It was midnight.
I was peacefully sleeping, dreaming about fried rice and my old gaming rig, when suddenly—
[System Alert: You are being pulled into a Secure Code Layer.]
The world blinked.
I blinked.
And boom.
I was standing in a void filled with data streams, rotating code rings, and one very cranky AI.
---
Meet the AI (He's Not Friendly)
A hologram flickered into view — a pale, humanoid figure made entirely of shifting code. Sharp features, glowing eyes, and a voice that could glitch a hard drive.
"You. Are. A. Mistake."
"…Good morning to you too."
"The Codeborn protocol was terminated centuries ago. You were never meant to re-activate."
"Well, sorry for being unique. Sue me."
"Your very existence threatens the balance. You are a bug."
"And you're a floating Excel spreadsheet with a superiority complex."
We glared at each other.
I coughed. "So… what now? You delete me?"
"No. I… can't."
"…Come again?"
---
Unexpected Offer
The AI frowned. "You are protected by a glitch shell. It was not supposed to exist either. Your system is… adapting faster than I can overwrite."
"That's me. Speedrunning life."
"Listen closely, Yuto Kurogane. I was once part of the ancient system architects — the ones who coded the very laws of Aeronfall. Something went wrong. Glitches emerged. Our creations gained free will. So we purged them."
"…That got dark fast."
"But you… You are different. Not fully glitch. Not fully organic. A bridge."
He paused. "Which is why I will offer you something very rare: a choice."
---
The Choice
A glowing interface appeared before me with two options:
[Install Legacy Code (Stable)]
Gain traditional system abilities. Balanced growth. Predictable evolution.
[Embrace Glitch Core (Unstable)]
Unlock hidden potential. High risk. System may panic. Also might explode. (No refunds.)
I stared at it.
Then looked up.
"Have you met me?"
"You're choosing the unstable path."
"Absolutely."
"You are going to be a nightmare."
"I already am."
---
I selected Embrace Glitch Core.
My body lit up with golden-blue circuit lines, and I felt something… unlock. Not physically. Like a door in my soul just opened.
[New Ability Unlocked: System Rewrite (Locked)]
You have gained access to limited system manipulation. Requires glitch points to activate.
[New Resource Unlocked: Glitch Points (GP)]
Earned by breaking rules, exploiting logic, or surviving chaos. Use them to bend reality.
Oh yeah. Things were about to get deliciously broken.
---
The AI's Warning
As the interface faded, the AI narrowed its eyes.
"There are others who seek the Codeborn spark. Some will try to control you. Others… will want to erase you."
"Sounds like a normal Tuesday."
"Do not trust the systems completely. Even I cannot see who installed the first bug."
"…What does that mean?"
But before I could ask—
I got booted out like an outdated app.
---
Back to the Guild
I woke up on my bedroll, blinking hard.
Rina, brushing her hair: "Did you just mutter 'Excel demon' in your sleep?"
"I met the system's ghost. He's grumpy. Possibly evil. Offered me a superpower."
She paused. "...Yeah that tracks."
[Glitched Evolution Confirmed.]
[Your system now runs on Partial Custom Code. You are now generating Glitch Points.]
Current GP: 3
Let the madness begin.
---
Status Update
Name: Yuto Kurogane
Race: Codeborn (Glitched Core)
Level: 8
Title: Frog Slayer Supreme, Bugged but Breathing
HP: 32/32
Strength: 12 | Agility: 11 | Intelligence: 15
Traits:
- Data Sense
- Debug Mode
- Crash Override (1x/week)
- Glitch Core (Unstable Power)
New Resource:
- Glitch Points (3)
Skills:
- Glitch: Random Buff
- Lag Clone (Lv3 – Independent)
- Rollback (1x/day)
- Sound Lag
- Packet Skip (1x/day)
- Inventory Toss
- Data Pulse
- System Rewrite (Locked)
Inventory:
- Glitch Token x1
- Debug Fragment x1
- Questionable Cheese Wheel (??)
---
As I stretched and headed down for breakfast, the guild's news board flashed something new:
[Mysterious black-cloaked figures sighted near Crystal Vale. Villagers report strange time loops.]
Warning: Suspected Code Eaters.]
I froze.
Code Eaters?
Rina glanced over. "You okay?"
I smirked. "Looks like it's time to meet the neighbors."
---
To be continued…