CyberConnect Corporation

The Infirmary's Mean Girls

Hani and their helpers got together and got the infirmary in the Net Slum in working order!

Please do consider visiting if your character has been injured. The head nurse has been said to be very pretty, but stern, and her little helper AIs keep an eye out for everyone so that no one gets hurt any further. You may also find yourself with... "permanent debuffs" as long as you're in the infirmary. This is for precautionary purposes, of course. We want to keep the infirmary clean as much as possible, you see.

Propogating Deception Intensifies

A new week comes with two more bosses for you to deal with head on: Magus, the Propagation and Innis, the Mirage of Deceit. Good luck to everyone taking part in the battles!

Their battles will begin (OOCly) on Sunday, November 12.

Boss battles are great fun, but for those who want a break from combat, please direct your attention to our catch-all log. As a reminder, while Phase battles are taking the place of traditional events this month, we’d like to keep all open posts and prompts in one place for ease of access for everyone looking to unwind between battles.

As a reminder to all non-Phase players, you have lost all of your non-fragment memories. As far as your character is aware, they were born and raised in the fantastical land of Fragment.

Level cap raised to 100

Congratulations, everyone! The level cap has once again been raised, allowing players to level up to the maximum level of 100. A special set of three spells unique to your character awaits you at the end of your leveling journey, so get to it! You’ll need these spells now more than ever.

Base AC is not required for Bonus AC submission for November.

Something is coming

An eerie chill has settled over the Root Towns which, despite the monster invasion, have been unusually quiet. They seem wary, on edge, insomuch as a monster can appear. Along with the relative feeling of unease is the scent of something sweet in the air, but you can’t seem to identify where the source is. The smell is nostalgic, somehow, even if you’re certain you’ve never smelled it before.

By early Saturday morning, the uneasy monsters have begun to kick up a fuss in the streets. They flee their ravaged Root Towns in droves, and the silence they leave behind is loud enough to ring in your ears.

A violet-pink storm rages above you. The sky bellows, a bitter wind whips through your hair. Something ominous looms on the horizon, and as you contemplate what that something might be, a new message arrives in your inbox.

An auspicious gift

It seems a collection of unique Cores have magically rained down from the skies and landed securely in the arms of Mr. Tylorific. Kind as he is, he’s taken it upon himself to seek everyone out individually and hand them each a single Core before bounding off to his next destination. Where did the Cores come from? What do they do? Are they even safe to handle? As soon as the Core is examined, a message relays itself directly into your mind in Zelkova’s concerned voice.

I was afraid this might happen… The Wave is coming, and we don’t have much time left before it arrives. Please arm yourselves with these Cores to protect yourselves and others.

I believe that you’ll be able to win against the wave… and against my brother Cubia. Thank you for showing me how meaningful friendship can be, and if we never meet again… please remember that I cared about all of you. Goodbye for now, friends.

Players will each receive one Strange Core that, when equipped, transforms into a specialized Core: Heal Core, Armor Core, and Damage Core.

Before each battle you engage in, you can choose which of the three Core types to engage for that battle. Choose wisely, because your Core type cannot be changed again until the battle concludes.

Each special Core has their own unique usage and restrictions, so be sure to read over each of them thoroughly.

Heal Cores steal HP and SP from an enemy. Stolen HP and SP can be restored to allies through a single-target spell or utilized as an area of effect spell to heal all allies in the same Area as the healer. Heal Cores can also remove some status effects. Heal Cores have three spells:

Data Drain Type H: Single heals a single target and fully restores their HP and SP.

Data Drain Type H: All heals everyone in the Area and restores a quarter of their HP and SP.

Data Drain Type H: Status Removes all status effects on allied players in the Area.

A Heal Core can only be used three times per instanced fight, after which the Core goes inactive and will only recharge after the battle has concluded.

Armor Cores lower the target’s defense to boost the player’s defense or that of their allies. Stolen defense can be used to buff a single target or all allies in the same Area as the buffer. Armor Cores have two spells:

Data Drain Type A: Single doubles both a single target’s defense and makes them invulnerable to status effects for 15 minutes.

Data Drain Type A: All boosts the defense of all allied players in the Area by 25% for 15 minutes. This spell provides no special protection against status effects.

An Armor Core can only be used four times per instanced fight, after which the Core goes inactive and will only recharge after the battle has concluded.

Damage Cores provide a variety of damage-dealing and combat-focused spells to make the task of fighting challenging foes that much more manageable. Damage Cores have three spells:

Data Drain Type D: Stun Stuns or freezes a target for 10 seconds, leaving them vulnerable to attack.

Data Drain Type D: Blind cuts the enemy’s accuracy in half for 30 seconds.

Data Drain Type D: Hammer drops a squeaky hammer on the enemy’s head, leaving them confused for 10 seconds.

A Damage Core can only be used three times per instanced fight, after which the Core goes inactive and will only recharge after the battle has concluded.

News? What news? What “real world”? Where you’re going, you don’t need to know what’s happening in the world beyond Fragment.

Monsters abound

Monsters continue to run amok in Root Towns, but Recreational Areas and the McMansion remain safe and monster-free. Unfortunately, the number of monsters hasn't lessened. Threatening to push everyone to their limits, there are twice as many monsters occupying Root Towns now than there was last week.

Speak no longer

That unnerving boyish voice visiting people in their dreams has fallen silent. Calling out to it will no longer yield an answer, but you get the feeling you haven't heard the last of him.

A new, unusual power

Some players have a new ability: Data Drain. This power allows them to break through the invincible green shields surrounding some monsters, leaving them vulnerable to attack. Unusually, only a handful of players seem to have this power, and not all of them have revealed that they do. If you want to learn more, try asking around and seeing what you find out.

Players will wake to find themselves lighter, like a weight has been lifted from them... but it's not an altogether pleasant feeling. Another of your core memories has been taken away, and with it, another vital piece of yourself. So it goes.

The latest addition of World News Roundup is out. Give it a read and see what you've been missing while neck-deep in Fragment. While you're at it, why don't you g̵̟̫̮͚͔̠̳̲͋̿͋̓́͜i̶̖̝̗̒̔̋̐́v̴̨̧̧̟̙̞̟͉͈̳̐͠ͅe̵̢̢̖̪̺͔͙̻̓̕͝͝͝ ̷̢̛̛̙̫͕̮͔̟͔̦̅̔͐͊̾͆͌͆̒̇̿̂͝͝͝ư̵̡̢̳͇͈̦͉̬̤͕͎̝̈́̀͑̓̐͠p̷̡̲̟͍̰̜̜͎̳̳̱̤͖̝̻̅̍̈́͗̽͜͜ ̸̡̛̺͈̳̜̑̌̆̅å̸̡̩̱͚͔̳̭̣͉̘̙̳̥̮̀̔͜n̷̖͇̲͍̹̽̽̐͊͆̀͊̋d̵̻̭̻̻̬̤̲̤̤͇̞̯̣̩̦͔̿́̓̿ͅ ̵̛̳͎̫̱̦̙͕͍͍͇̃̎̀̐̑́͜ͅe̶̪̫̟̤̜̳̱̩̯͚͊̐̌́̈́̏̎͂͂̈́͗͐͜͝͝m̵͇̆̀̍̌̈̒͜͝͠b̵̜̌̉̾̎͆̂̈́̽͂͒̃͝r̴̻̳̮͎̗̬̥͎͖̟͕͉̦̓́̈́̑̈́̊͐͗̌̂ą̴͊̓͑̏̽̕͝͝c̵͇͎̞̼͍͙͍͕̗̩̱̯̓̏̿͗͌̂̌̆̾ͅe̵̛̯̼͉̠͓͌͛͂̇̊́͒͒́̉͋̔̈́̊͜͠͝ ̷͙̤̭͓̓̿̈́̌͂d̴̡̛̮̹̣̼̹̃̉̿͛̋̈́͒̂́̏̅̾̕͠e̴̛̛͔͉͈̩̙̭͙̘̝͍͉͓̺͇̿̿̽͗́́̿̂̎̿͜ą̸͇̖̠̘̹̖͕̘̳̗̍̓ͅͅt̷̬̫͑̓͊̓͛͒̏̋̓̌͋̿̋̉͝͠h̶̛̲̺̼̉̽̍͐͊̒̔̈̌̆͝?̸̧̦̙̉̅͌̊͘͜

Level cap increased to 75

Fragment's level cap has increased from 50 to 75. Rejoice! You have nothing better to do now that engaging with the real world is no longer a possibility, so go on. Run some dungeons. Get your grind on. You'll forget all about the real world while you're busy smacking down baddies in virtual reality.

GP shop update: new items available

While you've been busy adjusting to your new life, the GP shop has been updated with a wealth of new items to make your life in digital prison a little more comfortable. Take a gander at the new items on offer.

Being stuck in a fantastical video game world isn't all that bad. At least you can still enjoy the comforts of home from your new virtual prison by checking out the brand new theater and recreation center that have opened up in Fragment. Check them out!

Remember those lottery tickets available in the GP shop? No one knows what the tickets were for, but a few brave (or foolish, depending on who you ask) adventurers spent their precious GP on tickets in the hopes of winning some illustrious prize.

A winner has been decided by the Fragment Council For Sisyphean Progress: Ganymede! Congratulations on your brand new McMansion. This modern marvel is ready-built and can be plopped down in the Root Town of Ganymede's choosing. Congratulations!

The latest addition of World News Roundup is out. Give it a read and see what you've been missing while neck-deep in Fragment. While you're at it, why don't you... oh, right. You can't log off and touch grass anymore. Never mind. At least you can ponder the state of the world while stuck in your favorite MMO. It's the little things in life.

A school district in Nevada, located in the western United States, saw all of their schools fitted with brand new laptops for all students and teachers in a large donation made by CyberConnect Corporation.

An undertaking so significant required coordination on all levels, as schools were brought together to hold their very own set up day for the laptops. IT workers walked the halls with teachers to help ensure that all laptops were set up to the school network and that each student could access all of the programs they needed for the betterment of their education.

The superintendent of the school district, Frank Lee Gaye, expressed his sincere gratitude to CyberConnect Corporation for the gift. "It's been really exciting to see the faces of all the kids light up when they open up their new laptops. I'm really thankful, you know, to CC Corp for donating all of these to us and for bringing their own tech people out here to help us set these up. After all, we're teachers and not all of us are good when it comes to connecting all these computers to the internet."

It will take a few days to make sure that everything is running smoothly, but the teachers and administration in this school district know that a few days of chaos will be worth the lifetime of learning opportunities that students will gain from their new laptops.

Much in the same way that the internet has impacted careers and the way we shop, it has also had a profound affect on the way we socialize. While many make friends on the internet in this day and age, many also find love.

Dating is difficult enough in real life that quite a few young adults are beginning to find that taking the pressure off of being your best self and chatting with people online to really get to know them before meeting is a much better alternative to something like speed dating.

This growing trend has seen a boom in spaces like chatrooms and websites built for meeting new people and discussing your interests. Some online games have even begun hosting events or creating clubs to facilitate meeting potential romantic partners, going so far as to even include marriage as a special event in the game. These methods have proven popular enough that now 1 out of every 5 young couple says that they met online.

Does this mean we'll eventually enter a world where people only meet each other online? It's not impossible, but bar and club owners across the world say they still see people making an effort to go out and meet potential romantic partners. It looks like some things will never change after all.

There has been a lot of buzz recently around a new vitamin that has hit the shelves with the primary ingredient of snail mucin, along with minerals derived from a variety of stones, simply named Mucin.

Clinically proven to help relieve eyestrain and neck and back pain, many are excited at the prospect of this product effectively battling the symptoms that too much computer use can cause. Experts have been looking for ways to alleviate some of the issues that arise from excessive computer use for the past several years, and many believe that Mucin just might be able to fix some of the problems that they have begun to see on the rise.

Don't be too eager to go out and buy it, though, as only luxury retailers are currently selling this hot ticket item. With a price of $250 USD a bottle, its promises come with a big upfront investment. Even so, doctors and online reviewers have said that this might be worth the hefty price for those who are experiencing a lot of eye and neck issues as a result of their work on computers.

For now, those who aren't willing to take on that extra bill are able to watch the myriad of review videos on various forums and social media sites to sate their curiosity.

Welcome to the GP shop! Here you can spend your hard-earned money on a range of unique items that can't be purchased anywhere else in the game. Offerings may change from update to update, so be sure to check back regularly.

Fill out the form below to make a purchase. GP purchases are self-reported, but if we notice any discrepancies, we’ll be in touch to address them. As such, you don’t need to wait for mod approval to enjoy your new items.

Items bought through the GP shop are not tradable unless otherwise specified.

<b>CHARACTER NAME:</b> <b>CURRENT GP: </b> <b>PURCHASES</b> <b>ITEM #1:</B> ##GP <b>ITEM #1:</B> ##GP <b>ITEM #1:</B> ##GP <b>TOTAL COST:</b> <b>FINAL GP:</b>

As the online world becomes a greater presence in all of our lives, so do the problems that come with such a big change in our everyday lives. What worries experts the most, naturally, is the myriad of health issues that come with being online for hours a day.

Medical experts and parents alike are calling for more scrutiny on major technology companies like CyberConnect Corporation and their role in promoting bad habits that lead to these health issues, particularly for what is now known as Doll Syndrome.

Causing those who are affected by it to fall into an unresponsive state, there is not much else known about Doll Syndrome other than its name. Those who are impacted by it usually recover within several days, or in some cases, after almost a week. For that duration, however, those with the condition will not respond to any external stimuli despite PET scans taken during actives case of Doll Syndrome showing significant amounts of brain activity. These results have only puzzled doctors, though some are beginning to develop theories as to why this might be happening.

Doll Syndrome primarily impacts young people, leading experts to wonder if the high prevalence of VR usage among young people is causing their brains to no longer process reality outside of the game they are playing. Others have suggested faulty internet connections even overheated computer systems as the trigger for Doll Syndrome, but many are beginning to see the connection between it and VR. Regardless, medical professionals everywhere advise that everyone limit their internet usage to only an hour or two per day.

Having robots vacuum our floors wasn't enough—we also had to have them start bringing us food too. In the past year, the rise of food delivery robots has led to entire packs of them in the street, rolling along in a group to their next delivery. It's convenient, it's fast, and it's cheap.

However, what is convenient, fast, and cheap is not always without its own drawbacks. Pedestrians of major cities have begun to lodge complaints to their city councils and local governments regarding food delivery robots, often stating that they're in the way or that they cross streets when they aren't supposed to, leading to dangerous situations. Some feel so passionately about this subject that they have created entire online communities around documenting their issues with food delivery robots, and even gathering support for petitions to get them banned from entire cities.

Online groups aren't the only passionate ones, however. Videos circulating online have shown pedestrians getting into all-out brawls with these robots, occasionally fighting an entire group of them. Kicking, throwing, punching are all fair game in the war against these food delivery robots, it seems, and these videos go viral time and time again online, especially with those who consider this a form of vigilante justice.

Public policy experts have chimed in to say that there needs to be some level of regulation when it comes to how many of these robots can be rolling out on the streets. A couple is fine, but the dozens that have been seen rolling through some neighborhoods is a few steps too far. This situation will sort itself eventually, but some wonder if that will be through ordinances or by pedestrians taking matters into their own hands.

We told cats and dogs to move over the other week, but now we have to add Pet Potatoes to the list too, because there's yet another new pet in town—the snail!

Much in the same way the snails take off when they begin a race, the concept itself has taken off and topped the list of hot topics for the last week. Snail racing is exactly how it sounds: two or more snails line up on a makeshift track and whoever gets to the finish line first is the winner! But trends don't take off when it's just the basics, not in this day in age.

What has inspired so many with snail racing is the different snail-appropriate costumes and chariots being constructed and shown off in their respective online communities. Membership in snail racing and snail owner groups has skyrocketed as people flock to images of snails in little outfits placed carefully atop their shells, or snails racing or taking a breather in their elaborately decorated racetracks. One such popular racetrack is one modeled after some of the biggest and most well-known sports stadiums in the world. With over two million likes, it's not a surprise that this single miniature racetrack has inspired many to come up with their own ideas!

It's not too late to get in on this new snail racing trend. Livestreams are still popping up daily with thousands of viewers, some even going as far as to have dedicated announcers for the races. Get your virtual ticket to these livestreams while you still can!

All adult Grunties start as baby Grunties, and they have to be raised up into proper adults by none other than you, the player! Will you be able to raise a fine, upstanding citizen of a Grunty or will you instead raise a mean, snobby Grunty? The choice is yours… if you can figure out exactly what you need to feed them in order to make sure they grow up as sweet as can be.

Once you have consistently fed your Grunty every single day for a week, they will be enveloped in a golden light and transform into a hopefully well-rounded adult before your very eyes! Adult Grunties will take on an appearance of the player’s choosing, but their appearance must in some way reflect the traits granted to them by what they’ve been fed.

Food: Cordyceps

Location: Found in the Snowy Tundra

Description: This delightful fungus will make your Grunty nerdy or whimsical.

Food: Bear Cat Eggs

Location: Found in castle dungeons

Description: These ferocious eggs will ensure your Grunty is grumpy or always ready for a fight.

Food: Bloody Egg

Location: Found in flesh dungeons

Description: This sight for sore eyes makes your Grunty prone to sarcasm or being edgy.

Food: Golden Egg

Location: Found in all dungeon types

Description: These eggs all but guarantee your Grunty will be a snob or sassy.

Food: Grunt Mint

Location: Found in the Volcanic Wasteland

Description: A delicacy for Grunties that will make them picky or spoiled.

Food: Immature Egg

Location: Found in stone dungeons

Description: These eggs are not quite ready to be eaten, but they still taste fine enough for your Grunty to eat, ensuring they’ll be childish or the life of the party.

Food: Invisible Egg

Location: Found in tower dungeons

Description: These hard to find eggs will make your Grunty shy or pensive.

Food: Mandragora

Location: Found in the Murky Forest, Stormstruck Plain, or Grassy Meadow

Description: This common food will have your Grunty grow up to be confident or prone to boredom.

Food: Mushroom

Location: Found in the Stormstruck Plain or Grassy Meadow

Description: This delicacy will make your Grunty ornery or wise.

Food: La Pumpkin

Location: Found in the Murky Forest or Stormstruck Plain

Description: These pumpkins will ensure your Grunty is polite or considerate.

Food: Oh No Melon

Location: Found in the Volcanic Wasteland

Description: These hot melons will make your Grunty easily frightened or a lone wolf.

Food: Piney Apple

Location: Found in the Grassy Meadow

Description: This common but delicious apple will have your Grunty grow up to be friendly or silly.

Food: Root Vegetable

Location: Found in the Rocky Desert

Description: These vegetables ensure that your Grunty is lazy or flakey.

Food: Snakey Cactus

Location: Found in the Volcanic Wasteland

Description: These tasty cacti will make your Grunty high maintenance or mean.

Food: Twilight Onion

Location: Found in the Volcanic Wasteland

Description: These onions have layers and will make your Grunty grow up to be evil or melancholic.

Food: White Cherry

Location: Found in the Snowy Tundra

Description: These yummy cherries will ensure your Grunty is cheerful or prone to gossiping.

In an unprecedented medical experiment, a team of skilled surgeons has achieved a remarkable feat by successfully performing remote surgery on a banana. The groundbreaking procedure, hailed as a testament to modern medical technology, has opened up new possibilities for the future of remote surgery.

The experiment, conducted at a leading medical research institution in the United States, involved a team of experienced surgeons remotely controlling robotic surgical instruments to perform a series of intricate surgical maneuvers on a banana specially prepared for the procedure. Cutting-edge technology, including high-speed internet connections, high-precision robotic arms, and advanced VR were the main stars of this experiment. The hi-tech VR (provided by CyberConnect Corporation) allowed the surgeons to use real-time feedback as they performed surgery on the banana, allowing for more precise and accurate movements of their surgical tools.

However, this experiment doesn't stop with the results, as the implications of remote surgery are far-reaching. It could allow experienced surgeons to lend their expertise to underserved regions, offering life-saving procedures to patients who would otherwise have limited access to specialized medical care. It also opens up new avenues for surgical training, where aspiring surgeons can benefit from the guidance and mentorship of seasoned professionals, regardless of geographic boundaries. The ability for magnification and 3D real-time capabilities of robotic surgical instruments, along with a greater variation of movement that humans are incapable of, open up new opportunities for the most risky surgeries to become both safer and more widely available.

While the successful surgery marks a major milestone, the medical community recognizes that further research and development are needed before remote surgery becomes a mainstream practice. Safety and reliability are among the critical concerns that must be addressed to ensure the well-being of patients and the success of remote surgical procedures. Even so, the future looks bright for both remote surgery and the possibilities of further technological advancement in the medical community.

In our current era of quick technological advancement, especially when it comes to online spaces, internet addiction has been on the rise and thus dubbed the Internet Addiction Crisis. A convergence of cutting-edge innovations and widespread internet accessibility has resulted in a society that is grappling with the compulsive use of online virtual spaces.

The Internet Addiction Crisis has invaded every facet of our lives and has subsequently impacted individuals from all walks of society. From young children to seasoned professionals, the allure of virtual reality (VR) games has led to a growing dependency that both authorities and experts are working overtime to address.

Exponential growth of the internet and innovations in VR technology from companies like CyberConnect Corporation, among others, are being named as the cause of the massive surge in cases of internet addiction in recent years. With a myriad of online platforms offering immersive virtual experiences, social networking, and as a hub for entertainment, it's no wonder that people are finding it increasingly challenging to resist the siren's call of the digital realm.

This crisis has lead to experts to sound the alarm on the detrimental consequences of excessive internet use. Prolonged screen time and isolation from real-world interactions are affecting all aspects of people's lives, leading to physical health problems such as eye strain and disrupting lives through the dissolution of marriages and the loss of employment. As a result of these devastating consequences, local and federal governments are being urged to implement regulations to tackle this crisis. However, finding a balance between the benefits of the internet and its potential risks has proven to be a complex challenge. Some experts advocate for stricter regulation on internet usage and internet cafes, while others call for awareness campaigns and educational programs to inform individuals about the risks associated with being online an excessive amount.

Parents, educators, and employers are also encouraged to play an active role in curbing internet addiction. Implementing screen time limits, promoting offline activities, and fostering real-world connections are essential in helping society foster a healthier relationship with the internet.

Move over cats and dogs — there's a new pet in town, and it's none other than the humble potato! In an unexpected twist, Pet Potatoes have become the latest fad captivating animal enthusiasts all across the globe. What started as a quirky internet trend has evolved into a full-blown phenomenon, with people from all corners of the globe adopting these starchy companions.

Pet Potatoes, as the name suggests, are potatoes that have been transformed into adorably endearing and customizable "pets." These little potato pals are easy to care for and provide a sense of freedom in terms of creativity as companions, leading to a surge in their popularity.

The trend originated on social media platforms, where users began sharing images and videos of their creatively decorated potatoes, complete with googly eyes, mini hats, and even small, handmade outfits. The quirky looks of these potatoes started a wave across the internet, leading to people from all walks of society adopting one as their own, which has inspired an entire community with popular groups popping up across all social media platforms. These groups have begun to host potato-themed events and meet-ups, and have also inspired many to share their own potato-inspired art projects.

It's impossible to know how long this trend will last as fads can fade within a day in this internet-heavy world, but the sense of community and belonging these silly pets have brought will surely last a lifetime.

Shill My Guild™ is a guild recruitment contest hosted by CyberConnect Corporation in celebration of the release of, you guessed it, guilds! Guild leaders are given an opportunity to spread the good word of their humble guild and recruit likeminded players to their cause... but if that were all, this wouldn't be much of a contest, would it?

Aspiring guild leaders will take to the stage on August 12th and pimp their ride guilds to the masses. Prospective guildies and curious parties alike will then be given the floor to interview these starry-eyed leaders and ask them whatever pressing questions are on their minds. "Can my cat join? Will there be fun and games? How many times do you use a towel before you wash it?" There's no limit to the invasive questions you may be asked, so be prepared to answer them all with style and poise!

Of course! Any contest worth its salt has fabulous prizes to be won. The potential rewards are as follows:

Simply fill out the form below to submit your guild to the contest. Forms are due by August 9th @12pm EST, so don't delay! All comments to this entry are screened.