Apocalypse: System of lotteries

"Da Vinci pointed at the man in the undergarments, informing Merlin that Ming is fond of men. You're aware of this, aren't you?"

"Merlin gazed at you with bewilderment. 'ming, are you truly forsaking the flower of splendor for one overrun with weeds?'"

Ming sat quietly inside the tent, momentarily lost for words. Taking a deep breath, he pointed to the Red Knight, communicating with Merlin, "I am about to do a significant task. telling Da Vinci to simply strip him the clothes."

"Merlin conveyed to Da Vinci that Ming was about to do something momentous and that it should only take care of stripping the garments."

Da Vinci looked dubious. "I've never heard that an important task involves removing someone's undergarments. Do these undergarments bear the mission to save the world?"

Merlin turned to you, "Ming, Da Vinci has a point. What do you think?"

Ming lifted Merlin and gave him a gentle kiss. "Let that oaf work and speak less, or else feed him the potion."

Merlin said to Da Vinci, "Less talking, more action. Do you want to get thrashed?"

Da Vinci hopped forward, completed the task, then hopped back, declaring, "All stripped. Proceed with your great task now."

"There was no activation of the ' Strip Assistant'?"

Ming was frustrated; he felt misunderstood. Without any results, he looked to Kubo and threw another pair of undergarments. "Put these on him."

Da Vinci glanced between you and Merlin. "You see? This is the 'great task' Ming spoke of—merely helping someone try on undergarments for the right fit."

Merlin looked at you, "Ming, can I still trust you?"

"Yes."

Ming instructed Merlin to tell Da Vinci to continue his work, promising to someday build a special room for him and the little butterfly. A room as cozy as they desire, even allowing the tiny spider to weave a comfortable mattress.

Da Vinci eagerly hopped forward, accomplishing his task, activating the 'Grand Assistant' and acquiring Talent X1. He assures you, it's not because of the bribe, but to provide a warm home for the little butterfly.

Your little frogs noticed you directing Kubo to dress that fellow in undergarments once again. They gazed at you, questioning, "Have you become addicted to this?"

"Heh," Ming smirked, admitting that the stripping skill was indeed quite intoxicating.

The dispirited Red Horse Knight, feeling drained, couldn't fathom how an ordinary man possessed such power to simultaneously deplete his spirit and body. Has he been forsaken by the Creator? Have all his efforts been in vain? Was he not worthy of being a harbinger of terror?

[Your 'War Madman' talent has disappeared...]

[Your 'War Horn' skill has disappeared...]

[Your 'Sustain War with War' skill has disappeared...]

[…]

[Your 'Irreparable' talent has disappeared...]

[All your abilities are gone...]

The Red Horse Knight, physically and mentally exhausted, began doubting his ambitions. A 'god' who once aimed to ignite a world war, now lost his will to fight.

Then, he felt a warm, large hand resting on his head.

The Red Horse Knight's last thread of hoping shattered. Struggling, he raised his head, "I... pledge my allegiance to my master, to battle in all directions!"

[Global broadcast: Catastrophe of the Red Horse Knight has ended. The one who inflicted the 'highest damage' receives a mysterious gift box.]

"A gift box?"

Ming chuckled coldly, "Another scheme against me?"

Thud! The Red Horse Knight, along with his chair, toppled over, unconscious.

Da Vinci looked at Ming and turned to Merlin, whispering, "See, Ming, did manage a grand feat, humiliating someone to death."

Merlin eyed Ming, "Can you drop me home? The head chef is waiting for me to study a new poison. And bring Henry along; I'd like to test a new antidote on him. I assure you, he won't die."

Shortly after, Ming escorted the frogs and Henry the dog home. Upon returning, he healed the Red Horse Knight's limb injuries, but the knight had to recover the blood on his own. Ming could extract blood but not produce it. Hence, he had David bring a mutated wild boar to replenish the knight's blood. Eventually, the boar grew thin, while the knight's face regained color.

The knight remained indifferent. However, upon seeing Ming, he involuntarily trembled.

[The Puppet Red Horse Knight seems a bit fearful... He avoids your gaze...]

[The Puppet Red Horse Knight thinks... He's really hesitant to even glance at you...]

[…]

Ming thought, "Am I really that terrifying? Sometimes, I believe I'm quite warm-hearted."

"Since you're with me, you should have a name. Let's call you 'red'."

"!!"

The Red Horse Knight looked up, "Is that how casually your name is? But... thank you, Master, for naming me."

Ming nodded, gratified, "As long as you like it."

[Puppet Xiao Hong has a fleeting thought, 'Heh'...]

"There's something else I need to tell you..."

The atmosphere grew dense as Ming unleashed his divine aura in front of the Red Horse Knight.

"You... you're also a god?"

"It's good that you know. I have a special mission. Don't ask questions. Just obey my commands, and you'll live."

"But... Okay. I'll obey."

[The Red Horse Knight is confused... Are you with God's camp or Hell's camp? He doesn't dare to ask...]

[The Red Horse Knight feels that maybe you belong to a faction of your own...]

[…]

God and Hell?

Ming wasn't surprised by the division of gods into camps. The deities he had defeated earlier were from different mythologies, each with their own unique properties. It could be said that the rules were getting quite dramatic.

Ming jingled a set of keys in his hand and inquired, "Where are the resources these keys unlock?"

The Red Horse Knight replied, "Inside a small town. You need a [Specialized Teleportation Scroll] to enter."

"Is this it?" 

Ming held up a golden card. He had acquired this when he was collecting his dues from the Red Horse Knight.

"Yes, that's the one."

[The Red Horse Knight was astounded... What kind of divine power allows one to stealthily take another's possession?]

[The Red Horse Knight glanced at you, wondering if you might be... the God of Thievery...]

[…]

"Alright then."

Holding the scroll, Ming ordered, "Once you've fully recovered, retrieve those resources."

"Yes, Master."

"Good."

In such places, it might be best not to risk oneself for fear of pitfalls. After all, Red knows the way well, making it more convenient.

A moment later, a group surrounded the mysterious gift box on the table. Ming remarked, "I've opened one of these boxes before, and it contained a hidden quest. I knew a man named Young Rubio who opened another, and his too held a hidden task. Therefore, I suspect this one might be equally treacherous."

David frowned, "What if it's not a hidden task but... something valuable?"

Hawkins and Alan sat quietly aside, not approaching or speaking, for material possessions mattered little to them.

Mike, slamming the table, exclaimed, "Why not simply have a puppet open it?"

The group paused, considering. That might work.

David shook his head, "What if, upon the puppet's touch, it transfers something to its master?"

The crowd nodded in agreement.

"Alright, while you ponder that, we'll make some pies."

The serpent-woman, leading Fire Woman, Clos, Alice, and Kelly out of the room, glanced at the girl squatting next to the box and inquired, "Digennaro, would you like to learn how to make it with me?"

"You make them; I'll enjoy eating," she responded with a playful smirk.

As the woman departed, Digennaro suddenly slapped her thigh, "I've got an idea!"

The five men turned to her expectantly, awaiting her solution.

"We've got that plump wild antelope in the market, right? So, let's tie one end of a rope to the box lid and the other end to the antelope's leg. Then, we'll give it a small cut. When it feels pain, it will run, thus opening the box. Simple."

The group started "Do you want to eat lamb?"

A while later, Mike, armed with a sharp blade, slightly pricked the antelope's hind. Reacting to the sting, the antelope bolted across the room.

With a click, the box sprang open, releasing a radiant red glow. As it spread, beams of light illuminated in front of the group.

[Congratulations, you have initiated a group hidden quest.]

Suddenly, the six individuals, and the antelope, vanished.

Moments after, Alice and the others, pies in hand, faced the now empty room. Only a rope-tied empty box remained. They exchanged glances, guessing those had yet again gone themselves to some funny things.

Clos reassured, "No worries. The band promised me a discount for their next show."