Li Cheng woke up with a pounding headache.
It wasn't because of a hangover—he hadn't drunk a drop. No, it was because the System had been screaming in his head since 5 a.m.
[Ding! Daily Sign-In Complete!]
Reward: "Dimensional Summon Ticket – Tier S."
Would you like to use it now? (Y/N)
"Dimensional… what?" Li Cheng muttered, rubbing his eyes. His dorm room looked the same as always—half a mess, half a crime scene. His roommate's snoring could've been used as background noise in a horror movie.
But then, the words "Tier S" caught his attention.
He sat up. "Wait. S-tier? The same tier as Legendary weapons and Divine bloodlines?!"
The System stayed silent. It was almost smug, like a cat watching its owner realize their wallet was gone.
Li Cheng cracked his knuckles. "Alright. Let's see what you've got for me."He took a deep breath and whispered, "Use ticket."
[Confirming… Initiating Dimensional Summon Protocol…]
The floor trembled.
The lights flickered.
And then—the walls began to glow with golden runes.
"Uh-oh." Li Cheng scrambled back against the wall. "System! I didn't agree to an earthquake DLC!"
His roommate mumbled in his sleep, rolled over, and snored louder.
A circle of light burst open in the center of the room. Wind whipped around him, scattering papers and ramen cups everywhere. Li Cheng's hair stood on end.
[Caution: Summoning power detected—Entity rank: Goddess Level.]
"WHAT?!" he shouted, diving behind his bed. "Are you insane? I'm in a dorm! What if my landlord walks in and sees me summoning a deity?!"
The glowing circle expanded. The air turned heavy—divine, electric, almost intoxicating.And then… she appeared.
A woman descended slowly, as if stepping down invisible stairs made of light. Her long silver hair shimmered like moonlight, her golden eyes sharp enough to pierce through souls. Her dress glowed faintly, threads of light forming constellations across her figure.
For a moment, Li Cheng forgot how to breathe.
The System chimed:
[Entity Summoned: Goddess of Fortune, Yue Ling.]
[Relationship Status: Extremely Annoyed.]
"...Huh?" Li Cheng blinked. "Wait—Annoyed? Why annoyed?! I just summoned you!"
The Goddess opened her eyes fully and frowned. "You—mortal. Who dares disturb my rest with such… improper coordinates?"
Li Cheng scratched his head. "Improper? Uh… sorry, this wasn't my idea! The System—uh, my boss—made me do it."
Her gaze swept the messy room. The pile of laundry. The ramen cup army. The broken chair.
She sighed. "A dormitory? Truly, this is the worst summoning I've attended in millennia."
Li Cheng's pride took a hit. "Hey, don't judge my poverty! I'm rich in… uh, potential."
The Goddess raised an eyebrow. "You dare joke with a deity?"
"Of course not," he said, grinning nervously. "Unless you have a sense of humor?"
[New Task Generated: Survive Conversation with Yue Ling (Difficulty: Impossible).]
His face paled. "What the—'Impossible'?!"
[Penalty for Failure: Divine Smite.]
"Oh, come on!" he shouted, throwing his hands up. "System, you can't just casually put smite in the fine print!"
Yue Ling folded her arms, unimpressed. "Mortal, explain why you summoned me."
Li Cheng thought fast. "I… wanted to give you a five-star review?"
Silence. The System beeped.
[Warning: Goddess of Fortune's Patience – 4% Remaining.]
Sweat rolled down his temple. "Okay, okay! I was testing a new function. Totally professional stuff. No offense meant!"
The Goddess leaned closer, her divine aura pressing against him like invisible weight. "You wield a system of creation… and you waste it on accidents?"
Li Cheng gulped. "Would you believe me if I said I was new?"
Yue Ling's expression softened—barely. "Perhaps. But the laws of summoning are absolute. You owe me… compensation."
[Ding! Side Quest Unlocked – "Appease the Goddess!"]
Objective: Flirt Successfully. Reward: Random Blessing. Penalty: Death by Divine Lightning.]
Li Cheng's brain short-circuited. "WHAT?! System, are you insane? How is flirting a survival strategy?!"
[Tip: Flattery increases affection rate by 25%. Compliments about appearance yield best results.]
He looked up at Yue Ling, who now floated mere inches away, her eyes glowing faintly gold.
Alright. Time to risk his life for charisma points.
Li Cheng cleared his throat. "You know, Yue Ling… your eyes—uh, they're like two golden coins of eternal fortune."
The Goddess blinked. "...Golden coins?"
He slapped his forehead. "I mean—no, no! Not like coins! Like—like the sunrise reflecting on a temple pond!"
Her lips twitched. "You are terrible at this."
[Affection +1.]
His jaw dropped. "Wait, that worked?!"
Yue Ling giggled softly—a sound that made the entire room feel lighter. "You amuse me, mortal."
Then, her expression changed. The room darkened. "However… you've opened a path that cannot be closed."
[System Alert: Dimensional Anchor unstable.]
The circle on the floor began to crack, glowing even brighter.
"Uh… Yue Ling? Is that supposed to happen?"
The Goddess frowned. "No. Someone… or something… is interfering."
Li Cheng stepped back. "Can we not have the universe explode in my dorm, please?"
The System beeped erratically.
[ERROR! Overload detected! Host and Entity merging—]
"What—Merging?!" he shouted. "Wait! I didn't sign up for—"
A blinding light engulfed him. His vision turned white.
In that final second, he heard Yue Ling whisper in his mind:
"If we are to share a fate, then do not disappoint me… my mortal summoner."
And then—everything went silent.
[Quest Updated: Survive the Fusion! – System Overload in Progress.]