TheShingPen
Rolling the Dice
Zarin stepped cautiously out of the cell and into the dimly lit corridor. The door behind him creaked as it swung shut, and he paused momentarily, taking in his surroundings. The flickering torches on the stone walls cast long, wavering shadows, and the smell of dampness hung thick in the air. It felt surreal to finally escape that cell, but the tension in his chest hadn’t lifted. The fear of what might come next gnawed at him.
‘Free. Finally. But why doesn’t it feel like it?’
He had survived the tutorial, yet an uneasy weight pressed on him instead of relief. He had learned early that nothing came easy in this twisted place. Every step felt like leading him into a new trap, a fresh torment.
As Zarin took a few hesitant steps down the corridor, his heart still thudding from the tense game of dice with the guard, he suddenly froze in place as a soft chime echoed in his mind.
Ding!
A familiar glow flashed before his eyes, and lines of floating text appeared mid-air. His heart skipped a beat as he read the first notification.
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Tutorial Completed
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Zarin let out a shaky breath, relief washing over him in waves. He’d done it. He had survived, somehow.
‘Thank god. I thought it would never end.’
But the relief was short-lived. One after another, more notifications flooded his vision, too fast to process.
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System Initialization Complete
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Respawn Mode Disabled
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That last message made him stop cold. His heart skipped a beat as the words hung in the air.
Respawn Mode Disabled.
Zarin swallowed hard. “So… no more resetting?” His voice was barely a whisper.
‘No more second chances. No more coming back from the dead.’
The thought of dying and coming back to life had been horrifying, but now that it was over—now that there was no safety net—things felt even more real. In the tutorial, death had just been a painful nuisance. Now, if he messed up, there wouldn’t be another chance: no more endless loops and resets. The finality of it made his stomach turn.
‘Great. It’s like walking a tightrope with no net below. One wrong step, and I’m done.’
He pushed the thought aside as more notifications scrolled into view.
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Analyzing Tutorial performance and allocating Skills based on Performance
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Zarin blinked, watching the text appear with mounting curiosity. The System evaluated and rewarded him for surviving the tutorial. His heart raced in anticipation.
‘Maybe I didn’t completely screw this up after all. Come on, give me something useful.’
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Skill Unlocked
Pain Resistance (Lv. 1)
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Zarin let out a bitter laugh, rubbing his ribs absentmindedly.
‘Of course. Survive endless beatings, and this is my reward. How poetic.’
The skill description unfolded in front of him, clear and precise.
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Pain Resistance
Description: Reduces the intensity of physical pain felt by the user. Allows the user to endure harsh physical conditions without becoming incapacitated.
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Zarin grimaced, the phantom pain of the beatings still lingering in his mind.
‘Perfect. As if I haven’t suffered enough already. At least now, I won’t crumple like paper whenever someone hits me.’
More notifications followed:
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Skill Unlocked
Combat Insight (Lv. 1)
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“Combat Insight? That sounds... useful,” Zarin muttered.
The details flashed before him.
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Combat Insight
Description: Allows the user to perceive and predict enemies’ movements during combat. Increases awareness of an opponent’s patterns and behaviors.
Note: Skill can be used out of combat, but effects are weaker.
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Zarin’s mind immediately went back to the countless beatings from the guard.
‘All those punches. I could see them coming. I knew every move, every shift in his stance... too bad I wasn’t fast enough to do anything about it.’
With this skill, things might be different in future fights. Zarin allowed himself a flicker of hope.
‘If I can read my enemies like I did with that man, I’ll stand a chance.’
The notifications continued to bombard him, each one building on the last.
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Trait Unlocked
Fortune’s Favor
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“High luck?” Zarin raised an eyebrow, half-smiling. “Guess that is because of the dice game.”
The System had not finished acknowledging his affinity for gambling with fate. This one, he realized, might have been the most essential feature he’d unlocked.
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Fortune’s Favor
Description: Increases the chance of favorable outcomes during random or uncertain events and applies universally to combat exploration and interaction.
Effect: +40 Luck
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Zarin couldn’t help but chuckle. “So, I’ve got good luck? Could’ve used that earlier.”
Then, two notifications blinked into view, one larger and more prominent than the rest.
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Class Unlocked
Gambler of Fate
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Zarin’s breath caught in his throat. His class? Finally, the System was revealing his class. The details scrolled before his eyes as he read with wide-eyed anticipation.
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Gambler of Fate
Description: A unique class bound to the unpredictable whims of luck and chance. The user gains the ability to influence reality through magical dice. Rolls of the dice can grant boons, unlock powerful attacks, or trigger chaotic events. The outcome is determined by Luck. Skill in this class grows as the user embraces risk and chance.
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Class Skill Unlocked*
Fate Dice-d6 (Lv. 1)
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Zarin’s heart raced as he read the words. Gambler of Fate. It sounded like a particular class, undoubtedly different from the overpowered warrior or mighty mage he had imagined. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized how fitting it was. Luck and chance had already played a considerable role in his survival—and now it was a core part of his class.
He raised his hand, and with a thought, a small, glowing six-sided die appeared in his palm. The die shimmered faintly with a soft, ethereal glow as if imbued with magical energy. It felt cool and solid in his hand, but Zarin could sense its power.
‘This... this could actually be fun.’
The System provided more details about his new ability:
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Fate Dice-d6
Description: Allows the user to roll a magical six-sided die. Each result triggers a unique effect based on the number rolled. The roll’s outcome is determined by chance, with higher Luck improving overall results.
Effects Per Roll:
1: Summon a random, non-combat animal.
2: Summon a random object relevant to the current situation.
3: Summon a basic elemental attack.
4: Summon a small-tier protective field.
5: Summon a low-tier magic item.
6: Unleash a powerful random attack.
Cooldown: 20 seconds (24 hours if 6 is rolled)
Note: Can be used during Combat only
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Zarin’s grin grew wider.
‘Okay, this isn’t your typical power, but I like it. There are no predictable rules, just me, the dice, and a lot of luck.’
With a smirk, he made the die disappear, already imagining the possibilities. He wasn’t sure how reliable this new class would be, but it was thrilling. Predictable rules or rigid structures didn’t bind him. Instead, he could shape the world around him with a simple die roll.
Zarin stood alone in the corridor as the final notification faded from view. The flickering torches cast long shadows as the faint water dripping echoed in the distance. For the first time since arriving in this strange place, he felt something new—hope.
But that hope came with a lingering sense of dread. The System had declared the tutorial complete, meaning he was alone. And with Respawn Mode disabled, failure was no longer an option.
Taking a deep breath, Zarin steeled himself and took his first actual steps into the unknown. He had escaped the cell, survived the tutorial, and unlocked his powers.
‘Let’s see what you’ve got, world. I’ve got dice and a gambler’s instinct.’
And whatever came next, he’d be ready.