Red and blue lights stuttered across the cracked walls of Luke's living room, painting everything in frantic color. The unconscious intruder lay sprawled on the floor, wrists zip-tied by officers who had stormed in minutes earlier. Shattered glass crunched beneath their boots as they moved through the house, muttering to each other.
Luke sat slumped on the couch, blanket around his shoulders, ribs aching beneath the thin hospital gown he still wore. His hands trembled, knuckles raw from gripping the pool cue.
"Kid's lucky he's alive," one officer whispered, scribbling notes on a pad. "Crowbar like that could've caved his skull in."
Lucky. The word stabbed through Luke like a blade. He bit down a bitter laugh. They didn't know how right they were.
---
The sergeant stepped forward, broad-shouldered, gray hair slicked back by the rain. He gave Luke a once-over, sharp eyes narrowing. "You want to tell me what happened here, son?"
Luke swallowed. His throat was dry, mind racing. What could he say? A magical probability system gave me the power to dodge death and whack a guy with a pool cue? They'd cart him off in cuffs—or worse, to a padded room.
The system pulsed in his vision.
[System Prompt]
> Minor Event Detected: Police Inquiry.
Skill Suggestion: Favorable Flip (5 LP).
Effect: Tilt officer's impression in host's favor.
Luke's heart stuttered. He had 25 LP now, enough to spare. But every point mattered. What if another attacker came? What if the timer threw something worse at him?
The sergeant cleared his throat, pen poised. "Son. I asked a question."
Luke exhaled slowly. "Do it," he whispered under his breath.
> Confirm Skill Use: Favorable Flip?
[Y/N]
"Yes."
The panel flashed.
[Skill Activated: Favorable Flip]
> Remaining LP: 20
---
Luke met the sergeant's gaze, forcing his voice steady. "The guy broke in through the window. I—I panicked. I grabbed the only thing I had. I wasn't trying to hurt him, just… stay alive."
The officer studied him for a long moment. Then, inexplicably, his stern features softened. He nodded. "Self-defense. Clear as day. We'll file it that way."
The tension in Luke's chest eased like a noose loosening. It worked.
---
The sound of hurried footsteps pulled his attention to the doorway.
"Luke!"
Maryland burst in, her face pale with terror, David right behind her. They shoved past an officer, Maryland falling to her knees beside him. "Oh, my God. Are you hurt? Are you okay?"
Luke swallowed hard, his throat tightening. "I'm fine," he lied.
David's eyes flicked to the broken glass, the cuffed intruder, the dent in the counter where the crowbar had struck. He let out a low whistle. "Fine, my ass. Kid, you just fought for your damn life."
Luke wanted to argue, but Maryland's trembling hands clutched his face, and the words died in his throat. For a moment, surrounded by police and chaos, he almost felt like he mattered. Like he wasn't just drifting through life anymore.
---
Then the system reminded him:
[Survival Task Progress: 2 Hours Remaining]
Luke's blood chilled. Two hours left. Two more hours until what? Would the system conjure another "test"? Would fate twist again, sending another nightmare his way?
His eyes drifted to the unconscious man being hauled out the door. If this was only the beginning, what would the end of the timer look like?
The night wasn't done rolling the dice.
The patrol cars pulled away one by one, tires hissing against wet pavement. The house was quieter now, though the broken window and splintered counter told the truth of what had just unfolded.
Maryland refused to leave him alone. She moved through the wreckage with brisk determination, sweeping up glass while muttering under her breath about calling a handyman first thing in the morning. David lingered near the door, arms folded, watching Luke with an intensity that felt half protective, half proud.
"You're staying with us tonight," Maryland declared, voice brooking no argument. "That window won't be fixed before dawn, and I'll sleep better knowing you're across the hall."
Luke wanted to argue—he hated feeling like a burden—but the weight of exhaustion crushed the fight out of him. His ribs ached with every breath, his hands still shook, and behind his eyes the blue panel pulsed its reminder.
[Survival Task Progress: 1 Hour, 44 Minutes Remaining]
He swallowed hard. Going to the Burgies' house wasn't just comfort—it might be the difference between making it through the night or not.
---
The guest room smelled faintly of lavender and old books. Maryland tucked an extra quilt around him despite his protests, fussing until David shooed her off with a laugh.
"Let the boy breathe, Mary. He just went twelve rounds with Lady Luck herself."
Luke managed a tired smile, sinking into the mattress. "Thanks… both of you. Really."
David clapped his shoulder. "Don't thank us. Just keep staying alive. You've got more ahead of you than you think."
The words lingered long after the door clicked shut. Luke lay staring at the ceiling, the ticking clock of the system echoing louder than his own heartbeat.
---
He must have dozed, because the next thing he knew, smoke stung his nose.
Luke jerked upright, coughing. The faint hiss of a crackling wire filled the air, and his eyes darted to the outlet near the dresser. A frayed extension cord sparked violently, flames licking at the old curtain beside it.
Panic flared. He grabbed at the quilt, smothering the fire before it could spread. Smoke billowed, choking his lungs, his ribs screaming with the effort.
The system chimed, merciless as ever:
[Emergency Event Triggered]
> Electrical Fire Detected.
Objective: Prevent house from burning down.
Reward: +15 LP.
Penalty: Hostile Environment Fatality.
"Hostile environment fatality," Luke rasped, sweat breaking across his brow. "You've gotta be kidding me…"
The flames licked higher. He yanked the cord free, sparks spitting across the floor. His heart hammered, breath ragged.
[Skill Suggestion: Favorable Flip – 5 LP]
> Outcome Tilt: Fire extinguishes cleanly.
He didn't hesitate. "Do it!"
The panel flared.
[Skill Activated: Favorable Flip]
Remaining LP: 15
The sparks sputtered once—then died. The flames choked out beneath the quilt, leaving only the acrid stench of melted fabric and smoke.
Luke collapsed onto the bed, coughing into his arm, eyes burning. The system pulsed again:
[Emergency Event Cleared]
> Reward: +15 LP
Current LP: 30
---
The door burst open. David and Maryland rushed in, panic written across their faces. David yanked the smoking quilt off the floor, stomping it out, while Maryland grabbed Luke's shoulders.
"Luke! Are you hurt?"
He forced a weak grin through the smoke. "Guess… I'm just fireproof now."
David let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "First a crowbar, now a fire. If this keeps up, kid, you're gonna make me believe you're cursed."
Luke's eyes flicked to the glowing panel only he could see. Not cursed. Chosen.
And the clock ticked on.
[Survival Task Progress: 48 Minutes Remaining]
The night was far from over.
The smoke cleared slowly, leaving the guest room heavy with the bitter tang of scorched fabric. Maryland opened windows despite the lingering drizzle outside, muttering about ruined curtains. David kept pacing, muttering about rewiring the whole damn house himself.
Luke sat on the bed, hands pressed to his knees, eyes locked on the panel hovering in his vision.
[Survival Task Progress: 12 Minutes Remaining]
His chest tightened with every tick of the countdown. Every creak of the house felt like a warning, every flicker of light a threat. The system hadn't pulled its punches so far—first a home invasion, then a fire. What would it throw at him next?
Maryland fussed with the quilt scraps, her voice low and soothing, but Luke barely heard her. His whole world had shrunk to that glowing timer.
---
The final minutes dragged like hours. Luke's heart thudded with each passing second, sweat prickling along his spine despite the cool air.
Then the numbers hit zero.
The panel pulsed, brighter than ever:
[Main Task Complete]
> Survival Verified.
Rewards Granted:
- +100 LP
- Store Expansion Unlocked
- Daily Task System Activated
Luke exhaled a shuddering breath. Relief swept through him so strongly his vision blurred. He was alive. He'd beaten the odds, made it through the longest night of his life.
But before he could relax, another notification appeared:
[Milestone Achievement: First Survival Trial]
> Host recognized as Candidate of Fortune.
Special Reward: Randomized Ability Unlock.
Rolling…
His pulse quickened. The screen shimmered, as though dice were tumbling inside his skull.
Congratulations. Ability Unlocked:
— **Lucky Instinct** —
Subconscious danger detection.
Accuracy increases with LP reserves.
Luke's breath caught. Danger detection. A chill rippled through him. This wasn't just about tilting odds anymore—this was about surviving the impossible.
The panel faded slightly, leaving only a quiet glow at the edge of his sight. The storm of text had passed, but the message was clear:
His life had changed. Permanently.
---
Maryland touched his arm gently. "Luke? Honey, are you alright?"
He forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah. Just… tired."
David clapped him on the back, the weight steady and grounding. "You're more than tired, kid. You're alive. That's no small thing."
Luke leaned back, staring at the ceiling, the glow of the system burned into his vision.
Alive. For now.
But the dice had only just begun to roll.