Chapter 2
A crazy idea suddenly formed in my mind.
I looked up at the altar and, before it could announce the price, I yelled out, "Wait!"
The voice from the altar stopped abruptly.
Everyone watching around the world froze.
No one had ever dared to interrupt the altar before.
"I'm changing my wish," I declared.
The altar remained silent, as if it were accepting my actions.
I spoke clearly, enunciating every word. "I want you to double every price you're about to demand from me."
The moment those words left my mouth, it was like someone hit the mute button on the world.
People in the plaza had their eyes wide open, completely dumbfounded.
Billions of viewers watching the live stream froze in disbelief.
Double the price?
What kind of wish was that?
Who would actually ask for an even harsher price?
For the first time, the voice above the altar faltered, clearly puzzled.
"Explain your wish," it said.
I said, "I mean, whatever price you demand from me, I want you to double it.
"If the price is losing one hand, then I'll give up both.
"If it's ten years of my life, then I'll sacrifice twenty.
"If it's my heart, then...
I paused, then smiled. "Then go ahead and take a second heart, one that I don't even have."
The altar went completely silent.
It looked like it was stuck in a kind of logical chaos it had never faced before.
The rule was "equivalent exchange."
I had made my wish, so the altar had to grant it.
And my new wish was, at its core, still a wish.
The altar had to grant my wish to double the price first.
Only after that could it even try to demand anything from me.
This was an endless logic trap, no way out.
The world's top scientists, logicians, and philosophers were all staring at their screens, completely dumbfounded.
They tried to unravel the logic behind my move, but no one could crack it.
I had just shattered the very foundation of the rules.
After a long silence, the altar's voice came back, trembling just a little.
"Your wish... has been granted.
"Now, your first wish will be fulfilled: Charlotte will be healed.
"Assessing the price..."
I waited nervously.
It said, "The price: your death."
The crowd gasped in shock.
Sure enough, it was the worst possible outcome.
But I smiled.
Because my second wish had already been granted.
"The price-doubling rule is now in effect.
"The price you must pay is: double death."
The altar's voice twisted, sounding almost unnatural.
Everyone around the world held their breath.
What did double death even mean?
People could only die once.
Everybody knew that. It was common sense.
I stared straight at the altar and shouted my answer, loud and clear. "Since the price is random, and since it can be doubled, that means every price is just a quantifiable thing, something you can count, like a commodity.
"So, the price I'm paying is giving up my death twice.
"The first time, I gave up my death.
"The second time, it cements that outcome, making me truly immortal."
With the whole world watching in terror, I became the one and only immortal in this world ruled by exchange.
A black mist surged out from the altar, swirling around me and enveloping my body.
Then, it plunged straight into my forehead.
The cold sensation disappeared instantly.
I felt no difference at all.
I ran my hands over myself. My heart was still pounding, my breath calm.
Did I really just become... undying?
The plaza was dead silent.
Everyone was staring at me like I was some kind of monster.
On the live stream, the chat had gone completely silent. Even the servers had crashed.
The altar stayed silent, as if it was struggling to comprehend a result beyond its limits.
"He pulled it off..." someone whispered.
"He glitched the rules!" another person shouted.
"Oh my god, someone just became immortal."
The crowd exploded with excitement and disbelief.
Just then, a man in an expensive suit parted the crowd and walked straight toward me.
Two bodyguards followed close behind him.
He wore an intrigued, almost amused smile.
"Well, this is interesting. Very interesting," he said.
I recognized him, Elijah Davis.
A month ago, he made a wish at the altar and gained the power to control fire.
The price was losing one of his ears.
Now, he was one of the most powerful men in the city.
"So, you're William?" Elijah asked.
Elijah walked right up to me, looking down at me like he owned the place.
"I heard you became immortal?" he said.
I didn't say a word, just kept my guard up and watched him warily.
Elijah suddenly broke into a smile.
He raised his hand, and a ball of fire appeared out of nowhere in his palm.