Chapter 22: Guardian of the Abyss

VirtuaGenesis – ZONE: NULL

The world was breaking apart.

Data fragments fell into the abyss, consumed by the endless void below.

Amir stood frozen.

Before him, the Corrupted Guardian towered like a nightmare given form. A humanoid mass of glitched code, shifting between solid and transparent, its movements jittery and unnatural—like a broken puppet struggling to move.

Its crimson eyes locked onto him.

Then, it moved.

> Ding!

BOSS BATTLE INITIATED: [Corrupted Guardian – LVL ???]

The air screamed as the Guardian's massive fist descended, aiming to crush him.

Reaction Time

Amir dodged—barely.

> Skill Activated: Reflex Lv.1

+10 Dexterity XP

The impact shattered the ground, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

He rolled, landing on an unstable platform that flickered beneath his feet.

> Ding!

Terrain Integrity: 14%

"Shit—it's getting worse!"

He had to think.

Analyzing the Boss

Amir's eyes darted to the Guardian.

It was slow but devastating. Every move it made glitched the air itself, distorting reality.

He needed a strategy.

> Skill Unlocked: Analyze Lv.1

Allows basic assessment of unknown entities.

> Analyzing…

[CORRUPTED GUARDIAN]

HP: ???

Weakness: ???

Status: [STABLE]

"No weak points? No health bar?!"

The Guardian's form twisted—and in an instant, its arm morphed into a massive blade of jagged pixels.

It swung.

Amir had one second to react.

> Ding!

Do you wish to activate [Emergency Evasion]?

WARNING: This will cost [20 Stamina].

"YES!"

His body flashed, and before he could process it, he was suddenly ten meters away, barely avoiding the slash.

A deep gash was carved into the world where he once stood—exposing the void beneath.

> STAMINA: 35/100

"I can't keep dodging forever."

He needed to fight back.

Finding a Weapon

> Ding!

Scanning Inventory…

No weapons detected.

"Great. No sword, no bow, nothing?"

Amir's mind raced.

Then, he remembered—this was a glitched zone.

And that meant…

> Skill Activated: Code Manipulation Lv.1

Allows interaction with unstable data.

He reached out.

The broken cubes around him flickered, and as he focused, the data reformed—shifting into the shape of a crude energy spear.

> Ding!

Weapon Created: [Glitch Spear – LVL 1]

Temporary Item: Will destabilize after 5 minutes.

"I'll take it!"

He gripped the spear—and turned to face the Guardian.

The countdown ticked lower.

> 02:57 remaining.

Three minutes to win.

Or be erased.

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Next Chapter Preview:

Amir's first boss fight!

Glitch Spear vs. Corrupted Guardian

A battle against time

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