MMORPG: Surviving a Death Game with a Glitched System

’I’m seriously annoyed...’

The only caveat was that Ash had been able to reveal the glitch without saying too much. He even did so while speaking no lies — having never made any claim that his equipment was intangible.

Dodging brush, stalking from trunk to trunk, Ash slowly made his way down the forested slope toward the clear basin.

’What red horns said is true...’

Ash had indeed not tested every factor. Maybe there was an attack that could hit him even in his glitched state. Ash didn’t even know all of the damage types in the game, only the basic ones.

And what about status effects like poison?

If he got poisoned during [Focus], would it persist after the duration ended?

The same went for buffs and heals.

While Ash had indeed acted confident, his knowledge was severely lacking.

’Not to mention the other thing I learned...’

While looking for a good spot to establish the Holy Land, Ash had noted the others periodically swiping at the air. It didn’t take him long to piece together that he was missing a bit more than just a connection with the world.

’A system interface...’

Ash was able to pull up a status screen and even read descriptions of skills by focusing on the words, but that was the limit to how he could interact with it. The others seemed to have gotten a much more intricate system.

Lacking it sounded incredibly bad, but it was actually a non-issue, as he could still will the same effects.

The problem was that anything he didn’t already know from the initial knowledge injection, Ash needed to ask someone else to explain.

’A bit of a pain, but I’ll manage...’

A solution to his problems could be garnered later. For now, he had to focus on the present...

’Something feels... off.’

Ash had been keeping an eye out for any lurking enemies, but hadn’t even caught a glimpse of anything that might be dangerous.

He’d seen a weird-looking bunny, a deformed, half-sized deer creature, and various insects, but that was it.

’Maybe I’m just not used to nature.’

He had spent the better half of the last decade inside playing video games...

But a moment later, his suspicion earned itself warrant.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ash spotted a gleaming yellow light hovering above the bough of a nearby tree.

’Shit...’

Having traded his pike for the flanged mace, Ash spun and held up the stubby weapon just in time for a black claw to smash into it.

’A damned panther.’

Due to his odd situation, the mace in his hands could neither exert nor receive force. The beast’s momentum halted as if it had jumped into a concrete wall, causing the feline to drop to the ground in front of him.

Ash scowled as he studied its sleek black coat as it shook itself and began stalking, walking around slowly with its neck low while sizing him up.

’I hadn’t seen it due to how thick the canopy is...’

But it was clear this beast was most likely the apex predator of this area.

The panther hissed, then lunged again, prompting Ash to place his mace in its path.

’I don’t even know how strong it is.’

As Ash understood it, he could block anything with his mace without feeling. So he couldn’t gauge its force. Conversely, he possessed no way to assess the panther’s level beyond how much the mace’s durability suffered. Seeing as it was mostly unaffected, it couldn’t have been too high a level.

But still...

The one thing Ash didn’t make light of when it came to others was a promise. Not for the sake of others, but for the sake of his own pride.

’I will not be reckless.’

He wasn’t going to try and kill this beast.

After recovering its balance, the panther lunged again, causing the same scene to replay. Over and over, it swiped and pounced toward Ash, only to be countered every time by the immovable object.

While Ash continued blocking, he retreated down the mountainside until eventually, a wall of daylight stood in his path, signaling the edge of the forest, where there was a little clearing before the bank of the basin.

Timing it perfectly, Ash waited for the panther to go all in while giving it an opening by holding out his arm, just like he’d done with the goblin.

The apex beast had no hesitation, instantly flinging its body toward the undefended flesh...

Only for it to phase right through and go helplessly tumbling down the mountain into the clearing.

’Perfect.’

Maybe that was breaking the promise. But since Ash had already confirmed his hand clipped through its arm during one of his defenses earlier, to him, he was still acting as if operating under the assumption he could be harmed... he’d defended his sandals and tunic.

Semantics or not, Ash didn’t exactly care. The promise was kept.

As the feline barrel-rolled down the grass and through bushes, Ash took the moment to race to the edge and peer out.

’It looks clear.’

Not wanting to run blindly, he created the opportunity to scout the area ahead by distracting his attacker.

With his one goal in mind, Ash sprinted past the panther as it finally came to a stop and tried to stand up.

All Ash wanted to do was see if there was a plentiful amount of fish in the basin. Though, inadvertently, he’d already confirmed every animal he’d seen so far was likely edible.

’Persistent...’

Including the panther, which had once again begun darting after Ash.

Spinning around on his heel, Ash swung the mace in the path of the panther, who, despite its supposed intelligence, had not learned its lesson.

As the panther’s body clashed with the mace, it stopped dead again — only this time, a burst of blood sprayed from its side.

Ash’s eyes widened.

A crisp voice rang out in Ash’s ear.

[You have slain a Marauder]

[First Kill Bonus]

[+26 EXP]

’Huh...’

Ash watched as the panther’s body lost all momentum and fell to the ground with a gaping hole in its side. A moment later, it burst into a series of radiant sparks, leaving behind only a cut slab of tough meat and a single hooked tooth.

"We finally meet, Tyrant of Ash."

Standing behind Ash, a naked woman with long silver hair and a lithe figure stood with a pleasant demeanor.

"I am the Goddess of Spring."

Blood coated her right hand; the deep red swiftly beginning to evaporate.

’An NPC...?’

[You have reached level 2!]

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