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

Ability to hold onto surfaces and objects without letting

Gandalf! My lord! My savior! Truly your beard

the status to explain the skills when I think

improves 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

my other skills do

accurately and forcefully apply

guidance when digging to

attack from a distance using a natural acid

Okaaaaay.

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,

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

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

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

Hmmm.

That's so scary,

out there with who knows how many unknown horrors as a lone

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

the final question is, what can I

to spend your

I absolutely would oh wise and magnificent Gandalf, bringer of hope, bringer of

status, a window opens

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

points to purchase new skills or

improve or

[Skills available to purchase:

cost 1sp, improves your ability to

speed over short distances but increases

attack: cost 1 sp, more accurate and

1sp, bites pierce more and are more

cost 1 sp, improves

improvements available

your exoskeleton to improve resistance to

and improve their ability

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

sensitivity to air current and

thicken the concentration of

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

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

can't defeat then it'll be game over straight away, improving my speed will be a dead end if I run

have to assume I am close

have made my

Eyes +1

purchase Eyes +1 and the skill:

Yes, please.

itch burst over my eyes, like a

Gaaah!

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

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