Episode 5: Glitch in the Gravekeeper
Scene: Undaunted Village – Inside Mael's House
A humble wooden table filled with roasted meat, old bread, and oddly glowing herbs. MC is munching while Mael stares intently at him, arms crossed.
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Mael:
"So tell me... how did you end up in a place like this? The Unknown Forest is sealed. Only the worthy — descendants of gods or... something far beyond — could ever walk in here."
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MC (chewing noisily):
"Eh? Oh, you mean this zone? Haha, I thought it was just like… a tutorial cutscene or something."
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MC (inner monologue):
(Is he mistaking me for some chosen OP protagonist? Lol. No way. I seriously need to grind. The mobs here almost chewed me alive.)
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Mael (narrowing eyes):
"Cut…scene? What is this 'lag' and 'load-ing' you spoke of earlier? Are they ancient chants? Forbidden incantations of teleportation?"
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MC (laughs awkwardly):
"Bro, you don't even know what that is? Haha. Never mind that. More importantly, where's my reward for the quest?"
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Mael (still processing "lag"):
"Loa-ring… Lag… Is that a form of cursed item? Something divine, yet broken…?"
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System Notification — Audio glitched
> [You have completed the quest: "The Easter That Shouldn't Exist!"]
[Mael is attempting to give you your reward...]
[Mael.exe has stopped responding]
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MC:
"…Mael? Yo. Are you good?"
Mael's face distorts for a brief second — his expression frozen. His body begins to flicker like a glitched-out NPC.
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Mael (distorted voice):
"Descendant… of the Grim Reaper… you shouldn't be here… not yet…"
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MC (eyes widen):
"Wait, what the hell is going on—"
A surge of violet mist surrounds Mael. His eyes flash white. A vision floods his mind — images from Season 9: The fall of the Astral System, the Reaper King waking, the Soul Taker descending.
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Mael (whispering):
"…Why do I… remember things that haven't happened yet…? Who… am I?"
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MC (grabs him):
"Hey! Old man! Are you having a seizure or a prophetic stroke or something?!"
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Mael collapses to his knees. MC catches him.
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Mael:
"Agh… I… I'm sorry. I don't know what just happened. Perhaps… the Reaper's bloodline called to me… I need rest."
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Mael slowly stumbles into a back room and closes the door behind him.
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MC (sighs):
"Welp… That was weird as hell. Wait a second…"
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System Notification
> [You received: Mythical Token of Spring (x1)]
[You received: 50,000 EXP]
[You received: Easter Evil Bunny's Tooth]
[You received: ???]
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MC (opens inventory):
"Heh? I got everything already… But didn't he say he couldn't give the reward yet? Wait a minute—"
His eyes glimmer.
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MC:
"Ohohoho~ A quest reward bug?! Does that mean… if I talk to him again, I'll get it again? Hehehe… jackpot. Duplication glitch baby!! Ain't no way I'm reporting this. This is MY little secret."
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Scene fades out...
.....
MC checks his inventory. New items are highlighted.
He focuses on the [???] item, thinking it's something related to the story or part of a secret storyline.
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MC (thinking):
"Can't use it... no options to gift or trade... only 'Hold'?"
He selects "Hold."
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System Notification
> [Item Revealed: Fragment of the Reaper]
"Bound to those destined to carry the weight of souls."
[Effect: Forcibly changes your class to "Soul Enhancer". This item cannot be used, sold, or removed.]
[This item reacts only to those tied to Death's Legacy.]
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SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
> [Your class has changed: Warrior → Soul Enhancer]
[Your soul has awakened the path of Death's Keeper.]
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MC:
"Wha—?! Changing class is this dramatic!?"
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DING—
> [New Class Skills Unlocked: Soul Enhancer]
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Skill Unlocked: [Soul Transfer] – Legendary+
> Transfer 80% of incoming damage to a selected target player. Requires pointing at them within range.
Penalty: Because your level is too low, all stats reduced by 50% for 24 hours. This debuff cannot be removed except by Angelic-tier effects.
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Skill Unlocked: [Soul Binding] – Mythic++
> Binds the enemy and applies "Dead Soul" debuff:
50% Movement Slow
100% Binding
25% Fear
15% Hallucination
10% Confusion
10% Instant Death
Debuffs last 24 hours. If Instant Death occurs, enemy suffers 48-hour revive penalty.
Penalty: User loses 80% HP and cannot be healed by potions or skills. Only Demonic-tier potions or higher may recover health.
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Passive Unlocked: [Soul's Cloak] – Divine Tier
> Grants perfect evasion while out of combat.
Effect lasts for 5hrs while out of combat.
Cooldown: 12 hours.
Penalty: While on cooldown, mana regen is disabled and mana is reduced by 60%.
(Debuff can only be cured by Angelic-tier effects.)
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> [13 Active Spells Locked – Level Requirement Not Met]
[9 Passive Skills Locked – Level Requirement Not Met]
MC (scrolling through):
"Bruh. What is all this? These skills are completely broken… Who designed this class?"
He pauses, thinks for a second.
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MC (shrugs):
"Ah whatever. It's just an offline game anyway. Probably just some weird Easter egg devs forgot to patch."
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SYSTEM TITLE UNLOCKED:
> [Title: "Rebirth of Death Himself"]
Grants 1 resurrection without penalty. Automatically revives player at last rest point.
MC (reading slowly):
"'Rebirth of Death Himself'...? What kinda edgy title is that?"
MC (scrolling the effect):
"…Wait? No cooldown? No penalty?"
MC (leans back, blank stare):
"This sounds illegal."
MC (laughs nervously):
"Okay nah—this has to be a bug. There's no way they just give this away for free."
MC (sighs and shrugs):
"…Welp. Not my problem. Offline game anyway."
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Suddenly, Mael wakes up with a jolt, feeling the pressure of an ancient aura.
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Mael (whispering):
"…That presence… It can't be… my master…? The Reaper's heir has returned…"
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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