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 can hold onto

objects without letting go, for example,

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

system built into the status to explain the skills

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

my other

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

sub-conscious guidance when digging

from a distance using a natural acid from

Okaaaaay.

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, at the

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

I'm 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

means if I want any information I'll have to

Hmmm.

That's so scary,

there with who knows how many unknown horrors as a lone little ant monster?! Madness, madness

this situation in any way. Stay rational, stay cool,

what can I spend my points on and

to spend your skill

and magnificent Gandalf, bringer of hope, bringer of light,

like with my status, a window opens

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

use skill points to purchase new skills or upgrade

be spent to improve or modify

[Skills available to purchase:

1sp, improves your ability to hide and move

speed over short distances

1 sp, more accurate and

1sp, bites pierce more and are more difficult

1 sp, improves

available

to improve

and

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

to

gland +1: thicken the concentration

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

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

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 dead end if I run into something that is faster than I am. Without

I have to assume I am close to the

have made

+1 and

you like to purchase Eyes +1 and the skill:

Yes, please.

burst over my

Gaaah!

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

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