[System Notification: Livestream feature unlocked!]
Ray stared at the floating blue panel with wide eyes, like it just announced he'd won the lottery.
"Congratulations, Host! You've unlocked your first exclusive feature: LIVE MODE. Start your stream now and earn rewards!"
"Stream?" Ray muttered, rubbing his temples. "As in… online streaming? Like, Twitch? YouTube? TikTok?"
Pixel, the glowing camera-fairy, zipped around his head like a caffeinated mosquito."Yep! Except, you know, it's magic streaming! Different dimension, same clout-chasing energy. Now c'mon, smile for the fans!"
"Fans?!" Ray's voice cracked. "I just woke up in a knockoff Skyrim forest, and now I'm supposed to do a live broadcast?!"
Pixel gave him the side-eye."You're acting like you've never performed for strangers before."
"I—I haven't!" Ray protested. "I'm an introvert! My biggest audience was the microwave when I reheated pizza at midnight!"
Too late.
3… 2… 1…
"WAIT, NO—"
A soft chime echoed as a translucent panel appeared before him:[LIVE: 1 Viewer]
Ray froze. "Oh, fantastic. One viewer. Probably some goblin with a username like 'SwordDaddy69.'"
Pixel hovered near his shoulder, whispering dramatically:"Make it count. This is your moment."
Ray straightened, forcing the most awkward smile in history."Uh… hey guys! Ray here—welcome to the very first episode of 'I Have No Idea What I'm Doing But Let's Pretend I Do!'"
Pixel groaned audibly. "Smooth. Real smooth."
The First Comment
Ping! A glowing message popped up on the screen.
[LyraMage]: What… is this magic?
Ray's grin faltered."Holy crap. That's… a REAL PERSON."
He cleared his throat and leaned closer to the floating chatbox."Well, uh, hello there, mysterious LyraMage! Welcome to my totally not insane live stream!"
Pixel snickered. "Tell her you're single."
Ray ignored him and threw on his best YouTuber voice."You're actually witnessing something groundbreaking—never been done before! This is called… content."
[LyraMage]: Content? Is that a spell?
Ray grinned. "Sort of. It's like… magic for your soul. Entertainment magic."
Pixel rolled his eyes."Wow. You sound like a bard with a midlife crisis."
[LyraMage]: So… you are a bard?
Ray slapped his forehead."NO! I'm not a bard! I'm a… professional fun-giver!"
Pixel snorted. "That sounds like an escort service."
"Shut up, Pixel!" Ray hissed through clenched teeth.
Showtime
He looked around. Peaceful trees. Chirping birds. Zero dragons. Zero drama. Not exactly thrilling content.
"Alright," Ray muttered, rubbing his hands together. "Time to spice things up."
He picked up a flimsy stick from the ground and held it like a legendary weapon."Ladies and gentlemen—well, lady, because I have only ONE viewer—prepare to witness peak survival crafting!"
He swung at the nearest tree.BONK.The stick snapped like a breadstick.
Ray stared at the broken stick in disbelief."…Nailed it."
Ping!
[LyraMage]: …Are you injured?[System]: Viewer concern detected! +5 Affection Points.
Ray perked up. "Affection Points? Ohhh, now we're talking!"
He raised the broken stick triumphantly."Fear not, my loyal viewer! For I, the Great Ray, shall craft… a better stick!"
Pixel floated in front of his face."Really selling that loser energy, huh?"
Ray ignored him and checked the chat again."Alright, LyraMage! You pick—want a cooking show? A live hunt? Or me attempting a backflip and possibly dying for your amusement?"
A long pause. Then:
[LyraMage]: I want to see… more of you. You're strange. Funny. Different.
Ray froze. The words lingered on the screen like a soft melody.He… wasn't used to compliments. Not in the real world, anyway.
Pixel whispered teasingly:"Oh ho ho. Someone's got a fan."
Ray shook off the heat rising to his cheeks and grinned."Well then, my dear viewer… buckle up. Because this? This is just the beginning."
[Stream Ended. Rewards Calculated.]
System Rewards
The screen flashed with golden sparkles.
[System]: Congratulations, Host! Your first stream was a SUCCESS! Rewards:✔ 10 System Coins✔ 1 Mystery Gacha Ticket✔ 1 Loyal Viewer
Pixel hovered, smirking."Not bad for a guy who bonked a tree and called it content."
Ray flipped the glowing ticket in his hand."A gacha ticket, huh? Oh boy, can't wait to win a 'Stick of Slightly Less Uselessness.'"
Pixel grinned mischievously."Oh, you're gonna love this pull. Or hate it. Definitely one of those."
Ray raised an eyebrow. "That's… not reassuring."
Pixel zipped up into the air dramatically, like a carnival announcer."Ladies and gentlemen! Ray's first-ever GACHA ROLL is about to BEGIN!"
Ray groaned but felt something stirring inside him.Excitement. Anticipation.Hope.
He stared at the glowing ticket and smirked."Alright, System. Let's spin the wheel."
The air shimmered. A giant wheel of colors appeared in the sky, spinning wildly with flashing words:Weapons. Skills. Companions. Artifacts.
Ray held his breath as the wheel slowed.Click. Click. Click…
And then—
BOOM!A blinding light exploded, and a figure emerged from the glow.
Ray shielded his eyes. "W-What the hell—?!"
A soft voice spoke through the light, calm yet commanding:"Who summons me…?"
Pixel cackled."Ohhh, this stream's about to break the internet."