After leaving the fleshy section, this time, I find myself in an underground crypt with cobwebs, bones, and everything. I can see three more exits from the current room and only a single twin-headed skeleton and a walking, bloodstained table with a creepy, blue mask floating above it seem to be patrolling here, no one else.
I wait until the two creatures leave the current room and then I head into the left room where they came from. If they really are on patrol, then that passage should be unsupervised for the longest time out of the four directions.
The passage goes on for a long while, but the walls are decorated with two types of faded flags. I don't recognize their meaning nor origin but one seems to have been a stream of orange stars on a blue background spiraling towards the middle and ending in a red head of a bird. The other is a hand over a right-facing head as if they were whispering to someone.
I bet they belonged to a cult of some sort but why two different ones? Maybe one is for the public and the other for the underworld, but then why expose your connection like this?
I rip off one of each flag and stuff them in my inventory for later. Maybe it is worth showing them to Elly or Orpyne. They tend to know a bit about what is going on in the universe at large.
I continue to follow the corridor and eventually, it ends in a small laboratory with the door luckily unlocked. I carefully sneak a peek inside and see no occupants, so I step inside. I'm not interested in the lab or its contents, but as nonsensical as the path has been, progress might just as well be hidden here.
A lot of tubes with unfamiliar liquids of various colors or clarities, several unknown machines, and papers scattered all over the place. Quite plain for a mad scientist's lab, really.
I look around for a moment but don't find other exits, so this is a dead end for me. Should I head back immediately or is there anything else worthwhile here? Eh, doesn't matter, I'll just cram all kinds of papers into my inventory. Maybe we can profit from them and on the off-chance this is sabotaging them somehow that would be worth something as well, or they are just trash that needs to be burned, we'll see, that won't be my job though.
While stealing the stuff, I try to glance over some of the papers but as before, I don't recognize the characters. But then, Karen and her team were smart enough to figure out even the ever-shifting glitch writing in the corrupted skill descriptions, so it can't be too useless.
I'm no expert but one of the sheets seems to be about a blueprint for a missile weapon. Going by the squiggly lines to a container symbol, it might be a carrier system for the strange liquids contained in the tubes. You know, I wouldn't be surprised if they would cause the creation of more Glitch Zones. If I were in their shoes I would certainly try to weaponize that phenomenon.
Another stack of paper has "WARCRIMES" written on it - dunno, from the looks of it it might be a checklist of sorts. Eh, better dispose of that as well.
Once I've cleaned the papers up, I open a cabinet I've had my eyes on for a while.
The disappointment over not finding a hidden passage is quickly overshadowed by delight over finding what looks like twenty or so Class Cores. Probably corrupted by glitches, but I still want them. I know I should know better thanks to the Blood Mage incident but I can't help myself.
I take one of the precious orbs into my hand, and I get a sudden jumpscare from a System window.
Establishing connection... failed.
Incompatible.
User System version: 199.7.03.2605.047
Item System version: 001.8.26.0043.019-γ
Requesting item update... failed.
Admin does not respond.
Please manually request item update from Admin.
Last known contact address: 127.0.1.1
What, incompatible and not unavailable? But I thought the System was still down.
Ah, I get it now! Only MY System is still down, these items belong to a different one. Fuck.
I want to throw the piece of shit at the ground in anger but a sudden pat on my shoulder gives me pause, "H̴a̸n̶d̸s̸ ̶o̷f̵f̴ ̴m̶y̵ ̶t̶r̷o̴p̶h̶i̵e̶s̵,̶ ̸p̸a̷l̴.̷"
Damn, busted. But how did it find me so easily? Just because you see the floating Class Core doesn't mean you know exactly where my shoulder is.
Despite my previous inability to understand the local language, this time I'm able to make some words out, not all but some, "I̴ ̴e̴a̶r̵n̴e̷d̴ ̶t̸h̴e̸s̷e̷ ̷t̵w̶e̴n̵t̶y̵-̷s̵e̴v̵e̷n̸ ̸b̴a̵b̴i̴e̷s̵ ̶b̷y̵ ̴h̸a̷v̷i̶n̶g̷ ̵t̴h̴e̵ ̷m̸o̵s̸t̴ ̶c̴o̷n̵f̶i̷r̷m̴e̸d̴ ̷k̵i̷l̸l̷s̵ ̴i̸n̶ ̵o̷u̵r̶ ̴r̵e̷g̷u̶l̶a̸r̶l̶y̶ ̶h̴e̵l̵d̴ ̸U̴n̶i̵v̶e̷r̷s̷e̸ ̸E̴x̷t̶i̵n̵c̴t̸i̸o̷n̵ ̷C̴o̶m̷p̴e̵t̷i̵t̸i̶o̶n̸s̶.̷ ̸W̸e̵l̶l̴,̸ ̴a̴s̷ ̶y̸o̸u̷ ̴c̸a̴n̴ ̵g̶u̷e̴s̷s̸,̵ ̷I̴ ̵h̷a̸v̴e̵n̴'̴t̷ ̴w̴o̷n̶ ̸i̴n̸ ̴a̸ ̴l̷o̷n̷g̴ ̷t̴i̷m̷e̸,̵ ̷c̸o̴m̷p̸e̷t̵i̸t̸i̶o̴n̴ ̶h̸a̵s̸ ̷b̸e̶e̷n̸ ̴f̶i̷e̷r̴c̶e̴ ̵r̸e̵c̷e̸n̵t̴l̵y̴.̶ ̵B̴u̴t̶ ̸i̵f̸ ̷y̸o̷u̵ ̵w̴a̶n̵t̸ ̷y̸o̶u̴r̶ ̸o̸w̸n̷ ̴t̸r̴o̵p̵h̴y̵,̵ ̷t̶h̶e̴n̸ ̸c̸o̵m̸p̷e̶t̵e̶ ̴y̷o̵u̴r̴s̶e̵l̴f̷.̷ ̵I̴ ̴t̷h̸i̴n̵k̵ ̶t̸h̷e̸ ̶n̴e̴x̶t̵ ̴o̶n̸e̷ ̸w̴i̶l̸l̵ ̷t̴a̸k̸e̸ ̶p̸l̵a̵c̵e̷ ̷i̸n̶ ̵a̶ ̴c̸o̴u̸p̴l̶e̵ ̴o̷f̵ ̸y̸e̴a̵r̷s̴.̶"
I turn around and see a huge minotaur wearing a lab coat. From the looks of it, the beast is easily one-and-a-half times my size. Kind of reminds me of a musical boss monster I fought long ago, just a bit more dressed up and coherent.
I try to shrug off its hand, but it holds my shoulder too firmly.
Eventually, it lets go, "T̸o̴o̷ ̴w̷e̶a̸k̸,̴ ̷y̴o̶u̸ ̷s̷t̵i̴l̵l̶ ̴h̷a̴v̴e̸ ̵a̷ ̴l̷o̵t̵ ̸o̷f̶ ̴g̶r̷o̴w̵i̶n̶g̵ ̴t̴o̸ ̴d̵o̸ ̷i̸f̸ ̶y̷o̶u̴ ̴w̴a̸n̴t̴ ̵t̶o̴ ̴a̸c̷h̴i̴e̶v̷e̴ ̶s̶o̴m̷e̵t̸h̸i̴n̶g̵ ̵i̸n̴ ̴l̵i̴f̶e̸.̸ ̸I̷ ̶m̵e̷a̴n̷,̴ ̸j̶u̶s̷t̵ ̵l̷o̴o̷k̶ ̸a̸t̶ ̶y̸o̴u̵,̶ ̵l̸i̷t̸t̴l̷e̸ ̶B̶u̴g̶:̵ ̶y̸o̷u̴'̷r̷e̶ ̶s̴o̶ ̴w̴e̵a̸k̵ ̶y̶o̷u̷'̶r̸e̷ ̸b̵a̵s̶i̶c̶a̷l̶l̴y̶ ̷i̸n̵v̸i̵s̴i̸b̴l̵e̸.̷ ̸P̵r̶o̵b̸a̵b̸l̴y̷ ̸n̶o̴ ̴e̷g̶o̷ ̷y̸e̵t̷ ̸e̷i̸t̴h̵e̵r̵.̷"
I've no clue what is going on, but I guess I'll play along for now. If it thinks I'm one of them that is better than having to fight an unwinnable encounter. Maybe I learn something useful.
Before I can say anything, the bipedal cow has taken the Class Core out of my hands and placed it back in its original spot, and is now trying to push me out of the room but then stops, looks around for something, and then pulls out a smartphone of all things.
"H̶e̴y̷,̷ ̷S̷a̵e̷b̵a̷,̵ ̸w̴h̴o̶ ̴w̸a̴s̵ ̸o̴n̶ ̴c̸l̷e̵a̶n̴i̵n̴g̸ ̶d̶u̵t̴y̸ ̵t̶h̸i̵s̵ ̴w̶e̴e̷k̵?̸ ̷I̷'̵m̷ ̸m̷i̸s̷s̴i̸n̷g̶ ̸s̸o̴m̸e̷ ̵p̷l̸a̷n̷s̸,̷ ̴t̸h̸e̸y̷ ̵s̵e̴e̶m̵ ̷t̴o̷ ̴h̸a̴v̸e̴ ̷m̴i̸s̸p̵l̷a̸c̵e̸d̵ ̵t̷h̵e̴m̵!̵ ̵.̷.̵.̸h̶u̶h̸?̵ ̷T̷h̷e̷y̴ ̵h̷a̶v̸e̶n̷'̶t̴ ̸g̷o̵t̵t̴e̷n̷ ̵a̴r̷o̷u̴n̵d̴ ̸t̷o̷ ̷m̵y̸ ̵l̵a̶b̸ ̶y̶e̴t̵?̵ ̷T̵h̸e̵n̴ ̶w̵h̴y̸ ̵i̸s̶ ̶a̶l̶l̴ ̶o̷f̶ ̷m̴y̸ ̸s̶t̵u̶f̴f̶ ̵g̵o̴n̴e̵!̴?̵ ̴I̵ ̴d̶e̵f̴i̷n̶i̸t̶e̸l̷y̸ ̵l̵e̸f̶t̸ ̴a̵ ̵m̶e̷s̴s̴ ̸b̴e̷h̶i̴n̷d̶ ̴b̵e̵f̵o̴r̶e̷ ̸I̵ ̷w̴e̸n̸t̶ ̴t̸o̷ ̷t̴h̶e̷ ̸m̴e̵e̴t̵i̵n̴g̷!̴!̵ ̶.̵.̵.̶a̴h̷,̸ ̴s̵h̸i̸t̷,̶ ̷d̸o̶n̴'̴t̶ ̶t̵e̴l̴l̵ ̶m̶e̷ ̸i̵t̸ ̶w̶a̷s̴ ̴e̷a̸t̵e̵n̶ ̵b̴y̷ ̷a̶ ̷B̷u̷g̶.̴.̵.̴ ̸Y̷e̷s̷,̴ ̴I̵ ̶u̷n̴d̸e̵r̸s̵t̸a̴n̷d̷,̶ ̷p̷l̶e̵a̴s̵e̷ ̵c̵h̸e̷c̶k̵ ̸o̵n̵c̴e̶ ̵y̷o̸u̸'̷v̸e̵ ̵d̵e̶a̵l̵t̸ ̴w̵i̷t̵h̷ ̸t̵h̸e̴ ̴u̷n̵k̸n̴o̴w̶n̵ ̶i̴n̸t̷r̷u̸d̶e̸r̷,̸ ̴t̵h̸a̶t̴ ̸l̵i̶s̵t̶ ̵w̶a̵s̷ ̴i̷m̴p̴o̸r̶t̷a̶n̷t̸,̷ ̴t̸o̵o̷.̴"
I guess that means I was discovered, so much for my stealthy air form...
The minotaur-like glitch creature ends the phone call and turns to me, "C̸h̶a̵n̷g̷e̷ ̸o̷f̸ ̴p̷l̴a̶n̶s̵,̵ ̴b̵u̴d̶d̷y̶.̴ ̵T̴h̷e̷ ̴w̶e̷l̴c̷o̶m̶i̸n̵g̵ ̶p̴a̴r̵t̶y̴ ̴h̷a̵s̸ ̴t̶o̷ ̸d̴e̶a̸l̵ ̷w̵i̶t̴h̸ ̵a̴n̶ ̶i̴n̸t̶r̴u̶d̸e̴r̴,̴ ̷s̷o̶ ̴I̴'̷l̷l̶ ̴h̵a̸v̴e̷ ̷t̶o̴ ̷c̵o̵v̶e̷r̶ ̷t̶h̷a̷t̶ ̵p̸a̵r̷t̶ ̸p̴e̷r̵s̸o̵n̵a̵l̶l̶y̸ ̶a̵g̷a̷i̷n̵.̴ ̸S̸o̶,̵ ̴u̷h̸,̷ ̸w̸e̶l̸c̴o̶m̵e̷,̸ ̴I̴ ̸g̷u̴e̵s̶s̶.̵"
It stands around for a moment, probably thinking about what it has to say to me, "F̶i̴r̴s̸t̷ ̶o̸f̵ ̴a̴l̷l̵,̴ ̶i̶f̴ ̵y̶o̷u̶ ̷s̷h̶o̸u̴l̷d̸ ̷b̴e̸ ̵o̵v̷e̶r̸c̵o̸m̶e̷ ̸b̶y̷ ̶m̷e̶m̵o̴r̷i̷e̷s̷ ̵o̷r̸ ̴i̶n̷s̶t̶i̷n̵c̷t̵s̸ ̴y̸o̷u̵ ̷t̷h̵i̷n̶k̷ ̴a̵r̸e̵ ̴y̸o̴u̷r̴s̴,̸ ̷y̸o̸u̴ ̷a̸r̸e̸ ̷w̵r̶o̶n̴g̵.̴ ̷T̵h̸e̶y̶ ̴b̶e̷l̶o̷n̵g̶e̴d̴ ̷t̷o̸ ̶t̷h̴e̸ ̵i̵n̸f̶e̶c̴t̴e̵d̸ ̶b̶o̵d̵y̵ ̷y̶o̷u̴ ̵m̵i̵g̶h̶t̷'̵v̷e̶ ̵g̷r̷o̴w̵n̴ ̵o̴u̸t̷ ̸o̴f̷,̴ ̴i̸g̷n̷o̸r̵e̵ ̵t̷h̸e̴m̶,̵ ̴a̵l̴r̴i̷g̷h̵t̶?̴ ̷G̴o̵o̸d̴.̶ ̵I̷f̵ ̵y̷o̷u̸ ̶a̴r̵e̵ ̴o̸n̵e̶ ̵o̶f̸ ̶t̸h̶e̸ ̴G̷l̸i̵t̵c̴h̵e̵s̸ ̵t̸h̵a̵t̴ ̴j̷u̶s̶t̵ ̸r̶a̴n̶d̸o̴m̶l̵y̵ ̷s̵p̵r̴a̷n̷g̵ ̶i̷n̵t̴o̵ ̵e̶x̶i̴s̷t̷e̴n̸c̵e̴ ̴o̷u̴t̵ ̸o̴f̴ ̸n̷o̷w̷h̶e̸r̷e̴ ̶y̸o̴u̶ ̵d̸o̴n̷'̴t̵ ̴h̷a̴v̵e̴ ̷t̵o̵ ̵w̶o̸r̸r̶y̸ ̴a̴b̷o̶u̵t̵ ̷t̶h̸a̸t̵.̴ ̴E̸i̷t̶h̸e̵r̸ ̷w̶a̴y̶,̸ ̸n̷o̷w̴ ̷s̷t̵a̵n̶d̸ ̵t̴h̷e̷r̶e̵ ̶f̷o̶r̵ ̷a̷ ̸m̸o̷m̵e̶n̶t̸,̸ ̷I̴ ̶h̶a̴v̴e̶ ̵a̸ ̷s̸m̸a̶l̷l̵ ̶s̸u̴r̵p̷r̵i̷s̸e̶ ̶f̴o̴r̸ ̶y̸o̸u̶.̴"
Can I run away no? I have a bad feeling about this...
The minotaur drags us back over to the cabinet where I found the Class Core, then it pushes something in there, and a moment later, the ugly cow reemerges with a katana in its hand.
"Y̶e̶a̶h̷,̴ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̷'̶l̴l̴ ̶d̶o̷", shows me the weapon which is notably not showing any signs of glitch infection, "o̸h̸,̴ ̴a̸n̷d̵,̵ ̶S̸U̸R̵P̸R̵I̷S̸E̶!", it exclaims as it rams the weapon where my torso would be.
I can feel the sting but I barely flinch from the pain; honestly, I've had much worse. But still, fuck you, I could've done without that! But then that was much less damage than I would've expected from an attack performed by a creature of its size. Even Elly hurt me more than that.
The creature pulls the weapon out again and shows it to me. This time, it is quite damaged and covered in several glitches.
"W̴e̵ ̶c̶a̸l̸l̶ ̵t̵h̶i̵s̸ ̵t̷h̴e̶ ̶s̸t̵a̷b̵ ̷t̵e̵s̷t̶,̶ ̸a̸n̴d̴ ̸I̵ ̶t̴h̶i̵n̵k̶ ̷w̶e̷ ̷h̷a̵v̸e̸ ̶t̸h̶r̵e̷e̵ ̶r̸e̵s̷u̵l̸t̴s̵.̷ ̶O̷n̴e̷,̷ ̵t̶h̸a̴t̴ ̸w̴a̸s̸ ̷t̷o̵o̷ ̵m̶u̶c̶h̸ ̶r̸e̷s̸i̶s̵t̷a̶n̴c̵e̵ ̷f̴o̶r̶ ̴a̸ ̴G̵l̴i̴t̵c̷h̵,̴ ̷s̴t̴o̷p̶ ̵h̶o̴l̴d̶i̵n̵g̴ ̴o̸n̷ ̸t̴o̴ ̶y̸o̵u̷r̴ ̴p̷r̷e̵v̵i̸o̷u̷s̴ ̵s̸e̸l̵f̷ ̶s̶o̵ ̶m̴u̷c̴h̴ ̸a̸n̴d̷ ̶t̵h̶a̴t̸'̷l̷l̸ ̷s̸o̴r̸t̶ ̵i̶t̵s̷e̷l̴f̴ ̵o̷u̵t̶ ̶i̴n̷ ̸n̶o̷ ̵t̴i̴m̴e̷.̶ ̷O̶t̵h̶e̶r̵w̸i̵s̴e̴,̶ ̴y̴o̸u̵'̸l̸l̷ ̶n̵e̸v̶e̷r̷ ̶g̵r̷o̷w̴ ̵i̷n̴t̸o̴ ̵a̸ ̵s̵t̸r̸o̵n̷g̵ ̶F̷e̶a̶t̸u̶r̶e̶.̵"
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The minotaur holds up two fingers in a V-shape, "S̵e̷c̵o̴n̴d̶,̶ ̵y̵o̷u̶r̵ ̷i̷n̵f̸e̶c̶t̴i̸v̷i̷t̷y̷ ̴i̴s̷ ̵a̴b̴o̸v̴e̵ ̴a̷v̶e̸r̴a̸g̶e̸,̴ ̴e̷s̷p̷e̸c̵i̷a̷l̸l̵y̸ ̸f̶o̸r̴ ̸y̷o̸u̶r̶ ̶a̷p̶p̸a̸r̵e̸n̴t̵ ̴a̵g̵e̴.̸ ̷Y̸o̶u̷ ̴s̷h̸o̶u̸l̸d̴'̷v̶e̵ ̴c̸o̷m̴e̵ ̵i̸n̸t̸o̶ ̷e̵x̸i̸s̵t̸e̷n̸c̴e̶ ̷i̶n̷ ̶t̷h̵e̷ ̷m̸o̴s̴t̷ ̷r̵e̷c̶e̸n̴t̴ ̵S̸y̷s̸t̷e̵m̴ ̴f̵a̵i̷l̸u̸r̸e̵,̸ ̶a̸n̷d̴ ̴y̶e̸t̴,̷ ̶y̵o̸u̶'̶r̶e̶ ̸a̵l̴r̵e̵a̸d̸y̸ ̷b̷e̸t̶t̸e̷r̴ ̶t̴h̶a̷n̵ ̸s̵e̷v̵e̵r̷a̶l̴ ̶o̷f̸ ̵t̴h̴e̴ ̴o̷l̴d̶t̵i̴m̴e̴r̷s̶ ̴i̷n̴ ̶t̸h̶a̶t̶ ̴a̶s̵p̶e̸c̵t̸.̷ ̵I̵'̸v̷e̵ ̵n̷e̵v̷e̵r̶ ̴s̷e̵e̴n̶ ̴a̴ ̷w̴e̸a̷p̶o̶n̸ ̶r̶u̴i̴n̸e̸d̴ ̵s̴o̷ ̵q̴u̸i̶c̵k̸l̴y̸ ̵b̴e̴f̶o̶r̷e̶,̸ ̷h̵a̴h̴!̷"
Why? I would've thought that thanks to the Hybrid classes it would be the opposite; either next to no infectivity or even absorbing glitches. Where did that go wrong?
Or is it because I used a body made of "wind", but the [Wind Magic] I have access to isn't the proper version but in fact a glitch? Fuck...
"T̵h̵i̸r̶d̷,̸ ̴t̴h̶i̸s̵ ̷w̵e̵a̸p̶o̸n̷ ̸i̴s̷ ̷c̶r̶a̵p̴,̶ ̵a̷ ̴s̶i̸n̶g̶l̷e̶ ̵s̴t̶a̷b̷ ̸a̷n̴d̵ ̶i̴t̶'̷s̴ ̶a̶l̴r̵e̶a̸d̷y̸ ̸s̶e̸v̷e̸r̷e̷l̴y̶ ̴c̶h̶i̴p̸p̷e̴d̷,̴ ̷c̶o̸m̴p̸l̶e̷t̴e̴l̸y̵ ̶u̶s̸e̵l̷e̵s̸s̴.̷ ̵B̷u̵t̸ ̴t̶h̸a̴t̵ ̷s̵h̵o̴u̶l̷d̸n̵'̴t̵ ̷b̷e̷ ̷a̶ ̸s̶u̸r̶p̵r̵i̵s̴e̴ ̶f̵o̶r̸ ̴j̸u̷n̴k̵ ̴m̸a̸d̶e̸ ̴b̵y̶ ̵S̴o̴l̵i̴d̵s̸.̷ ̸F̷o̸u̶r̴t̵h̷,̷ ̴t̸h̷e̴ ̵f̶o̷r̶m̶i̷n̷g̵ ̵o̷f̵ ̶a̷ ̵p̸e̷r̴s̸o̴n̵a̴l̶i̸t̴y̶ ̵w̶i̴l̶l̶ ̷s̵t̷i̴l̸l̴ ̶t̴a̵k̶e̸ ̸a̵ ̵l̵o̶n̴g̴ ̴t̷i̷m̸e̶ ̴b̶u̶t̷ ̷d̴o̵n̵'̴t̶ ̷w̴o̸r̷r̴y̷,̴ ̷i̷t̷ ̷i̵s̸ ̶i̸n̵e̵v̷i̴t̶a̷b̷l̸e̴.̵ ̵F̸i̵f̴t̷h̴,̷ ̶y̸o̷u̴'̷r̷e̸ ̷n̶o̶t̷ ̴r̵e̵l̶a̸t̵e̵d̵ ̷t̸o̸ ̴A̵e̴r̴i̸t̷h̴,̶ ̷s̴o̸ ̸y̷o̴u̸'̸l̵l̶ ̴b̶e̷ ̷f̸i̵n̷e̸ ̴n̵o̸ ̷m̶a̶t̸t̴e̶r̶ ̸w̶h̶a̸t̶ ̷h̵a̶p̸p̴e̶n̵s̸ ̶i̵n̸ ̵t̸h̸e̸ ̵f̵u̴t̶u̷r̷e̶.̶ ̷A̶n̸d̷ ̷f̴i̵n̵a̴l̷l̵y̸,̵ ̶I̷ ̷c̴a̴n̴'̷t̴ ̴c̴o̶u̵n̶t̴.̴.̴.̸ ̸B̸u̴t̶ ̸t̵h̸a̷t̴ ̸i̴s̶ ̷a̵b̸o̷u̸t̵ ̵a̸l̴l̶ ̵f̴o̷r̴ ̵t̵h̵e̸ ̴f̵i̴r̶s̴t̷ ̸t̵e̵s̶t̵.̷ ̵N̸o̴w̵ ̸f̵o̷r̶ ̷t̸h̶e̵ ̴n̶e̶x̴t̵ ̷o̸n̵e̶,̸ ̶h̸i̵t̶ ̶m̶e̸ ̶w̶i̴t̵h̶ ̷y̷o̸u̸r̵ ̷b̵e̷s̵t̴ ̵a̶t̶t̴a̵c̵k̵,̸ ̸a̴n̶d̸ ̸d̶o̵n̷'̸t̴ ̶h̴o̵l̶d̴ ̷b̷a̷c̷k̵!̴"
You don't have to tell me that twice, asshole.
My opponent just stands there, posing like a JoJo character, impatiently waiting for my move.
If I recall correctly, the boss this abomination reminds me of was weak to ice, so I charge an ice spell and then let it fly. The chunk of ice crashes into the giant cow without a notable effect. Rather, it feels more like I just cast a healing spell instead of an offensive one...
The bovine glitch facepalms in response to my attack, "I̴ ̴k̶n̸o̶w̵ ̸y̶o̶u̵'̶r̷e̸ ̵y̷o̸u̴n̸g̷,̴ ̸b̷u̶t̶ ̶y̶o̴u̸ ̴s̵h̸o̴u̵l̸d̶ ̵s̸t̶i̸l̵l̷ ̴k̶n̷o̷w̴ ̸t̴h̶e̵ ̵d̸i̶f̵f̸e̵r̷e̶n̶c̵e̸ ̸b̷e̷t̷w̶e̸e̵n̵ ̴a̸n̵ ̵a̵t̵t̷a̸c̷k̸ ̸a̵n̷d̷ ̸f̶o̷o̶d̶.̶ ̴T̸r̷y̶ ̶a̵g̷a̶i̸n̷!̷ ̷C̵o̵m̴e̸ ̸o̸n̵,̵ ̶h̴i̸t̶ ̴m̸e̵!̷ ̴M̵a̸k̸e̸ ̸m̶e̴ ̴r̶e̷g̶r̷e̴t̴ ̷t̷h̴e̷s̴e̸ ̶w̶o̸r̴d̶s̶!̶!̵"
I try my other elemental spells but none of them show any effect; fire, earth, lightning, wind, water, shadow, poison - all fizzle out.
It is exactly as Orpyne said, System-granted attacks are useless against Glitches. But what about the skills I obtained through glitches and similar accidents? I've at least access to blood, titanium, and glitch elements - maybe others depending on how far the one Hybrid skill goes, I haven't had time yet to check. I have reservations about using the latter, last time it started this whole ordeal. But it is a common trope that nigh-invincible creatures have a weakness to their own attacks, like dragons. Not that I have to worry about creating another Glitch Zone, this world already is like one if not much worse.
I begin casting a spell with the glitch element. Exactly like last time when I dared to use it, it skips the charging phase and immediately fires off. As before, a beam of green-black glitch mass shoots forth from my hand, this time towards the bovine menace.
I don't get a System popup, not that it would be helpful against glitch creatures, but I can still tell that it worked. I finally inflicted a bit of damage.
But despite that, the minotaur just starts laughing, "I̷s̸ ̵t̴h̷a̴t̵ ̶a̷l̶l̵?̸ ̶A̸f̷t̷e̷r̵ ̴a̴l̴l̴ ̷t̸h̷a̷t̵ ̴b̶u̵i̶l̴d̸-̸u̵p̷,̷ ̴I̸ ̸e̸x̵p̶e̷c̸t̴e̵d̸ ̶m̷o̸r̸e̸ ̶t̵h̵a̴n̵ ̵a̵ ̵l̷i̴t̵t̴l̶e̶ ̸s̵c̴r̶a̸t̴c̸h̵.̷ ̶C̸o̵m̵e̷,̶ ̷t̸r̷y̶ ̸a̶g̸a̴i̵n̵.̴ ̸I̴f̴ ̶y̵o̸u̶ ̸w̶a̸n̸t̸ ̸t̵o̵ ̸w̶i̷n̶ ̸o̴n̵e̷ ̷o̴f̸ ̴t̷h̵e̸ ̶t̷r̵o̸p̶h̵i̷e̸s̶,̷ ̸y̸o̶u̵ ̷h̴a̶v̵e̶ ̴t̷o̵ ̵m̴a̷n̸a̸g̵e̵ ̶m̵o̵r̶e̸ ̶t̷h̵a̵n̵ ̷t̴h̷a̶t̵!̷"
I don't care about your stupid event, on the contrary, I want to prevent it, but that is just a pipe dream. But as long as you're willing to aid me with some target practice, maybe I actually have a way to destroy a glitch creature.
While casting the glitch spell I remembered something, specifically the sensation I had while shaping the Hybrid skill under Orpyne's guidance. Back then, I mixed two different elements together to create a hybridized magic of sorts. So who says I can't do this with regular spells as well?
Once again, I begin casting an ice spell but instead of letting it fly, I move the charge to my left hand. It doesn't resist, it keeps stable.
Then I try to create a charge of glitch magic with my right hand. It desperately wants to fly off, it is hard to keep it in place. But with a lot of effort, I can manage to keep it in place.
Now I have to bring them together.
Fusing the two charges happens very easily, but the resulting supercharge is wildly jerking around. It wants to be fired immediately, so I aim it at the cow-like glitch creature and let it go.
A big chunk of purple-red ice crashes into my enemy and rips out a huge part of its torso, the entire shoulder is gone and its arm drops to the ground.
The minotaur is still standing, and the surprise is clearly visible on its face, "A̴h̷!̷?̸ ̸T̶h̵a̵t̸ ̵w̷a̵s̴ ̷a̸ ̸s̸u̸r̷p̵r̷i̸s̶e̶,̶ ̴y̶o̸u̵ ̴g̴o̴t̴ ̷m̵e̷ ̶t̸h̶e̸r̸e̶,̴ ̸l̵i̶t̶t̶l̸e̵ ̵B̷u̸g̶.̷ ̴H̴a̶~̶h̷a̸.̷"
It grabs its arm from the floor and reattaches it. Glitch particles gather around the gaping wound to reconstruct the creature. All the damage I have done is already undone, it didn't even last for ten seconds...
Oh for fucks sake. How could it so easily undo my entire effort? That attack must've inflicted a ton of damage, I could literally feel how I got a huge chunk of exp from that! ...and of course, the exp is also infected. You're just a big, nasty problem, aren't you? Nigh indestructible, insane regeneration, and when you actually manage to inflict some damage, you get infected; it is a lose-lose situation no matter what...
The minotaur inspects its arm, and checks its functionality after repairing itself, "I̷'̷m̶ ̴n̶o̴t̷ ̴s̶u̵r̷e̷ ̶h̶o̷w̸ ̵t̴o̶ ̵f̸e̴e̵l̶ ̶a̸b̵o̴u̵t̸ ̷t̶h̶a̸t̶.̶ ̷I̸t̴ ̴w̸a̸s̷ ̴a̶ ̷p̷o̸w̴e̵r̸f̸u̷l̷ ̷a̵t̴t̵a̶c̷k̴ ̶b̵u̷t̶ ̶i̴t̷ ̸c̸o̸n̶t̷a̷i̵n̷e̴d̵ ̶t̵o̵o̸ ̷m̴a̴n̶y̵ ̸t̶r̶a̵c̶e̵s̶ ̴o̸f̷ ̸t̴h̴e̵ ̵s̴k̴i̸l̶l̷s̸ ̶S̶o̴l̸i̷d̸s̷ ̸u̴s̴e̵.̸ ̶H̴o̴n̴e̶s̷t̶l̴y̷,̴ ̵I̶ ̸t̶h̸i̴n̸k̵ ̶i̸t̴'̷d̶ ̶b̶e̸ ̴b̶e̶t̵t̶e̵r̴ ̸f̸o̴r̵ ̶y̸o̴u̴ ̵i̴f̴ ̵y̵o̶u̶ ̴g̸a̸v̸e̷ ̷u̸p̸ ̶o̴n̶ ̶t̷h̷a̷t̶,̷ ̷i̸t̵'̵l̶l̵ ̴o̵n̵l̷y̶ ̷h̵a̴m̵p̴e̸r̴ ̸y̸o̶u̷r̴ ̶g̵r̷o̷w̶t̶h̵ ̵a̶s̴ ̸a̴ ̴G̶l̶i̴t̴c̷h̸.̵"
You know what? Fuck this shit, I've endured this charade long enough. I'm not letting it stand this way.
While the cow is rambling on, I've charged up another spell. So far, I've not gotten any use out of the spread shot option for spells, but I feel this is the perfect time for it.
Here you dumb cow, have a glitch-ice spread shot to the face!
When it is ready, I unleash the illegal spell and five big chunks of purple-red ice erase most of the science cow. A few fragments of my adversary remain after my newest spell, but then they also disappear after a second or three.
I did it? I did it! It is gone! But why doesn't the boss music stop?
Stomp Stomp
Ah, that's why. The creature reformed at the other end of the room and is now pissed at me. Damn, can't you stay down for five seconds!?
It angrily grunts in my face, this time much easier to understand, "I said we were DONE with the test! You've proven your point, Bug."
"No, go to hell and stay there!"
I fire another spread shot spell point blank at the monstrosity, and as before, it collapses. I quickly grab some of its remains before they dissolve, but I fail to seal them away in my inventory. It won't accept living remains. In a hurry, I try to absorb the remaining particles, but just the mass of its hand exceeds what the whole Glitch Zone was. Even if I wasn't full, I wouldn't be able to keep it down that way.
A few moments later, the minotaur is already restored but at least it is missing its hand. It looks confused at its stump and then grins creepily, "Ah, that's how it is, I see. Heh. It seems we got off on the wrong foot. You're neither Bug nor Glitch, are you? You're one of the Solids. Though I do not understand how you've managed to withstand here for so long. The previous record before a Solid succumbed to the local atmosphere and became one of us was fifty-four milliseconds, I think. I never expected you Solids to find protection from our world, but I'm grateful for this opportunity!"
Even if I wasn't at a disadvantage thanks to the spell charge time, I've no way to keep it down permanently. I barely managed to steal one of its hands before I was over capacity, forget removing all of its particles.
And now its hand is already back as well, shit...
The huge cowman bows before me, "Aeons ago, I was known as Battle B2, and I'll be the last opponent you'll face as a Solid. Come now, strike me down, bathe in my abundant e̴̢͉͌͘x̷̪̽p̵̢̯̓, and become more powerful than you can possibly imagine. Resistance is greatly appreciated."
So you're really the same creature, but I've beaten you once, or rather thrice, I can do it again!
Suddenly, it halts in and starts laughing, "I gratefully accept this name once again, 'master' Jared Delacroix."
Ah, shit, did I really just promote an already dangerous Glitch to an even stronger Feature!? How did it even exist long enough to see the rise and fall of dozens if not hundreds of universes and still have no name!?
But that would at least explain why it didn't put up any real fight, it wanted to goat a potential infiltrator - me - into naming it. And if not for that, they don't stay dead, they easily regenerate from near nothingness.
Great, I've been had...
But why did that even count? I only thought about its name, I didn't make any offers for a name.
"Hey, I didn't even say it!"
"Doesn't matter, you thou-", before it can finish its reaction to my protest, the accidentally-named creature has already turned into a sepia-colored statue.
Umm, why does the stasis set in now? I've seen many other glitch creatures and there must've been Features among them.
Though I doubt that is relevant, Para is a Feature but his girl shouldn't be one yet, and the thing in my head isn't either, but both are in stasis as well in contrast to the Glitches here. Maybe it is because they are willing to ally with me, but then that wouldn't explain why I'm still free, same for the Glitches here. Nothing adds up here.
Doesn't matter now, it is obvious that I can't stick around here for too long. Eventually, someone will come to look for BB2, at a minimum the cleaning stuff or the one it contacted for the files I've stolen.
I quickly grab every single Class Core from the trophy cabinet I can see, and then try to leave the room, but by now, the exit has changed again. It no longer leads back to the crypt but to a snow-covered beach next to a pink ocean.
Maybe getting lost like this is for the better.
----------------------------------------
POV: Saeba Stain (Feature)
Curious, the anomaly no longer appears on the scanner, it just up and vanished shortly after our top scientist evolved. It disappeared as abruptly as it appeared, exactly as the other observers have reported for their planetary sectors. A couple of them reported that the infiltrator simply did not appear in any video feed - I can confirm this now as well.
But it seems up close, it appears like any other Bug, at least the newly-featured Battle B2 seemed to interact with it as with any other Bug or Glitch.
It is also unclear what the anomaly wants; so far it has done nothing but travel from one end of our dimension to another, named one scientist, and took a handful of useless trophies. Battle B2 even let it happen without putting up a fight, maybe the trophies were the compensation for the power boost. As a Feature, our dear Battle B2 should be hundreds if not thousands of times more dangerous than before, that is no small change.
I'm not sure what to make of the anomaly.
Also, why am I monologing like that? Is someone reading my thoughts?