Lucas and Riley emerged from the warehouse district, the air still crackling with residual static from the destroyed Nest Core. His upgraded Iron Blade (+10 DMG) gleamed faintly in the dim light, its weight a steady reassurance. The System interface updated as they walked back toward the Safe Zone:
Name: Lucas Reed
Level: 3
Class: Warrior
HP: 150/150
MP: 50/50
Skills: Sprint (Lvl 1), Power Strike (Lvl 1)
Skill Points: 1
Quests: None Active
He paused, opening his skill menu. With his new skill point, he could enhance Power Strike or unlock Shield Bash. The boss fight loomed large in his mind—recommended Level 5, and he was still two levels short. He invested the point in Power Strike (Lvl 2), the System confirming a 10% damage boost. "Better safe than sorry," he muttered.
Riley adjusted the Glitch Shards in her pouch, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Outskirts are a trek, and that roar didn't sound friendly. We'll need a party. System's picky about soloing bosses."
Back in the Safe Zone, the mood had shifted. The leaderboard now showed a Lvl 4, Ranger Class at the top with 12 kills, but the chatter focused on the Dungeon Boss. A group of four Players huddled near the terminal, their tags reading Tank (Lvl 5), Healer (Lvl 4), Mage (Lvl 4), and Rogue (Lvl 3). The Tank, a broad-shouldered man named Greg, waved them over.
"Newbloods with guts?" Greg asked, eyeing Lucas's sword and Riley's daggers. "Boss is a Glitch Behemoth, Lvl 6. We're short a fifth. You in?"
Lucas nodded, glancing at Riley. She shrugged. "Better than dying alone."
The System logged a new quest:
New Quest Available: Defeat the Glitch Behemoth. Objective: Reduce Glitch Behemoth HP to 0 in the New Haven Outskirts Dungeon. Reward: 500 XP, Rare Loot Drop, 100 Credits. Party Bonus: +50 XP per surviving member. Time Limit: 3 hours. Accept? Y/N
Lucas hit Y, and the party formed, their names linking in his interface. The group moved out, the Safe Zone's dome fading behind them. The outskirts were a warped expanse of shattered highways and glitchy terrain, the ground pulsing with Danger Zone markers. A massive structure loomed ahead—a crystalline dungeon entrance, its edges flickering like a corrupted file. Above it, the System labeled it Dungeon: Glitch Outpost.
Inside, the air thickened with static. The party crept through a hall lined with Glitch Traps (Disarmed), thanks to the Rogue's Trap Detection (Lvl 3). Greg took point, his shield glowing with Taunt (Lvl 2). The Healer, Sara, kept a Healing Aura (Lvl 3) active, while the Mage, Elena, prepped a Fireball (Lvl 4). Riley stuck to the shadows, scouting for loot.
The chamber ahead rumbled, and the Glitch Behemoth emerged—a towering mass of pixelated muscle and jagged claws, its tag reading Lvl 6, 500/500 HP. Its roar shook the dungeon, and the System flashed: Combat Initiated.
Greg charged, activating Taunt, drawing the Behemoth's attention. Its claw slammed down, -30 HP, but Greg's shield absorbed most of it. Lucas lunged with Power Strike (Lvl 2), his blade slicing into its leg. Critical Hit! 40 DMG. The Behemoth's HP dropped to 460/500. Riley darted in, landing Backstab: 25 DMG, while Elena's Fireball erupted for 50 DMG, scorching its side.
But the Behemoth wasn't slow. It swung a claw, catching Lucas off-guard. -25 HP. His HP fell to 125/150, the pain searing through his ribs. Sara's aura kicked in, restoring 10 HP, but the fight was relentless. The Behemoth summoned Glitch Minions, Lvl 3—three rats with 40/40 HP—complicating the battle.
"Focus the minions!" Greg shouted, blocking another blow. Lucas pivoted, cleaving through a minion with Power Strike: 38 DMG, dropping it instantly. Riley and the Rogue dispatched the others, but the Behemoth's HP was still at 385/500. Elena's next Fireball missed, the heat sizzling past Lucas's ear.
"Flank it!" Riley yelled. Lucas nodded, using Sprint to circle left while she went right. They struck simultaneously—Power Strike: 42 DMG and Backstab: 28 DMG—reducing it to 315/500. The Behemoth roared, its claw grazing Riley for -15 HP. Sara healed her, but the strain showed on her face.
The fight dragged on, a brutal dance of steel and magic. Lucas's stamina waned, his swings growing sluggish. The Behemoth's HP hovered at 150/500 when Greg took a critical hit—-50 HP, dropping him to 20/100. "Finish it!" he gasped. Elena unleashed a Triple Fireball (Lvl 4), dealing 120 DMG, and Lucas drove his sword into its chest with a final Power Strike: 45 DMG. The Behemoth shattered into pixels, its roar fading.
Quest Completed: Defeat the Glitch Behemoth. Reward: 500 XP, Rare Loot Drop, 100 Credits. Party Bonus: +50 XP.
Level Up! You are now Level 4. +15 HP, +5 MP, +1 Skill Point.
A chest materialized, yielding a Rare Gauntlets (+15 Defense) for Lucas and Glitch Core Fragment for the party. His HP stabilized at 130/165, and he assigned his skill point to Shield Bash (Lvl 1). Riley grinned, pocketing her share. "Not bad for a Level 3."
A new System alert pinged: Global Event Unlocked: The Glitch Surge. Prepare for Escalation. Lucas exchanged a glance with Riley. The grind was far from over.