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

onto surfaces and objects without

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

of help system built into the status

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

other

to accurately and forcefully apply a bite using fangs, mandibles

sub-conscious guidance when digging to increase efficiency

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

Okaaaaay.

to a monstrous species of formic acid spraying ant then. This could

shoot acid? That doesn't seem like a lot of tools to survive in an environment like

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

have to get it myself. Out, in

Hmmm.

That's so

me to go out there with who knows how many unknown horrors as a lone little ant monster?! Madness,

will not help this situation in any way. Stay rational, stay

the final question is, what can I

like to spend your skill

oh wise and magnificent Gandalf, bringer of hope,

with my status, a window opens within

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

can use skill points to purchase new skills or upgrade

improve or modify aspects

[Skills available to purchase:

your ability to hide

speed over short distances but increases

cost 1 sp, more accurate

and are more difficult to shake

1 sp, improves sense

improvements available to

harden your exoskeleton to improve resistance to

+1: toughen mandibles and improve their ability

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

increase sensitivity to air

the

lot of options! It's very difficult to

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

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

I have to assume

I have

Eyes +1

you like to purchase Eyes +1 and the

Yes, please.

burst over my eyes, like a thousand

Gaaah!

I can't even scratch this

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

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