As the dealer lead them further into the casino, Aiden noticed more unsettling sights. A group of civilians served platters of extravagant food to a shadowy gathering of grotesque figures at a long table. The creatures, hulking and gluttonous, gorged themselves without restraint, their bloated forms pulsating with crimson light. The humans moved quickly, heads down, as though avoiding even a glance could spare them some cruel fate.
"This is disgusting," Aiden said, his stomach churning. "Why don't they fight back?"
"Because they can't," Kieran said, his voice heavy with resignation. "The Core doesn't just capture them—it breaks them. Twists their minds until they believe servitude is their only chance at survival."
Rowan scowled, her usual sharp humor replaced with quiet fury. "And the big bads running these places? They love playing king. Keeps them feeling all-powerful."
Before Aiden could respond, a figure emerged from behind a shimmering bar at the center of the room. A towering shadow in a pinstriped suit stepped into the light, a crimson rose pinned to his lapel. His face was a swirling void, punctuated by two glowing red eyes that radiated smug malice. He held a glowing cigar in one hand and adjusted his wide-brimmed hat with the other.
"Ah," the figure drawled, his voice smooth but laced with menace. "Guests. I was starting to think nobody cared about little ol' me anymore."
Sylva's glow brightened slightly, and her tone turned sharp. "Al Capone."
The shadow tipped his hat with mock charm, smoke curling from the corner of his mouth. "The one and only. Though I gotta say, doll, this ain't exactly a warm welcome."
Rowan's grip on her spear tightened. "You've got a lot of nerve showing your face."
Capone chuckled, exhaling a plume of crimson smoke. "Oh, sweetie, this face is the least of your worries. Welcome to my empire—where luck's as twisted as the house rules. Play nice, and maybe you'll get to leave with your souls intact."
Aiden's fist clenched, the ring on his finger glowing faintly. "We're not here to play your games."
Capone smirked, gesturing to the civilians at the slot machines. "Oh, but everyone plays, kid. Some just don't know it yet. Look at them—spinning, hoping, dreaming. It's almost beautiful, really. And when they've given everything, my boys handle the cleanup."
Two shadowy enforcers in matching suits dragged a screaming man away from the machines, his protests fading into the depths of the casino. Capone watched with an air of amusement.
"You're sick," Aiden said, his voice shaking with anger. "This ends now."
Capone's eyes glinted, and his smirk widened. "Oh, the righteous types. Always so dramatic." He spread his arms, as if welcoming the group to his stage. "Alright, heroes. Show me what you've got."
The air grew colder, and the whispers surged, louder and more insistent. Shadows emerged from the corners of the room—enforcers dressed in sharp suits and fedoras, armed with glowing Tommy guns.
"Careful now," Capone said with a chuckle. "Wouldn't want to get caught in the crossfire."
Without warning, the enforcers opened fire, bullets of crimson energy spraying across the room. Kieran stepped forward, his shield glowing brilliantly as he blocked the onslaught. "Move!" he barked. "Find cover and counterattack!"
Rowan dashed to the side, her spear shifting into a whip as she lashed out at one of the enforcers, disarming it with a swift strike. Aiden raised his hand, chains of light erupting from the ground to ensnare another enforcer. The movements felt easier now—natural, as though his instincts were sharpening with every battle.
"Stay sharp!" Kieran shouted, slamming his shield into the ground. A wave of energy radiated outward, knocking several enforcers off their feet.
Rowan darted forward, her whip snapping back into a spear as she drove it into an enforcer's chest. "These guys are fast, but they're not invincible!"
Sylva floated above the chaos, her light cutting through the thick smoke and shadows. "Don't let your guard down. Capone isn't just sitting back for the show."
She was right. Capone remained behind the bar, watching the fight with a smug expression as he puffed on his cigar. His fingers drummed on the counter, and with each tap, more shadows emerged, their forms flickering as though feeding off the despair in the room.
Aiden clenched his fist, summoning spikes of light to pierce through the advancing enforcers. He glanced toward Capone, whose presence seemed to radiate control over the chaos. "We need to take him down."
"Easier said than done!" Rowan called, narrowly dodging a blast of energy. "These guys aren't letting up!"
Kieran smashed another enforcer with his shield, his breathing heavy but determined. "Then we keep pushing. Break their line!"
As the group fought on, Aiden's frustration grew. Capone's laughter echoed through the room, taunting them at every turn. The shadows pressed harder, their attacks relentless. Aiden raised his ring, focusing his energy into a concentrated beam of light that tore through a cluster of enforcers.
Capone's grin faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "Not bad, kid. But let's see how you handle this."
The shadows around him surged, coalescing into a massive, grotesque figure that towered over the group. Its form was a shifting mass of darkness, its limbs studded with jagged edges that radiated malice.
Sylva floated closer to Aiden, her voice steady but urgent. "This isn't just about strength. Capone's power comes from control. Break his focus, and the shadows will weaken."
Aiden nodded, his resolve hardening. "Then let's finish this."
As the monstrous figure roared, the group braced themselves for the next stage of the fight. The Core's twisted game was far from over, but they weren't about to back down.