Lord of the Gacha (LitRPG, original?) 1 (Patreon)

I watched the glowing symbols spin before my eyes, each one representing a tantalizing possibility. The air in the casino was thick with anticipation, mingling with the clinking of coins and the hum of excitement. My fingers trembled, my arm a bit numb as I pulled down the lever, hoping for that elusive stroke of luck that could change everything.

The room was a kaleidoscope of neon lights, casting a surreal glow over the sea of faces absorbed in their own gambling quests. Smoke lazily curled above the heads of the players, forming a hazy veil of mystery. I could almost taste the thrill in the air as the slot machine whirred and chirped, displaying a mesmerizing array of fruits and diamonds.

The noise around me faded into the background as I focused on the rhythmic movement of the spinning reels. Each spin brought a surge of adrenaline, making my heart race in sync with the pulsating lights. The outcome hung in the balance, teetering between triumph and despair.

As the symbols aligned and chimed in harmony, I held my breath, hoping for the grand prize. But luck seemed to dance just out of reach, taunting me with near-misses and teases of fortune. The machine's mechanical heart beat with an unpredictable rhythm, reminding me of the whims of fate.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, jolting me out of my trance. A cocktail waitress stood there with a warm smile, holding a tray of drinks. “Can I get you something, hon?” she asked, her voice a melody in the cacophony of the casino.

Her lustrous ebony hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing a face that exuded both warmth and mystery. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, hinting at a secret world hidden behind her confident gaze.

She wore a form-fitting black dress that accentuated her curves, its sleek fabric hugging her figure with elegance. The dress boasted a subtle shimmer, catching the ambient light and casting a subtle glow upon her. The plunging neckline revealed a hint of her delicate collarbone, adding a touch of allure to her ensemble.

I shook my head, grateful for the interruption. Glancing at the machine one last time, I stepped away, carrying with me a mixture of disappointment and determination. There were other games to be played, other chances to be seized. The night was still young, and I wasn't ready to fold just yet.

My eyes widened in disbelief as a rush of panic surged through me. The celebratory chaos of the casino seemed to blur around me, eclipsed by a sudden sense of impending doom. The pulsating lights now took on an eerie glow, casting haunting shadows across the room.

A deafening silence enveloped me as my heart pounded in my chest, the realization sinking in that this was the end. The spinning reels on the slot machine froze, mocking me with their frozen symbols. Time itself seemed to slow, stretching each agonizing second into an eternity.

A sharp pain ripped through my body, searing through my veins like molten lava. I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe, but the air eluded me. My vision blurred, my limbs grew heavy, and I knew that the threads of life were slipping through my trembling fingers.

Faces around me twisted into distorted masks of concern and shock, their voices distant and muffled. Their attempts to offer aid faded into oblivion as darkness encroached on my vision. The cacophony of the casino dissolved into a muffled symphony, fading into nothingness.

In that final moment, I was consumed by an overwhelming sense of loss and regret. My world crumbled, and I surrendered to the embrace of the unknown, the veil between life and death tearing apart.

And then, in an instant, everything vanished. The casino, the pain, the fading echoes of existence. I was swallowed by the void, my consciousness slipping away into the abyss, leaving behind nothing but an echo of what once was.

As the void consumed me, time and space melded together into a swirling vortex of oblivion. The remnants of my being dispersed like scattered stardust, carried away on unseen cosmic currents, until I found myself suspended in a liminal realm of infinite possibilities. In front of me… was a woman.

Now, while she was pretty, it was in a ‘girl next door’ kind of way, not the sort of drop dead, supernaturally gorgeous you’d expect to be the one greeting you in the afterlife. It was only after taking in the surprisingly simple clothes that I noticed the wings. In my defense, they weren’t exactly large, and the way the chair she was sitting in made it look like they were part of the chair.

“Ah, welcome,” she said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “My name is Adoel, I am sorry to say that you died. You had an undiagnosed condition that resulted in you suffering a catastrophic heart attack.”

“Wait, are you telling me that my gambling addiction killed me, just like my dad said it would?” I asked, desperately hoping that she said no.

“It wasn’t the gambling itself,” she answered hesitantly. “But the argument could be made that it was the primary cause.”

I sighed, feeling a mixture of regret and resignation. It seemed my father's warnings had come to fruition after all. The woman's wings fluttered slightly, as if sensing my inner turmoil, and she leaned forward in her chair.

“But here's the thing,” she continued, her voice gentle yet resolute. “Death is not the end. In fact, it's just the beginning of a new journey. I'm here to offer you a choice, a chance to continue your existence in a different world.”

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “A different world? What do you mean?”

She smiled, her expression carrying a touch of compassion. “There are countless realms beyond our own, each with its own unique opportunities and challenges. You have the option to be reincarnated in one of these worlds, with a chance to start anew, to grow, and to learn from the experiences that await you.”

I hesitated for a moment, contemplating the enormity of the decision before me. The allure of a fresh start called to me, whispering promises of redemption and growth. With a mix of curiosity and hope, I met her gaze and asked, “Tell me more. What would this new world be like?”

“That really depends on you,” she answered. “There are a myriad of worlds that you can be reincarnated in. If it helps, you can think of the different worlds by the ‘genre’ that they most closely resemble. The worlds most frequently chosen for reincarnation are fantasy worlds.”

“I’m going to pass on that,” I said after considering it for a moment. “Don’t get me wrong, I love fantasy, but I love indoor plumbing even more.”

That prompted a giggle from Adoel, one of her hands coming up to cover her mouth. Once she got her amusement under control, she said, “That is quite alright. Do you have a particular genre that calls out to you, or would you like to discuss it with me?”

I leaned back in the chair I’d woken up in and thought about it. Indoor plumbing was a requirement, so something in the modern era at the earliest. I still wanted there to be magic and the like, so urban fantasy… or maybe…

“Is there an option that’s a mix of high fantasy and space opera?” I asked, hopeful but prepared for her to say no. I certainly couldn’t think of any settings that matched it.

“Indeed, there is!”she replied enthusiastically. She rose from her chair and began to pace around the room, her wings flapping softly. A few moments later, she stopped and turned towards me. “As I was saying, it depends on you, but there are worlds that match your criteria. However, before we get into that, you need to choose a Blessing.”

“What are my options?” I asked.

“Well, since you included high fantasy as part of your world genre, it opens a lot of options, especially when combined with space opera. In fact, if you would like, I can show you a few of them right now.”

I nodded eagerly. She smiled, then turned to the side, gesturing for me to follow her. We walked through a set of doors and down a hall, until we reached a small room that contained a large bookcase. She opened it and pulled out a book, flipping through its pages until she found what she was looking for. She placed it on the table before us, then sat down.

There were a lot of options, most of them feeling like the standard sort of things you’d expect from isekai anime. But after a bit, I came across one that practically screamed to me.

“This one,” I said, pointing to the option.

Adoel leaned over to look at the option, before her eyes widened in surprise, “‘Gacha Lord’ Class? Are you sure? It has the potential to go very poorly for you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, my eyebrows furrowing.

She pursed her lips, considering. After a moment, she said, “Well, it's like this: the class is heavily reliant on luck, and while the potential is there for power and abilities bordering on the divine, you are far more likely to be subjected to a number of various curses.”

“So it’s big risk, bigger reward, is that what you’re telling me? Sounds perfect.”

Adoel's wings rustled slightly as she nodded, a mixture of concern and understanding in her eyes. "Yes, that's the essence of it. The 'Gacha Lord' class offers incredible potential, but it also carries significant risks. It's a path that can grant you remarkable abilities, but at the cost of enduring the whims of fortune and the possibility of curses."

I squared my shoulders, a newfound determination fueling my words. "I've always been a risk-taker. If there's a chance for me to rise above my past and embrace a life filled with extraordinary possibilities, then I'm willing to face those risks head-on. Sign me up for the 'Gacha Lord' class."

Adoel's gaze held a mixture of admiration and caution as she reached for a pen and parchment. "Very well," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of reverence. "Your decision has been noted. Prepare yourself, for your new journey is about to begin. May luck be ever in your favor."

With a steady hand, I reached out and signed my name, sealing my fate and embracing the uncertain path that lay ahead. As I did, a screen appeared in front of me. Looking it over, I saw my name, Darius Sharpe, the Gacha Lord class, but surprisingly no stats. Instead, a single button appeared at the bottom. It was glowing a bright blue, and the symbol of a dice was etched into its surface.

“That's it?” I asked, looking back up at Adoel. “No stats, nothing? Just a button?”

“Yes,” she replied, her eyes gleaming. “You have chosen a path that requires you to rely on your own power. There is no need for numbers and statistics when you can see them with your own eyes. You get four rolls now, and will gain more as you reach certain milestones. What those milestones are will depend on your journey. For now, we shall leave it at this: the more powerful you become, the better the odds of achieving success. Now, roll!”

I leaned forward and pushed the button, watching as a one appeared. It vanished, replaced by a second die, which also turned blue, and a series of text:

[quote]Your first roll: 1!

You have received a MAJOR CURSE

Roll to see how fate has cursed you[/quote]

Well this wasn’t off to a promising start, I hit the button again, watching the dice roll around before coming to a stop of thirty seven. Then, it vanished and another dice started to roll, settling on fifty. A third time the dice rolled, coming up on forty three. Before I could ask Adoel what the results meant, the three dice vanished, the screen gaining a consistency like water.

“Uh…” I didn’t have time to properly formulate my question, as something rushed out of the screen and into me. It felt like I was being punched in the stomach, only there was no pain, just an overwhelming sense of pressure. In fact, it was so intense that I had to put my hands up to my face, as if trying to keep myself from getting any closer to whatever was causing it.

“What is this?” I gasped, barely able to breathe.

”This,” Adoel said, her voice trembling with fear, “is your curse.”

I looked up at the screen in front of me, trying to push down whatever this curse was, despite the oddly empty feeling in my stomach that hadn’t been there a minute ago.

[quote]MAJOR CURSE: WERESHARK[/quote]

Ah, well fuck. Forcing myself to stand upright, I looked down at the blue button with a dice on it. I admit, I was probably more forceful than strictly necessary, but turning into a wereshark’s uncomfortable, so sue me.

[quote]Your first roll: 31!

You have received a COMMON

Roll to see how fate has blessed you[/quote]

Push the button, get new thing.

[quote] You have received COMMON: LESSER MENDING[/quote]

That sounded like a healing power, yes please! Two more to go.

In the end, I ended up with being a wereshark, Lesser Mending, a pretty snazzy scifi rifle, and my one Rare: Hadeokinesis. Basically, I’m a wereshark with limited healing power, a rifle that looks like it came out of an Alien movie, and control over hellfire.

“So, that’s my Blessing out of the way, up next is determining the world, right?” I asked as I concentrated and looked at the black and green flames dancing over my hand without doing more than make me mildly warm.