Sonia's phone buzzed again.
She glanced at it, sighed, and flipped it face-down like it had insulted her toast.
I raised an eyebrow. "That the same number that's been calling all week?"
She didn't answer.
I leaned in. "Sonia… who's chasing you?"
She hesitated, then mumbled, "Debt collectors."
I blinked. "Casino?"
She winced. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice."
I stared at her. "You tried to hide it with toast and sarcasm."
She shrugged. "It worked for a while."
I leaned back, trying to process. "So… how bad is it?"
She looked away. "Bad. They're calling nonstop. I thought I could fix it myself, but now they want money. Fast. Like I owe them my soul, my socks, and maybe my toaster."
I frowned. "Let me help."
She shook her head. "No way. You wouldn't last five minutes in that world."
I raised an eyebrow. "I've played poker before."
She snorted. "On your phone. Against cartoon animals."
"Still counts."
She crossed her arms. "Goldy, this is serious. These people don't care about your tragic toast. They want real cash."
I leaned forward. "Exactly why you need backup. You can't do this alone."
"I've always handled my messes alone."
"And I've always helped you," I said. "Because you were too weak to—"
*WHACK.*
Her fist hit my arm like a flying potato.
"OW!" I yelped. "What was that for?"
She glared. "Call me weak again and I'll upgrade that punch to a flying chair."
I rubbed my arm. "Okay, okay! I meant emotionally weak. Like… a soggy biscuit."
She narrowed her eyes. "Goldy."
"Fine. Spiritually delicate. Like a sad balloon."
She sighed. "You're lucky I've known you since forever."
I grinned. "So… we're doing this together?"
She rolled her eyes. "Yes. But if we end up owing more, I'm blaming your cursed luck stat."
"Deal. But if we win big, you are buying me a toast that's not burnt."
She smiled. "I'll make it two. If we win."
The alley looked like it had been forgotten by time and cleaned by no one. Dim lights flickered overhead, casting weird shadows on cracked walls and puddles that smelled like old curry and regret.
Sonia walked ahead like she'd never left. No hesitation. No second thoughts. Just her, striding through the mess like it was her childhood playground.
I followed, stepping over a broken chair leg and what might've been a sock. "So this is the place?"
She nodded. "Back alley casino. No rules, no refunds, and definitely no hygiene."
A rat darted past with a poker chip in its mouth. It didn't look like it was winning.
We reached a rusted metal door with a faded sticker that read: *No cops. No crying. No refunds.*
Sonia knocked three times—fast, slow, fast. The door creaked open.
A man with one eyebrow and a glittery shirt peeked out. His eyes lit up. "Well, well. Look who crawled back."
Sonia smirked. "Still guarding the door like it's a treasure chest?"
He snorted. "Still breaking hearts?"
"Only the ones that bet against me."
He stepped aside. "Welcome back, Queen of Chaos."
I blinked. "Queen of what now?"
Sonia winked. "Long story. Involves a parrot, three aces, and a guy named Raju who cried into his chips."
Inside, the casino was pure madness. Smoke hung in the air like it had nowhere else to go. Red lights made everything look dramatic and slightly illegal. Tables were packed with people who looked like they'd bet their last rupee and their neighbor's scooter.
One guy wore sunglasses and whispered to his cards. A woman in a leather jacket was arm-wrestling someone while dealing blackjack. A parrot squawked "Double down!" from a corner.
Sonia walked in like she owned the place. People nodded. One guy even bowed.
I leaned close. "You're famous here?"
She shrugged. "Infamous. There's a difference."
We reached a table. The dealer had a scar shaped like a rupee sign and a grin that said, *I eat beginners for breakfast.*
"Buy-in's five thousand," he said. "Or one juicy secret."
Sonia tossed cash on the table like it was pocket lint. "We're here to win."
I sat down beside her, trying to look confident. The system screen pulsed faintly behind my eyes, waiting. Watching.
Just as we settled at the table and the dealer started shuffling cards like he was massaging secrets into them, a voice cut through the smoky air.
"Well, well. If it isn't my favorite risk-taker."
Sonia froze.
I turned to see a man walking toward us, dressed in a velvet blazer that looked expensive but smelled like old whiskey and broken promises. His hair was slicked back, his smile sharp, and his shoes too shiny for this dump.
Sonia muttered under her breath, "Here comes trouble."
The man stopped at our table, hands in his pockets, eyes locked on Sonia. "Didn't expect to see you back here so soon. Thought you were dodging me."
Sonia leaned back in her chair, cool as ever. "I wasn't dodging. I was… recalculating."
He chuckled. "Recalculating. That's rich. You still owe me, Sonia. And interest doesn't wait."
I blinked. "You're the one who gave her the loan?"
He turned to me, sizing me up like I was a side dish. "And you are?"
"Goldy," I said. "Backup noodle. Emotional support. Occasional toast chef."
He raised an eyebrow. "Cute. You here to pay her debt?"
I shrugged. "We're here to win. That's the plan."
He leaned in slightly. "Just remember—this place doesn't run on luck. It runs on leverage. And right now, she's running low."
Sonia stood up, face calm but eyes sharp. "I said I'd pay you back. I meant it."
He smirked. "Good. Because if you lose tonight, I'm not taking promises. I'm taking collateral."
I stood too. "She's not alone this time."
He looked at me, amused. "Then I suggest you both play smart. Or play fast."
With that, he turned and walked off, disappearing into the smoke like a villain in a low-budget movie.
Sonia sat back down, jaw tight.
I leaned in. "So… that guy's charming."
She rolled her eyes. "He once tried to charge me interest on a handshake."
I nodded. "Cool. Let's win this before he starts eyeing my shoes."
The dealer cleared his throat. "Cards?"
We nodded.
The dealer flicked the cards across the table like he was dealing fate itself. Sonia caught hers without blinking. I grabbed mine and tried not to look like I was sweating toast crumbs.
Two kings. Not bad.
Sonia peeked at hers, then gave me a tiny nod. Her face was calm, but her fingers tapped the table like a drumbeat of nerves.
The dealer smiled. "Place your bets."
Sonia slid a stack of chips forward. "Five thousand."
I followed, trying to look cool. "Same."
Across from us, a man with a scar on his cheek raised an eyebrow and matched our bet. A woman with gold nails and a stare that could melt steel joined in too.
The dealer burned a card and laid three face-up: Ace of hearts, King of spades, Seven of clubs.
I had three kings.
Sonia didn't flinch. She leaned back, eyes scanning the others like she was reading their minds.
The man with the scar grunted. "Ten thousand."
Gold Nails raised. "Twenty."
Sonia smiled. "Forty."
I nearly choked on air. "Forty?"
She whispered, "Trust me."
I nodded and pushed my chips in. "Forty."
Scar Man folded. Gold Nails stared at Sonia, then smirked. "Call."
The dealer flipped the fourth card: Queen of diamonds.
Sonia's eyes flicked to me. "Still good?"
I nodded. "Still royal."
Final card: King of hearts.
I had four kings. My heart thumped like a drum solo.
Gold Nails leaned forward. "All in."
Sonia didn't blink. "Call."
I swallowed. "Call."
The dealer nodded. "Showdown."
Gold Nails flipped her cards: Ace and Queen. Full house.
Sonia laid hers down: Two sevens.
I dropped mine: Two kings.
The dealer stared. "Four of a kind. Kings."
The table went quiet.
Gold Nails cursed under her breath. Scar Man whistled. The parrot squawked, "Holy chips!"
Sonia grinned. "Told you to trust me."
I blinked. "Wait, you didn't even have a good hand."
She shrugged. "I had you."
The velvet blazer guy reappeared, eyes sharp. "Well, well. Looks like you got lucky."
Sonia stood, calm and proud. "No. We played smart."
He looked at me. "You're not just toast and noodles after all."
I smiled. "I'm a full breakfast."
He chuckled, then nodded. "Debt cleared. For now."
Sonia grabbed the chips. "Let's go before someone bets on our shoes."
We walked out, past the parrot, past the smoke, past the regrets.
Outside, the air felt lighter.
Sonia looked at me. "Thanks."
I grinned. "You still owe me two toasts."
She smirked. "And maybe a hug."
I raised an eyebrow. "Or another flying potato?"
She laughed. "Depends on your luck stat."
I looked up at the sky. "Feeling lucky."
Just as we turned toward the exit, the shadows shifted.
A tall figure stepped out from behind a curtain of smoke, blocking our path. His suit was black velvet, his tie blood red, and his smile the kind that made your spine want to leave the building.
Sonia stopped cold. I did too.
The man's voice was smooth, but sharp. "Leaving already?"
Sonia's jaw tightened. "We paid. We're done."
He chuckled, low and slow. "Paid the principal, yes. But interest… interest is a hungry beast."
I frowned. "You said the debt was cleared."
He turned to me, eyes gleaming. "I said nothing. That was my associate. I'm the owner. And I don't deal in kindness."
Sonia stepped forward. "You gave me the loan. I paid it back. With winnings."
He leaned in, breath like stale cigars and broken promises. "You paid back the number. Not the cost."
"What cost?" I asked.
He smiled wider. "The cost of running. Of hiding. Of making me wait. Every day you dodged me? That's interest. Emotional damage. Reputation loss. And now… inconvenience."
Sonia's fists clenched. "You're bluffing."
He pulled out a small notebook, flipping it open. "Let's see… missed payments, three. Late apologies, zero. Public embarrassment? One time at the parrot table. That adds up to…"
He tapped the page. "Twenty thousand. And a favor."
I blinked. "A favor?"
He nodded. "Something personal. Something painful. Something… binding."
Sonia stepped back. "You're insane."
He grinned. "I'm thorough."
I stepped between them. "You're not getting another rupee. We won fair. We're walking out."
He tilted his head. "Then walk. But know this—if you leave without settling, I'll collect interest elsewhere. Friends. Family. That cute noodle backup."
Sonia's voice dropped to a growl. "Touch him and I'll burn this place down."
He raised his hands. "No need for drama. Just business."
I looked at Sonia. Her eyes were fire.
I whispered, "We'll find another way."
She nodded slowly, then turned to the owner. "You want interest? Fine. I'll give you something better."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."
She smiled, cold and sharp. "A rematch. One game. Double or nothing. You win, you get your twisted interest. I win, we walk clean."
He paused. Then laughed. "You've got guts, Queen of Chaos."
She shrugged. "I've got cards too."
He leaned in. "Then let's play."
The room went quiet. The parrot squawked, "Oh boy."
The moment Sonia laid down her winning hand—a straight flush so perfect it could've been carved by fate—the room froze.
The owner's face twisted. His eyes flared like broken neon. "Cheaters!" he roared, flipping the table so hard the chips scattered like confetti at a cursed wedding.
Sonia stood, calm as ever. "You lost. Fair and square."
He pointed a trembling finger. "No one beats me! Not in my house!"
I stepped forward. "Then maybe your house needs a renovation."
He snarled. "GUARDS!"
From the shadows, six bulky figures emerged—tattoos, brass knuckles, and bad attitudes. One cracked his neck. Another spun a chain like he was auditioning for a villain role in a soap opera.
Sonia grabbed my arm. "Goldy, don't—"
I froze.
> **[STATUS WINDOW – USER: VOID]**
> Level: 1
> Health: 100/100
> Stamina: 100/100
> Strength: 6
> Agility: 5
> Intelligence: 7
> Luck: 2
> Power Sync: 12%
> Skills: None
> Titles: None
> Achievements: None
Six strength. No skills. No backup. Just me, a system that threatened teleportation, and a body powered by toast and spite.
I hesitated. My legs felt like pudding. My hands trembled. The guards looked like they ate bricks for breakfast.
Sonia tugged my wrist. "You'll get hurt. We need to run."
I shook her off. "I'm tired of running."
> **[SYSTEM ALERT]**
> **[Daily Quest Unlocked]**
> **Objective: Defeat all guards**
> **Reward: +10% Power Sync**
> **Time Limit: Until unconscious or victorious**
> **Failure Consequence: Forced teleportation and emotional humiliation**
The first guard lunged. I barely dodged, then slammed my elbow into his ribs. He grunted, staggered, but didn't fall. I followed with a wild punch. It landed. He dropped.
The second swung a baton. I blocked with a broken stool leg. My arms screamed. My stamina dropped. But I held. I twisted, slammed the stool into his knee. He howled and collapsed.
The third and fourth came together. I kicked a table toward them. It tripped one. I tackled the other, fists flying, adrenaline drowning out the pain. He clawed at my face. I headbutted him. Blood sprayed.
The fifth raised a taser. I grabbed a poker chip and flung it. It hit his hand. He dropped the taser. I tackled him into a pile of chairs. He bit my shoulder. I screamed and slammed his head into the floor.
The sixth paused, looked at the mess, and bolted.
The casino was chaos. Tables overturned. Chips scattered. Smoke thick. The parrot screamed, "ALL-IN PANIC!"
But I was panting. Bleeding. Cornered.
The remaining guards regrouped. One cracked his knuckles. Another pulled out a knife.
I backed up—straight into the owner.
He grabbed Sonia by the arm, yanking her close. "You lose," he hissed. "She's mine now."
Sonia struggled, kicked, screamed. "Goldy!"
I roared and charged—but the guards blocked me. One punched my gut. Another slammed my head into a table. I dropped to my knees.
> **[SYSTEM ALERT]**
> **Skill Unlocked: Thousand Punches**
> **Type: Burst Combat**
> **Effect: Unleashes a rapid barrage of up to 1,000 physical strikes in 30 seconds. Each punch scales with desperation, sync level, and emotional intensity.**
> **Cooldown: 24 hours**
> **Warning: May cause severe exhaustion, muscle damage, and emotional flashbacks. Use wisely.**
I stood.
The air around me pulsed.
My fists clenched.
I saw Sonia's face—furious, terrified, loyal.
I screamed and moved.
The first punch shattered a guard's nose.
The second broke a rib.
The third, fourth, fifth—blurred together. My arms moved faster than thought. My body burned. My sync surged.
Punches rained like a storm. Guards flew. Blood sprayed. Bones cracked. One tried to run—I caught him mid-step and drove him into the wall.
Thirty seconds of chaos.
Then silence.
The guards were down. Groaning. Broken.
The owner backed away, eyes wide. "What… what are you?"
I staggered toward him, blood dripping from my fists. "I'm the guy who just unlocked his first skill."
He dropped Sonia. She ran to me, caught me before I collapsed.
"You idiot," she whispered. "You're bleeding everywhere."
I smiled weakly. "But I didn't teleport."
> **[QUEST COMPLETE]**
> **Power Sync: 12%**
> **Skill: Thousand Punches – Active**
> **Title Unlocked: Fist of Spite**
Outside, the air was cold and sharp.
Sonia looked at me. "You scared me."
I nodded. "I scared myself."
She smiled. "You really are the protagonist."
I grinned. "Level one noodle. But now I punch like a legend."