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?

I

and objects without letting go, for example, walking on

Gandalf! My lord! My savior! Truly

into the status to explain the skills when I think of them? This is

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

my other skills do

to accurately and forcefully apply

Provides sub-conscious guidance when digging to increase efficiency and

shot: assists accuracy when attempting to attack from a distance using a

Okaaaaay.

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, at the moment, lead to my

dig and shoot acid? That doesn't seem like a lot of tools to survive in

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

want any information I'll have to get it myself. Out,

Hmmm.

That's so

there with who knows how many unknown horrors as a lone

Anthony, stay cool. Panic will not help this situation in any way. Stay rational,

the final question is, what can I spend my points on

like to spend your skill

oh wise and magnificent Gandalf, bringer of hope, bringer of light, may your beard be

like with my status, a window

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

points to purchase

can be spent to improve or

[Skills available to purchase:

your ability to hide and

speed over short distances but increases stamina

more accurate and

more and are more difficult

1 sp, improves sense

available to

harden your exoskeleton to improve

+1: toughen mandibles and improve

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

increase sensitivity to air

+1: thicken the concentration of internal

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

able to run faster would help be escape my enemies, tunnel sense would make it harder

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

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

have made

Eyes +1 and

to purchase Eyes

Yes, please.

over my

Gaaah!

can't even scratch this itch, I might poke my

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