Chapter 8
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Chapter 8: Identification
Which one should I choose? That’s obvious! The third one, of course!
Sure, the first choice would increase my HP and improve my survival chances, and the second would expand my MP pool, allowing me to create more [Weak Ants].
But!
For survival, my children are already protecting me. Besides, I don’t plan on venturing out recklessly!
Increasing my MP sounds great, but more [Weak Ants] would only make our food shortage worse.
And with [Identify], I can learn about my enemies!
Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated!
Plus, I haven’t forgotten, [Unique Skill—Ant Queen] has an inheritance effect!
Which means—I can give this skill to my children!
With that in mind, even an idiot would know which option to pick.
Please select your blessing.
Alright, alright, I get it! Stop nagging me!
‘I choose the third blessing!’
Blessing granted.
A soft glow separated from the air and merged into Lin Yu’s body.
A new skill appeared in her Status Panel, right after [Unique Skill—Ant Queen] and [Egg Laying].
Excited, Lin Yu immediately wanted to try it out.
She used [Identify] on a [Weak Ant].
A familiar Status screen appeared before her.
It was similar to when she viewed her own or the [Weak Ants]’ panels.
Upon closer inspection, she noticed a new addition below the MP section:
________________________________________EXP: 0%
________________________________________
Now I can see experience values!
A progress bar and a percentage indicator had been added. Since this [Weak Ant] had just leveled up, its experience bar was at zero.
Also, [Identify] doesn’t seem to consume MP? Really? That’s so convenient!
She tested it again.
This time, she Identified all thirty-one ants, including herself.
The results were the same—each of them now had an EXP progress bar, all at zero.
Additionally, she found brief descriptions for herself and the [Weak Ants]:
________________________________________Unique [Ant Queen]: A rare individual among [Ant Queens], possessing the unique ability to lay eggs of various ant species.
________________________________________
Various ant species…
This feels like a gacha game… Now that I think about it, so far, I’ve only laid—cough cough! I told you, stop making me say things like “laying eggs” or “having children”! I’m still a minor!
Ah, I said it out loud again…
A-Anyway! I’ll deal with that later.
With limited food, I can’t afford to test this new information yet.
Next, she checked the [Weak Ants]’ description:
________________________________________[Weak Ant]: An extremely weak species of ant, often exterminated before they can multiply. However, if they reach large numbers, they become a force no race can ignore. Additionally, low-aptitude [Weak Ants] generally lack self-awareness and operate purely on instinct.
________________________________________
Yeah, that sounds about right.
And if all [Ant Queens] experience the same overwhelming hunger I did while laying eggs, they’re likely to eat their own freshly laid eggs…
Oh, wait—[Ant Queens] are classified as a separate species… Meaning my mother could’ve been my enemy?
That means [Weak Ants] must have a ton of natural predators!
Well, I won’t eat my kids. I’ll protect you all.
As for the last part—generally lack self-awareness and operate on instinct—
So that’s why they seem so dumb, huh?
Then again, most insects in my previous world didn’t have self-awareness either.
Anyway! Enough of that—time to test [Unique Skill—Ant Queen]’s inheritance effect!
She attempted to bestow [Identify] onto a random [Weak Ant].
Skill inheritance failed.
A system message also popped up with some text on it.
“Each skill can only be inherited once, and success rate is affected by the recipient’s aptitude.”
Well, sorry, but you missed your chance.
Lin Yu glanced sympathetically at the failed [Weak Ant].
Incidentally, the inheritance attempt consumed half of her MP.
Her current status:
________________________________________HP: 10/10
MP: 6/12
________________________________________
Since she didn’t expect the dumb [Weak Ants] to actually use [Identify], she decided not to waste any more MP on inheritance.
That’s enough testing!
Next, let’s focus on [Identify] again.
First, items!
She used [Identify] on the remaining fragments of her own eggshell. Most of it had already been eaten, but some still contained dried egg fluid.
[Identify] successful.
________________________________________Fragmented White [Ant Queen] Eggshell: Highly nutritious. Usually consumed by newborn [Ant Queens]. Highly tempting for offspring hatched from the Queen’s brood.
________________________________________
Huh? Highly tempting for offspring?
I fed them some before, but they didn’t seem to react…
Then again, they are idiots.
Next, she Identified the leftover [Weak Ant] Eggshells.
Only two small piles remained.
[Identify] successful.
________________________________________Fragmented [Weak Ant] Eggshell: Highly nutritious. Usually consumed by newborn [Weak Ants]. Slightly more palatable than [Ant Queen] eggshells.
________________________________________
Yeah, that checks out.
But did I really need to know that?
Finally, she Identified the most wretched thing in the anthill—her mother’s corpse.
[Identify] successful.
________________________________________Name: None
Species: Ant Queen (Deceased)
Aptitude: D
Rank: D
Level: LV.1
HP: 0/110
MP: 0/30
Skills: [Egg Laying], [Bite]
Attributes:
● Strength: 2
● Agility: 1
● Intelligence: 1
● Physical Resistance: 0
● Elemental Magic Resistance: 0
● Status Resistance: 0
________________________________________
So this is what she was like when she was alive…
Honestly, not that strong.
Her HP was much lower than my army of [Weak Ants] combined. The only notable things are [Bite] and her Strength of 2.
All my [Weak Ants] have 0 Strength…
The difference between 0 and 2 Strength seems huge…
There was also an additional description:
________________________________________Partially decomposed Ant Queen corpse: Dead for approximately seven days. Destroying the corpse will release a foul stench. Despite being a potential source of experience, most creatures avoid consuming it.
________________________________________
A seven-day-old corpse… Ugh… yuck!
Now that I think about it, it is really smelly in here!
This anthill is unbearable!
Food is scarce, and a beast is lurking outside.
And now my room smells awful!
I take it back—things can get worse!
Alright! No point being depressed! Things will get better!
‘Everyone, keep an eye on that lazy bear!’
…
Wait. Can I use [Identify] on the bear?
Hmm… Probably not. If it notices me, I’m screwed…
