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

Miles sat slumped against the cold stone wall, cradling the Dungeon Key in his hands. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, his injuries stinging as if to remind him how close he'd come to death. But his mind was focused on one thing: the Rune Box.

"Alright," he muttered, pulling the ornate box out of his inventory. The intricate runes carved into its surface pulsed faintly, almost as though they were alive. "Let's see what secrets you're hiding."

He pressed the Dungeon Key into the slot at the top of the box. For a moment, the runes flickered brighter, and his heart leapt with hope.

But the system's cold, monotone voice shattered his expectations:

Error: Incorrect Key.

Miles blinked, his mind racing. "What do you mean, incorrect key? I nearly got killed for this thing!"

The runes dimmed again, leaving the box inert in his hands. He resisted the urge to throw it against the wall and instead opened his inventory, desperate for answers.

Miles scrolled through the items he had collected in the dungeon, each one seemingly more useless than the last. His frustration grew until his eyes landed on an unfamiliar object near the bottom of the list.

Item: Rune-Carved Lockbox

Description: A mysterious container requiring a rune and a key to unlock.

Miles furrowed his brow, pulling the item from his inventory. The lockbox was smaller than the Rune Box, its surface covered in the same glowing symbols. It was heavy in his hands, and the air around it seemed to hum faintly.

"How did I miss this?" he muttered, examining the lockbox.

The system chimed again, its voice as unhelpful as ever:

Hint: Some puzzles require more than one step.

"Yeah, thanks for that," Miles grumbled. "Real helpful."

He glanced back at the Dungeon Key, realization dawning on him. "Wait... this key isn't for the Rune Box. It's for this thing, isn't it?"

The system offered no response, but he had a feeling he was on the right track.

Miles turned the lockbox over in his hands, searching for a keyhole. Sure enough, near the bottom was a small slot that perfectly matched the Dungeon Key.

"Alright," he said, taking a deep breath. "Let's try this."

He inserted the key and turned it. The runes on the lockbox flared to life, glowing so brightly that he had to shield his eyes. A low hum filled the air, growing louder as the box began to shift and click.

Then, nothing.

The system chimed once more:

Incomplete: Rune Required to Complete Unlocking Process.

"Of course it's not that simple," Miles muttered, digging through his inventory again. He quickly found the glowing rune he had picked up earlier in the dungeon. It had seemed like just another collectible at the time, but now it was clear that it was more important.

Item: Rune Of Fate

Description: A magical artifact used to unlock sealed containers.

He held the rune against the top of the lockbox. As soon as it made contact, the entire box shuddered, the runes swirling and rearranging themselves. A loud click echoed through the chamber, and the lid sprang open.

Inside was a smaller, ornate key, its surface covered in intricate carvings that matched the runes on the Rune Box.

Item Acquired: Rune Box Key

Miles stared at the key, equal parts relieved and annoyed. "All of that… just to get the real key?"

He discarded the Rune-Carved Lockbox since it had been used already and turned his attention to the Rune Box. It sat on the ground in front of him, its faint glow now more intense as though it recognized the key's presence.

"Alright, no more games," Miles said, sliding the new key into the box's lock.

This time, the response was immediate. The runes on the box flared to life, swirling and shifting across its surface. The box trembled slightly before letting out a soft click.

The lid creaked open, revealing its contents:

Item: Enchanted Dice Set

Description: A magical set of dice that enhances the user's rolls.Item: Rune Compass (One time item)

Description: A device that points toward the nearest dungeon exit or hidden treasure.Skill Unlock: Rune Manipulation (Based on the Dice Roll)

Description: Allows the user to interact with runes in the environment, solving puzzles or activating magical traps.

Miles stared at the items, his mind racing. "This… this might actually be worth it."

He picked up the enchanted dice, feeling their strange, magical energy pulse through his fingers. The system chimed as he added them to his inventory, replacing his previous dice:

Item Acquired: Enchanted Dice Set. Luck Enhancement +5.

Next, he examined the Rune Compass, its needle already spinning wildly before settling on a direction.

"Looks like you're going to lead me out of here," he muttered, slipping the compass into his belt.

Finally, the system chimed again, announcing his newly unlocked skill:

Skill Acquired: Rune Manipulation (Based on Dice Roll)

Effect: User can activate, alter, or neutralize runes found in dungeons.

Miles allowed himself a small, tired smile. For the first time since he'd entered this cursed dungeon, he felt like he had a chance to survive.

He rose to his feet, wincing at the pain in his side. The exit was still out there, and the clock might not be ticking anymore, but the dungeon was far from done with him.

"Let's see what else this place has to throw at me," he said, clutching the Rune Compass as he stepped forward into the unknown, but of course, how could he forget about the boss and the guardian that were fighting not to far away from him?

They rushed toward Miles as soon as they saw that he was capable of standing. Their movement created rumbling of the ground, causing Miles to lose his focus and collapse.

'Fuck! I might actually die at this rate. I need to roll the dice and gamble on my luck now. Hopefully, I will roll something worthwhile'