GLITCH

Havoc and a Mantle Switch Mode?

SILVER ISLAND

Monday, November 22, 2500

1:47pm

"YOU CUR...! STOP MOVING ALREADY!"

"I don't follow orders from a stupid talking crystal."

"What did you say!?"

At the start of the battle the three Poison Flytraps approached me aggressively. Their vines are greatly coordinated. If I evade such attacks halfheartedly, the battle might end up against my side. Worse case, I might become of this talking crystal's lackeys.

"HAH! NO MATTER HOW AGILE YOU ARE, IN THE END YOU'RE JUST A HUMAN BEING! LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN STILL EVADE THIS!"

Just then, the whips became more violent, and the area around us is ruthlessly destroyed by each whip – land or the trees alike. If this won't stop, I'll be in peril. I must try and destroy this crystal immediately.

With a flip, I evaded a vine whip that came in a straight line, touched it with my left hand, and within that moment I launched a new attack that I kept for a while. After seeing that this enemy could use the whip as a shield, this technique would suffice rather than my Burst Shot.

"… Focus."

Focus, as what the name suggests, is a move that releases intense damage on the area that I touched. It's basically a point-blank range Burst Shot.

"WHAT JUST HAPPENED? YOU BASTARD… DIE ALREADY!"

I chuckled as a form of taunt and said a neat word "no", with a smirk.

I swiftly evaded and at the same time attack the rampaging vines. Though I taunted the enemy with confidence, evading the vines isn't easy. I wasn't able to perfectly dodge all attacks; the pattern is becoming less and less recognizable – I got a lot of scratches and bruises. I can't even use my Focus since I can't put my palm to those violent vines or use my Burst to hit the crystal for the vines are sturdy enough to remain unscathed after being hit with 300% firepower.

I'm running out of options…or not.

"I guess I have no choice but to use it."

I put away my gloves and dashed towards the crystal.

The talking crystal scoffed and said, "HMPH! IN THE END, HUMAN BEINGS ARE IMBECILES. I WOULD'VE WANTED TO MAKE YOU MY PUPPET BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE; JUST DIE NOW."

"…you talk too much for something that isn't a living being to begin with."

"!?WHAT'S THIS? PUT IT AWAY FROM ME!"

I stick my other invention, battery bomb. Well, it just works like C4s out there. However, this isn't made by utilizing gunpowder; it's the power source of my tech gloves and boots that I already used and are about to be disposed since it's already unstable. However, this mischievous mind of mine wanted to use grenades like in the action movies.

"Have a nice explosion there", I said as I used my tech boots to put some distance between us. The next thing that happened is a loud explosion and a sphere of condensed electrical energy engulfing the crystal.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

Welp, at least the danger is no longer lingering in this place.

Or so I thought.

"[Death] Mantle attack mode activated. Enemy with strong energy is emerging."

What? What's this voice in my head saying?

•••

I experienced something unexpected after fighting with Cassiopeia.

I was panting about; no energy left. As I am about to lose my consciousness...

"Gurk! My nose…"

Eh?

Where is this place? Don't tell me…I died and this is the afterlife!?

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

A painful slap hit my nape.

"Shut up will you?"

"Yeowch! What was that for? Eh? Wait, you're…?"

I could never imagine this scenario I'm in right now. In front of me is a doppelganger of some sort. I'm in a space surrounded by white walls, ceiling and even the floor.

Come to think of it, isn't this like the first time I got my Mantle?

"It's been a while, vessel of [Death]. For you to come here, it just means that you overused your Mantle and made your body strained."

"Wait, does that mean, overusing a Mantle's power will bring you back here? And for what purpose is this for?"

"Don't jump to conclusions yet you dumbass."

This doppelganger…

He cleared her throat and started her explanation.

"Your Mantle is a special case you see. This Mantle of yours is ever-changing, thanks to a passive skill linked to it. That'll be all I could tell you for now. Putting that aside, it seems that your Mantle recognized your fatigue everytime you use it."

"…that means?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"That means that you're Mantle is on Switch Mode – depending on the situation, your Mantle will adapt. You can't also use Limit Break as of now. Well then, hurry and wake up already; you're acquaintances are all worried you know? Now then as your Guardian, I shall have you return."

G-guardian… What is she talking about?

The next thing I knew, I'm lying on a bed.

•••

"[Death] Mantle attack mode activated. Enemy with strong energy is emerging."

What?

"The skill [Death Scythe] is currently accessible."

Wait, only that one skill is accessible!? How about the others? I was able to use [Astral Body] earlier; how come I can't use it now? Is this because of that mode switch or whatever it is called? I can't even appraise my own status…this Mantle is becoming troublesome.

As I'm still warped by my thoughts, the three people from that prestigious guild came to the scene.

"Hey, are you alright!? There are a lot of tremors so we came here!"

"Ah, I'm fine. This is good timing, help me out", I responded.

"Of course we will! We will end this and save our companions!"

The tremors never subsided, as the earth rumbles wildly, the crystal which should've been destroyed earlier merged with the mountains and formed a Colossal Earth Golem with that crystal serving as its energy source. After transforming to such state, a loud shriek is unleashed – that alone uprooted the trees in five meter radius and had us all blown away.

I should've wreck it while it's still transforming. Silly me.