"Wow, guys, you sure had a hard time. I''m so glad I''m just a sword and don''t have to participate in all this nonsense," Antipucker said, his tone carefree. "Though I am really impressed with you. Isabella was your name, right?"


    His words seemed to bring the actress out of her daze. "What? Yeah... you''re the talking sword hilt... I''m Arabella, though."


    "And I am Archblade Omnislayer!" he declared proudly before I interrupted him. "How about going on a date with—?!"


    I interrupted Antipucker, "You don''t have to listen to him or take him too seriously. He''s just a sword with a few screws loose. His creator had a... unique sense of humor, you know."


    "I see..." The girl sighed.


    "Anyway, it''s pretty bad that we lost two people already," I said, glancing at the spot where David''s corpse had been. When my eyes fell on Eleanor''s headless body, I was surprised. It was strange. Normally, she should have disappeared by now.


    Suddenly, her hand moved, and the headless body quickly stood up. Right before our eyes, her head began to grow back, starting from the neck. The blood-covered bone formed the contours of her face. In just a second, it transformed into the face of a beautiful teenage girl. She looked around in confusion.


    And then did the System message notified us that the challenge was complete:


    [Congratulations on surviving the special Chuckles'' Time!]


    [5 out of 6 of you survived. Not bad at all.]


    Congratulations! You''ve earned 300,000 System Points (+3,000 SP). You''ve unlocked a new Archetype:


    The Chuckling Man (Rare)


    Funds: 400+3,000=3,400 SP


    The reward of unlocked Archetype wasn''t that impressive, but the points were exactly what I needed. Now I had to complete my mission, and it seemed that the time for my reunion with Leah was drawing near. By my estimations, she should revive any time soon.


    There was about ten minutes before the cabin reached the ground. But now I didn''t have the limit on staying here—I could safely leave. Before that, I used my Mana sense to examine the vampire girl in more detail. The way she revived was unusual, to say the least. I was pretty sure she had completely died. Her revival gave me the same vibe as the Blood-Bound


    Ravagers.


    Eleanor, whose face was ethereally beautiful without the mask—her pale skin, pitch-black hair, and crimson eyes giving her an otherworldly vibe—opened and closed her mouth as if trying to say something, but no sound escaped her lips. It seemed it wasn''t her choice to remain silent; she was simply unable to speak. She began to gesticulate, but I couldn''t decipher her meaning.


    "If I had to guess, you want to know what happened?" I said. "Well, you died, and then you revived."


    She stood still for a moment before nodding, whatever that meant. When she revived, I didn''t feel the influence of the System, so it wasn''t a revival point that brought her back. In fact, I sensed that most of her power—almost all of it—was vampiric in nature, as she hadn''t gained many levels after connecting to the System. And if I had to guess, she didn''t receive an Archetype, so no Skills, either.


    I guessed there was a reason why Constantin didn''t worry about her. Even if I asked her, it wasn''t as if she could easily answer. However, now that I considered it, she could use blood magic to control blood and form letters to communicate. Also, vampires were often rumored to possess mental powers like telekinesis. Reading thoughts and sending mental messages shouldn''t be difficult. But what did I know? Perhaps she was just that much of an introvert and I could understand her feelings, somehow.


    "Okay, guys, you stay here, and I''ll go complete my mission. I''ll be back before the next challenge starts."


    "What? You can leave here?" Arabella asked.


    "Well, of course. If I can enter here in the middle of a revolution, then I can leave as well. Have fun with gossiping among women while I''m gone, though I don''t think Eleanor will join you two."


    Before I approached the door, my maintenance tool transformed into a key. All I needed to do was open the lock and leave without any hindrance. Now I had to fix the remaining malfunctioning cabins. I flew higher, searching for my next target, and soon enough, I found it. Without much thought, I hammered the large bolts of the cabin, fixing it. Another one was located a few cabins later.


    In the last one, I had to enter as it reached the top. Just in case, I waited until it passed the highest point—I didn''t want the System to screw me by forcing another 8th rotation challenge. As I left the last cabin after fixing it, the System notified me of completing my main objective.


    [Congratulations! You''ve completed the main objective of the Wheel of Fortune and Misfortune! ]


    You receive a Golden VIP Ticket (another one!) for participating in a special role and fixing all the cabins.


    Congratulations! You''ve earned 300,000 System Points (and get 4,000 added to your funds).


    Funds: 3,400+3,000=6,400


    That''s good, I can now buy the Archetype Skill I wanted, I thought, before reading the continuation.


    But you didn''t complete the Bonus Objective and Secret Objective... Do you want to proceed with the Quest? Or do you want to mark it as completed and miss the additional reward? Hint: Completing the Quest prematurely will make it significantly harder to complete your Main Quest and get a Premium VIP Super Mega Ticket. Complete the quest?


    [Yes.]


    [No.]


    Well, I had expected something like this to happen. After the last challenge, someone else would be unwilling to risk it again, but... I knew that I didn''t have the luxury to avoid risk. Especially when my Main Quest was on the line. So of course I choose no.


    [Okay, then continue with the Quest!]


    [Warning: You should complete the Bonus Objective and complete the 9th rotation challenge, or the Main Quest punishment will be applied.]


    As if that addition in the end changed anything when I already decided to make it to the end. At the same time, there was also a piece of good news:


    [Hey! Congratulations, Mama Goose! One of your little geese just revived.]


    I opened the map. A dot representing a person under my care appeared in the southern part of the Smiley Land, in the roller coaster zone. I expected another dot to appear in the Ferris wheel zone any time soon, but it didn''t happen. There was one variable I didn''t fully understand—what level would Leah be? It was very possible that, like Arabella, she had gained a fair amount of levels thanks to the temporary System points. Though I doubted that her lifetime achievements could compare to Hollywood star''s...


    Still, I decided to wait a little longer, just in case. I found the cabin with the girls and took a meditative pose on top of it. While waiting, I opened the Skills screen, deciding to choose the Skill I wanted to buy. The Archetype Skills were interesting and perhaps not as effective for battle as the basic ones, but they were more specific, and one of them was definitely a must-have long-term.


    [Gamer Archetype Skills]


    [Gaming] (Common): This passive skill improves the success rate and effectiveness of playing games. Each level in the skill boosts your game-playing ability by 5% from levels 1 to 5 and by 10% for levels beyond that. Gain additional effects at levels 5 and 10. Finally, you can win at tic-tac-toe! Maybe...


    Price: 100 SP


    This skill seemed pretty useless in most situations. However, perhaps it might apply not only to video games, but also to sports and even killing games. Would it work for challenges in the park? I didn''t know, and I didn''t plan to find out. If I had wanted this Skill, I would have bought it earlier.


    Next was a bit more intriguing:


    [Polygon Weapon] (Common): This skill allows you to use your Mana to create one of the following weapons: polygonal sword, gun, or shield. Effectiveness increases by 5% for the first 5 levels and by 10% per level afterward. New types of weapons can be unlocked every three levels. Technically, every weapon is a polygon weapon. But those actually admit it.


    Cost: Medium


    Cooldown: Medium


    Scaling: Weapon-specific


    Price: 2,000 SP


    For an average person, this could be quite useful, although the cost was on the higher side. But I had Antipucker, and I was fairly certain these weapons would be useless for me. But why did they count a shield as a weapon anyway?


    And the last skill was exactly what I needed:


    [Gamer''s Growth] (Common): Increases experience gain by 10%, plus 3% per level for the first 5 levels and 5% per level for the next 5. Unlocks additional bonuses at levels 5 and 10. Sounds simple? Sounds great? An awesome Skill? Yeah… until you see the price. Ha-ha.


    Price: 5,000 SP


    As the System had warned me about slower growth than normal, a skill like this, while not particularly helpful in a fight, would prove extremely useful in the long term. It was a must-have. However, its cost would likely deter anyone from choosing it. Anyone but me.


    [Congratulations! You unlock the Gamer''s Growth Skill.]


    Funds: 6,400-5,000=1,400


    With this, my future path would be a bit smoother. I now lacked enough points to advance to the next rank because I had chosen this option instead of a cheaper one. But honestly? I doubted that another Archetype and a few more levels would make much of a difference now. It seemed I would have to complete the last challenge before moving forward.


    At this point, I had fully recovered my Mana, which hadn''t diminished much during the last challenge, and even managed to cultivate a bit, though it wasn’t as effective as before. I still gained a few points in my attributes and was now ready for the final step in my


    preparations.


    I''d planned to avoid using this if possible, not wanting to reveal too many of my capabilities too early. However, after experiencing Mr. Chuckles'' show and sensing the growing danger, there was no point in holding back if it meant risking my life—or worse, failing to protect those under my care.


    Standing on the cabin''s roof, I removed my Novice Set piece by piece. The simple garments had served their purpose, but what lay ahead would require something far more potent. As I sent the clothes to my Inventory, the cold air brushed against my skin, but I barely noticed it. My focus was entirely on gathering and shaping my power.


    "Come, the Abyss Plate!"


    I closed my eyes and directed my Gravity Mana outward. Unlike ordinary armor that simply protected, this was an extension of my power itself. Black fibers of concentrated gravitational force emerged from my skin like threads of darkness, weaving into intricate patterns. Layer by layer, they built upon each other—first a skin-tight undersuit that enhanced my control over gravity, then successive layers of actual armor plating.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    The plates formed with geometric precision, each one a perfect convergence of gravitational forces that could bend light itself. They locked together seamlessly, creating joints that allowed full mobility while maintaining absolute protection. Where regular armor had gaps or weak points, the Abyss Plate became a continuous field of controlled gravity, serving as much as a weapon as it did


    protection.As the final pieces settled into place, I opened my eyes. The armor was pitch black, but it wasn''t flat or dull; its surface rippled with subtle patterns, resembling the way space bends and twists. Anyone looking at me would find their gaze slipping off the armor''s surface, their eyes unable to fully process how it distorted the space around it.


    This was more than just armor—it was a manifestation of my mastery over gravity, a declaration that I was done playing around. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I would face them with my full power.


    "Finally, you look like someone worth wielding me!" Antipucker commended. "I like this attire much better."


    "Oh my, you make me blush!"


    But there was a drawback to this technique. Unlike typical Mana manipulations, I had to allocate a third of my full capacity to maintain the Abyss Plate. And if it were completely destroyed? Recovering fully would take a long time.


    I took a few minutes to recover both mentally and Aetherically before returning to the cabin with about ten minutes to spare before the challenge started. "I''m back, girls! Did you have fun together?" I called out.


    All three of them stood by the windows, gazing at the city. It was a bit surprising; I had expected them to be recovering Mana or cultivating. It seemed that ike me, they hadn''t lost any energy in the last challenge and now were in their peak state.


    "Hello, Mr. Wyatt. Or should I call you Clinton?" Arabella addressed me first. "Ahem, anyway, there''s something I forgot to ask earlier. I was really shaken by that disgusting show. That girl who tried to protect my sister... At first, I thought she was there for me, but we hadn''t been that close lately... She''s Leah Wyatt. And if you''re her brother, then you''re Clinton Wyatt, the boy who disappeared ten years ago."


    I squinted at her, suspicion creeping in as I tried to recall if I had met her before. "Who are you?" I asked.


    "It''s no wonder you don''t recognize me. I didn''t want to believe it was you, either. After all, you''ve changed so much—perhaps even more than I have. I think we met before, maybe three times. I visited Leah at your place a few times... it''s me, Bella..."


    "Could it be... Little Bella?" I finally realized why she looked so familiar, even though that sense of familiarity felt strange. When I first met her, she had looked completely different—thick glasses, acne, and braces on her teeth.


    "I''m not little anymore..."


    "Hah! So Jimmy isn''t the only one who made puberty his bitch," I chuckled.


    Arabella studied me with interest. "Now I''m even more curious to know how my friend''s brother gained such power. And became so handsome, to boot while looking so young. That healthcare routine of yours must be something special."


    I smiled. "Well, I''m not the only one who looks younger than their age suggests. And I won''t say there''s anything wrong with your skin, either."


    "So you two know each other," Mille observed. "Interesting. And here I thought you were some kind of alien—just like the vampires."


    "Me? An alien?" I shrugged. "Well, it''s not a lie that I spent ten years away from Earth. So there''s some truth to it."


    Eleanor, who had donned her mask again, approached me. She pointed at my arm, flexed her biceps, and shrugged her shoulders. The gestures were clear—she also wanted to know how I became so strong.


    "I just drink protein shakes every day," I said. The vampire girl nodded sagely, as if this explained everything.


    "By the way, your new costume looks sick," Arabella said, eyeing my armor.


    "I can say the same about yours." My pitch-black plate armor, formed entirely of Gravity aura, was indeed a sight to behold. It absorbed light like a miniature black hole. Using a third of my Mana to maintain it was worth it—who knew what the next challenge would bring? Meanwhile, Arabella wore a pink frilly dress that wouldn''t look out of place in a magical girl anime. I felt System fluctuations from it.


    "Did you buy it from the System?" I asked.


    "Yeah, it''s unique for my Magical Girl Archetype." A slight blush colored her cheeks. "I earned a small fortune after completing the last challenge. Now I can spend it on powerful skills and equipment."


    "What about your temporary points? Do you have any Ultra Rare Archetypes or beyond?"


    She touched her head thoughtfully. "Ultra Rare? Well, there is one, but I''m not sure if I can mention it without sounding boastful."


    I smiled. "After what you showed during Chuckle Time, you''ve earned the right to boast. Most people wouldn''t have survived that show."


    "Well, it''s called Apex Celebrity. It''s my only Ultra Rare Archetype. As for the temporary points..." She hesitated. "It''s like a gacha system, kind of. And my luck wasn''t great."


    "Gacha?" The term was unfamiliar to me.


    She looked surprised. "You''re not familiar with gacha games? Oh right—ten years away. Well, it''s basically a form of gambling. You spend money, whether virtual or real, trying to win random items or characters. Sometimes you get lucky, but more often you don''t."


    "Doesn''t sound as something that should be legal," Antipucker said. He had some bad experience with gambling...


    "I did get some useful things," Arabella continued. "Like this Ultra Rare magic wand that I can use despite its high requirements. But the other item..." She trailed off. "It''s just a ticket I probably won''t be able to use even for the next two weeks of the Tutorial. And I''m not sure I can even sell it."


    "A ticket?" That caught my attention. "What kind exactly?"


    "Super Mega VIP Platinum Ticket." She sighed. "The System claimed it was exactly what I needed, but it feels like I got scammed out of half of my temporary points."


    After pondering for a moment, I said slowly, "Actually, the System didn''t lie to you."


    "What do you mean?"


    I met her gaze. "If you give me that ticket, I’d be in your debt. And having someone like me owe you a favor... well, that wouldn''t be a bad thing in this Tutorial, would it?"


    Her voice trembled slightly, probably recalling how I had dealt with Sugar... and then their entire team. "So you need it, huh? Even if you''re my friend''s brother, you realize I can''t just give it away..." She said, biting her lip and avoiding eye contact.


    "Hey, don’t look at me like that." I raised my hands. "Do you think I’d torture or threaten you for it? I''m an honorable man."


    Antipucker''s laughter echoed at those words, but I ignored him.


    "Have you read the ticket''s description?"


    "It’s required for the Ultimate Attraction of the Zone, and..." She swallowed. "Meeting Mr. Chuckles. But after that TV show, I don''t want to be anywhere near that creature."


    I nodded slowly. The System hadn’t notified me about meeting Mr. Chuckles yet, so our cartoon encounter didn’t count. This ticket was a prerequisite for facing him in person. I doubted there were many ways to obtain one, and it seemed significant that the System had guided it into Arabella''s possession. Yet again it was manipulating me with an unknown goal.


    "Let''s discuss the price. What do you want for it?"


    "It cost me around half my temporary points—250,000 to be exact. But we both know points can''t be directly traded." She glanced at me. "With your help, I''ve already completed one rotation... though I might have managed without you, probably. Perhaps we should discuss the price after the next challenge?"


    "Hmm, perhaps. I don''t need the ticket just yet."


    Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she stepped closer, a calculating gleam in her eye. "I do have one idea. I think... you should like it, too."


    "Oh?"


    "Let''s be friends, Clinton." Her smile was perfectly crafted. "It''s only natural for friends to help each other in need, right?"


    "What a sly woman!" Antipucker commented. He wasn''t wrong.


    This request for friendship was more than just a plea for assistance in her Quests. As a friend, I would be obligated to ensure her survival through the Tutorial and beyond. At least, that would be the case for someone with strong morals. Was I such a person? Perhaps yes, perhaps not. Though a friendship born from necessity might seem shallow, to me, such bonds felt absolutely binding.


    "I''ll think about it," I replied with a measured smile. Agreeing too quickly would only encourage her to ask for more—basic negotiation tactics. She might be Leah''s friend, but I wasn''t sure how close they actually were. There might be a history that would change my view of Arabella. I''d need to discuss this with Leah. "Let''s finish this challenge, first. It''s about to start."


    As if confirming my words, the cabin finally reached its peak. I felt a surge of Mana that almost rivaled the Aether burst during Earth''s Awakening. Almost. Though more focused and contained, its power was undeniable. The surge lasted only a few seconds—still good enough for cultivation if I''d had the chance. Then the System message appeared:


    [9th Rotation: The Final Challenge]


    [Congratulations on making it this far. Only a chosen few have reached this stage of the Happy Ferris Wheel, and even fewer have survived it throughout the entire history of Ever Happy Smiley Land. Will you successfully complete the objective?]


    [To be fair to every participant, today''s final challenge is double trouble. You will face two powerful beings. One will test the maintenance guy, and the other will play a game with everyone else.]


    [The challenge will be broadcast online to the entire Ever Happy Smiley Land. Congratulations on your upcoming celebrity status!]


    Bright light flooded the center of the cabin, revealing two figures. One was Barry the Clown, his massive form and unnervingly friendly face unchanged. The other was shorter, wearing a blue cloak and a fake beard that reached the floor, topped with a cylinder hat and a fake nose. Despite the glasses and stern expression, I easily recognized who lay behind the disguise.


    The System displayed new objectives:


    [Primary Objective: Face Barry the Clown above the Ferris wheel. The first to touch the ground with their feet or die is the loser.]


    [Failure Penalty: Become an NPC serving our purpose. And dying won''t exempt you from this!]


    [Secondary Objective: Win quickly enough to intervene in the game between your companions and the Ringmaster.]


    "Here we meet again, Mr. Anomaly," Barry declared, bowing toward the shorter figure. "Let me introduce my master, the one and only, the great Ringmaster!"


    "Ah ha ha ha! Yes, I am great, the greatest in this land! Well, after Mr. Chuckles, of course." The figure''s attempt at a deep, hoarse voice was almost comical. "I am the merciful, powerful, and very cute—I mean very terrifying—Ringmaster. I''ve heard great things about you, Clinton Wyatt. Though I don''t approve of all your methods, I''ll forgive you for now. While you play with Barry, I''ll entertain these little girls. Don''t worry; I have special games planned for you too!"


    "Such an intimidating Ringmaster," I said, checking their stats.


    [The Ringmaster. Level 13]


    "By the way, thanks for the fortune-telling, Lucy."


    "Lucy? Ha ha ha! I don''t know who you''re talking about. But yes, my clairvoyance is legendary! Ho ho ho!"


    I shook my head, amused. The girl''s disguise couldn''t fool my Mana sense, and her distinctive hair was clearly visible.


    "Lucy? The little girl who greeted us at the entrance?" Mille asked, confusion evident.


    "No, no, I must have confused the Ringmaster with someone else. How silly of me."


    "Indeed," Mille nodded seriously. "They look nothing alike. Perhaps she''s his granddaughter?"


    "Yes," Arabella agreed. "This is clearly an elderly man with a terrifying aura. Nothing like a little girl."


    I studied their expressions—they seemed completely sincere. Was Lucy using some power to fool them? If so, why didn''t it affect me? Or perhaps she simply hadn''t tried?


    "Now then, let''s play some poker, girls!" the ''Ringmaster'' announced. "Not ordinary poker—magical poker! You''ll love it. And if you lose, ho ho ho, you''ll join my collection!"


    "Collection? You pervert!"


    "Quick, Clinton, save us before he adds us to his harem—"


    "What? What''s a harem?" Lucy tilted her head innocently. "I meant I''ll turn you into cards, like this!" She displayed a card featuring a trapped figure who waved weakly, their expression resigned to their fate.


    "Enough introductions," Barry interjected. "Mr. Anomaly, our battlefield awaits." Space Mana surged as he took control of the cabin''s core.


    Fighting him inside while protecting the others would have posed a challenge. Thankfully, their situation seemed different. Though the hint about intervening if I won quickly suggested I couldn''t completely ignore them.


    Barry and I materialized above the Ferris wheel. The anti-flight barrier was even stronger here—double what it had been before. My Abyss Plate''s enhanced control over Gravity helped counter it, and my earlier practice with the barrier''s Mana proved useful. While I couldn''t fully control it, it didn''t seriously hinder me either.


    But the System had clearly stacked the odds against me.


    "How is this fair, clown? Even if the System counted my levels normally, I wouldn''t even reach level 600. Yet you''re not only level 1,000, but you also get an invincible barrier?"


    "I don''t make the rules, Mr. Anomaly," Barry shrugged.


    "For better or worse," I added.


    "Don''t worry too much; I won''t eat you. Though I can bite—just a little bit," Barry said cheerfully. "I''ll go easy on you. How about this? Allow me to touch you once, and I''ll just teleport you to the ground. This way, no one gets hurt. Am I not nice?"


    "No, I''d prefer you show me what you''ve got," I replied. "I didn''t want to go all out on my very first day here, but it seems the System really wants to push me to my limits."


    "What can I say? Without it, I wouldn''t be able to fly so easily," Barry shrugged. "Sure, I could''ve just stayed close to the ground while resisting the anti-flight effect, but that wouldn''t be very fun. With the barrier, I can soar as high as I want. Maybe I should thank you—it''s the first time I can see my beloved home from up here... but I won''t. After all, you did offend me a little, Mr. Anomaly."


    "Did I?" I asked. "When?"


    "Did you?" Antipucker echoed. "When?"


    The clown tilted his head, his eternal smile taking on a slightly wistful quality. "You know, if you hadn''t killed my dear Sugar, perhaps we could have become friends. He was such a sweet boy... always sharing his candy. But now... I have to teach you a lesson, whether you like it or not. Prepare for a really fun time, Clinton!"


    He looked at me as if I were the villain in this story... not him.


    Such audacity!