"Are you sure you're ready for this?"

Kai barely heard the question as his fingers danced over the virtual controller. He wasn't ready, not really, but he'd never let anyone see the doubt creeping into his mind. The moment the headset clicked into place, the world around him vanished, replaced by the all-consuming blackness of the game.

A small notification appeared in his vision: Connecting to ZeroPoint…

ZeroPoint. The last beta test for the most anticipated game in history. It was supposed to be the game to end all games, the one that bridged the gap between reality and the virtual world. Except no one knew exactly what would happen when the final test began. And Kai? He was one of the last testers, one of the very few people who even knew how deep this game went.

The seconds ticked by slowly, the game's virtual sky crackling with static as the connection took longer than usual. Then—everything flickered. The blackness shattered into pieces, and suddenly, Kai was standing in the middle of a bustling, neon-lit city square.

Mission Update: Survive the Introduction Phase.

Objective: Find your first upgrade.

A glimmering panel appeared in front of him, offering three paths:

Explore the Market District

Visit the Combat Arena

Enter the Dark Alley

With a swipe of his hand, the panel vanished. No need for directions—he knew where to go. The Combat Arena. That's where the real test was. That's where he could prove he was more than just another player in the beta. He needed to get stronger. Fast.

He moved through the crowded street, his boots clicking on the cobblestone ground. The neon signs flashed overhead, the atmosphere thick with danger and the hum of thousands of players just like him, all racing for their first real challenge.

A sudden ping broke through his thoughts. A message from the system.

System Notification: You've encountered a Glitch. Would you like to report it? Yes/No.

Kai paused. Glitches weren't normal, not in a game this advanced. He scanned his surroundings. There was no obvious bug in the environment, but he felt a shift in the air—something wasn't right.

Before he could think more about it, the ground rumbled beneath him. He stumbled, his hands instinctively reaching for his virtual weapon. He looked up—too late. A massive, corrupted monster tore its way out of a nearby alley, its glowing red eyes focused solely on him.

Mission Update: Defend yourself!

Objective: Survive the Glitch.

A sudden adrenaline rush flooded Kai's body. He could feel his heart race, his mind sharpening. This was a test, a real one. He hadn't signed up for this level of chaos.

The monster's massive claws slashed at him, but he was already moving. Kai jumped to the side, rolling behind a nearby cart, just narrowly avoiding the attack. His virtual HUD flashed with the status of the monster—level 50, corrupted, and a massive health pool.

He wasn't even level 10. This wasn't supposed to be the starting test.

System Notification: You've unlocked Skill: Evade

Skill Level: 1

Press Left Stick to Dodge

Kai didn't wait for another notification. His fingers moved, quick and sure, pressing the virtual buttons to activate the Evade skill. He darted forward, just as the monster's claws slashed the air where he had been. The attack missed by a hair, and he was already sprinting toward the monster's side.

This wasn't how the beta was supposed to go. It was supposed to be simple. It was supposed to be easy. But there was no time to think about it. The glitch was real, and if he didn't fight, he would die.

Kai reached for his starting weapon—a dull, rusted sword. It was pathetic, but it was all he had. He raised it just as the monster charged again. This time, there was no dodging. He had to fight.

The sword met the monster's thick hide with a resounding clang, but the damage was minimal. His heart thudded painfully in his chest. He had no time to think, no time to analyze. He could feel the game's virtual world shifting around him as if the rules were bending, changing in real time.

The glitch wasn't just affecting the environment—it was altering the game itself.

System Notification: You've unlocked Glitch Breaker. You must destroy the corrupted monster to proceed.

Objective: Find and exploit the Glitch in the system.

Kai's breath hitched as another notification appeared. This was bigger than him. He wasn't just a player anymore. He was part of something—something dangerous.

His hands tightened around the sword, and with a battle cry, he leaped toward the monster again, this time aiming for the heart.