13th Project: Substitute Coder

Year-End Special Chapter: Debugging the Remnants of Revelation

"Yeah, right. Where's the Malware you're talking about?"

A black screen appeared in front of Keith and typed the file in it, revealing a document which showed the information about the Malware.

Malwares are a bunch of malicious codes that materialize with one task to do, desolate the server. They were either sentient creatures or just brainless monsters that consume portions of a Server, causing Dump Files and Bugs along the way. If overlooked, it might evolve into Virus that causes more destruction or worse, possibly jump from one server to another, affecting an area of the CyNet.

Appearances of Malwares are rare and the only origins of them are either constant irregularities to the Server or, if possible, the work of Hackers. But considering how fucked up this server is, the former one caused all of this. Additionally, information about the existence of Malwares was taught exclusively to us, Avasts since it's one of the privileges of being higher than other Coders.

"Yellow-Level Malware but it's not affecting the server and is non-malignant as of now. But a Malware is a Malware. It's a floating blob flying above the City of Chikuzen."

"Yellow-Levelled but still inactive? That's rare."

Each Malware is ranked based on the danger level, and Yellow Level is a middle class Malware. Based on what we had learned from the Academy, it's hyperactive and spreads fast within a single Server day or two. Additionally, it damages and consumes codes around it at a fast rate. But considering that it lasted for a week made me skeptical. How did Keith take a week before he contacted me??

"Malwares are a rare occasion. Appearances of Malwares can be counted with fingers so we can't just rely on the classification given to us by the Academy. That shit even went under my radar for a week."

Oh. Guess they're unpredictable then.

"We have no time to blame ourselves. We should be grateful it hasn't consumed the Server in that time frame. Now, can you help me beat that Malware with your genius mind?" 

I gave him a pat on his shoulder, reassuring him to brighten his mood and seeing his face glowed up a bit, my face formed a smile.

"Okay. Coordinates ready!"

As the specific view of the location appeared on his screen, something caught my attention. There's a floating blob in the sky, just like what Keith said earlier. But I don't know if my eyes were playing tricks or there's actually another figure nearby the Malware.

Hold on a second...

"And here we go!"

"Wait! You haven't even surveyed the area!"

I was too late to warn him when the surroundings changed. We found ourselves standing on the grassy part of a mountain with the light dimmed due to the Malware blocking the Sun above us. 

"Fuck! Got carried away earlier," He only cursed out loud before he took a glance at me. "Oh well, who could be on this very mountain at this time of the day?"

"W-who are you?!"

My body froze in my spot as I heard a female voice behind us. My ears weren't hearing some random noise, it was a voice directed at us. Even Keith went pale before we slowly took a look at where the voice came from.

Behind us was a rabbit girl with blue hair and streaks of white braided in twintails. In her hands was a sword aimed towards us.

The situation had escalator'ed.

"Calm down, ma'am. We're not here to fight. We came here to fix.. uhm... something."

Keith attempted to uplift the girl's mood but it didn't help, considering that she entered a fighting stance, motivated to go in a fight as seen from her fiery eyes.