The jeers of the crowd faded into a dull hum as Ren walked away from the broken Awakening Stone. He could feel their eyes on him, full of pity and disdain. Glitch. Failure. Loser. He almost laughed. If only they knew.
He was a Mythical Rank. A being so powerful, so outside the known spectrum, that the System itself didn't know how to categorize him. He was an anomaly, a wild card. And he loved it.
Ren made his way to the maintenance desk, where a frazzled-looking attendant took his report. The woman barely glanced at him, her eyes already glazing over as she processed the long line of complaints. "Name? Rank? F. Next!"
He didn't bother correcting her. Let them think he was an F-Rank. Let them underestimate him. It would make his rise to the top all the more satisfying.
As he walked out of the hall, Ren felt a strange pull, a tingling sensation in his chest. It was the System, trying to communicate with him. Let's see what you've got, he thought, and closed his eyes.
The blue screen flickered to life in his mind.
[User: Ren]
[Rank: Mythical]
[Level: 1]
[Quest Alert: The System Glitch]
[Description: Due to an anomaly in your Awakening, the System is experiencing a minor malfunction. This may result in unexpected benefits or challenges. Proceed with caution.]
[Reward: [Unknown]]
Unexpected benefits? Challenges? Sounds like fun. Ren grinned. He'd never been one for the easy path.
He opened his eyes and looked around. The city of Eridon was bustling with activity. Merchants hawked their wares, guards patrolled the streets, and adventurers gathered at the local tavern, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight. It was a world of magic and monsters, and Ren was eager to explore it.
He made his way to the Adventurer's Guild, a sprawling stone building with a sign that read, "Where Heroes Are Made." Inside, the air was thick with the scent of sweat, ale, and excitement. A giant notice board displayed a variety of quests, ranging from simple monster exterminations to dangerous dungeon dives.
Ren scanned the board, his eyes drawn to a quest that read, "Goblin Infestation: Reward: 50 Silver." Goblins. Perfect for a warm-up.
He approached the quest counter, where a bored-looking receptionist sat behind a thick wooden desk. "I'd like to take the goblin quest," he said.
The receptionist raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that, kid? Goblins aren't exactly beginner-friendly."
Ren shrugged. "I'm sure."
She raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "Alright, suit yourself. Just don't come crying to me when you get your pretty face scratched up." She stamped his quest card with a dismissive flick of her wrist. "They're in the Whispering Woods, about an hour's walk from here. Good luck."
Ren took the card and headed out of the guild. The Whispering Woods. It sounded like a nice place for a stroll.
As he walked, Ren couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. The trees seemed to lean in, their branches twisting into grotesque shapes. The air was thick with an unnatural silence, broken only by the occasional snap of a twig.
Suddenly, a high-pitched shriek echoed through the trees. Ren drew his sword, a simple iron blade he'd bought at the market, and crept forward. He found a small clearing, where a group of goblins surrounded a lone adventurer.
The adventurer was a young woman with fiery red hair, her armor dented and scratched. She fought bravely, her sword a blur of motion, but the goblins were relentless. They swarmed her, their ugly faces twisted in a frenzy.
Ren grinned. Time to test out this Mythical Rank. He charged into the clearing, his sword a silver streak in the dim light. The goblins turned to face him, their eyes glowing with malice.
He moved faster than he ever had before, his body a blur of motion. He cut through the goblins like they were made of butter, their crude weapons no match for his speed and precision. In seconds, the clearing was silent, the only sound the soft thud of goblin bodies hitting the ground.
The red-haired woman stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Who… who are you?" she stammered.
Ren sheathed his sword and offered her a hand. "Just a guy with a System Glitch," he said with a wink. "You alright?"
She took his hand and stood up, her cheeks flushed. "Yeah, thanks to you. I'm Lyra. And you are…?"
"Ren." He smiled. "Nice to meet you, Lyra. Now, about those goblins…"
He looked at the pile of goblin corpses, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Time to see what kind of benefits this Glitch can give me. He closed his eyes and focused on the System screen in his mind.
[Quest Completed: Goblin Infestation]
[Reward: 50 Silver, 100 EXP]
[System Glitch Active: Bonus Reward Multiplier Activated]
[Bonus Reward: 1000 Silver, 2000 EXP]
Ren's eyes snapped open. Jackpot. He was going to love this Glitch.