GLITCH

Moments Before Rylai's Coming

MAIDEN’S SHROUD CITY

6:00 PM

“Tch!”

I swing my Tech Sword to Wenn but she was able to morph once again.

Curses! Even my Static Discharges are now useless against her. I thought it would work just like before. I should’ve hit her for real when I got the chance. Damn it!

A strong gust of wind started to brew from her. It’s strong enough to blow away all the rubble of the destroyed buildings and homes.

She became this strong… It seems that my training isn’t enough.

No…

It’s because I have a weak resolve.

If only I didn’t hesitate.

It’s starting to become darker too. The night’s enveloping the city and it’s a new moon. It’s bad for me if my vision will be reduced thanks to the darkness of the night. Even now, I’m squinting my eyes just to see Wenn’s whereabouts. This is ridiculous. Edward’s skill is the sole one that’s illuminating, albeit faintly (it’s high up in the sky, trapping the Griffin).

“…Sven…”

“What…?”

That voice…! That is…!

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Sven?”

I found myself in the same scene. It’s the same place where I first met her.

The grass gently bends as the wind serves as the musical melody for their synchronized dance. It’s near my grandparents’ home. The gentle wind came from my best friend I knew and adored during my childhood. She’s the one that uprooted me from the sorry soil of sadness. It’s Wenn, the Aero Morph.

“Where am I? Don’t tell me it’s an illusion skill!? Damn, I’ve been careless!”

“You dumb!”

“Ouch!”

Huh? Did she just smack my head?

That’s what she always does whenever I don’t listen to her.

“Ah, that came out of habit. So, how are you now?”

“I… I…!”

“You’re still the crybaby Sven I knew. Well, I did mature though. So, how do I look? Do I look stunning—”

I didn’t hesitate to hug her tight.

“I…! I’m sorry for not being with you when that incident happened! I’m also sorry for not taking care of you when you’re with me all the time! I’m…I’m terribly sorry for not being able to stop the one who manipulated you right now!”

“Aww…you’re always been a good older brother to me, you know? Don’t belittle yourself. Also, it’s not your fault that I died.”

“B-but…!”

“Geez, cut it out. You’re messy right now. You’ll accumulate stress if you keep on crying.”

I withdraw from hugging her, wiped my tears with my arms, and asked her how she made it to this state.

“Uh, well. At first, I was able to move freely after being revived. However… As soon as when I came to, someone cast a great skill upon me and I was entrapped inside my own body. I may be conscious, but I’m not in charge of my body anymore. I… I am also conscious when Grandma Lucy died”, said Wenn with a sorrowful expression on her face as soon as she brought up the topic. “I tried my best to get free from being enslaved but it turns out that I can’t.”

•••

I died, huh?

In the end, the world is still the same for me, even with the world battling against my fellow Glitches. I may be a Glitch, but I didn’t mean any harm to anyone around me. But despite my proclamation that I am harmless, getting bullied, persecuted, and maltreated became my everyday routine. The life I have is the same for eternity if it weren’t for a good family that helped me out. Thanks to them, at the very least I attained what it means to be loved even for a short time.

I cried alone. I sat on the ground of this dark world I’m in, supposedly the final resting place for unfortunate souls, and curled with my head resting atop my knees. It’s my life that may seem to be harmful to those who don’t understand the concept of adaptability. As long as I can eat and sleep as I stay at home, my only home…with the people who cherished me, but unfortunately the world isn’t all candies and pastries. Some people in the city made their final move and ended my life.

I closed my eyes and patiently waited.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on a bed covered with a can-shaped metal thing. That’s what I could think of since I’m still a child back then (I found that it’s something called a cylindrical canister or something like that). The door opened (the hatch rather), so I got curious and looked at the surrounding. I found a man right next to me, wearing a pair of glasses, and pure white long-sleeved, jacket-like clothes (a lab coat), smirking.

As someone who’s still a kid during that time, I got frightened at the sight of him and tried to get out of this room and escape but I was grabbed by the neck and got pinned to the bed by the man. He immediately removed his hand, freeing me from choking.

Before I could utter a single word, the man burrowed his hand right through my chest.

“Ack! Guhhh…”

Am I going to die again?

But I didn’t.

Instead, some red substance started enveloping me and I’m feeling intense pain and overbearing heat coursing through my body. And then the next thing I know “somebody” other than me is now controlling my body.

“FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU…FWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! The experiment is a success!”

•••

OUTSIDE CRYSTAL CITY

November 16, 2500 (The day when they attack Crystal City)

I remembered the time when I reached Crystal City after years of being desecrated. It’s frustrating to know that I can’t do a thing. But I have no choice. All I could do is to watch myself and this scary Halloween giant figure and what they will do to the city I once loved.

“Oh? What a lovely town.”

Wait, what are you trying to do?

“I can’t wait to see this place in rubbles! Don’t you think so, Carlo?”

“Gwooh…”

“Oh, now that’s what I wanted to know! I know you would agree! That’s a good boy.”

No, are you going to do something bad to the city? No! I won’t let you!

“Oh? I think there’s something inside me hindering my processing. Get out of my mind, la la la la”, the one controlling me sang as she keeps on banging my head with my palm.

I would never allow you to destroy the city I love!

I started to do a tantrum in hopes of hindering the one using me but she’s just ranting, “Tch, what’s wrong with this head? It keeps aching!”

No…does that mean that this place will be destroyed? What should I do?

“Okay! The Glitch gate is now officially open! You go first, big guy.”

“Groor…”

No!

“Guh! What the…? Why am I closing the gate I worked so hard to open? Wake up, me!”

I…I won’t let you!!!

“This brain of mine is so annoying! Let me my job already!”

Gah! She’s too domineering than I am! This is my body, I can’t allow an invader to use my body that freely!

“Tch… Is the one inside me, the original ego of this body trying to take her body back? Hah! Shame on you, you can’t take it back!”

Just how strong is this invader? I need to reclaim what’s right to me, at all cost!

“GAH!”

“IT’S A GLITCH! AHHH!”

The city I once loved became a city engulfed in screams of agony.

I’m sorry…all of you.

Even if I am persecuted by most, some loved me dearly. That’s enough of a reason to protect you in this crisis.

I wonder what happened to Grandma Lucy, Grandpa Duke, and Sven? I hope they’re alright. Their home might be a little far away from here, I can’t ignore the fact that they could be in danger.

“ORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA…!”

Just now, I heard a scream coming from the city. It’s unlike the screams I’ve heard earlier. Then, a crescent-shaped projectile hit the enemy skeleton. It seems that the guy who used that move is doing his best to divert that Glitch’s attention to him (I’ll address him as HIM based on his voice). The skeleton soon followed and I finally saw the one who did the bait.

Eh?

S-Sven…? Is that you? I’m not imagining, right? Right?

IT IS YOU!

There’s no mistaking it. It’s him. Even with a teenage body, I know that it’s you.

He’s grown so much. How I missed him. So he became a Glint as well, just like his grandparents? I’m so proud of you, Sven.

I… I want to be embraced by your arms so badly. I miss you so much, big brother.

“Oh? Is that a new toy I’m seeing?”

No… You’re not going to attack him, right?

I already struggled earlier, and my will is weaker than the invader. I’m sorry, big brother Sven.

“Hah!”

“Grrogh!”

Sven couldn’t do anything if he tried to fight against that skeleton head-on. That is why he used the crescent-shaped projectile again, aiming at the lower part of the legs, near at the base. The foot was knocked, making the skeleton lose its balance and fall to one of its knees. As Sven did that, some Glints are on their way to do their counterattack.

“Aww…poor Carlo. Perhaps, it’s time for me to descend. Wohoo~”

This is bad! Sven, run away! I know you are now stronger than before but please run away! Who knows what this body of mine could do now that it’s enhanced!

“Die, you lot.”

“Huh? Tch!”

The controller used my [Whirlwind] to blow away everyone. But Sven manages to stand his ground. You indeed became stronger Sven.

However, as soon as he saw my face, he turned pale.

“…Wenn?”

I’m sorry for bringing you sorrow Sven. I’m truly sorry.

“Wow! You’re so strong! Then how about this? [Razor Wind]!”

“Guh…”

Due to him losing the grip of his sword, he wasn’t able to react in time. He was able to lift the sword but was blown away.

“Here’s another! And one more! And another one! [Razor Wind]! [Razor Wind]![Razor Wind]![Razor Wind]![Razor Wind]![Razor Wind]! Pfft. Is that all you got, master swordsman?”

All Sven did was defend himself with his sword blocking his body. My [Razor Wind] is a cutting skill. Sven has now sustained a lot of wounds.

Sven…please…get out of here…you’re already…

“Sven! I’m here!”

A woman’s voice? What is his relationship with my brother?

A slender woman appeared, wearing the same coat that the evil doctor has, has a pair of goggles hanging on her neck. Her way of traveling is peculiar. I’m sure that she’s slightly levitating. Is that a skill of hers?

She rushed towards Sven, who’s now wounded but then he quickly reacted and covered her, acting like a shield. He was then blown away, along with additional wounds inflicted on him.

This is…I’ve never been felt such hopelessness in this life, not that I lived long anyway.

While I’m still distressed, the invader of my body started laughing and said with a cheerful voice.

“Oh? He amazed me yet again! To block my attack is no easy feat!”

“…for me to meet a Morph of all places…” the girl Sven just protected murmured.

“Oh? You seem to be resourceful, young lady!”

Just as the invader said that she started to use my [Whirlwind] once again. Thankfully, the lady did something with the use of her gloves that made my body flinch. With that, the swirling gust subsided slowly.

What a relief—look out, lady!

After a growl, the skeleton, now recovered, pummeled its strike to where the lady was supposedly at. A loud banging sound could be heard. The force was so great, some parts of the soil debris flies everywhere.

Seems pleased, the fake started spouting nonsense.

“To think that a lowly human such as you would be able to hit my core. You’re more surprising than that Sven earlier.”

I returned back to my normal form after using [Morph] skill that changed me into the wind.

“So that your true form?”

“Yep! Congratulations on seeing my true forms! Now, your prize would be…death by my hands!”

I raised my head and lifted my arms to the air. Oh, no…please don’t tell me that you’re using the…!?

“Carlo, would you mind attacking her?”

With the permission, her underling, the giant bone, started to move once more and started bombarding the lady with stomps, palm strikes, and weapon attacks. This was for stalling time to cast my other skill!

She was able to evade with her peculiar moves. I sincerely hope that what she’s doing right now to evade all of it would be also save her from my skill.

“'Take this! [Gust Strike Barrage]!”

A barrage of air bullets shoots at her at an insane speed. Perhaps surprised by the timing of the skill, she wasn’t able to change her momentum and just crashed to the ground. Unlike what happened to her, the giant skeleton moved again and was about to end that lady’s life for good.

“[Iron Barrier].”

***

“Thankfully, four individuals came to stop me. I vanished to the thin air as the two higher-ups, the Fallen Vlad, and Cassiopeia appeared to the scene. For some reason who went berserk, then comes Grandma Lucy but…”

“Yes, she perished by the hands of Cassiopeia but was avenged by Rylai.”

“Rylai, huh? So that’s her name?”

“Yes. Her name is Rylai Lux.”

“Then, big brother Sven. What’s the relationship between you two?”

“Nothing. We’re just friends.”

“Heh. Is that so? For me, it seems there’s more to it than meets the eye.”

“N-no! There’s nothing! I swear!”

“You need to control your stuttering if you wanted me to erase my doubts. Ah…”

Wenn started becoming transparent. No, can’t I see her again?

“Wenn!”

“No. It’s fine big brother.”

“Wenn…”

“It seems that I could no longer retain this alternate plane. Farewell, big brother. I hope we see each other in a peaceful…manner…next…time.”

Wenn, with a smiling face, vanished to nothingness. I was left alone on that plane. The place is starting to crumble, and I came back to reality. I look at the now possessed body of Wenn, not moving even an inch. Did Wenn try to reclaim her stolen property back? That’s a relief then.

But that’s just my wish that’ll never become real.

The evil Wenn started moving and shoots [Razor Wind] at me. I did my best to evade it but was then hit twice. I ignored the pain, thinking that Wenn suffered much more than this and that these wounds are mere scratches. I was about to guard and prepare for her next attack when she looked up at the sky.

Curious, I gazed as well, but I’m not seeing anything. Huh?

Isn’t that a person falling from the sky?

What is that one doing? Is…she committing suicide? Wait...

Isn't that...?

"Rylai?"