Chapter 6: Wheel-of-Fortune

Chapter 6: Wheel-of-Fortune

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The sky was a canvas of dark hues, dotted with colorful clouds that intermittently concealed the stars. A plane lazily drifted by, disappearing into the thick swathes of cloud. Zephyr sat on the swing tied to the sturdy branch of a towering orange tree in the backyard. The moonlight bathed the scene in a soft glow, and fireflies flitted among the tall blades of grass. If Mac hadn't gone to bed early, he'd be here, chasing after the glowing insects. Because of this, Zephyr had carefully planted mosquito-repellent flora around to keep the pests at bay.

The orange tree had been there for as long as Zephyr could remember. Its broad branches provided ample shade during the hot summer days, and its sweet, citrusy scent filled the air during spring. The swing tied to its lowest branch was a relic from their childhood, a place of solace and reflection for Zephyr. The gentle creak of the ropes was almost therapeutic, a steady rhythm that mirrored his own contemplative thoughts.

Now, Zephyr was engrossed in familiarizing himself with the system interface. Although its features seemed straightforward, he didn't want to overlook anything.

"Zero, could you explain the Sub-System-User to me again?" he asked, gently swaying back and forth on the swing.

{Certainly. As mentioned before, the Sub-System-Users feature allows you to influence the talents and attributes of people you wish to. You can add individuals to your system, thereby gaining the ability to grant them talents according to your desires. These people will receive a Sub-User Interface once added, but you will remain the admin, ensuring everything ultimately returns to you.}

{This means you can completely alter a person's talents before they awaken. You can also enhance the talents of someone who has already awakened. This, of course, comes with a cost that the subject must be willing to pay. Lastly, you have the power to remove someone's talents entirely, rendering them an ordinary person, or forcefully grant an ordinary person talents, enabling them to awaken.}

"Isn't that a bit overboard?" Zephyr asked with a smile. The extent of control he had over others was overwhelmingly powerful.

If Zephyr didn't have a deal with the system distributor...

"Alright. The system distributor said I'm the one to save the planet, and you mentioned I have less than two years until the first disaster, right?"

{That is correct. What's your plan?} Zero inquired, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

Zephyr gazed up at the night sky, illuminated by the moon and millions of stars. The constellations seemed to whisper ancient secrets, filling him with a sense of curiosity. "There isn't any one star that can rule the sky alone," he mused. "Naturally, I can't save the planet alone either."

{Huh, that's true,} Zero acknowledged thoughtfully. {But not everyone is willing to risk their lives for an uncertain future. Even you didn't want to fight. Where do you find people who would?}

"You can leave that to me. What you need to worry about is finding a way to get slots for Sub-System-Users. Can you do that?" Zephyr asked.

{I guess. If you're lucky, you could get them from the Wheel-of-Fortune. The chances are slim, but it's your only option until you level up. Shall I spin the wheel?}

"Spin."

It would be a lie if Zephyr said he wasn't nervous, watching the wheel spin around. His whole plan hinged on this, and if he didn't get slots for the Sub-System-Users, he'd have to search for another alternative. The Wheel-of-Fortune was a gamble, a roll of the cosmic dice, and he was willing to bet the future of the planet on it.

The Wheel-of-Fortune was a large disk divided into the seven colors of the rainbow. Red represented Unknown, Orange represented Medicinal Pills, Yellow represented Cultivation Techniques, Green represented Weapons, Blue represented Record Library, Indigo represented Special Items, and Violet represented Random Items.

Violet occupied the largest section, followed by Orange, then Green. The smallest section belonged to Red, taking up less than 0.5% of the entire wheel. Indigo was the second smallest, followed by Blue.

Though there was no color specifically representing slots, Zephyr guessed they could be obtained from either the Indigo or Violet sections. Thankfully, one of the two had a higher chance of being picked. He clenched his fists, his heart pounding with anticipation.

As the wheel slowed, so did the thoughts in Zephyr's head, focusing entirely on the little pointing pin. The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the outcome.

{1/5 Spins \\ Green => Twin Moon Curve Swords}

A smile formed on Zephyr's face. It would have been odd to get what he wanted on the first try. However, if one spin wasn't enough, he'd try another four. The Twin Moon Curve Swords would be useful, but they weren't what he needed right now.

{2/5 Spins \\ Red => SSS Ranked Attribute}

{3/5 Spins \\ Red => X Ranked Attribute}

"Two items from the Red section?" Zephyr asked, seeing the next two spin results. "What are the chances?"

{I guess the cosmos are in your favor. Continuing with the last two spins, good luck,} Zero replied.

The tension was palpable. Zephyr could almost hear the wheels turning in his mind, calculating the odds, weighing his hopes against reality.

{4/5 Spins \\ Red => 10 Sub-System-Users Slots}

{5/5 Spins \\ Orange => 20 Restoration Pills}

The last two spin results appeared on the screen, much to Zephyr's pleasure. The Sub-System-Users slots were among the items he received. The only odd thing was the section on the Wheel-of-Fortune from which it came. He stared at the interface, hardly believing his luck.

"Could it be in reversed order? Does Red have the highest chance of being picked?" he wondered aloud.

{Don't think about it too much. You probably won't be this lucky for the rest of the year,} Zero replied, and Zephyr could almost imagine an eye roll.

Zephyr smiled and dismounted from the swing. The night air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of blooming flowers. "Anyway, I got what I wanted. Tomorrow is a big day, let's call it a night."

{What exactly are you planning?} Zero asked.

"Don't be so anxious. You'll find out soon enough."

With that, Zephyr made his way back to the house. The wooden floorboards creaked under his weight as he entered the cozy living room. The flickering light from a lone candle cast dancing shadows on the walls, adding to the serene ambiance.

Mac was fast asleep in his room, curled up with his favorite stuffed animal. Zephyr paused by the door, listening to his brother's peaceful snores. He knew that everything he was doing was for Mac, to ensure a safer future for him. The weight of responsibility settled on his shoulders, but he welcomed it. He would not fail.

Zephyr entered his own room, the familiar scent of old books and worn leather filling the space. He sat at his desk, the flickering candlelight illuminating his face.

Zephyr leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but he was resolved to face them head-on. The soft chirping of crickets outside lulled him into a sense of calm, a brief respite before the storm.

Tomorrow, he would begin the next phase of his plan. He had less than two years to prepare, to gather a team, and to face the impending disaster. But for now, he allowed himself a moment of peace, knowing that he was one step closer to his goal.

The night stretched on, the moon casting a silvery glow over the landscape. Zephyr's thoughts drifted as he finally succumbed to sleep, the weight of the world temporarily lifting from his shoulders. The future was uncertain, but he was ready to carve out his own destiny.