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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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?

this mean I can

surfaces and objects without letting go, for example, walking on

return of Lord Gandalf! My lord! My savior! Truly your beard

of help system built into the status to explain the skills

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

my other

accurately and forcefully apply a bite using fangs, mandibles or

Provides sub-conscious guidance when digging to increase efficiency

to attack from a distance using a natural acid from the

Okaaaaay.

on 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

shoot acid? That doesn't seem like a lot of

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 sure I don't even have vocal chords, so even if I found someone prepared to talk to a monstrous ant,

if I want any information I'll have to get it

Hmmm.

so scary,

to go out there with who knows how many unknown horrors as a lone little

cool. Panic will not help this situation in any way. Stay

is, what can I spend my points on and

you like to spend your skill

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

status, a window opens within

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

can use skill points to purchase

spent to improve or modify aspects

[Skills available to purchase:

your ability to hide

Increases speed over

sp, more accurate and powerful

and are more difficult to shake

cost 1 sp, improves

available to

your exoskeleton to

and

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

increase sensitivity to air current

gland +1: thicken the concentration

lot of options! It's very difficult to choose! I have to

escape my enemies, tunnel sense would make it harder for me to get lost whilst underground, chomp and acid

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 dead end if I run into something that is faster than I am. Without information, how am I supposed to know what creatures I can fight and how fast any

hatched ant worker, I have to assume I am close to the weakest creature

have made my

Eyes +1 and

Eyes

Yes, please.

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

Gaaah!

to me Gandalf! I can't even scratch this itch, I

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

Comments ()

0/255