Chapter 18
The Gambler's Showdown
The battlefield was still, the oppressive energy of Vinseno weighing down on everyone. Even Velldora Rul, in all his draconic might, suddenly found himself immobilized once again, his massive form frozen mid-roar.
Caelan, Elden, and Zaimond, too, were powerless to act, their movements bound by the eerie magic surrounding them. Richard stood alone once more, his body battered, and his spirit crushed. Vinseno towered over him, his laughter echoing across the desolate landscape.
"You really thought that dragon could save you?" Vinseno taunted, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. "You're nothing, Richard. Just a weak merchant, a small fish caught in a sea of titans. And now, you're going to die for your hubris."
Richard gasped for air, his body aching from Vinseno's brutal attacks. He had never been in such a situation before, and his mind raced for a way out. But each option seemed to crumble under Vinseno's overwhelming power.
Then, as if mocking the silence, the air around them began to shimmer—not with darkness or time-stopping magic, but with... a jingle.
Suddenly, the landscape twisted, and the ground beneath them shifted. The barren desert around them transformed, as if reality itself was unraveling. Richard blinked, confused, as brightly colored lights, flashing neon signs, and the sound of slot machines filled the air.
Vinseno's smirk faltered as he looked around in confusion. The sinister calm of his domain was replaced by the loud, chaotic atmosphere of a casino—complete with roulette tables, poker games, and slot machines.
Then, from the chaos, a figure stepped forward. Kassian Kinji, wearing his usual cocky grin, appeared, twirling a coin between his fingers. "Well, well, well... looks like someone's messing with my friends, huh?"
Vinseno's eyes narrowed, his domain trembling as Kassian's presence washed over it. "You... How did you—"
"Bingo!" Kassian interrupted with a laugh, flipping the coin into the air. "Looks like your domain just lost, Vinseno. Time to play by my rules."
---
The Domain Duel Begins
The entire area had shifted into Kassian's domain expansion: a chaotic, high-stakes casino where luck and manipulation ruled over raw power. Richard blinked, still reeling from the sudden shift. It was as if they had been transported into a world where chance dictated everything.
Vinseno's calm demeanor cracked as he surveyed the transformed battlefield. His time-stopping magic, his oppressive control—it was all useless in this place. Kassian's domain had completely overwritten his own.
Kassian cracked his knuckles, flashing Richard a confident grin. "Don't worry, Rich. I got this."
Vinseno's eyes blazed with anger. "You think a mere gambler like you can defeat me? I am Vinseno! My power is absolute!"
Kassian shrugged casually, pulling a deck of cards from his pocket. "Power's all well and good, but in my game, it's all about luck and strategy, pal. And I'm pretty sure I'm holding all the aces."
Without warning, Vinseno lunged at Kassian, his magic flaring as he attempted to break through the domain. But Kassian was already one step ahead. He flicked a card in Vinseno's direction, and it glowed with brilliant light, transforming into a barrier that blocked Vinseno's attack.
"Not so fast, hotshot," Kassian said, his eyes gleaming. "Here, every move you make is a gamble. You better make sure the odds are in your favor."
---
The Gambler's Gambit
Richard, still clutching his bruised side, slowly regained his composure. He wasn't strong like Caelan or as skilled as Kassian, but he had always prided himself on his ability to think quickly. And in a place like this—a place where strategy could win over brute force—he had a shot.
"Kassian," Richard called out, staggering to his feet. "This is your domain, right? So you control how the game is played?"
Kassian winked, tossing him a pair of dice. "Exactly. You roll, I'll take care of the rest."
Vinseno snarled, his patience wearing thin. "Enough of this nonsense!" He raised his hand, summoning a surge of dark energy, intending to crush Kassian's domain in one overwhelming strike.
But Richard, with a newfound resolve, took a deep breath and threw the dice. They clattered across the casino floor, bouncing unpredictably before landing on a pair of sixes.
Kassian's grin widened. "Looks like we hit the jackpot."
Suddenly, the ground beneath Vinseno cracked, and a roulette wheel appeared beneath his feet. The wheel spun wildly, and with each rotation, Vinseno's power fluctuated. His time-stopping magic faltered, his overwhelming presence dimmed, and for the first time, uncertainty crept into his expression.
"What... what is this?" Vinseno growled, struggling against the random shifts in power.
Kassian laughed, crossing his arms. "This is how it works, big guy. Every action in here is a gamble. You might win... or you might lose everything."
---
Richard's Clever Play
Richard wasn't done yet. Seeing Vinseno's momentary weakness, he pulled out another card from his pouch—a card Kassian had once given him. It was a simple card of misfortune, one designed to reverse the luck of an opponent in a dire situation.
He looked at Kassian, who gave him an encouraging nod. "It's all about timing, Rich. Make your move when it counts."
Richard, heart pounding, threw the card directly at Vinseno.
The card struck Vinseno's chest, and immediately, the effects of the domain intensified. The roulette wheel beneath him spun faster, and the odds—once slightly in his favor—turned dramatically against him. His powers fluctuated wildly, the balance of his control slipping further and further away.
Vinseno let out a roar of frustration, his body trembling as his power was torn from him. "No! This... this can't be happening!"
Richard, though exhausted, allowed himself a small smile. "Looks like the house always wins, huh?"
---
The Final Move
Kassian stepped forward, his eyes glinting with confidence. "It's over, Vinseno. You gambled, and you lost. Now, get out of my domain."
With a flick of his wrist, Kassian sent one final card spinning toward Vinseno. The card shimmered in the air before striking Vinseno with a surge of energy. The rogue magician let out a final, furious scream as his form dissolved, banished from the domain and sent spiraling into the abyss.
The casino lights flickered, and the slot machines fell silent. Slowly, the domain faded, and the desert returned to its former desolation. But the battle was over.
---
Aftermath
Richard collapsed to the ground, utterly spent. "That... was intense."
Kassian walked over, offering him a hand. "You did good, Rich. Played the game well."
Caelan, Elden, and Zaimond, now freed from the time-stopping magic, rushed over. Caelan, with his usual grin, slapped Richard on the back. "You really saved us back there, man. I didn't think you had it in you."
Elden nodded in agreement. "You handled that better than any of us could have."
Richard smiled weakly. "I just... played the cards I was dealt."
Kassian chuckled, flipping his coin once more. "Bingo."
Credit Scene:
The desert heat was still simmering as the group gathered their belongings, preparing to move on after the intense battle with Vinseno. Kassian, as always, stood off to the side, flicking his coin in the air and catching it with a smirk. Caelan was still buzzing with energy, cracking jokes about how Richard outsmarted the sinister magician.
Elden, however, was standing a bit apart from the group, his brows furrowed in thought. He glanced over at Kassian, who was casually leaning against a rock, as if nothing in the world could faze him. Elden walked over, squinting at the gambler with an air of suspicion.
"Oi, Kassian," Elden began, crossing his arms. "You swooped in and helped us big time back there, but something's bugging me…"
Kassian raised an eyebrow, catching his coin mid-air. "What's on your mind, tough guy?"
Elden tilted his head, trying to make sense of what he was feeling. "I mean, we've only just met. So why'd you jump in to save our skins? Especially mine? Feels like you're acting like we're... I dunno, friends or something." He scratched his head. "I don't remember us ever being pals."
Kassian let out a soft laugh, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He took a step closer, tossing the coin once more before catching it effortlessly. "Well, Elden, I don't need a long history to know a good buddy when I see one. Besides..." Kassian's grin widened, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Turns out we have a pretty important thing in common."
Elden blinked in confusion. "Oh yeah? And what's that?"
Kassian leaned in, still smirking. "We've got the same taste in women."
Elden's eyes widened in realization. His face flushed slightly as the weight of the comment hit him. He stammered, trying to find words, but Kassian just gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Relax, big guy," Kassian said, walking away with a casual wave. "No hard feelings. Besides, Caelan needed a hand, and I couldn't resist a good game. You just happened to be part of the winning team. Consider it luck."
As Kassian walked off to join the rest of the group, Elden stood there, still processing the exchange. He muttered under his breath, "Wait... so we're not actually friends?"
Caelan, overhearing the conversation, popped up behind Elden and clapped him on the back with his usual energy. "Oh, come on, Elden! Who cares about how or why? The guy's cool, he saved our butts, and he's definitely a friend in my book!"
Elden grumbled, shaking his head. "Yeah, but… we just met. And that whole 'same type of girl' thing... what does that even mean?"
Caelan laughed, already moving on with a wave of his hand. "It means you've got competition, buddy! Better keep your game sharp!"
Elden watched as Caelan darted off to join the others, still unsure of what to make of Kassian. The gambler had certainly proven himself capable, but Elden couldn't shake the feeling that Kassian's motivations went beyond just their shared type in women.
With a sigh, Elden finally shrugged. "Whatever. Guess we'll see where this goes."
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the desert, the group gathered together once more, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.