MMORPG: Surviving a Death Game with a Glitched System

Insignificant.

For the first time, he felt insignificant.

What the hell was he in the face of this monster?

’Nothing.’

He was nothing but another second wasted in the monster’s day.

Ash always prided himself on his tenacity.

When one started something, it was inevitable that one wouldn’t instantly be the strongest or most skilled. Ash was painfully aware of that. He hadn’t immediately become the best at Mythic Dominion. But with hard work and sufficient talent, Ash believed any task was surmountable. Anyone could become the best.

In fact, Ash believed the only thing that separated him from others was mentality and dedication.

And that was why everyone around him was a failure. Failures who reveled in the stagnation of "enough," unwilling to strive toward their true potential.

The sight before him shattered that notion.

’First Cross and now this fucker?!’

Anger. Pure, unbridled anger flooded his very being.

A feeling Ash had thought he’d left far in the past resurfaced in all its harrowing glory, barging into the place that only annoyance and disgust had occupied for far too long.

Who was he to dare aspire to be stronger than it?

Ash felt tears of frustration gathering in the corners of his eyes but managed to stifle them.

He was seething, irate.

Fury bounded within him.

He wanted to tear the bastard limb from limb. To see it fall beneath him. To prove his superiority. If not today, then tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then tomorrow’s tomorrow.

But...

Ash remained still.

He obeyed Demitra’s command.

Once again, he accepted his inferiority.

For the second time in one day, he had failed.

Utter failure.

Hands trembling slightly at his sides, Ash bit his lip.

’I can’t even admonish myself.’

He couldn’t even lie and say becoming strong enough to defeat that thing was simply a matter of dedication.

No...

The only thing Ash could praise himself for was that he didn’t turn away. His eyes remained locked on the Seal Sentry.

Yes...

To gaze upon such a monstrosity without averting his dread-laden gaze was all that remained of Ash’s pride in that moment.

As he stared, something awoke from its long slumber alongside anger.

Desperation.

***

For several hours, the three watched the Seal Sentry wade through the lava until its towering form disappeared behind a cluster of mountainous islands around a hundred kilometers away.

With the haze lifted, Ash could finally survey the surrounding landscape.

Most importantly, he could see the next island along their route, roughly three kilometers farther down the chain. Its jagged summit rose high enough to nearly meet the suspended links, providing another place they could safely dismount.

Beyond it, several rocky islands crowded the magma sea, their uneven peaks fading into the distance. The chain curved gradually upward above them, and far beyond the clustered mountains, Ash could just make out its distant endpoint. Dust, ash, and other particles still drifting through the air obscured any finer details.

The wolf whispered:

"It’s safe."

Upon hearing the wolf’s words, Ash faced forward and set off at a brisk pace. He quickly passed both the wolf and the princess. He put his back to them.

The princess cocked her head in confusion as the distance between them widened. Snapping out of her surprise, she called after him:

"Wait up, Ash!"

The Dragonkin Champion didn’t reply.

The princess hurried forward until she was alongside him, matching his stride across the broad curve of the chain.

"We shouldn’t rush. I know that thing’s scary and Cross could return at any moment. But—"

"Quiet."

Ash shot her a wicked glare over his shoulder.

The princess recoiled and quickly dropped back, allowing him to pull ahead once more.

The wolf growled fiercely.

"Watch it, dragon boy."

At the pseudo-threat, Ash huffed.

"Watch yourself as well, mutt. I’ve overlooked it thus far, but don’t order me."

The wolf hissed back before letting out a dry chuckle.

"Don’t order you? It’s you who’s been listening."

"Whoa, you two! I don’t know what Demi said, but this is no time for fighting!"

Ash, refusing to look back, replied sternly:

"Neither is it the time to be shouting. I said, quiet."

The wolf hissed.

"You’re pushing it..."

Ash didn’t bother responding.

He trudged farther along the chain, dodging the occasional magma fish that leaped between the links while studying the island ahead.

From this distance, only its upper slopes were visible near the curve of the chain. It appeared similar to the island they had just left. A few Seal Scrawlers scrambled across the rock near its peak.

As they closed the remaining distance, however, its true shape became clear.

The island rose at a far steeper angle than the previous one and split near its summit into a cluster of narrow stone spires. Each jagged column thrust upward from the same island.

And within the shadowed gaps between those spires, another type of creature had made its home.

A large snake-like creature with scales much like Ash’s own. It had six onyx wings on its back. But despite its wings, it seemed to slither most of the time.

Occasionally, if a Seal Scrawler got too close to one, it would strike, easily killing it. It would coil before launching itself at the target with a flap of its wings.

"I’m not leaving until I kill one."

The princess, a little pale and despondent, shook when Ash suddenly spoke again.

"Huh? Oh— but, we don’t need to concern ourselves with—"

"I never said you had to kill one with me."

Once again, the princess committed to her usual reaction.

"Oh..."

Only this time, this single word contained a deep sorrow within.

One Ash comprehended. A sorrow he’d heard many times. The same tone Jae had used the first time they won their first regular season game and all Ash had said to him was, "Don’t get excited, failure."

But it was okay.

It was all okay.

Thrones were built upon blood and sorrow.

Only the ruthless had the right to ascend.

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