The Greece Antagonist

"5–6!"

After two rounds, the Goddess paused slightly and frowned.

"7–8?"

"9!"

"10..."

After three rounds just as the Goddess began to speak, she immediately corrected herself.

"Wait... 10–11..."

"12!"

"..."

And by the fifth round, the Goddess's silence had noticeably lengthened.

"...13..."

"14–15!"

Luo En was still quick to speak without thinking, his expression growing more relaxed, even taking the leisure to admire the surroundings.

At this moment, the originally composed Goddess's expression had become somewhat frozen, and she did not speak for a long time.

Luo En's gaze swept around before settling on the Nameless Goddess straight ahead, leisurely urging.

"It's your turn, haven't thought of a number yet?"

The Goddess bit her cherry lips beneath her veil, her eyes showing some defiance.

"That's really despicable."

"I'd rather call it 'human wisdom'."

Luo En spread his hands, an innocent expression emerging on his face.

"Letting humans and gods gamble is inherently an unfair game, using one's brains as the weaker party, there's nothing wrong with that, right?"

Then, Luo En changed the subject, speaking frankly.

"Besides, it seemed like it was you who willingly wanted to gamble with me."

"Wisdom? That's a nostalgic term."

The Goddess seemed to remember something, pondered and shook her head, then gave Luo En a deep look before tossing the dice in her hand and smiling as she lightly clapped her hands.

"Alright, you win."

As the dust settled, the tightly wound string in Luo En's mind finally relaxed, a trace of relief flickering in the depths of his eyes.

It was fortunate he had sensed something amiss by the fifth round; the keenness of the Goddess before him went without saying.

Fortunately, this was a game he was bound to win from the start.

The corners of Luo En's lips curved up, forming a pleased arc as he once again savored the just-concluded gamble.

This so-called fair game was never fair to begin with.

As long as one could make the other party say a number first, ensuring the other party said one number while you said two; if they said two numbers, you said one, the ultimate number 30 was inevitably yours.

Therefore, from the moment the other party agreed to call out a number first, the outcome was already determined.

In this game, Luo En couldn't possibly lose.

Of course, in a sense, the opportunity was equal for both sides.

If one could grasp the rules before the game and avoid calling out the numbers first, victory would belong to the other party just the same.

But this Goddess clearly didn't notice this in advance, agreeing to the terms casually, and fell straight into the trap, leading to her own defeat.

Her loss was not due to being weak or ignorant.

On the contrary, her hindrance was the arrogance bred from her great power.

However, looking back, successfully leading the Goddess into the trap wasn't entirely his own doing.

Luo En's expression began to darken with heavy gloom, even starting to grind his teeth.

He had to thank his ancestors for this.

——That old man at the roadside stall who conned him out of his entire 100 dollars of New Year's money on his way home from school.

It was his first lesson on the harshness of society, which taught him steadfastly the lesson that there's no such thing as a free lunch and that gambling is deceptive.

But it wasn't until a few days later that he realized this.

And this lesson bought with tears and blood was something he'd never forget.

"As per our agreement, congratulations on being reborn, little guy..."

The Goddess's leisurely musing interrupted Luo En's thoughts; she extended her delicate hand, and the dark sky twisted into a vortex of clouds.

Looking up, Luo En could see through the chaos what seemed to be rippling lights of water.

In the times of the gods in Greece, the Netherworld was beneath the earth and the deep sea.

The sea was shrouded in mist, with the morning sunlight penetrating through the haze, reflecting a small silhouette in the water.

The path to life was right before his eyes.

The Nameless Goddess fulfilling her promise began to fade from substance to shadow, and the bleak world gradually flickered out like a wavering candle flame.

Everything seemed settled.

But, was it really that simple?

Luo En thought of the Thunderbolt that pierced the sky, of those cold and merciless eyes.

What use was snatching back a life from the brink of death?

Whether it was the vast ocean he was currently adrift in or the Zeus who had turned on him so suddenly, without any form of aid, even if he somehow escaped disaster, he probably wouldn't survive past three episodes.

Even leaving the resurrection point was still up in the air.

So you don't want me to live, huh? Then nobody gets to!

In the darkness, the figure that hovered between real and ethereal, grinned, revealing a smile like that of a demon.

"I can offer you my soul, want it?"

The sudden temptation stabilized the stage that was about to come to a close.

The Goddess turned around, her eyebrows raised with intrigue.

"And what would the price be?"

"Another round with me!"

A similar dialogue spilled from the mouths of opposite parties, creating a jarring displacement in time and space.

The Goddess was taken aback, then let out a mocking chuckle with amusement.

"It's not another little counting game, is it?"

"Of course not."

The glint in Luo En's eyes flickered darkly, his face hidden in shadows revealing a mad, twisted smile.

"Dice rolls and counting are too dull, let's make it big this time. How about we use the entire 'world' as the gambling table?"

"Oh? Do tell."

Suddenly, the Goddess's eyes brightened with full interest.

Luo En looked up at the sky light refracted into the deep sea, a sinister smile appeared on his changeable face as he spoke with deliberate pauses.

"Let's bet whether or not I can overthrow Olympus!"

Originally, he had no great ambitions and merely wanted to live a simple life; to rest easy. But that damned fate wouldn't allow it.

If that's the case, don't blame me for flipping the table.

The Goddess frowned slightly, looking up with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"How would we place such a bet? Are you suggesting I bet on you losing?"

She didn't refuse, nor did she agree.

"Since we're seeking thrills, let's go all in. Of course, we choose the highest odds—high risk for high return."

Luo En replied matter-of-factly, his low voice tinged with a full measure of temptation.

"You need only toss me lightly, and you might profit a thousand or a hundredfold. Is there any game more exciting than this in the world?"

In an instant, the Goddess's breathing grew noticeably rapid, her figure becoming somewhat elusive.

Clearly, she was tempted.

But she quickly regained her composure, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"You want me to help you?"

"This is just a game..."

Luo En smiled noncommittally, his eyes twinkling mysteriously.

"Interesting..."

The Goddess's gaze became more playful, her tone laden with deeper meaning.

It was unclear whether she was appraising the soul before her or the so-called "game."

However, she soon looked over with a light hum.

"But come to think of it, the soul you promised still hasn't reached my hands, has it?"

"Don't rush; after all, to claim your reward, you should at least wait until I'm dead, right? There's no sense in crushing the die before the game even starts."

Luo En's smile grew more pleased, his gaze meaningful.

"Besides, as long as I'm alive, I can provide you with endless amusement, right?

The outcome is one of two things: I lose, you get the soul.

I win, you gain even more—it's a no-loss situation.

Moreover, regarding the gamble itself, while the reveal of win or loss is interesting, isn't the battle itself a kind of pleasure too? Goddess..."

"I must say, you indeed have quite the talent for bewitchment..."

The Goddess looked deeply at the soul before her, lifting the corner of her lip, her pale fingers touching his illusory chest.

"But it doesn't matter, I'm just playing a game. So now, let's seal the pact and inscribe the mark, and let this entertainment begin."

In a moment, a strange sensation of burning spread through Luo En's soul,

And in an instant, a circle made of black lines emerged on his chest.

From above, it resembled a circular labyrinth spiraling endlessly, its paths shrouded in infinite mystery.

But to Luo En, this thing on him looked more like a pork inspection certificate.

And it seems to have been pre-ordered by the buyer, no less...

She left no loopholes, indeed.

Sensing the connection he had just established with the Goddess before him, Luo En sighed inwardly.

Fortunately, the ring-shaped black mark retreated and disappeared as soon as it had fully formed, as if it had never existed.

He had successfully delivered himself to the meat market and fetched a good price; the silver lining was that he need not be immediately sent to slaughter.

Faced with the inevitable, Luo En comforted himself with a mix of tears and laughter.

"So, let the game begin!"

The Goddess snapped her fingers in delight, the vortex-shaped clouds in the sky reversed, and a strange pulling sensation enveloped Luo En.

As his ethereal body gradually faded, bit by bit vanishing into this dim world, Luo En's heart, which had been suspended, finally settled down.

He had finally won this revival match.

"So, how should I address you, Your Highness?"

"You can call me..."

The Goddess's gaze flickered, her lips curving upwards.

"...Persephone..."

The Queen of the Underworld?

Luo En gazed deeply at the resolute Goddess, scoffing silently to himself.

Ha, the Queen of the Underworld wouldn't be so bold as to snatch someone from beneath Zeus's nose...

Of course, she probably didn't have the ability either.

But incidentally, in some mythological records, it is said that Dionysus, the God of Wine, was the son of Zeus and Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, in a previous incarnation.

So, by giving me that name, are you sure you're not trying to take advantage of me?

Luo En muttered to himself, as long-held tiredness and weariness crept over him, his eyelids growing ever heavier, and the world began to spin and transform.

"My die should roll like no other, making this dull world more interesting!"

Whispers arose from nowhere, and a twelve-sided die carved with serpent patterns fell from the Goddess's hand.

In the wilderness, beneath the veil, luscious lips traced a slight curve.

Dangerous yet beautiful.

"Just don't die too soon, alright..."

Boom!

The real sky gathered dark clouds, thunderbolts streaked through, and dozens of spiraling wind columns rose up to touch the sky, falling into the sea and stirring up waves upon waves.

A sea storm was imminent.

In the dark sea, a crude raft with a tiny body bobbed up and down, like a reed carrying an ant on the surface, ready to overturn at any moment.

But in the end, the rolling waves rushed them toward a dark floating island before the storm unleashed its fury.

Carrying the infant like a beached fish, the raft came to rest on the soft sand.

Accompanied by the sound of rustling footsteps, a tall figure approached through the woods.

Dressed in clothes... walking upright...

Apparently human...

Having vaguely identified the newcomer as human, and sensing no hostility, Luo En finally succumbed to the extreme limits of his mental and physical exhaustion, fainting completely.

Meanwhile, a light and joyful female voice emerged near his ear.

"Ah-ha? Look what I've found—a cute little piglet!"

On the sandy beach, a winged girl with pointed ears, pink hair, and rainbow-colored pupils looked at her find for the day and cheered excitedly.