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?

this mean I can hold onto things

and objects without

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

help system built into the status to explain the skills when I think of them?

walls and the ceiling? I totally forgot ants could do that. I'll have to try it as soon as I get out of

do my other skills

ability to accurately and forcefully apply a bite using fangs,

guidance when digging to increase efficiency

accuracy when attempting to attack from

Okaaaaay.

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

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

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 world. I can't

if I want any information I'll have to

Hmmm.

That's so scary,

go out there with who knows how many

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

can I spend my points

you like to

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

my status, a window opens within my

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

use skill points to purchase new skills or

to improve or modify aspects of your

[Skills available to purchase:

ability to hide

speed over

sp, more

and

sense: cost 1 sp, improves sense of direction when

available

+1: harden your exoskeleton to improve resistance

toughen mandibles and improve their

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

increase sensitivity to air current and

gland +1: thicken the concentration

It's very difficult to

it harder for me to get lost whilst underground, chomp and acid would

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.

hatched ant worker, I have to assume I am close to

have made

Eyes +1

to purchase Eyes

Yes, please.

can feel a maddening itch burst over my eyes,

Gaaah!

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

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