Luck of the Dice (A Former Dungeon-Master's LITRPG)

Miles Jorden darted into the small antique shop, the bell above the door jingling softly as he pushed it open. Rain cascaded in torrents outside, soaking through his already soggy hoodie. He muttered a curse under his breath, brushing water off his arms. It was just his luck—the forecast had been clear, but the weather decided to betray him anyway.

The shop was cramped, dimly lit, and filled with the smell of old wood and dust. Shelves were crammed with knick-knacks, from tarnished teapots to eerie porcelain dolls. Miles was about to turn back into the rainstorm, but something caught his eye.

In the far corner, a glass display case gleamed faintly. Inside, nestled among tarnished jewelry and ornate watches, was a set of dice. They weren't ordinary dice—they seemed carved from a material that shimmered between gold and black, their numbers glowing faintly, almost alive.

"Caught your eye, eh?"

Miles turned to see the shopkeeper: an elderly man with sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through him. He wore an old cardigan, and his crooked smile was somehow both inviting and unsettling.

"How much for the dice?" Miles asked, his curiosity outweighing his usual skepticism.

"For you, $5," the shopkeeper replied.

Miles raised an eyebrow. "That cheap? What's the catch?"

The shopkeeper chuckled. "No catch. Let's just say... they're meant for someone like you."

Miles frowned but fished a crumpled bill from his pocket. He handed it over, and the shopkeeper slid the dice into a small velvet pouch. As Miles took the pouch, the man's smile widened, his eyes glinting with an unreadable emotion.

"Good luck," the shopkeeper said, his voice oddly heavy with meaning.

Back at his cramped apartment, Miles flopped onto his couch, tossing the pouch onto the coffee table. The rain still pounded against the windows, a rhythmic reminder of his terrible day. Fired from his job, rejected for yet another position, and ghosted by his date—he couldn't even remember the last time something went right.

"Let's see if you're worth five bucks," he muttered, pulling the dice out of the pouch.

They felt cool and heavy in his hand, their surface unnaturally smooth. He placed them on the table and gave them a roll.

The moment the dice hit the surface, the numbers glowed fiercely, illuminating the room in golden light. A deep, resonant voice echoed in his mind:

"Player identified. Initializing transfer..."

"What the—" Miles barely managed to speak before the world dissolved around him.

Light consumed his vision, and a rush of wind roared in his ears. His stomach churned as if he were falling through endless space. Then, with a thud, he landed on hard ground.

Miles groaned, pushing himself up. He was no longer in his apartment. Instead, he stood in the middle of a dense forest, sunlight streaming through the canopy above. The air smelled fresh, too fresh, and the distant sound of birdsong mingled with the rustle of leaves.

"What the hell just happened?" he muttered.

A glowing screen materialized before him, floating in mid-air.

Welcome, Player. You have been summoned to [Alandria]. Your skills will be determined by your luck and choices. Proceed with caution.

The screen flickered, revealing a set of stats.

Name: Miles Jorden

Class: [Roller]

Abilities:

Lucky Roll: Dice rolls can influence reality. System Interface: Access game-like mechanics. Adaptive Player: Learn skills based on experience.

"What... is this?" Miles waved a hand through the screen, but it stayed firm. His mind raced, piecing together the situation. He had been isekaied. The dice had dragged him into some sort of game world.

Before he could process further, a sharp growl froze him in place.

From the underbrush, a pack of goblin-like creatures emerged, their green, leathery skin glinting in the sunlight. Each one held crude weapons—rusted swords and jagged clubs. Their beady red eyes fixed on him with predatory glee.

"Of course," Miles muttered, backing away. "This is how it starts."

The largest goblin snarled and raised its club. As it charged, the system screen popped up again.

Initiating combat. Roll for action.

A six-sided die appeared in his hand, materializing out of thin air. Miles didn't have time to question it. Instinct took over, and he rolled.

The die hit the ground, spinning wildly before stopping on a 6.

Critical Success.

A surge of energy coursed through Miles as the system announced: "Skill Unlocked: Beginner's Blade."

In a flash, a simple but sturdy sword appeared in his hand. He gripped it tightly, just as the goblin lunged at him.

With surprising ease, Miles sidestepped and swung the sword in a wide arc. The blade connected with the goblin's side, sending it sprawling to the ground. The creature dissolved into shimmering particles, leaving behind a small pouch of coins.

The other goblins hesitated but then screeched and charged together.

"Not good," Miles muttered, rolling the die again.

This time, it landed on a 4, and the system responded: "Moderate Success: Evasive Maneuver."

Miles felt his body move faster than he thought possible, dodging the incoming attacks with an awkward but effective series of rolls and leaps. His sword slashed out, taking down another goblin.

The remaining creatures hissed in frustration, retreating slightly to regroup.

"Okay, I can work with this," Miles said, adrenaline pumping through him.

He rolled again, landing a 5. The system declared: "Skill Activated: Cleave Strike."

His sword glowed faintly as he charged forward, swinging it in a powerful arc that cut through the remaining goblins in one blow. They disintegrated into glowing particles, leaving the forest eerily quiet.

Breathing heavily, Miles leaned against a tree. The glowing interface reappeared.

Combat Complete. Rewards: 10 Gold, 1 Healing Potion. Experience Gained.

"Right," he said, picking up the coins and the small vial left behind. "So I'm in some kind of RPG world. With dice powers."

The absurdity of it all hit him, but so did a strange sense of excitement. For once, his uncanny luck might actually be useful.

As he stared at the pouch of dice in his hand, a grin spread across his face.

"Let's see how far this luck can take me."