The dungeon wasn't supposed to breathe. Yet, the air trembled around Kai as he held the Glitch Blade in his hands. It hummed softly, almost alive, resonating with his heartbeat. Numbers flickered along the blade's edge: Attack +75, Crit Rate +15%, Hidden Skill Bonus +2%.
He flexed his fingers. Solo grinding, indeed. No one else could wield this advantage—but the thrill came with an unfamiliar chill.
The Dungeon Trembles
The chamber walls cracked, letting streaks of neon city light slice through the darkness. Shadows danced unnaturally, and faint whispers grew louder, overlapping like a distorted echo:
"Kai… help… Kai… save us…"
He froze. The voices weren't part of the dungeon—he recognized them. They were real players, trapped somewhere, screaming in the real world.
SYSTEM WARNING: Reality Leak – Level 1 Critical
Kai clenched his jaw. "So… it's starting to happen for real."
Lyra appeared beside him, semi-transparent but with sharper focus than ever. Her silver hair shimmered in digital glitch lines.
Lyra: "Kai… every attack you take, every step you make, the world outside reacts. The more you exploit, the more dangerous it becomes."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Then I grind smarter. Solo. No distractions."
Lyra paused. "You may not understand… yet. I can feel… something. Players trapped in reality… their consciousness is fading."
Discovery: Hidden NPC Companion
As Kai moved deeper into the dungeon, he noticed a faint figure crouched behind a fractured pillar.
Small frame, human-like
Pale hair, glitching around the edges
Eyes wide and terrified
Kai froze. He didn't attack.
Lyra: "Be careful… that one isn't part of the normal spawn. Observe first."
The figure slowly stood and revealed a small system overlay floating above its head.
NPC Name: Echo
Level: Unknown
Status: Unstable – Reality Linked
Abilities: Unknown
Kai's pulse quickened. A companion? But not a normal NPC…
Echo: "P-please… help me. I… I remember… things I shouldn't."
Lyra whispered, almost afraid: "Kai… she's… real. Part of the reality leak. Players trapped in the system, digitized… partially alive."
Kai smirked faintly. "Great. A broken system… and a real person. Perfect."
Reality-Leak Effects Begin Physically
The dungeon shivered violently. Kai stumbled as a faint vertigo hit his stomach. Numbers flickered around him—not HP, not EXP, but heartbeat and adrenaline stats.
Kai's Pulse: 120 bpm
Kai's Nerve Stability: 85%
Reality Link Exposure: 10%
Lyra's voice trembled: "If your connection… destabilizes, you could be trapped… permanently."
Kai steadied himself, adjusting his stance. "Then I treat it like a boss. Analyze, adapt, exploit."
First Solo-Only Skill Evolution
Kai focused. The Glitch Blade resonated, syncing with his mind. A new system interface appeared:
Hidden Skill Tree – Solo Mastery Path
Shadow Step: Teleport through shadows (Level 2 ready)
Glitch Blade Fusion: Combine attack with reality manipulation
Lone Wolf Instinct: Detect hidden enemies and traps
Reality Rift Manipulation: Minor distortions in dungeon physics
He grinned. This wasn't just power. This was breaking the system.
The First Mini-Boss Encounter
Suddenly, the dungeon floor cracked, and a Reality Wraith emerged.
Level: 18
HP: 500
Abilities: Phase Swipe, Glitch Pulse (disrupts solo multiplier)
Loot: Rare Glitch Fragment x2
Kai's mind raced. He dodged Phase Swipe, teleported using Shadow Step, and struck with Glitch Blade Fusion. Numbers exploded: 320, 340, 380.
The Wraith countered with Glitch Pulse. Kai felt a strange numbness—his vision blurred. Reality itself seemed to twist, but he pressed on.
Reality Exposure: 15%
Critical Hit: 450
He landed the finishing blow. The wraith evaporated in a cascade of digital shards, leaving behind two glitch fragments and a faint pulse in his chest—as if the dungeon itself acknowledged his dominance.
Lyra & Echo Bond
Lyra stepped closer to Echo. "She's… stable now, but her presence will affect the system more than usual. Kai… she may choose to act independently."
Kai looked at Echo, who blinked at him with a mixture of fear and hope. "You're… going to help me survive?" he asked.
Echo nodded faintly, the system overlay flickering. "I… think so. I want to… survive."
Kai smirked. "Good. Solo grind isn't solo anymore—but that's fine. More power for me."
Cliffhanger Ending – Chapter
As the three of them moved deeper, the dungeon floor fractured again. Outside, faint screams echoed louder. His apartment flickered. His monitors in the real world displayed glitched messages from missing players.
SYSTEM WARNING: Reality Leak – Level 2 Critical
Unknown Player Status: Unstable
Kai's grip tightened on the Glitch Blade. This wasn't just grinding anymore. This was war against a living system, against reality itself.
He smiled faintly, eyes sharp.
"Then let's grind… infinitely."