The battlefield was silent now, except for the crackling remains of corrupted data.
Six Glitchwolves lay dismantled, their jagged code flickering and dissolving into pixelated mist. Kaede wiped a streak of purple static-blood from his cheek, the heat from his blades still lingering in his hands.
[System Update: Level 2 Achieved]
[Stat Boost Unlocked: Reflex +2 | Sync Rate: 98.4%]
[New Skill Unlocked: Edge Step]
He blinked as the notifications faded from his vision.
"Leveling up…" he muttered. "It actually feels like leveling up."
Riko twirled one of her pistols and holstered it. "Yeah. Because it is. You get faster. Stronger. More responsive. But you also get closer to syncing."
"Syncing?"
She tapped the air in front of her. Her HUD shimmered, showing a percentage bar similar to his.
[Sync Rate: 94.1%]
"When sync hits 100%, your avatar and real body are completely linked. You feel everything. Pain, exhaustion, emotion. Even death."
Kaede narrowed his eyes. "So… people can die here?"
"Not just can. Do."
For a moment, silence hung heavy between them.
Then Riko gestured ahead. "Come on. The trial site's just ahead. If you want out—or answers—you'll need to pass it."
Kaede followed her across a cracked causeway of ancient data stone, the landscape twisting with each step. Trees rendered in wireframe. Shadows behaving like NPCs—looping endlessly in broken animations.
At the center of a circular platform stood a glowing rift, surrounded by glitching statues of long-deleted characters.
[Trial Site: Sector 0 — Echo Chamber]
[Objective: Face Your First Frame]
"Inside is your first trial," Riko said, her tone suddenly serious. "It's personal. It scans your play history, your fears, your weaknesses. And then it makes them real."
Kaede stared at the rift. It pulsed like a heartbeat.
"You've done it?"
"Twice," she said. "And I barely made it through either time."
He nodded once.
No fear.
Only instinct.
"I'm ready."
He stepped into the rift.
The world shattered—
And the trial began.