Kai, naturally, saw the cracks.
His steps echoed through the central plaza. People moved out of his path without even realizing why. Something about him sent the unconscious mind into fight-or-flight. An aura, a presence, or maybe just the residual echo of the EX-rank badge now pulsing on his chest.
[Alert: You are being observed by 18 security scry-rings.] [Threat Level: Top Priority] [Recommended Action: Confront or Evade]
Kai smiled. “I don’t evade.”
He walked straight toward the Royal Tower.
Meanwhile, in the Royal Tower…
King Noctavius leaned forward, his golden mask reflecting data scrolls that floated before him. The reports were coming in fast now. Five elite Purifiers, gone. A system breach in the civic layer. And worst of all:
[The EX-Class anomaly is inside city limits. No suppression active.]
Beside him, his daughter—a young tactical strategist named Princess Rynera—spoke sharply. “He’s moving toward the tower. Are we deploying the Knights?”
Noctavius didn’t answer immediately. His fingers tapped against the armrest of his throne, sending signals to his internal console.
“Summon the Arcanum Guard. Prepare the Trial Arena. If this Glitchwalker wants to challenge the system—”
Rynera finished for him. “Then let the system fight back.”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Back on the streets…
Kai stepped into a glowing elevator glyph that rose at an unnatural speed, carrying him toward the tower’s apex.
When he reached the top, the doors opened to reveal a circular chamber. Floating runes lined the walls, and in the center was a dueling platform—an arena styled in ancient fantasy and high-tech fusion.
Waiting for him were three.
A Knight of Fire, clad in burning armor. A Knight of Echo, wearing a suit that shifted like liquid memory. And Rynera, holding a blade of translucent computation.
[Arena Match Initiated: Royal Trial Protocol – Unauthorized System Entry Punishable by Combat.]
Kai’s grin didn’t waver.
“Let’s dance.”
Battle Log: Begin
The Knight of Fire struck first. A molten lance arced through the air, trailing codefire. Kai dodged and summoned a glitch construct to block the second blow.
[Skill Used: Glitch Construct – Temporary terrain creation based on code memory.]
The Knight of Echo blurred and reappeared behind him—slashing through Kai’s shoulder. But Kai activated his crafted passive.
[Passive: Phantom Copy – Any damage received triggers a delayed mirror counterattack.]
The Knight was blown backward.
Rynera moved next, her attacks elegant, precise. She didn’t aim to kill—she aimed to disarm.
Kai respected that.
So he escalated.
[Skill Activated: Glitch God Layer (Incomplete) – Boost to all glitch-based reactions. Time Distortion: +4%]
Suddenly, the platform warped. Time twisted in staggered loops. The three enemies faltered.
[Time Sync Error: Opponent reactions delayed by 0.6 seconds.]
Kai moved like a ghost. A blur of skill-crafted technique and brutal efficiency.
In seconds, the Knights were down.
Rynera stood alone, blade trembling.
She raised it again. Kai paused.
“You’ve got heart. Don’t waste it on blind loyalty.”
He turned his back on her. “Tell your father: control doesn’t impress me.”
[Match Complete. Victory: Kai. Royal Arena Integrity: 74%]
Later, atop the Royal Tower…
Kai stood alone, looking out across the shimmering city.
The people below hadn’t seen the fight. But the systems had. And across the continent, kingdoms began to whisper.
About a glitch they couldn’t erase.
About a force they couldn’t rank.
About a god-tier anomaly with a guild in the sky.
And the legend…
Was just getting started.
End of Chapter 21