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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

to hold onto surfaces and objects without letting

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

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

legs, including walking 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 you had the option to

other skills

and forcefully apply a bite using fangs, mandibles

guidance when digging

attack from a distance using a natural acid from the

Okaaaaay.

This could be very helpful, it gives me an option to attack

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

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 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

means if I want any information I'll have

Hmmm.

so scary,

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

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

what can I spend

like to

wise and magnificent Gandalf, bringer of hope, bringer

my status, a window opens

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 1

to purchase

improve or modify aspects

[Skills available to purchase:

cost 1sp, improves your ability to hide

speed over

cost 1 sp, more accurate and

pierce more and are more difficult to

improves sense of

available

to improve

+1: toughen mandibles and

Legs +1: improve agility

Eyes +1: improve eyesight

+1: increase sensitivity to

the concentration of internal

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

tunnel sense would make it harder for me to get lost whilst underground,

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 I run into something that is faster than I am. Without information, how am I supposed to know what creatures I

worker, I have to assume I

have

+1

like to purchase Eyes +1 and

Yes, please.

can feel a maddening itch burst over my

Gaaah!

I can't even scratch this itch,

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255