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 can hold onto

objects without letting go,

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

help system built into the status to

totally forgot ants could do that. I'll have to try it as soon as I get out of here, why would you

other skills

accurately and forcefully apply a bite using fangs, mandibles or

sub-conscious guidance when digging to increase efficiency

from a distance

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,

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

the surface is or if the surface even exists in this world. I can't communicate with anything

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

Hmmm.

That's so

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

not help this situation in any

can I

to spend

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

my status, a window opens

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

purchase

can be spent to improve or modify aspects of

[Skills available to purchase:

your ability to

over short distances but increases stamina

sp, more accurate

more and are more difficult to shake

sense: cost 1 sp, improves sense of direction when

available to

exoskeleton to improve resistance

mandibles and improve their ability

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

sensitivity to air current and

gland +1: thicken the concentration

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

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

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 am

I have to assume I am

I have made my

+1

to purchase Eyes

Yes, please.

over my eyes, like a thousand mosquito bites erupting at

Gaaah!

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

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