Kael's Glitch Dagger trembled as Varkas's greataxe grazed the Crypt's rune-carved arch, stone chips flying, blood dripping from a scout's nicked arm—shallow, red, PG-13 style. Lila yanked Kael inside, her pendant blazing like a neon snitch. "Crypt's our shot, glitch-boy!" she hissed, purple hair glinting in the mana-lit gloom. Byte, the mana ferret, snarled, tail sparking like a glitched firecracker. The air grew heavy, spiked pits and humming mana lasers lining the dark halls. Kael's panel glowed, unhelpful as ever:Status: Kael, Peasant #47 (NPC)
Level: 3
HP: 14/15
Chaos Points: 20
Glitch Affinity: 6%
Codebreaker: 3%
Skill of the Day: Summon Glitchy Pinata (Cooldown: 28 minutes)
Gear: Chaos Bracer (+2% Glitch Affinity), Glitch Dagger (+5% crit), Chaos Boots (+10% speed)
Pet: Byte (Mana Ferret, Level 2, +10% Skill Range)
"Nice death trap," Kael muttered, dodging a laser's hum. "Perfect for my five-star NPC life." A skeleton mob rattled forward, bones clacking like a cheap horror flick. He triggered Glitchy Pinata—a neon-pink monstrosity exploded, candy shrapnel shredding bones, a skull bouncing with a bloody crack. Byte's +10% range amped the chaos, but a laser grazed Kael's leg—HP to 12/15, a red streak stinging. "This place is my personal hell," he groaned, snark masking panic.Lila picked a locked gate with a rogue's finesse, her daggers twirling. "Keep up, nerd." Her pendant pulsed, too bright, like a signal flare. Kael's gut twisted. "You're not just looting, are you?" She winked, dodging the question. The gate opened to a rune puzzle glowing with Coder's script—ancient, glitched symbols. Codebreaker: 5% ticked up as Kael's panel decoded it, sparks flying like a shorted wire. A loot room revealed Chaos Ore and a Coder's Rune (+5% Codebreaker). Kael crafted Chaos Boots (+10% speed), snarking, "Sweet kicks for a walking bug. Thanks, game."Iron Fang raiders stormed in, Varkas roaring, "Your system's ours!" His greataxe gleamed, Level 20 tag a death sentence. Lila's pendant flared—she'd signaled them. "Oops," she said, daggers twirling. "Iron Fang pays better." Kael's jaw dropped. "You sold me? Worst rogue ever." Her eyes flickered—guilt or a con? The panel pinged: New Skill: Exploding Rubber Duck. "Oh, come on," Kael groaned, activating it. A flock of quacking ducks burst into flames, scorching Varkas's armor, blood oozing from singed skin—mild, but it stung. Byte dove in, stealing a Bloodied Gauntlet (+10% attack), evolving to Level 3 (+5% crit).A Glitch Golem (Level 15) awoke, stone fists shaking the Crypt. Its punch cracked a wall, dust and blood mixing as a raider's arm snapped—red, not gushing. Kael's ducks fizzled, HP hitting 10/15 from a glancing blow. Lila slashed the Golem's joints, shouting, "I'm helping, idiot!" But her pendant pulsed again, and more Iron Fang poured in. The Glitch Log flashed: The Coder's truth lies deeper. Kael's panel pinged: Zeta Scan: 22 hours remaining. "Sunrise is an hour off," he muttered. "New skill better not be a rubber chicken."
The Golem's fist loomed, Lila's daggers flashed—toward Kael or the Golem? Varkas charged, axe gleaming, as Iron Fang closed in. The panel screamed: Sync Pulse: 1% Unlocked.