We stepped out into the dungeon, both level two and orders of magnitude more powerful than when we had entered. My stats were unchanged but I had some extremely powerful gear. I quickly inspected my legendary reward as we walked towards our speeder.

  Automated Self Supplying Tactical Quick Deploy Turret

  This auto turret can be deployed directly from inventory onto any stable surface. It can be programmed with a variety of targeting profiles, increasing in complexity with user’s robotics skill. Comes with mini electrostatic fusion reactor and can self synthesize basic ammunition. Currently configured to fire standard ballistic rounds. Available module slots - 10.

  It came with a backpack-like holder and collapsed into a nearly flat disk. I equipped it immediately. Next, I should have installed my operator’s spike. I tried to justify my delay with Jasper's accidental warning, but I couldn’t deny that it was mostly because I was afraid. Even though I knew it was probably impossible to find an enhancement station or reaper spider doc on the first or second floor, I was holding out hope.

  Cascadia’s stats had changed.

  Strength: 6

  Intelligence: 3

  Constitution: 8

  Dexterity: 10

  Charisma: 8

  She tested out her limbs as we walked. Still holding the bags, she ran up the wall and leapt off in a twisting backflip.

  “Wow,” she said. “My physical abilities have changed dramatically. But it feels natural. Like, I should need to spend time learning how to move, but I already know. I need to do some limit testing.”

  “You should start practicing with your manipulate friction skill too, that seems useful.”

  “I already am, how do you think I ran up the wall with these bags? It takes energy though, and since this obviously miscalibrated system thinks that you are more intelligent than I am, I don’t have very much of that.”

  The dungeon admin voice interrupted.

  Hello crawlers. The dungeon is now sealed. We have had nearly 20 million crawlers enter the dungeon. This is well above target, which means we have plenty of slack to make an example of any underperformers or malcontents, so try your best. We have some aggressive performance targets this season, and we request your cooperation to make things as exciting as possible. This season of Dungeon Crawler World will premiere in 1 day, after which the second level entrances will be generated. The Valtay Corporation thanks you for your participation.

  Twenty million was more than I had ever seen on the first floor, but we would probably be under half that within days.

  “So are we heading back to the speeder? It seemed pretty wrecked to me. Can that little repair box thing you got fix it?”

  I examined the device.

  Dimensional Automated Repair Bay

  This mini cube conveniently fits into a single inventory slot and can hold up to 2 medium sized vehicles or 1 large vehicle. Vehicle weight and size are considered negligible while in storage. While in storage, vehicles will be automatically repaired. Time to repair depends on vehicle size, complexity, and damage levels.

  “I don’t know, it seems like it will. That’s what the description says at least.”

  “Well that’s convenient.”

  We walked in silence for a minute.

  “Is this real life Gel?,” Cascadia said, stopping. “It feels real but like…I never really believed in aliens. And you almost died back there. I mean, I’m used to near death, but you’re not. Jasper said the monsters are going to get stronger. And what if we do find other people and they want to group up? I’m not actually a good team player. Or if they want our stuff. I’m not afraid of fighting, I do that all the time. Hurting people is part of my job…”

  Her tattoos had turned brown, appearing muted on her olive skin. I watched her. Cascadia got like this occasionally. She was normally unfailingly confident. Intensely focused, tenacious beyond reason, and supremely exultant in her victories, she never wavered or hesitated. But every so often she would show a glimpse of uncertainty. I learned long ago that I was not part of her pathway back. The more I engaged, the worse she got. But if she just sat in it for a minute…and there it was. Her tattoos turned gold and she grinned at me. “Hey, can’t we just put these bags in our “inventories”?”

  “So we can,” I replied. Long term I didn’t think we should use our inventories like this, but it made sense until we got the speeder back. Our bags disappeared and Cascadia took her axe out of her inventory, performing an unreal spinning leap, extending the axe size and striking a pose. Cascadia had medium-length dark hair that she kept tied back, contrasting the golden, glowing tattoos. Combined with her new tech-wear, gear, and ultra-athletic physique, she looked awesome. I smiled, this is what I had envisioned coming down here.

  “Those tattoos are pretty cool. It will be nice to have an early warning when you are mad at me.”

  Cascadia scoffed.

  “Oh please, I have perfect control over my emotions. You’ll see what I want you to see. And yes, they are cool. I look awesome. Now let's go get your speeder. I want to see if I can outrun it.”

  We saw the blue dots on the mini-map before we could see the actual crawlers. Cascadia pointed them out.

  “Looks like you were right, someone found our speeder. Do you want to do your drone thing?”

  There were three blue dots and a few X’s around the area we had left the speeder at.

  “No I already got the achie-...no it’s just people. There are no red dots. We don't want to spook them, I think.”

  We rounded the corner and saw three figures surrounding the speeder. Fuck fucking fuckity fuck. It was a set of enforcement officers. They had removed the lift jacks and were trying to get the speeder off the ground.

  Cascadia and I were not high tier citizens. We grew up as orphans with no pedigree and no connections. The “system” kept us alive but it also neglected and took advantage of us at every opportunity. We got in trouble frequently and had had more than a few very unpleasant interactions with officials. Things got better when we reached adulthood, especially when Cascadia made the national team and money got easier, but we still harbored resentment towards pretty much any government figure, especially towards enforcement. And Cascadia's feelings ran hot. Really hot.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  I felt her posture shift from casual to predatory and I put a hand on her shoulder.

  “Hey,” I whispered, “let’s take it easy. We don’t need any extra trouble just yet.”

  “Oh come on Gell, you know exactly how this is going to go,” she hissed back.

  “No, I don’t know how this is going to go.”

  “Oh come off it, there is no chance they are going to give up that speeder willingly. Are you just going to let them have it?”

  “No. We are getting that speeder back, no matter what. But let’s just try to get out of this without escalating too much. We’re probably going to have to work with other people at some point; we don’t want to completely destroy our reputation on the first day.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Look, I’m just going to try to talk our way through it. It’s my speeder after all, I have the activation key. But…be ready. I agree, this might not go well.”

  “Oh I’ll be ready. No way one of these cows is getting the drop on me.”

  When the officers noticed our approach they scrambled to their feet, drawing their firearms. I gently raised my arms. Cascadia did not. The X’s were from the squids we had killed earlier plus a few more, presumably killed by the officers.

  They relaxed slightly when they realized we were citizens. I took that as sign enough to approach.

  “Hello officers. Nice to see some other people down here. Just the three of you?”

  They completely ignored my question, moving towards us assertively.

  “We have invoked the emergency security act and seized control of this area. Submit to search and seizure of any relevant assets before retreating to the designated gathering location.” There was a line of marker lights leading down the corridor in the direction of the entrance we took into the dungeon.

  “Back the fuck off,” Cascadia snapped as the officer drew nearer. Her posture had returned to calm and she hadn’t so much as flinched through the exchange, but her tattoos now glowed a soft red.

  The officers who had been about to search us hesitated and looked back to what appeared to be their commander. He waved them back.

  “Look officers, we don’t want any trouble. It’s just that this is actually my speeder. I have the activation key right here and my records are in the vehicle. I don’t know what the emergency security act is but all we want is to take our speeder and be on our way.”

  “Kid, are you blind? Dumb, maybe? Even if this speeder was yours, it's not going anywhere until we patch it up. And you can’t drive it out of here anyway. The exit is sealed.”

  He moved closer to us as he continued speaking.

  “And the emergency security act means we can do whatever we need to to control the situation. And right now, that means searching you and your attack dog, and sending you to wait with the rest of the other citizens while we figure out what to do. We are dealing with a literal alien invasion right now, and my men don’t have the time or patience to use the kiddie gloves on you. So muzzle your dog, hand over your keys, and go wait with the others.”

  “You’d best watch what comes out of your cock-sucking mouth, pig-fucker,” Cascadia said.

  I sighed as the man stepped right up to Cascadia.

  “I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation, you mouthy little bitch. Our world is gone and we are trapped down here. There is literally no one watching out for you except for me and my men. So shut the fuck up, and do what I tell you. Before I remember that there isn’t any citizens oversight group to enforce the code of conduct anymore and I show you what real enforcement looks like.”

  They were separated by centimeters at this point.

  “You know what Gel,” Cascaida said, not taking her eyes off of the officer, “I wasn’t sure how mad I was at you for dragging us down here, but I think I’m coming around. Because no matter how insane it is here, at least I don’t have to take shit from mouth-breathing fuckwitts with an overgrown sense of importance anymore. Because he’s right, our world is gone, and the old laws mean nothing. This speeder, is ours. By right of prepossession, by right of reason, and soon, if this inbred shitstain doesn’t shift his ass, by right of conquest.”

  If Cascadia had stopped right here, there might have been a chance of a non-violent resolution. The officer looked like he might waver, the situation must have been disorienting and Cascadia had a powerful presence. But Cascadia had entered a certain mode. Though she was an enneathlete first and foremost, she made money in the combat sport circuits for a while, where trash-talking was an obligatory skill for financial success. She wasn’t the cleverest of her peers, but her vitriolic delivery left little to be desired. She kept talking, voice quiet.

  “So what are you going to do, big boi? Think you have the balls to punish me? Think you can control me? You and your 2 cronies? Reaching for your baton I see. You better go for the gun because the baton ain’t going to cut it. Or maybe you should get out your little radio and call for backup you saggy-ass, shit-thumbed, cousin fucking, dick riding, wannabe-“

  The officer snapped, reaching to grab Cascadia by the neck. She executed an explosive turning throw, plastering the man against the wall. I hit the dirt as the other two officers raised their weapons. I deployed my turret and cursed as I realized that without a configured remote interface, I would have to program the turret by hand. The stock configuration only targeted red tagged mobs. It turned out not to matter.

  Before they could fire a shot Cascadia had closed the gap, her speed bordering on supernatural. She grabbed the gun hand of one officer while stabbing the other through the throat with her psi-blade. She threw the remaining officer to the floor before dispatching him with the blade as well. She turned to look at the first officer she had thrown, who was in a daze on the floor but trying to draw his weapon. Her axe spun through the air, decapitating the man. The whole combat had taken less than ten seconds.

  I looked up at Cascadia from the ground. Three player killer skulls formed next to her name. I had never been able to form a stable opinion about player killing, but at least Cascadia would be nicely ahead of the level curve.

  We both turned our heads as a fourth officer, who must have come to check in with the other three, took off running. Cascadia moved to pursue.

  “Just leave him,” I said. “It doesn’t matter.”

  Cascadia paused to consider my advice, then she grabbed her bolas. She twirled the weapon above her head and released, dropping the fleeing man to the ground. I shook my head as Cascadia menaced her way over. I rose to follow.

  The poor boy rolled over as we approached, trying to pull his gun. Cascadia kicked it out of his hand and put a knee on his chest.

  “So what’s it going to be? You want to join your friends? Or are you going to pull your head out of your ass?”

  The young officer just trembled. I gently pushed Cascadia aside. And helped the officer up.

  “How many people are back there?”

  “H-h-hundreds of civilians. And a few officers.”

  “Look, the way is clear right now. Go gather everyone and head down that hallway. You’ll find a tutorial guild, it’s safe in there, and someone will explain what’s going on. Got it?”

  The officer nodded his head and ran off. I looked at Cascadia, who was watching the fleeing officer.

  “Well that was something. You ok?”

  She turned to me and shrugged.

  “Eh, they had it coming.”

  “Yeah that’s true. But still. Right through the throat huh?”

  She chuckled. “Yeah, right through the throat. You remember what they used to call me? When I was just starting in the amateur combat circuit? The butcher of the undercity! Turns out it was a fitting name. And I can’t pretend I haven’t fantasized about killing an officer or two before.”

  “Sure. But this isn’t a fantasy anymore. You just killed three people. Are you ok?”

  “We’re trying to survive the end of the world, Gel. We are going to do what we have to. And it’s not like they had their safeties on.”

  “No, I don’t think they did. Shall we get out of here? I think I’m ok but I probably won’t be if I have to stare at those bodies.”

  “Yeah, let’s move. We have to “grind” or something, right?

  “I don’t know, that’s what Jasper said right?”

  “You’re an idiot Gel. Yeah, that’s what Jasper said. But maybe we find a shower first. You’re disgusting.”

  I was still covered in squid blood and guts. At least it was dried now.

  “Eh, we’ll get used to it. I want to try out my gun thing.”

  Cascadia shrugged. I pulled out my dimensional repair bay and zapped in the speeder. A repair progress bar appeared in my interface. We set off down the hallway in search of whatever the dungeon had to offer.