Thus, the world changed completely. It quickly became apparent that this new world was limited. Exploration teams sent by Queen Xa-tar-Lona found the ancient tunnels collapsed, cutting off all access to the outside and the rest of the hive. Of course, they repaired them as quickly as possible, only to discover the unimaginable: an opaque barrier formed the boundary of the new domain. When they saw it, it had a pale gray color, similar to a cloudy sky, but then it took on the consistency of rock, as if to guarantee a more familiar universe to those who had just discovered the end of their world.
The queen ordered this wall to be breached, but it seemed indestructible. The surviving princesses and princes were gathered within the palace. As the thinking heads of society, it was their duty to use their intellectual superiority to find a way to save the nation. Limited expansion meant limited resources and therefore sooner or later starvation. Although the population had declined greatly, the egg reserves were globally intact and, while the queen could slow down her egg-laying rate, she could not stop it.
"My children," she announced. "We are facing an unprecedented crisis. There is no doubt that these monsters from elsewhere will reappear and attack us. We will therefore organize regular patrols throughout our entire territory. Mature princesses will be put in charge of territories matching their skills, but all of you will be tasked with gathering as much information as possible about this new world."
"A new world?" Xom-Telba asked, the eldest of the princesses. "Mother, what do you mean by that? We are imprisoned, but we are still at home."
The queen looked with seriousness at her high-ranking children gathered around her. They had all lived for less than thirty years: they therefore did not have the sensitivity that she had been able to develop during her century of existence in this place.
"This is not our world: it is a replica of ours. Those who imprisoned us went so far as to reproduce the pheromones of our hive so that we do not see the difference... But I can tell you that it exists. Tiny, but nevertheless sufficient for me to be able to tell you this."
A buzz rose up as the noble Zcarbbs all communicated at once. Apart from the understandable panic of some, others indicated that they had also noticed differences. Here a stalagmite which didn’t have exactly the same shape as in their memories, there a straight wall when it should have been curved... It was probable that many were deluding themselves, exaggerating error of their senses without realizing it... But it was impossible for everyone to be so mistaken.
Gradually, silence fell in the assembly as all worried eyes turned towards Xa-tar-Lona. The powerful queen spoke again:
"Stop worrying. Our perfect organization is certainly disrupted. But we will reorganize, face the threat and destroy all our enemies. I will now divide the defense and logistics roles. The first threat we will have to face is the state of our food stock, the second is a possible enemy attack. Those of you who do not have a position, I invite you to study this mysterious System as best you can and to provide me with a report."
At these words, everyone raised their eyes to the sky, towards a window that they were each the only ones to see. It stated:
Adjustment of the Dungeon to the System ongoing…
Analyze 53%… in progress
Quietly installed in her personal room, Xicackna began to study these new phenomena. Apparently, "windows" could appear in the air with just a thought, and she could navigate the information like a boat going from island to island on the Great Lake. All she had to do was concentrate her thoughts on a particular piece of information for it to appear in a new, more detailed window.
What mainly intrigued her was this “level” thing. What could that possibly mean? Some sort of competition?
Her “creature sheet”, as it was called, indicated that she was “Level: 1, being adjusted”. Focusing on the information she learned more: "Starting level, analysis in progress 78%, racial advantages taken into account for the initial experience count”.
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In fact, she felt like the more she learned, the less she understood.
Leaving that mystery for later, she began to study the other information. It was very strange: as if her natural abilities had been roughly quantified and described. Some were still "under analysis", but she could see that she had a strength of 3, agility of 3, stamina of 5, intelligence of 20, and base hit points of 100, giving 102 actual hit points...
Numbers to represent her qualities? Okay, but what were they based on? What measurement scale for force and from what standard? As for intelligence, was it really possible to quantify it? How could we assess the vitality of a body with these “life points”? It doesn’t make any sense!
Her “skills” were even stranger. They were associated with a value, a “letter” indicating their rarity, or perhaps their power, although she did not know the criteria used.
Skills (5):
Chitin Armor (D) [passive natural power, +30 Armor, +100 HP]
Invisibility (A) [Natural power, consumes 1 stamina per minute]
Camouflage (E) [Natural power]
Acid projection (F) [Natural power, level 1]
Sixth sense (C) [Natural power, +50% to detect nearby invisible or camouflaged enemies, +10 Intelligence]
If Xicackna understood that the scale value of letters went from "F" for the most basic to "S", even "SSS", or even "L" for the "legendary", it was illogical that chitin armor, which corresponded to the natural protection of any Zcarbb, was rank D, while "acid projection" was rank F. Although many Zcarbbs spit acid, it was not a characteristic shared by all, unlike chitin armor.
“Natural power” seemed to correspond to innate abilities, as opposed to some unknown abilities that wouldn’t be “natural”.
"Well," she sneered wryly, "those who made this list forgot a few skills cut from the same cloth. “Breathe” and “Walk” for example. Or our ability to communicate by pheromones over long distances... ah, no, I think that this one is here..."
Attributes:
Still growing (Natural penalty) [Vitality (HP) divided by 2, part of the XP gained is stored while waiting for the next molt]
Hive Mind (Natural Power) [Ability to transmit limited information to the hive over a variable distance]
"So, they called it “hive mind”? Funny idea. And what does “Still growing” mean? That I'm not yet mature? And XP… Ah, okay, that means “Experience Points”, like “HP” means “Hit Points” … But what does that really mean?"
Level analysis completed…
The sum of natural gift brings the experience to level 10
Current hit points: 150
Current experience: 2700
Xicackna jumped when she saw the message suddenly appear. She instantly became invisible and saw a symbol corresponding to the skill appear out of the corner of her eye, which immediately disappeared when she refused to see it.
Once the fear had subsided, she returned to the visible spectrum, but the color of her chitin reflected the luxurious hangings that made her bed. The symbol for the “camouflage” skill did not appear, because she did not want it to.
"So, she said to herself, we can decide whether or not information appears in our field of vision... But I don't like that... I really don't like that... It gives the impression that there is someone, somewhere, watching each of us constantly..."
Readjustment of the level!
Due to the « Still growing » penalty, the level will be re-evaluated.
New level: 5
Current hit points: 112
Current experience: 700
Experience stored: 2000
Experience needed for next level: 300
Faced with this information, she clenched her mandibles, containing her bad mood. She didn't know what these levels were, but it must be some sort of ranking where the higher the number, the better you would be placed. Losing five places, or levels, all of a sudden was naturally frustrating. And how do you gain this damn experience?
But if there was indeed permanent monitoring, or automation of this “System” to adjust information on prisoners in real time, then it should be possible to ask for more understanding of the situation.
"Help!" She shouted while thinking it very hard. "Information! Manual! Manual!"
Help
Access denied
Dungeon monsters below “Sub-boss” level do not have access to the help’s system.
The blood rose to the head of our little princess upon reading these words. Screaming in rage, she brandished her fist towards the bright window, expressing her displeasure:
"What do you mean access denied? And, monster yourself!"