MMORPG: Surviving a Death Game with a Glitched System

Ignoring the princess’s confusion, Ash said:

"You might want to reclaim your shield."

"Ah, right!"

As the silver shield began forming around her wrist, a message chimed in his ears.

[Winter’s Blessing has ended]

A moment later, the wolf appeared out of thin air beside him and dropped onto the stone. It huffed, then said:

"Phew, that took a lot out of me."

Ash sneered, then stepped past the wolf and marched steadily toward the Seal Guardian.

Across the arena, the creature stretched its newly strengthened limbs, testing whatever transformation its body had undergone.

’I can cast [Focus] now.’

At least until it sent the droplets swirling around again — if it did, or could, at all.

Ash had to be careful.

Maybe his armor could withstand a blow, but he could not.

He’d be killed in one hit if caught off guard.

’Man... it sounds a little weird to say "getting one-shot" in real life.’

The statement rang true nonetheless.

"Get ready, princess. Do as much damage as possible before it adjusts to its new strength."

’And before it catches on to my glitch...’

If this thing really was kin to the hunter, its intelligence was not to be underestimated.

"Right!"

Ash broke into a sprint, his sandals slapping against the arena floor, with the princess close behind. Demitra bounded after.

Taking the initiative this time, Ash launched himself from the ground, hurling his body as high as his legs allowed. Mimicking the Guardian’s earlier assault, he angled himself downward and plunged toward it.

Snapping out of its stupor, the Seal Guardian planted its feet and slashed one claw upward.

[Scrawler’s Fang] collided with the once-split claw, which had completely healed. The crack running through the dagger’s blade creaked and groaned.

The collision halted Ash’s descent, leaving both him and the Seal Guardian momentarily suspended beneath the force of the impact. The creature recovered first. Its fingers curled around the white dagger, locking it in place.

Seizing the opening, the princess swept her blade crosswise. The thick edge bit into the creature’s side, but only barely.

The princess tried to pull her sword free, but the Seal Guardian’s second hand snapped around its blade.

Clutching both of their weapons between its claws, it yanked them forward with a deafening screech.

"Greeah!"

Ash’s body was jerked through the air, dragged by the immense weight of the dagger still trapped in its grasp.

He lost his grip and hurtled past the Guardian, slamming back-first into the stone wall to which it had once been bound. His armor scraped sharply against the rock.

The princess, however, released her blade before she could be dragged with it.

’Shit!’

As he dropped from the wall, Ash tried to dismiss the dagger.

The beast, having watched the phenomenon happen with the princess’s shield, wasted no time closing its fist around the weapon.

The bone-like dagger buckled with a loud crack.

A moment later, the system sang in his ear.

[[Scrawler’s Fang] has been destroyed]

Ash struck the ground, then swiftly scrambled upright just in time to watch the Guardian raise the princess’s sword between its claws.

Before it could crush the weapon, the princess summoned her shield and charged. She drove its silver face into the Guardian’s chest, forcing it to stagger toward the center of the arena and buying enough time for her sword to dissolve into smoke.

The wolf sprang from behind the princess, sailed over her shoulder, and sank her thick fangs into the Seal Guardian’s neck.

The creature reeled beneath the wolf’s weight and raked its claws across her pelt. Despite its power-up, however, the steel-like talons failed to pierce her hide.

Ash, having recovered, charged toward the Guardian’s exposed back.

A sudden burst of smoke erupted from his palm. Within seconds, it coiled into a long wooden shaft tipped with iron.

[You have summoned [Starter Pike]]

’[Focus].’

Demitra pulled the Guardian sideways, and the two crashed to the ground before rolling across the arena in a tangle of claws, fur, and flailing limbs.

Ash fearlessly approached their violent struggle. Using his enhanced perception, he waited.

’1...’

He vaulted over a claw that carved through the space before his legs.

’2...’

Then came an opening.

’Now!’

Dashing forward, he drove the pike’s iron tip into its groin.

Having regained her sword, the princess rushed in from the opposite side and swung downward. Her [Surge] empowered blade struck just below the Guardian’s knee. The blow cleaved clean through the joint, severing its lower leg.

The Seal Guardian screamed in agony and began thrashing wildly beneath the wolf.

’Huh...?’

On instinct, Ash dove to the side.

Something unseen flashed past his vision.

Then, a searing pain erupted through his wrist.

A stone stake was poking through it, having easily pierced one of his bracers.

Ash crumpled to his knees.

"Argh!"

[Focus] ended, and Ash’s hands phased through the floor, causing him to fall forward, as the stake fell through his arm.

He twisted onto his side and craned his neck toward the chain above.

There, a man with a cloth tied around his head sat atop it, idly swinging his feet.

"Hmm, how curious. That one actually hit you."

The princess jumped away from the Seal Guardian and spun toward the intruder.

"Cross!"

"That would be me!"

Ash staggered to his feet, his leer drifting to the three silent figures standing behind Cross, each dressed in similar garb.

"And who would they be?"

"Those three? They are my loyal Hounds!"

Ash growled up at Cross.

"Come down here, coward. Or are you going to run away again?"

"No, no, quite the opposite! However, feel free to carry on with what you were doing. It’s first-rate entertainment! I was merely testing a theory. I’ll refrain from further involvement until you’ve dealt with the problem."

Ash’s gaze fell back to the wolf and the Seal Guardian.

’It’s on its last legs...’

Quite literally, too.

One more good chomp from the wolf or slice from the princess, and it was dead.

Cross called out to Ash from above.

"Turning away from me, chimera?"

Ash shot a glance at the cretin above.

"You’re next."

Then his gaze turned toward the cretin below.

"Princess, let’s finish this quickly."

Bounding to his side, the princess replied:

"O-okay."

Without taking his eyes off the Guardian, Ash leaned closer and whispered:

"I’ll stop its movements. Cleave down through Demitra once I do."

"W-what?!"

"Just do it."

’I’m sure the detestable wolf understands.’

The two charged, with Ash taking point.

He sprinted toward the tumbling pair and studied the direction of their roll. Just before they reached him, he thrust its shaft into their path.

The Guardian’s lanky body slammed against the weapon first, with Demitra crashing into it a heartbeat later. The obstruction halted their momentum, pinning them for an instant.

Ash whispered again:

"Now."

Though visibly hesitant, the princess listened and struck.

Her blade passed through the wolf’s body, then buried itself deep in the Seal Guardian’s chest, splitting through bone and pulverizing its heart.

It let out a wet, blood-filled gurgle, then the system sang in his ears.

[You have slain a Soulless Wanderer, Guardian of Winter’s Seal]

[Unique Kill Bonus]

[+168 EXP]

[Condition to reach level 5 has not been met!]

Cross whistled, then cheered:

"Bravo! Bravo! What a performance!"

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