Fatebound Dice

Blue Taro Kingdom, Tarin City, slums. This was the third rain since the beginning of autumn, yet the heavy moisture made it feel like summer still lingered. The bleak autumn wind roared through the pouring rain, soaking the slums to the bone. Drip, drip... In the most remote corner of the street, inside a shabby rental room— Dark gray rainwater seeped in persistently, drawing watery curtains for the room's occupant. A storm outside, a drizzle inside—this was the simple, unembellished life of Chen Qi. "Can fortune really fall from the sky?" "To have your wishes granted without paying a price?" Chen Qi stared at the bronze die floating in front of him, completely ignoring the rain dripping onto him. Just moments ago, before the downpour, he had been nothing more than an ordinary worker. But as he stumbled through the muddy streets on his way home, this die had appeared out of nowhere. [Roll the corresponding number, and three wishes shall be granted—free of charge.] That was the message that echoed in his mind the moment he picked up the die. Excited, disbelieving, euphoric? All Chen Qi could remember was glancing around and then dashing back to his room like a madman. But once he calmed down, doubts crept in. Could this be some kind of sinister trap? Could a person truly get something for nothing? His numb, mundane life clung to him like invisible chains. The bronze die still floated silently in the room. It was a standard 20-sided die, numbered from 1 to 20. In addition, each face bore blurry symbols and patterns—not from wear, but seemingly beyond Chen Qi’s ability to perceive. Some faces even had words engraved on them. Chen Qi counted carefully: [1], [14], [15], [17], [19], [20]—each marked with unique inscriptions. The handwriting differed from face to face, using unfamiliar characters. Yet somehow, Chen Qi could clearly understand what was written on face [1]: "Roll the corresponding number, and three wishes shall be granted—free of charge. (Note: Each person has only three rolls. The magnitude of each wish depends on the number rolled.)" Ding ding, ding ding! The communicator suddenly rang, jolting Chen Qi from his thoughts. “Next month’s rent is due early. You’ve got three days.” “Oh, and rent’s up by another 200. Don’t argue—it’s protection money for Black Torrent Hall.” The landlord's coarse, raspy voice growled like a wolf. Chen Qi had no power to fight back—his wages barely afforded this place. Correction: couldn’t afford it anymore. He had lost his job today. That was why he’d been able to come home before dark. Before he could even react, the landlord hung up abruptly. And with that call, all of Chen Qi’s hesitation shattered. There was nothing left to lose. “Ancient gods, great ancestors of mankind, forebears of the Chen clan—grant me your boundless fortune!” After washing his face and hands, and putting on his best clothes, Chen Qi lit three cigarettes and prayed earnestly. This was the most mystical method he could think of to boost his luck in the short term. A normal die might be cheated—but a magical one like this? Luck was all that mattered. Once the cigarettes burned out, Chen Qi solemnly picked up the die— And cast his fate. The moment it left his hand, the bronze die burst into a radiant rainbow light—and finally manifested in the real world. Before, while it floated mid-air, it seemed to exist only within Chen Qi’s perception—interacting with nothing else around it. Only Chen Qi could see and touch it. It passed through everything else like a phantom. But now that it was truly real, Chen Qi could no longer touch it. He could only watch as it fell to the ground, rolled a few times... And stopped. [4] That number stabbed straight into his heart, shattering all the grand fantasies he had just conjured up. The die floated up again. Now, all Chen Qi had to do was speak his wish out loud. “Ugh... what kind of wish can you make with a [4]?” Once again reminded that he was just an ordinary man—not some chosen one—Chen Qi tried to communicate with the die. But there was no response. Unwilling to give up, he began testing one wish after another. After all, as long as he didn’t speak a wish aloud, it wouldn’t be granted. And there was no time limit—he simply couldn’t roll again until the first wish was completed. “I wish to become immortal!” [Insufficient points.] “I want superpowers!” [Insufficient points.] To his surprise, the die actually responded—and that sparked his curiosity. He started experimenting in earnest. After half an hour, his brain felt completely drained. But finally, Chen Qi figured out what a [4]-point wish could accomplish: “Win a 30 million lottery?” → ✔️ “Reverse puberty and grow again?” → ✔️ “Cure a cancer patient completely?” → ✔️ “Master 10 languages in one day?” → ✔️ “Become a police chief in one year?” → ✔️ “Recover instantly from multiple bone fractures?” → ✔️ “...” “Such terrifying power... and that’s just from a 4?” “If I rolled a 17 or 18—would immortality actually be possible?” Gone was the despair. Chen Qi was now filled with desire and ambition. Even a measly [4] was enough to transform his life. But what wish should he actually make? “[4] limits the ceiling of the wish—I can’t transcend humanity with it.” “What do mortals desire most? Power, wealth, and health.” “My body’s fine. But if I ask for 30 million, I’ll be like a kid waving gold in a crowded market—definitely asking for trouble.” “If things go south, I’d be forced to burn another wish immediately.” “I only get three chances. I have to use them wisely.” “Power? Takes too long, and the road’s full of risks.” “In the end, it’s my low social status that’s the problem. I can’t afford huge risks—but I also refuse to compromise.” “I have three chances to change my fate. I must use them to their fullest.” After long contemplation, he finally made up his mind. Since he lacked status—he would gain status. Earlier, during his tests, he had wondered: Could I become a company chairman? To his surprise, the die responded: ✔️ And not just any company—Cross Group, a private firm valued at over 1.8 billion. Clearly beyond the usual scope of a 4-point wish. Even more shockingly—the transformation would take just two days. Meanwhile, becoming the general manager of a subsidiary (his former company) would take an entire month. That strange result meant one thing: There’s a hidden mechanism behind wish-making. “If there’s risk either way—I’ll go all in!” “I wish to become the chairman of Cross Group—within two days!” Chen Qi faced the bronze die and declared his wish aloud, firm and resolute.