[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]
- Adaptive Glitch (Passive) -- Absorb, replicate and store abilities from defeated enemies.
- Data Override (Active) -- Force a glitched interaction with the environment or entities.
- Corrupted Step (Passive) -- Movement partially ignores terrain and physics laws.
- Debug Slash (Active) -- Strike that destabilizes code-based beings, causing system fragmentation.
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]
- HP (Life): 390
- ???: [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: ???
- RILTS: ???
- BITS: ???
[Glitch Slayer Abilities]
- Adaptive Glitch (Passive): Absorbs and replicates abilities from defeated enemies.
- Data Override (Active): Manipulates system interactions.
- Corrupted Step (Passive): Ignores some terrain and physics laws.
- Debug Slash (Active): Destabilizes code-based beings.
[Skills Acquired via Adaptive Glitch]
- Phantom Step (Mobility) -- High-speed movement with position distortion.
- Shadow Pierce (Attack) -- Ignores a portion of the enemy's defense.
- Glitchfire (Magic/Attack) -- Corrupted flame that burns through data structures.
- Lag Strike (Attack/Debuff) -- Staggers enemies by delaying response time.
- Data Drain (Utility) -- Steals enemy energy for temporary stat boosts.
- Recompile (Passive/Healing) -- Stabilizes corrupted code for minor healing.
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.
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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 → 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!]
- [???] (System -- Class Artifact)
- Encrypted Data Fragment
- ??? Sigil
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 → 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.