Rex had never been in a magical duel before, but he was fairly certain step one wasn't "get robbed."
Jax grinned, spinning his coin lazily between two fingers. The air around them shimmered — the glowing circle on the ground pulsed with light. The world dimmed, colors draining until only the two of them remained in focus.
"Welcome to the circle, rookie," Jax said. "We don't punch here. We bet."
A translucent panel appeared before both men:
[Stake Match Initialized]
Challenger: Jax the Hustler
Opponent: Rex (Unranked)
Wager Type: Skill Clash
Stakes: 5 Fate Points each
Rules: No physical attacks. Win by prediction, bluff, or forcing surrender.
Spectators: The House is watching.
Rex blinked. "Wait—the House is watching?"
The Dealer's voice purred in his head. "Always, darling. Try not to embarrass me."
Jax raised his coin. "We flip. Call it. Win the call, take the points. Lose, pay up."
Rex frowned. "That's… it?"
"Luck is everything here, kid. Don't like the odds? Don't play."
The coin flipped, spinning with a golden trail that shimmered unnaturally long. It hung in the air — too slow, too perfect.
Rex narrowed his eyes. "You're cheating."
Jax chuckled. "Everyone cheats. The question is: can you prove it?"
The Dealer's voice hummed. "He's using a Weighted Stake Coin — minor artifact, lets him manipulate probability in a 70-30 ratio."
Rex whispered, "And you couldn't tell me that sooner?"
"Information is part of the fun."
Rex groaned inwardly. "Fine. So if he's stacking the odds, I just need to stack harder."
The Dealer's tone darkened, intrigued. "Careful, Rex. Thinking like that turns mortals into monsters."
The coin descended, spinning —
—and suddenly, Rex felt something. Like invisible threads stretching between himself, the coin, and Jax's pulse. His thoughts slowed. The world froze.
[System Note: You are resisting probabilistic interference.]
Unique Trait Detected: Chaotic Instinct.]
Rex smirked. "Guess luck likes me better."
"Call it," Jax barked.
"Heads."
The coin landed — glowing heads.
The glowing circle shattered with a sound like breaking glass. A pulse of gold flowed into Rex's chest.
[Victory.]
+5 Fate Points.
Trait Unlocked: Gambler's Sense (Basic).
Detect minor deceit, bluff intention, or luck distortion within 5 meters.
Rex grinned. "So… I just beat you at your own game."
Jax stepped back, stunned. "That's impossible. You're unranked."
"Guess that makes me lucky," Rex said, pocketing the coin before Jax could react.
The Dealer whistled low in his mind. "Well, well, look who's already looting. I might cry."
"Save the tears," Rex muttered. "Do I get access to your shop now?"
[Mission Complete: First Gamble.]
Reward Unlocked — House of Odds: Universal Shop (Public Tier).
A glowing rift opened beside him, revealing a spiral staircase made of cards and light. From within came the faint sound of spinning wheels and laughter.
The Dealer's grin echoed in his tone. "Welcome to the House, player. Don't get addicted."
Rex looked up at the endless glow and smiled faintly.
"Too late."