{Floor one cleared.}

{You have filled the graveyard of this floor with your regrets and have budded new emotions and feelings.}

[Reward: +4 levels to skills: fast processing & concentration.]

{You can’t change the past, and Future comes after. It’s the present you should worry more about.}

{Your special ability->Proficiency overtaking has absorbed skill-Mimicry & Web slinging from the foe defeated.}

{Shape shift has reached its maximum level}

{Skill: Mimicry acquired.}

*****

[Mimicry][Active][Lv-3/50][Tier-3]

[It allows you to mimic anything to their exact form and shape: Your constitution constraints your ability to mimic; the skill uses and retains 100 points of mana from your pool to initiate and maintain the change.]

Experience has been granted for clearing first of the three-floor dungeon: Graveyard of Feelings.

Congratulations, you have leveled up!

You are now a level 6 silver ‘Trap jaw’ ant.

Concentration and fast processing have reached their maximum levels.

[You have reached the minimum requirement to completely unlock Skill: Overdrive.]

*****

[Overdrive][Lv-12/50][Active][Tier-3]

[This skill lets you surpass the limits of your mental faculties.]

[Stage 1: Slows down the world to your eyes based on your agility for one minute.]

[Stage 2(unlocked at lv 10): You can move in the slowed world.]

[Effects: Intelligence and Agility reduces to half for 24 hours after use.]

[Reward: +.1 to AGI, CONS, INT, WIS, and MP reg per level.]

Commencing transfer to the neutral zone

The world warped around me, censoring all sounds and smells, before exploding with a burst of energy, pushing the darkness away from me and unfolding my surroundings into a dirt-filled room lit by walls glowing in earthly yellow.

It wasn’t anything like the sphere's method of transportation. And yes, I was transported to another chamber— something the system had termed as neutral before the transfer. I stress the word transfer because, for me, it was like the world had moved while I had stayed at rest rather than the other way around. It was such an ingeniously mind-boggling way of getting from one place to another that I was left out of words to describe its beauty, but more on that later. Let’s jump a few moments ahead and come to the main matter of concern.

I wasn’t alone in the chamber; not that there were any enemies waiting for me inside. It was Mink and Pyro and they were standing upon someone, someone who reeked of a pungent odor, of poison. It was none other than David and he wasn’t breathing.

—For how long? — I whispered the two hurrying closer and placed my antennas on David’s chest without waiting for their answer. Inspection and analysis, I had learned a long while ago worked better when used by maintaining direct contact with the target. David’s vital fluid had thickened and almost turned into purplish syrup. He was mana starving. His body was turning rigid. He was dying.

“He just—”

“You can’t—” I plainly whispered, backing a step in horror. “Not again. Not again! No! I won’t let you! No, I won’t!” I hissed and used heal. The golden glow of heal swept through David’s body and purified the poison, mended his wounds and filled his health. I appraised him and he was no longer poisoned, but there was still mana starvation in effect. I bestowed him some of my mana to counter, but he didn’t wake up.

“What else . . .” I mumbled in panic. “What else can I do?!”

“Will captain be alright?” Mink asked, but I didn’t reply. I couldn’t reply. It was happening again. Another team, another friend, another captain . . .

“No!” I yelled and healed and healed and healed until the golden glow surpassed its limits and filled the whole chamber. Something happened at that time; something which I couldn’t see or feel because I was too emotionally attuned and focused. The blinding radiance of heal faded a while later and I lost consciousness as a result.

I woke sometime later in Genma’s arms. His antennas went taut sensing my motion and he dumped me. “Oh sorry—” He said. It flustered him enough to make his antennas go wild and dance. He looked kind of cute, like an older brother. “Are you—” Alright -- he didn’t say. I nodded and so did he. Mink came from behind, lifted me up in his mandible and started spinning, screaming, he’s awake! He’s awake!

“Bring him down, you big oaf. Are you trying to kill him?” Pyro reprimanded Mink, which made him stop his foolishness and put me down. Pyro chased Mink around blasting harmful sparks at him, yelling, but in joy. He was happy; extremely so. I didn’t have to read his mind to know that. His title said so. Pyromaniacs like to light everything around them in a fire when they are happy, or sad, or worried. Well, such was he -- an enigma.

And David . . . we shared a glance and greeted each other; he nodded and I returned back the gesture. Still reserved, still stubborn, still a captain with the weight of his family on his back, and still David. There was no longer any need for us to say anything, I understood what he wanted to say, he understood what I wanted to say, that’s all there is to communication, expressing yourself. It is not always that one needs to talk in order to do that.

Everyone has their methods of showing concern: some speak them out loud; others contemplate and share with those of mutual mindset; only a few abide them. They all had been through their share of trouble, so no one asked me about mine, and I was gratified for privacy. There was just too much at stake. We were going against an entity that had nothing in common with us; we were drowning. I won’t say anything, but seeing David so disturbed had a silent effect on all of us; even Pyro’s playfulness started looking scrupulously scripted after some time as if he was trying to run away.

While I sat alone, contemplating about our progress and future, my shadow rippled and Dark slowly rose out of it. He sat alongside me and followed my gaze to David’s back. He didn’t say anything at first then rubbed my head and asked me, “How are you doing?”

“Alright, I guess,” I replied and he slapped my back, startling me.

“What you did today —“

“There is no need. You would have done the same thing.” I said, taking my eyes off David’s back and looking in the dynamic duo’s direction. No longer was Pyro the one harassing Mink. The tables had turned. Now, Mink had Pyro lifted high in the air who scared to death of the height.

“They sure can play in any conditions.”

“That they can.”

“So,” I said, turning sideways toward Dark. He was looking in the distance, at no particular thing, as if thinking about something.

“Do you know David was once in line to become the commander in chief of our colony?” He surprisingly said.

“Wow, really? Wait—” But he wasn’t the commander in chief. He wasn’t even a commander. He was just a captain. “What happened?” I asked intrigued by the sudden turn of events.

“Well, let me ask you this first: what would you do if someone you saved turned out to be a spy and you are asked to kill them by your queen?”

“I—” Dark didn’t have to tell me the rest and I didn’t have to reply.

“He’s stubborn, too damn stubborn for his own good. But you will not meet another ant kinder than him. Currently, he thinks there is no other way and he’s hurting himself thinking he has let us down.” Dark said and looked me in the eyes. “If we don’t stop here, we won’t be able to stop. He’s going to take us through to the next stage or floor or whatever it is waiting for us, until he can say that he did, no, we did our best. Never has responsibility fazed him before, but this time, the burden is too heavy for him to carry it alone and it has him rushed.”

“What do you think I should do?” I asked and Dark’s antennas relaxed. He stood up with his back looking a little more hunched than before and disappeared into the shadows leaving me alone with the last of his words, “You do what you have to do to see this through.”

I tried to understand what Dark wanted from me, but I was too flustered, too unstable of mind to focus on such a riddle. Taking that as a clue, I decided to not fret about it for the time being. There was something that I need to take care of too, and I knew it would help me calm down again. So I did what I had to do. See, that wasn’t so hard. I hadn’t even done anything yet the method was already working.

Seeing that I had some notifications left pending, which I had ignored during the debacle, I went with them to pass time.

Sensitive hearing has risen to level 23, Dissolve has risen to level 20, Air bullet has risen to level 19, Memorize has risen to level 14, Stable mind has risen to level 22, and Marksmanship has risen to level 9.

Then I remembered I had also leveled up; meaning, I had some skill to evolve and others with their special abilities unlocked. Unfortunately, only a few skills needed to be evolved: two of which had already combined to unlock overdrive; the other were: Light ball, Holy arrow, mana manipulation, Wind manipulation, Light manipulation, Acid manipulation, Poison manipulation, and Marksmanship. The manipulations, all except light, acid and poison manipulation refused to evolve, saying I didn’t meet the requirements; that left me with only four skills to play with— all of which were first tier skills and reveal (the one which reveals the choices of tier 1 skills) helped me make the best of them.

Marksmanship has reached its maximum level and has revealed its evolution paths: Seeker or Aim-bot

*****

[Seeker][Passive][Lv-1/25][Tier-2]

[Projectiles will seek marked enemies without further guidance.]

[Reward: it gives +.2 to Dexterity/lv.]

[Aim-bot][Active][Lv-1/25][Tier-2]

[Launched Projectiles will automatically attack enemies in a meter radius.]

[Charge: Consumes 10 mana points per second.]

Marksmanship passively improved my aiming, correcting the trajectories of my projectiles and such, its evolving options improved more on that. While Aim-bot promised an automatic approach and deadliness in a limited radius, Seeker provided what I really need: a way to fight the bugs in flight. So I chose it. Then Light manipulation became the first of my manipulations skills to evolve to the second tier. It didn’t get a fancy name, yet brought in a new ability called seed of light. As for what it did, I wasn‘t told. The system gave me a riddle, calling it a seed that feeds upon my light, and asked me to think upon it. Only light ball and holy arrow were left, so I went with them. Poison and acid manipulations contorted into a single entity by the name of poisonous acid manipulation and also gave me a seed of poisonous acid.

Light ball has reached its maximum level. You have been rewarded 1 point in vitality.

It has revealed its evolution paths: Light array or Light bomb.

*****

[Light array][Active][Lv-25][Tier-2]

[This skill allows you to summon more than one light ball to create an array of them.]

[You can summon one more ‘light ball’ per skill level.]

[Each light ball costs 10 mana points and can stay summoned for an hour.]

[Light bomb][Active][Lv-25][Tier-2]

[It is a light ball that can burst into an explosion of light.]

[Cost: 25 mana/bomb at level 1]

[Damage-> .10 times base mana damage at level 1 to normal foes, triple damage to evil beings.]

I chose Light array without any contemplation. There was just little to no merit in choosing Light Bomb when I already had the wind cannonball. Moreover, to be able to summon a large number of light balls was God sent in this awfully dark place where even my night vision didn’t work properly. As for the holy arrow, when the skill asked me whether I wanted to evolve it into a spear of light or a versatile arrow of light that could heal an ally or hurt an enemy when stabbed, I was left with no choice other than to pick up the latter option.

[Radiant arrow][Active][Tier-2][Lv-1/25]

[It is an arrow of faith: one which can destroy evil or fill your allies with life. The strength of the arrow depends upon the faith of your allies. The arrow is as strong as their faith.]

[It doesn’t use mana.]

Next up were the special abilities and I was much excited about them. These abilities are special in the way that they improve upon their parent skills, giving them another layer of surprise. These were the second-tier skills which had reached level ten: Sight, Telepathic communication, Provoke, Auto defense, Vengeance, Overload, and cancel.

Sight has reached level 10.

Special ability: Focus unlocked.

[Focus][Special]

[It increases your ability to focus on a specific object even while in motion.]

Telepathic communication has reached level10.

Special-ability: Data packet has unlocked.

[Data packet][Special]

[It allows you to send message packets to others.]

Provoke has reached level 10.

Special-ability: Blunderbuss has unlocked.

[Blunderbuss][Special]

[It Increases the chance of your provoked enemy to blunder.]

Auto defense has reached level 10.

Special ability: Control has unlocked.

[Program][Special]

[It allows you to program a course of action for auto-defense.]

Vengeance has reached level 10.

Special-ability: Retreat has unlocked.

[Retreat][Special]

[There is no shame in retreating from an impossible enemy. If a successful retreat is made, next time vengeance gives a boosted double bonus to stats.]

Overload has reached level 10

Special ability: Skill loading has unlocked.

[Skill loading][Special]

[It allows you to overload skills and increase their power.]

Cancel has reached level 10.

Special ability: Disrupting wave has unlocked.

[Disrupting wave][Special]

[You can now cast a disrupting wave to disturb enemy skills.]

And that was that. I still clearly remember the day I had got to evolve more than 50 skills in a single sitting; it was such a joyful event. However, those had all been tier-1 skills with only 10 levels each. The difference between the three tiers was too big for such a day to ever come, but that didn’t stop me from lamenting. Perhaps, one day. I thought, moving on to replenish my slots— unaware of the danger openly lurking in my status.

As for the slots, I had fortunately not wasted a single one of them, but before I could get to them, the sphere which had been silently rotating for all this while stirred a commotion. A message from the system soon followed, saying, ‘Please enter the portal to the second stage in the next ten minutes or you’ll be thrown out of the dungeon.’ Indicating our time was up.

I got up, saw Genma already making way toward David and fell into a trot behind him. We stopped just behind his shadow in which dark resided and the others arrived soon. We were tensed and so was David, but he was also much more. He was also focused, also vigilant, also ready and shaking. It was then I realized it had been wrong of us to let him distance himself. Whatever had happened in the boss room had him scared shitless and questioning. He had seen death, and now he was afraid of it.

Do we really have to go through this? I wondered. There was no questioning the farm's importance. It had to be saved. There was no other option; at least not for us. I looked at the others. I knew Pyro and Mink were being brave, but if they were given the option to return, they would take it. Dark would follow David’s decision. He had already said that much. As for Genma, I was clueless about his ideals which had taken shape after... after Minnie’s death.

So I did what I had to do. “Can we return? Can we build our colony with the little support from the farm and then hunt to fill the gap?” I placed the question all of us were thinking out in the open so that it wouldn’t only remain a thought — a choice which we could have taken. Dark came out of David’s shadow upon hearing me; Pyro and Mink stepped a little closer, a little more silent and focused; Genma instead looked at me as if asking me of my purpose. And David — He stopped shaking and dropped his head.

“I lied to you all,” he said, startling us. “The farm won’t share this time: not with us or anyone else. Glow might have agreed in the meeting, but I’m pretty sure —and commander Yuvi agrees— that he will probably have martial law initiated at the farm by now. It is impossible that he didn’t know about the rules of this place; yet, he told no one.” He looked up, at each of us, grinding his mandibles. I had never seen him look so vulnerable; not when Genma had fallen into the pit, not when we were buried alive, or almost crushed, or hunted by hoppers, or when attacked by giant bugs! For once he looked like any other ant.

“I’m sorry. It was foolish of me to bring you all in here to die. I thought others would follow our lead and come along, but none did. No one was as foolish as me.”

“But what about the promise you made about others agreeing to give us half of their honeydew?” Pyro said.

“That is not a lie, but for it to happen we have to kill all the bugs and destroy this place.”

“But if it’s so hopeless why don’t we leave?” I asked, putting everyone’s eyes right upon David again.

He shook his head. “There are only three ways this ends: either the farm is saved or the farmers take the honeydew and abandon the farm or everyone goes to war against each other and the bugs. Another war will doom us. And even if we managed to survive somehow out of pure luck, we will not have enough of anything left to survive what’s coming next.”

“The disaster…” Mink said and took a shivering step back.

“Yes.”

Silence set in-between us. The system continued clicking seconds away, bringing us closer to the decision which had everyone solemn. There was just no way to go. We were standing on a very thin ledge with anteater pits all around us. It was then --when no one thought we had a chance-- Pyro spoke up, surprisingly.

This is what he said. “Aren’t we doomed anyway?”

Spoiler: Status

Jack ‘Greedy’ Light

Lv-6/10

Rank - 1

Silver “Trap Jaw” Ant (Unique)

Job- Explorer

Gender – Male

Health

330.6

Mana

248.3

Stamina

204.4

Health reg/hr

70.83

Mana reg/hr

136.52

Stamina reg/hr

186.8

Attack

71.35

critical rate

2.17

Movt. speed

420%

Attack speed

102%

critical hit

22%

Critical dmg

146.0

Attack: Mag

126.94

Defense

44.16

Critical dmg(mag)

259.8

Stat Tier: ‘F’

Stat gain/Level: +0.3Agility, +0.1Strength, +.1vit/+.1 End

Strength

35.4

Intelligence

34.9

Agility

40.0

Wisdom

63.0

Dexterity

43.3

Endurance

36.4

Charisma

29.6

Vitality

30.1

Luck

10.0

Constitution

22.5

Titles:

Student, Skill collector, Cultivator, Tenacious, Ant Hero, Myth Buster, Savior

Blessings

Skill up with level increase, Easy skill gain.

Skill Slotted

Skills:

Max skills

Charm(10), Admirer(10), Anger(10), Ant sense(10), Vision(10), Map(10), Movement(10), Memory(10), Focus(10), Greed(10), Balance(10), Evade(10), Climb(10), Breath(10), Talk(10), Interrogation(10), Determination(10), Strong willed(10), Battle tactics(10), Foreboding(10), Decider(10), Absorption(10), Silent steps(10), Meditation(10), Examine(10), Anticipation(10), Iron grip(10), perseverance (10), Glare(10), Manners(10), Breath control(10), Slide(10), Weakness tracking(10), Faith(10), Yell(10), Roll(10), Acting(10), Acid creation (10), Planner(10), Statue(10), Learning(10), Connections(10), Tracking(10), Reading(10), Narrator(10), Longevity(10), Hygiene(10), Clean(10), Values(10), curl(10), Scribe(10), Patience(10), Slippery(10), Inspection(10), Dig(10), Cartography(10), Treasure sense(10), Pheromones(10), Surprise attack(10), Lift(10), Stamina Preservation(10), Confidence(10), Throw(10), Marksmanship(10), Projection(10),

Normal

(Tier 1)

Poison augmentation(8), Detach(5), Swim(5), Reckless courage(6), Hawk eye(8), Battery(8), Rapid fire(5), Inventory(5), Battle sense(4), Web slinging(2)

Tier 2

Sensitive hearing(24), Fury(25), Clarity(25), Perception(25), Appraisal(21), Fast processing(25), Concentration(25), Equilibrium(24), Bonding(15), Lie detector(14), Willpower(25), Leader(12), Foresight(20), Prediction(20), Memorize(15), Int. military for.(11), Longevity(5), Map2.0(24), High poison(17), Tenacity(6), Overload(11), High Luck(19), Chance(16), Tele Comm.(10), Cancel(10), Photogenic memory(7), Mystify(6), Sculpt(6), Meditation(5), Metal detection(6), Signal Pheromones(6), Novice Ant strength(6), Reveal(6), Record(14), Mind read(16), Excavate(7), provoke(10), Whisper(16), Link(-),High stamina preservation(5), Seeker(1)

Tier 3

Sight(10), 3-D maneuver87), Pass through(5), Willpower(18), Overdrive(12), Knowledge(17),

Manipulation

Acid Manipulation(10), Pheromone manipulation(10), Wind manipulation(10), Mana(10), Light*(1), Fire(2),

Mana

Passive

Mana sense(10), Mana clad(10), Mana Channel(10), Mana control(10), Mana influence*(6), Mana vision*(11), Root*(16), Echo*(14), Provoke*(10)

Active

Shape sifting*(25), War cry*(14), Soul search*(15), Vengeance*(10), Aura*(3), Mana bestowal*(6), Mana Extraction*(6), Mimicry**(2)Heal**(15),

Attack

Normal

Bite(10), Stab (10), Pierce(10), Pull(10),Push(10), Slam(10), Slash (10), Head butt(10), Charge(10), Mandible cut*(24), Tackle*(17), Rush**(4),

Mana

Spike*(25), Dissolve*(19), Eye of terror*(15), Air bullet*(19), Poisonous Acid Mist* (17), Acid Wave*(9), Rhythmic Quake*(13), Explosive Kick*(9), Force Punch*(9), Cross slash*(9), Mend wave*(17), Wind cannonball**(20), Poison ball(8), Light ball(10), Falling star**(4), Mana rope*(6), Thrust(2)

Defense

Hard surface(10), Iron skin(10), Toughness(10), Deter*(21), Auto-defense*(9), Fortress*(3), Reflect Magic dmg.(4), Sturdy*(2)

Move-ment

Passive

Reflex*(25), Haste*(25), Dodge*(25), Acceleration**(9), 3-D maneuver*(8)

Active

Slipping steps of the ghosts*(14), Stealth*(17), Glide*(18), Ghost Lick(6), Rush*(4)

Specialty

Apex breathing method. Body cultivation(Muscle cultivation)(2),

Ability

Aura detection, Tracking, Night Vision, Fire body, Data gathering, Bleeding, Extension, Acrobatics, Efficient Herbal absorption, Perfect Barrier, Haste demon, Increased Chance, Shock Absorption, Sound waves, Vision, Melt, Shadow steps, Party system, Memory search, Call, Inc. Drop rate, Foresight, Proficiency Overtaking, Shadow Hide, Lying, Ghost form, Float, Capture, Modification, tremor, Spirit damage, Leaders, aura, Mana mechanics, Life heal, Increased CFF, Date packet, Blunderbuss, Program, Disrupting Wave

Resistance

High Shock(14), High Blunt(9), High Poison(3), Push(20), Pull(23), High Fear(10), High Wind(8), High Overwhelm(10), High Pain(17), High Confusion(14), Mind control(16), Stable mind(22), Charm(17), Dizziness(20), High Fire(2), Faint(14), Sound Resonance(13), Paralysis(14), Soul damage(22), Pathogen(15), Sleep(17), High Mental corruption (14), light resistance(10),

Regenerations

High Stamina(19), High Health(17), High Mana(9)

Weapon mastery

Intermediate Bare handed(19), Inter. Mandible(15), Inter. Sharp weapon(10), Inter. Martial(14)

Language

Ant (10), Tick(10), Bee(10), Wasp(10), Moth(10), Grass Hopper (10), Worm(9), Spider(8), Ant lion(2), Caterpillar(3),