The Zero-Star Gamble
......Huh?
The ten capsules rising from the vending machine began swirling around Jeonghun's head, as if begging him to pick them.
Jeonghun blinked hard, eyes wide. If his memory served right, gold effects were definitely... 7-star, weren't they?
And two of them, at that. Two 7-stars.
"...Do 7-stars come up easy or something?"
Before opening the ten capsules, Jeonghun logged into RaSe IpVen. He quickly posted on the Patron Spirit Board again.
Comments poured in instantly, like they'd been waiting.
"Hmm."
Jeonghun scratched his chin. The reactions suggested it was rare... but more bewildering than exciting.
"I'm not usually this lucky... What's going on?"
Last gacha game, he'd blown cash and whiffed the target card... Wait, was that luck dump all paying off now?
"Eh, whatever. They dropped—that's what matters."
Half-convinced, Jeonghun snapped a screenshot and tossed it onto the board. Chaos erupted.
Jeonghun savored the frenzy for a bit, then returned to the game. Some troll was drafting an apology... but capsules first.
"Phew."
Short breath. He tapped the bronze capsules overhead first.
Pop! Pop!
Firework bursts as they cracked open. Smoke billowed, shaping figures.
"Whoa."
First one solidified: mid-50s man, thick brows striking. Focus locked it in.
"Survival—that's the proof of strength!"
Rookie mercenary captain from the minor Lysona continent nation of Harlis. Veteran of countless battles, he'll guide you well.
Category: Warrior
"Hm. Got it."
No extra info. Details probably on confirm.
'Alright, mechanics down.'
No more dawdling. He zipped through the rest.
3-star – Zhuge So
1-star – Gul'dan
1-star – Krasia
4-star – Nymphia
1-star – Jin Hyun
Eight bronzes total, including the first. Quick skim.
'Nothing special.'
4-star got a longer desc, but no standout perks.
Wouldn't matter anyway. Two golds gleamed ahead.
"Phew."
The moment.
Deep breath. Then—
Tap!
Both hands struck gold capsules. Crisp chime—unlike bronze. Golden auras bloomed.
"Damn."
7-star flash, alright. Flashy beyond bronze. Auras shaped humans fast.
"Visuals on point."
One: black-haired middle-aged in Eastern scale armor. Other: blond youth in full plate.
7-star – Roland
Super-namevalues anyone into history or games would know.
'Performance ties to fame—not absolute.'
Guide mentioned it. Most patrons fictional from fantasy/wuxia, but myths/historical heroes too.
"I may abandon the realm, but it shan't abandon me!"
Last chancellor of Later Han, founder of Wei. Top-tier commander, politician, sovereign across Chinese history. Warlord charisma and tactics lead you to warlord path.
Category: Sovereign, Commander
"Knightly honor never breaks!"
Synonym for Paladin. Foremost among historical holy knights, Frankish legend. His blade cleaves all; steel body unbreakable.
Category: Holy Knight, Berserker
'No special 7-star notes.'
Longer than 1-stars by a line or two, but that's it. No deep dive.
Vibes only? Nah.
'RaSe half-year old.'
Jeonghun pulled the GachaCrapGameServerDie guide, searched Jojo.
Whew, our Chancellor at last. If Jojo drops, skip this guide.
Gold flash, Chancellor descends? Grats—built karma last life.
Pick him. Unless you're a Shu simp... even then, pick. Leads "Skip 7-star" meta. Great Chancellor Jojo. Ooo!
Early on, dismissed as 6-star in 7-star skin—meh overall.
But as players grew, guilds formed, guild wars hit—reeval exploded. Commander trait shines in mass PvP vs humans. Special Martial Emperor's Tyranny fires... enemies rout during buff. Epic.
Anti-army nuke. If you pulled Jojo, congrats—whisper me for a guild spot + top-tier benefits.
Oh, side note: High affinity triggers hidden quest for legendary Heaven-Relying Sword.
"Fanboy overload."
Way longer than others. Poster def Three Kingdoms nut, Wei stan.
Next: Roland.
Skip-7 meta pick! Immortal Knight Roland. Solo? PvP fan? Pick. 1v1 special skill unmatched... Argh, ragequit. Devs, nerf pls! OP bastard... Sorry, PvP trauma. Objectively must-pick. Better than Roland needs 8-star+. You know it won't drop. Bow and pick.
"Another skip-7."
Meant to ease choice—increased agony. But direction clear.
Party/guild coop: Jojo.
Solo/PvP lone wolf: Roland.
'Or neither...'
Inventory check: Nine coins sparkled. Ninety pulls left.
'Hmm.'
RaSe gacha dirty. Very dirty.
Normal gacha: Best of 100, done. RaSe? Nah.
Skip this 10-pull? Gone forever—even two 7s.
Pick one? Remaining 90 vanish.
Pick = end.
Skip = end!
RaSe's alpha/omega: Patron Spirit Gacha.
'Fuck. System's bullshit.'
He knew: No better later.
But.
But!
Waste 90 pulls?! Curiosity killing him?
What if 8-star? 9-star miracle?!
Hardcore grinder? No dilemma. But Jeonghun: casual enjoyer.
Board post pronto.
Board off. Head up.
Gold 7s beckoned.
But... heart set.
'Logically, today's my lucky day.'
Far from logical—gacha drugged his brain.
Usually trashed cash on flops. First pulls two 7s?
Today's different.
Shitty luck stacked "bad karma"—exploded today! Spine tingled. Proof: Today's the day.
'Courage to skip 7-star.'
All he needed. Steel reason ignores small fry—path to 9-star!
No more doubt.
Passed 7s, vending machine. Pulled coin.
"Let's go!"
Inserted without hesitation.
How much time passed?
A man glared at the machine, eyes bloodshot. Like arch-nemesis.
"......"
No twist.
First 10 ate all luck. Next 80? Zilch effects.
Peak: 5-star.
Fourth 10: famed Truth 5-star... After skipping 7s? Pass.
No 5s after.
"Tch. GachaCrapGame. For real."
Jeonghun rarely cursed—but this time, it spilled.
Resigned quick. Self-blame.
'Got possessed.'
Only explanation. Spine chills, gambler high! Irresistible pull.
"Phew."
Sigh calmed. Reason returned.
'It's gacha—not whole game. Rankers have meh patrons too.'
Gacha fraction of RaSe. Good patron helps growth, but variables endless.
'Last coin, then play.'
Inserted final coin casually.
Pop!
"Huh?"
Effect!
"Whoa. Last-pull pity at least."
Silver gleam: 6-star sign. Smirked, checked final 10.
2-star – Hoiger
3-star – Namgung Jecheon
3-star – Adeas
"Kay?"
Guide check: Round Table knight. Decent 6-star rep. Nodded.
"Lucky. Start with this..."
Then—
As he reached for Kay, overlooked ones caught eye.
Impossible one there.
"What the hell."
Jeonghun muttered blankly.
Server's first 0-star patron spirit.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw