Rex woke up face-first in the dirt.
Not cosmic marble. Not golden light. Just… dirt.
He groaned, spitting out a mouthful of soil. "Okay," he muttered, "either the afterlife downgraded its budget, or I've respawned in someone's backyard."
A crow cawed overhead. The wind smelled like rain and smog.
In the distance, a city skyline shimmered — but the buildings floated, anchored by glowing energy cores. Strange sigils glowed on the sides of skyscrapers. Neon signs flickered with phrases like:
'Bet Big, Ascend Higher!'
'Fortune Favors the Reckless.'
'Join the House of Odds – Regional Branch #742.'
"...You've got to be kidding me," Rex said, rubbing his eyes. "This world has billboards for gambling enlightenment?"
"Correction," said a familiar, smug voice in his head. "This world is gambling enlightenment."
Rex froze. "Dealer?"
"Miss me?" the voice teased. "Technically, I'm only a fragment. Consider me your local customer service representative. The real me's too busy managing divine egos."
Rex sighed. "Great. I have a sarcastic hallucination as a system assistant."
"That's 'Dealer v2.0, Companion Interface.' You're welcome."
A screen blinked into existence before him:
[Welcome to Earth-Variant Delta]
A world balanced between chance and chaos.
Every citizen carries a Stake — a personal power earned through gambling their fate.
Society is divided by Tables — ranks of power, prestige, and risk.
Your Rank: Unclassified
Your Fate Points: 10 (Tutorial Bonus)
Your Standing: Broke, homeless, possibly dead.
Rex rubbed his temples. "So… everyone here gambles for power?"
"Exactly. Every fight, every deal, every promotion — all decided by wagers. The higher the Table, the higher the stakes. The House keeps things interesting."
"Interesting," Rex repeated. "You mean horrifying."
"Semantics."
He stood, dusting off his clothes. He was still wearing the black jacket from his death night — now patched with a glowing insignia over the chest: ♣.
"What's this?"
"Your Table mark," the Dealer said. "Every gambler has one. Yours? Custom-made. You're a wildcard."
"...Figures."
A sudden ding! echoed in his ears.
[Mission: First Gamble]
Win a wager against a local Stakeholder.
Reward: Access to the Universal Shop (House of Odds – Public Tier).
Penalty: None. (First round's on the House.)
"Alright," Rex muttered. "Find someone to gamble with. How hard could that be?"
As if answering him, a voice shouted from a nearby alley:
"Hey! You just dropped your wallet, rookie!"
Rex turned — and a man in a glowing trench coat held up his empty hands, smirking. His pupils shimmered like dice.
The Dealer's tone grew amused. "Oh, perfect. You're about to get mugged by a Level One Hustler. This'll be educational."
"Educational?" Rex echoed, tensing.
"Of course. Try not to die before I finish explaining the rules."
The man flicked a coin, and the air trembled with energy.
Symbols lit up on the pavement, forming a glowing circle between them.
"Name's Jax," the stranger said, grinning. "And welcome to your first Stake Match. Care to bet your luck, newcomer?"
Rex smiled weakly. "Can I bet my regret instead?"
"Denied," the Dealer said cheerfully. "Now play."