MMORPG: Surviving a Death Game with a Glitched System

Exiting from the brush, Ash looked up toward the huge red scale, which dwarfed the furious man standing a little in front of it.

Ash spoke in a measured tone:

"I don’t care for your admonition."

The veins on Claude’s forehead bulged as he growled back:

"I know... but I’m going to give it nonetheless..."

After a slight pause, Claude continued in a low tone:

"...I don’t know what the hell a ’Marauder’ is, but I doubt killing it was being ’cautious.’"

’Ah...’

It seemed there was a misunderstanding.

Ash had explained to them that he could only interact with monsters by using his ability. Meaning, to Claude, killing the Marauder seemed deliberate; it seemed that Ash was needlessly exposing himself to danger.

Showing little reaction, Ash marched toward the Totem.

"It was getting in my way."

A little flabbergasted, Claude’s eyes narrowed and followed Ash as he walked around him.

Upon noticing the absolutely uncaring expression, Claude ruffled his hair, then said:

"Argh... What even was it? And what else did you find?"

Upon activating [Focus] and placing his hand on the Totem, Ash wished for it to follow him.

"The Marauder is a panther. At least, it looked like one. It seemed fairly strong. Especially so in the dense forest."

Lying down while twirling a flower in his hand, Éloi’s head snapped toward Ash upon the mention of the animal.

"A... panther? Oh my... I’ve always wanted to see one! They’re so dang cute!"

’Idiot...’

Ignoring the fool, Ash turned and took a few steps down the slope.

"This place should have a stable food source."

Once the tip of the Totem was nicely hidden below the summit, out of panoramic view, Ash waited for his cooldown, then willed it to stop. Then...

[Oh First Champion of the Dragonkin, do you wish to establish the Holy Land of your people?]

"Yes."

Instantly, he felt something change in his being.

No... not quite a change.

Rather, something that was already there had been enhanced.

[TITLE: [Dragonkin Champion] has evolved]

’Ah... I knew the Title’s effect was a bit lacking for being the "Champion."’

Instinctively, Ash could tell what had changed about it. Alongside the 10% party EXP buff, there was now an additional percentage stat buff for everyone in the Champion’s party when within the Totem’s radius. And it wasn’t small.

Furthermore...

’The effect seemed to stack with whatever Titles the other four have.’

Sandra, who’d been a little despondent, sat up with a kindled spirit.

"Ooooh..."

Claude looked at his hands and flipped them before clenching his fists.

"So that’s what that meant."

The other two also had odd reactions: Nora’s was similar to Claude’s, while Éloi sprang from the ground and ran to touch the Totem like a child racing toward a rare bug.

Ash’s eyes narrowed at the scene before he turned his attention inward.

’Status...’

♱♱♱

Name: [Ashley Grave]

TITLE: [Dragonkin Champion]

LEVEL: [2] (EXP: 2/50)

STR: [16] (+3)

AGI: [16] (+3)

DEX: [16] (+3)

INT: [16] (+3)

CON: [17] (+4)

ITEM LEVEL: [15]

ACTIVES: [Dragon Fear] [Focus]

PASSIVES: [Scale Armor]

♱♱♱

Currently, all of his base stats were at 13. All of the +3s were from the buff he received while inside the Totem’s radius, while the +4 was due to the buff and his bracers.

Since he’d put his weapon away, it wasn’t adding to his STR, but he was beginning to see how vital buffs and items would be. Mainly...

’It’s only a small numerical increase...’

Yet, strength surged through every part of him.

Sadly, at the moment...

’Isn’t this buff kind of useless...?’

According to what Ash knew, until others started transmigrating, the Totem’s monster repellent would stay active. Currently, only other players could approach it.

’And I highly doubt we’ll be seeing them anytime soon.’

That’s not to say the chance was nonexistent, but that it was improbable, considering the circumstances. With how many people would soon be joining them in this new world — several million, at least, according to the inherent knowledge he received when starting the tutorial — Ash felt it had to be massive.

One: no way would they spawn near another race.

Two: no way would someone be ballsy enough to even venture out looking for others.

’But I won’t entirely discount the possibility.’

Ash stretched a little as he turned back toward the forest.

Now that he’d done his duty as the First Champion, he really had no reason to stay.

Ash took a step toward the forest when a sudden hand fell through his shoulder.

Claude yelped after getting spooked by the inhuman occurrence.

"Argh! Oh, yeah... Ahem... Where do you think you’re going?"

’Huh...?’

Looking over his shoulder, Ash studied Claude’s crimson eyes.

"I was going to scout the area some more, then hunt."

’And try to learn more about my body.’

Claude opened his mouth to say something, but Sandra spoke first.

"Oh, no you don’t! You’re sticking with us!"

At her words, Claude pointed his thumb at her.

"What she said."

"Huh? I already activated—"

Sandra cut him off:

"Let’s not divide our strength! We need you!"

Ash spun on his heel and faced the other four. His gaze grew sharp and cold.

"You dare say such a phrase to me? How repulsive."

Sandra stared at Ash with her mouth agape.

"What...? Ash, are you insane?!"

Nora looked Ash up and down, then said:

"Let him go. It’s clear he has no intention of staying here with us. Besides... I think that would be best for us as well."

Letting his gaze drift over to the woman with violet hair and teal horns, Ash once again felt a weird, indescribable emotion pass through him.

One he hated and loathed, one that made him sick to his core.

One he didn’t understand at all.

Silently agreeing, Ash turned and walked off into the thicket.

As the strength drained from his body, he summoned the mace into his hand and grimaced.

***

Hours later, Ash would learn a harsh truth about this strange world.

Glitched existence or not, the world was not so forgiving to dare let solitude go unpunished.

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