1. The Transformation
The night of the Royal Ball arrived. The palace was glowing with thousands of magic lights. Expensive carriages lined up outside, carrying kings, queens, and powerful warriors.
Inside a small room, Sam looked at himself in the mirror. He was no longer wearing his blue janitor uniform. Thanks to his God-Level Luck System, he had found a hidden treasure chest in an old storage room yesterday. Inside was a suit made of black silk and gold threads.
[System Notification: 'Emperor's Presence' Skill Activated.]
[Effect: Your charm and aura have increased by 500%.]
When Sam walked out, he didn't look like a janitor anymore. He looked like a prince from a far-away land. His back was straight, and his eyes were full of confidence.
2. Entering the Palace
As Sam reached the palace gates, the guards stopped him.
"Stop! Show your invitation," one guard said coldly.
Sam didn't have an invitation. But he didn't worry. He trusted his luck.
"I am here to see Lady Elena," Sam said calmly.
"Ha! A person like you? Without an invitation, you cannot enter!" the guard laughed.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew. A piece of paper flew through the air and landed exactly at Sam's feet. Sam picked it up. It was a Golden VIP Invitation that someone had dropped from their carriage.
The guard's eyes went wide. "T-this is a Golden Invitation! I am so sorry, Sir! Please come in!"
Sam walked past them with a small smile.
[System: Luck Reward +100 Points for 'Perfect Entry'.]
3. The Shocked Crowd
Inside the ballroom, everyone was talking about Elena. She looked like an angel in her white dress. But she looked lonely. She kept looking at the door, waiting for someone.
Suddenly, the music stopped. Everyone turned to look at the entrance. A handsome man in a black and gold suit walked in.
"Who is he? Which kingdom is he from?" people whispered.
"He looks so powerful!" the ladies giggled.
Elena's eyes lit up. She ran through the crowd toward him. To everyone's shock, she grabbed Sam's hand and hugged him.
"You came!" she said, her voice filled with joy.
"I promised you, didn't I?" Sam replied.
Nearby, Richard—the bully from the cafe—was watching. He was wearing a very expensive suit, but he felt small compared to Sam. He didn't recognize Sam at first because of the 'Emperor's Presence' skill. When he realized it was the "trash janitor," his face turned red with anger.
4. The Dance and the Trap
The music started again. Sam and Elena began to dance. Even though Sam had never learned to dance, his System guided his feet.
[System Notification: Activating 'Perfect Rhythm' Luck.]
They moved like professional dancers. Every step was perfect. Elena felt like she was floating in the clouds.
Richard couldn't take it anymore. He signaled to two of his friends. "Spill the red wine on him. Make him look like a fool in front of everyone!"
One of the men walked toward Sam with a glass of dark red wine. He pretended to trip and threw the wine toward Sam's expensive suit.
But Sam's luck was too strong.
At that exact second, a waiter walking behind Sam accidentally dropped a tray. The sound made the man with the wine jump in surprise. Instead of hitting Sam, the red wine flew into the air and splashed all over Richard's face and his white suit.
"MY EYES! MY SUIT!" Richard screamed.
The whole ballroom went silent. Richard looked like a wet, red mess. Elena tried not to laugh, but she couldn't help it.
"Oh dear, Richard," Sam said, looking down at him. "It seems like your luck is running out today."
5. A Dangerous Challenge
The King of the city, Elena's father, walked toward the center of the hall. He looked at Sam with sharp eyes.
"Young man, you dance well. But this is an Academy of strength. To stand beside my daughter, you must show more than just luck," the King said.
He pointed to a large, ancient stone in the middle of the room. "This is the Strength Testing Stone. Only the strongest warriors can make it glow. If you can make it shine, I will accept you as Elena's guest."
The crowd went quiet. This stone was famous. Even strong knights could only make it glow a little bit.
Elena looked worried. "Father, this is too much!"
Sam squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, Elena."
He walked toward the stone. He didn't have magic or muscles. But as he touched the cold stone, his System went crazy.
[System Warning: Ancient Energy Detected.]
[Action: Absorb Energy and Convert to Luck Power!]
[Result: Critical Hit!]
When Sam's hand touched the stone, it didn't just glow. It exploded with a blinding golden light! The light was so bright that people had to cover their eyes. The stone began to crack because it couldn't handle Sam's power.
The King stood up from his throne, his mouth open in shock. "Impossible... No one has ever done that!"
Sam turned around, his eyes glowing with golden light. He looked at the King, then at the shocked crowd.
"Is this enough?" Sam asked.
[System Notification: Favorability with the King: +50%]
[New Mission Unlocked: The Secret of the Royal Treasury.]