The clearing pulsed with glitching energy. Every shadow, every flicker, seemed to watch Arin, waiting for him to slip. Kael stepped forward, his black armor flickering with corrupted code, eyes locked on him like a predator.
"Bugged One," Kael said, voice cold and precise, "let's see how far your tricks can take you."
Arin's chest tightened. He gripped his jagged rocks, feeling Code Rewrite thrum in his hands. Pause, duplication, manipulation of the environment… he had survived monsters, but these were humans—clever, unpredictable, and far more dangerous.
Kael's companions lunged simultaneously. The silver-armored woman swung her blade in an impossible arc, while the third figure charged, fists sparking with glitching energy.
Arin reacted instinctively. Pause Function.
Time froze. The world held its breath. He sprinted forward, tossing duplicated rocks to block the charging player, then shifted the ground beneath the silver-armored woman, forcing her to stagger midair.
3… 2… 1.
Time resumed. Rocks collided, the enemy stumbled, and the third figure tumbled into the small trap Arin had created. He rolled behind a flickering tree, panting, adrenaline burning.
"This… is insane," he muttered. "I can't just brute force this. I have to… think."
He activated Code Rewrite. A fallen branch lifted, twisting into a jagged barrier between him and Kael. The world flickered in response, shadows bending, enemies hesitating mid-step.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Clever. But not enough."
Kael charged. The ground beneath him warped, glitches erupting like fire. Arin paused again, sprinting along the frozen battlefield, duplicating debris and throwing it to slow Kael down. The boss-like power of Kael hit him in waves—the corrupted environment shifting violently—but Arin adapted, using each glitch against them.
[Glitch Manipulation Successful. Temporary Advantage Acquired.]
For a brief moment, Arin felt control. He ducked under a collapsing tree, hurled duplicated rocks, and redirected Kael's attack back into the terrain, destabilizing the area around him.
But Kael's smirk never wavered. "Not bad. But you're predictable when cornered."
The silver-armored woman lunged again, faster this time, forcing Arin to pause midair just to avoid her blade. He duplicated a chunk of the ground, creating a stepping platform, and rolled to safety.
Every strike, every move, every pause and duplicate was a dance of survival. Arin's mind raced, calculating timing, positioning, and environmental manipulation simultaneously.
Finally, Kael stepped back, shaking his head slightly. "Enough." His gaze swept over Arin. "You've… survived. But only barely."
Arin's chest heaved. His arms ached, sweat ran down his face, but he had survived the first real battle against another player. He realized something terrifying: Kael wasn't just strong—he was calculating, ruthless, and always thinking one step ahead.
Kael's companions regrouped. The silver-armored woman gave a faint nod, and the third figure stepped beside him. "This isn't over, Bugged One," Kael said. "Next time, you won't be so lucky."
Arin wiped blood and sweat from his brow. He clenched his fists. "Next time… I'll be ready."
Before Kael's group could press further, the forest shimmered violently. Lira appeared beside Arin, calm but commanding. "It's time to retreat," she said. "You've survived, but overextension now could corrupt you. The world tests… but it also punishes."
Arin nodded, letting her lead him through the flickering shadows. Behind them, Kael's group watched silently, calculating, smirking, already planning the next encounter.
As they disappeared into the glitching forest, Arin's mind raced. This was no longer just a game. Survival required creativity, strategy, and cunning—and every choice could tip the balance.
He had faced his first human rivals and lived. But the Glitched World was vast, unpredictable, and filled with players like Kael. And he knew, without a doubt, that this was just the beginning.
The first battle was over. The rivalry had begun.