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

The sun dipped lower in the sky as Miles wandered through the forest, the events of the day still fresh in his mind. His encounter with the goblins had left him more shaken than he cared to admit, but the glowing system screen hovering before him reminded him of what he had accomplished.

Player Status:

Name: Miles Jorden

Level: 1

HP: 100/100

Abilities Unlocked: Beginner's Blade, Cleave Strike, Evasive Maneuver

Inventory:

Healing Potion x1Gold x10

"Okay, Miles," he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. "You survived the goblins. Now you just need somewhere safe to crash before something worse comes along."

The forest stretched endlessly in every direction, and the rustling of leaves and distant howls reminded him that the night wouldn't be forgiving. As if sensing his growing anxiety, the system chimed in:

Quest Activated: Find Shelter

Objective: Locate a safe resting place before nightfall.

Reward: 50 EXP, +1 Luck

Miles blinked at the screen. "Wait, I get rewards for doing things I was going to do anyway? I think I'm starting to like this system."

As the shadows lengthened, Miles kept moving, scanning the area for anything that could serve as a temporary shelter. He came across a few overhangs and hollow logs, but none felt secure enough. The system periodically flashed prompts:

Roll for Perception.

Each time, Miles rolled his dice, holding his breath. His uncanny luck didn't fail him, and after several high rolls, he spotted a narrow trail leading up a rocky slope. At the end of the trail, half-hidden by a curtain of vines, was a cave.

The entrance was small, just wide enough for him to squeeze through, but inside, it opened into a spacious chamber. The air was cool but dry, and the ground was mostly flat. Best of all, there were no immediate signs of hostile creatures.

Miles let out a relieved sigh. "Jackpot."

The system chimed again:

Quest Progress: Shelter Found. Roll for Safety Check.

"Safety check?" Miles asked aloud. "What, like making sure there's no bears or giant spiders in here?"

With a shrug, he tossed the dice. They landed on a 6 and a 5, prompting the system to announce:

Critical Success: The cave is uninhabited and defensible. Proceed with caution.

"Thank you, dice gods," Miles said, flopping down onto the cool stone floor.

As night fell, Miles set about preparing for rest. The system prompted him with options, offering advice for surviving in the wild. One such option included rolling to gather resources for a makeshift barrier at the cave's entrance.

"Sure, why not?" Miles said, rolling again. The dice landed on a 6 and a 4.

Success: You gather sturdy branches and vines to create a secure barrier.

Miles found himself working with an almost unnatural efficiency, weaving the materials into a surprisingly solid barricade that covered the entrance. The system even gave him a bonus:

Temporary Skill Unlocked: Basic Fortifications

"That's... really specific," Miles said, wiping sweat from his brow. "But hey, I'll take it."

With the barrier in place, he rolled again for a fire. His luck held, and he managed to find flint stones near the cave, sparking a small but warm flame that filled the chamber with light and heat.

As Miles sat by the fire, nibbling on some wild berries he found (after another successful roll for foraging), the system chimed with a final prompt for the night:

Roll for Night Defense.

His heart skipped a beat. "Defense? From what?"

The dice felt heavier in his hand as he rolled. They clattered across the stone floor, landing on a 5 and a 6.

Critical Success: Passive Protection Activated. Barrier reinforced with magical warding for the night.

A soft glow emanated from the barrier at the cave entrance, faintly shimmering with a protective aura. Miles stared in awe as the system explained:

Warding Barrier (Temporary): Prevents hostile entities from entering the cave until dawn.

Miles leaned back against the cave wall, a grin spreading across his face. "Now this is the kind of luck I can get used to."

As the fire crackled, Miles let himself relax for the first time since arriving in this world. The events of the day played back in his mind: the dice, the goblins, the system, and now this defensible cave.

He looked at the glowing dice in his hand, marveling at how they felt like an extension of himself. For once in his life, luck wasn't just a fluke—it was his power.

"Maybe this world isn't so bad after all," he muttered, stifling a yawn.

The system screen hovered in the air, displaying his progress:

Quest Complete: Find Shelter.

Reward: +50 EXP, +1 Luck.

Miles drifted off to sleep, the soft glow of the warded barrier illuminating the cave. Outside, the forest grew darker, the sounds of nocturnal predators echoing through the night. But for now, he was safe.

And for the first time in a long time, Miles felt like he might have rolled something better than just a temporary streak of fortune. This was his chance to finally turn the tide.