MMORPG: Surviving a Death Game with a Glitched System

Demitra took a step toward Ash, causing him to leap back and point his blade at her.

’Just what is she doing here now?!’

And how?

The wolf laughed once more, her canine face twisting with pure amusement. Then her tone darkened:

"Kekeke, Ash... you did well to survive."

Lowering her head, Demitra began to circle Ash before continuing:

"Watching you cling to life so desperately was thoroughly enjoyable. And truly, I’m quite thankful for the contribution your survival has made toward my cause."

Tightening his grip on [Sealed Fate], Ash kept the blade trained on her and echoed:

"Watching...?"

Demitra cocked her head, amused by his confusion:

"You didn’t think those eyes were just for show, did you?"

Ash looked at his shoulder.

’Hmm...’

Returning his gaze to the wolf, Ash pressed:

"Winter... What do you gain by coming here? Is clinging to Vera not your claim to survival?"

Glee filled the wolf upon hearing her proper title.

"I wonder, oh, I wonder... What am I doing here without her? Any guesses, Ash? Kekeke."

A short silence settled between them as Demitra circled halfway around him and stopped within the entranceway.

Through the haze beyond her, Ash could see a glorious blaze raging inside the temple. Yet... Idolan didn’t attack.

Winter shook her head before answering:

"You’re no fun... I came here because you called me, did you not? You wanted to fight me... alone."

Her blue eyes glowed brighter as a chill wafted from her and caressed Ash — a chill that breached his glitch.

Braving the cold tickling his skin — no worse than the tundra — Ash asked:

"Are you not worried Cross will take advantage of our bout? If you kill me... he will come for you."

Winter’s grin widened:

"Kill you? Psheehehe. No, no... I came to protect you."

Ash’s eyes narrowed.

’So, she responded to my challenge to...’

"Protect... me?"

"Yes... those two have you thoroughly fooled. Tell me, do you really think I’d threaten to kill Vera?"

Ash scoffed at the idiocy Winter was displaying before him.

"Shouldn’t you try to trick me before saying you enjoyed watching me struggle?"

Winter let out another cold breath. Half ignoring his retort, she went on:

"Come on, Ash... you said it yourself. It would be counterintuitive to kill her. She’s much too important to my goals. They told many truths, Ash. But they told you many lies as well. Why don’t you take some initiative... find your own truth?"

Ash watched as the wolf completed her circle, returning to where she had begun beside the Spire Serpent’s drops.

Once she stopped, Ash replied:

"It matters little to me whether you threatened to kill her or not. It changes nothing."

Winter’s expression brightened with renewed amusement:

"Oh, no, no... it changes everything. Cross... do you really think someone like him could willingly sacrifice his life for someone? Think about everything you’ve seen beyond the lies of love he’s sold you."

Ash answered with pointed silence.

"..."

Winter shook her head, then added:

"Nay, he wouldn’t. His goal is quite the contrary. After all, he plans to use Vera for a reason even more despicable than mine... You asked if Cross was human before, correct?"

Ash gave a slight nod and confirmed:

"Correct."

Winter paced past him.

"Keke. Well... he’s not. And neither is Vera. They’re both spirit-human hybrids. What else could they be, after all?"

"What’s even your point, Winter? Just get to it."

The light in Winter’s eyes froze for a moment, their blue growing deeper.

"Cross... he wants to consume Vera’s spirit. He is merely waiting for her to grow strong enough. Once she does, he can consume her, then consume me afterward without dying."

Ash shook his head and laughed at her claim:

"You expect me to believe such a thing?"

Winter’s smile didn’t waver.

"No... I told you, didn’t I? Draw your own conclusion. But do remember that you made a promise."

The wolf sat on her hind legs and smiled.

Ash steadied his stance.

’...Tch.’

Everything Winter had just said was plausible.

Yet, in the grand scheme of things, it changed little about the fate they sought for him. They all wanted him dead.

Ash closed his eyes and tapped his foot for a moment.

Then he took a deep breath and asked:

"Then... why did you leave Vera?"

With a dismissive flick of her ear, Winter answered:

"Because as long as you live, he won’t be able to consume me after consuming her."

"Then why didn’t he try to kill me? Why go after you two?"

"He needed to check if Vera was strong enough..."

’...’

Ash smiled.

"Nice try... Your struggle is commendable. Watching you cling so desperately to life is thoroughly enjoyable."

Kicking off his back foot, Ash charged at the wolf.

Winter rose onto all fours, shook her head, and lamented:

"Ah, what a pity... You don’t believe the truth. Well, I suppose whether you accept or deny it changes little. I’m still going to protect you. Although..."

Demitra shot into motion, barreling toward Ash.

Before the Dragonkin Champion could react, she ducked beneath his blade and snapped her jaws around his thighs, tearing him off his feet and flipping his world sideways.

Bonded to him, the glitch had no effect on stopping her.

She immediately attempted to bite down on his legs, but a spear of fire hurtled from inside the temple and threatened to pierce her neck, forcing her to drop Ash and leap away.

Idolan had not unchained himself, but he had drawn upon his power for a moment to save Ash.

The king shouted, his words easily carrying through the temple to Ash’s ears:

"She’s right, Ash. Choose your own truth to believe in... But don’t you dare let that truth be built upon her lies!"

Winter glanced into the temple and growled.

’That’s not something I have to be told.’

Ash struck the ground, rolled onto his feet, and turned to face her, then asked:

"You want to immobilize me, do you?"

’Or maybe...’

"Send me back below?"

Instead of replying, Winter broke into a zigzagging sprint across the landing, ice spreading in a jagged trail behind her.

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