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

Ability to hold onto surfaces and objects without letting

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

some sort of help system built into the status to

my ability to hold onto 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 you walk on the floor if you had the option to use the wall

do my other skills

and forcefully apply a bite using fangs, mandibles or

sub-conscious guidance when digging to increase efficiency

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

Okaaaaay.

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

That doesn't seem like a lot of tools to survive

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

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

Hmmm.

so scary,

who knows how many unknown

will not help this situation

what can I

like to spend your

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

a window opens within

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

skill points to purchase new

to improve or modify aspects of your

[Skills available to purchase:

ability

speed over short distances but increases stamina

more accurate

bites pierce more and are more difficult

sp, improves sense of direction when

available

exoskeleton to improve resistance to

toughen mandibles and improve

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

to air current and

+1: thicken the concentration of

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

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

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

have to assume I am close to

I have made

+1

you like to purchase Eyes

Yes, please.

burst over my eyes, like a thousand

Gaaah!

do this to me Gandalf! I can't even scratch this itch, I might poke my

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

Comments ()

0/255