GLITCH

A WARM Welcome

SHORELINE, Silver Island

Monday, November 22, 2500

1:20pm

"200% Burst Shot."

A huge explosion came from my gloves and blasted the golem away from our sights. All of them are shocked to see that huge lump of clay blown up. Well, I'm surprised too to be honest.

"…I guess I miscalculated its output…" I said while scratching my head.

"What the–?"

"How is that possible!? M-my golem…? Just in one strike…?"

Sorry about that lady summoner. Well, it's partly your fault that I resorted to violence though.

While the three of them are still astonished upon seeing such destructive power, I cleared my throat and begun introducing myself.

"It's an honor to meet three members of Terra Guild", I said as I lowered my head. "My name is Rylai Lux; nice to meet you three."

The summoner and the leader of the group regained her composure and greeted me. This time, politely (well it's really impolite for someone to be greeted with a golem's assault right?).

"I apologize for jumping into conclusions; allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lyca—"

I cut the conversation after sensing a presence. I directed my eyes towards the direction of the forest where we passed through earlier.

"There's one…two…fourteen…seventeen…twenty of them huh?"

"Is something wrong Miss Lux?"

"Indeed. I'll cut to the chase; it seems that some of those infected are fast approaching. It's better for us to split up and regroup later. I'll be the bait so that the three of you go back to your base. I'll meet you on that mountain", I said while pointing a mountaintop a few kilometers south of us. "If possible, just venture towards the rendezvous point at night."

"What…? Have you forgotten that once they put a scratch on you, you'll eventually become one of them!?"

"The three of you don't know how to deal minimal damage to your opponents, and I'm pretty sure that neither of you can hurt your comrades who were now under a curse right?"

The three of them have grim expression painted on their faces.

"…this is one logical option. Very well, let's meet at night", Jerry, though reluctant, agreed.

The three of them went off; as for me…

"Well then, I should give those fellows a heartwarming welcome."

I prepared my gloves and confronted those infected. I blasted them with five percent of my tech gloves' power output and swiftly ran away. They chased me all the way to the south of my previous location.

It wasn't that easy to shake them off though.

"Wah…? Someone just used [Beam] from me. Does that mean that these guys can cast skills in that state?"

Various other skills were launched against me. I did my best to evade all of them; I might get infected even though it isn't a close quarter attack from those fellows. I did some acrobatic movements to aid me in evasion. Who would've thought that our PE class lessons can be applied in combat?

I'm finally out of the forest and came upon a shallow river. Seeing that it's been 20 minutes after we split up, I guess it's time for me to use my [Astral Form].

The ones who were chasing me were dumbfounded to lose their sights on me. I observed them, and to my surprise, one of those infected had his eyes glowed red and started to speak.

"W…What j…j…just ha…happened…? W…Where…is that girl...? H…How did she disappeared? A...All of y…you, g…go back to t…the c…c…city."

All of them followed the order and started going back.

This isn't good. The one who infects these guys has intelligence. If this can't be stopped, the one behind this mess might figure out of a method that can let them spread the infection to the mainland. After recollecting my thoughts and observing them for hours, I'm finally sure that this island has become a "test site".

"Who's responsible for this?"

I continued my investigation and went to the place that is literally screaming "I'm a dreadful place!" if you see it. Dark, swirling clouds above; the forest with a heavy atmosphere – why does this kind of setting is common if we're talking about evil forest anyway?

As I went to the forest, a crooked voice resonated inside my head. Is this some form of magic?

"DON'T YOU DARE ENTER THE FOREST OF THE FORGOTTEN; YOU SHALL REGRET IT!"

Yeah right…as if I'm going to listen to that.

As I walked towards the center of the forest, I found something interesting.

"It seems that my efforts aren't wasted."

The one I'm seeing right now, is a glowing red crystal. Somehow, it's alive—

"I SEE THAT YOU'VE COME SO FAR HUMAN. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU COULD GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE."

—and is able to speak. Able to converse with a supposed-to-be lifeless thing is awkward, let alone the words it spoke just now are corny, just like those F-rated movies I watched before. One thing's for certain though…

This talking trash isn't the crystal I'm looking for.

This one might resemble that blood crystal but there's one trait of the one I've been searching for that is absent in this one. I didn't have the aura of death. That Cassiopeia has that trait until she was beaten to death.

So, my efforts this time is for naught—

"Whoa there…"

Absorbed by my thoughts, I was almost whipped by a huge vine. So it truly is the source of this brainwashing huh? It also seems like it can manipulate any living being, whether it be plants, animals, or even humans. How do I confirm it?

"Including this talking crystal, it's one versus four huh… To be honest I'm not fond into battling."

As I took a peek on their status, I could tell that these three enemies I'm facing right now aren't pushovers – Poison Flytraps. They look like a giant version of Venus Flytrap with their roots serving as their feet, and have four vines attached on its back.

Poison Flytraps lv. 700

Plant Monster

STR: 128

DEX: 960

CON: 200

INT: 230

Condition:

Mutated – Exposed to unnatural aura, it uprooted and became a monster

"I need to hurry, or else those guys might reprimand me for being late", I mumbled as I prepared myself for a boss fight.