Divine Glitch: I Regressed With Endgame Knowledge

Ryan woke early, dragging himself out of a tangle of half-forgotten dreams.

With a huge yawn, he stretched until his shoulders popped, then shuffled into the living room in his slippers.

Mia was still asleep. She and a few other guild mages had been grinding at Cragshore until nearly dawn, chasing levels and loot after getting their new staves last night. No surprise she hadn't woken yet.

Molly was up, but she looked like she'd only just rolled out of bed, which told Ryan she'd been gaming late too.

A small pot bubbled quietly on the stove, filling the air with the faint, sweet smell of porridge. Ryan peeked inside, decided it was still too early for breakfast, and made up his mind to go out for some exercise. He'd been glued to the game for days, and his body felt like it was starting to rust.

He jogged for about ten minutes through the quiet morning streets, breathing in the cool air, when something unusual happened. A young woman he didn't recognize stepped into his path and handed him a letter. In an age where everything was handled digitally, a physical envelope felt almost surreal.

She didn't say a word. The moment he took it, she turned on her heel and disappeared down the street. Ryan had the distinct impression she'd been waiting near his building for him to come out.

When he got home, Molly was sitting cross-legged on the couch with a book in her hands, too absorbed to look up. Ryan walked straight past her to his bedroom, shut the door behind him, and tore open the envelope.

Inside was a single sheet of paper. At the top, printed in bold black letters, were the words:

Glorious Achievement Tier Breakdown

Ryan frowned slightly and began to read.

'The lowest tier of Glorious Achievements can be repeated, but require a significant investment of in-game time. Rewards typically include one or a few attribute points, some reputation, and gold.

Players earning this Glorious Achievement will trigger a system-wide broadcast only for the first completion. Subsequent completions will be visible only to the player and their guild. This tier generally serves as an encouragement award, recognizing persistent, long-term engagement in specific activities.'

Ryan nodded to himself. That tracked with what he knew. In his previous life, the only Glorious Achievement he'd earned at that tier was Pet Hoarder, which had given him a handful of attribute points but no Auxiliary Talent Points.

The next section read:

'Higher-tier Glorious Achievements are unique, awarded only to the first player to complete them. They typically grant one or a small number of attribute points, one Auxiliary Talent Point, and some health and mana bonuses.'

Ryan understood exactly what that meant. These were the "firsts" — first to open a dungeon, first to clear it, or eventually, the first to hit the level cap.

The letter continued:

'Even higher-tier Glorious Achievements are exceptionally difficult to complete and also awarded only to the first player. These achievements grant two Auxiliary Talent Points, additional attribute points, and substantial health and mana bonuses. Players who complete such an achievement will also receive a 3,000,000 credit reward from the Federal Government.'

That part brought back a vivid memory. He'd earned one of those with Evelyn's team after clearing the Abandoned Mine, and sure enough, a tidy sum had been deposited into his account by the government afterward.

It was the last part of the letter that made his pulse jump. The font changed — the formal black type was replaced with a jagged, hurried scrawl in crimson ink, as if to make sure the reader knew this was something else entirely.

'The highest tier of Glorious Achievements are considered impossible tasks. Completion of such a task will grant this tier of achievement. Only those with an unparalleled combination of luck, skill, and opportunity have even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of success. The reward will include three Auxiliary Talent Points, additional attribute points, massive health and mana bonuses, and other potential rewards.

Upon completion of this tier of Glorious Achievement, the Federal Government will provide an additional 6,000,000 credit reward.

Please dispose of this letter after reading. Burning is recommended.

Federal Intelligence Agency: Kingdom Forge Special Division'

Ryan let out a long breath. He'd always known this game wasn't as simple as it looked, but to be handed a letter from the Kingdom Forge Special Division? That was a whole new level. Now he wasn't just playing a game—he was brushing shoulders with the highest rungs of the Federal Government.

He dug around in a drawer until he found a pair of tweezers, then carried the letter and envelope into the kitchen. Molly, halfway through a bite of porridge, stared at him as he struck a match.

Without a word, Ryan touched the flame to the paper. The edges curled and blackened, the red ink twisting away into smoke.

When it was nearly gone, he moved to the bathroom, holding the last burning scraps over the sink. A gentle flick of the tweezers sent the ashes scattering down the drain.

"Well," he thought with a faint, self-mocking smile, "at least now I've got the Federal Government watching my back. Guess that comes with a few perks."

Still, the letter had rattled him. He'd already suspected he was on their radar, but it was clear now that Godslayer—the Glorious Achievement he'd earned recently—was what had truly set things in motion. And it wasn't just one impossible task, he'd completed three.

The thought made him wince and grin at the same time. No wonder the government was in a frenzy. The top brass who'd once been content to let him roam free probably now saw him as an asset worth guarding. Maybe even a banner-bearer for humanity's so-called rapid evolution.

That was a lot of weight to carry. But then his mind jumped to the rewards. If each impossible-tier Glorious Achievement came with 6 million credits… that was 18 million in total. He could feel the distance to his financial goals shrinking fast.

Ryan all but inhaled the rest of his porridge before hurrying back to his bedroom. Sliding his bank card into the virtual setup, he brought up his account balance. Sure enough—the transfer had already gone through.

A satisfied chuckle escaped him as he slipped on his headset. Being monitored, being protected… at this point, it was out of his hands.

If you couldn't fight it, you might as well enjoy it.

Besides, protection wasn't a bad deal. When his parents came back and restarted their business, there was a good chance they'd get some high-level assistance along the way.

The familiar login sequence flashed before his eyes, and he appeared in-game. Only a handful of guild members were online—most had logged out to rest after draining their stamina last night.

"Guild Leader, did you see the forums?" Smoking Gun called out from Stormhold Fortress, where he was busy leveling his professional skills. His voice crackled with excitement. "Explosive news just dropped."

Ryan leaned against a stone wall, still adjusting from the switch between realities. "Explosive news? I've had my share of shocks already today. What now?"

"A brand-new Glorious Achievement just got unlocked! Ironblood Covenant's guild leader earned it—the same guy who's been hunting you non-stop!"

That stopped Ryan cold. As far as he knew, there weren't any Glorious Achievements up for grabs right now.

So what in the world had Ironblood Blade managed to accomplish?

Could it be… maxing out a professional skill?