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 onto

Ability to hold onto surfaces and objects without letting go, for

My savior! Truly your beard is the most

help system built into the status to explain the

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

my other skills do I

accurately and forcefully apply a bite using fangs,

when digging to

accuracy when attempting to attack from a distance using a natural acid from

Okaaaaay.

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 without getting too close to my opponent, a course of action that I think would, at the moment, lead to

shoot acid? That doesn't seem

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 communicate with anything since I'm fairly sure I don't even have vocal chords, so even if I found someone prepared to talk to a monstrous

if I want any information I'll have to

Hmmm.

That's so

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

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

what can I spend my points on and

you like to spend

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

a window opens

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

use skill points to purchase

be spent to improve or

[Skills available to purchase:

cost 1sp, improves your ability to hide and

Increases speed over short distances but increases

1 sp, more accurate and powerful slashing

and are more difficult

cost 1 sp, improves sense of direction

available to

harden your exoskeleton to improve resistance

mandibles and improve

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

+1: increase sensitivity to air current and

thicken the concentration

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

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

must prioritise my survival. I can only 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 be a dead end if

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

I have

Eyes +1

you like to purchase Eyes +1 and

Yes, please.

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

Gaaah!

can't even scratch this

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