Glitch Overlord: The NPC Who Hijacked the Gods’ Player Syste

Chapter 6: Time to Stop Running

Jax stood still in the dark space below the grate. His hand was still holding Mira's tightly. Above them, CrimsonKing69's footsteps stopped right over the metal cover. The player's voice sounded close and full of rage.

"I know you are down there, glitch," he called out. "Come up and die like the trash you are."

The Overseer warning burned in Jax's mind. Three minutes. That was all the time left before the investigation team arrived and deleted him forever. His body was covered in cuts and burns. His legs felt like they could give out any second. Running had kept him alive this long, but it would not save him now.

He looked at Mira in the faint light. Her face was pale and scared, but she did not pull away.

"Stay here," he whispered to her. "No matter what happens, do not come out until it is safe."

Mira shook her head quickly. "I am not leaving you," she said.

Jax gave her a small, tired smile. "Then stay close, but stay behind me."

He took a deep breath that sent fresh pain through his side. Then he reached up and pushed the heavy grate open with all the strength he had left. The metal scraped loudly as it moved.

CrimsonKing69 looked down with surprise that quickly turned to a cruel grin.

"Finally," he said. "I was getting bored waiting."

The player jumped down into the lower level, landing heavily. His glowing red sword shone brightly in the darkness. He raised it and stepped forward.

Jax climbed out of the hole and stood between CrimsonKing69 and Mira. His breathing was rough and his body screamed with pain, but he planted his feet and faced the player directly.

"No more running," he said in a low, steady voice. "You have taken enough from me. From us. Today that ends."

CrimsonKing69 laughed loudly. "You think a few lucky hits make you strong?" he asked. "You are still just worthless code."

He swung the sword in a fast arc.

Jax dodged to the side, but the blade still cut a new line across his arm. Fresh blood flowed. The pain was sharp and it made his vision blur for a moment. He staggered, but stayed on his feet.

The small endurance boost he had stolen earlier helped him keep moving, but it was not enough. He needed more power, and he needed it now.

He focused through the pain and reached out with his mind toward CrimsonKing69 once again.

[Skill Theft Attempted: Intermediate Fire Resistance]

[Partial Success. High Cost to Host.]

A burning heat spread through Jax's body. The flames from earlier attacks now felt less painful on his skin. But the effort hit him like a hammer. His knees buckled and he dropped to one knee. Blood dripped from his mouth. His head felt like it was splitting open. Stealing at this level while injured was pushing him to the edge.

CrimsonKing69 saw the weakness and attacked again. His sword came down hard.

Jax raised his arm and blocked with the little sword mastery he had. The impact shook his bones and sent him sliding backward. His back hit the wall with a heavy thud. Pain exploded everywhere.

Mira cried out from the shadows. "Jax!"

Her voice gave him one more push. He stood up slowly. His eyes burned with cold anger.

"You enjoy hurting people who cannot fight back," he said. "Let us see how you like it when someone fights back."

He threw a fireball with everything he had left. The spell was bigger and hotter than any he had made before. It flew straight at CrimsonKing69 and exploded against his chest armor. The player shouted in pain and stumbled back. His health dropped noticeably. The burn mark on his armor showed that the attack had hurt him for real.

CrimsonKing69's face twisted with shock and rage. "How are you getting stronger?" he demanded. "This is not possible for an NPC."

He cast a powerful flame wave. Fire rushed across the small space like a river.

Jax used his new fire resistance and charged straight through it. The flames burned his clothes and skin, but the pain was duller than before. He reached CrimsonKing69 and slammed his fist into the player's stomach with all his remaining strength.

The hit connected hard. CrimsonKing69 doubled over with a grunt.

For the first time, the arrogant player looked worried.

Jax did not stop. He grabbed the player's arm and tried to steal one more time.

[Skill Theft Attempted: Basic Movement Speed]

[Success Rate Low. Host on the Verge of Collapse.]

A small surge of speed flowed into Jax's legs. He moved a little faster now, but the cost was terrible. His vision went dark at the edges and he felt like he might pass out. Blood poured from his wounds. His body was breaking under the strain.

CrimsonKing69 recovered and kicked Jax hard in the chest. Jax flew back and crashed into a pile of old crates. Wood splintered around him. The pain was so bad he could hardly breathe. His health bar was flashing red and dangerously low. One more solid hit and he would die.

Mira could not stay hidden anymore. She ran forward and stood beside Jax.

"Leave him alone!" she shouted at the player. Her voice carried real anger now. The scripts that once controlled her were breaking more and more.

CrimsonKing69 laughed weakly. "Even your fake wife is turning against me. Fine. I will kill you both."

He raised his sword for the final blow.

Jax pushed himself up one last time. His body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. Every breath hurt. Every movement was a fight against his own limits. But the cold fire inside him refused to die.

He looked at CrimsonKing69 and spoke through bloody lips.

"I am not code anymore. I am the glitch that will take everything from you."

With the last of his strength, he reached out and pulled hard on the player system.

[Major Theft Attempt: CrimsonKing69 Level Fragment]

[Partial Success. Extreme Risk.]

A small piece of the player's power flowed into Jax. His level increased by one single point. It was tiny, but it gave him just enough strength to stand straight again. The new energy helped close one of his smaller wounds slightly.

CrimsonKing69 screamed in shock as he felt part of his strength slip away.

"What did you do?" he yelled.

At that exact moment, a new powerful warning exploded in Jax's mind.

[Overseer Alert: Investigation team has arrived. Direct confrontation detected. Deletion protocol starting in sixty seconds.]

Heavy footsteps echoed from the tunnel above. Dark, shadowy figures began to appear at the edge of the room. The Overseers had come.

Jax stood between Mira and the two threats. His body was broken and bleeding. His power was still weak and painful to use. But he had finally stopped running.

He had taken another small step forward.

Now he had to survive the real test that was coming.