All Chapters of Aetherborne Infinte Glitch: Chapter 1
- Chapter 8
8 chapters
Chapter 1: The void in the soul
The tattered curtains of the small apartment flickered in the stale breeze of an air conditioner that had seen better decades. On the scarred wooden table sat a small, leather-bound volume that pulsed with a faint, rhythmic amber glow. It was a [Cipher Tome], the lowest tier of its kind—an F-rank instructional manual for a spell called [Ignis Spark]. To most, it was a joke of a skill, a flickering ember compared to the roaring infernos of the elite. To Axel, however, it was the sum of a dead father’s inheritance and five years of grueling, soul-crushing labor in the city’s scrap-yards.Axel stared at the book, his reflection caught in the polished surface of the table. He had been a scholar once, or at least he was on the path to becoming one before the "Cataclysm" shattered the world’s infrastructure. He knew the math. He had calculated the risks. If he didn't awaken naturally by twenty-five, the chances of his biology spontaneously manifesting a mana-gate dropped to nearly zero. T
Chapter 2: The Mask Of The Mediocre
The downtown district was a sprawling labyrinth of steel and Axel, built to house the millions of refugees who had fled the "Unsafe Zones." The Awakened Center was its heart—a massive, obsidian-glass spire where the new elite traded in the currency of monster parts.As Axel walked through the lobby, he saw the tiers of society on full display. Wealthy scions in enchanted silk robes brushed past battle-scarred veterans carrying jagged, glowing swords. He kept his head down, looking every bit the desperate "bottom-feeder" he was supposed to be.He reached the registration desk. The receptionist, a woman whose boredom seemed practiced, didn't even look up as she handed him the forms. "Name, age, previous occupation, and bank details for Shard deposits. Testing is in Hall B."A few minutes later, Axel stood in a reinforced chamber. Behind a thick pane of enchanted glass sat three proctors—two men and a woman, all wearing the silver pins of C-rank hunters."Step to the mark, Mr. Jetters,"
Chapter 3: The Infinite Forge
Axel stepped away from the green exit crystal of the Silverback Grove, the air still thick with the scent of ozone and burnt fur. He had a choice: leave now and return to the safety of his apartment, or push the boundaries of his newfound reality. The idea of leaving felt like a betrayal of the momentum surging through his veins. He didn’t want to cause a scene at the entrance by immediately re-entering the Grove—dungeon records were tracked, and a solo hunter clearing an F-rank dungeon in twenty minutes was a flashing red light to the Association.Instead, he moved to the farthest corner of the boss chamber, hidden behind a cluster of massive, phosphorescent fungi. He needed to know the truth. Was his Aether pool just massive, or was it truly a bottomless well?He raised his palm. "[Ignis Spark]."A bolt of flame hissed into the darkness, splashing against the cavern wall."[Ignis Spark]. [Ignis Spark]. [Ignis Spark]..."The rhythm began. One every second. Then two. He stood there fo
Chapter 4: The Weight Of Ghosts
The suite at the Pristine Residency was a fortress of marbled stone and enchanted glass, designed to offer the one thing every Hunter craved: a moment of true vulnerability without the risk of death. Axel sat on the edge of the sprawling king-sized bed, the silence of the room pressing against his ears.With a weary grunt, he upended his backpack. A shimmering cascade of [Aether Shards] tumbled onto the white duvet—amber for Constitution, crimson for Might, and sapphire for Aether. He counted them with a practiced, clinical eye. 38 Aether, 54 Might, and 48 Constitution. In the skewed economy of the post-Cataclysm world, this pile represented a fortune for a rookie. To sell them all would net him approximately $180,000—not enough for a C-Rank skill, which usually started at half a million, but more than enough to bridge the gap between a survivor and a warrior.His eyes drifted to the [Cipher Tome: Minor Mend] sitting on the nightstand. He had considered selling it for a quick $30,000,
Chapter 5: The Shadow In The Mirror
In a sprawling mansion perched on the cliffs overlooking Outer Bank X, the air was thick with the scent of expensive incense and the hum of high-end air purification systems."Sir, we’ve detected an anomaly in the local dungeon network," a butler spoke, his voice a low, disciplined murmur. He stood perfectly still, eyes fixed on the man reclined in a leather chair.Drago Richmond, the city’s only B-Rank Hunter, didn't look up from the tablet he was holding. "An anomaly? Unless a Rift is tearing open in the middle of the mall, I don't care, Vax. I’m busy preparing for theHelion’s Castle dive.""It’s the [Frozen Wasteland], sir. Its threat assessment has plummeted from 'Moderate' to 'Low' in the span of two hours."Drago’s fingers paused over the screen. He looked up, his eyes flashing with a predatory sharpness. "Low? That dungeon is an E-Rank slog. Even a dedicated C-Rank team would need half a day to clear it enough to move the needle on the threat meter. You’re telling me someone di
Chapter 6: The Geometry Of Isolation
The deeper one descended into the monoliths of Outer Bank X, the more the world twisted into something unrecognizable. The [Imp King’s Abode] didn't look like a cavern; it looked like a primordial nightmare. The first floor was a suffocating jungle of bioluminescent fungi and iron-barked trees. Here, the Goblins didn't just wander; they patrolled in disciplined squads of five, their green-scaled skin acting as natural camouflage against the rotting foliage.In a standard D-Rank raid, a party of ten would move with agonizing caution. One stray arrow, one tripped vine, and a signal horn would bring the entire floor down on their heads. To be surrounded by fifteen D-Rank Goblins was a death sentence for most.Axel stood in a clearing, his [Camouflage] flickering as he intentionally stepped into the light. A group of five Goblins—each three meters tall with slabs of muscle like cured leather—hissed. Four gripped spiked maces; the fifth, draped in the bones of fallen hunters, raised a jagg
Chapter 7: The Architecture Of Sovereignty
The suite at the Pristine Residency was more than a luxury; it was a sanctuary. Axel sat on the edge of the reinforced bed, the air around him humming with the latent frost of his [Glacial Aegis]. On the mahogany table lay three new [Cipher Tomes], their covers pulsing with the deep, authoritative violet of Rank C magic.He had chosen them with a surgeon’s precision. First was [Eldritch Brand]—a skill that allowed a caster to etch a chaotic rune onto an enemy through physical contact. For a standard Rank C Mage, this was a "suicide skill"; they lacked the physical constitution to get close enough to a boss to plant the mark. But for Axel, protected by layers of infinite-Aether shielding, it was the ultimate dismantling tool. Then came [Celerity Aura], a passive field that accelerated his every movement, and [Vitality Well], which fundamentally restructured his biology, granting him a +30 boost to his Constitution and an accelerated healing factor.He pressed the tomes to his chest one
Chapter 8: The Falling Crown
The party moved like ghosts. Under Axel’s silent direction, they approached the remains of the ten-meter Titan. Normally, there would be cheering, high-fives, and the greedy tallying of loot. Today, there was only the sound of boots on stone and the occasional sob from Stacy, the mage who realized the power dynamic of their city had just been decapitated.Axel walked to the center of the rubble. The Titan had dropped a significant haul. There were over fifty Rank\ C Aether Shards and—most importantly—two items that pulsed with a deep, royal purple light.The first was a skill book: [B-Rank]\ [Titan’s\ Roar]. It was an area-of-effect skill that paralyzed enemies and boosted the user's defense. The second was a heavy, obsidian chest-piece: [B-Rank]\ [Heart\ of\ the\ Fortress].Axel picked up the items. He felt the weight of the Titan’s\ Roar tome. To any other hunter, this was the holy grail. To him, it was just another layer for his armor. He looked at the veterans."Dina, Stacy," Axel