Xander stared at the lottery draw screen, his heart sinking with familiar dread.
Back in his old world, gacha pools had cursed him with guaranteed losses every time.
As a modest spender, bad luck meant picking between characters, never claiming them all.
Full constellations, maxed weapons, those were dreams too lofty to entertain.
So, the Second Creation Broadcast's prize system filled him with grim resignation.
"Might as well roll, maybe it won't be a total disaster," he muttered under his breath.
He tapped the draw button, the interface bursting with dazzling lights and flair.
One draw remained, a single shot at fate's unpredictable whims.
"Bless me, Keqing's grace, let this one shine!" he whispered, half in jest.
With a flicker of thought, he spent the draw, hoping against his own history.
He'd just tormented Keqing in the broadcast, perhaps she'd curse him instead.
A golden glow flared briefly, then dulled as three white meteors plummeted.
"Congratulations, you've won Keqing's silken threads!" the system chimed.
"Congratulations, you've won a case of Vergil's Devil's Brew!" it continued.
"Congratulations, you've won Ningguang's 142nd signature lipstick!" it finished.
Xander's face twisted into a scowl, frustration boiling beneath his calm exterior.
Three measly D-tier trinkets, the lowest scraps of the prize pool?
He, a chosen traveler from beyond Teyvat, deserved better than this mockery.
This wasn't just bad luck, it was an insult to his destined path.
Still, Keqing's silken threads, soft and dark, might make a quirky keepsake.
Ningguang's lipstick, one of countless, spoke to her wealth in shades alone.
And Vergil's Devil's Brew, a quirky nod to a warrior's endorsement?
Maybe it'd boost his aim, though he doubted it held such power.
Xander glanced around Wanmin Kitchen, ensuring no eyes lingered on him.
He summoned a can of the brew from his system space, its blue metal cool in his hand.
Vergil's smirking face grinned from the label, brimming with cocky assurance.
He popped it open and sipped, the taste a bland echo of mundane soda.
No surge of skill coursed through him, no knack for tossing blades emerged.
Just a repackaged fizz, a hollow prize from his lackluster draw.
He drained it in one go, stashing the empty can back into the void.
Xander finished his meal, paid Maurice with a handful of Mora, and stepped outside.
Across the street, Liyue's Adventurers' Guild branch stood, a beacon for his coin.
His B-tier strength made monster-slaying commissions a breeze, funding his days.
Unlike the game's open stall, this guild was a cozy hall of stone and wood.
Tables and chairs dotted the interior, a haven for adventurers to plan and rest.
Teyvat's cities basked in divine safety, but the wilds teemed with peril.
Hilichurls, slimes, whopperflowers, and young geovishaps lurked beyond the walls.
Daily tasks to cull them or guard travelers kept the guild's board bustling.
Vision bearers like Xander thrived on these, while others ran errands or explored ruins.
He strode inside, nodding to familiar faces swapping tales by the fire.
The hall buzzed with chatter about Keqing's offal-flying fiasco from the broadcast.
Xander silently begged her forgiveness, his role in her shame a quiet burden.
"Welcome to the stars and abyss, Xander, here for a job today?" Kathryn greeted.
Her smile was polished, a fixture of every guild branch across the nations.
Few adventurers matched Xander's prowess, making him a standout in her eyes.
"Good afternoon, Kathryn," he replied, settling into a chair by the counter.
"Keep it simple, high pay, the usual drill," he added with a casual shrug.
He watched her shuffle through commissions, her efficiency a marvel to behold.
Players back home swore Kathryn was a construct, not flesh and blood.
A keyhole design on her neckline fueled tales of her artificial origins.
No septuplets could staff every guild, hinting at a hidden force behind the scenes.
Kathryn pulled a stack of high-tier jobs from the board, each a test of mettle.
"These just came in, perfect for someone of your caliber," she began.
"A wealthy merchant, Linus, seeks a tutor for his unruly son, offering hefty Mora."
"The boy's driven off a dozen teachers, so the pay reflects the challenge," she noted.
"Ningguang's posted a bounty for intel on the Second Creation Broadcast's source."
"Rewards scale with truth and value, but false leads face Liyue's legal wrath," she warned.
"Feiyun's second heir wants a creative scribe to spark his next tale, starting at 10,000 Mora."
Xander leaned forward, weighing each option against his mood and purse.
The tutor gig tempted him, a fat payout for wrangling a spoiled brat.
Ningguang's bounty intrigued, though he'd never betray his own broadcast.
The writer's muse job felt too tame, lacking the thrill he craved.
He tapped the counter, mulling as the hall's chatter swelled around him.
Keqing's silken threads sat in his inventory, a trophy of his mischief.
The Devil's Brew case and lipstick joined it, useless but oddly charming.
His luck might be abysmal, but these scraps proved his system's reach.
"Tell me more about Linus's kid," he said, curiosity tipping the scales.
Kathryn flipped a page, detailing a teen with a temper and a knack for chaos.
"Sounds like a handful, but the Mora's worth it," Xander mused aloud.
He'd faced worse than a tantrum, his blade cutting through tougher foes.
The guild hummed with life, adventurers plotting their next moves.
Xander's mind drifted to the broadcast, its next target a tantalizing blank.
Keqing's outrage had fueled this draw, her pain his unintended gain.
He'd weave another spoof soon, stirring Teyvat's pot once more.
For now, he'd take the job, piling Mora for whatever came next.
Kathryn slid the contract over, her smile unwavering as he signed.
"Best of luck, Xander, stars guide you," she said, filing the rest away.
He rose, the weight of his trinkets a quiet reminder of his cursed draw.
Liyue sprawled beyond the guild, a canvas for his unseen schemes.
The Shadowfang Blade at his hip pulsed, eager for action or jest.
Xander stepped into the sun, a thrower of fate in a world unaware.
***
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