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 hold onto

objects

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

status to explain the skills when I

that. I'll have to try it as soon as I get out of here, why would you walk on the floor if you had the option to use the wall

do my other

ability to accurately and forcefully apply a bite using

sub-conscious guidance when digging

when attempting to attack from

Okaaaaay.

acid from their rear zone. I must belong to a monstrous species of formic acid spraying ant then. This could be very

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

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,

have to get it myself.

Hmmm.

That's so scary,

want me to go out there with who knows how many unknown horrors as a

Anthony, stay cool. Panic will not help this situation in any

question is, what can I spend my

to spend

magnificent Gandalf, bringer of hope, bringer of

a window

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

points to purchase new

be spent to improve or modify

[Skills available to purchase:

1sp, improves your ability to

1sp, Increases speed over short distances but

attack: cost 1 sp, more accurate and powerful

bites pierce more and are

sp, improves sense of direction when

available to

exoskeleton to improve resistance to mundane

and improve their ability

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

+1: increase sensitivity to air

thicken the concentration of

very difficult to choose! I have to think logically

it harder for me to get lost whilst underground, chomp and acid

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

to assume I am close

have made my

Eyes +1

Eyes +1

Yes, please.

feel a maddening itch burst over my

Gaaah!

scratch this itch, I might poke my

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

Comments ()

0/255