《I Got Glitched to Another World!》 The Arrival, Error -- Welcome to Aeloria Title: I Got Glitched to Another World! Prologue: A soft wind blew through the crowded streets of Manila as Jayce Bengco, a 39-year-old chef, made his way home. The sun had set, and the lights from the bustling city illuminated the night. With a backpack slung over one shoulder, Jayce felt the weight of his mundane existence - endless job interviews, sleepless nights and the constant feeling that something was missing from his life or rather he felt that he was doing something insignificant with it. Day in day out, he would do the same things he usually does. Look for a stable 5 to 9 and do odd jobs not affiliated with his chosen industry or accept online freelancing work for a couple of bucks per project. On his free time he bonds with his family and spends the rest playing RPG games, watching anime or reading manga. Unbeknownst to him, his world was about to change forever. Chapter 1: The Arrival, Error -- Welcome to Aeloria As He reached home, his wife Lia who was carrying their four month old daughter greeted Him. ¡°Oh hi babe, welcome home!¡± Lia said with a warm and welcoming smile. ¡°Look Ellie, daddy¡¯s home!...¡± She added. A smile broke out of Jayce¡¯s lips as he saw his daughter smile. ¡°Hi baby¡­. How was your day? I hope you didn¡¯t give mommy a hard time.¡± I kissed my wife and held out my hands, offering to carry Ellie. ¡°So, how was the hunt?¡± Lia asked. ¡°The¡­. Hunt?... (Referring to a Job Hunt)¡± Jayce echoed. ¡°Oh!... I¡¯ve got to go back tomorrow¡­ the Executive chef wasn¡¯t there, he had an emergency and left before I arrived so¡­ but I¡¯m done with the interview though. I just need to do a demo of some sort for them to asses my skills so they¡¯d know where to put me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! You got the job!¡± Lia¡¯s face brightened with joy. Jayce sighed with a low grunt¡­. ¡°Yeah I guess¡­ the offers not much though¡­ 25k? I¡¯ll be commuting to Makati plus they don¡¯t give free lunches or at least transportation allowance¡­¡± ¡°By the way, I passed by mom¡¯s place before going home. She gave me some cash, here keep it with you. We won¡¯t have to withdraw from our savings for a while.¡± ¡°Why¡¯d you take it though? Mom might need it? Did you ask for it? She shouldn¡¯t have bothered¡­.¡± Lia said with a vexed look on her face. With a stern gaze Jayce answered, ¡°What¡¯s with the questions? Duh¡­ because we needed the cash, nope and nope! Don¡¯t worry I¡¯ll give it back to her¡­ sheeeeesh¡­¡± Lia replied while pointing a spatula at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you ¡°duh¡± me! Mom has her own expenses to deal with and you¡¯re leaching out of her again! Anyway¡­ sit down, diners ready.¡± Hours pass by¡­. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Uuugh¡­ What time is it?¡± Jayce said to himself as he rolled to face the clock. Squinting his eyes as he softly muttered, ¡°1am¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t sleep¡­ the main lights are off¡­ Both my wife and daughter are sound asleep¡­ I sat up and got my phone from the side table to watch some reels but ended up watching the new episode of my favorite anime ¡°Solo Rendering¡±. ¡°Maaan¡­ I thought to myself¡­ here we go again, one anime after the other till I hear my alarm go off.¡± I stood up to get a glass and poured myself some gin, opened some chips, and placed my phone on a stand. As I reached for the glass to take a sip of gin, a stinging sound permeated my ears. Suddenly, darkness then followed by an explosion of light! I lost consciousness¡­. -BzzzZzrrTt k k krrt tiiiii rrrt tiiing! Woken up by an electrifying sound¡­.. Stupefied by the events, Jayce pans around¡­ He sees nothing but white. ¡®Ting!¡¯ ¡®Ting!¡¯ ¡®Ting!¡¯ ¡®Ting!¡¯ Images pop out in his view. > [SYSTEM] Welcome, Player. System Booting Complete... > Ready for your adventureRerrrr¡­e..r..rr¡­o.r&5%^& [SYSTEM ERROR] >> Welcome, [User]... Initialization Failed: Minor Anomaly Detected. > Reattempting... [Success] > [SYSTEM] Welcome, Player. > SYSTEM ERROR: Critical Malfunction Detected. > Attempting to Bypass... [Partial Success] [SYSTEM ERROR] >> WELCOME, [USER]... > Data Corruption Detected. > SYSTEM Analyzing. > SYSTEM Patching¡­ Re-computing¡­ Patching. > SYSTEM REBOOTING... Please Stand By. > [SYSTEM] Welcome, Player. System Booting Complete... > Ready for your adventure. [SYSTEM LOG] - Welcome to the New World [Aeloria]. [Initialization Complete] - Ready for Deployment. A sudden crackling sound pierced the air. A flash of light, too bright to ignore, erupted in the sky above him, casting shadows across the ground. Jayce froze, eyes wide in shock, before he was engulfed in a force that pulled him into the air. Before he could comprehend what was happening, the world around him twisted into a kaleidoscope of colors, and with a sharp jolt, everything went dark. Jayce¡¯s senses returned like a system booting up - first came the distant hum of static, then the cold, unfeeling sensation beneath him. His eyes fluttered open. A sky of shifting colors stretched above, glitching between vibrant blue and patches of pixelated void. His breath hitched as his body finally registered itself - he wasn¡¯t in his apartment anymore. [SYSTEM BOOT COMPLETE] [Error Log Updated] Warning: Unstable Integration Detected. System Adjusting¡­ Jayce pushed himself up, groaning. The ground beneath him was smooth, almost artificial, like a rendered surface from an unfinished game. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Then, the notifications resumed. > [System] Welcome, Player. System Class: Unassigned Skillset: Unstable > [Initializing Unique Ability¡­] Error. Error. Error. The world flickered again. A sharp, electric pain shot through his body as foreign data flooded his mind. His status was being rewritten in real-time. > [Adaptive Glitch] Skill Acquired Warning: Ability Unknown. Proceed with Caution. Jayce gritted his teeth. ¡°This isn¡¯t a dream, is it?¡± > [Pixel 1x] Item Acquired Warning: Item Unknown. Proceed with Caution. > [System Class] Unassigned > [System Class] Assigning¡­ > [System Class] Error. Error. Error. > [System Class] Failed. > [System Class] Restarting¡­ > [System Class] Randomizing¡­ Error. Error. Error. Failed. > [System Class] Skip. > [Initializing Item Usage] Pixel 1x. Failed > [System] Identifying Item = Pixel 1x. Error. Failed Warning: Item Unknown. Proceed with Caution. > [System Patch] Executing¡­ Overwriting¡­ > [System Patch] Complete. > [System] Identifying Item = Pixel 1x. Error. Failed > [Initializing Item Usage] Pixel 1x. Failed. Overwriting¡­ > [Initializing Item Usage] Pixel 1x. Success. > [System] Syncing Item. Success. [Pixel 1x] Account Bound. Equip Item Pixel 1x [Y/Y]? Error. > [System] Equip item Pixel 1x. Success. > [System] Clearing Cache. Complete. Skillset: Stabilizing¡­ Success. > [Initializing Unique Ability¡­] Success. > [Setting Unique Ability¡­] Adaptive Glitch. Complete. > [System] Resetting Stats¡­ Error. Complete. > [System] Rebooting¡­ Jayce¡¯s vision started to clear. The ringing sound in his head slowly diminishes¡­ He sat down and wipes the sweat off his face, voice cracking as he muttered, ¡°Where am I? What¡¯s happening?¡± > [System] Set Username_Jayce. Complete. [User] Set System Name [Y/N]? Jayce stared at the glowing prompt floating in front of him. His fingers twitched involuntarily as he reached out, hesitating for a moment. [User] Set System Name [Y/N]? A part of him wanted to reject it -- wanted to deny the absurdity of the situation. But the reality was undeniable. He wasn¡¯t in his room anymore. With a deep breath, he tapped "Y." > [System Name Set: ERROR//Set_Name] His brows furrowed. Error again? Just what kind of broken system is this? The moment the prompt disappeared, his surroundings began shifting. The smooth, artificial ground beneath him warped -- textures flickering between solid stone and digital static. The sky above glitched, distorting between a bright azure and black void. > [SYSTEM NOTICE: Localization¡­ Failed.] [Warning: You are currently outside normal world parameters.] [Attempting to synchronize¡­] A sudden pulse of energy surged from the ground beneath him. > [System] Downloading Manual. Complete. Read Manual [Y/Y]? Jayce braced himself as his body was yanked upward. His vision blurred -- his stomach twisted as if reality itself was being rewritten. Then -- Thud! He landed hard, coughing as dust rose around him. This time, the ground beneath his fingers felt real -rough stone, cool and uneven. Slowly, he lifted his gaze. Towering above him were massive structures of gothic architecture, huge boulders, twisting spires and pillars reaching toward the sky, glowing runes carved into their surfaces. Beyond the towering structures, the sky was¡­ glitching. Patches of code-like fragments and digital distortions flickered in and out of existence. > [SYSTEM ALERT: Welcome to Aeloria.] [You have entered: ???] Jayce swallowed hard, his pulse hammering in his ears. Aeloria? The name tugged at something in his memory, but his thoughts were a scrambled mess. Where was he? Why was everything glitching? A distant, inhuman screech echoed through the air. The hairs on the back of his neck rose. No. Now wasn¡¯t the time to panic. He forced a shaky breath, willing his mind to focus. If this was anything like the RPGs he played, then -- ¡°Status Open.¡± The moment the words left his lips, a translucent blue window blinked into existence before him. [ERROR: Status Unavailable] [Data Corruption Detected] [Restoring¡­ 3%] A cold dread settled in his gut. Whatever was happening, one thing was clear. He was in trouble. Jayce swallowed hard and whispered. ¡°Open Inventory.¡± For a moment, nothing happened. Then - [Inventory Opened] A new window materialized before him, displaying a grid of empty slots. His heart sank. Bare. Completely empty. No weapons, no potions, nothing. ¡°Open Equipment!¡± A single item seen equipped in the weapon¡¯s slot. [Item Details] Weapon/Sword/Sword_Name: ¡¯%@#$01&%#*¡¯/Type_Cursed(Glitched)/Embodiment_Pixel x1 Jayce¡¯s breath hitched as he stared at the corrupted text on the screen. A weapon -- finally. But its name was a garbled mess, and the words "Type_Cursed" sent a chill down his spine. ¡°¡­Inspect item,¡± he muttered. The system hesitated. The interface flickered, lines of broken code distorting before settling. [Item Details] Weapon Type: Sword Designation: Pixel x1 Status: Cursed (Glitched)/Unknown Properties Durability: ??? Effects: ??? Jayce clenched his fists. Almost every detail was corrupted or hidden. Was it safe to use? Did he even have a choice? A distant, guttural growl snapped him out of his thoughts. The sound came from beyond the ruins -- a deep, distorted noise like static mixed with the growl of some monstrous beast. Then came the heavy thud of footsteps, growing closer. Jayce swallowed hard. No time to hesitate. In his mind he kind of knew what the sword¡¯s name was. He tried to say it but, all that came out was gibberish. ¡°¡­Equip %@#$01&%#*.¡± The moment he spoke, his vision blurred for a split second. A tingling sensation ran up his arm as something materialized in his grasp. The sword flickered, glitching in and out of existence like unstable data. Its shape was jagged, shifting between a sleek, futuristic blade and a crude, pixelated mess. A faint, digital hum echoed from it, sending pulses of energy up his arm. Then -- [Warning: Weapon Stability¡­ Unstable.] [Adaptive Glitch Syncing¡­ Partial Success.] Jayce exhaled sharply, adjusting his grip. The sword was light -- too light, almost like it was barely real. But there was no time to question it. A shadow loomed over the ruined archway ahead. The monstrous growl deepened. Then it stepped into view. A hulking figure, its body warped and twisted, flickering between fleshes and shifting code. Its arms ended in jagged claws, and where its face should have been was a mess of static, shifting lines and unreadable symbols. [ERROR: Entity Undefined] [Threat Level: ???] Jayce tightened his grip on the sword. His pulse pounded in his ears. No stats. No backup. A glitched weapon. And an unknown enemy staring him down. ¡°¡­Of course,¡± he muttered under his breath. ¡°Just my luck.¡± The creature twitched. Then, with a screech of distorted noise -- It lunged. Jayce barely had time to react. The moment the creature moved, reality itself seemed to desync. Its body flickered -- one moment it was meters away, the next, right in front of him. Too fast! Instinct took over. He swung the glitched sword up in a desperate attempt to block. Clang! The impact sent a shockwave of distorted energy rippling outward. The moment %@#$01&%#* made contact with the creature¡¯s claws, the world lagged. For an instant, everything froze -- the creature, the air, even Jayce himself. He could see the distorted pixels of the enemy''s claws phasing in and out of existence. Then -- Reality snapped back. The monster screeched as its arm shattered into scattered fragments of glowing, corrupted data. It staggered backward, its body glitching violently. Jayce¡¯s eyes widened. "This sword... It''s breaking things apart at the code level?" The creature writhed, its form destabilizing, but it wasn¡¯t finished yet. It lunged again, movements jerky and unnatural. Jayce barely had time to react before it teleported mid-charge, reappearing behind him. What -- ?! He twisted his body just in time to see a massive claw swiping toward him. Too fast to dodge! With no other choice, Jayce raised his weapon -- The moment the monster¡¯s attack hit %@#$01&%#*, a pulse of digital energy erupted outward. [Defensive Glitch Triggered.] The air itself warped. Jayce felt himself shift -- his position forcibly rewritten. His body flickered like a glitched character in a broken game. Then, suddenly -- He was behind the creature. His stomach lurched from the unnatural movement. He barely had time to process what happened before the system chimed again. [Combat Sync Progress: 7%] The monster screeched, confused by his sudden disappearance. Jayce didn¡¯t waste the opportunity. He tightened his grip and slashed. The glitched sword tore through the creature¡¯s back, its body desyncing as the corrupted energy spread. The beast convulsed, letting out a static-filled wail. Then -- CRACK! It burst apart, fragments of pixelated data scattering into the air before fading into nothing. Silence. Jayce stood there, panting. His entire body trembled -- not just from exhaustion, but from what just happened. "I¡­ moved? No, the system moved me." He stared at the flickering blade in his hand. "This weapon doesn¡¯t just attack. It manipulates the very code of this world." Before he could think further, another system notification appeared. > [Combat Data Acquired.] > [Adaptive Glitch Progress: 12%] > [New Functionality Detected: ???] > [Level Up!] > [Level Up!] > [Level Up!] > [Level Up!] > [Level Up!] Jayce¡¯s breath was still uneven as he exhaled, lowering his sword. But something told him¡­ This was only the beginning. Chapter 2: Loot and Lag Chapter 2: Loot and Lag Jayce exhaled, his hands still trembling as the glowing system prompts flickered in front of him. [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] Five level-ups all at once. That wasn¡¯t normal. Even in RPGs, grinding five levels from a single enemy was absurd -- especially when the system itself was clearly unstable. He opened his status window. [Status Open] The corrupted screen from earlier had somewhat stabilized, though remnants of distorted code still lingered. His stats had skyrocketed, but they were all over the place -- his STR (Strength) was oddly high, his INT (Intelligence) fluctuated like a broken counter, and for some reason, his LCK (Luck) stat had hit a negative value before resetting back to zero. Jayce frowned. ¡°This system is so damn broken.¡± He quickly adjusted his stats, distributing his points carefully. [Stat Allocation] With a deep breath, he locked in the changes. [Stats Adjusted. Applying¡­ Success.] For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a rush of energy coursed through his body. His muscles felt lighter, his movements sharper -- almost like his reflexes had been cranked up to an unnatural degree. "Woah -- !" Jayce nearly lost his balance as his SPD boost kicked in. His movements felt almost too fast, like his body was reacting before he even thought about it. He took a deep breath, stabilizing himself. "Okay¡­ that worked. Now, loot." He turned back to where the monster had disintegrated. In most RPGs, enemies dropped loot after being defeated. Even though this place seemed broken, maybe the system still followed some game logic. He activated Drop Scan. [Monster Drops Detected.] A glowing item appeared on the ground, floating just above the stone surface. Jayce reached for it cautiously. [ERROR: Drop Item Undefined] [Processing¡­] [New Item Acquired: ???] Jayce stared at the strange notification. ¡°Again with the errors¡­¡± He opened his inventory to inspect the item. [Item: ???] It was nothing but a fragmented piece of corrupted data, flickering in and out of existence like static. "Is this even usable?" Before he could question it further, another System Notice popped up. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Drop Item Data Acquired.] [Item Recompilation in Progress¡­] Jayce¡¯s eyes narrowed. Recompiling? Was the system trying to fix the broken loot? A deep, mechanical sound rumbled from within the ruins. Jayce froze. Something else had noticed him. It was getting closer. Jayce stiffened. The deep, mechanical rumble reverberated through the ruins, growing louder with each passing second. Then, the air rippled. Dark, wispy forms began emerging from the shadows, flickering in and out of existence like distorted holograms. They had no solid bodies -- only shifting masses of ethereal darkness, humanoid in shape but with elongated limbs and hollow, glowing eyes that pulsed erratically. Jayce¡¯s grip on his sword tightened. ¡°The hell are those¡­?¡± [SYSTEM WARNING: Unknown Entities Detected] [Threat Level: Undetermined] [Caution: These entities are drawn to residual corruption.] His gaze flickered toward the spot where the monster had died. The last remnants of its data -- tiny particles of corrupted code -- still hovered in the air, fading slowly. The creatures weren¡¯t after him. They were after the corpse. Jayce took a cautious step back, hoping to avoid drawing attention. But the moment his foot scraped against the stone -- All of them snapped their heads toward him. A high-pitched, static-like screech filled the air as the entities twitched unnaturally, their forms warping. Jayce¡¯s pulse spiked. ¡°¡­Yeah, of course that¡¯d happen.¡± Without another second of hesitation, he turned and ran. The ground blurred beneath him as his newly boosted SPD stat kicked in. His body felt impossibly light, his movements smooth -- almost like he was controlling a character in a game set to double speed. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. But the ethereal monsters weren¡¯t slow either. They blinked forward, distorting through space like broken video frames, appearing closer each time they phased. Jayce cursed under his breath. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me -- !¡± A pulse of energy surged from behind as one of the creatures lashed out. He barely twisted in time, the attack missing him by inches. Instead of claws or a solid limb, the entity¡¯s arm passed through the ground -- like it didn¡¯t follow normal physics. They don¡¯t attack physically? Jayce realized. Then what -- [SYSTEM ALERT: Data Corruption Detected.] [Warning: Contact with these entities may cause unstable system interference.] Jayce¡¯s eyes widened. They weren¡¯t just monsters. They were living glitches. If they touched him, who knew what would happen? Jayce sprinted through the ruins, his heart pounding as the ethereal monsters flickered in and out of sight, closing the gap with every blink. He didn¡¯t know what would happen if they touched him, but based on the system¡¯s warnings, it wouldn¡¯t be good. I can¡¯t outrun them forever. He had no spells, no proper abilities -- just this glitched sword in his hands. Jayce gritted his teeth. Screw it. I have to fight. Planting his foot against the stone, he pivoted sharply and slashed at the nearest entity. The %@#$01&%#* blade hummed with unstable energy as it passed through the monster¡¯s flickering form. For a split second, nothing happened. Then -- A violent surge of static burst from the creature as the sword''s jagged edges distorted, glitching between different states. Lines of corrupted data tore away from the monster, absorbing straight into the blade. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Skill Acquired] [New Function Stored: Phase Blink] Jayce¡¯s eyes widened. What?! His sword stole something from the monster. The entity let out a shriek, its form destabilizing, before disintegrating into fragmented pixels. The other creatures twitched, their empty, glowing eyes fixating on the blade. Jayce didn¡¯t wait. ¡°Phase Blink!¡± The moment he spoke, his vision glitched -- the world skipping frames as his body teleported several meters forward. He stumbled but recovered quickly, breath hitching. His sword had absorbed the monster¡¯s ability -- and now he could use it?! A slow grin crept onto his face. Now that¡¯s useful. But the monsters weren¡¯t done yet. They were still hunting him. And if his sword could copy one ability¡­ Jayce tightened his grip. Then I¡¯m stealing more. The moment Jayce blinked forward, the remaining entities shrieked in response. Their distorted forms flickered violently, as if reacting to the stolen ability. He steadied his breathing, heart still racing. This sword isn¡¯t just a weapon -- it¡¯s absorbing enemy skills. The realization sent a thrill through him. If he could steal their abilities, then -- The monsters lunged. Jayce reacted instinctively, slashing out with %@#$01&%#*. The blade tore through one of the creatures, and again, a burst of corrupted data transferred into the sword. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Skill Acquired] [New Function Stored: Data Distort] As the monster disintegrated, Jayce barely dodged the next attack, phasing sideways with Phase Blink. He gritted his teeth. I don¡¯t even know what this new ability does! No time to check. He had two more enemies left. One of them let out an unearthly wail, its form warping into jagged, elongated shapes before striking out with impossible speed. Jayce barely managed to parry, his arms shaking as the impact sent a wave of static through his sword. Then -- a system notification appeared. [New Effect Discovered: Skill Activation on Contact] Jayce¡¯s breath hitched. If his sword touched an enemy, he could trigger stolen skills directly?! Without hesitation, he countered, slashing his sword through the monster¡¯s core while mentally activating Data Distort. The effect was instant. The creature¡¯s body glitched -- its limbs contorted at impossible angles, pixels bursting from its form. Its attack halted mid-motion, as if the very rules governing its existence had been scrambled. Jayce didn¡¯t waste the opening. He spun and slashed through it. The monster fragmented into broken code, dispersing into the air. [Skill Sync Progress: 24%] The final entity hesitated, its hollow eyes flickering erratically. It had seen what happened to the others. For a moment, neither moved. Then, without a sound, the last monster turned and fled, phasing through the ruins. Jayce exhaled, lowering his sword. His hands trembled, adrenaline still coursing through him. He had won. But more than that -- he had learned something crucial. This glitched sword wasn¡¯t just dangerous. It was a weapon capable of rewriting the very mechanics of this world. And he had only just started unlocking its potential. A new system prompt appeared before him. [SYSTEM UPDATE: Adaptive Glitch Progress -- 32%] [Skill Sync Progress: Stopped. Re-computing¡­ Error.] [WARNING: More corrupted entities detected in Area.] Jayce frowned, catching his breath. ¡°¡­More of them?¡± Whatever this world was, whatever had brought him here¡­ It wasn¡¯t going to let him rest. And he was going to need a lot more skills to survive. Jayce wiped the sweat from his forehead, his breath still ragged from the last battle. His body felt stronger, faster -- his Adaptive Glitch was progressing, but it still wasn¡¯t complete. And if the system was right¡­ more enemies were coming. He had no choice. If he wanted to survive, he had to keep fighting. Jayce gripped %@#$01&%#* tightly and stepped forward into the ruins, his senses sharp. The corrupted scent of defeated entities still lingered in the air, and it was drawing in more monsters. Then, the ground trembled. [SYSTEM ALERT: Multiple Hostiles Detected] From the shadows, distorted figures emerged. Some were humanoid, their bodies fragmented, flickering in and out of existence. Others crawled on all fours, their limbs elongated, faces blank except for glitching static. Jayce exhaled. ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s level up.¡± The monsters lunged. Jayce vanished. His SPD boost let him blink behind one of the creatures in an instant. He slashed -- %@#$01&%#*carving through the entity¡¯s body, distorting its form. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Skill Acquired] [New Function Stored: Phantom Step] He barely had time to register it before dodging another strike, twisting midair and activating his new ability. ¡°Phantom Step.¡± His body became semi-transparent, and for a brief moment, the monsters lost sight of him. A stealth skill? Perfect. Jayce smirked. "This just keeps getting better." He reappeared behind an enemy, slicing downward with %@#$01&%#* -- absorbing another skill on impact. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Skill Acquired] [New Function Stored: Shadow Pierce] A sharp burst of dark energy shot from his sword, spearing through the remaining creatures. The sheer shockwave of the attack sent one flying, its form disintegrating into corrupted data. Jayce landed lightly, already feeling the system syncing. [SYSTEM UPDATE: Adaptive Glitch Progress -- 67%] Still not done. He needed more. Jayce turned, spotting a larger enemy in the distance -- one that didn¡¯t lunge at him like the others. Instead, it hovered, its form unstable, crackling with pure corrupted energy. A magic-type enemy. Jayce narrowed his eyes. If he could steal a magic skill¡­ He rushed forward. The monster raised its arms, digital glyphs forming in the air. A glitching fireball launched toward him. Jayce smirked. "Perfect." He dodged, blinked above it, and drove his sword straight through its core. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Skill Acquired] [New Function Stored: Glitchfire] A new power surged through him. Jayce could feel the knowledge settling in, the way to form unstable, burning energy in his palm. He raised his hand -- his own fireball forming. It flickered wildly, an unstable mess of flames and static. Then, he threw it. BOOM! The explosion ripped through the battlefield, consuming everything in its wake. [SYSTEM UPDATE: Adaptive Glitch Progress -- 95%] Jayce grinned. Just a little more. Only one enemy remained -- a towering, four-armed beast with jagged code-like runes carved into its body. Unlike the others, it didn¡¯t flicker or distort. It was stable. A boss-type enemy. Jayce tightened his grip. The monster roared and charged. Jayce met it head-on. He dodged, countered, and attacked, using all the skills he had absorbed. Then -- he saw an opening. He activated every copied skill at once. Phantom Step. Shadow Pierce. Glitchfire. A storm of unstable energy surged from his sword, crashing into the monster. The impact was devastating. The creature froze. Its body fractured -- Then -- [SYSTEM NOTICE: Adaptive Glitch 100% Complete.] [SYSTEM UPDATE: Unique Class Acquired¡ªGlitch Slayer.] [New Title Unlocked: The Broken One.] Jayce landed, panting. His body felt different. Stronger. More in sync with this world¡¯s unstable code. He glanced at his hands -- data flickered across his skin for a moment before stabilizing. This wasn¡¯t a game. He wasn¡¯t just a player. He was something else now. Something that could break the rules. Jayce smirked. "...Now this is getting interesting." Chapter 3: Glitch Slayer Chapter 3: Glitch Slayer [SYSTEM UPDATE: Unique Class Acquired -- Glitch Slayer] [New Title Unlocked: The Broken One] Jayce stood amidst the digital dust left behind by the boss-type entity, his breath steadying as he processed the system prompts. His hands still tingled with the lingering sensation of unstable data coursing through his veins. He clenched his fist experimentally. Unlike before, his body didn¡¯t glitch uncontrollably -- whatever had happened, the system had finally synchronized with him. "Glitch Slayer, huh?" he muttered, opening his status window. The corrupted errors that once plagued his stats were now gone, replaced with something new. [Status Window] Name: Jayce Class: Glitch Slayer Level: 14 Stats Adjusted for Class Synchronization¡­ Success. A new section had appeared beneath his stats: [Glitch Slayer Abilities] Jayce¡¯s lips curled into a grin. "This is busted," he murmured. The power of an error in a world running on system logic -- if he played his cards right, he could become unstoppable. But he didn¡¯t have time to celebrate. The ruins around him groaned, the digital distortions intensifying. The world itself was reacting to his presence. Then -- [SYSTEM ALERT: Major Anomaly Detected.] [Entity Classification: System Enforcer] [Status: Approaching] Jayce¡¯s smirk faded. A new enemy was coming. And this time, it wasn¡¯t just another glitched monster. This was the system itself fighting back. And he was ready. [SYSTEM UPDATE: Data Re-computation _Starting¡­ Complete.] [SYSTEM UPDATE: Stats_and_Skills. Updating¡­ Complete.] [SYSTEM UPDATE: Would you like to view] ¡°Yes.¡± [Status Window] Name: Jayce Bengco Class: Glitch Slayer Job: ??? Title (Primary): The Broken One Title (Sub): ??? Level: 14 [Stats] [Glitch Slayer Abilities] [Skills Acquired via Adaptive Glitch] Jayce barely had time to process the massive system overhaul before the atmosphere around him shifted. A chilling wave of static rolled across the battlefield, distorting the air like a screen struggling to render its surroundings. Then, it appeared. A figure descended, materializing from cascading lines of glowing blue code. Its form was humanoid but eerily perfect -- no flickering, no distortions, just smooth, calculated movement. Its armor shimmered with data streams, and a single glowing eye rested in the center of its helmet-like face. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Jayce''s grip tightened around his sword. [SYSTEM ALERT: System Enforcer has arrived.] [Warning: Unauthorized Entity detected. Immediate Correction Required.] The Enforcer raised a hand. Glowing geometric patterns formed around it, shifting and realigning like a complex algorithm processing calculations at light speed. "Unauthorized variable detected," a voice -- cold, mechanical, absolute -- echoed through the space. "Immediate purging initiated." A sudden pulse of energy shot toward Jayce, warping space around it. His instincts screamed. He barely dodged in time, Phantom Step activating reflexively. The blast struck where he had been, instantly erasing part of the battlefield -- no explosion, no debris, just¡­ deletion. Jayce¡¯s breath hitched. This wasn¡¯t a normal opponent. This was a system-registered entity. Something that could erase him permanently. But if the system itself was trying to delete him¡­ Then it saw him as a threat. Jayce grinned. ¡°Guess that means I¡¯m doing something right.¡± He raised his sword. Time to fight back. Jayce lunged forward, blade flashing with unstable energy. The Enforcer didn''t flinch. [SYSTEM RESPONSE: Threat Level Analysis - Processing...] Before Jayce could strike, the Enforcer vanished. What -- ?! A sharp, searing pain tore through his side. Jayce barely registered the impact before he was sent flying. His body skidded across the distorted battlefield, hitting the ground hard. He coughed, a sharp metallic taste filling his mouth. His vision blurred, but the warning messages flashing in his system were clear. [WARNING: Critical Damage Sustained.] [HP Reduced: 390 ¡ú 110] [System Integrity Unstable.] The Enforcer reappeared in front of him, its eye glowing with cold precision. It hadn''t even moved -- it had just executed an action faster than he could process. Jayce forced himself up, gripping his sword to steady himself. His whole body felt like it was coming apart at the seams. ¡°Damn¡­¡± he muttered, wiping blood from his lip. The Enforcer lifted its hand. ¡°Correction in progress.¡± A second pulse of deletion energy formed. Jayce had no time to think. His body moved on instinct -- he activated Corrupted Step, flickering out of phase just as the blast tore through where he had been. The pain in his side flared. He couldn''t keep dodging like this. One mistake and he was done. But he wasn¡¯t done yet. His Glitch Slayer abilities weren¡¯t just for show. He glanced at his status. His Adaptive Glitch had copied the attacks of the enemies he''d fought. And now¡­ He needed to use them all. Jayce forced a grin, despite the blood running down his chin. ¡°Alright, tin can¡­¡± He spun his sword, glitching flames sparking to life along the edge. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can process this.¡± With a burst of Phantom Step, he charged. Jayce gritted his teeth, pain radiating through his body as he barely avoided another deletion blast. The System Enforcer was relentless, moving with inhuman precision, its attacks warping space itself. He had never faced anything like this. Another strike came -- this time, too fast. The blast grazed his side. Agony. His entire left arm burned as if it had been erased from existence. His body convulsed, his vision blurred. A SYSTEM ERROR flashed in his vision. Jayce crashed onto the ground, gasping for air. Blood dripped from his lips. He was losing this fight. But he wasn¡¯t out yet. Summoning every last ounce of willpower, he activated Bug Exploit -- a new instinct kicked in. His eyes locked onto weak points in the Enforcer¡¯s structure, areas where its code was unstable. There. Jayce staggered to his feet, gripping his sword tightly. With one desperate, calculated strike, he activated System Override. Reality warped. For a split second, the battlefield itself froze -- the Enforcer¡¯s movements stuttered, its calculations interrupted. That was all he needed. With a roar, Jayce lunged. Shadow Pierce. Glitchfire. Lag Strike. Debug Slash. Every skill he had -- unleashed in one devastating combo. The Enforcer¡¯s form fractured -- glowing lines splitting apart like shattered glass. Its singular eye flickered wildly, its system collapsing under the corruption. Then -- BOOM. The Enforcer disintegrated, lines of blue code scattering into the void. Jayce fell to his knees, panting, his body barely holding together. His HP was dangerously low, his left arm barely responsive. He had won¡­ but at a cost. [SYSTEM NOTICE: SYSTEM ENFORCER ELIMINATED.] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [SPECIAL LOOT DROPPED.] [NEW SKILLS ACQUIRED: SYSTEM OVERRIDE, BUG EXPLOIT.] [System Override (Active) -- Alters reality within a small area, freezing enemies or bypassing obstacles. High cooldown, risk of instability.] [Bug Exploit (Passive/Active Hybrid) -- Identifies weak points in enemies or terrain, increasing damage or bypassing obstacles. Some enemies resist it.] Jayce coughed, struggling to stand. He glanced at the glowing remains of the Enforcer. He had to recover before moving forward. Dragging himself toward a secluded spot, he set up a crude camp -- a flickering fire made from mana-infused kindling. His body ached. His mind raced. He needed to get out of here. But first¡­ he needed to level up. Jayce sat down, wincing as pain flared through his body. His Recompile skill was working, passively repairing his damaged flesh and stabilizing his condition, but at this rate, it would take too long to fully recover. He opened his inventory, scrolling through the disorganized mess of items he had gathered. His eyes locked onto a small glass vial -- an unfamiliar healing potion. "Good. This should speed things up." Without hesitation, he popped the cork and downed the bitter liquid. A cool sensation spread through his body, accelerating the effects of Recompile. His wounds began closing faster, muscles mending as strength returned to his limbs. With his condition stabilizing, he finally turned his attention to the loot from the Enforcer. [Special Loot Acquired!] He frowned. The first item was completely unreadable, shrouded in system encryption. The Encrypted Data Fragment pulsed faintly, as if waiting for something to unlock it. And the Sigil¡­ its presence sent a chill down his spine. Jayce closed the inventory for now. There was no point worrying about it yet. Instead, he pulled up his Status Window. For the first time, he saw something new. [EXP] was now visible, and beneath his stats, a notification blinked: [Stat Points Available: Can be distributed manually.] Jayce¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. Now he had full control over his growth. But that wasn¡¯t all. Something else had changed. A previously locked section of his Status Window had been revealed. [Crafting ¡ú Cooking] "...Cooking?" He blinked. That was unexpected. But after everything he had been through, he wasn¡¯t about to question it. Suddenly, piercing pain shot through his head! Flashes of pixelated light engulfed his sight. A message could be faintly seen peripherally. When he tries to follow the message window with his eyes, it moves like those so called ¡°eye floaters¡± (black spots you see when staring at a well-lit wall). Jayce could barely make out what was shown¡­ [H¡­E..rrR..o¡­ MCo¡­oCoo..k¡­gn_@^#_C.OoErro..] [C¡­eR.r.rrc.OM_.F_Ch_..or._eF.F] [ErR.._eErL_lIEl_rL_ia._E] His vision stabilized. The pain was gone, but with it, so was the message¡­ ¡°UUUuugh¡­ What was that?...¡± Jayce murmured. For now, he had a bigger priority: leveling up and getting strong enough to leave this place. Jayce tightened his grip on his sword and stood. Time to hunt. Chapter 4: Debugging the Glitch! Chapter 4: Debugging the Glitch! Jayce, determined to grow stronger, set out to hunt more glitched monsters. His blade cut through corrupted entities, his movements becoming sharper as he tested the limits of his newfound strength. With each battle, he gained more experience and skills: Between fights, he explored his surroundings and stumbled upon an area unlike the rest of the distorted battlefield. A pool of water, shimmering unnaturally, caught his attention. [SYSTEM SCAN -- Valuable Resources Detected. Evaluating¡­ Processing¡­] [SYSTEM SCAN -- Complete!] [SYSTEM NOTICE! -- Pure Condensed Mana] [Potable Substance] [SYSTEM NOTICE! -- Substance Recognized!] [Cache Integration Possible] [Would you like to INCORPORATE?] [Y/N?] ¡°Yes!¡± [SYSTEM NOTICE! -- Cache Integrated!] [Would you like to save PREFERENCES?] [Y/N?] ¡°Yes please!¡± [SYSTEM NOTICE! -- PREFERENCES CREATED!] [USER_PREFERENCES -- SAVED!] [SYSTEM UPDATE! ¨C FOLDER CREATED!] [C:\Users\\AppData\%LOCALAPPDATA%\SUB_SPACE\\\prefs\New folder] [SYSTEM NOTICE! ¨C Substance Eligible for Archiving] [Would you like to ARCHIVE?][Y/N?] ¡°YAAAAAAAZZZZ!....¡± Jayce uttered with a disgruntled face¡­ [SYSTEM PROMPT!] [function_displaySystemMessage(¡°System message: Sighing with an EXASPERETED SNORT! CONFIRMATION_ACCEPTED!."){alert(&@$#^^-_-^!!!);}] [SYSTEM NOTICE! -- Substance ARCHIVED!] [Would you like to do this for the rest of the other ENTRIES?] [Y/N?] Jayce face-palmed in disbelief¡­ [SYSTEM NOTICE! -- CONFIRMATION_ACCEPTED¡­] [SYSTEM UPDATE!] [USER_PREFERENCES ¨C SAVED!] [PURE CONDENSED MANA] [Stored Function: Consumable -- High Grade Substance] Type: Mythic ¨C Substance Usage: Alchemy, Consumable Description: Pure Concentrated Mana ¨C The Essence of Creation A power beyond mortal reach, one the raw heartbeats of the universe, from which all magic flows. It shimmers like liquid starlight, dense with infinite potential -- capable of igniting worlds or mending time itself. Neither forged nor controlled, it bends only to those who glimpse the code of reality. To wield it is to hold the script of creation itself -- a gift to the worthy, a curse to the unprepared. Effects & Bonuses: Harnessing Pure Concentrated Mana grants overwhelming power, but only to those capable of wielding it. Some of its effects include:
  • Limitless Magic Power -- Spells enhanced by it become absolute, bypassing traditional resistances.
  • Reality Reformation -- Reshapes matter, space, and time at the wielder¡¯s will.
  • Unparalleled Energy Source -- A single drop can power ancient relics, revive fallen lands, or sustain a dying soul.
  • Instant Mastery -- Grants perfect understanding of magic for those attuned to it.
  • Divine Empowerment -- Temporarily grants godlike status, increasing all stats beyond mortal limits.
Fatal Risks: Attempting to wield Pure Concentrated Mana without proper control is a death sentence. It is too vast, too volatile, too perfect for the unworthy. Risks include:
  • Mana Overload -- Instantly shreds the user''s body from within, reducing them to nothing.
  • Mind Collapse -- The sheer knowledge and power fractures the soul, leaving an empty husk.
  • Reality Distortion -- Without mastery, a simple misstep can erase one''s existence or warp reality unpredictably.
  • Corruption -- Prolonged exposure mutates the unworthy into abominations, consumed by unstable energy.
  • Attraction of Higher Beings -- Cosmic entities and divine forces may intervene, destroy, or claim the user for their own ends.
Jayce stared at the shimmering pool of water. Haven¡¯t drank anything refreshing in a long time, the sight of such was ¡°lip-smackingly¡± tempting. He just stood there, holding his ground and gazing steadily at it. What a sight to behold in this Godforsaken place. Radiating with aura that is visible to the naked eye, the clearest liquid he has ever seen. Disregarding the System¡¯s warnings, Jayce knelt beside it, He gave in to temptation. Scooping up some of the liquid, it pulsed with raw mana, dense enough that he could almost feel the energy vibrating in his palm. He drank a small amount -- nothing happened. Not yet, but something told him this would be important once he left this place. Coughing as he continued to have his fill, Jayce also noticed other things. Nearby, he spotted clusters of strange plants and mushrooms, growing alongside jagged mana crystals embedded in the ground. These could be useful. For now, he continued his grind, focusing on leveling up and gathering as much as he could before making his next move. Jayce returned to his camp, dropping his gathered materials beside the small fire he had set up earlier. He eyed the plants, mushrooms, and the mana-infused water, deciding to put his newly unlocked Cooking skill to the test. He crafted a makeshift pot using scavenged materials, then poured the shimmering water in, setting it over the fire. As it heated, he added the mushrooms and plants, stirring the mixture carefully. The broth glowed faintly with residual mana, and the aroma¡­ Was disappointing. Jayce took a sip, his face twisting at the bland taste. No salt. No herbs. No spices. It was edible -- barely -- but it was clear he needed better ingredients if he wanted actual flavor. Still, he finished his meal. Even without taste, the warm broth settled in his stomach, providing some level of nourishment. Once he was done, he stretched his limbs and prepared to continue hunting. Each battle pushed his limits, his skills refining with each fight. His stats improved, and his movements became more fluid as he adapted to combat against the corrupted entities. The more he fought, the stronger he became. Soon, he knew, he¡¯d be ready to leave this place. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Jayce continued his hunt, cutting down glitched creatures and steadily growing stronger. But as he moved deeper into the corrupted landscape, he stumbled upon something new -- an area unlike any he had seen before. The air here was different. It crackled faintly, like an unstable program struggling to load. At the far end of the area stood a massive stone door, covered in strange engravings that pulsed faintly with an eerie glow. As he stepped closer-- [SYSTEM ALERT: Destabilization Disturbances Detected -- Proceed with Caution.] Jayce narrowed his eyes. This wasn¡¯t a normal dungeon door. Something was wrong. With that in mind, he turned back, heading to camp to prepare. Once he was fully equipped and ready, Jayce returned. With a deep breath, he reached out-- And pushed open the door. The chamber beyond was vast, its stone walls covered in cracks oozing with a strange, greenish mist. In the center of the room, something shifted. A massive frog-like creature emerged from the shadows, its slimy, grotesque body covered in pulsating pustules. [SYSTEM ALERT: Boss Battle Initiated -- Toxic Devourer Detected.] Jayce barely had time to react before the Toxic Devourer made its move. The massive, frog-like creature let out a guttural croak, its throat swelling grotesquely before unleashing a torrential spray of acidic sludge straight at him. His instincts screamed -- Move! Jayce dashed sideways using Phantom Step, narrowly avoiding the deadly liquid as it splashed onto the stone floor. The impact was silent -- no sizzling, no crackling -- because the stone wasn¡¯t just melting. It was being erased. Jayce¡¯s eyes widened. This wasn¡¯t just any acid. It was breaking down reality itself. The air thickened, the mist around the beast darkening. [WARNING: HIGHLY TOXIC FUMES DETECTED.] Jayce staggered back, feeling a wave of dizziness hit him -- before the feeling abruptly vanished. A new notification flickered into view. [NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: ERROR NULLIFICATION -- IMMUNITY TO NEGATIVE EFFECTS.] Jayce grinned. ¡°Guess I¡¯m immune to your tricks now.¡± The creature let out another deep croak, its beady, soulless eyes locking onto him. Then, with an unnatural burst of speed, it lunged forward, its massive bulk crushing the ground beneath it. Jayce barely had time to raise his sword. CLANG! The impact sent him skidding backward, his arms numb from the force. The Toxic Devourer¡¯s raw strength was nothing to underestimate. It wasn¡¯t just a mindless beast. It was hunting him. Jayce countered, slashing at its slimy hide. His sword bit into flesh, but instead of blood, a sickly green liquid oozed out -- acidic bile that melted even the metal of his blade. ¡°Tch--¡± He yanked his sword back, retreating before it could fully corrode. The Devourer croaked again, and this time, the fumes thickened, filling the entire chamber. Visibility dropped. Jayce¡¯s vision blurred. But with his Error Nullification, he wasn¡¯t affected. Instead, he focused. If the poison couldn¡¯t hurt him, then he had one major advantage. He disappeared into the mist, stalking his prey instead of being hunted. The creature twitched, sensing movement, and let out another powerful acid blast -- but Jayce wasn¡¯t where it aimed. He was already above it. With a burst of speed, he leaped high, his sword crackling with glitched energy. Then, using Adaptive Glitch he stole something. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Skill Acquired] [New Function Stored: Attack Skill - ???] Jayce activated it immediately. A strange, fragmented energy surged through his weapon, as if it were rewriting reality itself. With a fierce battle cry, he slammed his sword down, striking the Devourer directly on its grotesque head. The corrupted beast let out a deafening screech. It convulsed violently, its entire body glitching and distorting. It tried to leap away, but its movements were now jerky, sluggish -- corrupted. Jayce¡¯s eyes flashed. He wasn¡¯t done yet. Taking advantage of its moment of weakness, he activated another stolen skill. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Skill Acquired] [New Function Stored: Travel Skill - ???] His body blinked out of existence for a split second, before reappearing instantly behind the boss, right at its exposed back. Jayce thrust his blade forward-- The finishing blow. Jayce exhaled, rolling his sore shoulders as the Toxic Devourer''s corpse began to disintegrate, leaving behind shimmering loot and resources. He glanced at his Status Window, and sure enough¡ª [LEVEL UP! +5 LEVELS GAINED] A surge of newfound strength coursed through him. [Status Window] Name: Jayce Bengco Class: Glitch Slayer Job: ??? Title (Primary): The Broken One Title (Sub): ??? Level: 19 [Stats]
  • HP (Life): 390 (Severely Injured)
  • ???: [Hidden]
  • ???: [Hidden]
  • STR (Strength): 28 ?
  • VIT (Vitality): 22 ?
  • DEX (Dexterity): 20 ?
  • INT (Intelligence): 26 ?
  • SPD (Speed): 40 ??
  • LCK (Luck): 15 ?
  • ???: [Hidden]
  • ???: [Hidden]
  • ???: [Hidden]
  • ???: [Hidden]
  • ???: [Hidden]
  • EXP: [Visible]
  • RILTS: ???
  • BITS: ???
  • Stat Points: (Can be manually distributed)
Jayce smirked. "Looks like the system is finally stabilizing a bit more for me." Not only could he now see his EXP bar, but Stat Points were officially unlockable for manual distribution. That meant he could fine-tune his growth, prioritizing what he needed most. For now, he held off on distributing them -- he wanted to experiment a bit before committing to any changes. But there was something else. His Crafting Menu had changed. [NEW CRAFTING OPTIONS UNLOCKED!]
  • Smiting
  • Alchemy
Jayce whistled. "Now we''re talking." With Smithing, he could reinforce and craft weapons -- which meant better gear, and possibly even repairing his damaged sword. With Alchemy, he could start brewing potions, antidotes, and maybe even mana-related concoctions -- though he still couldn''t use mana yet. It was a huge step forward. Now, for the loot. [LOOT ACQUIRED ¨C TOXIC DEVOURER]
  • Corrosive Frog Leather -- Resistant to physical and elemental damage, useful for crafting armor.
  • Venomous Gland -- Can be extracted for potent poisons.
  • Toxic Core -- A pulsating, acidic gemstone with strange properties.
  • Acid-Resistant Bones -- Durable material that can be used for reinforcement.
  • Beast Meat (Tainted) -- Not edible in its current state but can be processed.
  • Glitched Essence -- ???
Jayce examined the Glitched Essence, a shimmering, unstable fragment pulsing with distorted energy. His instincts told him it was important, but he''d need time to figure out how to use it. Satisfied with the loot, Jayce shifted his focus to scavenging the area. His eyes scanned the battlefield. The Toxic Devourer¡¯s acidic nature meant most of the terrain was ruined, but there were still resources to be gathered. Scavenging for Raw Materials Jayce collected:
  • Unscathed Beast Hide -- Good for basic leather armor or trade.
  • Toughened Bones -- Strong enough for crafting reinforced handles or armor plating.
  • Mana-Infused Mushrooms -- Slightly glowing, possibly useful for alchemy.
  • Mana Crystals -- Found embedded in the cave walls, valuable for future mana-based crafting.
  • Raw Beast Meat (Non-Tainted) -- A rare find, still edible with proper cooking.
Jayce slung his scavenged materials over his shoulder and made his way back toward camp. Tonight, he would refine his loot, try out his new crafting abilities, and plan his next move. It was time to get stronger -- before leaving this glitched prison behind. Jayce exhaled as he settled back at camp, the tension from his recent battles finally easing. His body ached, and his wounds, though healing, still throbbed with dull pain. He had earned this break. The flickering light from his campfire cast long shadows as he leaned against a jagged rock. He glanced at the nightmarish world around him -- this glitched wasteland had become his battlefield, his proving ground. He had grown stronger, but he knew it wasn¡¯t enough. Not yet. Then, without warning-- [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: NEW SYSTEM UPDATE AVAILABLE!] Jayce¡¯s heart skipped a beat as his interface pulsed with a new notification. [Applying System Patch¡­ Verifying Data Integrity¡­] Lines of code and shimmering text scrolled across his vision. This wasn¡¯t like the usual notifications he had received from leveling up or acquiring new skills. This was different. It felt¡­ official. Then, the update details unfolded before him. [SYSTEM PATCH 1.3: STAT PROGRESSION UPDATE] Overview: A system recalibration has been applied to address inconsistencies in the user¡¯s growth trajectory. Changes Implemented: Stat Growth Normalization:
    • Previously unaccounted stat increases have been recalculated.
    • Base stat growth per level has been standardized.
EXP & Level Scaling Adjustments:
    • Past EXP gains have been consolidated and applied.
    • Required EXP for the next level is now visible.
Manual Stat Distribution Enabled:
    • Users can now allocate Stat Points manually.
    • 10 Stat Points are awarded per level, separate from base stat growth.
Jayce frowned, absorbing the information. ¡°Wait¡­ so my past level-ups weren¡¯t actually applying my stat increases properly?¡± he muttered, scrolling through the details. It seemed like the system had corrected itself, finally applying the stats he had technically earned. His Strength, Vitality, Dexterity, Intelligence, Speed, and Luck had all seen a proper increase, reflecting his efforts. [STATUS WINDOW UPDATED] [Updated Stats ¨C Level 19] Name: Jayce Bengco Class: Glitch Slayer Job: ??? Title (Primary): The Broken One Title (Sub): ??? Level: 19

[Stats]

  • HP (Life): 390 (Severely Injured)
  • STR (Strength): 28 ¡ú 38 ?
  • VIT (Vitality): 22 ¡ú 32 ?
  • DEX (Dexterity): 20 ¡ú 30 ?
  • INT (Intelligence): 26 ¡ú 36 ?
  • SPD (Speed): 40 ¡ú 60 ??
  • LCK (Luck): 15 ¡ú 20 ?
  • EXP: 13,650 / 3,200 (Needed for Level 20)
  • Stat Points Available: +50 (Manual Distribution)
Jayce rubbed his chin, deep in thought. ¡°So I finally have manual control over my growth¡­¡± He flexed his fingers, feeling the latent energy coursing through him. He had 50 unassigned stat points, meaning he could optimize his strengths further. The realization sent a chill down his spine -- just how strong could he become now that he had full control over his stats? His thoughts drifted back to his battles. The System Enforcer. The Glitched Beasts. The Toxic Devourer. Every fight had pushed him further, forced him to adapt. He had barely survived, but he had survived. Now, with this patch, his efforts had finally caught up. He let out a slow breath. It was time to plan his next move. Would he distribute his stats now? Or would he keep leveling up and gather even more points before making a major decision? Either way, he wasn¡¯t stopping anytime soon. The Glitch Slayer was just getting started. Chapter 5: A Brush with Death -- Limitbreak! Chapter 5: A Brush with Death -- Limitbreak! Jayce stared at his unallocated stat points, his mind racing. Fifty free points was a massive boost, but he hesitated. "Where do I put them?" he muttered. Strength? More power in his strikes. Vitality? Better survivability. Speed? He was already fast, but could he push it further? Each option had its merits, but without a clear build in mind, spending his points recklessly could cost him later. "I¡¯ll hold off for now." He clenched his fist, deciding to let his instincts guide him once he had more experience. For now, he had something else to check. Jayce opened his Skill Window, scrolling down to the abilities he had stolen from the boss. [Error Nullification] (Passive -- Immunity to Negative Effects)
  • Grants complete immunity to poison, stun, paralysis, burns, curses, and all debuffs.
  • Passive effect -- Always active.
¡°This¡­ is broken.¡± Jayce¡¯s eyes widened. This ability alone would make him unstoppable against enemies relying on status effects. [???] (Active -- Attack Skill) -- Stolen from Toxic Devourer
  • ??? (Details unavailable)
[???] (Active -- Travel Skill) -- Stolen from Toxic Devourer
  • ??? (Details unavailable)
¡°Figures.¡± Jayce sighed. Some stolen skills took time to manifest properly. ¡°I¡¯ll test them out later.¡± After checking his new abilities, Jayce turned his focus to alchemy. He had gathered plenty of materials -- mana-infused water, plants, mushrooms, even some monster drops -- but raw ingredients weren¡¯t enough. He needed to refine them. He crouched near his campfire, crushing some herbs into a small bowl, mixing them with a few drops of mana-infused water. He heated the mixture carefully, stirring it with the hilt of a dagger, hoping to extract some kind of potion. Nothing happened. He added more heat -- the mixture burnt to ash. He stirred slower -- the mixture separated into useless sludge. [SYSTEM MESSAGE: Alchemy Attempt -- FAILED.] [Reason: Lack of Proper Equipment.] Jayce groaned. "Figures it wouldn''t be that easy." Without alchemy tools like flasks, cauldrons, or filtration setups, he had no way to properly refine his ingredients into potions. "I need to find a way to craft or loot alchemy tools." For now, he had to rely on natural recovery and scavenged food. ¡°Status Open! Skills.¡± [SYSTEM NOTICE: Unknown Skills] [Stored Function: Attack Skill -- ???] [Stored Function: Travel Skill -- ???]
  • [Venomfang Rend] (Active -- Attack Skill)
  • ???
  • Effect: ???
  • Bonus: ???
  • [Umbral Stride] (Active -- Travel Skill)
  • ???
  • Effect: ???
  • Bonus: ???
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Inactive Skills] [Stored Function: Attack Skill -- Inactive] [Stored Function: Travel Skill -- Inactive] [Stored Function: Defensive Skill -- Inactive]
  • Fragmentation Blade (Active -- Weapon Skill) -- Jayce''s weapon ¡°%@#$01&%#*¡± splits into multiple pixelated shards that attack independently, then reform.
  • Desync (Active -- Evasive Move) -- Jayce temporarily shifts out of sync with reality, making him untargetable for a brief moment.
  • Rollback (Active -- Defensive Ability) -- Reverts Jayce¡¯s body to a previous state, undoing injuries or debuffs. High cooldown, may erase buffs.
Jayce pushed forward, his senses on high alert, seeking stronger enemies to test his newly acquired skills. The Glitchrift pulsed with eerie energy, fragmented data and shifting distortions. Amidst the distorted landscapes, he encountered glitched beasts -- twisted, corrupted versions of Aeloria¡¯s native monsters, with their very existence defying natural laws. His first encounter--a pack of warped fenrirs, wolf-like beasts with jagged, pixelated bodies. Perfect test subjects. The moment they lunged, Jayce activated one of his new abilities. A faint blue aura rippled around his sword. Instinct guided his movements as he was about to slash. A crackling sound emanated from the sword. Multiple pixelated shards scatter swiftly as it releases itself from the now fractured weapon. Each piece targeted multiple beasts with high accuracy! [Fragmentation Blade] (Active -- Weapon Skill) Activated! The shards that followed their targets movements sliced through them like butter, severing and shattering reality itself as the wolves were cut apart. The glitched pixels of their bodies scattered, deleted from existence. Jayce grinned. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Activated Skill] [Stored Function: Attack Skill -- Active] [Fragmentation Blade] (Active -- Weapon Skill) Fully Activated! Type: Active -- Weapon Skill Cooldown: 15 seconds Description: Jayce¡¯s weapon fractures into multiple pixelated shards that hover around him before launching toward enemies. Each shard acts as an autonomous attack unit, dealing damage before the weapon reforms. Effects & Bonuses:
  • Base Damage: 80% of weapon¡¯s damage per shard.
  • Shards Generated: 5-10 (based on DEX and INT).
  • Homing Effect: Shards automatically seek out enemies within a 10-meter radius.
  • Multi-Strike: If a target is struck by multiple shards, they take 10% bonus damage per additional hit.
  • Armor Bypass: Shards ignore 20% of enemy defenses.
  • Reform Effect: When the weapon reforms, Jayce''s next basic attack is enhanced, dealing 150% increased damage.
  • Glitch Surge (Passive Boost): If used consecutively within 5 seconds, the next activation releases an extra wave of shards.
Another wolf pounced -- he stepped backward, activating another inactive ability. His entire form flickered -- a momentary desynchronization from space itself. [Desync] (Active -- Evasive Skill) Activated! He reappeared a meter away, narrowly avoiding the creature¡¯s fangs. The battle continued, forcing him to use his new skills repeatedly until the last unfamiliar ability activated purely on reflex¡ª [SYSTEM NOTICE: Activated Skill] [Stored Function: Attack Skill -- Active] [Desync] (Active -- Evasive Skill) Fully Activated! Type: Active -- Evasive Move Cooldown: 20 seconds Duration: 0.75-1.5 seconds (scales with INT and SPD) Description: Jayce briefly shifts out of sync with reality, making himself untargetable. His presence flickers between frames, leaving behind visual afterimages that confuse enemies. Effects & Bonuses:
  • Untargetable: Jayce becomes immune to attacks and effects for the duration.
  • Afterimage Confusion: Enemies will mistakenly target his last position for 2 seconds after reappearing.
  • Momentum Boost: When reappearing, Jayce¡¯s movement speed is increased by 30% for 3 seconds.
  • Glitch Strike (Bonus Effect): If Jayce attacks immediately after Desync, his next strike has a 25% increased critical hit chance.
  • Phase Evasion: If used just before a fatal hit, Desync refunds 50% of its cooldown.
[Rollback] (Active -- Restorative Skill) Activated! His body shimmered, reversing a fraction of time as a deep wound on his leg closed itself instantly. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Activated Skill] [Stored Function: Restorative Skill -- Active] [Rollback] (Active -- Restorative Skill) Fully Activated! Type: Active -- Healing Ability Cooldown: 120 seconds (scales with INT and LCK) Description: Jayce forces a system correction, reverting his body to a previous state. This ability undoes injuries, negative status effects, and debuffs, but may also erase buffs in the process. Effects & Bonuses:
  • Wound Reversal: Restores up to 40% of HP lost in the last 10 seconds.
  • Debuff Purge: Removes all negative status effects (poison, paralysis, burns, curses, etc.).
  • Buff Instability: 50% chance to erase active buffs as well.
  • Temporal Aftershock: Leaves a glitch distortion at Jayce¡¯s previous location for 3 seconds. If struck by an attack during this window, the distortion absorbs 30% of the damage instead.
  • Adaptive Glitch (Passive Boost): If Rollback successfully removes a powerful debuff or fatal injury, Jayce gains 1.5 seconds of invulnerability.
Glitch Memory: If used twice within a short period (under 30 seconds), the system destabilizes, causing a random stat fluctuation (-10% to +10%) for 15 seconds. One of these creatures lunged at Jayce, its blackened fur glitching between dimensions. Acting on instinct, Jayce countered with a fierce downward slash -- only for his blade to glow with a sickly green aura upon impact. The warped fenrir howled in agony, stumbling back as its veins darkened, an effect lingering even after Jayce pulled his weapon away. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Unveiling Acquired Skill -- ¡°Venomfang Rend¡±] Type: Active (Weapon Skill) Effect: Coats a melee weapon in venomous energy, dealing lingering poison damage over time. Damage scales with STR and INT. Jayce¡¯s eyes narrowed as the warped fenrir weakened without him even touching it again. He waited, observing the corrosion effect as the poison worked its way deeper into the beast¡¯s system. Jayce smirked. ¡°A blade that cuts even after I strike? Now that¡¯s something useful.¡± Refining the technique, he tried varying the intensity of the venom¡¯s infusion -- learning to control its potency, making it last longer but burn slower, or hit harder with a concentrated dose. The next battle against a Glitched Stalker -- a creature with teleportation-based attacks -- pushed Jayce¡¯s reflexes to their limit. As the enemy phased behind him, its claws aiming for his back, Jayce reacted-- But instead of a normal dodge, his body blinked out of existence for a split second. When he reappeared, he was several meters away, a sensation of cold emptiness lingering in his chest. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Unveiled Skill] [Stored Function: Weapon Skill -- Active] [Venomfang Rend] (Active -- Weapon Skill) Unveiled! Fully Activated! Type: Active -- Attack Skill Cooldown: 12 seconds Description: Jayce delivers a ferocious slash, coating his weapon in residual venomous energy. The strike sears into the enemy, inflicting a lingering poison effect. Effects & Bonuses:
  • Base Damage: 120% of weapon¡¯s attack power.
  • Poison Effect: Deals 25% of initial strike damage per second for 5 seconds.
  • Corrosive Strike: 25% chance to weaken enemy armor, reducing defense by 15% for 6 seconds.
  • Venom Infusion: If the enemy is already poisoned, this attack deals an additional 20% damage and refreshes the poison duration.
  • Glitch Venom (Passive Boost): If the attack critically strikes, the poison spreads to nearby enemies within a 2-meter radius.
Adaptive Resistance: If used on the same enemy multiple times, the poison mutates, increasing its potency by 5% per stack (max 3 stacks). Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Unveiling Acquired Skill -- ¡°Umbral Stride¡±] Type: Active (Travel Skill) Effect: Allows the user to phase-shift, moving at an unnatural speed. Can be used for dodging attacks or repositioning in battle. Cooldown scales with SPD and INT. Jayce froze for a moment, processing what just happened. Unlike a normal dash, this movement felt¡­warped, like he had momentarily existed in a different plane of reality before returning. He experimented, triggering the effect intentionally, noting how his body felt when shifting. It wasn¡¯t just speed -- it was like stepping through a shadow of himself, re-emerging where he willed within a short range. Jayce smirked, rolling his shoulders. ¡°Now that¡¯s what I call a real evasive maneuver.¡± [Umbral Stride] Type: Active -- Travel Skill Cooldown: 18 seconds Duration: 0.8-1.5 seconds (scales with SPD and INT) Description: Jayce momentarily steps into the shadows, becoming semi-intangible. While in this state, he can phase through thin obstacles and avoid direct attacks. Effects & Bonuses:
  • Phantom Shift: Jayce can pass through solid barriers up to 1 meter thick.
  • Evasive Blink: Incoming attacks during the phase window pass through Jayce, negating damage.
  • Shadow Momentum: Upon reappearing, Jayce gains a 40% movement speed boost for 3 seconds.
  • Backstab Effect: If Jayce reappears behind an enemy, his next attack deals +50% damage.
  • Dark Veil (Passive Boost): If used in low-light environments, Jayce becomes briefly invisible for 1.5 seconds upon reappearing.
Shadow Extension: Can be chained with Desync, increasing the total phasing duration by 0.5 seconds and allowing Jayce to reposition unpredictably. Jayce let out a sharp breath, his heartbeat racing. Now he understood. Some of the skills he gained through Adaptive Glitch had to be unlocked or fully activated through real combat. Whether it was based on intelligence, luck or repeated usage, he wasn¡¯t sure yet. With each battle, Venomfang Rend and Umbral Stride became second nature. Jayce fine-tuned the timing, duration, and control of both -- using Umbral Stride to dodge at just the right moment and chaining Venomfang Rend into lethal counterattacks. Like the combination of Venomfang rend and umbral stride weren¡¯t lethal enough for Jayce, he then simultaneously activated venomfang rend with fragmentation blade for deadlier precision strikes. Enemy attacks that came pouncing from the shadows were gracefully avoided with umbral stride and desync. After several encounters, he fully understood their potential, adding them to his growing arsenal of abilities. Hours passed. His level increased, but more importantly, he had gained battle clarity. That¡¯s when he saw it-- An ancient ruin, its stone walls cracked and entwined with vines. At its center, a vast lake, still and untouched. A single path of floating stone platforms stretched across the water, leading to the center where an old wooden chest rested. Jayce narrowed his eyes. A trap? A test? His instincts screamed caution, but curiosity pulled him forward. With careful steps, he hopped across the floating stones, each landing creating ripples in the water below. Finally, he reached the chest. Slowly, he lifted the lid. Inside, a set of ancient armor lay neatly arranged, its metal gleaming unnaturally despite its age. The moment he touched it-- VRMMMMM! The chest exploded open, its contents lifting into the air. The armor spun wildly, each piece snapping into place as if assembling itself. And then-- A wraith-like entity materialized within the armor, its form a swirling mass of ghostly blue energy. A voice, cold and ancient, echoed across the ruins: "You dare claim the relics of the fallen? Then prove your worth, mortal." Jayce barely dodged as the spectral knight lunged at him, a massive greatsword slicing through the air where his head had been. [SYSTEM ALERT: Wraithbound Sentinel Encountered!] [Warning: Lethal Enemy Detected!] Jayce steadied his breathing as he stared at the Wraithbound Sentinel. The towering knight loomed before him, its ethereal form clad in ancient, floating armor. Its eyes -- if it even had any -- were voids of shifting blue light, burning like cold fire beneath a helmet that seemed to phase in and out of existence. The eerie hum of spectral energy radiated from the entity, and the weight of its presence alone was suffocating. The lake surrounding them was deathly still, its surface reflecting the ominous glow of the floating runes embedded in the knight¡¯s armor. The only sound came from the faint clinking of shifting metal as the Sentinel moved -- silent, yet deafening in its approach. Then, without warning, it attacked. A Clash of Spectral Blades and Distorted Shadows! Jayce had fought many enemies since entering this accursed place, but none moved like this one. The Sentinel surged forward with impossible speed, its greatsword howling through the air like a guillotine descending upon an executioner¡¯s block. Jayce barely had time to react -- his instincts screamed, and he threw himself sideways, Phantom Step activating on reflex. The massive blade carved through the stone platform, splitting it clean in half. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling across the lake, breaking apart several floating platforms. Jayce landed hard, his boots skidding against the worn stone beneath him. "Fast -- too fast." ¡°Have I learned nothing!?¡± ¡°Why am I shaking??!¡± ¡°Are my skills not enough?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to ponder.¡± Jayce said while scrambling to get to position. ¡°FOCUS!!!¡± The Sentinel didn¡¯t relent. It twisted midair, reversing its swing in a brutal arc. Jayce barely managed to bring his sword up in time-- CLANG! The sheer force of the impact sent him flying backward. His arms burned from the strain, his weapon rattling in his grip. Before he could recover, the knight vanished, reappearing behind him in a blur of spectral energy. A bladed gauntlet punched through his side. Too fast for desync to activate. Pain exploded in Jayce¡¯s body as the sharpened metal ripped through flesh, twisting inside him before he was violently kicked away. He hit the ground hard, tumbling across the broken platforms, leaving a streak of blood behind him. As his HP plunged by a significant amount, He activated Rollback but it wasn¡¯t enough to fully heal. "Damn it -- !" ¡°2mins till I could activate it again¡­¡± Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand, his left hand pressing against the gaping wound in his side. His fingers came away slick with blood, his vision flickering for a second. Recompile was already working, but the healing was slow -- too slow. Jayce took a stance. Activated Venomrend Fang and Fragmentation Blade at the same time. The Sentinel didn¡¯t care. It descended upon him like a reaper, its greatsword raised high, the tip gleaming with a chilling blue light. Jayce forced his body to move. This is a fight against Death incarnate! He rolled to the side as the blade came down, narrowly avoiding being split in half. The impact shattered the stone beneath him, cracks veining outward like broken glass. But the Sentinel was relentless. It swung again, this time in a horizontal slash meant to bisect him. Jayce ducked, feeling the rush of displaced air as the blade narrowly missed decapitating him. "I need an opening--!" His mind raced as he analyzed its movements. It was predictable, but overwhelmingly powerful. Its attacks were methodical, each strike calculated to corner and eliminate. But it wasn¡¯t invincible. Jayce¡¯s eyes flickered, scanning the knight¡¯s body -- there. A glitching distortion near its left shoulder joint. "Weakness found." He dashed forward, Fragmentation Blade activating in his grip. The pixelated edge of his sword began to scatter and flared to life, cutting through reality itself as pieces swerved to the direction of the vulnerable joint-- CLANG! Pixelated shards bounced off. Jayce¡¯s eyes widened. The Sentinel¡¯s gauntleted fist slammed into his gut. All the air in his lungs vanished as he was lifted off his feet, pain erupting through his torso. The impact cracked ribs, his entire body whiplashing backward before he crashed through a stone pillar, shattering it on impact. With roughly 1min left on Rollback¡¯s cooldown. 7 HP remaining. The notification barely registered. Blood pooled in his mouth. His left arm -- completely broken. The Sentinel approached. Jayce barely managed to lift his head, his vision swimming. His right hand trembled as he gripped his sword, but his body was failing him. His strength was draining fast. He wasn¡¯t going to win like this. He was going to die. "No--" He gritted his teeth. "Not like this." Something shifted inside him. The pain, the exhaustion, the sheer overwhelming pressure -- they all collapsed into a single point of defiance. A spark ignited deep within his status window. [SYSTEM ALERT: UNLOCKING GLITCH SLAYER PROTOCOLS -- LIMIT BREAK INITIATED.] Jayce¡¯s body flared with energy, a surge of newfound power exploding outward. His wounds began closing faster, the glitch-like distortions in his aura intensifying. His broken bones snapped back into place, raw power coursing through his limbs. His eyes glowed with the same eerie blue light as the Sentinel¡¯s. The knight staggered back. Jayce grinned through bloody teeth. "Round two, bastard." He moved. Only one single strike is needed to end Jayce¡¯s life. The Sentinel swung its greatsword one final time, but Jayce was already gone. A blur of movement -- Desync activated. He flickered in and out of reality, appearing above the knight. His Fragmentation Blade screamed with unstable energy piercing through the cracks, a trail of glitching afterimages followed every strike. The Sentinel raised its arm to block-- Too late. Multiple shards of pixelated blade plunged through a single point on its chest, cutting through the core of its ethereal form. A deafening roar of static and distorted screams filled the air as the Wraithbound Sentinel convulsed, its body rupturing into thousands of glowing fragments. It collapsed into a storm of data and mist, fading into the wind. VICTORY!!!.... Jayce landed hard, his body drenched in sweat and blood. His knees nearly buckled, but he forced himself to stand. His entire body screamed in agony, but he was alive. And he was stronger. [SYSTEM ALERT: Wraithbound Sentinel Defeated!] [Legendary Loot Acquired!] [Ultimate Skill Unlocked!] [NEW SKILLS UNLOCKED: Select_Only_One_Option.]
  • [Option 1:][Ethereal Summon] -- Call upon the Wraithbound Sentinel in battle.
  • [Option 2:][Phantom Vanguard] -- Gain the Sentinel¡¯s armor and weapon set, enhancing defense and combat ability.
A choice was his to make. Would he claim the Sentinel¡¯s power as an ally? Or would he wear its legacy and carry its strength as his own? He exhaled, staring at the floating loot before him. This battle had nearly killed him. But it had also pushed him beyond his limits. And for that¡­ Jayce smiled. The Weight of a Choice Jayce stood amidst the spectral remnants of the fallen knight, his breathing ragged, blood dripping from his wounds onto the cracked stone beneath him. The air still thrummed with residual energy from the battle, his body pulsing with the aftermath of his limit-breaking surge. The System presented him with a choice, and he had to make it now.

Option 1: Ethereal Summon

  • Effect: Allows Jayce to summon the Wraithbound Sentinel as a temporary battle companion.
  • Summon Duration: 5 minutes (Scales with INT and LCK).
  • Cooldown: 12 hours.
  • Sentinel Strength: The Sentinel retains 70% of its original power, but grows stronger as Jayce levels up.
  • Abilities:
    • Spectral Blade -- A powerful greatsword strike imbued with ethereal energy.
    • Void Step -- Allows the Sentinel to phase through attacks for brief moments.
    • Guardian¡¯s Will -- The Sentinel will block a fatal attack for Jayce once per summon.
Pros: ? A powerful ally in battle. ? Can provide cover and tank damage. ? Grants tactical advantages in team-based fights. Cons: ? Limited duration and long cooldown. ? Cannot be equipped with additional gear. ? If the Sentinel is destroyed, Jayce must wait for a full recharge to summon it again.

Option 2: Phantom Vanguard

  • Effect: Jayce equips the armor and weapons of the Wraithbound Sentinel.
  • Armor:
Ethereal Vanguard Plate (Legendary) -- Increases Defense, Magic Resistance, and Evasion. Spectral Cloak -- Allows brief phasing through physical attacks.
  • Weapon:
Wraithborne Greatsword -- A cursed blade that grows sharper the more Jayce fights. Can be enhanced.
  • Abilities:
Phantom Phase -- Briefly become intangible to dodge attacks (Cooldown: 20 seconds). Sentinel¡¯s Resilience -- Reduces incoming damage and grants passive HP regeneration. Pros: ? Permanent enhancement to Jayce¡¯s defense and survivability. ? Does not rely on cooldowns like Ethereal Summon. ? Synergizes well with close combat builds. Cons: ? Jayce must retrain his fighting style to wield a greatsword. ? The Phantom Phase ability has a cooldown and doesn¡¯t prevent magical damage. ? Heavy armor may reduce his mobility slightly. Legendary Loot Acquired! [Wraithbound Essence] -- A core fragment from the defeated Sentinel, used to fuel the chosen skill or upgrade other abilities. Awakens inner spirit when used. [Spectral Rune of the Fallen Knight] -- An ancient rune that can be engraved onto weapons or armor to grant ethereal properties. [Ultimate Skill Unlocked!] [Shadowform Excalibur] -- A devastating ability that summons a greatsword to create a phantom slash, cutting through both the material and spiritual plane. Deals massive true damage. Adaptive Strike Skill Appraisal Jayce felt the data settling within him as the System processed the stolen skills.
  • [Void Severance] -- A spectral slash attack that can disrupt magical constructs.
  • [Phantom Rush] -- A rapid dash that phases through an enemy and releases multiple replicas of every attack performed in form of an afterimage. Attack Replicas multiplies by 10 on the first action performed and reduces by 2 for every succeeding attack. All Attack Replicas deal only 50% damage of the original attacks. Attacks made after phasing through an enemy receives additional 35% damage as Backstab.
  • [Phantasmal Gauntlets] ¨C Upon activation of the skill, Phantasmal Gauntlets manifest on both casters hands. When fighting barehanded, ATK Damage increases by 50% when landing physical blows. When casting magic, increases efficiency or damage by 25%. Phantasmal Gauntlets act as a shield. Can absorb physical and magical damage to a certain threshold. If used to block magical or spiritual attacks, Phantasmal Gauntlets passively absorbs and transfers 10% of the amount mana or spirit residing in each blocked attack.
[Status Update & Stat Adjustments] Jayce¡¯s HP had plummeted to 7 during the fight, but thanks to leveling up, he gained a fresh boost.

EXP Gain & Level Up

  • Defeating the Wraithbound Sentinel: +8,750 EXP
  • Current EXP: 22,400 / 4,000 (Level 20)
  • Level Up Bonus: Full HP Recovery + Bonus Stat Points

Stat Growth Per Level (Randomized Scaling)

Each level grants:
  • +2 STR, +2 VIT, +2 DEX, +2 INT, +4 SPD, +1 LCK
  • +10 Manual Stat Points
Updated Stats -- Level 20
Jayce¡¯s base stats have increased due to leveling up:
Stat Previous New (Level 20)
HP (Life) 7 / 390 Full Recovery: 410 HP
STR (Strength) 38 40 ?
VIT (Vitality) 32 34 ?
DEX (Dexterity) 30 32 ?
INT (Intelligence) 36 38 ?
SPD (Speed) 60 64 ??
LCK (Luck) 20 21 ?
Total Available Manual Stat Points: +60 Jayce now has 60 points to distribute at will. Chapter 6: Echoes of the Fallen Knight Chapter 6: Echoes of the Fallen Knight The System¡¯s interface flickered to life, presenting him with something unexpected, a choice he had to make. Jayce¡¯s vision swam as he knelt amid the ruins of the battle, his body barely holding together. His breath was ragged, every inhale sharp with pain. The remains of the Wraithbound Sentinel shimmered before him, slowly dissolving into particles of spectral energy. [System Notification: Boss Defeated -- Wraithbound Sentinel] The victory came with a choice. Before him, two distinct paths unfolded. The System displayed both options in vivid detail, urging him to decide. One path would grant him an ally, a lingering shadow of the defeated guardian. The other would make its power his own, transforming his very existence into something beyond human. Jayce clenched his fists. His body, broken and battered, needed rest. But the adrenaline of the battle still coursed through his veins, keeping him grounded in the moment. The Wraithbound Essence pulsed before him, waiting for his decision. He considered his options carefully. The Ethereal Summon offered him a spectral warrior, a guardian who could turn the tide in a crucial fight. Five minutes of overwhelming power, shielding him from death itself. But the cooldown was long, and if the Sentinel fell in battle, it would take time before it could rise again. The Phantom Vanguard, on the other hand, would change him permanently. The armor and blade of the Sentinel would be his to wield, granting him resilience and devastating might. But it would demand something from him in return -- adaptation. His fighting style would have to shift to accommodate the heavy greatsword, and his mobility might suffer. His gaze flickered to the rewards that accompanied both choices. The Shadowform Excalibur -- a weapon skill that could cut through the material and spiritual plane alike -- was now his plus the stolen skills by using Adaptive Glitch, filled him with newfound potential. Void Severance. Phantom Rush. Phantasmal Gauntlets. Each technique whispered promises of power, urging him forward. Jayce exhaled, steadying himself. His path in this world was still uncertain, but this moment demanded clarity. With resolve hardening in his chest, he reached out, making his choice. The System responded immediately. [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [Selection Confirmed! -- Option 1.] [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [Ethereal Summon Acquired!] [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [Inner Spirit Awakening Detected!] [SYSTEM UPDATE!] [SPT (Spirit) Stat Unlocked -- Now visible in Status Window.] A sudden warmth flooded Jayce¡¯s core, a pulse of unfamiliar energy surging through his veins. It was unlike mana, unlike anything he had felt before. The sensation expanded outward, anchoring itself deep within his being. His vision momentarily blurred, and then the world snapped back into focus, sharper and more vibrant than before. His Inner Spirit had awakened. The weight of the moment settled over him, and a quiet understanding filled his thoughts. He wasn¡¯t just changing -- he was evolving. [Ethereal Summon Now Available.] ¡°Somewhere in the swirling remnants of the battle, the essence of the Wraithbound Sentinel trembled, waiting for his call.¡± [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [New Spirit Skills Acquired!] [SYSTEM UPDATE: Initializing¡­. Updating¡­. Complete!] New Spirit Skills:
  • Spirit Bind -- Channels spiritual energy to restrict an opponent¡¯s movements, preventing them from escaping or attacking. Strength and duration scale with SPT.
Duration: 3-10 seconds (scales with SPT). Cooldown: 30 seconds. Restrictions: Cannot be used repeatedly on the same target within a short period.
  • Astral Travel -- Allows Jayce to briefly separate his spirit from his body, granting invulnerability and heightened perception. Can be used to pass through walls or scout areas unseen.
Duration: 5-15 seconds (scales with SPT). Cooldown: 5 minutes. Side Effects: Extended use can cause disorientation upon returning to the body.
  • Traction -- Manipulates spiritual force to push or pull an opponent towards or away from Jayce.
Effect Strength: Depends on SPT stat and target¡¯s resistance. Cooldown: 10 seconds. Restrictions: Heavier or stronger enemies may resist the effect.
  • Meditation -- A restorative ability that passively regenerates lost spirit energy over time. Enhances focus and gradually increases the efficiency of other Spirit-based abilities.
Recovery Rate: Scales with SPT. Additional Effect: Prolonged meditation may unlock hidden spirit-based skills.
  • Soulflare -- Releases a burst of pure spiritual energy, damaging enemies within a radius and disrupting magical constructs.
Damage Type: Spirit-based, bypasses conventional defenses. Cooldown: 1 minute. Restrictions: Consumes a significant amount of spirit energy.
  • Resonance Strike -- A melee attack that amplifies Jayce¡¯s next physical strike with concentrated spiritual energy, dealing additional damage and bypassing physical armor.
Effect Strength: Based on SPT stat. Cooldown: 12 seconds. As the newfound energy within him settled, Jayce could feel the possibilities stretching before him. He had only just unlocked the potential of his spirit, and yet, he knew this was only the beginning. [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [Spirit-Induced Memory Fragment Detected!] [SYNCING¡­] Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. A sudden wave of dizziness overtakes him. The world around him fades into darkness, and he finds himself in a fragmented memory -- perhaps a glimpse of his past life, a forgotten moment, or an unfamiliar yet strangely familiar place. He sees glowing chains binding an unknown figure, accompanied by a distorted whisper: ¡°You were never meant to be here¡­ yet you are the only one who can fix it.¡± ¡°Find the lost one. Their bond is your key to stability.¡± Before Jayce can react, the vision shatters, and he wakes up gasping for breath. As he regains awareness, a soft, echoing voice speaks in his mind -- not from the System, but something deeper. The voice is ancient and gentle, guiding him toward a place within the Glitchrift that was previously hidden. A System Notice confirms the awakening of his Inner Spirit: [SYSTEM NOTICE: Your Inner Spirit has awakened.] [New Stat Unlocked: SPT (Spirit)] [New Pathway Available: Spirit Resonance Detected Nearby.] Following the pull of his newfound energy, Jayce stumbles upon a forgotten sanctuary hidden within the corrupted Glitchrift. Inside, he finds a small, weakened spirit creature -- a fox, wolf pup, or perhaps a more mystical being. The creature appears to be half-fading, stuck between existence and oblivion. As Jayce approaches, a connection forms, and he feels their presence merging with his Spirit energy. The System presents a choice: [Do you wish to form a Spirit Pact with the lost one?] [Yes] / [No] Choosing ¡°Yes¡± will bind the creature to him, allowing it to grow stronger alongside him. ¡°Yes.¡± As Jayce held the Fenrir Pup, his vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. A sudden pull -- like being yanked out of his body -- forced his consciousness into a strange, surreal space. The world around him shifted. Darkness stretched endlessly, but within it, glitching fragments of light formed incomplete images. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Vision Begins.] Jayce stood in the ruins of a battlefield. The land was charred and broken, with the remains of colossal creatures scattered about. Swords impaled the earth like tombstones, and the air smelled of blood and decay. In the distance, a massive shadow loomed -- an ethereal figure, faceless yet terrifyingly familiar. Its form flickered between a knight, a beast, and something unrecognizable, as if it existed beyond reality itself. A voice -- distorted and ancient -- echoed in his mind. "The cycle repeats. The world fractures. And you... You are the catalyst." Before Jayce could move, the shadow lunged -- not toward him, but toward something behind him. He turned, only to see... A larger Fenrir, glowing with ethereal silver flames, standing in defiance. Its piercing azure eyes locked onto the shadow, unyielding. The shadow roared. The vision cracked. [SYSTEM NOTICE: Vision Ends.] Jayce gasped as his consciousness snapped back. He was still holding the Fenrir Pup, now trembling slightly in his arms. Then, the System Notification appeared. [SYSTEM NOTICE: SOULBOUND CONTRACT ESTABLISHED] [Companion Acquired!] [Fenrir Pup -- ???] Spirit Link Established ¡ú [Status Shared] Familiar Growth Unlocked ¡ú [Evolution Possible] Innate Skill Activated ¡ú [???] [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [IDENTIFYING -- SPIRIT_LINK] [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [Spirit_Link -- IDENTIFIED!] [SYSTEM UPDATE: Initializing¡­. Updating¡­. Complete!] Spectral Fenrir (Pup) -- Spirit Companion Type: Spirit -- Ethereal Wolf Cub
  • Name: (Unnamed)
  • Appearance: A small ethereal wolf cub with fur that shifts between silver and deep blue, glowing runes faintly appearing along its body when it uses abilities. Its eyes shine like twin moons, hinting at its latent power.
  • Personality: Loyal, curious, and playful but instinctively protective of Jayce.
  • Abilities:
    • Spirit Howl -- Emits a chilling howl that weakens enemies and boosts Jayce¡¯s Spirit-based abilities.
    • Phase Dash -- Can momentarily phase out of physical space, avoiding attacks.
    • Lunar Fang -- A bite attack infused with spiritual energy, bypassing defenses.
    • Bonded Awareness -- Shares a mental and emotional link with Jayce, allowing silent communication over short distances.
Evolution Potential: The pup has the potential to grow into a full-fledged Spirit Fenrir, unlocking higher-tier abilities as Jayce strengthens their bond. The pup whined softly, pressing against Jayce¡¯s chest, as if sensing his confusion. Something about this little Fenrir felt... important. The Fenrir Pup trembled in Jayce¡¯s arms, its glowing runes pulsing in eerie rhythm as if reacting to something beyond the visible world. Its azure eyes darted around, its small body pressing against Jayce¡¯s chest, seeking comfort. A lingering pressure hung in the air. Heavy. Unnatural. It coiled around him like an unseen force, whispering that the vision was not a mere dream but a warning. The battlefield, the shadow, the Fenrir -- all of it carried meaning yet to be understood. Jayce exhaled slowly, steadying himself. His body felt different. His muscles tensed, his breathing slowed, and a strange resonance pulsed through him, unfamiliar yet natural -- his spirit-based stats had fluctuated or awakened further. Then, the System chimed. [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: STATUS UPDATE!] [Spirit Link Established ¡ú Passive Enhancement DetectedSpirit-Based Attributes Adjusted ¡ú Hidden Parameters Unlocked] A sudden wave of calm clarity washed over him. The link with the Fenrir Pup wasn¡¯t just a contract -- it was a bond that deepened his own spirit. This connection, however, came with mysteries of its own. [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [New Objective: Understanding the Vision] Jayce tightened his grip on the pup, thoughts racing. What was that battlefield? Aeloria¡¯s past? Or worse -- its future? What was that shadowy entity? It called him ¡°the catalyst¡± -- but of what? And the larger Fenrir? Could it be his future companion, or something beyond his understanding? He had no answers. But one thing was certain -- the vision wasn¡¯t random. [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [New Encounter: A Disturbance in the Glitchrift] As if responding to his thoughts, the air shifted. A low, almost imperceptible hum resonated around him, sending chills down his spine. The distorted atmosphere of the Glitchrift pulsed irregularly. Something had changed¡­ Then, a new anomaly appeared -- a few meters ahead, the world itself fractured. A distorted pathway shimmered in and out of existence, leading toward an unknown location. Its edges flickered erratically, a gash in reality itself. It wasn¡¯t just a Glitch -- it was something more. Jayce¡¯s instincts screamed caution, but he knew better than to ignore the System¡¯s shift. [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED BEYOND PATHWAY] [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [ANOMALY IS STABLE. ACCESS POSSIBLE.] The Fenrir Pup growled softly, its hackles rising. It, too, felt something. Something watching. Jayce exhaled sharply. He was still injured, his energy reserves low from the recent battles. Rushing in recklessly would be a death sentence. He made his decision¡­ Rest. Recover. Then explore. Hours later, after tending to his wounds and regaining his strength, Jayce stood at the edge of the distorted pathway. The Fenrir Pup sat beside him, ears perked, alert yet unafraid. With a deep breath, Jayce stepped through. The moment he crossed the threshold, the world around him shifted. The oppressive darkness of the Glitchrift melted away, replaced by an ancient, forgotten realm. Towering ruins of spirit-infused stone stretched before him, their surfaces glowing with faint inscriptions. The air carried a weight -- not of decay, but of remembrance. Jayce¡¯s pulse quickened. This place¡­ It felt old. Sacred. As if it had witnessed countless souls before his arrival. [SYSTEM NOTICE!] [You have entered the Spirit Ruins.] Then, a chill ran down his spine¡­ From the depths of the ruins, they appeared. Spectral warriors. Ethereal figures clad in armor long turned to dust, their hollow eyes burning with unrest. Remnants of past battles, lingering echoes of spirits refusing to fade. They were not welcoming¡­ Jayce¡¯s grip on his sword tightened as the first spectral knight raised its weapon. The Fenrir Pup let out a low, warning growl. The Spirit Trial Begins! Jayce steadied his stance as the spectral warriors advanced, their ghostly forms flickering like candlelight in the wind. Their armor bore no crest, their weapons weightless yet deadly. They moved with eerie silence -- no clanking of steel, no sound of shifting feet. Only the low hum of spiritual energy vibrating through the ruins. The first knight lunged. Jayce barely dodged, his instincts screaming as the translucent blade carved through the space where his head had been. He then made a quick Phantom Step backwards and countered with a swift strike, his Fragmentation Blades shimmering with glitching energy as it made way to meet the phantom. Sparks erupted -- but his attack phased through, the specter unaffected. ¡°Physical attacks won¡¯t work¡­¡± Jayce realized, cursing under his breath. ¡°Un-like the Wraithbound Sentinel, which is also an ethereal being, these guys¡­ ¡± ¡°Is it because I¡¯m not in the Glitchrift anymore but in the Spirit Realm?¡± Swift as the wind itself, the spectral knight dashed and retaliated with an overhead slash. He barely managed to deflect it, but the impact sent a jolt through his arms. These warriors were not mindless spirits -- they were skilled, remnants of fallen champions. The Fenrir Pup leaped forward. With a sharp Spirit Howl, an invisible shockwave burst from its tiny frame. The spectral knights faltered, their forms flickering under the weight of the pup¡¯s energy. Jayce¡¯s mind raced. Spirit-based attacks. That¡¯s the key. A quick glance at his status window revealed something new: [Resonance Strike -- Infuses the next attack with spiritual energy. Can damage ethereal beings.] Perfect. Jayce activated Resonance Strike. Energy pulsed through his arm as he slashed again, his blade now coated in a shimmering glow. This time, when his sword met the specter¡¯s chest, the spirit knight let out a hollow cry. Its form cracked -- fractured -- before dispersing into mist. But there were more. Three more knights approached, their weapons raised. Jayce exhaled. The trial had only just begun.