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

to hold onto surfaces and objects without letting

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

help system built into the status to explain the

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 or

do my other skills

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

when digging to increase efficiency

when attempting to attack from a distance using a

Okaaaaay.

formic acid spraying ant then. This could be very helpful, it gives me an option to attack without getting too close to my opponent,

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

me and Croca-beasts, I've no idea where the surface is or if the surface even exists in this world. I can't

I'll have to get it myself. Out, in the

Hmmm.

so scary,

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

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

can

like to spend your skill

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

status, a window

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

purchase

to improve or modify aspects

[Skills available to purchase:

cost 1sp, improves your ability to hide and move

1sp, Increases speed over short

more accurate and

1sp, bites pierce more and are more

cost 1 sp, improves

improvements available

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

a lot of options! It's very difficult

sense would make it harder for me to get lost whilst underground, chomp and acid would help me fight more

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

hatched ant worker, I have to

have

+1

you like to purchase Eyes +1

Yes, please.

can feel a maddening itch burst over my eyes, like a

Gaaah!

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

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