"Shit, we'll only get three zecta a piece at this rate!" Gram announced, triggering a tidal wave of laughter. The dark-haired man was busily walking around with a poker chip-like disc, collecting zecta from the soldiers.
The thirty-one betting soldiers were in high spirits, standing around even as scores of transmigrators poured in every second, crowding the training grounds.
As if by magic, the teen roped them into a wager, and their commanding officer had instructed them to follow through! Now, they could unwind until the match concluded—as brief as it might be.
They weren't the only spectators.
"This is going to be epic!" a player laughed, a red dot floating above their name tag. "This noob's about to become the first player death of the game!"
A hundred players gathered around, observing. They were unable to view or partake in the official wager since it was explicitly forbidden by Grey in the contract. If they could see the bet, they would publicize his scheme and trigger a world of hurt for him!
As a result, the players stood around, waiting with their streaming features open.
"Are you trying to back out of this?" Grey smirked menacingly at his status screen.
═─┈─═─┈─═
You have made NPC Payton Reece [Level 22 (Primed)] (1st Lieutenant) an event offer.
Offer: Bet that Greed can win a match against NPC Payton Reece using Combo Trainer. The competitors will hit each other in the face with bare fists and no magic until one is unconscious or surrenders.
The competitors will set up a betting circle exclusively for soldiers. Transmigrators will not be permitted to observe or participate in the event.
Cost: 100 zecta.
Reward: Contingent upon the better.
Your request is under consideration. Please wait….
═─┈─═─┈─═
-
"Your commanding officer approved this match," Grey taunted. "Don't tell me you're worried you'll lose, Lieutenant Reece?"
Payton wanted to scream "YES!" at the top of his lungs. Yes, he was worried that he would lose! Yes, he was stalling, hoping to find an opportunity to back out! YES!
After watching Grey like a hawk, the bearded man learned the teen was deliberately acting obnoxious and arrogant. While the act was impeccable, the teen's timing gave it away.
Whenever a new soldier approached, Grey would create a scene, turn red in the face, and ask: "Hey, can you tell this guy I'm a chosen one?" The soldiers would grin and explain, and a new soldier would join the bet, disregarding the young man's haughty warning that he was a [chosen one] and that they'd regret betting against him.
Consequently, thirty-two people had bet against him, including Payton, if he accepted.
The reason behind his actions was simple: each person he attracted multiplied his earnings!
Grey received an additional 100 zecta per soldier. Having persuaded 32 people to bet against him, the odds of winning stood at 32:1. This meant that 32 people bet he would lose, while only one person bet in his favor—himself.
If he won, he'd claim all 3,200 zecta! By contrast, everyone who bet against him would earn 1/32 of the young man's 100 zecta if they won. With one more person, Grey's loss would yield them a mere three zecta.
The odds were heavily skewed in the young man's favor if he won—assuming that he won. Given their current entity status and physique, it was physiologically impossible for him to win! As a result, they eagerly took the opportunity to bet instead of training and become part of the story of the year.
Payton saw through the deception and was convinced Grey would use some trickery to swindle everyone. No, he was certain of it. However, the most infuriating aspect was that the young man had managed to corner him into competing!
"Dude, what are you doing, Payton?"
"Why haven't you started? Are you seriously afraid of this runt?"
"Bro, I think he's genuinely afraid of him!"
"Bruh, bro, brody, broham, Brosiden, Lord of the Brocean—he's level one! One! This cuck's sweating when he's a combination of One Hit Man and Careful Hero!"
The transmigrators burst into laughter, making Payton heat up in humiliation.
"Payton! Whomp this runt!"
"You're making us look bad; just get it over with!"
Payton looked at Grey, smiling fiendishly. He was a demon who ensnared the man and was now playing with his food. "Okay, let's do it." Checkmate.
-
═─┈─═─┈─═
NPC Payton Reece [Level 22 (Primed)] (1st Lieutenant) has accepted your offer. Initiating Combo Trainer. The match will start after you set it up.
═─┈─═─┈─═
-
Grey's eyes narrowed deviously, examining the system window, "Give me a minute to pray to my god," he requested, triggering snickering. The teen ignored them and closed his eyes, looking at the screen.
-
┌─┈━═[Combo Trainer]═━┈─
├○
├═[User: Greed]
├○
├═[Attacks]
├○
├═[User Settings]
├○
├═──═[Instant Recovery]
├○
├═──═[Recover Speed]
├○
├═──═[Entity Type]
├○
├═──═[Pain Removal]
├○
├═──═[Allow Death]
├○
├═──═[Allow Unconsciousness]
├○
├═──═[Stat Modification]
├○
├═──═[Equalize Stats]
├○
├═──═[Add Skills]
├○
├═──═[Disable Magic]
├○
├═[Opponent Settings]
…
├○
└═─┈─═─┈─═─┈─═─┈─═
-
Grey had never played a video game. So seeing explicit god-mode cheat codes for the first time was an exhilarating experience! He immediately set to work, knowing he only had a few seconds before they started accurately accusing him of cheating.
"Dear Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name," he prayed shamelessly, taking a knee and closing his eyes to sell the ruse.
-
User Settings
Instant Recovery: 65%.
Recovery Speed: Fast
Entity type: Unprimed.
Pain Removal: 90% reduction.
-
"Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven," Grey continued earnestly, pouring his heart and soul into the prayer.
-
Allow Death: No.
Allow Unconsciousness: No.
Modify Stats: +50 STR, AGL, DEX, 20 STA
Add Skills: Minor Healing - [Thought Invocation]
-
"Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us," Grey said with a wicked smile, causing Payton to narrow his eyes.
-
Opponent Settings
Instant Recovery: Heal serious injuries until fixable with minor healing.
Recovery Speed: Fast
Allow Death: No.
Allow Unconsciousness: Yes.
Stat Modification: -20% STA, -15% (STR, AGL, DEX).
Disable Magic: Yes.
-
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," Grey smiled menacingly, casting an eerie aura that enveloped the surrounding soldiers.
Payton began to grit his teeth in resentment, but the young man's terrifying grin made him freeze, sending shivers down his spine. He felt weaker just by looking at that haunting expression.
Grey sensed the man's fear and grinned internally. With thousands of transmigrators nearby, every soldier present would soon learn they had been hustled within minutes of his victory.
Thus, he aimed to create a chilling image that would make them hesitant to attack him until he could consolidate his power. He was drawing a line in the sand.
"For this is my kingdom, my power, and my glory, forever and ever," Greed grinned. "Amen."