The forest was quiet now, but the silence felt heavy. Arin stumbled through the flickering trees, chest heaving, muscles trembling. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his palms still tingled from the constant strain of Pause and Code Rewrite.
Lira walked beside him, silent at first. Then she spoke, voice calm but precise. "You've done more than survive, Arin. You've adapted, manipulated, and fought human players successfully. The system… recognizes that."
Arin blinked. "Recognizes it? What do you mean?"
A faint chime echoed in the flickering forest, and a blue window appeared before him:
[Bug Exploit Upgraded – Advanced Code Rewrite Unlocked]
Enhanced control over environmental glitches
Can manipulate enemy patterns for brief periods
Increased Pause duration: 5 seconds
Arin stared at the window, heart racing. Five seconds… enemy manipulation… this wasn't just a skill anymore. This was a game-changer.
"I… I can control glitches more? And even manipulate enemy attacks?" Arin whispered. He flexed his hands experimentally, sending a small fragment of the forest floor to hover midair. It trembled slightly, responding to his thoughts.
"Yes," Lira said. "But remember, every skill comes with limits. Overuse or reckless manipulation can destabilize you—or the world."
Arin clenched his fists. "Limits… right. I need to be careful. But… if I want to survive Kael and the others, I have to get stronger. Faster. Smarter."
He fell silent for a moment, gazing at the flickering trees around him. The first real human clash had shown him his weaknesses: timing, stamina, creativity under pressure. His Pause and Code Rewrite had carried him this far—but only barely.
"I can't rely on tricks alone," he muttered to himself. "I need strategy, preparation… and maybe more skills before the next fight."
Lira's eyes flickered faintly. "The world will provide opportunities. But you must seek them, not wait for them to find you."
Arin nodded slowly, determination hardening in his chest. He had survived a first real player encounter, earned an upgraded skill, and now understood the stakes. Kael was clever, ruthless, and already planning his next move. Arin couldn't afford to be complacent.
"I need to train," he said, almost aloud. "I need to explore, master my exploits, and figure out everything I can about this world. Next time… I won't just survive. I'll dominate."
Lira said nothing, letting him speak, her eyes reflecting the flickering light of the corrupted forest. Arin's mind raced with possibilities: new glitches to manipulate, environmental hazards to use, potential allies—or even enemies—he could study.
As they emerged from the trees into a small clearing, Arin took a deep breath. The forest was alive, corrupted, and unpredictable—but he was changing too. The Bugged One was no longer just a survivor. He was learning, adapting, evolving.
And the next battle?
Arin smiled faintly, gripping his hands until his knuckles turned white. "Next time… Kael won't get the upper hand. Not me. Not ever."
The wind shifted around him, carrying faint flickers of corrupted light, and for the first time, Arin felt… ready.
The Glitched World was dangerous. Full of monsters, traps, and powerful players like Kael.
But he was getting stronger.
And strength… could change everything.