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?

mean I can hold

to hold onto surfaces and objects without letting go, for

triumphant return of Lord Gandalf! My lord! My savior! Truly your beard is the

I have some sort of help system built into the status to explain the skills when I think of them? This is

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

do my other

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

Provides sub-conscious guidance when digging to increase efficiency

to attack from a distance

Okaaaaay.

on earth that were able 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

roof, dig and shoot acid? That doesn't seem like a lot

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

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

Hmmm.

That's so

with who knows how many unknown horrors as a lone

not help this situation in any way. Stay rational,

final question is, what can I

like to

Gandalf, bringer of hope, bringer of

with my status, a window opens within

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

to purchase

to improve or modify aspects of

[Skills available to purchase:

your ability to hide

cost 1sp, Increases speed over short distances but increases

1 sp, more accurate and

and are more difficult to shake

sp, improves

improvements available

exoskeleton to improve resistance

toughen mandibles and

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

to air current and

gland +1: thicken the concentration of

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

able to 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 me

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.

have to

have made my

+1 and

Eyes +1 and the

Yes, please.

itch burst over my eyes,

Gaaah!

scratch this itch, I might poke my own eyes

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