My brows raised in surprise at the notification. I quickly got off Yang and looked up toward the ceiling of the theater again. Even though there was a roof above me, I could see the small twinkle as if the star symbolizing Archangel Michael transcended through.

“Chance Sought Gold Serendipity has the best deal,” I replied nervously, my hands unconsciously trembling.

Divinity Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts is willing to take the consequences personally.

My spit thickened in my tightening throat. If I accepted, then we would most likely make a deal that wouldn’t have such a severe payment, and he’d have to boost my luck. To do such a thing would require an unbelievable amount of spiritual energy.

[Observers Chat]

Socrates: Take it, Jia Li. You’ll die otherwise D:

I blinked solemnly at that notification. The knowledge that I blocked Socrates before he could see the full extent of what I created in Surviving My First Run now weighed down on me.

Archangel Michael undoubtedly had enough spiritual power to execute the deal, but did he have enough to fully push back karma? He’d fall victim like Artemis, and I just couldn’t do that to him.

This was different. Socrates’ notification blinked beside me, but I refused to meet it.

Divinity Great Sage Equaling Heaven is warning ‘Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts.’

Gambling was a vice, and for an Abrahamic god to engage in such a deal with me, it would be absolutely crippling to his status.

“I’m sorry, Archangel Michael. But I can’t.” I prepared to roll again.

Although I was endlessly grateful that Archangel Michael would have made such a bold offer this early on, the rest of my party would have to deal with gods hesitant to help or pay back my debt. I’d be screwing over everyone but myself because no matter what, Yue would make it out.

Divinity Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts is willing to create a contract with you.

Divinity Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts says he will help you when necessary during Yue’s dungeon room.

“I want you to descend into the dungeon room and protect my party from karmic restraints. I’m asking more of you than I did of Chance Sought Gold Serendipity.”

Divinity Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts says it’s no challenge.

Divinity Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts says he’d never embarrass himself when demons are watching.

Divinity Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts proposes that you ally your party with Paradise for the contract terms.

I hesitated, my hands freezing in the air. Taking this deal would mean my party would forever be bound to Paradise—a collection of every Abrahamic divinity. My party would forever be bound to their will and their goals, along with their fight against the Demon realm.

Not only that, but I already promised to ally myself with Athena and the Greek divinities. Well, I guess Archangel Michael didn’t know that, though…

Well, there was no direct conflict as of now. The rest of my party would by allied with Paradise, while I was individually tied to Olympus. It would be a mess, but I’d deal with that fallout later—and find my way out of the deal.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“Archangel Michael, I’ll sign a contract with you. I’ll need you to trust me, though.”

An iridescent blue screen appeared before me, and I quickly typed in the terms. As ironic as it sounded, I had faith in him.

[All signatories have signed! The contract is now in effect until Liu Peijin’s death.]

Smiling solemnly, I whispered a quick thanks under my breath.

[Observers Chat]

SageDrunkKitty: Sending you my spiritual energy, Peijin! Just remember to return it to me later.

My body was thrust forward, and I was pinned to the glass wall. I whipped around to see who my assailant was only for it to be Yang, who pressed his staff firmly against my back to detain me. He pried the dice from my hand and shook them.

“I don’t know who you are, but let me place the same bet,” Yang quickly whispered into his hands.

“Yang, you don’t need to anymore!” I screamed. “Zhige!” I strained to break free as my entire body was squished and contorted on the glass.

Zhige flew forward, and its hilt smashed into Yang’s back, making him stumble forward and lose the dice beneath random seats.

He had rolled the dice.

Blue sparks burst throughout the theater—there was a considerable amount of spiritual energy flowing through the room now. My eyes darted around expectantly for Archangel Michael, but he was yet to appear.

Divinity Great Sage Equaling Heaven is fascinated by the story taking place before him.

Demon Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven reminds ‘Great Sage Equaling Heaven’ that he should be concerned about his disciple’s life instead.

Divinity Great Sage Equaling Heaven sponsors Disciple Yang 500 stars.

Yang’s staff shrunk, releasing me. I fell onto the ground but quickly stumbled back on my feet to chase after him. Staff flying back into his hand, Yang began to destroy the seats in search of the dice.

Wei’s panicked voice could be heard over the chaos. “Yue is almost at the end of the maze!”

As he spoke, Wei’s hand was gently on Amelia’s back. Beads of sweat fell down her head as she whispered to the dire wolf, their foreheads gently pressed together.

If Yang never found the dice and knew their sum, then he would forever be in stalemate. There was no risk of him losing seven years of his life.

Chance Sough Gold Serendipity would try and force Yang to look at the results of the dice, but I could prevent that from happening if I increased my power.

Yang froze, having suddenly spotted something.

My gaze followed Yang’s to a small, glistening shape on the ground. “Zhige!”

Zhige darted forward to stop Yang, but Yang leaped forward and covered the dice with his hands. He looked at it cupped between trembling hands, and his face ran cold.

I had caught up to him now, and I peeked over to check the value.

Two.

“You stupid, stupid idiot,” I muttered, my chest heaving from how out of breath I was.

God damnit, god damnit, god damnit. If Yang lost years of his life, I’d never forgive myself.

What if he didn’t have seven years left? What if the pain would be too much for him to handle? What if I still couldn’t save Yue with Archangel Michael, and I’d lose Yang in the process?

A thick bead of sweat rolled down my cheek.

[Observers Chat]

Nipon23: jia li, stop it. you know this world better than anyone else

Nipon23: this is YOUR element

“The second dice might be a five or a six,” Yang replied, but I could hear the wavering intonations that made him sound far less than confident.

I slowly looked over at him, my voice soft. “Don’t take that risk, Yang. Don’t search for the second dice.”

Amelia activated ‘Stone’s Aura’ for the dire wolf, and it quietly slunk through the glass after both Amelia and Wei’s encouragement. The dungeon didn’t sense the beast, and he quietly slunk down into the maze to reach a still unaware Yue.

If Wei hadn’t pulled Amelia together, I think I would’ve broken down in that very moment. The anxiety of needing to save Yue and stop Yang was only piling up.

“Alright,” Yang relented, slowly getting up from the ground and onto his knees.

I tried to keep my breathing slow and steady, disguising my trembling frame.

A small shape was wedged between my shoe and the ground. Amidst the chaos, I had managed to spot the red glint of the second cube and quickly stepped on top of it.

The dire wolf let out a loud snarl before pouncing, snapping its jaws at puppet Yang and puppet Peijin. Yue looked at the wolf in surprise before gripping her spear and attempting to pierce it, but not before turning behind her and realizing that puppet Amelia and puppet Wei were already gone.

She froze, stealing a nervous glance at the situation in front of her.

[Scathing Reviewer activated!]

In Surviving My First Run, Yue grew up in the foster care system and was only adopted when she was a teenager. Yue’s fear of abandonment was instilled due to my writing. She deeply feared being left again, deeply feared the unknowing emptiness that followed the word “home”; however, this still wasn’t her original fear in Surviving My First Run.

This was the result of me and my actions here, in this world. Even if Yue was nothing more than a character, she lived beyond the pages I’d written.

“Yang, help Amelia and Wei,” I ordered.

He looked up at me. “You first.”

I hated people smarter than me.

Yue glanced around desperately in the maze, quickly becoming panicked as she realized puppet Wei and puppet Amelia were gone. Puppet Yang, however, shouted endless strings of reassurance and comfort, and she persisted.

Mere words were all Yue needed to hear. I supposed I knew that very well, more than anyone in the world.

“Why? Do you not trust me?” I replied nonchalantly. My foot was still pressed over the dice, and I refused to budge.

“I trust you very much, which is why I think you’d lie to me.” Yang gave me that smile of his, and I watched his eyes wrinkle into those thin crescents.

I let out a weak laugh. “When’d you find out?”

“I know you very well, Peijin. You’re a bad liar.”

With my eyes shut, I quickly thought of one last thing: thank you, Archangel Michael for that goddamned contract.

I lowered my head and let my shoulders droop. Blue sparks erupted all around me like a firework now, creating a bright and radiant aura.

Slowly lifting my foot, I revealed the glaring red dice.