MMORPG: Surviving a Death Game with a Glitched System

It was a bit risky to travel without cover, with nearly everything able to see him as easily as he could see them, but time was of the essence.

Especially with the chain liable to fall at any moment.

While island hopping seemed possible without it, finding a serviceable route between the landmasses would be arduous.

Simply, he wanted to tread the easy path for as long as he could.

And that’s what he did...

Dodging the occasional fish that erupted from nowhere, sometimes smacking into it or leaping clear over it, he followed its length toward the temple until the thick fog swallowed most of his surroundings.

There were several areas along the way where he could have taken a break, but he didn’t, opting to cover as much ground as possible before his body demanded rest and recovery.

All was going well...

But there was also something odd he’d begun to note as he drew nearer to the temple — not that he was all too close yet:

The warning wind had spread out, but he hadn’t run into any enemies.

As he noted the phenomenon, a sudden chittering from behind snatched his attention.

’Ah, I’ve been wondering where you cretins were...’

Behind him, a Seal Scrawler had leapt onto the chain and was clawing its way along the narrow surface toward Ash.

For some reason, the now-familiar foe put him at ease.

’I guess I should test out [Sealed Fate] on you.’

Ash turned to face it and took his stance, the bone spikes beneath his feet scraping against the chain as he slid one leg back and held the katana cocked behind his hip with one hand. In his other, a Marauder tooth formed.

Smiling, Ash greeted his opponent, giving it the perfect vibration to lock onto.

"Hello."

Sensing Ash’s voice, the Seal Scrawler intensified its scramble, claws clattering against the chain as it rapidly ate through the distance between them.

Then it reached him.

Ash tossed the tooth over its back and swung the sword crosswise at the same time.

The blade slammed against the front leg it raised to attack him, knocking the limb and him still.

’[Focus].’

Just as he cast it, the Marauder tooth smacked into the chain behind it.

The clink garnered its attention for only a moment, its head and body twitching back toward the sound, but a moment was all he needed.

After all, he was locked in, [Focus] sharpening his perception to an inhuman degree.

Reeling his arm back, Ash swung down with a perfectly aimed crescent slash at the joint where its near front leg attached to its body.

The blade bit through the joint, then continued beneath its lowered body. Ash followed through without breaking the arc, drawing the katana beneath the Seal Scrawler’s stomach and into the opposite leg, severing that limb where it bowed away from its body.

It had no chance to react properly.

Chittering, it cried out as it slumped forward, its body tilting awkwardly, missing both front legs.

[Focus] ended, and Ash immediately sprang backward along the chain, putting several steps of distance between them.

The spider-like beast scrabbled for balance on its four remaining healthy limbs, then pushed forward in an odd, lopsided shuffle toward him.

Then...

A magma fish burst from the haze beside the chain and crashed into the Seal Scrawler’s side.

The impact knocked the creature clean off the chain, the fish carrying it sideways over the edge before both vanished into the haze below.

A few moments later, an announcement rang out.

[You have slain a Seal Scrawler]

[+16 EXP]

[Condition...]

’Uh... okay.’

It seemed like a weird stroke of happenstance... [Danger Sense] screamed it was anything but.

Another Seal Scrawler crawled out of the haze behind the first.

Then another.

And another.

Ash counted seven clambering onto the chain and chasing after him, but there were definitely more hidden within the haze.

It was easy to conclude the initial fight had drawn them to him, but...

[Danger Sense] warned him of something more.

Ash ducked.

A magma fish rocketed over his head.

Then another.

Then a third.

Within seconds, they were everywhere — streaks of living fire bursting from the fog on both sides of the chain.

’What the hell...’

Looking back along the route he’d come, he saw two Spire Serpents rushing toward him, their larger bodies plowing through the pursuing Seal Scrawlers and knocking them from the chain in their fervent pursuit.

’What did I do?!’

Had he walked into a no-go zone? Did going toward the temple somehow trigger this response from the seal’s inhabitants?!

Worse...

[Danger Sense] was already going crazy, but a sudden warning wind hammered against the side of his head.

The direction?

The same direction he’d heard the Seal Sentry rampaging.

Ash stared into the haze where the warning wind was strongest.

It kept building.

Stronger than the Scrawlers behind him. Stronger than the Spire Serpents.

Even the threat radiating from the temple was being drowned beneath it.

"I’m screwed!"

Suddenly, a vague humanoid figure appeared in the fog ahead.

It drew closer.

Then, it spoke:

"That... voice."

Ash’s eyes widened as the figure burst through the haze.

A haggard man with disheveled silver hair, missing an arm and covered in blood, hurtled toward the chain atop a slab of rock. The moment he reached it, his footing gave way, and he tumbled from the stone.

Spitting out blood, the man collapsed onto the chain directly in front of Ash.

"Chimera...? You’re... alive?" The man coughed. "Just... my luck."

Ash narrowed his gaze.

"Cross..."

Anger filled his being.

Cross coughed up more blood, then said:

"Please... help me."

Ash’s anger boiled over into blazing fury.

At the same time...

Ash was not one to let such elementary emotions control him — guide him, yes; control him, no.

A chitter sounded at his back.

The hypocritical pragmatist spun, swinging his sword into a Seal Scrawler as it lunged, stunning it.

There were simply too many enemies for Ash to face alone. At least, not without risking some of the gear he’d worked so hard to acquire.

"Cross, I see you’re prideless as ever... but I’ll deign to heed your pathetic plea. Though don’t dare think that means I’ll spare your life once this is over."

After coughing up more blood, Cross thrust out his hand. A stone javelin tore past Ash and skewered the Seal Scrawler he had interrupted.

"T-thanks..."

[You have slain a Seal Scrawler]

[+16 EXP]

As much as Ash hated hearing that damnable word — especially from such a damnable man — he let it go.

For now...

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