Lucas adjusted the Rare Gauntlets (+15 Defense) on his wrists, the cool metal a stark contrast to the sweat beading on his brow. The dungeon's crystalline walls still echoed with the Behemoth's final roar as he and the party emerged into the glitchy outskirts of New Haven. The System interface flickered in his vision, reflecting his latest gains:
Name: Lucas Reed
Level: 4
Class: Warrior
HP: 165/165
MP: 55/55
Skills: Sprint (Lvl 1), Power Strike (Lvl 2), Shield Bash (Lvl 1)
Skill Points: 0
Quests: None Active
The air buzzed with a new intensity, the Global Event: The Glitch Surge alert lingering like a storm cloud. Riley wiped her dagger clean, her eyes narrowing at the horizon. "That surge warning means trouble. System's ramping up—more spawns, tougher enemies."
Greg, still nursing a bruised shoulder despite Sara's healing, nodded grimly. "Last surge hit a Safe Zone in the east. Lost half the Players there. We need to fortify or move."
Before they could strategize, the ground trembled, and a new System panel materialized:
Global Event Initiated: The Glitch Surge. Objective: Survive the Escalation Wave for 2 hours or eliminate the Surge Core. Reward: 1000 XP, Epic Gear Drop, 200 Credits. Penalty for Failure: Permanent Safe Zone Lockout. Time Limit: 1:59:58. Accept? Y/N
Lucas exchanged a tense look with Riley. "Permanent lockout? That's game over for the Safe Zone." He hit Y, and the quest locked in. The party tightened their formation as the sky above New Haven darkened, pixelated streaks raining down like digital ash.
The first wave hit fast. Glitch Stalkers, Lvl 5—sleek, shadowy figures with 80/80 HP—materialized from the glitches, their claws glowing with a sickly green hue. Greg activated Taunt (Lvl 2), drawing three toward his shield, while Lucas charged with Power Strike (Lvl 2). His blade sliced through a Stalker's leg, Critical Hit! 45 DMG, dropping it to 35/80 HP. Riley's Backstab: 30 DMG finished it, and the group fell into a rhythm.
But the surge escalated. A second wave brought Glitch Enforcers, Lvl 6—armored brutes with 120/120 HP—and a pulsating Surge Core Fragment (200/200 HP) appeared atop a crystalline spire. Elena's Fireball (Lvl 4) splashed against an Enforcer for 50 DMG, but the Core pulsed, spawning two more Stalkers. "We need to hit that Core!" Lucas shouted, his HP dipping to 140/165 after a Stalker's claw grazed him.
Sara's Healing Aura (Lvl 3) kept the party alive, restoring 15 HP to Lucas, but the pressure mounted. He activated Shield Bash (Lvl 1), stunning an Enforcer for 2 seconds and dealing 20 DMG. The Rogue slipped past, planting a Poison Trap (Lvl 3) that chipped away at its HP. Riley targeted the Core, her daggers flashing—Critical Hit! 40 DMG—but it retaliated with a shockwave, -20 HP to all nearby. Lucas's vision blurred as his HP fell to 120/165.
"Focus fire on the Core!" Greg bellowed, his shield cracking under an Enforcer's blow. Elena unleashed a Triple Fireball, scorching the Core for 120 DMG, while Lucas and Riley closed in. He swung with Power Strike (Lvl 2), 50 DMG, and Riley's final stab dropped it to 0/200. The Core exploded in a burst of light, and the spawn rate slowed.
Event Update: Surge Core Destroyed. Remaining Time: 1:32:45. Bonus Objective Unlocked: Locate and Destroy All Surge Core Fragments (1/3).
The party caught their breath, looting Glitch Essence and 50 Credits from the debris. Lucas's XP bar ticked to 650/400, triggering another level-up:
Level Up! You are now Level 5. +15 HP, +5 MP, +1 Skill Point.
He allocated the point to Shield Bash (Lvl 2), boosting its damage to 25 DMG and stun duration to 3 seconds. The gauntlets' defense felt more solid now, a lifeline against the chaos. But the System wasn't done. Two more Core Fragments pulsed on the map, one in the downtown ruins, the other near the old docks.
"Two more to go," Riley said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion in her eyes. "We can't let this lock us out."
The party pressed on, the downtown ruins a gauntlet of collapsing buildings and Glitch Sappers, Lvl 4 that detonated for -30 HP on contact. Lucas tanked a blast, his HP dropping to 100/180, but Sara's healing pulled him back. They destroyed the second Core, earning another 500 XP and Rare Boots (+10 Agility) for Lucas.
At the docks, the final Core was guarded by a Glitch Sentinel, Lvl 7 (300/300 HP), its blade-like arms slicing through the air. The fight was brutal—Greg went down to 0/115 HP, revived by Sara's Emergency Heal (Lvl 4), and Lucas took a -40 HP hit, leaving him at 80/180. A coordinated assault—Power Strike (Lvl 2): 55 DMG, Elena's Fireball: 60 DMG, and Riley's Backstab: 35 DMG—brought it down, and the last Core shattered.
Event Completed: The Glitch Surge. All Surge Core Fragments Destroyed. Reward: 1000 XP, Epic Gear Drop, 200 Credits.
Level Up! You are now Level 6. +15 HP, +5 MP, +1 Skill Point.
An Epic Chestplate (+20 Defense, +10 HP) dropped into Lucas's inventory. He equipped it, feeling invincible yet wary. The Safe Zone remained secure, but a new alert loomed:
System Update: World Expansion Initiated. New Regions Unlocked. Prepare for the Next Phase.
Lucas met Riley's gaze, the weight of the unknown settling in. The grind was evolving, and he was ready to face it.