Daemonorg Prison-Lab: A Dark LitRPG / LitFPS SciFi-Shooter (Overtaken Online Book 1)

by Ben Ormstad

  +1 Weapon – Celestial Basic Pistol (req. 1 Item Slot)

  This is an energy weapon, meaning it doesn’t use bullets for ammo. Rather, it needs to be re-powered after approximately 15 rounds using energy refills.

  The pistol grip’s light indicates remaining ammo:

  Red = Low

  Blue = Medium

  Green = Full

  So it’s low on ammo. Better not waste any shots, then. Not having the luxury of time, I clutched it in my right hand, while still holding the makeshift dagger in my left, and ran for the doorway. Stuck my head out of the room, glancing to each side of the corridor. It stretched about ten meters in each direction, and also continued straight ahead from my current position. Hurried footsteps drew closer from my left. Noticing a moving shadow appearing at the far left corner, I knew my time was up.

  I bolted across the corridor, straight ahead, believing I barely made it out of sight before the two remaining cloakers turned the corner. A few meters further in, I passed an open cell door. A quick look verified the sense of dread throbbing in my stomach; the prisoner, a human – godmadrigan – lay lifeless on the floor. Face scorched from what looked like a thin, pointed flame or… realization hit me, and I stared at the Celestial gun… or a small, yet deadly electrical current.

  The cloakers were almost at my cell, so I leaped into the new one. Peeked out to watch as they entered. They found their dead companion and cursed loudly. Rushed to him, crouched and started flipping him over.

  I knew with certainty it was just a matter of time before the keepers of the prison came running to see what the hell was happening. A gnawing fear tore at the inside of my chest. Where did the creepy woman go? Could she have left the prison without her rescue team?

  A bright, red light appeared between the two cloakers kneeling over their dead companion in my cell. Afraid they were about to revive the fucker, I ran at them.

  At the same instant my nose picked up the gasoline-like smell oozing from the cell, they turned toward me.

  “Aaaah!” I screamed and raised my arms like an angry animal. They staggered backwards, deeper into the cell. Instead of entering, I jumped and swung at the torch cup in the ceiling. Its chains rang melodically as I pushed and flipped it in the air, emptying it and sending the burning coals flying into the cell. I landed on my feet and barely managed to jump out of the way as the cell’s atmosphere ignited in an exploding inferno.

  The cloakers’ screams were swallowed by roaring flames devouring everything and anything. Frantically, I crawled further from the cell, feeling heat waves wash over my naked skin.

  The screams stopped a few seconds later when the flames ended. Heaving for breath, I watched the black smoke turn grey, then white, until it stopped and only the thick scent of scorched materials remained.

  Killed 1 Celestial Cloaker – Level 3

  +30 XP

  Killed 1 Celestial Cloaker Chief – Level 5

  +50 XP

  While remaining aware of my surroundings, I also had to appreciate having taken down a Level 5 cloaker – a chief, even. The built-up gas was brutally efficient when ignited. No doubt designed to swiftly wipe out any organic target. Hell, maybe even non-organic ones.

  I returned to my cell to check the remains. Three body-shaped piles of burned bones cluttered the center of the room. Ashes spread across the steaming hot floor.

  Something caught my eye. An object shimmered in an emerald green glow. As I stepped closer I realized they all lit up like that. All three of ‘em. I hadn’t noticed it when finding the other items.

  +1 Weapon – Celestial Basic Pistol (req. 1 Item Slot)

  +3 Energy Refills – Celestial Energy Weapons (req. 1 Item Slot)

  Completely replenishes the ammo of energy-based weapons created by the Celestials, according to the given weapon’s capacity.

  +500 Cash

  Use it wisely.

  I happily grabbed the cash and energy refills, and, after weighing the positives and negatives, I kept the second gun. Had to be worth something.

  Refilling the Celestial pistol was as easy as sliding a new energy refill magazine straight into the bottom of the grip, as if the old one wasn’t even there. The gun vibrated and made an electrical bzzzt-sound when the two clips merged. In a smooth transition the red light on the grip intensified, then turned blue. Finally, it flickered and became an intense green. Full. I smiled and placed the makeshift dagger in my backpack. Don’t need that anymore.

  Dirt and scorched bones cracked under my feet as I left and headed for the cell where the cloakers rescued Ahlyana.

  Ahlyana.

  I tasted her name.

  Whoever or whatever you are, they were sent to rescue you. Unimportant nobodies were never rescued, unless to display a hero’s omnidirectional, non-judgmental niceness. However, no heroes existed in these dark corridors. I saw only rough stone tiles and flickering torch lights. So, who are you? And does it even matter – to me?

  Not knowing anything about how quests or missions were handled in this game, the only two possibilities I could think of was either that Ahlyana and the cloakers’ presence were purely coincidental, based on the fact that the entire game world lived out its own existence. They just happened to be here right now, because that’s how their individual virtual lives played out – NPC or Player? Didn’t matter. Or – which I deemed more probable, given this was my first experience in OVERTAKEN ONLINE – this first quest was a pre-fabricated, pre-planned campaign to help me get started and earn some XP.

  Again I wondered if Lily watched me right now. Why hadn’t I heard from her? Wasn’t she supposed to guide me through the first baby steps, teach me about items, weapons, leveling up and everything else?

  Goosebumps lifted the hair on my arms as a breeze passed by, perhaps whispering unheard secrets of how Virtuality Inc. controlled their virtual reality. Shivers prickled my spine. For a moment I entertained the idea that everything I thought I knew about OVERTAKEN ONLINE was a lie. Once inside, you had no way of knowing what happened on the outside.

  I understand that now.

  Memories of the VR-pod bubbled up from the depths of my consciousness. The VR-pod, where my real body lay – vacuum packed and sealed away – ten meters up in the air, and put in an unknown slumber while feeding my brain the experience of this virtual reality. But how ‘virtual’ was it, really?

  The ruggedness of the tiled surface bit into the naked balls of my feet, feeling completely real. Gripping the Celestial pistol, the straight-edged metal of the grip rubbed against my palm, spreading coldness. In the bones of my hand I sensed the subtle vibration of electricity in the weapon.

  I struggled to continuously remind myself the experience wasn’t real. My subconscious didn’t doubt the realness for a second. The subconscious always accepted any experience at face value.

  As of now, then, with the exception of capitulating and losing all accumulated skills and stats, there was no way out of this reality for me. Again then, experientially, how ‘virtual’ was it? Contacting Lily or anyone in the real world seemed just about as possible as getting God on the line.

  I am alone.

  Grunting, I let go of the need to continuously remind myself this was a game and not reality. It didn’t matter.

  I am here. Now, focus.

  Personal Specialty discovered!

  LUCIDITY

  Current intensity: 5%

  Lucidity, eh? First Sensing, and now this. Well, I’m sensing a connection, and I like it!

  I inspected Ahlyana’s cell door, paying close attention to any signs of the burning tunnel she escaped through. But nope – neither the door, its frame, nor the surrounding walls revealed any marks or stains exposing what had happened. I leaned closer to the small window and squinted to make out details inside the cell, but not enough light from the torch entered through the bars. As I took a step back, my sight fell on something reflecting light in the crevice between two stone tiles. I picked it up and inspected it. A trans
lucent block of stone, the size of a die. A purplish glow flittered inside it when I held it up to the light.

  +1 Unknown Object (req. 1 Item Slot)

  At present, you have no knowledge as to what this might be.

  Almost as if they had planted it for someone – me – to find. I chucked it in the small backpack and moved on, pistol in hand, eyes and ears focusing like radars.

  11

  After passing a bunch of closed cells, rounding corners and paying attention to every detail, I realized this entire floor was constructed like the number 8. Two main corridors connected by three bridges, so to speak. Each corridor housed sixteen cells – eight on each side. At the far edge of the floor, the top part of the number 8, I saw a double door. Constructed by dark wood, iron frames and solid bolts. Looming windowless like an impenetrable wall.

  The way out.

  Had Ahlyana escaped through it? I’d glanced into every cell by now and she was nowhere. Only dead people, bones and ashes filled the empty rooms. Also, since no guards had arrived yet, I had the place to myself. I backtracked to an unlocked cell. The door creaked and opened as I elbowed it lightly. Stepping inside, I pointed the pistol ahead, its electrical light painting the cell’s interior in a mild, greenish glow.

  Toppled over against the wall in the corner, a body lay with arms outstretched. Unlike the other dead bodies around, this one wasn’t as badly burnt. Male, about my size. The clothes seemed intact. I stripped off the shoes, jeans and jacket. Searched every pocket.

  +1 Black Hooded Jacket (+4 Item Slots // Req. 2 Item Slots if unused)

  Many types of clothing, like this jacket, increase the number of total available item slots you have. Remember to reorganize and re-prioritize your items when changing to clothing with fewer available item slots. If you don’t do this manually, the system will randomly pick and delete the amount of items lost due to less available item slots.

  If you choose to not wear the clothing, but only carry it, you won’t receive the increase in available item slots. Rather, it will count as a regular item and instead fill up the specified number of required slots.

  +1 Dark Blue Denim Jeans (+4 Item Slots // Req. 1 Item Slot if unused)

  +1 Pair of Black Leather Boots (Req. 2 Item Slots if unused)

  +25 Consumables

  Consumables = HP

  1 consumable = 1 HP

  +250 Cash

  Trying my new clothing, I felt the materials rub against my skin. The smell of leather from the boots, wool and sweat from the jacket and jeans. More cash as well, and my first collected Consumables. Health point boosters in varying amounts. Nice!

  Ever since I spawned, everything had happened so fast I hadn’t even thought to look at my stats or items screens. Also, where was the heads-up display (HUD) I saw on the screenshot hanging in the interview room? To make sure the area was still empty, I quickly checked outside the cell. Everything seemed quiet. A good enough moment as any to view my stats and items for the first time, then.

  Willing the stats information to pop up, a translucent screen of glowing light appeared in front of my vision, accompanied by a swooshing sound effect:

  [ CHARACTER STATISTICS ]

  DEX WALSH - Battle-Marine

  Level 1 : 110 XP

  Next level: 200 XP

  HP / MP

  85 / 100 HP (Health Points)

  0 / 40 MP (Magic Points)

  ARMOR

  empty

  Universal Abilities

  — Strength : 1

  — Awareness : 1

  — Speed : 1

  — Agility : 1

  — Focus : 1

  — Stamina : 1

  — Communication : 1

  — Charisma : 1

  — Learnability : 1

  Battle-Marine Abilities

  — Melee Weapons : 3%

  — Ranged Weapons : 3%

  Personal Specialties

  — Sensing : 5%

  — Lucidity : 5%

  Character States

  — Poisoned : 02:33:09 until dead

  My eyes flipped over everything and got stuck on the Character States at the bottom. I gasped at seeing the word ‘Poisoned’ followed by the time.

  I can’t believe it. 26 minutes have already passed? I’ve barely done anything! Dizziness caught me off guard and I had to steady myself with one hand on the closest wall, while rubbing my forehead with the other. At first it looked like the seconds disappeared rapidly, at least twice the speed of real life clocks. But after breathing deeply and watching the seconds count down one by one, I had to admit it was probably ‘just me’. I did the old and trusted thousand-and-one, thousand-and-two, thousand-and-three-routine to verify it.

  “Relax,” I whispered. “I’ll simply respawn.” Well, that, and I’d lose all XP, equipment and weapons gathered while being poisoned. Also, I honestly didn’t know what else would happen if I died, but having paid almost thirty thousand icy cold dollars to be here, I’d better respawn right a-fuckin’-way – and not too far away!

  Started from the top of the character stats again. Noticed the difference between the abilities and the specialties.

  The Universal Abilities started at 1, while the Battle-Marine Abilities and my Personal Specialties were calculated as percentages. Scratching my short beard, I wondered whether that meant the Universal Abilities could be upgraded indefinitely, while the last two would be maxed out at 100%? And what happened once I hit 200 XP? Would I automatically level up, or would I have to find some ‘special place’ to make it happen? Questions, questions. Attempting to leave my very helpful, non-present merge-assistant out of it, I shrugged.

  Time would tell.

  Instead, I willed the item information screen up. Same swooshing sound and it appeared immediately:

  [ INVENTORY ]

  DEX WALSH – Battle-Marine

  WEAPON OVERVIEW

  WEAPON : TOTAL AMMO

  Brawl : Unlimited

  Makeshift dagger : Bad Condition

  Celestial Basic Pistol : Green Energy-Status + 3 Energy Refills

  MISC. ITEMS

  Consumables : 25

  Cash : 750

  Scrap : 0

  BLACK HOODED JACKET – 4 Item Slots

  1 : empty

  2 : empty

  3 : empty

  4 : empty

  DARK BLUE DENIM JEANS – 4 Item Slots

  1 : empty

  2 : empty

  3 : empty

  4 : empty

  SMALL BACKPACK – 8 Item Slots

  1 : 1/2 MedKit

  2 : Makeshift Dagger

  3 : Celestial Basic Pistol : Green Energy-Status

  4 : Celestial Basic Pistol : empty

  5 : Celestial Basic Pistol Ammo : 3 Energy Refills

  6 : empty

  7 : empty

  8 : Unknown Object

  When I first picked up the small backpack, I felt slightly worried there would be way too few available item slots. Surely, this might still be the case as the game progressed, however, as of now I was glad to know there were more than enough item space. I had hoped getting a few articles of clothing would count as a mild form of armor, but apparently not. Or maybe I didn’t have enough clothes yet? After all, I didn’t even have a t-shirt or sweater underneath the jacket. Next, my HP was at 85, and I’d collected 25 consumables.

  Cool, then I don’t have to crack open the 1/2 MedKit to replenish my health. Now, let’s try something, I thought and willed the inventory screen to close.

  My eyes flickered to the doorway. A sense of some sort stirred in the depths of my being. No, dammit, I’m just scared because of the poisoning. Staring instead straight ahead at the stone-tiled wall, I tried bringing up only the amount of consumables I owned, without having the inventory in its entirety pop up and muddy my vision. And surely enough, only the information I wanted appeared as a translucent layer at the top center of my field of view:

  Consumables : 25

  “Now, w
hat if?” I said to myself, and willed the consumables-information over to the top left corner of my vision instead. Worked like a charm.

  “Sweetness!” A burst of joy spread across my virtual chest as if it wasn’t virtual at all. This means the HUD I saw on the screenshot in the interview room was merely an example of how the HUD might look. But I’m free to modify it any way I want!

  A massive slam echoed through the corridor and forced me out of my stream of thought. I grit my teeth and ducked instinctively as a high-pitched screech shook my bones.

  It’s open.

  For each pair of heavy boots stomping down the stairs from the double door, fear stabbed my gut. Guttural voices shouted. Definitely not the same kind of voices as the cloakers. These were much more… beastly. It hardly sounded like a language at all.

  I snuck up to the cell’s doorway, clutched the pistol, and peeked past the door into the hallway. Immediately withdrew my head and crept back into the cell, away from the torchlight outside.

  Four demonic-looking humanoids approached. About my size. Draped in some form of brown tunics strapped to their muscled bodies with black belts criss crossing across their chests and waists. White horns protruding from their cheekbones and chins on hairless, beige heads. Yellow pupils visible even in the shadows. Handguns drawn.

  Daemonorg. Jesus, they’re ugly.

  My heart rate increased like a missile being fired. While leaning flat against the wall, I found it interesting to observe my reaction. I loved playing horror games both on the screen and in regular headset-based virtual reality like Oculus Rift or Vive. I’d played everything from Doom and Resident Evil to The Evil Within, Silent Hill and anything else, and it never bothered me one bit. But in here, right now, I truly realized how full of shit all these LitRPG novels I’d read were, where the players jumped right in and faced the most crazy fucking monsters and experiences head on, barely breaking a sweat.