Buttopia

Chapter 33: The First Long Night

I had managed to accumulate just over nineteen hundred unused attribute points in my recent rapid leveling. The speed I was acquiring them now compared to before without my core made it even more obvious why virtually no one waited. The first thing I did was immediately max out my new mana backlash attribute. I was able to get that to one hundred ranks. The same held true for cheat death. I was reasonably sure that it was likely the only thing that had kept me alive a few times now, that and ...

Loop 258 - Part 22

“Hey guys, how are you all doing? Are the animals treating you well?” Cal asked the group of kids, who all ran to him the moment he was in their sight. Apparently, he had made quite the impression during their rescue.

“Cal, you didn’t tell us how amazing Bug was!” Rusty yelled over the other kids.

“Yeah, she’s the best sister anyone could ask for, and that’s why she’s going to stick around while we tell you all a very long story. Each of you will get a choice at ...

Chapter 32: Weeks Not Years

“He likes eggs, right?” one of the voices asked. The owner had carried me somewhere to sit me in a chair. I still had trouble making out what they were saying, and opening my eyes wasn’t happening just yet.

“Yes, we need a lot of eggs,” said a second, different voice. Something suddenly smelled quite good, and then I felt hands pull my mouth open and push some of the good smelling stuff inside. The hands then forced me to chew. I managed to choke down the food.

The secon...

Chapter 31: A Glimpse of Home

I didn’t understand what was happening in my brain. I was having trouble connecting thoughts to memories. I wasn’t even sure who I was, and the more I tried to grab at memories to fill in the giant blanks, the further everything slipped through my fingers. Why was it all so slippery? What was going on? Why was everything so dark?

“Can you hear me?” While I could hear the voice, it seemed so far away. I was sure I’d heard the voice before, but who exactly it belonged to was ano...

Chapter 29: Headaches & Breakfast

I woke up the next day with the headache partially gone. It still wasn’t great, but I was pretty sure I could handle more complex thoughts now. The first of those thoughts that hit me was to check my Inner Vitality and see what was going on. That would have been a great idea last night, but I can’t expect my brain to get into these routines overnight.

My bones were fixed. Somehow despite knowing that was supposed to happen, I was still in a bit of disbelief that it actually had occu...

Chapter 30: Cheating

Since I got my new quest and realized that you could stack the bonuses for having no weapon equipped, I’d been considering what exactly counted as a weapon. So far, my fists didn’t seem to count. It was possible there was a point where I became skilled enough in pugilism that they did, but for the moment, I was going to operate under the idea that weapons were only things that were primarily used as such. What would that mean if I started getting myself a nice tool belt full of useful thi...

Loop 257 - Sarah, Bug & Emily

“Hi, are you Bug?” Sarah asked the dog she saw playing with the children, a very strange creature. This area of nature was one of the most beautiful places she had ever seen, and she hoped to meet Ethel one day, as she had been the one to put it all together.

“I am, who are you?” Bug asked back, with no malice in her voice at all.

“I’m the wife of Glenn, the senator that Alfred and Harold saved. Those two over there are my kids. I heard that Ethel used to be a teacher ...

Chapter 28: Dungeons, Dungeons & More Dungeons

I thought I was finally starting to understand at least a portion of what the System was giving me. As I put the skill points into Dungeon Simulation I found I had three new options on the modifiers page.

I was sure that each of these would add even more experience to the totals when I was done. This would let me add even more skill points to the simulation skill, allowing me to get more experience creating a feedback loop. The big question now, though was whether removing t...

Chapter 29: Headaches & Breakfast

I woke up the next day with the headache partially gone. It still wasn’t great, but I was pretty sure I could handle more complex thoughts now. The first of those thoughts that hit me was to check my Inner Vitality and see what was going on. That would have been a great idea last night, but I can’t expect my brain to get into these routines overnight.

My bones were fixed. Somehow despite knowing that was supposed to happen, I was still in a bit of disbelief that it actually had occu...

Loop 257 - Part 21

“Then I think it’s clear we need to take some time to breathe and get this place back in order. We can have Scrump continue laying out some gateways for us across the country, Trashcat can join her for better communication once she’s back as well. In the meantime, we need to find just what each of the new kids can do and start working our way through every new guest we have,” Cal said.

“Speaking of new guests,” Lou said, having walked up to drop off more food. “We are good...

Loop 257 - Part 20

“Sorry, I really didn’t mean any offense, it’s just my life has been hell since then. The Agency watches me constantly now; the few times I’ve tried to break away, they made sure to make an example out of my family so I wouldn’t try again. I’m sorry, Sarah, it’s why I stopped telling you about the loops when they started; it was easier for you not to know,” Glenn explained. His wife, for her part, seemed to be trying to keep Glenn calm.

“It’s alright, I get it. This ...

Loop 257 - A Partial Reunion

“Alright, boys, I know I’m not usually the one in charge or giving out any kind of orders, but Albert, Bill, and Eddie aren’t here yet. If you want me to step down, I’m totally willing,” Lou’s statement was met with cheers of encouragement.

“Yeah I told him no one was going to demand he pick a new temp boss, but no one ever listens to Gus,” Gus said into the room. One of his arms was arms was in a sling. He was followed by Bug.

“I appreciate it, everyone. I reall...

Loop 257 - Part 19

“Hi Clark, I know you don’t remember the last loop, but I really dislike what you tried to pull there, and I’m not very big on what you’ve done in this one either,” Harold said to the man bound to a chair in front of him.

Cal was watching from a monitor in the next room. Harold hadn’t wanted anyone in the room with them as he had a feeling Clark’s capture was part of the trap, but he hadn’t been sure of just what part yet.

“Nice to see you too, Harold. How are th...

Chapter 27: Simulations & You

Finding information on the history of the Arena Spiral or even the Spiral incorporation itself was nearly impossible. I went to the sections the librarians sent me, but they warned me there wouldn’t be much. There were laws that restricted what information about the Arena was allowed in worlds without current representation within it, and the Archives of Gortrin had never bothered with it as a whole. All I really learned was that the Arena was made up of an unspecified number of floors, and...

Chapter 26: To Be Young Again

The next day was spent packing as many calories as I could while I laid on the couch at the outpost and during the ride back to the archives. The brothers had dropped me off in bed with a giant selection of foods and a promise to check up on me the next day. I once again had no idea what I would have done without them. Our chance first meeting was turning into one of the most important events of my life.

I had just finished my second roast chicken when I decided my core had enough energ...

Chapter 25: Night Terrors

Something I hadn’t considered that would further slow us down on the return was me. I had felt so good on the walk here that I’d almost managed to forget just how bad my joints really were, but after the wyrm, there was no way for me to ignore it now. I was slowing the brothers down, and badly.

“Hey guys, we aren’t going to make it before the sun sets the rest of the way. What exactly is so dangerous about the night here?” I asked.

“Shadow vultures, they’re all over ...

Chapter 28: Dungeons, Dungeons & More Dungeons

I thought I was finally starting to understand at least a portion of what the System was giving me. As I put the skill points into Dungeon Simulation I found I had three new options on the modifiers page.

I was sure that each of these would add even more experience to the totals when I was done. This would let me add even more skill points to the simulation skill, allowing me to get more exper...

Chapter 27: Simulations & You

Finding information on the history of the Arena Spiral or even the Spiral incorporation itself was nearly impossible. I went to the sections the librarians sent me, but they warned me there wouldn’t be much. There were laws that restricted what information about the Arena was allowed in worlds without current representation within it, and the Archives of Gortrin had never bothered with it as a whole. All I really learned was that the Arena was made up of an unspecified number of floors, and...

Chapter 26: To Be Young Again

The next day was spent packing as many calories as I could while I laid on the couch at the outpost and during the ride back to the archives. The brothers had dropped me off in bed with a giant selection of foods and a promise to check up on me the next day. I once again had no idea what I would have done without them. Our chance first meeting was turning into one of the most important events of my life.

I had just finished my second roast chicken when I decided my core had enough energ...

Chapter 25: Night Terrors

Something I hadn’t considered that would further slow us down on the return was me. I had felt so good on the walk here that I’d almost managed to forget just how bad my joints really were, but after the wyrm, there was no way for me to ignore it now. I was slowing the brothers down, and badly.

“Hey guys, we aren’t going to make it before the sun sets the rest of the way. What exactly is so dangerous about the night here?” I asked.

“Shadow vultures, they’re all over ...

Chapter 24: Monster Hunting

We found the outpost after only a few minutes of walking. The heat here was nearly overwhelming, and I wished that I’d considered how I was dressed before we’d headed out. A message flashed before my eyes as I was considering this telling me I had unlocked a new skill called Body Temperature Regulation. Okay, that was certainly one I could see myself spending points on. In fact, considering how I was currently feeling, I was going to have to do this as soon as we took a break. I didn’t ...

Chapter 23: Five Dozen Eggs

Somehow, by the time I finally felt full, I had easily eaten five dozen eggs and a few loaves of bread worth of toast as well. I kept eating until I felt my core stabilizing with energy. It didn’t seem entirely full, but I finally felt like myself again. The exhaustion was entirely gone. The part I considered the strangest was that I didn’t even feel like I had eaten too much. I certainly hadn’t been any sort of competitive eater prior to coming here, so where did I manage to fit al...

Chapter 24: Monster Hunting

We found the outpost after only a few minutes of walking. The heat here was nearly overwhelming, and I wished that I’d considered how I was dressed before we’d headed out. A message flashed before my eyes as I was considering this telling me I had unlocked a new skill called Body Temperature Regulation. Okay, that was certainly one I could see myself spending points on. In fact, considering how I was currently feeling, I was going to have to do this as soon as we took a break. I didn’t ...

Chapter 23: Five Dozen Eggs

Somehow, by the time I finally felt full, I had easily eaten five dozen eggs and a few loaves of bread worth of toast as well. I kept eating until I felt my core stabilizing with energy. It didn’t seem entirely full, but I finally felt like myself again. The exhaustion was entirely gone. The part I considered the strangest was that I didn’t even feel like I had eaten too much. I certainly hadn’t been any sort of competitive eater prior to coming here, so where did I manage to fit all? D...

Loop 257 - Names & Friends

“There, does that feel better? I think I’ve healed as much of the damage as I can for now, but I bet we can do more later. Can all three of you hear me?” Bug asked. Each head nodded yes.

“And the pain, does it still hurt?” She asked next.

“No, just strange,” one of the heads said.

“Good, alright, how about names? Does anyone remember theirs?” She asked this very gently, still worried about their fragile mental state. She had already spent the last few hours...

Loop 257 - Part 18

“You really need to stop knocking yourself unconscious with your power use, Cal. How many times have you woken up in a bed in the void house having done that so far?” Cal was pretty sure it was Andrew’s voice speaking to him, but the pounding in his head made it hard to be sure. He forced his eyes open and confirmed that it was indeed the first one to be stuck in these loops and the reason he was in them as well.

“Did we get all the capybaras?” Cal asked. His own pain wasn’t...

Loop 257 - Part 17

“Fulginanis, I do not care if it’s a trap. Everyone is now there. We don’t have a choice but to smash through it,” Cal said out loud instead of mentally as his anger flared.

“Frank agrees!” Frank added. Cal didn’t have the heart to tell him Fulginanis couldn’t hear him.

“Cal, can you hear me?” It was Harold’s voice in his head now.

“I can. How are you doing this?” Cal asked in confusion.

“I am broadcasting Harold into our conversation; he ha...

Loop 257 - A Scattering of Capybara

“Boys, boys, wait!” Lou yelled at his fellow capybaras, who had all made it over the wall thanks to Gretel. They stopped and looked back at him. “We can’t leave Gretel behind. It’s wrong, and you all know it, we don’t have any magic. She’s the one they need to find; they rest the boys!”

“So what do we do?” a different capybara asked. Lou couldn’t tell who.

“Grab anything that will work as a weapon. We may not have any of our tech with us, but we can still f...

Loop 257 - Part 16: Gretel & Stan

Gretel paced the trailer, debating if she should get the capybaras out sooner or later. She really hoped Albert and Bill were here; the more help she had, the better their chance of making it through this was. Whispering a prayer to several dog paladins long gone, she felt her claws grow sharper and began to work the top of crates off. Shortly she had over a dozen freed capybaras, with twice that to go, and so far, no Albert or Bill in sight. What worried her even more was that this only acco...

Loop 257 - Back in the Void House

“Libby, I know you’re watching the guests, but I need your help. Gus will take over for now,” Fulginanis said as they appeared in the situation room.
 “Okay, coming,” the former librarian from an otherworldly infinitely large system of all knowledge said. The people that had been recruited into this alliance amazed Fulginanis whenever they dwelt on the variety.

Once the robot was in the portal hall, their head spun to Fulginanis full form and asked, “Need another rei...