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

Ability to hold onto surfaces and objects

lord! My savior! Truly your

have some sort of help system built into the status to

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

other

ability to accurately and forcefully apply a bite using fangs, mandibles

sub-conscious guidance when digging

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

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 to my opponent, a course of action that I think would,

bite, crawl on the roof, dig and shoot acid? That doesn't seem like a lot

no idea where the surface is or if the

information I'll have to

Hmmm.

so

go out there with who knows how many unknown

stay cool. Panic will not help this situation

what can I spend my

you like to

magnificent Gandalf, bringer

with my status, a window opens

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

purchase new skills or

to improve or

[Skills available to purchase:

ability to hide and

over

attack: cost 1 sp, more

more and are more difficult

improves sense

improvements available to

exoskeleton to improve resistance to

toughen mandibles and improve

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

+1: increase sensitivity to air current and

the concentration

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

enemies, tunnel sense would make it harder for me to get lost whilst underground,

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

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

have

Eyes +1 and

Eyes +1

Yes, please.

itch burst over my eyes, like a thousand mosquito bites erupting at

Gaaah!

Gandalf! I can't even scratch

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

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