"Looks like we're close," the coachman said, nodding toward the horizon where the city walls were finally coming into view.
I followed his gaze—then paused.
Oh.
Right.
I almost forgot.
Oh, before I forget—please use the draw ticket you have. I prepared a little gift just for you, dear user.
The system's voice cut in, far too cheerful for my liking.
A gift? Now?
I frowned slightly.
"Wait," I muttered under my breath. "Should I use the gacha upgrade first… or just draw with the ticket?"
A brief pause.
Use the upgrade first, then draw, dear user.
Of course.
Figures.
I let out a quiet sigh.
"That's simple enough," I said, half to myself, half to the system while the city gates loomed ever closer, unaware that something new was about to be pulled into existence.
Here's an enhanced version with better pacing, clearer tension, and a touch of dry humor that fits Damian's voice:
---
Use the gacha upgrade.
Chime.
Gacha Upgrade Ticket — Used
A blue screen unfolded before my eyes.
Updated Probabilities:
[1★] 50%
[2★] 35%
[3★] 15%
[4★] 2%
[5★] 0.01%
[6★] 0.001%
…
I stared at the numbers.
"So… when's the upgrade supposed to finish?" I asked flatly.
A brief pause.
"I believe it already has, dear user."
I blinked.
"…You're joking," I said slowly. "Right?"
...
No response.
A long sigh escaped me.
"I should've known," I muttered. "I mean, it is called a gacha after all."
Of course it wouldn't be generous.
Of course the odds would still be awful.
"Oh well," I added, leaning back as the carriage continued its steady ride forward.
"At least it's honest about screwing me over."
"Well then," I murmured, "let's see what this gift of yours is supposed to be."
A familiar prompt appeared.
Consume 1× 10-Pull Gacha Ticket?
Yes / No
The blue translucent screen hovered directly in front of me.
Without overthinking it, I tapped Yes.
The world shattered.
The sound of the carriage, the wind, the road—everything vanished as the surroundings were swallowed by darkness.
Not night.
A void.
I stood alone in it.
At the center of the emptiness floated a massive ball of chains, tangled and coiled like yarn wound too tightly upon itself. Each link was ancient, worn, yet radiated an unnatural presence.
It began to glow.
White.
Green.
Blue.
Red.
Yellow.
And then—
A deeper hue.
A golden-yellow flame, flickering like a living fire wrapped around metal.
I stared, breath caught in my throat, awe rooting me in place.
What… is this?
Before I could even form the thought, the void trembled.
Chains erupted from above—dozens, hundreds—raining down with terrifying precision, all aimed at a single point.
My heart.
Instinct took over. I raised my arms, bracing myself, trying to block them.
It was useless.
The chains passed through my hands, through my arms, and drove straight into my chest.
I gasped—expecting pain, agony, death.
But there was nothing.
No pain.
No blood.
No scream.
Only a strange, overwhelming sensation—
as if something was being claimed.
As if something had finally found me.
The chains tightened…
and the void grew silent once more.
Each chain glowed with its own forbidden allure, colors pulsing as if alive.
Entranced, I reached out.
The ball of chains drifted toward me, drawn by an unseen will
The moment my fingers brushed cold metal
SHING.
The chains snapped back violently, tightening around the core.
CLATTER. CLATTER. CLINK!
The void echoed with something feral.
"Woof."
[1★ Damian: Dog]
A sharper sound followed, fleeting and curious.
"Meoow."
[1★ Damian: Cat]
The chains shifted again, heavier now, deliberate.
"Patience is the key to success."
[2★ Strong-Willed Hunter of the Sea, Damian: Fisherman]
Colors spilled into the darkness—muted, unfinished.
"Such dull colors aren't worthy of my canvas."
[3★ A Failed Artisan Who Longs for Beautiful Colors, Damian: Artist]
My chest tightened.
"They're… they're here…"
"They're all here…"
"The Guild… the Hellfire Guild…"
The air grew thick.
The colors vanished.
Only crimson remained.
Flames erupted along the chain not consuming them, but binding them tighter. The sphere collapsed inward, compressing, screaming, forging something new.
Then
A single drop struck my hand.
Then another.
Raindrops fell from above.
Rain?
The darkness peeled away like burnt paper.
I looked ahead.
No void. No chains.
A dim alleyway stretched before me, drenched in rain and flickering neon.
Footsteps echoed against wet concrete.
I realized with a jolt—
I was watching myself walk.
A formal suit hugged his frame, immaculate despite the storm. A crimson tie swayed with each step. His right arm was no longer flesh alone runes burned beneath the skin, intertwined with scrap metal, scorched plates, and remnants of something forged in fire.
Steam rose where rain touched the arm.
The alley seemed to recoil from his presence.
He stopped.
For a brief moment, he turned—eyes glowing like embers that refused to die.
[6★ The One Who Walks with Ever-Burning Vengeance — Hellfire Damian]
The scene vanished, dragging me back into the dark void.
A soft, blue, translucent light shimmered before me.
Duplicates flickered in its glow:
[1★ Damian: Dog] ×3
[1★ Damian: Cat] ×2
"Hey!"
A distant voice echoed, insistent yet comforting.
"Hey! Hey! Wake up—we're here!"
Blinking, I opened my eyes. The darkness had disappeared without a trace. I was no longer suspended in the void. The world had returned. I was back in the carriage.
"When will you leave?"
I snapped back, grounding myself in reality.
"My apologies," I said sincerely.
"Don't worry," the voice replied, tinged with relief. "I was scared for a moment. I called for you when we reached the city borders, but you… you were just sitting there at the back, silent. What happened?"
"Nothing to worry about, coachman. Thank you for your concern," I answered, my tone calm.
I stepped outside, taking in the city once more. The streets shimmered in the afternoon light, buildings rising in elegant symmetry, every detail whispering prosperity and life.
"Hey."
I noticed his hand extended, waiting, signaling for something.
Oh. The fee.
I reached into my pocket, retrieving four silver coins, and handed them to him.
"Thanks, kid," he said with a warm smile.
"And… welcome to Evergreen City."