The glitching sword lay at my feet, flickering in and out like a dying light. I glanced down at it, feeling both the pull of its insane power and the frustration of its uselessness against the robots we’d just barely defeated.
“Iggy, let’s get out of here,” I said, wiping the sweat off my forehead. “You might be right, with that glitching, this place is a bit too dangerous. If we come across something we can’t hit, we’ll be screwed.”
Iggy stood a few paces away, still breathing hard from the fight. He looked at the sword, then back at me, his expression somewhere between frustration and curiosity. “Of course I’m right ,Pipsqueak. But you never listen. You’re just gonna leave that behind? Iggy asked, changing the subject and pointing towards the sword. “Do you know how strong that thing could be?”
“I know how useless it was against a couple of robots,” I shot back. “It glitched out the second I touched it.”
Iggy ignored me and stepped toward the sword, clearly not ready to give up on it. “I’ll just take a closer look.” He crouched down, reaching for the hilt.
As soon as his fingers brushed the metal, the blade flickered wildly, glitching in and out of existence even faster than before. Iggy cursed under his breath, pulling his hand back. “Alright, fine. Piece of junk.”
“Weird piece of junk, though,” I muttered, staring at the flickering weapon. “Come on, et’s not tempt fate. This place isn’t right.”
As I turned to leave, something else caught my eye—something small glinting near the pedestal where the sword had been displayed. It looked like a card, barely larger than my palm, with a strange chip embedded in the center. Symbols, similar to the ones I couldn’t read before, were etched into its surface.
“What’s this?” I bent down and picked it up. The surface was cold to the touch, the symbols glowing faintly.
Quest Item Received.
Architect Memory Card #2 of Error
???
“Check this out”
Iggy glanced over my shoulder, his pulse blaster still drawn. “Another relic?”
“Quest Item,” I replied, turning it over in my hand. “Architects memory car number two of god knows how many. Information on it is, well the same as our tats in this place, scrambled at best. It’s got a chip in it, though.” I tapped the small chip with my thumb, half-expecting something to happen, but the card remained inert.
I activated Discern, hoping for some clarity.
Quest Item Received.
Architect Memory Card #2 of Error
???
Description: Error Function: Unknown System Incompatibility Detected.
Contains records of ??? Error
“Well, that’s pretty useless,” I muttered. “Apparently, it has some records on it. Think you can take a look when we get back?” I handed the card to Iggy. Ever since moving from Applewood Farm to Sefia, Iggy had turned his shed into a decent-sized workshop, always tinkering with one project or another. He’d have a better shot figuring this out than me.
“Great. Now I’ll be the one everyone blames when this thing blows up,” he grumbled.
I shook my head at Iggy’s complaint and took one last look around the chamber. “At least we found something. Might not be much, but it’s a start.”
I glanced back at the entrance to the labyrinth. The air was thick, glitching more heavily now, like the whole place was deteriorating around us.
“Come on, let’s get out of here,” I said, turning away from the sword and heading for the door. “We’ve overstayed our welcome.”
Iggy didn’t argue. We both knew the labyrinth was too unstable to stick around—at least for now.
We retraced our steps through the labyrinth, the eerie glow from the walls now our only light as the duration had run out on my create spark ability. The deeper we had gone, the more off everything felt, and now, even with the exit in sight, that oppressive, glitching sensation hadn’t let up.
“So what’s the plan now?” Iggy asked, his tone lighter but still tinged with unease. He kept glancing back, as if half-expecting another set of robots to appear.
“First things first,” I said, using my hands to guide me along the wall. “We get back into the main system and pray there are no adverse effects. The last thing we want is to bring this glitching with us. We should plan on coming back here, maybe with more people. They could be more weapons like that sword that hopefully don’t glitch. Plus, that quest sounds interesting. If we can work out what it is? But first we should sort out this Talrand quest. We need to come up with a way to meet with them instead of being attacked every time we leave the city.”
Iggy gave me a sidelong glance, knowing it was because of me we were always getting attacked. Piss off a few people and the whole universe seems to want you dead.
“You really think the Talrans are gonna solve all our problems?”
I shrugged. “No, but it cements our claim on Sefia and, in turn, Bovidi. It might also give us more say in the Bovidance system, a voice, a presence so we can stabilize and move about without being attacked all the time”
“Sure, Pipsqueak.” He snorted, stepping around a loose stone on the floor. “I still think we should have taken that damn sword. Glitched or not, that thing had power. I’m sure we could have afforded a little more time trying to figure out how to retrieve it”
Iggy was the same when it came to my rail gun too. He just wanted more firepower, a pure gun nut. We could be discussing world changing events, but put a shiny new weapon in his sights he’d switch like off. He was like a moth to a flame when it came to fire power.
“Yeah, power we couldn’t even use,” I reminded him. “You saw what happened when we tried to grab it. It blinked out of existence. I’m not hauling around a piece of junk that might disappear the second I need it.”
We reached the slanting corridor that led back to the slit in the desert, and as we stepped up the incline, I felt the shift. It was subtle at first—a faint buzzing in the back of my mind, like something had been turned back on. Then, my UI flickered to life.
System Recalibrating...
Error Correction in Progress...
User Status: Restored
My stats blinked back into view, clear and intact this time. Relief washed over me as I scrolled through the numbers. Everything was back to normal—well, almost normal.
Level: 81
XP: Error Correction Applied
Abilities: +56 Ability Points
I stared at the notification for a moment, trying to process it.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” I muttered, half to myself. “Looks like that little dungeon trip wasn’t a total waste after all.”
Iggy perked up. “You leveled up?”
“Yeah. So did you,” I said, nodding toward him.
He blinked, then swiped through his UI, and his eyes went wide. “Well, would you look at that, Pipsqueak? I might actually forgive you for dragging me into this glitch-filled hellhole.”
I grinned, though the unease still gnawed at the back of my mind. That place, the way it operated on a different version of Harmony, the errors—it didn’t sit right with me. And then there was the memory card. What the hell was that?
Before I could dig deeper into my thoughts, Dave’s voice cut through, startling me.
“Ah, Gaines, there you are! I must apologize. It seems I’ve missed some time again. Another charming administrator meeting, perhaps?”
I froze, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. “Dave? Where the hell have you been?”
Dave’s tone was, as always, smooth and nonchalant. “I’m not entirely sure, old boy. One moment I was monitoring your progress, the next... nothing. As if several hours were simply lost. And look at you, jumping several levels in the process. Impressive!”
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
“Again?” I muttered, trying to process his words. “You didn’t see any of what just happened?”
“See what, exactly? One moment we were chatting, and the next... well, it seems quite a lot has changed in the system’s internal clock. What did I miss?”
I glanced at Iggy, who was watching me with a raised eyebrow. He could still hear Dave through the shared channel.
“Well, let’s just say you missed out on some fun,” I said dryly. “We found an old version of Harmony. Glitched out. Robots tried to kill us. You know, just your average Tuesday.”
“How utterly fascinating,” Dave replied, his tone unnervingly calm. “A different version of Harmony, you say? The firewall likely blocked my access.”
“Fascinating doesn’t even begin to cover it,” I muttered. “And you were completely shut out?”
“Completely frozen, old boy. You can’t simply flip me off like a light switch. It’s as though time itself paused. Most... concerning.”
I swallowed hard, the implications settling in. If Dave had been shut out, that meant there were places where Harmony couldn’t reach him—or places where I could be free of him.
Maybe that place is the key, I thought. A way to get rid of him for good.
Dave, of course, had no idea what I was thinking. “I must say, Gaines, I’d very much like to study this labyrinth further.”
“Yeah, I bet you would,” I muttered. But that was a problem for another day. Right now, we needed to get back to Sefia and figure out our next move.
I glanced at Iggy, who was still fiddling with his UI. “Come on, we’ve got levels to spend. And we need to figure out how to contact the Talrans for that city quest.”
“Ugh, fine,” Iggy grumbled, pocketing the memory card. “But next time, you’re leading the way.”
The shuttle rattled and groaned as we glided over Bovidi’s harsh landscape, the whine of damaged engines echoing through the hull. I sat in one of the worn-out seats, feeling every bump and jolt as we limped toward Sefia. Iggy, grumbling something about "barely holding it together," was in the cockpit, probably muttering curses at me under his breath.
“Still think this was a good idea, Pipsqueak?” Iggy’s voice crackled over the intercom, barely audible over the engine’s strained hum.
“I stand by my choices,” I replied, though my confidence was starting to wear thin. We’d stayed low, just above the surface, to avoid detection. Now, with the turbulence hitting the shuttle’s weakened hull, I was questioning that decision. My eyes stayed glued to the console in front of me, watching the blinking red lights that warned of imminent disaster. “Just get us home in one piece, will you?”
I leaned back, rubbing my temples. The bumpy ride wasn’t what had my mind racing. We’d leveled up—massively—and now I had over ability points burning a hole in my UI. Dave had been suspiciously quiet since he came back online, probably waiting for me to ask the obvious question.
“Alright, Dave,” I muttered, glancing at my UI. “Let’s talk, ability points. We were saving for Advanced Gymnastics or something right.”
That ability was supposed to help me in battle, making me more agile, able to evade attacks while striking back with precision. The idea was great on paper, but with the insane points award from leaving the labyrinth available now, I was thinking bigger.
“Do we have better options now?”
Dave’s voice slid into my thoughts, calm and composed as ever. “Indeed, Gaines. Over fifty ability points is no small sum. We could still invest in Advanced Gymnastics, but there are more powerful options now. I recommend we choose carefully.”
“Careful isn’t really my style, Dave,” I smirked, despite myself. “Let’s see what we’ve got.”
The familiar ability menu filled my vision, options cascading down in front of me. My current abilities were good but limited. And that extra agility was tempting, but… I was ready for something bigger. Something game-changing.
“What were we saving for again?” I asked, skimming through the list.
Dave gave a thoughtful hum. “Advanced Gymnastics and its complementary ability, Elasticity. Both would significantly increase your flexibility and acrobatics, which could improve your combat efficiency. But…” he trailed off, sensing my hunger for something more immediate.
“Yeah, but I want something with a bit more punch,” I replied. “What are our best single purchases if I spend all ability points?”
Dave, ever the strategist, laid out the options. “If you wish to go all-in, here are your best choices.”
Ability 1: Flying (Level 1)
Cost: 50 Ability Points
Description: Levitate up to 2 feet off any surface. Current momentum will be maintained. Does not aid in falls.
Cooldown: None.
Ability 2: Teleport (Level 1)
Cost: 50 Ability Points
Description: Teleport a short distance—up to 20 feet. Can pass through most materials, but the destination must be clear.
Cooldown: 60 seconds.
Ability 3: Mana Shield (Level 1)
Cost: 45 Ability Points
Description: Convert a portion of your Mana into a temporary shield that absorbs all incoming damage for 10 seconds. The shield’s strength scales with your Mana pool.
Cooldown: 2 hours.
“Flying sounds fun,” I said, imagining myself hovering above the battlefield, dodging attacks like a superhero. I leaned back in my seat, grinning. “But teleporting? That’s got some serious potential.”
“Indeed,” Dave agreed, his tone carrying a hint of excitement. “Teleportation allows for quick mobility, letting you close gaps or evade enemies before they can react. It's a versatile ability, and its cooldown is quite short.”
“And Mana Shield?” I raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a lifesaver, but with my low Mana pool…”
“Precisely. Its effectiveness would be limited by your current Mana levels,” Dave noted. “A strong defensive option, but not quite ideal for you at this moment.”
I stared at the abilities, weighing the possibilities. Flying was tempting, but I didn’t see it helping me much in the short term. And Mana Shield? That was a future investment, not something I could rely on right now. Teleportation, though… that was a game-changer. It would give me the ability to get out of tight spots, dodge lethal attacks, and reposition myself in battle.
“Teleportation,” I said, almost to myself. “It gives me more versatility.”
Dave seemed pleased. “An excellent choice. With this ability, you’ll be more unpredictable in battle, able to strike or retreat at will.”
I confirmed the selection in my UI, watching as the points were deducted. Immediately, I felt a surge of energy, my system processing the new ability. The power felt… different. Lighter, quicker—like I could be anywhere and nowhere all at once.
Abilities Unlocked:
Teleport (Level 1): Teleport a short distance to your target and deliver a powerful strike.
Cooldown: 60 seconds.
“There we go,” I said, grinning. “I’ll need to practice this, but it’s good to have options.”
“Indeed,” Dave remarked. “Teleportation will allow you to control the battlefield more effectively.”
The shuttle shuddered again, the damaged hull groaning as we neared Sefia. The city’s walls appeared on the horizon, and I felt a small wave of relief wash over me. Home, at least for now.
“Not bad, Dave. Not bad at all.”
“We’re almost home,” Iggy said from the cockpit. “I’ll try not to crash this thing, but no promises, Pipsqueak.”
I chuckled back. “Do your best. I’m too young to die in a shuttle crash after all we’ve been through.”
I glanced at my UI again, admiring the new teleportation ability. It felt good to have something fresh in my arsenal, especially after the chaos of the labyrinth. I wanted to try it out now, but in a moving shuttle didn’t seem the best course of action even to me.
One thought kept tugging at the back of my mind—Dave’s absence in that old version of Harmony.
“Hey, Dave,” I said, keeping my voice low. “You never did explain what happened back there. How did you get shut out?”
There was a brief silence, followed by Dave’s voice, a little too calm for my liking. “Ah, yes. Quite the curious phenomenon. It appears that whatever version of Harmony you were interacting with had an internal firewall of sorts—one that effectively prevented me from accessing the system while you were inside. This, I surmise, is the reason that version of Harmony has not been updated”
“You mean there are places where you can’t reach me?” I raised an eyebrow, surprised. “I thought you were, like, a part of me now, so everywhere I am”
Dave chuckled, though it was a bit strained. “Not quite, old boy. My reach is vast, but it appears there are older layers of the system that still operate independently. In that labyrinth, I was effectively... shut out. Most intriguing.”
Intriguing wasn’t the word I would’ve used. The thought that I could be in a place where Dave had no control—or where I could lose control—made me uneasy. But it also sparked something else. A possibility.
“If that place can block you out,” I mused, more to myself than to him, “then maybe it can help me figure out how to get rid of you... permanently.”
Dave went quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was more measured. “I suppose that’s one way to look at it. But I wouldn’t recommend such a rash course of action, Gaines. You and I are quite... connected now. Severing that link could have consequences you’re not prepared for.”
I didn’t respond right away, letting his words hang in the air. I wasn’t ready to make any decisions yet, but it was something to think about. Having Dave out of my head for good... tempting, but dangerous.
The shuttle shuddered as it finally touched down on the outskirts of Sefia. The landing was rough, the hull groaning in protest, but we made it in one piece. I unbuckled my seat and stood up, stretching my legs as Iggy powered down the engines.
“Well, we made it,” Iggy said, joining me in the back of the shuttle. “I’d call that a win.”
“Yeah,” I said, staring out at the city. “But the hard part’s still ahead. We’ve got to figure out how to deal with the Talrans and this city quest before anyone else tries to kill us.”
“And what about that memory card?” Iggy asked, pulling the small chip from his pocket. “Think it’s got anything useful on it?”
I shrugged. “We’ll find out soon enough. Let’s just hope it’s something that doesn’t try to blow us up.”
Iggy chuckled, tucking the card away. “Yeah, knowing our luck, it’ll be a bomb in disguise.”
We stepped out of the shuttle, the cool evening air hitting my face as I took in the familiar sight of Sefia. The city, with its towering walls and growing population, was far from perfect, but it was ours.
As we made our way toward the city gates, I glanced at the notification still lingering in my UI.
Quest - The Heart of the Labyrinth ????
Whatever that quest was, it wasn’t over. And I had a feeling it was tied to something far bigger than we realized. Something ancient. Something powerful. And whatever it was, we were in the middle of it now.