Transmigrated? My Cheat is a Random Dice?!

Desmond crouched behind the massive tree, chest heaving, his entire body trembling like a leaf in a storm. He could feel a stabbing pain in his leg—most likely twisted during the chase. He winced and clenched his teeth.

Why? Why wasn't he gifted like Sierra?

That girl could float in the air like it was second nature, while he could barely slow down a falling book.

Why wasn't he one of those overpowered protagonists he used to read about? The ones who got lucky. Who got everything.

Life is unfair.

His fingers curled into fists. He cursed, at the world, at the twisted hand fate had dealt him, and most of all, at the System that had dumped him into this insane world.

What was it the System said again?

"This world won't be as bad as you think."

Bull. Shit.

He clenched his jaw and peeked from behind the tree.

The monster was still there.

That massive wild boar. Its grotesque, tusked face scanning the forest floor. Its snout twitched as it sniffed the earth, tracking him.

Then, its eyes moved.

And locked onto his.

Those glowing red eyes narrowed. It had sensed him.

"Oh crap," Desmond muttered.

He had to move now!

Without another thought, he sprinted away from the tree, leg screaming in pain but adrenaline overriding everything else.

His mind raced faster than his feet.

One minute. Just one more minute until the dice cooldown ended!

He could feel it, just one more minute until he had a second chance to roll.

"Come on, come on… just a few more seconds!" he whispered between ragged breaths, repeatedly summoning the dice out of desperation, hoping the timer had ticked down faster.

Behind him, the boar roared and charged.

Desmond's lungs burned, his vision blurred, and his body felt like it was falling apart. Then—

His foot snagged on a root.

He tripped.

He hit the ground hard, rolling through the dirt before coming to a stop flat on his back.

And looming above him.

Death.

The beast stood over him, snorting, steam rising from its nostrils. Its massive mouth opened, tusks glinting in the dappled sunlight. Its eyes glowed brighter than before.

It lowered its head, almost mockingly, staring down at him like a predator savoring its helpless prey.

Desmond couldn't move. Fear held him in place like a chain around his chest.

Any second now, it would strike.

Come on... you stupid dice! now would be a good time.

But the dice didn't appear.

He gritted his teeth, preparing for the worst.

The monster was seconds away from ending him—

And then, just behind his back, his small fingers twitched.

Something pulsed in his palm.

A faint glow.

He wasn't even sure how he did it.

Whether the cooldown had really ended or if his desperation had bent the rules didn't matter. What mattered was—

The dice was back.

He didn't care if the timer was up or not.

He was done waiting.

He grabbed the glowing purple die and with the last of his strength, he rolled it across his trembling hand.

It spun.

Time slowed.

Click.

The dice settled.

A cheery, mechanical voice echoed in his mind:

"Number Four, Master Desmond! Congratulations!"

His eyes widened.

A surge of energy exploded inside him.

It was like someone had jump-started his soul.

The pain vanished. His lungs cleared. His legs no longer ached. His mind sharpened.

It was as if the entire forest had been replaced by clarity. Power and determination.

This was the strength of a four.

The promised power.

The boar lunged.

Its mouth opened, tusks aimed directly at Desmond's neck.

But this time—Desmond was faster.

Fueled by raw energy, his body moved on instinct. He rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the monster's killing blow.

He sprang to his feet.

His hand snapped forward, palm blazing with silver light, a Polaris Point bursting to life beneath his skin.

A Polaris Point.

Bright and pure. Burning with newfound will.

"OPEN POLARIS PATH! GRAVITY PLUS!!" he roared.

BOOM!

It was like the earth itself answered his cry.

The boar crashed into the earth like it had been struck by a divine hammer.

A thunderous crack echoed through the trees as its entire body was flattened, as if crushed by a mountain of invisible weight.

The creature squealed, confused and panicked, legs thrashing uselessly. It couldn't move. Couldn't lift its head. It was pinned—completely immobilized.

Desmond stood still, hand outstretched, eyes locked onto the beast that had nearly killed him.

His chest heaved, but it wasn't fear anymore.

It was triumph.

Pure, electrifying triumph.

He stared at the giant beast squirming under the gravity field, unable to believe how far the dice's power had taken him in just one moment.

It worked.

It actually worked.

He had taken down a monster, by himself.

A real monster.

He smiled. Not a cocky grin. But the kind of smile someone wears when they've seen the edge of death... and walked back alive.

But that smile only lasted a split second.

Because something was wrong.