The casino's neon lights gleamed like a thousand eyes, reflecting off polished marble floors, gold-plated tables, and the silver dice that tumbled endlessly across velvet layouts. The air was thick with tension, the hum of whispered wagers, and the occasional gasp as bets soared and fell.
Ren stepped carefully onto the floor, clutching his 20,000 yen in chips. The system pulsed in his mind:
[Target: Win 1,000,000 yen today. Rank: Gaming King. Failure: 50W Electric Shock. Reward: 60 Points + Half of Winnings in System Currency.]
This wasn't just a game. Every table, every chip, every microsecond counted. A single misstep could bring agony or death.
Hierarchy of Power
Ren recalled the lessons the system had taught him:
Gambling Saints – The most powerful beings in the gambling world. Extremely rare, almost mythical. Capable of manipulating dice, roulette, and probability with sheer thought. Their presence alone could shift the course of any game, even over God-level interference.
God (Casino Owner) – Rare, immensely powerful, controlling the environment, stakes, and rules. Can intervene subtly or directly to enforce authority.
Kings (Ren's Rank) – Elite strategists able to read dice, predict outcomes, and remain calm under pressure.
Habitual Prince Gamblers – Skilled, common opponents.
Ren's King-level skills gave him confidence:
Dice Whisper: Hear subtle vibrations inside dice, even amid noise.
Probability Insight: Predict likely outcomes in small-scale games.
Calm Mind: Resist panic, focus under extreme pressure.
Fortune's Fall — First Challenge
The first table glowed faintly green: Fortune's Fall. Two silver dice rolled endlessly. Players bet on totals with various multipliers.
Ren placed 2,000 yen cautiously. A nearby gambler sneered:
"A boy? He's going to lose it all! What a fool!"
Another muttered:
"Betting his life savings… this is insane!"
Ren ignored them. King skills engaged, every vibration, every nuance of the dice under his fingertips whispering the answer.
The dice clattered. Seven.
"Impossible…" someone gasped.
"Did he predict it?"
Small victories stacked into confidence. Ren moved through tables, observing patterns, placing bets with precision, letting his calm dominate the chaos.
The Saints' Presence
By midday, he had 200,000 yen. His eyes scanned the crowd as the system alerted:
[Extreme Threat Detected: Gambling Saint Observing.]
Saints were almost mythical. Rare, invisible to most, yet capable of shifting probability with mere thought. Even the God-level casino owner might not counter their influence. Ren's mind sharpened. He had to play perfectly. A single miscalculation, and the Saint could undo everything.
The Wheel of Risk
Afternoon brought the Wheel of Risk, massive, golden, twelve sectors glowing ominously. Misstep meant 50 Watts of electric shock.
Other gamblers laughed:
"Bet it all, little boy! You'll lose in seconds!"
Ren ignored the mockery. Every movement, every microsecond of wheel rotation mattered. Probability whispered in his mind, King skills guiding each bet, each placement.
Red. 23. Win.
Red. 17. Win again.
Even with Saints observing, Ren's focus held steady. He had to be flawless.
God-Level Awareness
From the shadows, the casino owner watched, calm but calculating. Every win, every strategic decision drew his interest.
"A child… a King… intriguing. Let's see if he can survive the Saints' scrutiny."
The system beeped a warning:
[God-Level Observation Active. Extreme caution advised.]
Ren didn't panic. He had prepared for this. Focus and precision were his allies.
The Final Gamble
Late afternoon, with 900,000 yen, Ren approached the Roulette of Fortune. The wheel spun, the ball danced. Every heartbeat stretched, every movement amplified.
Whispers erupted:
"He's insane! He bets everything on a single spin!"
"He'll lose it all and be humiliated!"
Ren closed his eyes. Probability, King-level calculation, calm, and instinct guided him. Stakes were total—one mistake, and the Saints could undo it.
He risked it all. Every chip. Every strategy.
Red. 12. Win.
Red. 7. Win again.
Red. 24.
System flashed triumphantly:
[Task Complete: Win 1,000,000 yen]
[Reward: 60 Points + Half of Winnings Converted to System Currency]
Gasps and murmurs swept the room. Gamblers, minor Kings, and Saints alike observed in stunned silence. Even the God-level owner allowed a faint smile—an acknowledgment of skill.
Aftermath and Suspense
Ren exhaled, muscles tense, heart pounding. Victory tasted sweet, but the Saints' gaze lingered. Gods could intervene. Saints could subtly shift outcomes. One mistake tomorrow could cost everything.
He had won, survived, and claimed his points—but the true threat of the Gambling World had only begun.
Every table, every roll, every opponent now carried the potential for disaster. He had learned one lesson: in this world, skill, instinct, and courage alone would never be enough.
Ren's eyes gleamed. The challenge ahead was greater, deadlier, and infinitely more thrilling.Ren stepped out of the casino, the night air cool against his flushed skin. Behind him, the neon lights and chatter of the Gambling World faded as the system triggered the familiar "veil lift" effect—the world dissolving like a thin mist. In an instant, he was back at his cave, the soft rustle of leaves and the distant roar of the sea replacing the clamor of dice and chips.
He exhaled, relief and adrenaline coiling in his chest. But there was no rest for the ambitious. The system pinged:
[Points Available: 360]
Ren checked his stats and realized the chance was perfect to upgrade fully. He allocated points carefully:
Agility: 15 (from 6) → 9 points used
Mana: 20 (from 15) → 5 points used
Total points spent: 14
He smiled faintly, feeling the shift in his body. Movements would now be swifter, reactions sharper, and his energy for techniques greater.
Next, he shopped through the system store:
Level Ç Assassin Cape → 50 points
Level D Hero Wear → 60 points
Teleportation Card (2 uses within 100m) → 50 points
Points spent on items: 160
He had 300 points left, leaving enough for future tasks or upgrades. The system displayed the deduction of his in-game yen as he purchased points to keep the totals balanced:
300,800 yen spent to buy points
Remaining points: 300
The Board Spin Reward
With adrenaline still pumping, Ren approached the Reward Board. The system had promised him a free board spin for completing his Martial Arts upgrade. The massive, circular wheel creaked ominously as he placed his hand on it, the metallic sound echoing through the cave.
"Let's see what I get…" he muttered, tension coiling in his chest.
The board spun slowly at first, then faster, each click of the divisions like a heartbeat in his mind. Shadows danced along the walls as the wheel picked up speed.
Creaks, clicks, and the distant hum of the system filled the air. Ren's eyes narrowed as he waited for the inevitable—the moment it would stop.
Time seemed to stretch. Every rotation of the board felt eternal.
The chapter closed with the board still spinning, the sound of its metallic creak growing louder, echoing in the dark cave…