MMORPG: Surviving a Death Game with a Glitched System

[You have acquired Super Rare item: [Sealed Fate]]

’Huh?’

Not knowing what it was, Ash didn’t equip it for fear of destroying the bow or his boots, instead tossing it into his inventory.

After fumbling around a bit more, Ash’s hand nudged a wet slab of meat, and he used it as leverage to haul himself upward. When his head broke the surface, Ash was met with a glorious sight.

Drops everywhere.

It was mainly meat, but there was plenty of other stuff mixed in.

There was even a tome and...

’Armor!’

He finally had something to wear. Gone were the days of his existence hanging by a thread.

His tenacity had paid off. Every miserable second he’d refused to yield had led to this. After numerous fruitless attempts where limbs were sacrificed and more blood than should’ve remained in his body was spilled, he’d finally achieved his goal. Better yet, what looked like a helmet rested among the pile.

Satisfied, Ash summoned the [Tome of Might: Tough Skin] and stood on it.

[You have unequipped [Starter Bow]]

[You have unequipped [Snow Crawlers]]

After waiting for the two items to disappear, Ash summoned forth the mystery item.

[You have equipped [Sealed Fate]]

Blue smoke spilled from his palms and snaked around his arm. It wound around his wrist in countless streams before coiling up his forearm and pouring into the air before him.

The blue smoke condensed into a long, sleek form. Finally, with a muted burst, the haze scattered, leaving a sword nestled cleanly in Ash’s palm.

’This is...’

Whether it was due to unprecedented luck or skill, Ash was no longer helpless.

And there was something else. He could feel it — the blade carried an ability.

Ash studied the sleek, sable katana. Wisps of violet electricity drifted around its length, occasionally licking across the razor-thin edge, while a kiku-gata guard gleamed with the pale luster of moonlight.

[You have equipped [Snow Crawlers]]

Not wanting to stand around marveling at the katana forever, Ash summoned the boots, then quickly darted between the drops, shoving all the meat into his inventory before the scent attracted another wave of enemies.

And finally, he snatched up the armor, helm, and tome.

[You have acquired and equipped Uncommon item: [Snow Crawler’s Pelt]]

[You have acquired and equipped Rare item: [Whisper of the Wind]]

[You have acquired Rare item: [Tome of Shadows: Stalk]]

Instantly, Ash felt power swell within him as the accumulated stat bonuses took effect.

Looking around to ensure no more foes were near, Ash began to inspect his new haul.

’Status...’

♱♱♱

Name: [Ashley Grave]

TITLE: [Dragonkin Champion]

LEVEL: [4] (EXP: 50/50)

STR: [23] (+4)

AGI: [27] (+8)

DEX: [22] (+3)

INT: [19]

CON: [26] (+7)

ITEM LEVEL: [110]

ACTIVES: [Dragon Fear] [Focus]

PASSIVES: [Scale Armor]

♱♱♱

’110...’

His item level had shot up to a staggering number, and his stats reflected every bit of it.

First...

[Snow Crawler’s Pelt] - [Pelt of the Snow Crawler.]

’Yeah...’

Its description was just as dull and straightforward as the boots, which held a similar one.

Speaking of [Snow Crawlers], it was clear the two were part of the same item set or something close to one, sharing an almost identical construction — tough hide beneath a dense layer of shaggy white pelt.

Ash didn’t know if there were set bonuses or anything, but he certainly wouldn’t mind one.

As for what it provided...

Unlike the [Spire Serpent’s Skin], the [Snow Crawler’s Pelt] covered the entirety of his legs down to the boots. Above the waist, the heavy fur wrapped across his torso and shoulders, leaving little of his body exposed. It also molded around his tail to fit the appendage.

The only problem was that it practically nullified one of the main advantages of his glitch.

Just like the boots, it oh-so-graciously granted him a -1 AGI. On the other hand, it gave him +4 CON. So, not exactly the worst trade-off, especially considering his other items made up for it.

Next was [Whisper of the Wind], the helmet.

[Whisper of the Wind] - [The first sign of danger is the wind’s blow... don’t ignore the warning.]

’Cryptic...’

The helmet was simple in design. A pale wolf’s head formed its shell, its upper maw and fangs framing his face while the lower jaw had been removed entirely. It had even shaped itself around his horns, allowing the protrusions to poke through it.

It wasn’t the most flattering, but it was definitely a good item, providing him with +5 AGI, more than compensating for the deficit from his other items. Though it did also have a negative stat of -1 STR. But, counteracting that negative, it held an ability — a passive.

[Danger Sense] - [Read the changes in the wind.]

It wasn’t the most straightforward in how it functioned, but Ash didn’t struggle to understand. The moment he focused on it, the surrounding air stopped feeling like meaningless movement. Every current carried a faint impression, almost like another sense layered over his own — even working while in his glitched state.

There was a faint wind blowing from his left that simply felt... off.

Turning in that direction, he saw the shrouded figure of a Snow Crawler wandering through the haze.

As it marched closer, the warning wind strengthened, brushing insistently against his left side.

Then it turned, changing its path, and the wind faded with every step until nothing remained.

’How useful.’

Perhaps it could even detect Cross.

’I wonder how that fucker’s doing...’

Had he survived the Seal Scrawler swarm?

...

’I doubt he’d die so easily.’

And if he had, Ash probably would’ve known.

He would’ve gotten a system message announcing a kill.

’Though maybe there isn’t one for killing a human.’

Last, and most certainly not least, Ash focused on the Super Rare item. It provided a boatload of stats: +5 STR, +5 AGI, and +3 DEX.

’Holy shit, that’s a lot...’

Ash’s reaction wasn’t due to the bonus stats at all, nor was it due to its passive ability.

Ash stared at the item’s description.

[Sealed Fate] - [Where once she marched unfettered, she now lies shackled beneath the weight of fate.

Salvation hides within the two strands left to her: surrender to death or ruin.

That choice not hers to make, but decided by the world which sealed her fate.

Her name lost to time, deeds buried beneath the ashes of kingdoms; what remains is a prison. Between extinction and calamity, she waits beyond the boundary, neither permitted to live freely nor allowed to die.

Should death claim her, the seal shall finally break, granting her the peace denied to her for ages, yet spilling ruin upon all who remain.

Should ruin claim her instead, the world shall shake with the passage of her judgment.

Yet...

Until that final strand is chosen, her fate remains unresolved, awaiting the hand foolish, worthy, or cruel enough to decide whether her fate ends in a pitiful death or begins anew in ruin.]

’Yeah... where do I even begin in trying to understand that?’

On the other hand, it didn’t seem that understanding the periphrastic description mattered all too much. Especially at the current moment.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!