That time I got reincarnated with a glitch: strings of fate

The Director entered the room, his fingers adorned with rings, his face a commanding blend of respect and arrogance. A palpable tension filled the air as he approached Adam, staring him down. It felt as if a fight was about to erupt. The Director introduced himself as Devon, extending his hand to Adam. An intense, intimidating aura emanated from him. Adam shook Devon's hand, immediately feeling a potent killing intent. Adam held his ground and introduced himself.

Devon then offered Adam a spot in the Sanctum's elite squads, acknowledging Adam's feat of single-handedly defeating half of his elites, calling him a great addition to humanity's protection. Adam rejected the offer on the spot. He told Devon that the Sanctum's objectives were a grave mistake; the creatures were doing their part to protect humanity from external dangers, and by killing them instead of working together, they would only invite a catastrophic event. Devon merely smiled, finding Adam's boldness amusing.

A Dimension of Darkness

Suddenly, Devon, still holding Adam's hand, teleported them both into a dimension of pure darkness. "Do you really think we need these creatures to survive?" Devon scoffed, laughing at the absurdity. "It's kill or be killed. The creatures are just materials to be used as weapons." He displayed his rings, each one imbued with the power of a creature captured within.

Adam, feeling the mana-rich dimension, prepared to go all out. Devon, confident he could overpower Adam, especially after observing the black suit from surveillance, fully intended to break Adam's will.

Adam transformed into his black armor, instantly erecting an invisible barrier around himself. He stood his ground, waiting for Devon's move. Millions of swords materialized across the dimension, charging towards Adam. He remained unmoving, allowing the barrier to absorb every blow. The swords chained together with multiple elements and exploded, but the barrier absorbed it all.

A new dimension opened, raining down meteors, which were also absorbed by the barrier. Then, Devon enlarged himself and unleashed a powerful mana-infused fist at Adam. The barrier absorbed the blow, but Adam was knocked back slightly.

"Do you really think you're stronger than me?" Adam asked, his voice resonating through the darkness.

Devon's bravado faltered. The black figure standing before him radiated a menacing glare that was undeniably superior. Adam increased the output of the black armor's mana, causing the entire dimension to shake and become heavy with mana density.

Devon felt fear for the first time. As Adam took a step closer, Devon froze, realizing his imminent death. His mind screamed to run, but his legs were suddenly severed. He crashed to the ground. His arm was cut off next as Adam stood atop Devon's chest, staring down at him.

"I surrender!" Devon screamed, sweat pouring down his face. "You won. Don't kill me, I beg of you! I'll do anything you ask." He was utterly helpless against Adam's overwhelming power.

Adam then dispelled his black armor, returning to his human form. "You crossed the line attacking my loved ones," Adam stated. "However, you're not the real threat to the coming calamity. I need as much help as possible to protect this world." Adam proceeded to heal Devon back to his original state.

Devon, defeated, lay on the ground. Adam offered his hand, and Devon, humbled, grasped it to pull himself up.

A New Alliance and Lingering Hatred

Adam told Devon that his methods were too extreme and only weakened the forces needed to protect the world. "Some of these creatures are doing their best to save this world," Adam explained. "Instead of attacking them, work with them. There are other creatures betraying this world to aid the coming invasion. Those are the ones you need to focus on, not all creatures."

Adam proposed a meeting between the elders and the Sanctum to discuss the issue. He emphasized that what had happened was a tragedy, especially for those protecting the world, and that they had no time for internal conflict when a greater threat loomed.

Devon, left with no choice, agreed to Adam's demands. Adam teleported them back to their last known location. Everyone present was shocked by Devon's sudden change in demeanor. He no longer displayed arrogance but was humble before Adam.

He instructed his subordinates to listen to Adam's demands and follow through, then excused himself, asking Adam's permission to leave. Adam allowed it, telling them to check for sudden surges of portals around their location.

Everyone scrambled to initiate surveillance, and sure enough, it became evident that portals had appeared everywhere. Adam knew it was too late; the giant portal was about to open, and it was best to prepare for the invasion.

Genji approached Adam, asking what had transpired during their teleportation, having never seen Devon act this way. Adam tried to brush it off, suggesting they had simply reached a better understanding.

Genji then revealed the truth: Devon's intense hatred for creatures stemmed from his family being eaten alive by them—his parents, wife, and children. "There's no way he would have agreed to this," Genji stated, "due to the hatred he has for these creatures." Adam was taken aback. He now understood Devon's deep-seated motivations.