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

surfaces and objects without letting go,

Gandalf! My lord! My savior! Truly your beard is the most

I have some sort of help system built into the status to explain the skills when I

on walls and 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 on the floor if

my other skills do I

forcefully

Provides sub-conscious guidance when digging to increase efficiency and

to attack from a

Okaaaaay.

formic acid spraying ant then. This could be very helpful, it gives me an option to attack without getting

That doesn't seem like a

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 communicate with anything since I'm fairly sure I don't even have vocal chords, so even if I found

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

Hmmm.

so scary,

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

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

final question is, what can I spend

to

bringer of hope, bringer of light, may

with my status, a window opens within

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

purchase

spent to improve or

[Skills available to purchase:

cost 1sp, improves your ability to hide and move

Increases speed over short

1 sp, more accurate and

cost 1sp, bites pierce more and

1 sp, improves sense of

improvements available

+1: harden your exoskeleton to improve resistance to mundane

and

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

+1: increase sensitivity to

thicken the

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

it harder for me to get lost whilst

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

I have to assume I

have made my

+1

you like to purchase Eyes +1 and the skill:

Yes, please.

my eyes, like

Gaaah!

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

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