I ended up having to go ho after I woke up. While I did have a sink in the basent so I was able to clean the blood off my face, my netrunner suit needed an actual cleaning since so of my blood had caked on.
So I was throwing my clothes in the washer back at the apartnt, and slumping onto the couch when I thought to check my stat page.
I had killed a lot of Daemons after all, and they did give XP.
I started looking through the update list with wider and wider eyes.
*250 XP Gained.*
*250 XP Gained.*
*250 XP Gained.*
*250 XP Gained.*
And on and on, the page of XP alerts just didnt stop.
*Level up achieved!*
*One Stat Point Gained.*
*One Skill Point Gained.*
*250 XP Gained.*
*250 XP Gained.*
I had actually managed another level already!
I had killed enough 250XP Daemons to gain more than 11,000 XP!
That was Well okay it was only 44 Daemons. That actually fit, that horde of Daemons I had slaughtered had been quite large.
Wow.
But that wasnt even the end of my improvents!
I guess breaching through a corrupted system had given a lot of practice, my intelligence had leveled!
*Intelligence Leveled up!*
Intelligence 9.
But even better!
Breach had leveled as well! Despite the intelligence level up just happening Breach had shot up as well! I guess navigating that ruined system had been a great new experience.
*Breach Protocol skill level up!*
Breach 9.
I now had a new highest stat. Cool had been my highest level stat for so long it was kind of weird to think it had fallen behind.
Yet that wasnt even the end.
*Quick Hacks skill level up!*
Level 6!? Already! I an, my previous levels with quick hacks had all been with ping, and in the real world, and this ti not only was I using much more powerful programs, I was using them on the net. Both as offense and defense, against enemies doing the sa.
I nodded, it made sense for it to level so fast, but it still surprised .
The influx of knowledge and experience hadn't even been noticed. I had been so busy fighting against the Daemons. The fact I had suddenly improved had completely slipped past my awareness.
Im gonna be such an aweso hacker. I whispered to myself unable to stop the jittery excitent flowing through .
Sure it had been a ss. That server had nearly killed , well I likely would have been okay with two other hackers watching my back, but I could have been hurt
Okay more hurt.
But it was still totally worth it for this alone.
So many changes just with one dive. Heh. It really was like a ga. Go into a dungeon and co out more powerful.
I loved dungeon delves. Maybe I could actually find a server that had that gimmick. I bet there were at least a few. There was no way fantasy archetypes died out.
I picked up my Programming laptop as I waited for my clothes.
I was feeling inspired. There had been a gain greater than just higher numbers. I had learned what it was like being in the net, what I could expect, what I would face, and what I would need.
It made want a Daemon of my own.
Not just a Daemon I could use, because I had a few stored away in my system. Specifically the neat little Daemon that would interfere with optics of people I hacked for example. Cyber Ninja was still a really cool perk.
But I wanted to make a Daemon of my own. One just for .
But first? I needed more levels.
Back to the grind.
--
A few hours later mid work on trying to streamline Reboot Optics so more. The door opened and Jun slumped inside.
Hey Jun. You okay? I chirped as he seed lethargic but he just waved a hand holding a XXL burrito at as he headed to the fridge grabbing a drink and then slumping onto the couch as he started eating and drinking.
I ignored him for a bit, he looked tired, and I knew he would tell what was wrong when he was ready.
I was stuck dealing with a total disaster all day. He finally told and I nodded as I closed down another line. Looking at it, and deciding it was better than it had been.
Sounds tough.
So gonk decided to try to beat up a 6th. St. girl. The Girl was the kid sister of soone important. I was the bodyguard of Hitake, while he tried to calm things down. It took forever, and I had to keep an eye on things the whole ti. It got tense a few tis. He said, sighing as he took a big bite of his disgusting burrito.
Sounds like it all worked out in the end? No gunfights?
Not this ti. He muttered but he nodded and leaned back seemingly happy that it had all been okay in the end. How was your day? Youve been out and about the last few days.
I was netrunning. I told him which caused a reaction as he jerked up and looked at in surprise.
Wait, really!?
Yeah? Why is that a shock? Ive been doing netrunner stuff for a while! I even upgraded my Cyberdeck a little bit ago, rember?
Yeah but knowing how to throw a quick hack, or a little programming- Err I an being a programr isnt the sa as netrunning. He said having to backpedal on calling my skill with programming little. Jun had been smart enough to notice my glare.
Yeah well. I told you that I took over the netrunners basent and all the stuff to get at his equipnt.
Yeah but I just I guess I hadnt really thought that you really would Oka-san Shed be so proud of you Motoko. She always wanted you to follow in her footsteps. Wow. I guess He went silent as he sort of stared off into space for a bit.
Natasha Kusanagi, huh. I spoke, unable to help myself. I didnt think of my parents very often.
Yeah. She was amazing, there wasnt anything she couldnt hack. Jun said with a smile on his face and I nodded.
Well Ill be just as amazing! I told him not sure what else to say. So instead I turned back to my laptop and got back to work. Jun eventually turned on the TV and settled in, as we just hung out together.
--
The level up hit by surprise.
*Programming skill level up!*
*1 Perk Point Gained.*
Programming 5!
Eeee! I squealed as the information hit . The fact I had been fighting my Reboot Optics Quick Hack for so long only to suddenly gain sothing even better?
Huh? Whats up Motoko?
Ah! I just had a breakthrough! I lied to Jun but it was kinda true as well. The info dump as always gave the chance to look over my previous code and scoff at how bad it was.
Even just a single level improvent was enough to make realize all of my work up to that had been a waste.
Wait.
The thought struck and I looked at my current stat screen with a realization.
1 Stat point.
6 Skill point.
I had everything I needed
Why was I wasting my ti grinding out low level programming when I could maximize it!?
I hesitated as the thought struck . I liked grinding, and it was good for , the grind forced to produce sothing, to create. I an sure I could probably rip apart everything I programd up until now if I really upgraded that much, but it was useful to do it myself.
There were other stats, other skills as well
Wouldnt Ninjutsu be best to level up more instead?
Wouldnt Reflex be a good choice to increase, as it makes incredibly more deadly?
Tech? The stat and skills I had worked with the least? Wouldnt they be best to bring up in line?
But.
I really didnt want to fight against these programs anymore! I wanted to make amazing programs!
I stopped myself from putting all the points in.
I rember the info dump that had happened the last ti I had done that. So instead I simply put a skill point into Programming.
Programming 6.
The rush was everything I had hoped for. Increasing a skill by one point was a massive increase. Getting another level up monts after?
Ahhh yissss.
But I wasnt done. Once my mind processed the level up, I flicked another point in.
Programming 7.
I shivered having to use Cold Blood just to calm my excitent so Jun wouldnt notice freaking out.
It was amazing. thodologies, improvents, secrets, tricks, and the experience of knowing when and how to use them flooded in.
I had been like a baby playing with a weapon, without the understanding of how to take off the sheath. Of the skill on how to turn a weapon into sothing truly deadly.
But I was starting to see it. That vague understanding of what programming could truly do. I was finally starting to glimpse its true potential.
Rache Bartmoss had with a bit of programming literally caused an apocalypse.
I was going to be just as good in the end.
I pushed another button.
Programming 8.
I exhaled, Programming was now at the sa level as my Ninjutsu. The skill that had turned from a streetkid with mory problems into a rc with a future.
Programming 8, might even be more powerful.
I understood how to make rudintary AI.
I could create intelligence.
Oh I had so plans for that!
But I could still push it more.
I had three skill points left Who says I shouldnt use them? They were mine!
Programming 9.
So close.
I was so close. I could see it, that tiny bit more. I had seen a digital world before, but now? Now I knew what it was made of. How it was constructed. Like humanity learning about the atom, only I could alter atoms. I could program the world and change it.
I dont know how long I sat there, as Jun watched TV staring at a laptop without seeing a word on it.
The amount of information was smaller, but the complexity was higher.
There was so much I could do now. So many problems I had stopped working on before would now be Easy. Simple. Childs programming. No not even that, Good programming from an average person.
But I wasnt average.
The gar system made capable of being a genius, a prodigy, a monster.
I was maxed out though.
Intelligence 9. Programming 9. I couldnt go any higher.
My eye peeked over to the stat point.
I had been saving them for my arms, but that wasnt too much of an issue anymore
Right?
It was just One point. I clicked it, before I could stop myself.
Intelligence 10.
And then I pushed another button.
*Programming skill level up!*
*1 Perk Point Gained.*
*Human limit Achieved.*
Programming 10.
I winced, hissing a bit as I rubbed at my head.
Maybe taking five level ups in a short period hadnt been the smartest thing.
My head throbbed, but it was the knowledge flowing in that made it all worth it.
I didnt even have to think about it.
I could think back to my Reboot Optics quick hack, and rember bad code, bad choices, and ways to fix it.
Ways to improve it.
And yet.
I checked my stat page trying to figure out what human limit alert ant.
When I selected it, a small alert appeared.
*Human Limit Achieved. XP leveling has been locked. Stat or Skill points required for further advancent.*
I read the alert a few tis. Trying to understand it, I had co so far.
And yet I wasnt at the peak.
Level 10 wasnt the max. I didnt even know if there was a max, but since this was mimicking Cyberpunk 2077, then level 20 would be the max level Right?
I was only halfway there.
I only had half the understanding and knowledge of programming that I could have?
For a mont I just felt like my brain was lting, because the idea that I could still get even better
Being this skilled at sothing
It almost scared .
No wonder Bartmoss had been so feared. Had been so capable.
A monster. A true inhuman being.
That is what being level 20 must an.
I stood shocking myself as I nearly fell as I felt woozy, sothing even Jun noticed as I stumbled over to the kitchen and grabbed a soda out of the fridge.
Hey? Jun was there behind gently reaching out to grab , which was weird, until I realized he was moving back and forth.
No. No it was I who was swaying on my feet.
Motoko are you sick?
No. No Im okay Jun just I just had a surprise I guess. I mumbled but I let myself fall into a hug. He obviously didnt believe , but the soda helped. The cold and sugar was just what I needed. A few monts later I pushed away from Jun and my legs held .
Motoko? Do we need to go to Viks
No Im okay Jun really I just Its all a bit much. Programming. I muttered, I think Ill take a break for a while, let my brain cool down.
Yeah. He grumbled but as much as I wanted to just think Jun guided back to the couch and very firmly closed my laptop, which earned him a snort, but I was a good girl. I settled into the couch and flopped over onto the arm rest and instead of doing any further work, I just watched the stupid show Jun was watching.
God it was awful.
--
I ended up falling asleep at so point. Which goes to show just how tired my brain must have been.
Okay Motoko you fucking gonk brain. No more leveling multiple skills back to back. Give it a few hours at least.
I was on the couch, but a blanket covered and the TV was off leaving the room quiet which was rare.
I snuggled into the couch for a bit not wanting to get up just yet.
Jun must have put the blanket over .
He was a good Onii-chan. I would have to do sothing nice for him like Not wreck his sleep by cannonballing on him? Or sothing.
Im not a good Imouto. Ill work on it.
Eventually I started getting bored and actually rose up, untangling myself from the blankets but rather than open up my laptop like my brain was begging to do, I went to the bathroom and took a shower.
The water flowing over let process what I had just done.
It wasnt stupid. Other than rushing through the leveling. I couldnt have known that leveling up to ten ant I stopped getting XP, and would have to level through stat and skill points.
Was it annoying?
Yes.
But it was fine. I knew it now. Besides
Programming.
God it was almost terrifying what I could do now.
And I still had two perks.
I snorted. I had gone from Level 5, to ten in one sitting, no wonder my brain had felt like lting out my ears.
Although I did have to admit. It felt amazing. Learning sothing, no more than learning it, mastering it?
I shook my head spraying water around. I wouldnt put myself through that again, but doing it once was neat.
Now I just had to decide.
What did I do now?
The system had told I was at the human limit. What did that an?
What did that say about ?
Was I now the greatest programr of all ti? But I could still level up. The stats and skills went past 10.
So what would programming 11 be?
20?
I shrugged. I guess I would find out when it happened. Until then, I really really wanted to fix my quick hacks.
But first I had perks to pick. No point in getting to work without them selected.
The first perk was an obvious choice.
Inspired Programr: Inspiration strikes constantly. Never run out of steam while programming.
Instantly just thinking about my quick hacks brought tons of ideas on how to fix them. Truly I was inspired.
It felt great!
The second perk was harder. I went back through the list.
It took a while to find sothing I felt was good enough to add in.
Honestly I picked it so I might finally be able to complete one of my big goals.
A.I. Whisperer: Daemons, Smart Programs, Virtual Intelligence, and true A.I. You dont just create a mind. You create life.
I shivered as I picked the perk. Was it the right choice? I dont know. There had been a few about creating better quick hacks in the list too. But my choice was made.
I dried off and got dressed in just my leotard as I settled onto the couch. Throwing the blanket Jun had grabbed for over my shoulders as I brought the laptop into my lap.
Ti to see what I could really do now.
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