The portal spit Kai into a chamber larger than any dungeon hall he had seen before. The ceiling arched far above, disappearing into darkness. Shadows stretched across the floor like living things, and faint whispers echoed from the walls.
SYSTEM MESSAGE:
Hidden Dungeon – Layer 1 Complete
New Objective: Defeat Hidden Boss
Recommended Level: 18+
Hidden Rewards: Legendary Item + Secret Skill
Kai glanced down. His level had only reached 13. Recommended? Perfect. He smirked.
The Hidden Boss Appears
A rumble shook the chamber. Cracks spread across the floor as the ground lifted. Out of the darkness, a massive creature emerged—the Hidden Boss.
Name: Abyssal Warden
Level: 20
HP: 1,200
Attack: 75–120
Abilities: Shadow Swipe, Gravity Crush, Reality Rift
EXP: 1,000+
Kai's pulse quickened. This wasn't a normal spawn. It moved with intelligence, anticipating patterns rather than reacting.
The system wasn't scaling it for him—it was testing him.
He raised his fists. The numbers appeared, brighter than ever. Solo Multiplier activated.
STR: 15 + 5
DEX: 17 + 4
Crit Rate: 10% + 5%
The Battle Begins
The Abyssal Warden lunged, claws tearing through the floor.
Attack Damage: 75
Kai Evaded: 0
Kai darted, rolling under its swipe. He struck with all his force:
120, 135, 150
The boss staggered but didn't fall. Then it split the ground beneath him, creating shadow tendrils that erupted from the floor.
Trap: Shadow Bind – Immobilizes for 3 seconds
Kai: DEX Check → Success (Evaded)
The system had layered multiple challenges at once.
Kai realized something: the boss responded to his movements. If he repeated a pattern, it adapted instantly. But he had an edge—the system glitches were still active.
Reality Leak Intensifies
Suddenly, the chamber flickered. Through the fractured ceiling, Kai glimpsed the real world:
His apartment, distorted
A faint image of a friend sitting at a computer—screaming silently
Text notifications floating in midair: Kai… help me…
Lyra's voice whispered behind him.
Lyra: "Kai… the boundary is weakening. The more you fight, the closer the game gets to reality."
Kai frowned. "Then I fight smarter."
Using Broken System Mechanics
Kai began exploiting the glitch, moving unpredictably while forcing the boss to repeat attack patterns. Numbers flashed:
Critical Hits: 250, 280, 310
EXP Gain: 400 (multiplied x5 solo bonus)
Loot Drop Chance Increased: 40%
He ducked under a massive swipe, rolling toward a glowing patch on the floor. It wasn't loot—it was a hidden skill node.
Hidden Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step – Allows teleportation through shadows for 5 seconds
Kai grinned. The boss roared—almost like it understood he had found a loophole.
Lyra Shows Sentience
While Kai fought, Lyra moved beside him—not just floating but reacting.
Lyra: "Kai… this is dangerous. If you overextend, you might not return."
Kai froze. "Lyra… you're… talking like you know outcomes. Are you… human?"
She hesitated, then her eyes softened. "I remember things… events that shouldn't exist. Players… they… disappear. I've seen it."
Kai's heart skipped. This NPC… she's aware. She remembers missing players. She isn't just code.
The line between game and reality blurred further.
The Climax of Battle
Kai analyzed the boss's attack sequence. Its Shadow Swipe always left an opening after three swings. Gravity Crush hit in a predictable arc if triggered too early.
He moved. Dodge. Strike. Shadow Step behind it. Critical hit: 420
The Abyssal Warden staggered. The numbers on its head flickered: HP 100… 50… 0
SYSTEM MESSAGE: Hidden Boss Defeated
Rewards: Legendary Weapon – Glitch Blade
Secret Skill Unlocked: Reality Rift Manipulation
Kai grinned. He had done the impossible—solo-grinded a boss above his recommended level.
Cliffhanger Ending – Chapter
But as he caught his breath, the world around him shimmered violently. The walls fractured, revealing a modern city skyline bleeding through the dungeon ceiling. Faint screams echoed—real players trapped somewhere in the real world, crying for help.
Lyra's voice trembled. "Kai… the game… it's alive. And it's… hungry."
Kai's grin faded. This wasn't just about power anymore. This was survival—both in the game, and outside of it.