This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist

But the biggest challenge with this attraction wasn't the gameplay or the ticket price — it was that, based on how players were admitted, she and her two pets likely wouldn't be placed in the same claw machine.

With bad luck, they might not even end up in the same machine at all.

But so what if B8017913 was a player? Couldn't she just build it a body?

In this Block world, players came in all shapes and forms. Giving B8017913 a new look wouldn't raise any eyebrows.

And besides, her mindset had started to shift.

In the past, when she was weaker, her first instinct with any new resource was to hide it — like a small animal in the jungle clutching its prize, fearing predators.

Now, she still didn't think she was strong enough — but when faced with the powers she had, her instinct was to use them.

Rita didn't rush to line up. She circled around behind the vending machine, using Nivalis for cover, and began putting together a body for B8017913.

It was still Block-ified in ring form and couldn't switch into any other shape — but she could attach Blocks to build on top of it.

She added a few pieces, broke B8017913 apart, and reshaped it into a head — a square Block with a ring etched on top.

Then a slightly larger Block for the body and four little pieces for limbs.

"How's this?"

The new B8017913 was only five centimeters tall — and looked pretty basic — but from the way the little Block figure bounced and waved its arms, it clearly moved just fine.

It had planned to say "not great," but after hopping a few times in Rita's palm and feeling out the mobility, B8017913 admitted,

"Not bad. It feels like my own body. Pretty nimble."

That was good enough. Rita brought both her pets and joined the queue.

Realizing Rita really was planning to send it into the game, B8017913 couldn't help but ask,

"You're not worried about me?"

Rita:

"You've got skills, don't you? Didn't you install all three power banks into your core before we left?"

If B8017913 could take down a Tier-17 inspector in the Diamond Mine event, she had no doubts about its combat capability.

B8017913:

"…I remember you said I was supposed to be 'clerical staff.'"

Rita:

"Well, now you're reassigned. It's tough times. We're all playing multiple roles now. You're one of the top three shareholders of the company — time to step up and help us grow!"

That corporate speech left B8017913 completely stunned.

By now, Rita had also figured out something else — B8017913 had a lazy streak. It liked to slack off whenever it could.

So she offered a carrot with the stick:

"Don't worry — if we end up in the same claw machine, I'll come fetch you!"

B8017913 patted the Block on Rita's stomach.

"Then can I rebuild myself?"

Rita had no issue with that. She opened the stomach Block so B8017913 could hop inside and start adjusting its structure.

Rita:

"If you lose Blocks in this form, what stat takes the hit? Intelligence?"

B8017913 explained:

"Yep. By giving up my physical form, I've sealed off Constitution, Strength, and Agility. Now I'm pure Intelligence. The Blocks I add on now just temporarily give me the stats they represent."

Rita:

"What's your Intelligence stat?"

B8017913:

"8716. But this form burns through mana — just like I told you before. If you use my skills, it drains 5% of my MP each time. If I use them myself, every skill costs 2.5%."

Got it. B8017913 was now a fragile glass-cannon mage with high INT and a serious mana shortage.

This attraction's queue moved slower than the space pirate game. Sometimes the line jumped forward by several spots, other times it crawled. It was nearly 2:30 AM by the time Rita's turn came up.

She'd already handed Nivalis her ticket earlier. Now, she held out her palm, presenting the newly built B8017913 — who was still clutching a gray Block — to the gingerbread NPC.

The little gingerbread stared at B8017913 for a moment, then glanced at the open slot in Claw Machine #3. Suddenly, it pointed at Rita and said, in BS-standard English:

"You go first."

Rita: …Huh?

What was this? VIP treatment?

From the gingerbread's expression, it seemed like the current slot might not be ideal — maybe not suited for B8017913.

Sensing the situation, B8017913 quickly spoke up in English, "I'll go first."

But Rita pressed a finger down on its head, stopping it from jumping. She held out her ticket instead.

"It's fine. Listen to it. Your safety comes first."

Nivalis & B8017913: ???

Before either could start whispering in private about whether Rita had eaten something weird, she used [Who Wants to Start a Group] to create a party chat.

Since they were now officially inside a game zone, skills were usable again — and this one was clearly going to be a long match. No point saving that Arcane Point now.

As Rita slid down the gingerbread's assigned entry chute, she messaged the group:

"How about that, Secretary B? Feeling special yet?"

B8017913 was just checking its inbox, reading a DM from one of its own kind:

"So it's true you bonded with BS-Rita? I've heard tons of stories. Like, she got jumped by hundreds of promo events and still refused to admit fault — real stubborn mule. And now she's treating you so nicely?"

"…Yeah. She's like that," B8017913 replied. After a pause, it mimicked a phrase it'd learned not long ago:

"She super loves. Can't help it."

Even the gingerbread NPC flinched a little at that line.

Back in public chat, B8017913 grinned at Rita:

"Mmhmm"

Nivalis snapped:

"Why don't you ever pull this PR stuff for me back on Dragon Island?!"

Rita, already sliding down a tunnel, laughed.

"Next time we go back, I'll throw you a parade!"

And then, the game rules rang out in her mind — and she focused.

[Claw Machine Game Rules — This match features Overstocked Dolls, Hot-Selling Dolls, and Doll Buyers.]

[Overstocked Doll Rules]

In each machine, the three Dolls (Block players) with the highest Block counts become Overstocked Dolls. Each of them can create a "Usage Instruction" — a special rule. Every Doll in the same machine that fits a rule will have its body size doubled and Agility halved by 50%.

"Usage Instructions" must be related to the current Divine Game: Chaotic Blocks. The Overstocked Dolls can modify their rule at any time.

Overstocked Dolls cannot earn rewards for killing other Dolls.

If an Overstocked Doll is captured by a Doll Buyer, they will receive five times the machine number in Block rewards and become the new Doll Buyer.