Percy jumped up and yelled so loud someone might have thought another big bang was coming.
Nyx watched him lazily as he jumped through the still darkness, hitting a few random dances for the fun of it.
He pointed at each of the twelve lights burning in the distance, before moonwalking back to Nyx and spun to face her with a smile.
"So, how is this going to work?" he asked.
"I have about ten souls from your world here, so I'll spread them out between all the worlds, except Aether's of course."
Percy pointed at the distant stars.
"Which one is Aether's? So I know to avoid that bozo."
Nyx raised her hand to point at a reddish world in the distance. "The demon world. But don't worry about that, I'm sending you to the human world."
"Sounds a bit boring. Is there magic?"
"Its called Spiritmancy over there. And they are more medieval than your world. If you could stir their development in a more… human-centric direction, i would appreciate it."
"You mean a business that serves the customers and not the owners? Sure I can try, but I'm mostly there to build whatever I want. Humans are selfish. I can't promise you they'll want a utopia if there's a possibility that everyone enjoys."
Nyx made a grumbling noise, but Percy found it more cute than horrifying.
"Soooo," Percy started, "What special powers are we getting?"
He didn't want anything crazy. No Supreme dragon god physique or Ancient demonic bloodline.
Just a little something for the vibes.
But Nyx had other ideas.
"That's a little harsh, no? Are you angry about what I said?"
Percy remained silent, waiting for Nyx to at least give him a reason why.
Nyx sighed once again.
"I just want to go back to sleep, man. I had to fight Aether for so long. If I want to give you special abilities then I have to talk to my siblings more while we arrange your reincarnation."
Percy was a bit astounded by how lazy the goddess was but he decided to shrug it off. No one liked random work falling into their lap.
"Okay. But, we might all just die really quickly if you don't give us anything helpful. I don't need anything crazy. Just my memories and my big ass brain are heavenly cheats already—"
"That's a crazy thing to say about yourself."
"—But I do need to spawn somewhere safe and with some resources."
Nyx stared at him blankly.
"Okay. I'll let you choose like three things."
She waved her hand and a slot machine appeared in the void. It was eerily colorful and bright against the ancient darkness.
Percy looked down at the massive things moving beneath his feet, hoping the horrors beyond what eyes have ever seen weren't offended by the bright gacha machine.
"Why'd you choose a slot machine?"
"Seems easier than letting everyone choose," Nyx shrugged. "Pull the lever and it'll roll three blessings that I'll give you."
"I can't even escape my gambling addiction in death," Percy muttered, sliding up to the slot machine and placing his hand on the lever.
Hopefully he got something that massively increased his computation ability. In a world without computers, constant reiteration and calculations would take years. For original chapters go to novel•fire.net
If he had a way to speed up his calculations and input new variables for testing it would be goated.
Also the little things like a powerful talent for magic or a powerful body that can withstand diseases and old knees.
He took a deep breath, silently praying to the gambling gods for their mercy.
Nyx's impatient voice cut through his thoughts.
"They can't hear you here."
"The gambling gods are real?!"
Percy looked back at the three slots. Each of them was blank. He released his held breath and pulled the lever.
The slots rolled fast and bright, the space-like bells and jingles of the machine filling the Hollows with their musical rhythm.
Percy tapped his foot and drummed his fingers against the machine to the beat of the bells.
"Good love, keep us together~"
"Are you serious right now?" Nyx asked. "You have a very strange way of dealing with your anxiety. Those aren't even the right lyrics."
"My older brother always used to say: if you're the only one uncomfortable in the room, then it's your duty to make everyone else uncomfortable."
"You'll get something good, stop worrying. Each slot is coded to three powers, the second slot's reward will be better than the first, and the third reward will be better than the second."
"Did you come up with all this just as you met me? I thought you didn't know about earth till Aether attacked you?"
Nyx rolled her dark eyes.
"I'm not god but I am powerful enough to rifle through your memories and understand earth culture in seconds."
The slots started slowing down. Percy held his breath, gripping the edge of the machine as the lights and sounds slowed down.
The first slot stopped and it projected his first gift.
[Dragon fighting spirit]: You are able to learn fighting techniques far faster than the average person and your physique is strong and enduring.