There's always been a thrill in my bones whenever I light a match, watching the flame dance and flicker. The risk, the satisfaction of winning - it's all so addictive. But deep down, I know that this love of playing with my life is also a curse. It's a constant battle between my desire for control and the fear of getting burned.
I'm constantly weighing the risks and rewards, trying to stay one step ahead of my opponents. Yet, every time I gamble, there's always that nagging voice in the back of my mind reminding me of the consequences. And as much as I try to ignore it, I can't shake off the feeling that one wrong move could cost me everything. It's a dangerous game, but one that I can't seem to resist.
My father taught me the basics, the rules, and the strategies as he was a gambler himself, a professional one. He made a living out of playing cards, dice, roulette, and other games of chance. He was good at it, too. He won a lot of money and fame in the underground gambling scene. He was respected and feared by his peers and rivals.
But he was also a terrible father. He was abusive, neglectful, and irresponsible. He spent most of his time and money on gambling, drinking, and women. He rarely paid attention to me or my mother. He often hit us, yelled at us, or ignored us. He was a selfish and cruel man.
I hated him although he was the only person who could make me feel something other than boredom and restlessness. He was the only person who could challenge me and teach me. The only person who could relate to me and my love of gambling was him.
He died when I was 14. He was killed by a rival gambler who accused him of cheating. He was shot in the head in front of me, in a dark and dirty alley. He died with a smile on his face, a deck of cards in his hand, and a pool of blood on the ground.
I didn't cry. I didn't scream. I didn't feel anything. I just picked up his cards, his wallet, and his gun then walked away from his corpse, without looking back. I walked away from his life, without regret.
I decided to follow in his footsteps. But I also decided to surpass him. To become a better gambler than him. To live and die on my own terms.
I've been playing poker and gambling for four years now. I've earned a lot of money and fame in the underground gambling scene. I've faced and defeated many opponents, from amateurs to professionals, from thugs to tycoons. I've played in many places, from casinos to clubs, from basements to penthouses, from offline to online.
I am known as the Shirogitsune, ruling the underground scene with my cunning strategies.
But deep down, I am bored. Bored of my mundane life, bored of my dull school, and my predictable life. I crave excitement, adventure, and danger. I crave something more. Something real.
That's why I accepted the invitation to join Full Dive. A game that promised to be the most realistic and immersive ever created. A game that would change my life forever.
I received the invitation a week ago, in an anonymous email. It was a simple message, with a simple link.