[table] [row][cell][h2][color=#00b159] H A N N A H [/color] [color=#00aedb]&[/color] [color=#d11141] Z O E [/color][/h2][/cell] [cell][right][color=#00aedb]7 days and counting to floor collapse Floor 1 Viewers: 0 | Followers: 0 | Favorites: 0[/color][/right][/cell][/row] [/table] [hr] [center][sub][color=#ffc425] .[/color][/sub][/center] Hannah's lungs burned as the bulky lizard charged into her, knocking her flat on her back. She felt stunned, as her body tried to remember how to breathe! Her ears rang, and the world seemed to slow to a crawl. Her frantic eyes searched for Zoe, but she couldn't find the taller woman! They had been in 3 fights, not including this one, since leaving the guild hall. These larger and more crocodilian Wilys were out in greater numbers. The AI dubbed them Double Wet Wilys, the bigger ruder and tougher cousin of the Wet Wily. They wielded make-shift swords and spears, sometimes with hunks of metal strapped over their Hawaiian shirts. They were indeed both tougher and ruder than the tiny lizard-folk. These knew how to fight, and even scarier they fought together. Hannah barely managed to dodge the downward cleave of a rusted sword as the blade shattered against the hard floor of the dungeon. The Wily that swung the weapon let out a agitated growl, and grabbed her ankle. Hannah kicked with her other foot, aiming at the one weak-spot she knew these things had... their eyes, she kicked with everything she had. The heel of her Vans making contact with the creatures large yellow eye. It screeched in pain, and flung her. As her back crunched against the stone wall of the dungeon, her breath was knocked loose again. that familiar burning and hollow feeling radiating from her stunned diaphragm. Zoe was fairing better than her small traveling companion. The older woman was light on her feet, and refused to be grabbed...She sliced with her knife carefully, aiming for quick and risk-free attacks. Each slice adding more and more cuts. She twisted out of a lunging strike, and grabbed one of the shitty Wily Daggers and threw it... The passive of her eye tiggered and she felt it buzz, the blade making a sharp 90[sup]o[/sup] turn to lodge itself in the reptilian's side. All of the cuts on the creature began to bleed like this was a low-budget slasher. She heard the thud of Hannah being tossed into the wall, seeing the Wily Hannah had been fighting with a bloodshot eye, she guessed what had happened. [color=#d11141]"You've got to stay out of melee!"[/color] She said, jumping forward and pushing the kitchen knife through the bottom of her opponents jaw. The knife was surprisingly durable, but it was already showing signs of wear... it wasn't built for this, even with the dungeon buffing it up. [color=#00b159]"I'm fucking trying. You think I want to get beat up like this."[/color] Hannah croaked through gasping breaths, as she saw Zoe engage her wily. She composed herself enough to finish the fight with a zap from Arc Bolt. With a groan she leaned back against the hard stone wall. [hr] Zoe and Hannah had formed a pretty fast and efficient partnership. It was easy to view this through the scope of an RPG, Zoe was by far the better melee fighter, and if Hannah could keep Zoe between her and the enemies... it was a breeze. Though it really hadn't went so easily, for a few reasons. First, they didn't have any way to stop the Wilys from charging Hannah. The fights had been 4 or 5 vs 2, and the numbers were proving to be a pain in their ass. Hannah would get charged by 1 or 2, and have to scramble to survive while Zoe finished her own fight. After running out of mana in the first two fights, Hannah had began to keep a reserve for heal. Second, the mobs were getting stronger. Arc lightning was doing less, and Hannah wasn't sure these guys were weak to lightning damage. Even with her circlet, and a mana potion from Zoe... She was running out of mana, at an alarming rate. She needed a way to deal effective damage that wasn't a spell. The Wily weapons were shit, poor quality and held together by strings... so it was hard to count them as actual weapons. It was putting a lot of stress on Zoe to kill these things. Hannah stood on shaking legs, and cast heal on herself. She gasped at the feeling, a gush of hot relaxing air and the pain melted away. Hannah had a few more achievements that awarded boxes, and just as many that awarded nothing but snarkiness from the AI. They began looting the Wily's for everything... Their clothes, bags, belts... everything, short of chopping them up and taking the pieces. [hr] [color=#d11141]"This is all so crazy."[/color] Zoe broke the silence, they had chosen to back track... They guessed this area kind of swirled inwards, by looking at the mini map. They agreed that maybe a saferoom would be somewhere safer than what was surely a monster's den. [color=#d11141]"It just seems like a fever dream, all of it."[/color] she added, gesturing to a corner up ahead. They had taken to waiting and peeking at corners... trying to get a feel for the way the dungeon's inhabitants moved. [color=#00b159]"Yeah, I'm not even sure anyone I know survived the collapse... and I don't even have time to really think about it. I can't even die without a guilty conscience. When I croak, I'll take someone else with me... and if I do good, and adapt to this place... I could just die at random anyways."[/color] Hannah twisted and fidgeted with the bottom button of her sweater. Which was about a size and half too large for her, but Hannah was used to that... she liked baggy clothes. Zoe listened to Hannah, and peaked around the corner. Where she saw something that stuck out against the drab plain walls of the dungeon.[color=#d11141]"I think we just have to assume that our partner is playing to win. Worrying about them, when we have no way of helping them is not worth our time. It's sucky advice, and I feel bad giving it... but I think it's for the best."[/color] Zoe said, before a smile cracked her lips. [color=#d11141]"I think there is a Wing-Stop down this hallway, and I think we should check it out.[/color] [color=#00b159]"A Wing-Stop?"[/color] Not that Hannah had never heard of the restaurant, just that... it was so out of place. She looked at the store front, which looked like it had been plucked out of a shopping center and smoothly fitted into the wall. The absurdity of this made her forget about the gloom she had been feeling just a minute ago. [color=#00b159]"Look in the window, we found one."[/color] Hannah said pointing to the neon sign above the door, that would normally say 'OPEN' and now read 'SAFE ROOM'. They stepped in, and sighed with relief. It was air conditioned, and the cool air felt amazing. They looked around the restaurant, it was a normal damn Wing-Stop. [color=#d11141]"I wonder if there is food here."[/color] Zoe said, they had spoken earlier about being hungry. Hannah nodded bumping the woman with her elbow, and pointing to the menu screens which did not display a menu. [hr] [color=#00aedb] [center] [table] [row] [cell] Countdown until Level Collapse: 6 days, 20 hours Countdown until the premiere of Dungeon Crawler World: Earth. 20 hours, 13 minutes. Remaining Crawlers: 14,432,611 [/cell] [cell] Leaderboard will populate upon collapse of the third level. [/cell] [cell] Welcome to the Safe Room. You are on the First Level. Rental halls currently available: 20 Rental hall price: 10 gold. Personal spaces will become available for purchase on the fourth level. Food is available at this location.[/cell] [/row] [/table] [/center] [/color] Standing behind the counter was a tall lawn gnome, or a dwarf from The Hobbit. A large beard, shaggy hair and standing just about 3 ft tall. Zoe stepped forward, placing herself between Hannah and the unknown. [color=#00b159]"It's a Safe-Room, I don't think we are in any danger."[/color] Hannah said, but found herself readying for combat. As they got closer the AI finally decided to chime in. Labeling the man behind the counter as Mixlo, a non-combatant NPC, Bopka Fry Cook. [color=#d11141]"Hello. Can we order food with you? I also was curious what a Rental Hall is?"[/color] Mixlo hrmphed, [color=#00aedb]"Of course ye order food with me lass, I'm the Bopka aint I."[/color] He said, his eyes flashed, and a screen popped up. It had several food options available, most were food that a wingstop would have. [color=#00aedb]"An a rental hall is a temporary connection with ya guild master, as well as a place for sleeping. Halls are rented by the day... or you can purchase a floor pass for 130gold, that gets you access to the rental halls at all safe rooms on the floor." [/color] Hannah reached out and pressed the button for Hot Buffalo Wings Bone-in. She pressed it again, and she heard something ring in the kitchen twice. [color=#00b159]"Food is free?"[/color] She asked curiously. [color=#00aedb]That's right. Did you want a cup for your drink?"[/color] Hannah nodded, and accepted the large plastic cup from the Bopka. She looked over to Zoe, who shrugged and ordered off the screen... also taking a cup. [color=#d11141]"Oh, and we want the Rental Hall."[/color] Zoe said extracting 10 gold pieces from her inventory. [hr] They collected their food, Hannah was not familiar with the drink options... Which was weird, these were not earth sodas. She filled her cup with something called Squarb-erry Squish. That she thought was a dumb pun on strawberry... It was not. It was tropical, and very sweet... but carbonated, and kind of tasty... in that way that it grows on you. Entering the rental hall, they were greeted by shouting [color=#ffc425]"About time!"[/color] Igva's voice made them jump with surprise, [color=#ffc425]"I've been waiting for hours."[/color] Hannah looked to see the goblin was sitting on the table closet to the door.[color=#00b159]"Waiting here? You knew where this room was?"[/color] She asked judgment dripping from her tone.[color=#ffc425]"Of course not, you are transported here to my guildhall when you enter a rental hall."[/color] [color=#00b159]"Yeah, that makes sense. It wasn't easy finding this place."[/color] Hannah said with a humph, and sat down in the chair she had occupied earlier. She began to open her food, sipping at the pungent tropical soda. [color=#00b159]"They didn't have normal sodas is that on purpose? If so I'm really gonna miss Dr.Pepper."[/color] Zoe nodded in agreement. Bzarker Cola, was not very good. She was almost regretful of not just getting water. [hr] [color=#d11141]"Have the other's checked in?"[/color] Zoe asked between bites, she also had the tale tale glow of using her HUD in her eye. Hannah was too hungry to surf her HUD, and kept devouring her food. Now that they had entered a "safe" place, she was starving. Fighting for your life probably had that effect, and it was only multiplied by her already chaotic eating schedule. [color=#ffc425]"The show runners sometimes let corporations buy advertisement slots in abstract ways. Sodas and snacks are a huge way, and kind of a gamble... but imagine when the top crawler's trillions of fans see that their favorite off-world soda is Squarb-erry Squish?"[/color] The goblin lady said as she looked up from the book she had started to read. [color=#ffc425]"Then a couple million in credits to stock all the soda machines in the dungeon with Squarb-erry is a steal."[/color] Hannah shrugged, and sipped her drink. [color=#00b159]"I mean, that makes sense..."[/color] Hannah looked at the plastic cup in her hands... as Zoe chimed in. [color=#d11141] So we are gonna have trillions of people watching us... As we try to not die horribly painful and bloody deaths?"[/color] Igva shrugged, it was a bit irritating to Hannah that the goblin didn't seem to have much sympathy for them. [color=#ffc425]"Realistically, probably not... Unless you make it to the deeper floors, There is always a boom of viewers on the 3rd floor. That is when fans can start to watch live feeds. They can follow your feed, and favorite it... if they really like you. Viewership really picks up as the 4th floor closes. By that time the leaders of the pack have begun to define themselves." [/color] Igva sighed, and turned in her chair. [color=#ffc425]"I would focus less on that sort of stuff... and truly focus on surviving. Getting stronger, gaining levels, think about how your going to progress..."[/color] She shook her head, obviously annoyed. [color=#ffc425]"It would be easier to guide you, if the bonds weren't split apart. Focusing on solo strength will only get you so far, because even if your immaculate... a bad play, a curse, hell! Even random bad chance on your partner's behalf could kill you."[/color] Hannah felt those words deep in chest. She wasn't scared her partner would get her killed... It was kind of the exact opposite. She had been closer to death today, than she had ever been before... and it had happened multiple times. [color=#d11141] "People just randomly keeling over, probably won't make good TV though? This is like a reality show, like Survivor... Even without million of fans, we are likely to be someone's favorite, wouldn't someone just dying for no good reason cost them fans?"[/color] Zoe voiced her annoyance with the soulbond mechanic. [color=#ffc425]"Idiots who tune into a show to watch people with no choice slaughter each other, and die pointless deaths... Do not have the same feelings and emotions that you do." [/color] Igva's voice was stern. [color=#ffc425]"Not that all of them are bad, but... don't forget they get paid either way, in fact they probably make more if you die screaming."[/color] [hr] Hannah felt like curling into a ball. This was too much, and she hated it. She chose to stop listening as Zoe and Igva talked about the show runners. She opened her menus and began to read through them, there was a skill for everything... like EVERYTHING everything. Hell breathing was a skill, and so was walking. With some tinkering, she managed to filter her skills... Her Arc lighting spell had leveled up twice! Deeper inspection of the spell showed that at level 5, which is what it cast at with her circlet on... It could be cast at a range of 52.5ft, and she at 10 it would be able to chain between targets. It gained damage and range from her intelligence score. She flicked through to her achievements and let the AI roll. She had gotten an achievement for casting a spell while her hand was inside the jaw of a mob, for dealing perfectly lethal damage to an injured mob, and for "stealing another crawler's kill". Five others that came with wacky achievements, she got 4 boxes. [hr] [table] [row] [cell] NEW ACHIEVEMENT That's called Stealing! [hr] Kill a monster that another crawler is actively killing, and receive the majority of it's award EXP! Bonus points, if you also take the loot! REWARD! Bronze Asshole's Box [/cell] [cell] New ACHIEVEMENT! It was literally perfect! [hr] Did you know that damage and health in the dungeon is tracked down to 6 decimals! That monster with 45% actually had 45.459621%, and you killed him! WITH PERFECTLY LETHAL DAMAGE! As a self confessed nut for numbers... that is crazy lucky, so lucky that this achievement is really more for the record books than an actual achievement... REWARD! Gold Lucky Bastard Box! and... a teeny tiny little plaque in the Dungeon Crawler Worlds, hall of fame with the other 3 million crawlers who have this achievement. You'll never see it, cause your probably gonna die in here. [/cell] [/row] [/table] Hannah slumped in her seat. [color=#00b159]"I wish everyone would quit reminding me, that I'm gonna die in this place.... for five minutes."[/color] She turned back to the boxes waiting to be opened, 1 gold, 3 bronze. She got a handful of little blue potions that were identified as abysmal mana potions, a few torches, and a couple rolls of "full stop" bandages from the bronze ones. Igva turned to watch as the golden Lucky Bastard box opened, A folded up cloth clothing item fell into Hannah's lap. [color=#ffc425] "That is a good item, about the same quality as your circlet." [/color]Hannah examined it, using the mental cursor to focus on it. [hr] [center] [h3]Poncho of the Bactrian Stand-Off[/h3] [hr] +2 Intelligence +1 Charisma | Big Iron | [i]And he's here to do some business with the big iron on his hip...[/i] Gain the ability to cast Very Fast Rocks. Very Fast Rocks | 2 hour Cooldown | 7 Mana Conjure 7 + 5 (INT/2) small rocks as a bracelet around your wrist. With a mental command you can shoot these rocks dealing. Their range is 30ft+ 4 inches per INT level, currently 33.3ft, they do not count as magical weapons, and launching them does not count as a spell. You may fire 1 + 10(Twice your CHA) rocks per minute. | Outlaw's Grit | [i]Fake it, till you make it... Kid.[/i] Red tagged entities (Monsters, NPCs, and Crawlers) can no longer see your HP bar! [/center] [hr] [color=#00b159]"So does this work with the circlet or not?"[/color] Hannah asked looking at the poncho. It looked like something a cowboy would wear, in a cheesy western. Rough-looking woven fabric, that was surprisingly soft. It was 3 shades of brown, and honestly looked pretty comfy. [color=#ffc425]"I don't think so. The spell part is making the rocks, not launching them. I've seen crawlers use that spell late in the dungeon to, but spells are always better as tomes, and not items."[/color] She stretched and pointed to Zoe... [color=#ffc425] "Let's get your boxes settled, then I'm kick ya out to the dungeon again. You need to do some more grinding before you've earned so time off."[/color]