Death And Gacha 2

(Gray POV)

[Welcome to the Gacha! Would You Like to Roll?]

"What are you?" I asked, my eyes narrowing at the holographic screen in front of me.

[Welcome to the Gacha! Would You Like to Roll?]

"That doesn't answer my question. I haven't taken any drugs, and I'm pretty sure I haven't eaten anything poisoned—though, that last sale at the supermarket did have some pretty iffy cheese." Turning away from the screen, I head over to the fridge to make sure all the food is within acceptable expiration dates.

Opening the fridge, the screen appears in front of me again.

[Welcome to the Gacha! Would You Like to Roll?]

"If you can do anything useful, check to make sure none of this is expired." I begin to rummage through the fridge, ensuring everything I ate yesterday and today wasn't past its date. Still, the screen does not disappear.

[Welcome to the Gacha! Would You Like to Roll?]

Sighing, I stand up and start cooking dinner. I'm starving after my shift. Customer service is brutal—no matter what world you're in, it's still the worst job imaginable.

Speaking of which, I need to focus on my budget for the week. How much money have I spent?

Before I can grab my calculator to divide up the budget, the holographic screen appears again, this time glowing with a golden color.

[OK, what exactly is the problem?]

"Am I talking to a supervisor here?"

[Yes. I'm the one who gave you this. Why haven't you done anything yet?]

"I'm not exactly sure why I need to. I have no interest in playing games. Honestly, it's pretty easy to ignore this thing."

[I can't decide whether I should be impressed by your mental fortitude or lament your terrible decision. Countless trillions would beg to be in your place right now.]

"Well, you chose me, so who's really making the mistake here? Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a budget to work out." As I reach for the calculator again, the screen shifts in front of me.

[You have no idea what's coming. It would not be in your best interest to reject this.]

"I have no reason to trust you or this 'gift.' I've lived here for six years without any major issues. I have a plan. I'm in a decent school, which will add points to my resume. Worst case, I can leverage my stock market knowledge in the future." The screen flickers as if the being behind it is getting agitated.

[I don't understand you. I've watched your life from beginning to end—your previous life, that is. I thought you'd jump at the chance to gain items from the Omniverse.]

Ignoring him, I grab a calculator and some paper, jotting down basic calculations: enough yen for weekly groceries and extracurriculars. Actually, I don't need to worry about that.

[This is probably the first time I've ever been ignored like this.]

"Well, you interrupted me at a very important time of day, so you'll have to wait."

[I swear, I can feel the customer service tone from here. You've been transported to another world, your old life essentially ripped away, and yet this is how you want to spend it?]

"You seem to misunderstand. I'm content with this life. Why take risks when I can just go along as I have been, living comfortably? Besides, if I took your deal, it'd become a race against time to gain more power and fight stronger foes like in some cartoon—or I'd end up trying to train myself into exhaustion. I appreciate the second chance and that this body is healthy, but unless you're forcing me, you'll have to explain why you're doing this."

[If I say it's an experiment, that's not entirely true; I'm actually more intrigued by your choices. You're not rejecting this out of fear—you're rejecting it because you're already satisfied. That's rare. My organization deals in reincarnations and transmigrations, mostly to add employees and workers. This is a personal experiment of mine; I'm relatively new here, and I wanted to test it on you.]

"I feel like I should be angry that my existence is just an experiment to you, but I can't even begin to comprehend your perspective. Honestly, I'm too tired to care."

After some more calculations, I realize I have enough cash to buy backup groceries, just in case.

[I'm very tempted to laugh at the fact that you're having a life-changing conversation while working on your weekly budget. It's almost nostalgic.]

"Should I even ask why it's nostalgic?" My question is met with an almost melancholic silence.

[Before I joined this organization, I was lost, adrift. I'd made a terrible mistake and felt like I was at a dead end. I took my rage out on someone—annoying, yes, but they didn't exactly deserve it.]

"Sounds like a lack of self-control. I've dealt with people like that for years. I get where you're coming from, but you have to be the bigger man—at least try to."

[It's been a while since anyone gave me advice. I appreciate it. I've learned since then, but beyond just wanting to see this experiment play out, I genuinely want you to reach your potential. You have power, wealth, and knowledge at your fingertips, yet you're saying no.]

"Repeat that."

[I don't know what you mean?]

"You said something about wealth. How much are we talking about, and how would that even work? I assume your currency would come from lost cash around the world, and the conversion rates would be insane across the Multiverse."

[…]

The screen crackles and shakes.

"Am I being put on hold or something?"

[No… just genuinely surprised. The Gacha can grant you anything. Eventually, you'd be able to generate your own currency.]

"So, I could afford a nice house and a vehicle?" The screen crackles again, seemingly stunned.

[I should feel offended that the power I grant is only appealing because it offers monetary gain.]

"Well, as they say, money is one of the best things for happiness."

[Pretty sure that's not how the saying goes.]

"That's exactly how it goes. Anything else is a lie."

[There's a wealth of media out there proving the opposite.]

"Those are usually miserable people or terrible ones. Money is one of the best ways to make your life heaven on Earth. If someone created a religion around money, it'd be one of the greatest."

[Simultaneously impressed by your drive, and I somehow have a migraine… But, yes, if you're lucky enough, you can get anything. So, I'll ask you personally: do you wish to roll?]

The screen changes back to its usual blue, and a large Ankh appears. Grabbing it, I give it all my strength. It spins, flashing infinite items and names before finally landing.

[Congratulations! Here are your rewards!]

1. Precognition Immunity

2. Skill: Mundane Reality

3. Basics of Nen by Isaac Netero (HXH)

4. Bloodline of Adam (ROR)

5. Divinity Stone (Arifureta)

6. Weakness Removal Cards x3 (MEGIN)

7. Nichirin Katana (DS)

8. Character Card: Giyu Tomioka

9. Basics of Breathing by Yoriichi Tsugikuni

10. Basics of Hamon by Lisa Lisa (JJBA)

"I feel robbed."

[You should feel lucky. Read the description of the second ability.]

Mundane Reality: Sick of supernatural beings reading your power level? With this ability, anyone around you will be clueless about your powers. Vegeta could try reading your power all day and still come up with nothing. However, be aware that physical changes in your appearance will still look odd.

Not bad. Before I can ask another question, I see a final message from the being.

[Be aware that while you're my experiment, I'm not stalking you, nor will I help more than I already have. Enjoy your life—or die in the dirt. It matters not to me. Also, planet-destroying machine gods are expected to arrive in about 30 years. Have fun. —Grayson]

The message vanishes, but one reward catches my attention: the Bloodline of Adam. I'm no hardline Christian, but I understand the significance. Adam, the first man, made in God's image. I wonder why a perfect being would create something so imperfect.

If I ever meet Him, I might ask.

The screen disappears as I feel something like fire coursing through my veins. Knowing I'm about to scream, I grab a washcloth and bite down as blood and other fluids seep from my skin. I head to the bathroom, sitting in the tub under cold water. The agony is unlike anything I've felt since my cancer reached the terminal stage. For a moment, I actually feel scared.

As unidentifiable liquids pour down the drain, the pain slowly recedes. Hours seem to pass.

"Haaa… haaa…" My breaths come out labored. If I ever meet the being who gave me this Gacha, I swear I'll give him the hardest kick in the nuts ever.

The bathroom reeks, so I plug my nose and open a window. Checking the mirror, I see my facial structure is slightly refined, but it's barely noticeable. My body, though, is toned, with defined muscles. Nothing like a bodybuilder, but there's definition.

The screen reappears.

[Bloodline of Adam (ROR): 20% Awakened]

So, it's a gradual process. I assume more potential will unlock as my strength increases.

After cleaning the bathroom, I change clothes and return to my budgeting. Sadly, I didn't get anything monetary from the roll.

Still, I haven't felt this good in years. Sounds, smells, and sights are heightened. I can hear the drip of water from the sink and the scuttle of pets in the neighboring apartments. Though, honestly, the smells are overwhelming.

As quickly as the high came, exhaustion follows. After calculating the weekly budget, I collapse into bed, drifting off faster than I ever have before.

This is my life now.

And to say I'm ready for it would be a lie.

Just as I start to drift into sleep, a thought hits me.

"Shit! I forgot to file the monthly rent payments!"

(Be aware that I've made a slight change to this essence. That is he doesn't get the daily rolls. I don't want to overload this character with too much useless junk so while the points system is still in place that being 100 points for every 10 roll, he can only gain the one point per day or by spending money he can gain the points up to 100 points per month.)

(Feel free to recommend things he can gain in the future.)