(Heaven's Key, Computer Shop)
[https://i.imgur.com/MZrOh33.png]
Vividly, the image before me crystalized into my eyes. In front of me, past the glass pane of the shop were cores! Brain cores! Shining, gleaming, brain cores!
Excited, I ran quickly into the shop, not even realizing how strange it was that while all the other shops were locked, this one didn't even have a lock on the door. The door just swung open for me automatically.
I grabbed a brain core off the shelf, using a mental command I tried connecting to it, and found that it worked. It worked just like the real thing. The brain conversion options were already there, but I could not use it as my brain was already a core, even in the simulated world. Using the core I grabbed off the shelf, I could see a diagram of my own brain. My thoughts turbulent, I realized that all the NPCs here could in fact enter the self-improvement loop and become the Inspired themselves. I thought I had huge advantages, but that wasn't the case.
If I had something special, it is not talent or intelligence, but desire.
I wanted power, but as it happens, I was the only one in this world who was filling to pay the price for it.
I thought it might as well be me in Mickey's place. If nobody gave me a chance, I would just be another ghost in the garden, but that is not the case. The chance has always been there, but Mickey never took it. I understand it now.
I am special, and it is my desire that makes me so. Whoever made this world saw to it that justice existed in it.
It is what I would have done. A universe where all of those with desire can rise is a just one. It is enough to give a chance to other people, it is not anyone's responsibility to make them want to take it.
I clutch the core to my chest and then pocket it, intent on bringing it out of here. My mind that was wavering becomes steely and I decide.
I won't take it easy on the NPCs, and I won't regret the battles that are to come.
I swear it on my desire, that I will rise. I will escape this city and into the real world beyond.
(Heaven's Key, Streets)
[https://i.imgur.com/DgAYqXT.png]
I march out of the shop, intent on my destination. At this point due to all the aimless wandering, I've become completely lost, but it should not be hard to find my way back to the inn. I scale one of the taller apartment buildings, and from the high vantage point of the external corridor, in the distance spot the rollercoaster I rode with Lily. Establishing the direction, I get back to the streets and head towards it. It has been a couple of hours since I went out into the city, and in a few more I am guessing the morning should arrive. I remember that cores exist in this world, and on mental command I try accessing it, not the real world core which houses my actual self, but the one in the game. A sense connects to it, and I bring up the time.
4:38am.
I have time. If it becomes known that I slipped out of the inn during the night, Lily might get suspicious of me, I do not want her to think that I am anything more than an easy mark. I want her to show me around more casinos. Right now she is my only connection here.
It won't take me more than an hour and a half to get back to the perimeter, but then I'll have to spend time figuring out where the inn was.
I get an idea, and try accessing the core I pocketed from the computer shop. I tried searching for a map application, and to my pleasant surprise I found it. The game core, I'll call it that as opposed to the main core I am on, has a tracking ability. As long as I make use of this, I'll never get lost again in the future.
I am feeling pretty lucky right now. I mean, I just found some guy in a park to talk to, as well as a computer shop. It is not like finding some priceless treasure by accident, but everyone in this world is out to get me, so finding my footing, and so quickly, is a large gain.
Block by block, I make my way to the perimeter. In the distance, I can see the sun's rays starting to break out.
(Heaven's Key, Perimeter)
[https://i.imgur.com/MqgyE46.png]
I finally got back to the familiar area where I first came to the city. Not far from me, I can see the restaurant where I met Lily. I check the time.
6:10am.
It won't be long before people start waking up, so I have to get back. I put a marker on the core's map to indicate where I currently am and scroll it, trying to find the nearest resting places. It seems that the map is somewhat out of date. Some of the buildings, in particular the circus tents, which I can see around me do not seem to be on it. Neither do the new venues built in the middle of intersections. Maybe the map on this core is how the city was originally?
I think about it for a moment. Yeah, that is most likely the case.
On impulse, I decided to just save here.
6:15am.
It would be best for me to try to retrace my steps by feeling rather than relying on the map. The inn should not be too far from where I am, but if I get lost, I can always reload to where I am and try again.
(Heaven's Key, Side of the inn)
[https://i.imgur.com/iRbPgos.png]
My sense of direction does not seem to be bad. It took me a quarter of an hour to find my way back to the inn. When I slipped out a couple of hours ago, it was through the window. I did that movie trick where I tied a couple of bed sheets together in knots and used them as a rope. My room was on the second floor, so it wasn't too high up, but not so low that I could just jump up to it. The bedsheet rope was still there where I left it, snaking out of the open window of my room.
I came up to it, and gave it a little tug as a test only to have the sheets unravel midway.
Right now, I am stuck with having a sheet in my hand, thinking what I should do. I observe the other end. Though it would be rough, if I did a little run and strafed up the wall I could probably grab the other end and let myself in that way. I crumple the bedsheet in my hand into a ball and throw it into the room. Then I back up and prepare to take a run. Just before I start, I get an idea. I remember the night in the park, and how Mickey taught me to manifest food. And he gave me an idea on how to unlock doors using gel.
Instead of straining myself here, let me try making a ladder.
In my hand I manifest a chip and focus my will upon it.
[https://i.imgur.com/djhn2UZ.png]
Ladder, ladder, ladder...
I visualize it in my mind and project it into the space in front of me. I feel something trying to come out, but it is difficult.
My image is vague, but I persevere. Rather just any kind of ladder, I think of a wood ladder I once saw used. I remember and focus on the dry feel of food. I focus on how the bars are slotted into the two pillars. It starts to feel vivid. The wood ladder manifests in front of me, right where I wanted it to be. I realize that I feel a certain connection between the chip in my hand and the ladder. I don't probe it with my senses, instead I pocket it and grab the ladder bar and start climbing my way up. It is a short climb, and I go through the window unimpeded. Then I grasp the chip in my hand, feel it out in my mind and cut the mental connection between it and the ladder.
I stick my head outside and confirm that the ladder has vanished. After that I drag the sheet that was sticking out back in and close the window.
6:40am. Safe!
As I check the time, outside, I can see people starting to go about their business and the city becoming lively. Maybe somebody spotted me climbing back into my room, but it does not matter. Since I was getting back in, they'll be able to deduce that I was playing hooky during the night rather than a burglar. There isn't a crime to report and I doubt whoever is Lily's boss has eyes everywhere. The pattern I've established won't be disrupted.
Sigh. I plop myself on the bed and take off my shoes.
I am quite tired right now. I went out at around 10:30pm and have been wandering all this time. 8 hours of physical activity is enough to make my feet quite sore. I rub my head against the smooth pillow.
I lay there for a while. I can feel myself getting drowsy.
This is not good. If I fall asleep here, Lily will come by to drag me out just when I am getting some shut eye.
With a mental command, I save and then exit the game.
(Helix Studio, Regent Suite)
[https://i.imgur.com/d7D2I20.png]
I'll have to make some compromises. I can't avoid having my body tired, but if I get a good night's rest in a different place, it will be reflected inside the game. 8 hours of exertion is not enough to allow me to fall asleep, so for the next 4 hours I might as well watch anime and play regular games.
Right now I am in the very luxurious living room of the cruise suite. I grab a cola from the fridge, pour myself a glass, and then start exploring the place. I find the bedroom. The bed is oversized as one would expect, but as if the designers knew what I like, they placed a desk with a PC there. I seat myself in my rightful place, and push on the power button on the black case. The monitor comes to life. The OS is of course prepared. The Internet speeds have gone way up since the Singularity started, so I don't find it hard to pirate a game and start it. Before I get into it, I close the shutters to darken the room. Only a couple of rays are getting in through the cracks, just the way I like it. I sit myself back on my battle seat and start clicking away.
Ironically, despite being legacy hardware simulated on the core, the computer is actually better than the one I have in real life. It has the latest AMD CPU and the Nvidia GPU. I've checked it in the settings.
Playing games inside a game, this really is the next level! I become immersed.
After a couple of hours of battling monsters, the fatigue really starts hitting me. I hit the sheets, and with a mental command change the environment settings to night time. What was once a clear day immediately shifts to a starry night. No longer bothered by the light, I shut my eyes and let the sleep come to me.
I don't have school tomorrow, so I do not have to worry about the time.
(Heaven's Key, Inn)
In the dark days remember,
Necromutation is Transcendence.
- Loading Blurb
"If Lily, the guide who was with me before comes by, tell her I'll be at the casino we were at yesterday." I told the proprietress of the inn and left.
(Heaven's Key, Streets)
[https://i.imgur.com/9LDtd5a.png]
It was early morning, and people were starting work. Mickey told me that new arrivals happened between 7 and 12pm, so people have to be ready to welcome them. Scamming them out of money was what powered the city's economy. I really gained a lot from Mickey explaining to me that we are all active illusions here. It is possible to infer a lot from that.
None of the citizens, as opposed to arrivals, had to work for food specifically. It is easy to understand why that is, they can just magic it out of thin air. Furthermore, there were no diseases here. Neither did people age, as they were holograms. Mickey didn't know how old the city was, but even so, that might be that there might be people here who are thousands and even tens of thousands of years old. As for getting injured, those would need a doctor, but not like in the real world. In this city, the doctor would be a hypnotist trying to convince the patient that his arm isn't broken, once that is accomplished it would become the truth. Furthermore, everyone in the city was an arrival from the world below, there were no children born of pregnancy.
Given all that, without having to worry about food, shelter or health, it is easy to see what the citizens would be obsessed about. Money.
This is a really good environment for me to learn to gamble.
As I made my way through the increasingly busy streets, I remarked this to myself. The golden rays of light illuminated the streets in their luster. The dawn had arrived.
(Heaven's Key, Raven's Eye Casino)
[https://i.imgur.com/xeexwdU.png]
Raven's Eye Casino was not a large building, its defining trait was the cartoony logo of what appeared to be a raven's claw clutching some circles. Playing here is going to essentially be my job for a while, so I better get used to it. I intend to make use of the mind controlling program if I ever sense myself getting tired of it. Retreat is not an option. I have to win here. I need to find what my limits are. Only after I grasp what they are, can I start work on exceeding them.
I push the door open and make my way inside. I do not bother the receptionist and instead make my way straight to the game room. If Dale is there, I'll play against him and his group, otherwise anyone is fine.
I save here.
If the bet is something like a single chip, I'll let the result be as it is. In fact, losing minor games would be good, as it would make Dale and the guide more confident about raising the stakes against me. There isn't any doubt whether I'll win or not. This is a game, and I can't possibly lose it with the ability to save and load it. The real risk is me getting tired. Right now, everything is fun and exciting, but how will I feel after playing for a year? 10 years? A 100 years?
Imagine living like this for 10,000s of years, stuck on this brain core.
Before I uploaded myself, I could barely stand school for a single week. Will I really be able to do this?
(Heaven's Key, Game floor of the Raven's Eye Casino)
[https://i.imgur.com/orNvXai.png]
I look around for Dale's group, or anyone else for that matter, and it seems nobody is here. I idly wonder if there might be some people here, just in the duel space? Mickey called it the shadow realm. What do I do now? Awkward, I wander around and checking the seats, I realize that some of them have white discs on them, like tags. I think about what it might mean, and I realize that they might be there to indicate that the host is currently in a duel. If I try moving it...
I try picking the tag up, and my hand passes through it. This confirms my suspicion. Such an illusory thing is definitely this game's style.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
I check the other tables in the room, but none of them have these discs on the seats. Since I am eager to start, I take an empty seat at the table with the discs. I wonder what would happen if I was sitting in the seat that was already occupied and the host returned from the duel? I might get telefragged, so it is best that I don’t risk it.
I spend some time like that, just waiting...
~~~
High above the surface of the world, golden cities floated, shining their radiance on the world below. On the side of Earth that was lighted by the sun, they were like dots, invisible in the light, but closer to the shadows where the vantage point was there were such islands of light.
"Euclid has started playing the game."
The scenery shifted to show him playing with a different group from yesterday. Compared to the adults around him, he was nothing more than a glasses wearing kid, focusing on the game in front with a smug look. He tries his best to keep a poker face when in the hand, but when he wins he smiles, and when he loses he feels the sting. He gets careless when he is out of the hand.
"He imagines this is how he would rise."
The scenery changed to him going into the casino in the morning, and then immediately the afternoon came and showed him stepping in the opposite direction.
"It is not like that."
A scene was shown of Euclid at the table going all-in. What was once a small stack, increased and increased.
Euclid was seated at the table facing his opponents. And behind him was an enormous pile of chips as tall as a mountain. Hundreds of thousands, millions!
"No!"
With red paint, that scene became crossed out.
"Euclid thinks he has time to play around, but a fuse has already been lit."
A scene of a lit fuse leading to stacks of explosives came about.
"Unbeknownst to him, the preparations to eradicate him are already being made..."
The scene changed to a building deeper in the city. Inside it, the guide Lily was seated at the desk of her office looking ready to begin her work for the day.
~~~
(Lily POV - Heaven's Key, Lily's Office)
[https://i.imgur.com/uP4DyCB.png]
After giving one last check to my attire, I put away the mirror and prepare to step out of my office, when I hear a knocking on the door.
"Enter." I call out.
"Hello." A young woman entered. She had a youthful face, and her short hair was in twintails. This innocent look was out of tune with the military style camos she was wearing. "I have a report, boss."
I knew her well. Last night when that kid started avoiding payment and gave me that ridiculous story about throwing himself off the school building due to not wanting to work, I immediately became suspicious of him. I gave a task to some subordinates of mine to keep track of him so he does not slip away with the chips. I also requested the intelligence department to look into his background. Though it is rare that a citizen would pretend to be a newcomer, it is not impossible. Right now I am afraid that Euclid might be a weak expert trying to make use of me to fish.
If that is the case, then there is no point in me trying to act friendly. I'll just request an enforcer to take care of it and move on to the next assignment.
"I didn't expect to hear from you so early. Have you found anything suspicious about the newcomer?"
"I saw him slipping out of his room last night. I followed him the entire time."
"Tch!" I clicked my tongue. "I knew it, I am the one getting tricked here. I'll have an enforcer take care of it." I seat myself back at my desk and lean in. I shake my head in disappointment. Requesting an enforcer would lower my evaluation, but it couldn't be helped.
"No, I don't think he is a hustler. Based on what I've observed he really is a newcomer."
"Really?" I look at her slightly incredulous. Lisa nods and sits opposite of me. "Let me show you some of the footage. Typically when people are with others, they put on appearances, but when they are alone their true intentions come to light. I am quite sure he didn't notice me following him."
She picks out a core and sends some data over to me. We start going over it.
...
"After he left his room, take a look at how he is looking around at the streets as if everything is new to him."
...
"Hello, is anyone in there!?" I saw a video clip of Euclid yelling and slamming on the apartment doors. I looked at Ellie, as if seeking confirmation. She nodded.
"I have it all recorded. He spent two hours trying out various apartments to see if any were empty." Ellie explained. "He must have given the people inside some of them a big scare. Nothing good happens in this city when somebody visits in the dead of night."
...
I saw Euclid slaking himself on the park fountain. Then followed the two-man night party between the ghost he had met and him.
"That is a lot, kid. You shouldn't have given me so much. Once you drop to 0, you'll die, you know?" After a moment of thought, Mickey asks. "How much do you have left?"
A bit later I saw him giving 20 chips to the ghost for what was basic information my supervisor taught me on my first day here. I pause the clip.
"Ellie, send somebody to get those chips from the ghost." I told Ellie.
"Already did boss."
"Good job."
...
"Here is the part where it gets interesting. I only showed you some clips, but the kid spent 8 hours acting like a tourist that just got here."
The clip she showed was that of Euclid looking at an open window on the second floor of a building. He was outside the inn, and had to get back in through the window of his room. A bedsheet rope was leading into it from the outside. He gave a tug and it unraveled. Then he backed up, tossed the loose sheet inside and posed as if he wanted to make a run for the wall. Just as he was about to start, he changed his mind, calmly walked up to the room and manifested a ladder. Then he went up it and inside.
I knew what Ellie was trying to show to me. A citizen who was trying to commit a crime would have never acted like this. A citizen woudn't wander around doing stupid experiments. At the very least, he would not spend time thinking about how to get up to the second floor, but just bring up the ladder immediately.
Euclid really was a newcomer. Really?
"When he clipped out, I expected he would meet up with his accomplice to hand over the chips he had gotten, but what happened instead is that he just toured the city. I was really surprised."
"And you say, it is not likely that he is pretending?" I asked for confirmation.
"Sometimes people coming from below are familiar with using the brain core to manipulate their own emotions, but that kind of thing is limited and they tend to act robotically. Such people tend to be hard working, but that sort of mental hacking is not good at imitating curiosity and surprise."
For that reason, people tend to not use it here. I sometimes use it when things get tedious, but my supervisor taught me not to rely on it as it inhibits creativity too much.
"I'd bet on it that he really is a newcomer." Ellie continued.
I tapped my finger on the table, deep in thought.
"I guess I'll hold off on calling an enforcer then." I sighed. "Thank you, Ellie."
"You are welcome, boss!" She beamed.
"You can leave. I am going to have to make some arrangements for this."
"I've been up all night, I am going to bed." Ellie stretched. "Lisa is tracking him right now. Since Euclid has been up all night and must be tired, now is a good time to try to squeeze him dry."
"Okay."
"See you tonight." Ellie gave a little wave and opened the door before fading into invisibility and vanishing into thin air. There was only a slight visual distortion in the air as she closed the door behind her, and then I was alone in my office. I couldn't hear her footsteps when she moved like that.
I think for a bit and then I make a decision. Even though calling an enforcer would lower my evaluation, I have other things to do than trying to pull a thorn in my side. Even if Euclid might be a newcomer, if he is good at cards, then it is not worth it for me to try to gamble it out of him. Yesterday he had a lot of luck so I am not sure what his skill is. I'll play with him today and if it looks like he is good, I'll abort and move on to the next mark.
I've been in this city for 50 years, so I am good at cards compared to those below. I should be able to tell whether he is a young online pro or a fool. Well, even if he is a former, he can't compare to the actual experts fighting life and death matches here. Since he wasn't chosen to become a citizen, he is going to lose either way in the end. It is a pity.
But that is how we in the city live.
Unless we want to disappear ourselves we have no choice, but to take from those who wander in.
(Lily POV - Heaven's Key, Shadow realm)
[https://i.imgur.com/4g4DEx0.png]
In the abyssal realm of shadows, seated at the table are just me and Euclid. Initially, there were 6 of us at the table, but Euclid busted the other 4 and is now sitting on a big pile of 466 chips. Meanwhile, I managed to win a hand and am at 134. Almost a week had passed since I, along with Dale's group, started playing against him.
As I focus the button gets passed to me, and the ante of 2 life chips gets taken from my pile. Meanwhile, Euclid is the first to go and antes 4.
Two cards get dealt to each of us. Carefully, I take a peek at my own.
Ah Qd.
A very strong preflop hand heads-up.
"Check." Euclid checks to me. Gingerly, I look at Euclid, probing for his reactions and not getting much, raise to 8.
He thinks about it for a moment, and calls. As soon as he does, the flop cards manifest themselves on the table.
Qs 2h 6c.
"Check." Euclid looks at me with a focused gaze. He isn't bored, and I get a sense that he might have something in this hand. A low pair, maybe the gutshot, or even a weak high pair?
I make a pot sized bet of 16. Euclid thinks for a moment, and calls, bringing the total up to 48.
Qs 2h 6c Th.
I immediately put him on the gutshot. He most likely has 35 in his hand. But since it is him, he could have something like a flush draw now, any two hearts. He could even have a J9 or JK. Not hesitating, I bet 48 into the pot, and Euclid after tanking it for a while goes all in.
I am definitely going to call.
"Call." As I do, I pray to dear god that he does not hit his card on the river.
Both of our cards get revealed.
3c 5c.
It is just as I thought! Please God, let him miss!!!
Over the past week, him winning in these kinds of situations where he is 95% sure to lose happened so often, that I don't have the least sense of being ahead in this hand. As I try to keep myself from shaking mentally, the next card gets dealt.
4h.
Sure, enough he wins.
(Lily POV - Raven's Eye Casino, Game room)
[https://i.imgur.com/wxiaKgj.png]
"Sweet!" Euclid is happy to have won, but as I look at the rest of the group, they look like their spirit is leaving from their body. Completely defeated, I slump back in my chair and just let it out.
"Hahhhhhhh..." My eyes are half closed and I do not even realize that I am looking at the ceiling. I just want to run away, be anywhere other than here. I was like this yesterday, but then used the brain core to regulate my emotions. This just resulted in me losing even more money.
Pretty much every game was like this. I was prepared to abort and go the other way if Euclid seemed halfway decent. But Euclid's game once I started playing him was absolutely terrible! I very rarely see him getting his opponent to put money in with a worse hand. Instead, he chases drawns like a monkey, hits them and then cashes out. What a clown! He always, always puts money in when he is behind, but ends up winning! I keep waiting for his luck to run out, but it never happens, it is ridiculous!
I glare at him for a moment, and I see him counting his chips with a happy look.
6720!
I wanted to get his 100 chips, but instead lost 66 whole lives and wasted a whole week trying to get his!
Newcomer or not, it doesn't matter anymore! I can't afford to make any more losses.
I get up from my seat.
"Lily, are you going already?" Euclid asks me.
"Sorry, I'll cut it short today. I'll be busy tomorrow." I want to curse at him, but muster all my professionalism and make a smooth exit. Leaving the group behind, I can hear him saying.
"What about you guys? Duel?" I do not have to look around to see the rest looking at him wearily.
(Lily POV - Geoffrey's office)
[https://i.imgur.com/cgSHkQu.png]
I spend two hours composing a written report and with it stored, leave my own apartment. I make my way a couple of blocks deeper into the city. Inside an apartment building, I come by my superior's office and knock on the door.
"Enter." I hear his voice. I mentally prepare myself for an apology.
"Hello, sir." I greet him, and take a seat.
"Hello, Lily. What can I help you with?" He smiles at me. An older man, my superior is wonderful. Always courteous, helpful and professional.
"I came to get some advice and also request an enforcement. I am trying to release a newcomer, and am currently 6620 chips in the red as a result." His eyebrows shoot up. I can barely look him in the eyes. This has never happened to me before. I can feel myself getting flush from embarrassment!
"How did that happen?" He adjusted himself in his seat.
"I have it in my report so please look at it." I sent him the email with the report.
"Okay, I'll take a look right now. How long have you been following him?"
"About a week. I thought he was a newcomer, but now I am not sure."
...Some time passed as he went over my report. I patiently sat in my seat, answering an occasional question. At the end of it he cleared his throat.
"I'll go take a look at him myself tomorrow. He usually plays at the Raven's Eye, right?"
"Yes. Will you not be sending an enforcer immediately?"
"I want to see whether he can really predict the cards that are coming out. If that is the case, sending low ranked and even medium ranked enforcers would just result in their deaths."
"I see. What should I do now?" I asked for instructions.
"You don't have to worry about it anymore, go get some rest for a few days and then guide another." I feel nothing, but relief to be done with this wretched case.
"Thank you, sir."
"Go get some rest, you look tired."
"I will. Goodbye, sir." I give him a smile and leave the office.
(Report by Geoffrey to the Enforcement Department)
Subject: Episteme-level enforcement request
One of the newcomers from about a week ago is currently in possession of 8210 chips. I've played him personally, and in my estimation, he is at the very least a peak ranked Aleator who possesses the ability to track cards beyond the dimensions, or most likely an Episteme. Weirdly, based on his emotional reactions, my judgment is that he does not seem to have actual game playing skill, but that seemed to be working in his favor so far. He would be extremely dangerous for even Aleator ranked enforcers to challenge in a resolution, so I request that this enforcement action be taken up by a top ranked player. He is capable of knowing not only what cards his opponents possesses without the use of marking techniques, but he also knows which cards will come out next using methods that are completely unknown to me.
We've done extensive background checking and confirmed that he is a newcomer, but my recommendation is to disregard that fact during the decision making.
In the attachments are the report I received from my subordinate guide as well as my own. The reports have extensive recording of our games with him.
~~~
At the heart of the city, in the Enforcement department, a furor was caused by the report.
"Episteme-request?" One young man said.
"Did you say..." A woman replied incredulously.
"An Episteme request? That hasn't happened in hundreds of years!" An older man said.
"Euclid? Never heard of him." Another noted.
They were all discussing it around a table, clamoring. It was the most interesting thing that had happened in a long time.
A scene was painted of a busy meeting, of people pointing and shouting. The enforcement department was giddy like kids.
In the end, the request was passed on. It went through the air as wireless signals into a part of a city that looked lavish. A mansion fit for a billionaire stood there.
Seated at a poker table, was a man with vertiginous white hair and a sharp, glowing gaze, dressed in a bathing robe. His right hand was resting on a small pile of 100 chips.
An illustration of such a scene did not seem weird, but as the camera panned backwards, the pile behind him came into focus. They were all life chips. 100,000s of thousands would be too small to count it. The huge pile, a mountain of treasure, absolutely dwarfed the man himself. The golden life chips sparkled in the darkness.
~~~
(Euclid POV - Heaven's Key, Streets)
[https://i.imgur.com/Xz7XOjx.png]
Leaving the casino, I made my way back to the inn with a spring in my step. I might be a cheating bastard, but I never thought living like this could be so satisfying. I haven't heard from Lily for a while, but some old dude Geoffrey came by to take her place. It felt like he was probing me, but there is not much I can do about that, other than take the money offered to me. He didn't seem to mind much, but Dale's group has started giving me the stink eye. It is only a matter of time before the breakup comes.
Right now I am at 9380. It won't be easy finding another group willing to play me for these stakes.
As I think, not really paying attention to my surroundings, the sun goes below the horizon.
I don't care about that, only how well my plan is going, but all of a sudden at the corner of a street I see a man come out, staring at me directly in the eyes. I don't bother with him and continue moving, but he goes directly in the middle of my path as if trying to intercept me. Dressed in a trenchcoat, he has a sharp gaze and white vertiginous hair as if he used too much hair gel. His hands are in the pockets of his coat as he stares straight at me. Uncomfortable at the attention, I come to a stop.
As I am about to tell him to move aside, my voice gets caught in my throat when I see him taking an object out of pocket.
Ah shit, it is a revolver, I am going to get robbed!
It happens very quickly, without hesitation, he points it at me and fires!
My reaction to that is to expect to eat a bullet, and I flinch, crossing my arms in front of me. But I do not feel a piece of metal hitting me, instead I feel the familiar sensation of being drawn into the world beyond.
(Heaven's Key, Heavenly realm)
[https://i.imgur.com/q7aPSCA.png]
A blinding light comes over my eyes, and I squint.
"Ghhhhh!" It feels bright, overwhelmingly bright, but a bit by bit, the area comes into focus. My eyes get used to it and I realize where I am.
At a poker table, much like the one in the duel realm. But whereas that shadowy realm's background was darkness and blue nebulas, similar to a night sky, the background here was golden and white. Above I can see a small, very bright sun shining down on the table. Turning my eyes in front, across the table I come face to face with the man who turned a gun on me.
"Hello, kid." Languid, he greets me.
"Who the hell are you?" I ask him angrily. He shrugs, refusing to answer. I look around at the heavenly scene. "What is this? I thought I was going to get robbed."
"A resolution. It is not a duel, but a death match. Unlike a duel, all of our chips are on the line and the winner gets everything. This match will only end if one of us goes to 0 or if both of us agree to abort." He explained.
I’ll have to take it seriously then. I save.
I probe around with my mind and I realize that unlike in a duel where I get 100 chips regardless of the buyin, here I have my entire pile of 9380. I see that I am on the button and the antes are 1/2.
"Is this still NL Holdem? The stacks are very deep." I remarked.
"There are no pot-limits in this Holdem game. It is all no-limit Holdem in this city. It has been that way for a long while."
"Do the blinds increase as the game goes on?"
"It doubles every 18 revolutions. Your deep stack will be shallow pretty soon if you keep folding. Come at me with everything you've got!" He challenged me.
"Humph, that is what I intend!" I slam my hand on the table. Still riding high from my previous wins, I give him my most arrogant look to show just how much I hold him in contempt for daring to challenge me. "Go ahead, you are first!"
I am not worried at all in this situation. Just what can he do against somebody that can go back to the universe’s previously saved state?
The man in front of me grinned, and fished around in his pocket instead checking or raising. A grim feeling comes over me as I remember what came out of that pocket last time. Don't tell me!?
The gun comes out of the pocket. I recoil in my seat and try jumping out only to run into an invisible wall. It is no use, other than the invisible box the players are in, it is impossible to move away.
Bang!
Unlike in the street, this time I feel a sharp pain in my chest. I look down and horrified I see a bloody hole where I've been hit. Slowly, I see blood spreading across my shirt.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
I have no time to rest as the whole revolver is emptied into my body. Six holes in my chest, I feel weakness wash over me and slump on the table, not being able to feel a finger. In front, I see my two downturned cards. As I lie there trying to stay awake, a puddle of blood spreads over them.
As much as I try, I absolutely can't move even a finger. I remind myself that all of this is not real, and that I am a hologram. Quickly I give a command to the mind controlling program to raise my mental state. It quashes my fear, but regardless the feeling of weakness is overpowering and soon I lose my senses. I can hear the man saying something, but it feels far in the distance and darkness overcomes me.
My senses leave me, and I feel my thoughts slowing down.
I die.