Digital Dungeons

Digital Dungeons

Here is my cliff notes for digital dungeons. Couldn't write that much because of Cat cuddles time.

It weird... Based on a cyberpunk 2077 like world with magic, and supernatural creatures. Server protection is done through specially configured servers, with AI guardians, called dungeons.

Main character is Talia, and she works with Kass in server intrusion.

Because it litrpg world Talia is seen as nearly useless, since purely tech based skills are not rated by the system.

Most of the characters from dueling will have a role, but so will some of the characters from TBoB. Evelyn will be another tech based character, specializing in 'self replicating defensive architecture' (she makes bears :stuck_out_tongue:)

Shortly after the start of the story Talia breaks into the 'impenetrable' core labyrinth, which triggers a system update, where tech skills are scored. Chaos reigns as people try to figure out how / why an update was triggered.

Chapter 1 - State of the Art

It took me seconds to clone the administrator’s credentials and slip into the server. The security layer was slow to respond, and as it rendered I just sighed. “State of the art my ass,” I whispered to the aether.

It was a standard Cybertone dungeon model, using the typical stone wall visuals and imp security programs. It wasn’t even a maze, just a rectangular room. Off the shelf, and obsolete days after being released to the public. With such shoddy security, they should be suffering from constant security breaches, this shit might keep out amateurs, but not professionals.

I casually reached back into the access port, and whitelisted my partner so she could join me. A few seconds later, Kass materialized. The naga slithered around, her long snake like lowerhalf coiling as she spun on the spot and assessed the situation. The look of joy on her face quickly turned to disappointment. “What is this? Lethis may not be a mega corporation, but they should have better security than this. I was expecting a challenge.”

“Fuck if I know. The job came directly from the boss, so there must be something here…” I glanced around, for a few seconds, then shrugged. “How about you train up your elementals on the locals, while I take a look around.”

“Well, if you insist,” Kass said, with a smile. She put her hand out in front of her, and triggered her intrusion summons. Magic and code merged, compiled, and manifested into two semi translucent water elementals. The digital creatures rushed forward, and smashed into the closest imps. The digital trauma fragmented the defenders so badly they immediately broke down. The other imps, finally realizing there were intruders on the server, rushed forward to engage, only to be dispatched with ease by the elementals.

I walked past the melee, completely unconcerned by the defenders. I shut down the visuals, and inspected the security layer’s raw code. When I arrived at the port leading further into the server I stopped, and frowned. It didn’t look quite right. 

I expanded the code, careful not to actually touch anything, and scrolled through it. “Cheeky buggers,” I muttered, before turning back towards Kass, “It’s a facade. The imps are just a cover for the real defender. Trying to pass through the port will lock down the dungeon, and summon a custom hydra construct.”

Kass whistled. “Nasty. Do you want to disarm it, or smash through it?”

I studied the code for another minute, trying to decide the best course of action, then sent a quick ping to my familiar. A moment later a mass of code self compiled, forming into a massive spider.

“Fuck yeah, if George is here, it’s smash time,” Kass cheered. She slid forward, cracked her digital knuckles, and reformed the little constructs. “Ready when you are,” she said with a smile.

I nodded, triggered the port, then immediately stepped back. Instead of opening into a deeper section of the server, the port locked down, and a huge mass of code compiled, manifesting into the shape of a multi headed wyrm. The construct focused on the nearest entity, which was Kass and her elementals, and growled. 

“Hello ugly,” Kass said, with a smile. She flicked her wrist and the elementals charged. The small elementals smashed into hydra, causing minor fragmentation, before the heads struck. The two lesser heads bit into the elementals, throwing the elementals around, but not causing instantaneous destruction. While the creature was distracted, both Kass and I made our moves. The naga raised her hands and activated her knife subprograms, sending short, disruptive blasts from both hands. It didn’t do a ton of damage, but kept the creature’s attention while I slipped around the side. 

Reaching out, I found a weakness in the construct’s code and activated my glaive program. Within seconds the program tore huge chunks out of the hydra, destabilizing it. The main head swiveled around, trying to bite at me, so I simply stepped back out of range, and let George do the rest.

When the hydra snapped at me, George brought one of his massive for legs down directly on the construct’s head. The impact caused the entire hydra to flicker for a moment, as large parts of the code broke down. The creature staggered back, triggering some data repair subroutines in an attempt to recover, but George was too fast. The spider lunged forward and sunk its fangs into the hydra’s body. The toxic code injection ripped through the hydra within seconds. The auto repair failed, then the hydra’s secondary heads dissolved, sacrificed in an attempt to retain some level of coherence. The main body, and head thrashed for a moment more, before becoming too fragmented to operate, and dissolving into fragments of code.

“Easy peasy,” Kass laughed, as she dismissed her damaged elementals. “Now, all we need to do is find the data the client wants. Shall we see what’s behind the door?” she asked, with a short laugh.

“Lets,” I replied, as I smashed apart the security proticols, revealing the server beyond.

—

I rubbed my eyes as the projection booth opened, exposing me to early evening lights. Kass somehow managed to pull herself out of her own booth much quicker than I had, so she lifted me out of the bed and placed me on a nearby chair.

“You should come out of cyberspace more often Talia, take some breaks,” she said in concern.

“Cyberspace connections were designed by, and optimized for the arachne brain structure,” I replied, rubbing my forehead. “Which means I can be in there a lot longer than other people.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s healthy,” she replied with a frown. “Let me get you a glass of water.”

As she slithered away, the pink and aquamarine scales on her tail, and back of her arms, sparkled brilliantly in the fading sunlight. As she leaned over the small watercooler in our office, her hair tie snapped, causing her matching, long aquamarine and pink hair to spill out. I laughed.

“Bloody hell,” she muttered. Before returning with a small paper cup full of water. “What’s so funny?”

“You never fail to take care of me,” I said, with a small smile.

“Someone has to, you certainly don’t take care of yourself,” Kass leaned over, and looked me in the eyes. “Pupillary response seems to be normal. Are you sure you’re ok?”

“Fine, I was a little dizzy, but I’m good now,” I replied, seriously.

I slowly pushed myself to my feet, then turned back towards my bed. I stretched out, raising my arms up as high as I could, while flexing, and stretching the six arachnid legs emerging from my back. I wasn’t fond of my true arachne form, and preferred a more humanoid form. It was just more convenient, and I could almost pass as human, if it wasnt for the arachnid legs. 

When I was done stretching, I laid my hand on the side of my pod, next to a little alcove. “Come on George, time to report in.”

There were a few tiny clicks, then a tiny mechanical spider emerged. It stopped at the edge of the cubby, disconnected a plug, and then hopped onto my hand. The tiny bot quickly ascended my arm, before settling on my shoulder, before making a mechanical purring noise.

“Yes yes, I love you too,” I said, gently petting the bot.

“I still can’t believe all that code fits into that tiny frame,” Kass said.

“Well, true AI is different from those digital summons you use. At least your skills are recognized by the system, since they’re magic based. The fucking thing still doesn’t recongnize most technology,” I grumbled.

“Yes, yes. Your stats may say you’re only a level ten trapper, but the people that matter recognize you’re more than the system says,” Kass replied, pulling me into a quick hug, and planting a quick kiss on my forehead. 

I blushed slightly, and pushed her away. “We should drop off the data with Lanivia, get paid for the job.”

“Sure, gotta pay for your noodles somehow,” she replied with a laugh. She threw an arm around my shoulders and guided me out the door. “Come on cutie, let's get paid.”

Chapter 2 - Office Work

As we entered the elevator I watched Kass change her tail into a set of shapely humanoid legs. They were still covered in her delicate pink and aquamarine scales, so it looked like she had leggings on. “I’m driving!” She declared.

“You always drive,” I mumbled. “You spent a fortune on that car of yours, so it’s your right. I just wish it wasn’t so…” 

“Exhilarating? Breathtaking? Masterful?”

“Terrifying,” I said with a little smirk. 

“Smartass.” Kass replied, as the elevator doors sprung open, letting us off on the lowest level of the garage. 

As we stepped out, Kass took out her keyfob and summoned her car, an Arbalist 771-Turbo. The car started itself, slowly rolled out of its parking space and made its way across the garage to pick us up. 

It was a modern muscle car, which she had paid to be heavily modified, and painted pearlescent aqua-pink that matched her scales. Before the car came to a complete stop. Kass yanked open the driver side door, slipped inside, and put on her knock-off designer sunglasses. I laughed as she stared at me through the windshield, a huge smile on her face, and an eager look in her eyes. I took my time getting in, waited for the car to come to a complete stop before climbing into the passenger’s seat, and fastening my belt.

Once she was satisfied that I was ready, Kass stomped on the accelerator, accelerating so hard that she had to drift around the corners to get back into the street. Thankfully we lived, and worked in a pretty good neighbourhood, so traffic was light enough that Kass didn’t hit anyone when she skidded into the street, and I only bothered a couple people with my screaming.

The two of us worked out a deal with the building’s owners to manage the local server, and prevent incursions, in exchange for a basement flat at a low rate. It was a small price to pay for a place that had on site security, sound insulation, and all the advertising holograms on the outside. 

As Kass dodged through traffic, I looked out the window, and concentrated on lowering my heart rate. Everywhere I looked were holographic billboards, and rundown buildings. The sidewalks were full of people, the rich covered in augments, making their original race barely recognizable, and the poor wearing clothes that barely fit. A great capitalist utopia.

After skidding around another corner, we headed down to the business district, where the scenery changed. Everything looked shiny and new, both the buildings and people. Apparently the big corps didn’t like people advertising with holographic messages, because those were all gone. Instead, most people wore their allegiance on their sleeve, quite literally, with expensive suits, embroidered with company names, and everyone equipped with proprietary arguments. While we waited at one of the rare red lights that Kass decided to actually stop at, I watched an ogre, more metal than flesh, throw a dwarf from the entrance of a corporate office thirty feet. The man rolled across the sidewalk for a couple more feet, before laying still. No one helped the man, or even reacted. This sort of thing happened fairly often when someone tried to mess with the corps.

Once the light turned green, Kass turned into the more industrial section of the core. There were still businesses here, but none of the mega corps. The corporate shills made way for more mundane business people. Or at least, those that didn’t want to attract as much attention. It was here, in the backstreets, that we reached our final destination. A fairly unremarkable low rise office building.

The first hint that the place wasn’t normal was the heavy security shutters preventing unauthorized access to the parking garage. The heavy, steel door, winched open as Kass drove up, then slammed closed after we passed. Inside was fairly empty, with only three or four other vehicles, so Kass pulled into a spot right next to the elevator. Several security cameras locked onto our position from the moment we arrived, and didn’t stop following until we both submitted to the biometric scanner next to the elevator. After we identified ourselves, it only took a couple seconds for the elevator to arrive. I rushed to get onboard.

“I can never get used to all the cameras in here, the whirring unnerves me,” I said with a shudder. 

“You know that level of security is necessary,” Kass replied as she rubbed my back. “Like the boss likes to say, ‘It’s not paranoia if it keeps you alive.’”

“I know, it doesn’t keep the spectral cams from freaking me out,” I sighed. “I don’t like the idea of people looking at my bone structure.” Kass just snorted in response.

Even though the journey up the elevator was swift, it ended up being eventful. As the doors opened up on the third floor, a massive claw pushed its way between the doors.

“Halt, Author-sized people only!” came a girlish voice from the landing. As the elevator doors finished opening they revealed a tiny girl wearing a frog hoodie and carrying a security baton much too large for her, riding a massive four foot tall crab. 

“We are authorized, squirt,” Kass said with a smile.

The little girl squealed, and did a flying leap into my arms. “Aunt-rachne, Kassie, you’re here!” 

“Hey Issi, what are you doing here?” I asked, holding the tiny six year old.

“Jane is doing paperwork for Lich-Nivia, and Evie is working on an emergency project, so I had to play with Toto,” the little girl said with a pout.

“You know you shouldn’t call the boss that, she deserves our respect for keeping everyone in work,” Kass said, ruffling Issi’s hair. “Where’s Calliope? She normally doesn’t leave Toto by himself, unless she really has to.”

“Out on a job with Squiddy and Sulivan,” Issi replied before leaning forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret.”

“We won’t,” I replied, nodding seriously. “Where is Lanivia anyways?”

“In her office, like usual,” The girl replied. She wiggled in my grasp, a signal that she wanted down, then grabbed both Kass and I by the hands and dragged us back into the office area.

Most of the floor was left open, with only a few personal offices around the perimeter of the area. This was partially to give employees privacy, and partially to give the half dozen automated turrets dotted around the room clear firing arcs. Issi dragged us through the area, completely unphased by the firepower. The girl marched right up to one of the largest office spaces, and without a single pause, knocked on the door. “Come in,” someone called from inside.

As soon as she had permission, Issi pushed inside.

“Issabelle Claire, what did I tell you about bothering Lanivia and I when we’re working?” Jane asked. The tall, buxom, brunette young woman looked frazzled, going through half a dozen tablets on a side table. Only glancing up when Issi stepped inside.

“Actually, she’s guiding us around,” Kass replied, as she stepped inside.

Jane’s head shot up, “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you were here,” she said, as she gathered up the tablets.

“Just relax Jane, breath. You can continue your work while Talia, Kassandra and I take care of business. We’re not going to discuss any company secrets,” the other woman in the office declared. Laniva stood up from behind her massive, real wood desk, took off her glasses, and smiled in our direction. If I didn’t know her, I would have believed I was just meeting a young dark elf, but that wasn’t the case. She was a lich, an ancient one at that, and she pretty much ran every black book operation in the city. “Did you get it?” she asked.

“And I cracked the encryption,” I replied as I casually tossed her a datachip. “That contains the blueprints for Lethis next surveillance drone design. Still in the testing stage, but it looks like they’re planning on heading to production soon.”

“Excellent!” Laniva replied. She didn’t move to grab the chip out of the air, it just magically changed direction, and plugged itself directly into one of Jane’s tablets. “Assuming the chip has everything I need, the credits will be in your account within the hour.”

“Nice! Thanks boss,” Kass said with a giant smile. She threw her arm around my shoulder and started dragging me out of the office. “Since there’s nothing else, we’ll just get out of your hair…”

“Just a moment,” Laniva called, before Kass could pull me outside. “I do have another project for you. Low priority, but profitable.” She flicked her wrist, and a different data chip flew across the room. Kass snatched it out of the air. “It’s an open contract, to break into a labyrinth server. I don’t expect anyone to actually succeed, but if you can… it’ll be world changing!”

I looked at Lanivia, the woman was more excited, and animated than I’d ever seen her. Usually she didn’t care much about the jobs she gave out. This must have been something special.

“Look through the details, and see what you can do,” Laniva said, before walking back to her desk. After a moment of silence she looked up at Kass and I, “Now you may go.”

I nodded, taking the chip from Kass’s hand as we left the office. It’s not that I didn’t trust her to lose it, but history taught me to be careful. We stood outside the office for just a moment, as I secured the chip, when my stomach rumbled. I quickly put my hand over it, and blushed in embarrassment. Kass just smiled in my direction.

“So, time to eat?” she asked.