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 things

onto surfaces and objects without letting go, for

Gandalf! My lord! My savior! Truly your beard is the most luxurious,

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

other skills

to accurately and forcefully apply a bite using fangs, mandibles

when digging to

when attempting to attack from a distance using a natural

Okaaaaay.

I must belong to a monstrous species of formic acid spraying ant then. This could be

That doesn't seem like a lot of tools to

missing most is information. 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

I want any information I'll have to get

Hmmm.

That's so

to go out there with who knows how many

cool. Panic will not help this situation in any way.

the final question is, what can I spend my points

like to

I absolutely would oh wise and magnificent Gandalf, bringer of hope, bringer of light, may your beard be ever

like with my status, a window opens

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

points to purchase

spent to improve or

[Skills available to purchase:

ability to

speed over short distances but increases stamina

more accurate

bites pierce more and

1 sp, improves sense of

improvements available

your exoskeleton to improve resistance to

mandibles and improve

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

+1: increase sensitivity to air current

the concentration of

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

make it harder for me to

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 information, how am I supposed to know what creatures I can

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

have made

Eyes +1 and

you like to purchase Eyes +1 and the skill:

Yes, please.

burst over my eyes, like a thousand mosquito

Gaaah!

Gandalf! I can't even scratch this itch,

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

Comments ()

0/255