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

Chapter 7: The First Real Test

Jax stood bleeding in the dim underground room. His body felt like it was falling apart, but he refused to fall. Mira stayed right behind him, her hand gripping his arm tightly. The shadowy figures of the Overseers stepped out of the tunnel and spread across the space. Their forms were tall and dark, with glowing red eyes that looked straight through him.

CrimsonKing69 turned his head and saw them too. For a second, even he looked nervous.

"What the hell are those?" he muttered.

One of the Overseers raised a hand. A cold, mechanical voice filled the entire area.

"Anomaly detected. NPC entity has breached core rules. Deletion protocol engaged."

The air grew heavy and thick. Jax felt a strong pull inside his chest, like the game itself was trying to erase him. His stolen power flickered weakly. The single level he had taken from CrimsonKing69 helped him stay on his feet, but it was not nearly enough.

He pushed Mira gently behind a broken machine. "Stay low," he told her. "Do not let them see you."

Then he faced the Overseers directly. His voice came out rough and tired, but steady.

"I am not going back to being trash," he said. "You made this world. Now I will take my piece of it."

The lead Overseer did not answer with words. It simply pointed at him. A beam of dark energy shot forward, fast and silent.

Jax dodged to the side, using the small speed boost he had stolen. The beam hit the wall behind him and left a smoking hole. The force of it sent dust and pieces of rock flying. One sharp fragment cut his cheek and more blood ran down his face.

CrimsonKing69 saw his chance and attacked from the other side. His sword swung low, aiming for Jax's legs.

Jax jumped over the blade at the last second. The movement tore open the cut on his side again. Pain exploded through him so badly that his vision went white for a moment. He landed hard and stumbled.

The second Overseer moved in. It was faster than the first. Its hand stretched out and grabbed Jax by the throat. Cold energy poured into his body like ice water in his veins. His health dropped sharply. He felt his strength fading fast.

Mira screamed from her hiding spot. "No!"

She ran forward and threw a small flower pot she had grabbed from the ground. It bounced harmlessly off the Overseer, but it distracted the creature for half a second.

That half second was all Jax needed.

He reached out with everything he had left and targeted the Overseer holding him.

[Skill Theft Attempted: Shadow Bind]

[Partial Success. Extreme Pain Incoming.]

A thin black thread of energy wrapped around the Overseer's arm. It loosened its grip just enough for Jax to break free. He dropped to the ground gasping for air. But the cost hit him immediately. His whole body convulsed. Blood poured from his nose and mouth. His head felt like it would split open. The strain of stealing from an Overseer was far worse than anything he had tried before.

CrimsonKing69 laughed even as he looked worried. "See?" he shouted. "Even the game wants you gone."

He charged again with his sword raised high.

Jax rolled away at the last moment. The sword slammed into the floor where he had been. Sparks flew. He pushed himself up using the wall for support. His legs shook. His breathing was shallow and wet.

The lead Overseer spoke again.

"Resistance noted. Escalating deletion force."

Both Overseers raised their hands together. The air crackled with dark energy. A bigger attack was coming. One that Jax knew he could not dodge.

Mira ran to his side and held his arm. Her eyes were full of tears, but her voice was firm.

"Fight, Jax," she said. "I believe in you."

Her words cut through the pain. Jax looked at her, then at the two threats in front of him. CrimsonKing69 on one side. The Overseers on the other. His body was broken. His power was tiny and hard to control. But the cold anger inside him had turned into something sharper. Something that refused to die.

He took one step forward.

Then another.

Blood dripped from his hands as he raised them.

"I am done hiding," he said through gritted teeth.

He poured every last drop of his will into one final theft.

[Critical Theft Attempt: Overseer Core Fragment]

[Warning: Host may not survive the transfer.]

The world seemed to slow down. A thin line of red energy stretched from the lead Overseer toward Jax. It burned like fire in his veins. His knees buckled, but he stayed upright. Power trickled into him slowly, painfully. It was only a tiny piece, but it felt different. Stronger. Darker.

CrimsonKing69's eyes widened. "What the fuck is happening?" he yelled.

The Overseers froze for a split second. Their red eyes flashed brighter.

"Anomaly evolving," the lead one announced. "Immediate termination required."

The dark energy beam shot toward Jax again. This time it was twice as fast and twice as strong.

Jax could not dodge. He could not block.

He only had time for one thought.

Mira... run.

The beam hit him square in the chest.

Pain beyond anything he had felt before exploded through his entire body. His vision went completely black. He felt himself falling.

But in the darkness, something new stirred.

A single clear message appeared in his mind, brighter than all the pain.

[Glitch Overlord System: Core Fragment Absorbed. New Ability Unlocked.]

Then everything went silent.

Jax's body hit the ground hard.

Mira screamed his name.

CrimsonKing69 laughed triumphantly.

The Overseers stepped closer, ready to finish the job.

And in the complete darkness, Jax heard his own heartbeat... still fighting.