Ascension Of A Glitchwalker

It had been three hours since he sat at the train station, thinking. Hours did feel like seconds and he couldn't bear the feeling anymore.

The train that left earlier had come back for more passengers. Like a time sequence, Zane watched them do the same thing all over again.

People board the train, scan their passcards and find a seat beside their cherished ones. Laughs and peaceful smiles defining their faces. Zane didn't know he was already smiling too—the human part of himself probably triggered it.

Glancing up with tired eyes now at the clock right above the banner, he watched each hand move at a calculated pace.

Sweat drove down his face and immediately it came on the number twelve, he rose with precision.

[CORE: Hello Zane]

A jolt of fear ran through him as a voice resonated in his head.

"What?"

[I am CORE, Your Cognitive Override Rebirth Engine]

The voice sounded better in his head, it didn't hurt this time it only felt like a conversation.

"Are you the system?" Zane asks, hoodie fell over his head while his hands found his pocket. He walked along the marked runway that led outside the train station.

[CORE :The system has been terminated]

"Terminated?" He repeated as his hand pressed against the handle of the reflective glass door leading outside, some passerby looked at him. Not something he couldn't notice but he ignored.

As if wanting Zane to observe his surroundings the more, CORE kept mute.

Zane's eyes shone in bewilderment, everything here was reeking technology— not just technology but enhanced technology.

Carpods buzzed overhead. Skyscrapers loomed like silent sentries.The world was busy with activities and interesting actions.

His gaze locked on a boy in boots— it wasn't just any boot but a flying boot, he was kicking a ball skillfully mid air. Surrounded by a cheering young audience.

The ball dashed to the sky after a final powerful kick. Descending back down, it striked a mechanical machine, patrolling a few meters away from them.

Its arm was a double current machine gun and its leg was built like a kangaroo, for sure it would have a high jumping power.

Etched on its skin lies the symbol of NexaTech.

[CORE: That is an executor, EXT- 0879, a security patrol war mech]

Zane's eyes darted to himself and back to the machine, something in him wants to see its reaction.

He wouldn't want to be on the bad side of this machine if just a ball can annoy its patrol.

The machine turned towards the terrified boy, its turret rolled at him but didn't fire, sensors scanned him.

EXT 0879—[IMPACT DETECTED]

Object: Ball

Damage: None

Source: Child (Est. Age 12)

Status: Unarmed | Elevated heart rate

Posture: Passive

Threat: None

Immediate Action: Stand Down

It rotated slightly and spoke in a flat tone. It felt processed, not thought.

"Watch your aim, civilian." Then it moved on, leg clutching after the other in a whirring sound.

And so did Zane.

[CORE: It appears you seemed concerned for the young civilian.]

"Did you see that turret? It looked like it was about to fire..." He replied, voice low so as not to gain attention "...and how is a system monitoring my every thought? I don't remember being told about that."

[I am not a system, I am a subconscious mind that is meant to guide you. ]

Zane couldn't make any sense out of it,only one thing bothered his mind right now. He could feel his stomach groaning.

He wondered how he had survived six months without being offered anything to eat by Nexatech, all they wanted was to know if he had successfully become a superhuman.

How lame, he spat beside the walkway.

[CORE: you have one unread message in your notification, would you like to view it?]

Zane halted mid step.

"Show me," Zane muttered.

A transparent HUD unfolded in front of his eyes, flickering like an unstable signal.

[CONTRACT PROTOCOL v4.1]

Subject: Zane Everhart

Status: Rookie

Tier: God Tier

Accept the Ascension System Contract to proceed.

Terms:

– Surrender mental override rights

– Allow emergency control by CORE

– Risk: Memory degradation

– Reward: Power. Access. Survival.

☐ Accept

☐ Decline [Disabled]

[WARNING: This choice is permanent.]

Zane's lips parted. "Why is decline disabled?"

[CORE: A glitch error.]

Of course it is.

He stared at the "Accept" box. His thumb hovered, unmoving.

Memory loss. Mind override. What the hell was he signing up for?

But then… that name hit again: his mother.

If this contract gave him even a sliver of a chance to find her, for all of this to make sense—

He tapped ACCEPT.

The HUD glitched hard. Then stabilized.

[CORE: Contract established.]

[Updating core permissions…]

Grrrrrr. His stomach growled once again.

[IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Nutritional deficiency detected: Sustenance required]

Eyes scanned around as his steps instinctively continued walking.

____________

Approaching a restaurant was the very least he hoped to do, but he couldn't hold it any longer. Time is far spent, so far he has been free for like six hours.

No pursuit, no detection, just freedom.

Zane walked into the restaurant, wild chatters echoed than normal, some gazed at him while the other resumed chatting.

"Welcome, sir. Please take a seat anywhere," the attendant said with a polite nod.

Her voice was smooth, almost too smooth. Robotic but she looked real—skin tone, blinking eyes, even the smile. Still, CORE had already flagged her as synthetic.

Zane kept walking, found a table near the glass window, and dropped into the seat. His legs felt heavy, stomach louder than ever. A menu hovered in front of him. He didn't read it. Just tapped the first few things that looked like food.

Plates floated over. Hot and steaming. He didn't waste a second.

First plate was gulped almost immediately. Second one, swallowed before he even tasted it. Third, fourth, fifth….it didn't matter what it was. He devoured it all.

He only slowed down when heads started turning. A few customers stared. Some laughed quietly.

He didn't care.

By the tenth dish, Zane sat back, chest rising and falling like he just ran ten miles. His eyes flicked outside. Everywhere is still buzzing with daily life activities. For now, he was just another hungry guy in a crowded place.

Then it hit him.

He didn't have a single dime to his name.

Shit.

How does he pay for the meals? Eyes counting the ascended plates. A total of ten.

He sat up, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and looked around for something, anything, that could save him from embarrassment or worse.

The bartender walked over, perfect smile still frozen in place.

"Would you like to settle your bill now, sir?"

Zane hesitated. Then quietly said, "CORE… can you do something?"

[CORE: Recommend payment via alternative access. Extend hand over payment terminal.]

He followed the instruction, lifting his hand over the small scanner the attendant had placed at the edge of the table. A soft blue light scanned his palm. The machine whirred. Then glitched for a second—screen blinking.

[OVERRIDE INITIATED]

[FUNDS ROUTED VIA CORE ACCESS]

[TRANSACTION COMPLETE]

The attendant blinked once, then smiled again. "Thank you for dining with us."

Zane leaned back in his seat, letting out a breath. That was close. He looked out the window again, more relaxed now.

And then he saw it.

EXT-0879.

Standing on the street, just a few meters away. The same mech from earlier. Big, armed, and focused directly on the restaurant.

Its turret wasn't raised. It wasn't moving. It just stood there, watching. Through the glass.

Zane froze.

He doubted he was the one until his HUD betrayed him.

[CORE: Identified Security Mech: EXT-0879 –

Status: Warranted to capture Subject Zane Everhart.

Action : PENDING! Civilians in vicinity – No engagement expected.]

His eyes narrowed. "So it's waiting."

[CORE: Correct. It will not act while civilians are at risk.]

The mech wasn't advancing. But it wasn't leaving either.

He watched as the beam above its mechanical body swirls around, probably analysing his every move in the restaurant.

Zane's grip tightened around the edge of the table.He held tight until a crack brought him back to his senses.He had clenched too hard and fractured it.

He turned back toward the bar. The android attendant wiped down a glass like nothing was wrong. The people behind him kept talking, laughing, living their lives.

But his moment of peace and freedom wooshed off.

He was a marked man. Night was setting in and time was ticking fast.