“Name still pending,” the dungeon core quipped, “like, the first level will be easy, with a simple question, low stakes and small rewards. But every time the adventurer risk going further, the treasure gets better. The catch is, the adventurer has to think about it. If he gets it wrong, he loses everything. Loses the treasure he won in the previous level, and maybe even his life. However, if he keeps making the right calls, know the right answers, he can walk away with something big. Like, the Vial of Change at the very top.”

  The dungeon core paused, letting the idea hang in the air. Both Jemma and the Guardian perked up, so Xu Han kept going. “So, this is my idea. When the trial begins, the adventurer get asked a question. If the adventurer get it correct, he wins a treasure. Something simple. He then has the freedom to walk away with the treasure or he can keep going. The questions get progressively tougher, but the treasure improves. However, if he gets an answer wrong, then the treasure is gone and he will have to fight a monster, maybe even a Boss at the higher levels. It’s about knowing your own limits, and whether you trust your skill and knowledge enough to test your luck again.”

  The Guardian’s eyes widened. “So, it’s a knowledge-based gamble, with the adventurer’s life as the stake. It allows the adventurers to assess their own understanding and knowledge, before deciding if the risk of moving forward is worth the potential loss of their current winnings. And their life! I like it. Let’s folks weigh their own odds and decide when to quit. That’s a real gamble.”

  Jemma nodded, slower this time. “And the level thing makes sure no one can just luck their way into superior rewards. They have to earn it. Though, putting the Vial of Change at the top might ruffle some feathers. Other cores might have their own prizes they think are better.”

  “What’s better than a divine item?” the Guardian shot back, glaring at Jemma. She just shrugged, looking totally unfazed.

  “No clue,” she said. “But I’d bet my wings a core like The Dungeon Master would have some crazy agreements with the gods. So, it should have something stronger than your Vial of Change.”

  “That’s… true,” the Guardian conceded, grumbling. When it comes to The Dungeon Master, no one was going to argue against its power. “Still, the perceived value of an item is just as important as its power. The Vial of Change is a divine item. You can literally become something else with it. It is a tool that alter your species, that could change your fate. That alone elevates its worth.”

  Jemma shrugged again. “I’m not saying it’s not valuable, it’s just that we can’t force every core to place it as the top treasure. It’ll always be up there with the best, but in the end, it’s the dungeon core’s decision. Not ours.”

  “A Dungeon Core is the lord of his dungeon. We have neither the right nor the ability to force this.” Xu Han added.

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  The Guardian stared at the two of them, clearly annoyed but Xu Han could see he was trying to swallow it. The Guardian didn’t say anything for a few seconds, then just kind of nodded. It was a silent acknowledgement and acceptance of what they were saying but Xu Han did not want regrets.

  “Guardian, do you accept that?”

  Silence filled the core room. Finally, the Guardian spoke. “Fine. I can live with that. However, how are we supposed to get the other cores to go along with any of this? Who’s stopping them from designing their own trials?”

  “Who says we need to stop them?” A relieved Xu Han asked with a light laugh. “As long as the trial involves a domain or aspect of Carda, that should be good enough. My idea is a suggestion, not an order.”

  “Yes, and honestly,” Jemma chimed in, shooting the Guardian a look, “forcing the other cores to run the same trial would totally defeat the purpose of Carda. The Lord of Cards is all about freedom, right? Surely, that apply to dungeon cores as well as the adventurers. He would not want to force the cores to follow a template they dislike.”

  The dungeon fairy then snickered, her wings fluttering excitedly. “And letting each core interpret the aspects as they see fit means they can add their own unique flair to the trials. That’s where the fun kicks in. Dungeon cores are nothing if not inventive. I bet we’ll see some wild stuff that captured Carda’s aspects in ways none of us could’ve even dreamed of.”

  Xu Han mentally nodded, lost in his head. Knowing the other cores, he could picture how each trial would be different. What does Luck mean to Bookkeeper versus Challenger? Their ideas would probably be worlds apart.

  Instead of asking some strange questions, Challenger’s trial would probably be just fighting. Monster after monster, survival would mean the adventurer would face a stronger monster at the next level and if that monster was too much for you? Well, that’s just your luck.

  Bookkeeper? Xu Han would not be surprised if his trial would have the adventurer flipping through dusty tomes nobody’s ever heard of. Just picturing all that chaos, Xu Han figured that’s exactly the kind of unpredictable mess a god of Chance would love.

  The Guardian paused, looking like he’d just bitten into something sour. “Sure, variety is certainly appealing, but unpredictability? That’s a double-edged sword, isn’t it? What if some of these trials are lackluster? Or worse, insulting to the very concept of luck itself?” He winced, clearly imagining something so bad it would offend his god. “Instead of impressing him, we risk drawing Carda's ire.”

  “True, but honestly, the alternative is worse. I think forcing every dungeon core to create a series of identical trials, however well-intentional, would offend Carda far more than a few trials that are not up to the mark. Carda thrives on giving people the freedom to choose, and even a ‘lackluster’ trial offers adventurers a chance to win or lose. Isn't that, by itself, a form of honouring Carda?” Xu Han immediately pointed out.

  “Exactly!” Jemma jumped in before the Guardian could argue. “The risk of a few failures is a price worth paying for the potential of brilliance and it’s not like we’re just running away from the problem. Xu Han can help out if any of the cores are stuck with the concept. Nothing heavy-handed, just a bit of advice here and there, and a gentle nudge in the right direction. Let the cores have their fun and trust them to pull off something awesome for Carda. I bet he’ll love it.”

  The Guardian sighed, but there was a grin sneaking onto his face. He was sold, but he had one more thing on his mind. “Do we even have a way to deliver the vials to the other dungeons?

  Jemma just laughed. “Oh please! We have an entire guild dedicated to this kind of thing. That’s the easy part.”