Kael's Glitch Dagger shook as Varkas's axe grazed the Crypt's arch, stone chips flying, blood dripping from a scout's nicked arm. Lila yanked Kael inside, her pendant blazing like a neon traitor. "Crypt's our shot, glitch-boy!" she hissed. Byte, the mana ferret, snarled, tail sparking like a glitched firecracker. The arch's runes pulsed, the air heavy with mana. Kael's panel updated:
Status: Kael, Peasant #47 (NPC)
Level: 3
HP: 14/15
Chaos Points: 20
Glitch Affinity: 6%
Codebreaker: 3%
Skill of the Day: Summon Glitchy Pinata (Cooldown: 28 minutes)
Gear: Chaos Bracer (+2% Glitch Affinity), Glitch Dagger (+5% crit)
Pet: Byte (Mana Ferret, Level 2, +10% Skill Range)
Spiked pits lined the Crypt's halls, mana lasers humming. A skeleton mob rattled forward, bones clacking. Kael triggered Glitchy Pinata—the pink monstrosity exploded, candy shrapnel shredding bones, a skull bouncing with a bloody crack (PG-13). Byte's +10% range amped the chaos, but a laser grazed Kael's leg—HP to 12/15, a red streak stinging. "This place is a death trap," Kael muttered. "Fitting for my meme life." Lila picked a locked gate, revealing a rune puzzle glowing with Coder's script. Codebreaker: 5% decoded it, sparks flying as a loot room opened: Chaos Ore and Coder's Rune (+5% Codebreaker). Kael crafted Chaos Boots (+10% speed), his snark flaring: "Sweet kicks. Too bad I'm still a walking glitch." Byte chirped, nuzzling the rune—cute, but suspicious. Iron Fang raiders stormed in, Varkas roaring: "Your system's ours!" Lila's pendant flared—she'd signaled them. "Oops," she said, daggers twirling. "Iron Fang pays better." Kael's jaw dropped. "You sold me? Wow, worst wingman ever." Her eyes flickered—guilt? The panel pinged: New Skill: Exploding Rubber Duck. "You've gotta be shitting me," Kael groaned. He activated it—a flock of rubber ducks quacked, bursting into flames. Fire scorched Varkas's armor, blood oozing from singed skin. Byte dove in, stealing a Bloodied Gauntlet (+10% attack). Lila fought a raider, but her pendant kept glowing. Kael's snark boiled: "What, you livestreaming my death?" A Glitch Golem (Level 15) awoke, stone fists shaking the Crypt. Its punch cracked a wall, dust and blood mixing from a crushed raider. Kael's ducks did squat—HP hit 10/15 from a glancing blow. Byte evolved (Level 3, +5% crit), zipping around the Golem. Lila slashed its joints, shouting, "I'm helping, idiot!" But her pendant pulsed again, and Iron Fang reinforcements poured in. The Glitch Log flashed: The Coder's truth lies deeper.
The Golem's fist loomed, Lila's daggers flashed—toward Kael's back or the Golem? Varkas charged, axe gleaming, as the panel screamed: Sync Pulse: 1% Unlocked.