This is my own novel. This story is due to my love for writing. Enjoy.
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Chapter 1: The Immortal's Dice
'Awaken. The Dice is yours. Awaken.'
As if he were a robot whose power switch was pressed, a seventeen year old with dark brown hair and blue eyes awakened. His breathing quickened as he felt a cube in his right hand. As he opened his palm, his fears were confirmed as he saw a blue crystal dice with white dots and six sides.
"Mom! Dad!" William Mu screamed. Loud thumps echoed in the Mu Home as three people rushed in.
"Will, what's wrong?" his mother asked.
"No," his father, Tian Mu, rasped, pointing at the die. "You got an Immortal's Dice?"
"Dad, what do I do?" William asked, despair in his voice.
"Is that a die? What game are we playing? Roll it," his little sister laughed with glee.
"Don't. He can't. He'll be taken from us," his mother, Selene, yelled.
"He has to. If he doesn't roll within ten minutes of waking, he dies," Tian sighed. William and his parents stared at the seemingly harmless die as it glowed.
The Immortal's Dice, called Dice for simplicity, first appeared on Earth a hundred and fifty years ago. Since then, the world changed. Radios, television channels, and the internet kept talking about Dice and the humans who received them. Those people were called Dicers.
Only Dicers could roll the die they received. Those chosen were always at random, the fabled Dice appearing in either hand when they awoke. Failure to roll the die within ten minutes of consciousness always resulted in death.
The world changed because of Dice and Dicers. Those who rolled the die would gain as many awards as the number of dots on the side facing upward. After seventy two hours, the Dicer would be transported to an Earth from an alternate dimension. Those remaining on Earth would get live screening on the internet or television featuring all Dicers still living on the other Earth.
If a Dicer survived for a year, the Immortal's Dice gives them two options. The first option is to receive a random award, the quality depending on the roll of the die. The second option was being able to return to Earth for one month before returning back to the alternate Earth.
Many families were torn apart by Dices. Those who miraculously survived for a year would either make a rampage on Earth or never return again due to how much the Dicer and his family had changed. Once a Dicer left for the alternate Earth, he would never be the same. Never.
"I don't want to spend my life fighting demons, monsters, magical beasts, or magical races. I'm afraid. I saw my best friend die last week," William shook with fear.
"As soon as you roll the die, your life will be on the small screen (television) until the day of your death. The only exception being the fact that the live screening will not just show you. It alternates with those who are currently the most interesting. Roll your Dice. We prepared for this," his father soothed. "Remember my brother, Wan? He survived for six years by staying at the sect or staying in big cities."
"He's still alive? Why hasn't he come back for the past three years?" William frowned.
"You can choose to come back or receive a random award. When he came the first and second time, he had a hard time adjusting back to life on Earth. It was too painful for brother-in-law. Still, you better come back!" his mother explained.
"I'll roll the dice now," William sighed and the die clinked ten times before displaying five dots on the top side.
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"New Dicer registered. Amount of time passed: 7 minutes and forty one seconds. Dicer will live. Awards: 5. Now commencing random transfer. Awards: Totem-grade magical sword, three skills, and a spatial ring. Spatial ring possess 20x20x20 meter space within. Totem-grade magical treasures are rare and take time to refine. Sword locked inside Dicer's body until refinement process is complete. Skills learned: Beast Tamer, Fireball, and Sunbolt Strike," the Immortal's Dice projected in a monotone voice. "Dicer is registered as William Mu. William has seventy two hours to prepare for dimensional travel. As you possess a spatial ring, do note that only food can be brought with you. Likewise, only food can be taken out from the spatial ring whenever you return to Earth. Exceptions do apply. Timer now commencing countdown."
As the die zoomed into his pocket, William shook his head as knowledge imprinted into his mind. He tried to use the skills, but found that he could not. He also could not sense the sword in his body, but felt a strange energy in his chest.
"How come I can't use my new skills? I've seen uncle use them once," William groaned.
"You can use them when you return. It is also why the world's governments are on alert when a Dicer chooses to return," his father explained. "When you arrive on that planet, survival must be your top priority. The Immortal's Dice, or whatever beings created them, will send you to a suggested organization to train and learn new skills. It is usually a sect or academy. The Dice will also restrict you from travelling outside the sect or academy until after a year has passed. Now, go to the basement. We had food and beverages stored up in case your mother and I became Dicers. You're picky, but there is still good food there. Oh, feel free to take all the Pepsi cans. It'll remind you of home."
"Thanks dad," William nodded and raced downstairs while his mother turned on his 14 inch plasma screen television.
"There's no question. Our son is a Dicer. That's him just reaching the first floor and heading to the basement. The government will be here soon. I'll take Rebecca to school," Selene sighed and wiped her tears as she held her daughter's hand. "Keep our son here. If you leave, don't be gone long."
"That's right. The government! They might be tracking where my brother lives. He could help Will. Wait, now is not the time for that," Tian muttered and rushed out the room.
An hour later, the military showed up at their doorstep. Tian and William were shocked as they traveled the highway in a military vehicle. The local police actually shut down the highway as they traveled to Van Nuys Airport.
"Does this happen to everyone?" William asked a soldier as he entered a military cargo aircraft.
"I'm just following orders. You will be debriefed in the Pentagon in three hours," the soldier answered and left him alone.
"Mom is going to kill us. We left and we probably won't be back before I have to leave," William sighed.
"Don't worry about her. Your sister's crying will keep her occupied. If you don't come back next year, she might lock you up in the following year," his dad joked. "I'm not going to tell you that you'll be alright. I can't understand what you're going through. Just do what you think is right. That planet is not our Earth. The same principles and laws don't apply. The threat of death is even more prominent. Just know you always have a home to come back to. You might even find your uncle there. No matter what, we'll be waiting for you to come home."
"Thanks dad. I'll try to make it back," Will said as he took out the Immortal's Dice and clenched it in his fist. "I will make it back."