Chapter 17: I Can unlock the Magime

Three days and one week were set before our departure toward the Khaterinth Mountains, where the fourth spawn of Niobeorth awaited us.

In that time, we had only one goal: train. Push ourselves as hard as we could. Test our limits. Improve our stats. Not just to keep up, but to survive.
This wasn’t just about readiness. It was about leveling up. Preparing for the worst.

I’m already Level 71, which, by most standards, is extremely high. And there’s a reason for that.

Like many other players when entering a new game we started from the very beginning, level 1.

It’s because of my glitching ability. A flaw in the system, my shortcut to power.
Despite this being the real world, the system still treats us like we’re inside a video game. Stats, levels, magic, classes, it’s all coded. And somehow, I’ve learned to bend that code.

Back at the Dungeon of Bones, I was only Level 2.
The boss? It was Level 65.
We never stood a chance. Not realistically.

But then again… I’m not exactly normal.

My glitch saved the day. Not only can I unlock impossible spells, but I can even level up other players in seconds.
I essentially ran a cheat code through raw willpower.

Because of that, we’ve gained a real advantage:
The warriors got their magic back. The Players got stronger in record time. Our survival rate increased dramatically.

And yet… only two people seem to truly support us player: the Queen and Katarina.

Everyone else?
They still treat us like ticking time bombs. Like outsiders.
Like threats.

They stare. They whisper. Some avoid eye contact altogether. They talk behind our backs.

I get it now. It’s not just paranoia, it’s trauma. Word’s gotten out about what happened during the early days.

Players killed other players.
Players betrayed each other.
Players sacrificed hostages.
Others simply… cowardly ran away.

And as if that wasn’t enough, two things made us even more hated.

The first? Terrence and his gang.
Their constant dark humor and cocky attitude are fun in a raid lobby, but here? In a world where if you die, you stay dead? It rubbed everyone the wrong way.
Even though their combat skills are top-tier, their personalities are the biggest reason why we aren’t taken seriously.

Especially after the stunt both I and Terrence pulled yesterday.
Yeah, it proved we could hold our own… but it also left a bad impression. One that lingers.

This is not a game. Not anymore.

The second reason?
Is still Me.

Or more specifically, my reason for coming here.

"Coin over character."
That’s what the Queen said to me.

She’s not wrong. At first, I only came here for money. I didn’t know we were actually being transported to a real world. I didn’t know the risks. The stakes.

But things have changed.
Now I have a different purpose: to Find my friend and they out of this world so we can find a way back home.

Still, the champions and the warriors continue their planning sessions, without us.
I understand it, sure. They’re native to Ashalondaria. They know the terrain. The politics. The creatures.

But it still stings to be excluded.
Especially since they let her in.

Weiss Shi. The Assassin of Life.

Unlike us, she’s earned their trust. The Queen, the Kingdom, the warriors, they all look at her differently. She’s a player, yes… but not like the rest of us.

She was the one who defeated the first spawn of Niobeorth.

And she didn’t brag. Didn’t boast.
She was silent. Deadly. Focused.
She didn’t need to talk, her actions did it for her.

The Queen holds her to high standards. Even speaks highly of her. But she still told me this,

"You are not here to judge.
Everyone must be treated as an ally.
Because this world will not survive if we stay divided."

She’s right.
But it’s complicated.

Because I have history with Weiss. Even if it’s just for one day.

I don’t know if she still hates me.
But I wouldn’t blame her if she did.
I was the one who cut her mask in half, forcing her to reveal her face in front of everyone. She always kept it hidden and I ruined that.

What shocked me most, though, was realizing her magic is still locked.

That means she fought the spawn without it.
She was under-leveled. Outmatched.
And yet she still won.

Call me impressive.

If she regains her magic, she could become unstoppable.

The Queen asked me to help her. To break the spell that’s suppressing her power.

But every time I get near her, she acts like I don’t exist.

So now, I’m here.
In the Hall of Embers, doing what I can.

I’m training with Terrence and the others. Experimenting. Testing. Pushing myself.

Trying to blend my Magime with my Dangatana.
Forging something new. Something stronger.

But it’s not without setbacks.

Yesterday, I had to ask Katarina to repair my Dangatana, again.
The hole I blasted through the wall with my makeshift fusion of Nova Bloom and blade energy proved… reckless.

That blow nearly shattered the weapon from the inside.

So now I’m focusing on control.

Unleashing power, but holding back just enough that it doesn’t destroy me. Or my weapon.

Because once we enter those mountains, we won’t get another chance.

We either win together…
or die apart.

While I was training with Terrence in the Hall of Embers, trying to perfect my strikes without blowing another hole in the wall, the heavy wooden doors creaked open.

Weiss Shi walked in.

I immediately froze mid-swing, lowering my Dangatana as my eyes locked on her.
Was this it?
Had she finally decided to put our differences aside, so I could help her unlock her magic?

I held my breath for a moment. But as soon as she caught a glimpse of me, her expression didn’t change. She just turned around… and walked out.

Terrence didn’t waste a second.

"Damn!" he laughed, slapping my back with his sparring glove. "Bro just got hit with that instant no. Man didn’t even open his mouth and still got rejected!"

I rolled my eyes. "Knock it off."

"I’m just sayin’," he smirked. "You’ve been lookin’ at her like you wanna duel her and date her at the same time."

In the background, Barnaby muttered, "Someone got that emotionally fatal blow," while Benson cracked up beside him.

"Yeah yeah, y’all are hilarious," I said, brushing off the sweat from my forehead. "If y’all wanna help, maybe you could tell the Queen’s servants to stop harassing me about her. They’re on my case every hour."

"Just do it already," Michael said with a shrug. "Break the spell, get it over with. Then we can finally focus on the mountain thing and not you getting ghosted by a ninja girl."

"You guys don’t understand," I muttered, more to myself. "They keep pushing me to help her, but she doesn’t even look at me. I can’t force it."

"Then stop being a [BEEP] and go talk to her," Terrence said, deadpan, pointing toward the door. "C’mon. Grow some [BEEP]."

I sighed, shook my head, and turned to leave.

"He’s gonna do it," Barnaby said dramatically, pretending to wipe a tear. "Our little glitch boy is becoming a man."

Right as I reached the door, Dennis chimed in:

"Ey mate, if ya screw it up, jus’ tell her you got [BEEP] with a [BEEP] and that it was all a big [BEEEEEEEP] misunderstanding!"

Everyone paused.

"…What?" I blinked.

"Don’t look at me," said Michael. "I only caught like four words and two vowels."

"Just go!" Terrence shouted, already laughing.

I didn’t wait any longer. I pushed open the doors and stepped out of the Hall.

Time to stop dodging this.
Time to face Weiss Shi.

Whether she wanted my help or not—this needed to be settled.

I ran through the stone halls, the echo of my footsteps bouncing off the walls as I chased after Weiss Shi.

But as I turned a corner too fast, I crashed into someone.

"Ah—!"

We both stumbled back slightly. I caught her by the shoulders before either of us hit the ground.

"Y-Ysanthe? I—sorry, I didn’t see you."

She steadied herself and smiled softly. "No, I’m the one who should apologize. I wasn’t watching where I was going."

There was a brief silence between us before she looked down, her expression turning a little solemn.

"…I’m sorry I haven’t volunteered to fight with you all," she said quietly. "I know everyone’s risking their lives. And I’m not doing anything to help with that."

I shook my head. "No. It’s better this way."

Her eyes met mine, surprised.

"At least this way, I don’t have to worry about you being in danger. You’re here, safe in the kingdom—and that matters more to me than you swinging a sword or casting a spell on the front lines."

She looked down again, this time with a faint smile. "Thank you… That means more than you know."

"What are you up to right now, anyway?" I asked.

"I’ve been helping in the town," she said. "There are still a lot of people who need healing, food, and support. Especially the villagers rescued from the last battle."

"Good," I nodded. "I’m glad you’re doing okay."

But even as I smiled, something tugged at the back of my mind. A detail that didn’t sit quite right.

Ysanthe… was the only one whose magic hadn’t been locked away by Niobeorth’s curse.
And I didn’t unlock it for her.

She still had her abilities from the start. Like the curse just… skipped over her entirely.

I almost asked. The words were right there, on the tip of my tongue—
But I caught a glimpse of Weiss Shi turning down a corridor just ahead.

"Sorry, we’ll talk later!"

Without waiting for her response, I sprinted past and chased after Weiss Shi once more.

I couldn’t let her walk away again.