“Are you okay, Ray?” I asked.
“Hermes.” He tipped his head and two hats slipped off. He looked at the ground with both lips curled down and seemed close to tears. Eventually, the man shook his head and held up the ring of gold. “Do you see this, Hermes? It’s shaped even more oddly than your gift. Of this world, and not.”
“Ray, should you be here?” I tried to focus. The last time a Voice had been present, outside my wedding, was slightly before a [World Eater] popped out and destroyed pieces of the landscape.
“I flipped a coin,” he said dryly. “Twice.”
I nodded as if that made all the difference. Perhaps it did. Ray was the Voice of Gambling. He honored his bets even if the outcome displeased him. The endless string of hats sitting upon the Voice’s head made me worried though.
“Is that what we need?” Awesome whispered to me.
I assumed the golden circle in Ray’s hands was our prize, but I didn’t know for sure. I held up the torch and scanned the room while Dwight charged by again. He must have been desperate for the final prize hidden in this room. He’d been obsessed enough to stay in this town when the servers were going to hell.
This time, he managed to stay on his feet and avoid being pushed back. Blood dripped from his face which he tried to wipe away with metal armor. Another coin hit the man’s exposed belly and sent him tumbling backward again.
“There’s nothing else in here but that throne, the skeleton, and Ray.” I didn’t bother whispering. “That’s got to be what we need for the event.”
“You’re the expert on Voices,” Awesome said. “Any suggestions on getting that from him?”
“We could hit him,” SheHulk offered while thumping her shield.
One eyebrow lowered while I tried to figure out what was wrong with SheHulk. She sounded worse than HotPants. Maybe the two of them would get along well. The image of them both screaming obscenities while charging into an enemy hoard chilled my bones.
“Or gamble,” I said firmly. “Ray’s the Voice of Gambling.”
“I’ll bet you anything!” Dwight yelled quickly. “Name your price!” The clanking man collided with a wall again after Ray flipped a coin.
We all watched as Dwight groaned. I looked around the room and tried to consider something more suitable. It dawned upon me that Ray might be missing his hat. [Wild Bill] sat calmly on my head. I lifted it off and held it out toward the Voice.
“I would bet you this hat,” I said. “Those others don’t seem right for you anyway.”
“You’ll wager my old hat against this one?” Ray looked at me and kept a good poker face. Only a slight lilt to his voice and his slow swallow gave away how desperately he wanted [Wild Bill].
I nodded.
“You chose the wager, so I’ll choose the game.” Ray pulled off one of the many hats and waved its pocket over an outstretched palm. A single coin appeared, which he proceeded to play across his knuckles. “Coin flipping is what started this. Flipping another coin should be fair.”
My mind rapidly went through the numbers. Ray’s mark had faded off, so universal bad luck no longer applied. I needed an edge but only knew of one way.
“Hey, beautiful,” I whispered to my wife. “How about a kiss for luck?”
Xin’s mood had been in a funk ever since our fight with Nam Redrum. She gave me a nearly passive peck on the cheek that failed to do anything for me or trigger a system message.
I slid one hand along Xin’s chin and lifted her face. Her eyes held mine. They were unwavering and still, as if heavy thoughts sat locked in a cage inside her. Foolish me, we hadn’t talked at all about what had happened earlier.
My voice stayed low as I leaned forward to speak in her ear. “It’s okay, babe. I’m alive, but if you’re worried, then kiss me like you mean it.”
She loosened a little as our lips touched. Her arms reached around my neck, and I closed my eyes to blot out everything but her and the weight of her body against mine. Her dress served as a negligible barrier to the heat between us. A tiny tongue slipped out and licked my lips, and I nearly forgot about the wager altogether.
“Really?” SheHulk said. “Can’t you two get a room?”
“No, we’re married, so it’s a honeymoon suite,” I said.
Xin laughed a little before returning to her sleepy stance. The sight made me a bit sad, but hopefully we, as a couple, were okay. Maybe she was upset over the deaths, or over our odd exchange of dying.
[A Kiss For Luck] buff gained!
Seemingly random events are more likely to work in your favor until the next quest is completed or twenty-four hours has elapsed.
“It’s not cheating, right?” I asked Ray.
“A kiss from a beautiful gal is never cheating, Hermes. Not in my book.” He smiled and, for a moment, the suave, calm version of Ray I had first met surfaced. “Ready?”
I nodded.
He passed one hand over the other, and a fresh coin appeared. I hadn’t noticed the prior one vanish. Ray flipped the new coin up. It hummed briefly, and I stared as it fell. He caught it, then slammed it down on his other hand.
“Call?” he questioned.
I shook back and forth while humming. “Heads?”
Ray lifted the hand away, and his lips tightened briefly. With a grudging nod, he lifted the golden loop in my direction. I took it and stared at it. The hoop was big enough to fit over my head, but not all the way.
“That’s ours!” Dwight stood, and his footsteps slammed through as he charged toward the golden circlet. “We guarded this place for months. We figured out how to hook it all up!”
A gong sound rippled through. I looked up in time to see stars appear over Dwight’s head as the man stood there looking stupefied.
“God, I love this skill,” SheHulk remarked.
Dwight opened his mouth as his stun wore off, but the short Hispanic woman slammed her shield into him again. More stars appeared, then finally he fainted in our direction. I wanted to cheer.
Xin’s eyes drifted down for a moment, and she stared at the fallen player. She reached out with a bare foot and toed the man’s shoulder. A snore erupted, which made my wife roll her eyes.
“We got it.” I nodded.
Awesome approached to look at the circlet. His lips pursed together in a half frown.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“You may want to go for double or nothing,” Ray stated. His face lit up with a sly grin.
“Oh?” I looked over with a raised eyebrow. “What are you betting now?”
Having both items was pointless to me. There was no way normal players could wear a dozen hats like Ray did. Handing back [Wild Bill] felt like the right thing to do.
“The key you came for.” Ray held up a large golden key I hadn’t seen before.
“What?” I stared at the round circlet in my hand. [Identification] showed me what the item was.
Skill Used: [Identification]
Results: [Mechanical Hades Crown]
Current Essence: 121
Details: This headpiece was crafted by the greatest smith to ever live on [Arcadia] and represents the second greatest work he has completed. People wearing this helm have a chance to spread the legend of M. Shell to people across all the realms.
Every departing soul may choose to gift the helm’s bearer with their essence. This can be used to [Empower] abilities beyond their normal range. However, each [Empowerment] will use a proportionate amount of essence.
In addition, it can be used to manipulate bodies who are currently missing their souls. Stronger bodies will require more essence and have a chance to resist.
Will transform with other armor pieces and provide a unique look.
I shuddered at the implications. This item sounded like a player killer’s wet dream. If I read the text right, I might be able to treat autopilot players like puppets. The idea revolted me but might be useful as we approached an end game.
The text did not say key any
where. I nodded while staring at the other object in Ray’s upheld hand. There were two items down here, but Ray must have hidden the other one until he needed it.
“You would really risk not turning the key over to someone who can use it?” I asked.
My mind raced. An AI—because however fancy Ray was, he still existed only in the digital world—held the key to the salvation of his people. Due to how he was designed or raised, he wouldn’t, or couldn’t, let it go without the gamble. The Voices may be friendly, but they weren’t altruists, not in the slightest.
He shrugged. “Life’s a gamble. You should know that. Every time you swing that blade, you take a risk and hope that your skill is greater than the enemy’s.”
“Do you mind if I verify it’s the right item this time?” I asked.
Ray nodded, and another hat tumbled off. His face twisted, and one foot kicked at the fallen accessory. I approached, afraid that he may flick a coin in my direction, but Ray eventually calmed down and held out the thick key.
Skill Used: [Identification]
Results: [Altered Matrix] key
Details: This key has been crafted by a Grand Master of Smithing and Enchantment. At its heart lays materials unseen in the world of [Arcadia]. No one knows what may happen if this key is inserted into the proper lock.
Once per day, this key can open any lock, magical or mundane.
“Damn,” I said with unfelt calmness. We had been that close to solving this simply. My lip hurt from where teeth dug into flesh. Finally, I nodded.
Ray smiled, then brought out a second coin. He flipped it into the air. It hummed, and I once again shook my head.
“Call?” Ray asked.
My eyebrows went up as I gave in. “Heads.”
He lifted his hand and once again scowled. The coin indeed matched my wild guess. Ray’s hand grabbed the edge of my crown. He shoved the coin into it, and the material melted while he gave off a disgruntled look. My [Mechanical Hades Crown] vibrated even more intensely as he shoved a second coin onto its rim.
Finally, he let out a breath and stepped back. The crown in my hands glowed with a fading light. I studied the small lumps of metal he had attached to the ring. Both had melted into small leaves, making it look like a truly Roman, or Greek, head adornment.
[Mechanical Hades Crown]:
With enough essence, it is possible to use [Empowerment] upon another. Travelers and Locals are unable to be increased so. Pets, companions, and weapons are eligible to be empowered.
I didn’t know how to use that new ability yet. Nor was I sure how it qualified as double or nothing. Maybe he valued the key and this gift as equal to [Wild Bill], or maybe he hated the coins that much. Still, it was neat and I got the key I wanted.
Now I had both hats and the [Altered Matrix] key. A shuddering sigh passed through me. We were one step closer to making everything easier for Xin and the other AIs. Dozens of people could be saved—maybe even hundreds—or their data. I didn’t know exactly how it all measured out, but simply knowing I had reached this stage felt great.
The realization took a moment to sink in through my sleepy brain. Tension unknotted in my back. Standing straighter became easier. The weight on my chest loosened. As all those improvements happened to me, Ray looked that much worse.
I held [Wild Bill] again toward the Voice. Gifting him the hat would never work, not with his nature, but another wager might.
“Third time’s a charm?” I offered Ray. He desperately wanted the hat back but had to abide by his own nature. Dealing with him was no different than James and his endless questions, or Mezo’s lust.
“I don’t have anything else to wager,” the Voice said.
“Wild Bill against your… tie.” I picked something completely random and hoped, this time, he would win.
Ray looked downright depressed after failing a second time. Maybe he had been aiming to use this opportunity to exchange for [Wild Bill] all along. I turned [Wild Bill] over my own palm and generated a coin. Ray snorted in defeat and shrugged. I took that as a go-ahead noise, then I flipped my coin with a less smooth motion. Hermes as a character had enough [Coordination] to grab the falling coin and slap it onto my wrist.
“Call?” I asked.
Ray’s head lifted, then he narrowed both eyes.
My head shook, then one eyebrow rose. “Long odds say its heads again. The smart bet is on tails.”
I hoped he won, whatever choice the Voice picked.
“Third time’s a charm,” he said with a composed face. “Heads?”
My hand lifted, and a smile pulled back my cheeks. Heads it was, for a third time. Three coin flips in a row had given me the hat. It felt appropriate to pass [Wild Bill] back for the same reason.
“Heads it is.” I nodded, then handed over [Wild Bill]. My scalp felt chilly without the wide brim. Most of the time I forgot the item, and all my others, were even equipped with abilities, but part of me missed [Wild Bill] already.
“Come to Papa,” Ray said. The hat went onto his head, and visible stress dripped away. The bags under both eyes slowly vanished as his stubble got under control. His face looked sharper. One of the man’s hands started flipping the coin in quick, tightly controlled spins. Each time it came up heads. “Thanks for keeping her warm for me.”
I nodded but still felt too tired for much more.
“Good luck, Hermes.” Ray tipped his hat, then vanished in a shaft of glittering coins.
Dwight crawled up weakly, having recovered from unconsciousness at some point. His fingers grasped after fallen coins, but they faded rapidly into nothing. The desperate Traveler groaned.
The fact that [Wild Bill] was a girl in Ray’s mind bothered me. [Mechanical Hades Crown] disturbed me too, but I put it on and turned around to see a row of confused players. Awesome, TinkerHell, TockDoc, and even SheHulk wore the same slack-jawed expression. Their gear shone with fresh life and no longer resembled a torn, motley collection.
“I can’t believe you just talk to the Voice of luck like it’s nothing,” TockDoc said.
“Ultimate Edition?” I winced and tried to pretend the situation wasn’t that impressive.
“God, look at you. You’re…” SheHulk sputtered, then shook her head. “You know what, I give up. It’s been a long day, and I have casework to solve. Fuck this.” Then her autopilot kicked in again.
TinkerHell looked at her friend’s autopilot, then pulled back a cheek while shaking her head. The tall blonde looked at Xin and said, “You’re a lucky woman.” Then she logged off as well.
Awesome stood in the silence for a minute, then ventured a question. “Do you have a way back to Haven Valley? I know my son’s got those portals or whatever. Maybe we can find a close one.”
Xin’s chest heaved slowly as she brushed off her funk. “We do. I’ve got scrolls.”
“We can’t summon each other for half a day,” I reminded her. We had burned the summon during our fight with Nam Redrum.
“I can give you the scroll then?” Xin suggested, showing more animation than before.
“I’m bound to West Wall, remember?” I said.
“Then maybe we should try your new item. Ray did something with it, right?”
I blinked a few times, then nodded. We ran upstairs to find a content Dusk sitting on a pile of dead [World Eater] bugs that hadn’t disappeared. In between their defeated smoky forms were other little critters of all sizes.
“Let’s see.” I stared at Dusk and tried to imagine him growing more powerful. Most abilities were activated inside the ARC through visualization, and I was too tired to trigger anything on the first few attempts.
The system provided me a series of words that needed to be chanted. That method, per the system prompts, worked while in combat. The other method involved physically taking the crown off and activating it through button gestures. I wasn’t about to read out the [Lithium] poetry in front of so many people.
I took off the crown and moved my fingers around its
surface. My thumbs squished the leaves as if pressing a console button. That, or the violent shaking which followed, made my new helmet glow gold briefly before small gray lights flew out and swam through the air toward Dusk.
The [Messenger’s Pet] looked up just before the whole lot of them dove into his body. He stood, trying to see his chest, while a dull glow emitted from under his scales. Dusk started to grow in size, and I backed up slowly. Xin showed no such fear and stared in awe.
“Awesome,” Awesome said.
“That’s you,” I muttered.
“Neat,” Xin said.
I took one long blink to make sure exhaustion hadn’t caused me to start hallucinating. Awed tones from other Travelers nearby let me know that his huge form was no dream. Xin refused to back up even as Dusk moved around.
The [Messenger’s Pet] had become larger than an elephant. His wings stretched over a huge portion of the landscape, nearly hitting people as he twirled around. Gold flakes flashed through in larger patches. Dusk grumbled while turning his huge body in circles. He kept trying to snap at the brand-new saddle strapped around his chest and rear legs.
“That’s new,” Xin said absently. After a few moments, her eyes went wide as a second wind lifted her spirits. “No, wait! Dragon ride! We’re going on a dragon ride! Right now!”
People around us were mumbling while Xin dragged me forward. My feet dug in slightly as the immensity of my friend caught up. His eyes looked much more mesmerizing now that they weren’t as tiny.
She pulled me toward Dusk, and the large version of my friend turned his head with a deep grumble.
“Cupcakes!” I shouted while pointing. “No eating us, or no more cupcakes!”
A long red tongue hung out. He took deep, panting breaths. His huge dripping maw looked both adorable and terrifying. He yawned, and giant teeth snapped together. Memories of dead [Coo-Coo Rill]s flashed across my mind. The only factor holding back Dusk from world domination had been size, and for at least an hour, that no longer applied. Dusk could easily snap us all in two if he went crazy.
Xin was already climbing up him. Danger had never stopped her from new adventures, and riding on a pseudodragon’s back certainly qualified as new. She got into position, and I followed with a careful [Blink].
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