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?
I can hold onto things
Ability to hold onto surfaces and objects without letting go, for example, walking
Gandalf! My lord! My savior! Truly
the status to explain the skills
ceiling? I totally forgot ants could do that. I'll have to try it as soon as
do my other
to accurately and forcefully apply a bite using
digging to increase efficiency
from a distance using a natural acid from
Okaaaaay.
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 to my opponent, a course of action that I
on the roof, dig and shoot acid? That doesn't
I 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 can't communicate with anything since I'm fairly
want any information I'll have to get it myself. Out, in
Hmmm.
That's so scary,
there with who knows how many unknown horrors as a lone
Came down Anthony, stay cool. Panic will not help this situation in any way. Stay rational, stay
final question is, what can I
like to spend your
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 skills or upgrade existing
improve or modify aspects
[Skills available to purchase:
your ability to hide and move
Increases speed over short distances but increases stamina
1 sp, more accurate and powerful
bites pierce more and are more difficult
sense: cost 1 sp, improves sense of
improvements available
harden your exoskeleton to
mandibles and improve
Legs +1: improve agility
Eyes +1: improve eyesight
increase sensitivity to air current and
the concentration of
It's very difficult to choose! I
my enemies, tunnel sense would make it harder for me to get lost whilst
prioritise 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 my speed will be a
newly hatched ant worker, I have to assume I am close to
I have made
Eyes +1 and
like to purchase Eyes +1 and the
Yes, please.
over my eyes, like a thousand mosquito bites erupting at
Gaaah!
scratch this itch, I
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!