They exited the first floor into a safe chamber glowing soft blue.
Riley collapsed onto a cushiony platform. "I am never fighting a follower-eating wolf again."
"You will," Aeris said seriously. "Floors repeat enemies with variations."
Kaela flopped down next to him.
"Relax. You did good. You only almost died five times."
Riley groaned. "Helpful."
Lyria plopped herself onto a hovering chair. "Actually, Riley, something weird showed up on the viewer comments."
She tapped open a hologram containing lines of text—
messages from people across Nexus-9.
[Comment: Why did the anomaly's aura glitch?]
[Comment: Did you see the burst at minute 3? That was unstable—]
[Comment: ERROR-CLASS OP. Make him fight the Ascension Dragon!]
[Comment: His energy signature is changing.]
[Comment: His glitch is growing.]
Aeris glanced sharply at Riley.
"You didn't tell us… the glitch inside you is spreading."
"Spreading how?" Riley asked, heart thumping.
She slowly reached out and touched his arm.
His skin flickered.
Just for a moment—
his arm turned transparent, filled with glowing blue code.
Riley jerked back. "What… what's happening to me?!"
Aeris looked shaken.
"I don't know. But your powers aren't stabilizing. They're evolving."
Kaela stepped forward, placing a steady hand on his shoulder.
"Then we help you control it. You're not doing this alone, glitch-boy."
Riley swallowed hard.
He'd never had people say things like that to him.
He never had people at all.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he wasn't just afraid.
He felt… connected.