The first thing Klein felt was warmth.
Not sunlight exactly—more like the gentle press of life itself. The scent of earth and grass filled his nose, sharp and real. Birds sang somewhere overhead, and when he blinked, he saw blue sky framed by trees.
'So this is… the new world.'
He sat up slowly. The ground beneath him was soft moss, damp but comforting. His clothes were simple—rough brown fabric, loose sleeves, bare feet. The world stretched before him, wild and untouched.
'Not bad,' he thought. 'Better than limbo. No void, no rookie god cracking jokes.'
Then something clicked inside his mind. A faint chime.
[System Initialization: 12%...]
'Oh. So you do exist,' he thought dryly.
Another chime.
[Warning: Full System Access Locked. Stat Interface Unavailable Until Initialization Completes.]
'Figures,' Klein thought. 'I can't even check my level or attributes. Great start.'
He pushed himself to his feet and stretched. His body felt light—too light. When he glanced down, his heart stopped for a second.
Small hands. Thin arms.
He stumbled toward a nearby pond, half-expecting a reflection that wasn't his own. The water shimmered, still and clear, and what looked back at him nearly made him laugh.
A boy—ten, maybe eleven. Smooth skin, messy brown hair, sharp eyes too old for his face.
'You've got to be kidding me.'
The boy in the reflection tilted his head, mirroring the disbelief.
'This is my grand rebirth? A kid?' He squinted. 'Well… at least I'm cute.'
It was true. The face staring back at him had a certain charm—soft yet mischievous, the kind that would make old ladies coo and girls his age swoon.
'Heh. Maybe this is how the Omni System balances things out. Infinite seduction, but I start with baby face mode.'
The thought made him chuckle.
Then he remembered something—the inventory. He knew about a spatial dimension that held his spun treasures, as if implanted in his memory already.
'Let's see if at least that works.'
He focused inward, imagining the Wheel of Destiny and the items he'd won. A faint pulse of energy answered, and a small tear of light appeared before him—an empty void, faintly glowing.
Inside floated the faint outlines of his rewards: the Emberheart Gauntlet, the Aegis of the Hollow Star, the Verdant Veil, the Mirror of False Crowns… and a small, gleaming coin.
'At least this part's functional,' he mused. 'Spatial storage confirmed.'
He reached toward the portal. The coin floated out, spinning gently before landing in his palm.
Its surface shimmered with intricate runes, faintly gold. As he turned it over, a voice echoed—not out loud, but inside his head.
"So you're finally awake, master."
Klein froze. 'Who…?'
"The name's Paros," the voice said smoothly. "Your humble servant, though I prefer 'advisor.' The Cursed Coin, remember?"
'Ah, right. You're the cursed coin.'
"Such an unflattering introduction. I prefer to think of myself as… a risk with style."
The tone was calm, refined—someone used to conversations rather than commands. Klein could almost picture a smug smile behind the words.
'You can hear my thoughts?'
"I can," Paros replied. "And you can hear mine. Convenient, isn't it?"
'Intrusive,' Klein said. 'But convenient.'
A faint chuckle. "So, how does it feel to be reborn?"
'Short,' Klein replied. 'And barefoot.'
"Ah, the indignities of mortality. But worry not—you'll grow into it. Probably."
Klein flipped the coin in his hand. It shimmered midair, balancing perfectly before dropping back into his palm.
'So, Paros, any advice for surviving this lovely medieval paradise before I accidentally die again?'
"Plenty," Paros said. "But first, tell me—what's your plan?"
'My plan?' Klein frowned. 'Let's see. I don't know where I am, I don't have the system menu yet, and my legendary powers are locked behind level 100. So, step one: don't starve. Step two: find civilization. Step three: become king.'
"Ah, humble as always."
'I like aiming high.'
Paros hummed thoughtfully. "You're in good shape for a start. That pond nearby? It's spring-fed—clean water, minimal toxins. The forest's edge is to the west. You'll find roads within a few hours of walking."
'You're surprisingly helpful for a cursed coin.'
"Curses are just misunderstood blessings. Besides, I was made to serve those who take risks. You're quite literally gambling with destiny."
'Cute metaphor.'
"Not a metaphor, master. You're still holding me, remember?"
Klein looked at the coin again. The runes on it pulsed faintly, as if amused.
'Alright, advisor. If I find a town, then what?'
"Find a gambling spot."
Klein blinked. 'Excuse me?'
"A gambling spot," Paros repeated. "Taverns, dens, roadside stalls—places where luck and greed meet. I can help you there."
'You want me to gamble you?'
"Not me, exactly. Think of it as… recalibrating my curse. I'm bound by risk and chance. Use me in a wager, and I might reward you—or punish others. Depends on how bold you feel."
'You're telling me to walk into town and start flipping you like some demonic coin of fortune.'
"Now you're getting it."
Klein laughed. 'That's insane.'
"I didn't say it was safe. I said it was effective."
The coin's tone softened, almost teasing. "Besides, luck favors the bold, does it not? And you, my dear master, are the boldest fool I've met."
'You've only met me.'
"Exactly."
Klein slipped the coin into his pocket and looked toward the distant horizon. Between the trees, he could see faint hills rising beyond the forest. The sky there seemed brighter, almost inviting.
'Alright, Paros. West, you said?'
"Yes. Follow the sun. You'll find a road soon enough. And maybe, just maybe, your first chance to test your luck."
Klein smirked. 'You make it sound like destiny.'
"Destiny, fate, or just bad decisions in pretty packaging. Take your pick."
He took one last glance at the pond. His reflection smiled back at him—a child with the confidence of a man twice his age, a boy with ambition burning behind innocent eyes.
'Fine,' he thought. 'Let's see how far luck can take me.'
He started walking, the forest canopy parting overhead. The breeze carried the scent of adventure, faintly sweet, faintly dangerous.
The coin's voice echoed one last time as he walked.
"Try not to die before your first gamble, master. I'd hate to be bored again."
'No promises, Paros,' Klein thought, grinning. 'No promises.'
And with that, the boy set off toward the unknown, barefoot, smiling, and ready to test his luck against a world that had no idea what was coming.