Chapter 23: Unexpected Message

“Raki, if you ever need anything, I’m just in the next room,” Reimei said gently.

“See you tomorrow. Make sure you get some proper rest,” she added before quietly slipping out, leaving me in my room.

“Bau,” Janbo gave a soft bark before plopping down on the floor, falling asleep almost instantly.

“You too, Janbo. Sleep well,” I murmured with a faint smile.

Then, almost out of habit, I whispered, “Phone.”

The familiar device materialized in my hand. Its screen lit up, showing a new message. Curious, I tapped it open.

From: God Chaleon

Raki, congratulations on not dying against a Death Knight.

It seems you actually listened to my advice.

Good job on not getting back here instantly.

I scowled at the first line, irritation flaring in my chest.

I never expected the anomalies in Mazal to grow stronger so quickly.

As an apology, I’ve unlocked the second level of your Divine Tools.

If you can unlock stronger versions of the Divine Tools, why not just hand me the best from the start? It would make my life so much easier, I thought bitterly.

Almost as if reading my mind, the reply followed.

You’re probably wondering why I didn’t grant you the perfected forms of the Divine Tools right away.

A pause, then the truth unraveled like a weight settling on my shoulders.

The answer is simple, I couldn’t.

Not yet.

Only as you mend the broken threads of luck scattered across Mazal will their true potential awaken.

The power I’ve lent you is only a fraction of what they can become.

My eyes widened slightly as I read further.

Coin of Fortune (Second Level): You can now stack the coins you toss.

The effect will trigger once you suffer life-threatening damage or an injury that will hinder you to use your full potential.

Stacks reset daily.

Still, be careful, you can die if you run out of luck.

Coming from the so-called God of Luck and Fortune, that’s the last thing I want to hear, I thought bitterly.

Thanks for the reminder, I thought dryly.

Die of Potential (Second Level): You no longer need to choose the specific status you want to boost.

Instead, all stats will be boosted based on the number rolled.

That’ll make maximizing rolls much easier, I mused.

And I’ll be able to increase my defense too rather than just pure offensive status.

Card of Ability (Second Level): Instead of a single option, the card now presents three choices.

You may only pick one per draw, but you can now use the Card of Ability, three times per day.

Finally, no more praying every time I flip.

Great upgrade, Chaleon, I thought with a faint grin as I set the phone aside.

That’s all I can unlock for the Divine Tools for now… but wait,

the message continued.

I’ve also updated your Divine Gacha app.

I sighed, already knowing where this was headed.

Please at least give me a couple more free pulls a day, I thought hopefully.

You’re thinking I’ll give you a free pull, aren’t you?

I froze mid-thought. Is he messing with me?

You’re right. I’m granting you one extra pull per day.

But that’s not all, the drop rates for rare items will now increase alongside your total Luck stat.

Right now you’re sitting at exactly 150 Luck, which gives you a 1.5x higher rate.

Use your free pull wisely.

I grimaced. Ah… he’s really bringing up those two times I used it on the food gacha, isn’t he?

I don’t mean you can’t use it on food.

You should enjoy your life in Mazal. I mean it.

A reluctant smile tugged at my lips. Honestly, I am enjoying it, I thought, memories of my days since arriving in Mazal flashing through my mind.

One last thing: a warning. Selena’s Divine Barrier will hold for only a few more days.

Death Dragon Urzuz is far stronger than before.

There’s more I want to say, but you need to rest.

Do you really think I can sleep with that kind of information? I muttered inwardly.

Better to know now than for it to suddenly break when you’re unprepared, the message concluded.

P.S. Your extra pulls will be available tomorrow :P

The glowing script burned against my vision long after I shut the phone with a sharp click.

What a stingy god, I muttered inwardly, tossing the device aside.

And yet… some of the pressure in my chest eased. Chaleon’s words, frustrating as they were, at least promised one thing, the barrier around Lahir would hold through the night.

For now, we were safe.

I sank back against the mattress, my gaze wandering to the ceiling’s wooden beams.

Shadows stretched there, long and silent, as if echoing the weight of my thoughts.

Can I really save this world?

The question carved itself into me, jagged and merciless, as the memory of Death Knight Morgan’s blade flashed before my eyes, how close I had come to being cut in half, how fragile my life truly was.

The thought of rolling a few pulls gnawed at me.

A new weapon, stronger armor… even food would have been comforting.

My fingers twitched with the urge.

But no,I forced myself still.

Tomorrow, I will have another two free pulls.

I needed to think carefully, to plan, not squander what little free pulls I have.

That resolve was faint, fragile, but it clung to me all the same.

A single thread of determination spun through the exhaustion drowning my body.

Slowly, my eyes grew heavy, the weight of battle and divine words pressing them closed.

Sleep claimed me at last, not in peace, but in a restless drift laced with a glimmer of steel.

“Raki! Breakfast is ready.”

Two gentle knocks, Lily’s voice carrying through the door.

“Woof!” Janbo barked, tail thumping against the floor.

He crouched like he was about to haul me out of bed again, but this time I pushed myself up on my own.

He froze, ears drooping, his face twisted into something close to disappointment.

Clearly, he’d been looking forward to his morning routine.

“Come on, Janbo. Lily’s food is worth hurrying for. If we’re too slow, she might not save us any,” I teased.

“Bau!” Janbo barked in agreement, the gloom gone in an instant.

When I opened the door, Reimei stood waiting in the hallway.

“You’re walking on your own… Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked gently.

“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “A good night’s sleep really helped.”

“Were you headed to breakfast too?” I added.

She hesitated, then nodded faintly. “I was… waiting for you.”

Together, we made our way to the dining area.

“Raki, Mei! I already set your portions. Eat them before they get cold,” Lily called out.

Sure enough, two empty seats waited side by side.

A fresh loaf of bread sat between steaming bowls of mushroom soup, fragrant enough to make my stomach tighten.

For a while, we ate quietly, savoring the warmth of the meal.

Then Father Damian’s voice broke the calm, low and heavy.

“I know we just managed to survive yesterday… but we have a problem.”

He paused, gaze dark.

“High Priestess Selena’s Divine Barrier won’t last more than two days.”

The silence thickened.

“My brother Gerrard and his son Albert brought the news this morning,” Uncle Hekken added grimly.

The announcement struck like a hammer. Even Reimei and Lily, who had hoped for at least a moment’s peace, went pale with shock.

“Then tomorrow…” I placed my spoon down, voice steady despite the heaviness in my chest, “…we prepare to strike the Death Dragon Urzuz.”

Father Damian leaned forward, his face grim. “High Priestess Selena warned us. Urzuz has grown monstrously powerful, she believes it may now surpass even a Death Knight.”

The table fell silent.

Then, a voice rolled in like a storm, cutting through the air with absolute authority.

“You will not face it alone.”

The doors swung open, and Guildmaster Rion strode inside, his very presence pressing down on the room like a weight.

Conversations died.

Even the crackle of the hearth seemed to falter in deference.

“Guildmaster Rion,” Reimei whispered, eyes wide.

“Master Rion,” Father Damian said, rising slightly as if compelled by instinct.

Rion’s sharp gaze swept across us, cold and unyielding.

“Raki. Lily. Reimei. Janbo.

You’ve done well to hold this settlement together.” His tone was flat, yet carried the force of command that brooked no doubt.

Then his piercing eyes locked onto me.

“Especially you, Raki. To have slain Death Knight Morgan… impressive. Very few could claim such a feat.”

Lily stiffened, a bit defiant. “Why are you here, Guildmaster? Who’s protecting Elira?”

“I have stationed the Holy Knights across Elira and the neighboring towns before I left,” Rion declared without hesitation, his voice carrying the weight of finality.

“They will be able to keep the towns safe for a while. That is not in question.” He stepped closer, shadows seeming to lengthen at his approach.

“I came here for one reason only… to personally defeat that Death Dragon Urzuz,” Rion declared

His gaze bore down on me, sharp and merciless.

“You’ll fight at my side, won’t you, Raki?” It wasn’t a request, it was a command disguised as a question.

“Of course, Rion,” I answered, my voice firm despite the force of his presence.

“Then it is decided.” His voice thundered like a verdict.

“Tomorrow, we bring down Death Dragon Urzuz.”

The room seemed smaller in his presence, as though even the walls acknowledged his dominance.

But in his eyes, beneath that iron will, burned something fierce and dangerous, an unrelenting hunger for prey he refused to let slip away.