GLITCH

The Reunion amidst the Chaos

COSME LODGE, Blue Town

Tuesday, November 9, 2500 6:00 PM

After what had happened, Rylai's mood became lighter. Maybe because her anxiety finally let loose, she fell asleep within my grasp after she cried. I put her to bed. It's good to know that her burden she's carrying throughout her life steamed out for good.

Come to think of it…

It's my first time hugging a lady.

"Darn it. It's too hot in here."

I hurriedly went outside Rylai's room, went inside my own room and buried my face on the pillow, still flustered.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHH… what have I done?"

•••

COSME LODGE, Blue Town

Wednesday, November 10, 2500 9:37 AM

The next day, I woke up past my usual wake up time. I feel so refreshed after all that stuff that happened yesterday. The heavy prickling sensation of my heart finally lifted up a bit. Now I've got one more problem to solve; I need to face my fear and apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Array for running away yesterday and most importantly, I want to ask for forgiveness for what had happened to Reme.

After I did the usual stuff like wearing my usual lab coat, a plain black shirt and trousers (you can't expect me to wear nothing for the sake of fan service you morons), I knocked at the door of Sven's room to see if he's awake. We're on the third floor; Sven's is just near the staircase, it's just two rooms away from each other, with mine being the farther one.

"Sven…? Are you there?"

"Ah, yes! I'm coming."

After a few moments, Sven opened the door, wearing a blue long-sleeved polo shirt, with its uppermost button undone; and brown pants. He's wearing the usual shoes, which is so ragged already.

"Let's have our breakfast at the restaurant just across the road shall we?"

"Ah, yeah…! It's fine!" Sven said while diverting his gaze away from me.

Hmm…is Sven alright? He's bright red as a tomato.

"Are you not feeling well Sven? You're red and sweating…perhaps you're having a fever?" I said as I put my right hand to his forehead to check if he's fine.

"I-I-I-I'm perfectly fine! Now let's go and have our breakfast shall we?"

Sven hastily went downstairs.

"Is that so?"

…but my [Soul Read] skill says otherwise.

Sven Fleming

Status: [CHARMED] [INFATUATED]

•••

Sven and I had our fill, and were now walking towards the plaza. We chatted about some various stuff like Sven's everyday life in his home, my usual rambling about glitches, so on and so forth. It was a nice sunny day, but despite the sun appearing its glamorous existence, the chilling winds breezed to my face, and made me remember the past I had with Reme's family when I'm still seven years old. I hope the weather won't change.

But I guess wishes won't be granted that easily.

The sky suddenly grew dark, and a warning came to our watches.

[MADMEN] Glitch

Manifestation in 30 seconds

This Glitch…

I bit my lower lip; I need to control my anger. A dark chapter of my past manifested itself once more. From the sky rained a lot of madmen that may seem human in appearance, but in my eyes, they are disgusting creatures in disguise that needs to be annihilated.

Rylai Lux

RG: 40/999

•••

The sky darkened all of the sudden. I thought that it's just some cloud hiding the sun. So I hurriedly went outside to get the laundry we hanged to dry. But as soon as I got out, my G-watch suddenly gave me a warning that gives me the shivers.

"Locke, what's happening?" my wife Lyn rushed to my side.

"Lyn, THAT Glitch is back, please evacuate quickly. Luckily, this place is just near from the bunker's entrance, I'll escort you from here. After that, I'll help the other Glints to fend off these wretched beings."

"Will papa beat bad guys?"

Behind Lyn, our little boy appeared. He's Blake, Reme's younger brother; 7 years old. He has the same features as I do, with his eye color that inherited his mother's. He's wearing a plain white shirt and brown shorts and a pair of wooden slippers.

"Yes Blake, after I send the two of you to a safer place, I'll beat them okay? So be a good boy."

"Okay papa!"

"But…what about you dear?" she said while worrying about me and hugged me out of fear.

"Don't worry Lyn; I'll be back before you know it", I caressed her hair and kissed her forehead to comfort her.

"Let's go Lyn, Blake."

"Yes!"

3…

2…

1…

[Madmen] Glitch

Manifested

We started to flee while we keep hearing a lot of painful screams. Along the way, corpses ripped to shred were in display while their innards completely shown out. I heard multiple pleads of help. I really want to help them but I want to protect my beloved wife and son. I can't afford to lose anyone again.

Madmen, as the name implies, are beings that resembles a person in every detail, but they have no gender. They appear buck naked but they don't have the distinguishing part that would've make them indifferent from us humans – reproductive organs; they mercilessly attack anyone in their way. This tragic event is almost impossible to fend off. This Glitch, if I'm not mistaken, is recorded by AGA as a medium-level threat. But this time, with so many madmen manifested, I would say that we need to have at least a party of seven Lieutenant-class G-units for this town to survive. I'm just a Sergeant-class, a level below than the required class.

We're two meters away from the bunker when we halted our running and hid on a corner of a building as we saw the bunker's entrance is assaulted by a horde of madmen. The glints are desperately fighting against these freaks, but then again, the horde is almost unstoppable and slowly overwhelming them. One after the other, they died at the hands of the madmen.

"GAH…!"

"N-No, please save me! ACK…!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…!"

Tch. This is a one-sided s*******r. I told my wife to cover our little boy's eyes from this glimpse of hell itself. I bit my lips, a sign of regret and repulse. I need to think of something. How can I make my family go in the bunker amidst all of these? No, I already think one, but this would be reckless. I don't care, as long as my family is safe.

"Lyn, please listen to me. I'll make a path, so just run as fast as you can", I said while still not lowering my guard.

"What are you saying dear? You'll come with us to the bunker!" my wife exclaimed.

Ignoring her plea, I just kissed her forehead and my son's. Confused, my son asked.

"Papa, what will you do?"

"Your papa's going to fight the bad guys and make a path, so let's protect your mother okay?"

"…yes papa. I will!"

"But…dear! I can't afford to lose you!"

"I know Lyn; neither do I. So I'll protect you and keep both of you safe", I tapped her head lightly and put a gentle smile on my face.

"I'll never do my past blunder ever again. As soon as I taunt those madmen, carry Blake and run as fast as you can."

I sprinted towards the horde; leaving my family behind, praying for my safety.

"Oy ya creeps! I'm here! This is my revenge for my late son!"

I approached three madmen and slashed their heads with swift effort. This isn't enough for me to forget the suffering of my beloved wife weeping every night.

"I'll kill you all… [Taunt]…!"

I used my [Taunt] skill to lure these monsters to me. It's a success, and the horde is now approaching me viciously. This is totally overwhelming for me, but I must do this for my family to live!

Four of them attacked me from my right side, and another four on the left.

"DON'T YOU DARE UNDERESTIMATE ME YOU SCOUNDRELS. [s***h Spin]…!"

I unleashed a skill that lets me spin and s***h that hacked the ones who attacked me. As for those in front of me, I slayed them one by one; I cut the neck of the first madman charging at me. A couple of them tried to grapple me but I managed to s***h their arms and eventually met the same fate as their fallen companion. This time I need to draw their attention to me and give my wife and son an opportunity to run away. I did a run and s***h tactic to keep my distance from the hoard. Damn it, even with this method, it's clear as day that I'm at a huge disadvantage. The madmen were getting closer and I'm running out of options.

This is the end eh? Then I shall make this a grand finale!

I changed my tactic and charged towards them. I'll kill some of them in exchange for my life!

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGH…!"

"STOP IT…!"

What!? Why didn't they run towards the bunker!

I flinched upon hearing my son's loud voice, but more than that, he used the same skill I used to lure these beings.

It's the [Taunt] skill.

The madmen were taunted, and raced towards my son. Damn…

"Your opponent is me!" I roared as I slashed a couple of madmen left behind and pursuit the wave of monsters rushing.

I just said that I'll never make a blunder once more. But then I failed again.

I gazed at my son being hugged by my wife as the madmen are about to assault them. I realized once more that I'm a useless, pathetic father. With my [Taunt] skill still on cooldown, I could only watch them from afar.

I couldn't protect Reme and he died because of my weakness. If only I was able to fend off those monsters…he would've been with us and laughing at each other. And now, the same scene is about to happen.

"Blake…! Lyn…!"

I screamed out their names while crying, reaching my hand towards the two people I can't possibly live without.

At that exact moment, I heard a voice…

"...Burst Shot, 70%!"

In a brief moment, some kind of force blows away those rampant bastards. I looked upon the source of the voice. Lo and behold, in front of my wife and son, is the other member of our family whom we loved dearly; wearing a lab coat and hanging on her neck is my late son's goggles. She's also wearing some black gloves and a pair of shoes which I know Reme and her tinker in the past. The only difference in her appearance is her glowing silver eyes. Along with her coat, her black hair and tanned skin were stained in blood, probably from those unfortunate madmen who were now lying a meter from her, with their upper half blasted to nothingness.

"Don't you dare hurt my family…" she said with a stern look on her face.

She totally has grown well. I looked at her and muttered the words as I'm crying from happiness.

"Did you see that Reme? Rylai protected us. So please watch over all of us from heaven."

I picked up my sword and rushed towards my family that I wouldn't have thought to be stitched back again. Even Lyn got surprised, but then stood up and hugged Rylai with tears flowing from her eyes. I embraced the two of them and give a holler to my little Blake to hug his long lost big sister. With the three of us hugging her, Rylai burst into tears and while hugging us back.

The once shattered Array family has now reunited.