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.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
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, a massive amount of data flashed before his eyes -- 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, prompting to be 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.
[SYSTEM NOTICE!] [TEMPORARY SYSTEM INTERVENTION NEEDED!]
[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.
