THE GOD OF MISFORTUNE

Luis woke up with cold metal staring into his soul.

A visor—smooth, expressionless, and far too close—hovered just inches from his face. Two glowing blue eyes blinked in eerie silence.

"GOOD MORNING, MASTER."The voice was cheerful. Too cheerful.

"AAAAAH—!"Luis flailed backwards, tumbling off the bed with a thud that shook the floor. His heart hammered like a jackhammer. "What the hell?! Why were you breathing down my face?!"

The construct tilted its head, unbothered. "VITAL SIGNS DETECTED. BREATHING INDICATED WAKEFULNESS."

Above him, Zyx phased into view mid-laugh, doubled over like a demon who’d won the lottery. "Oh, this is gold. Your face was priceless—like a cat realizing it stepped in water."

Luis groaned, rubbing his eyes. "You knew he was there and said nothing?"

"And miss the best wake-up scene in history? Never," Zyx said, wiping a fake tear. "I’m framing that memory in the Celestial Halls."

Luis got to his feet, grumbling—and then stopped. His Soul Essence counter had jumped.

[SOUL ESSENCE: 10,420]

"...Wait. I had 6,000 yesterday." He glanced at the construct. "You... did this?"