce more and

cost 1 sp, improves sense

improvements available

exoskeleton to improve

toughen mandibles and improve their ability to

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

sensitivity to

thicken the concentration

difficult to choose! I have to

harder for me

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

have to assume I

I have

+1

Eyes

Yes, please.

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

Gaaah!

scratch this itch, I might poke my own eyes

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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