The coin soared high into the air, its gleam almost blinding, casting strange reflections as it spun, each rotation sending pulses of energy rippling through the Fractured Reality.
A faint hum filled the air, an eerie sound that seemed to emanate from every direction, distorting the already unstable fabric of the world around them.
The towering, four-armed figure froze, its massive blade held steady, no longer advancing. Its glowing eyes tracked the coin's every twist, a cold blend of curiosity and suspicion flickering behind its mask.
"A game?" the creature sneered, its voice dripping with disdain. "You think a simple gamble will save you, Spirit?"
Ivaim smirked, flicking the coin between his fingers. "Not exactly. Think of it as... a negotiation. You're already in my Fractured Reality, after all. The rules apply to both of us."
The figure's stance remained unchanged, but its unblinking gaze never wavered. "And what are the stakes of this so-called game?"
Ivaim met the figure's eyes with a casual, almost playful expression. "In my Fractured Reality, the rules bend with me. This coin, however, is no mere trinket. It determines outcomes—your fate, my luck, and whether we walk away from this or not."
His smile widened, almost teasing. "It's simple. Heads, you get what you want, and I'll answer your questions. Tails, you're bound by my rules and leave without a fight."
The figure flexed its four arms, tension rippling through its form as it considered Ivaim's words. After a moment, it gave a low, gravelly chuckle.
"Very well," it said, though the suspicion in its tone remained. "But don't think for a second I'll fall for any tricks."
Ivaim's hand paused mid-motion, his fingers curling around the coin.
"You should know," he said, his voice steady but with a hint of humor, "this isn't something I can cheat. The rules are absolute, even for me."
The figure tilted its head, intrigued despite itself. The mask, cold and unyielding, betrayed little, but there was something in the way it watched him now.
"But," Ivaim continued, flipping the coin in his hand, letting it twirl between his fingers with practiced ease.
"When you've got luck like mine, you don't need to cheat. You trust the odds—even when they're stacked against you."
As the coin soared through the air, the surrounding energy shifted, the tension thickening as the system chimed.
[Extra Scenario: Coin Flip, Parameters Set.]
[Heads: The Challenger gains the upper hand in the next engagement.]
[Tails: The Spirit gains temporary mastery over the Challenger's actions.]
The words hung in the air, visible to both Ivaim and the creature, their implications stark. The creature hesitated, its grip tightening on its blade.
It understood now that this was no ordinary coin flip—this was a binding force of the Fractured Reality itself.
The coin reached its apex and began to fall, spinning faster, the crackling energy intensifying. Ivaim's heart raced, but he kept his composure, his fingers itching to catch the coin when it landed.
"You should be careful about what you wish for." The creature growled, its voice layered with malice.
"Even if you win this little game, you won't like what happens next."
Ivaim raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Fortune and danger, remember? Two sides of the same coin. Let's see which one lands face up today."
The coin clinked against the stone floor, bouncing once, twice, before finally settling. The entire temple seemed to hold its breath as the result came into focus.
[Tails.]
Ivaim's grin widened as the system responded.
The system chimed again.
[The Spirit with Good Luck wins this round. The intruder must leave the Fractured Reality immediately.]
A tense silence fell over the temple as Arkan's form shimmered faintly, his presence flickering as the rules of the scenario began to take hold.
The towering figure remained motionless, his four arms tightening around his curved blade.
"You think this changes anything?" Arkan said, his voice low and venomous.
"This isn't over."
Ivaim chuckled, watching as the wolf-masked figure prepared to leave. But just before Arkan vanished completely, the system interrupted again.
[As per scenario rules, the loser must answer one question truthfully before departure.]
Arkan froze, his posture rigid. His glowing eyes flared with something between fury and resignation.
Ivaim's grin widened, his intrigue piqued.
"Ah, well, since you're being such a good sport about losing, let me make this count."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping into a sharp, almost playful tone.
"Who sent you?"
Arkan's jaw tightened beneath the mask, his body visibly straining against the scenario's binding. Finally, his voice came out as a low growl, each word dragged out as though it pained him to speak.
"The Black Veil Master."
The name hung in the air, heavy and foreboding, as though the very utterance carried weight. Ivaim's smirk faltered for the briefest of moments, his mind struggling to process the identity of whoever The Black Veil Master was.
"The Black Veil Master, huh?" he mused aloud, his tone feigning nonchalance.
"Sounds like someone who doesn't take losing very well. Guess you're not the big boss after all."
Arkan's glowing eyes burned with anger as the shimmer around his form intensified, signaling his impending departure.
"You'll regret prying, Spirit," Arkan spat.
"The Black Veil Master will come for you. You've only made things worse for yourself."
As the figure began to fade, Ivaim tilted his head, a flicker of amusement returning to his expression.
"Oh, I'm sure he's charming. But tell your boss this: luck's a funny thing. It's always on my side."
Arkan's form shimmered one last time before vanishing completely, leaving Ivaim alone in the eerie stillness of the temple.
He leaned against the altar, flipping the coin idly between his fingers as he processed the encounter.
"Black Veil Master," he murmured, letting the name roll off his tongue.
"Sounds like I've just made a new friend. Or an enemy. Hard to tell these days."
He paused, his gaze lingering on the spot where Arkan had stood moments before. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added with a wry grin.
"Well, if this is what good luck gets me, I'd hate to see what bad luck feels like."
With that, he pocketed the coin, the faint hum of his Fractured Reality returning to its usual stillness. But his mind was already elsewhere, plotting his next move.
"Hmm.." Ivaim muttered to himself, flipping the coin one last time and catching it mid-air.
"Looks like fortune's still on my side... For now."