Why is My System Glitching-Chapter 71: Pyro Fusion Art

Pyro Fusion Art?

Lordi Payne's mind blanked, a cold sweat prickling his spine. Then he realized—must be some fancy art technique for wrestling a Dao Flame into submission and fusing it into the body. However, trouble was, when he'd dazzled Kinson Wexford with his "alchemy talent" demonstration, it was all thanks to the AllFullOS system hijacking his body with one-click-cultivation. Kinson Wexford must've seen him twirl those Nether Fire flames like they were extensions of his own hands and assumed Lordi Payne's already mastered the Pyro Fusion Art. Not once did he think about to check this issue—or even mention it.

Now? They were screwed. Royally.

Oen Shinae's delicate brows furrowed, a storm brewing in her doll-like features—cute, sure, but radiating a fury that could freeze blood. This was the Deathveil Bloodline's big play, a direct order from her Bloodline Lord. She'd braced for brutal and fierce rival ambushes, spikes and blades in the dark—not Lordi Payne botching the basic plan before the Wraithbone Bloodline even showed their ugly faces.

"I'll pass on the Pyro Fusion Art into you—learn it, now!" Oen Shinae snapped after a heartbeat of mental scrambling, her voice a whip of steel. Lordi Payne's pitiful Qi Refinement Stage cultivation wouldn't tame the Ice Pith Fire without it—no art, no chance.

"Oh fuck, you've gotta be kidding me..." Sharky Ink rasped from his spot by the array, his pale lips twisting into a sneer dripping with venomous glee. The bone flowers pulsed behind him, but his eyes glinted with dark amusement.

Fang Jit jumped in, his frustration boiling over. "Senior Sister, seriously?! The Pyro Fusion Art's not some arcane mystery, but this Qi Refinement runt picking it up on the fly? What, are we camping here for ten days—a month?—while he fumbles through it? And that's assuming he doesn't botch it! The Ice Pith Fire's an Eighth-Tier Dao Flame—top-quality type, even among its kind. With his weak-ass cultivation, one slip from those shaky newbie hands, and boom—backlash turns him to ash!"

He jabbed a finger at Lordi Payne, voice rising. "By then, we're not just out the flame—we've blown the Bloodline Lord's mission! Total loss—him, the fire, everything!" Fang Jit's gut screamed retreat, and he pivoted to Oen Shinae. "Look, let's haul him back, report this mess to the Bloodline Lord, and—"

"No way!" Oen Shinae's voice sliced through his plea like a guillotine, firm as bedrock. "Ten days? Half a month? Fine—whatever it takes. The Bloodline Lord didn't slap a timer on this. The Gworm Abyss sprawls endless. Only who registered the Dao Flame mission hold the Ice Pith Fire's exact coordinates, and we've bled for that scrap of knowledge. There may be a chance to succeed! You'd really turn back now? Let the Bloodline Lord's sacrifices rot to nothing? His sweat, his blood, wasted because you flinch at shadows?"

"As for Junior Brother Payne's low cultivation..." Oen Shinae's voice cut through the mire's gloom like a blade. "When he fuses the Ice Pith Fire, you'll stand guard him, Fang Jit. Restore his vitality as he burns—keep him alive."

"He's just at Qi Refinement stage. With your Early-Phase Foundation Stage strength, curing his injures should be easy."

Fang Jit's gut twisted, his face souring at the order. Sure, healing wasn't hard—but him playing nursemaid to this fool?

Kinson Wexford had handpicked this squad for a reason: Oen Shinae as the squad leader, the Mid-Phase powerhouse, to carve their path and fend off threats; Sharky Ink, the array cultivator, to trap the Dao Flame with his seige formation ability; and Fang Jit, dual-wielder of medicine and poison, to shield Lordi Payne through the Dao Flame fusion. It was a neat little plan—except it stank of favoritism.

The Deathveil Bloodline had been bleeding resources dry for years, a slow chokehold that left them scrabbling for scraps. And now, Bloodline Lord Kinson Wexford had shoved this Ice Pith Fire mission—a golden ticket—onto a Qi Refinement nobody, snubbing Fang Jit and the rest of his loyal crew. Envy flared hot in Fang Jit's chest, a smoldering coal of resentment. If not for the Bloodline Lord's iron grip looming over them, he and Sharky Ink wouldn't have even bothered dragging their boots through this hellhole.

Ever since they'd left Withered Orchid Villa, Fang Jit had been lobbing barbs at Lordi Payne, testing Oen Shinae's leash.

When this idiot admitted he didn't know the Pyro Fusion Art, Fang Jit had seen a glimmer of hope—maybe they'd ditch the mission, or better yet, Oen Shinae would pivot, hand the flame to him or Sharky Ink instead. But no—she'd rather risk staying in this cursed swamp for ten days, or even half a month,!

Rage and spite clawed at Fang Jit's ribs. His face twitched, then split into a brittle, venom-laced grin. "Senior Sister, you're overselling me. This Junior Brother Payne's cultivation is a joke—too flimsy to handle the Dao Flame. I'm not some miracle worker. No promise I can keep him from frying."

"Do your best," Oen Shinae shot back, her tone ice-cold and unyielding. She swiveled to Lordi Payne, eyes narrowing. "Enough dawdling. I'm reciting the Pyro Fusion Art's mantra—now. Listen up. Ask if you're lost, but don't expect me to spoon-feed this martial technique you. I barely touched alchemy back in the day, so my explanations might be vague. What I can't clarify, you'll have to piece together yourself. Sink or swim—your call."

Without waiting for a peep from Lordi Payne, she launched into reciting the mantra—a rapid-fire string of a few hundred words, sharp and rhythmic like a war chant.

Lordi Payne caught the gist of the first two lines—barely. After that? A total wash. Just like that humiliating fumble with the missing characters of Blood Lothgar Footwork Art, the mantra words pronunciation hit his ears as foreign language. He could mimic the sounds, sure, but spelling the word? Understanding the sentence? Not a chance.

Thank the holy abyss, the AllFullOS System had Lordi Payne's back.

As Oen Shinae began reciting the mantra, a chime pinged in his mind, the system sparking to life.

~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*

[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0] freeωebnovēl.c૦m

> Detected external data.

> Analyzing...

> Pattern identified: [External Martial Art Technique]

> Technique Recording initiated... 

> Progress: 10%...

By the time Oen Shinae finished, the system chimed again, crisp and triumphant.

~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*

[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]

> Progress: ... 50%... 100%

> New cultivation technique added to database: [Untitled Technique #0004]

> Recording complete.

> Please rename the technique!

"Call it the Pyro Fusion Art," Lordi Payne muttered. He nearly slapped a five-star rating on the system—rare praise from him—but his fresh fifth-layer Qi Refinement reflexes kicked in. With a lightning-fast tap, he reined it in at four stars at the critical moment.

[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]

> [★★★★☆]

> Submitted. Thanks for your feedback.

Just as Lordi Payne was pondering about how to tactfully and respectfully convey the "Oh, I've already mastered the martial art" message on Oen Shinae when the surrounding swamp quaked—a low, menacing rumble rippling out. The Siege Array snapped shut, locking the Dao Flame in place with a final, shuddering click.

Oen Shinae thrust a hand toward Sharky Ink. "The core array banner. Now."

Sharky Ink's glare at Lordi Payne was pure venom, his eyes smoldering with pent-up hate. But he bit back his fury, shoving a small black flag into her grip. "Senior Sister, I swear I didn't—"

"Save your pledge word for the Bloodline Lord when back to Withered Orchid Villa," Oen Shinae sliced through his plea, her voice a frigid blade. "And your natal array compass. Hand it over."

"Senior Sister?! What?!" Sharky Ink's voice cracked, pupils shrinking to pinpricks. "You're shackling me over this runt's flimsy frame up nonsense?!"

Fang Jit twitched, mouth opening to defend Sharky Ink, but Oen Shinae's icy stare pinned him silent. His loathing glare at Lordi Payne deepened, a storm brewing behind his eyes.

"Defy me?" Oen Shinae's tone was deathly calm. The Bone Bloom Curse on Sharky Ink's back flared to life—white bone chains slithering, writhing like serpents under his skin. His face blanched, sweat beading as the curse tightened its grip.

"Aye, Senior Sister," Sharky Ink took a deep breath, rasped, swallowing his rage. With shaking hands, he offered the natal array compass, head bowed low. "How dare this junior disobey your order?"

Oen Shinae snatched the compass, inspecting every groove with meticulous care—no sabotage, no tricks. Satisfied, she flicked her wrist.

Before Sharky Ink could blink, the Bone Bloom erupted. The translucent flower swelled grotesquely, sprouting jagged, fang-rimmed jaws that gaped wide. With a wet, bone-crunching snap, it engulfed Sharky Ink whole.

Fang Jit stumbled back, horror choking his voice. "Senior Sister, why?! Senior Brother Sharky was already—"

Oen Shinae ignored him, hands flashing through seals. The monstrous bloom shuddered, shrinking in two sharp breaths into a skeletal carapace—a bone-tight prison encasing Sharky Ink. Every limb locked rigid, fingertips frozen, only slits for nostrils and a gagged mouth left exposed.

"What're you doin—WHAT?! Senior Sister, WHY?!" Sharky Ink's muffled roar clawed out, shock twisting into fury. "Years we've had each other's backs—how could you—"

Bone chains sprouted from the carapace mid-sentence, snaking, rustling like dry leaves as they coiled around his jaw, sealing lips and tongue shut with ruthless precision.

"This should be fine then." Oen Shinae mused to herself. With a swift leg whip, she kicked Sharky Ink clear of the array, then jabbed a finger at Fang Jit. "Stand by Lordi Payne. Guard him—no screw-ups." She turned and strode toward the Dao Flame, her steps unshakable.