The Glorious Evolution

Levi rested against the throne for a few more seconds before getting up.

Gamemaster Gamble waited at the bottom of the stairs, his cane resting against the ruined floor.

Levi stopped beside him.

Neither spoke, though there was little reason to pretend they had nothing to discuss.

The rodent had recognized his Sun Origin Seed... and knew enough about the Equilibrium of Chaos to understand what Levi was attempting.

As for the wager...

Levi still wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Gamble and many other Gamemasters were ancient creatures, immortal, who had survived a few eras under Nocturn’s protection... the things they knew were just as rich as many other ancient entities.

Gamble knew how Levi’s predecessors had ended up and had chosen to bet on him anyway. That didn’t make the Gamemaster a friend, but Levi couldn’t dismiss the gesture as another attempt to entertain the audience.

That part of their exchange had been private.

’I can’t make sense of this rodent... but, whatever...’

After a moment, Levi resumed walking. In his mind, as long as Gamble kept his mouth shut, he didn’t care about what he thought of him, negatively or positively.

Gamble stepped aside, angling his cane toward the dimensional gate as the spectators called for their victor.

But Levi had heard enough cheering for one day... he stepped through the entrance, leaving the throne and its ruined chamber behind.

***

Nocturn’s restoration passed over him on the way out, but Akira’s sun had already done the work.

Divine Sun Skin had healed his shattered ribs, damaged organs, and torn muscles. Even the injuries from his earlier battles were gone.

Unfortunately, having a healthy body didn’t make him any more eager for another conversation... and two familiar figures were waiting in the Silver Garden.

”Congratulations, Mr. Celestial.”

Madam Future approached him with a slight smile, while The Dealer leaned out from behind her.

”A wonderful victory, Celesti! I knew you would pull through.”

Levi stopped in front of them... his brows twitching.

”Why are you hiding?”

”Hiding?” The Dealer coughed behind Madam Future. ”I was giving her room to congratulate you.”

”...”

”And before you accuse me of anything, my reading was correct.” The Dealer raised a finger. ”Great fortune mixed with calamity... I don’t know how many coins you won in total, but surely you won’t argue about the fortune?”

Levi had already received the brief reward notification... He had left the full streaming and ticket settlement for later, but the eight coins won were difficult to overlook.

Five special coins and three harvested from the Rifters’ pool.

”And getting thrown into a death game?”

”The calamity you had to overcome to obtain it.” The Dealer instantly showed him the Star Tarot Card.

’This bastard has an answer for everything.’ Levi rubbed his forehead.

Between the battles, the dice, and Gamble’s announcement, he had enough to think about without debating a fortune reading.

”Thank you. Both of you.”

The Dealer’s finger lowered, his prepared explanation going unused.

Madam Future studied him for a moment.

”You don’t need to thank us.”

”You helped me when I asked,” Levi replied. ”The result wasn’t what I expected, but that doesn’t change your intentions.”

The Dealer finally stepped out from behind her.

”Well, I’m glad we agree.”

Levi was about to excuse himself when Madam Future spoke again.

”When you have recovered, I would like you to visit my territory.”

”Mine as well,” The Dealer added. ”You might find it more welcoming than you expect.”

”I appreciate the invitations, but... ”

”We understand your concerns,” Madam Future interrupted. ”Under Nocturn’s blessing, I pledge that no harm will come to you as my guest, and nothing concerning your identity will be disclosed.”

A faint glow acknowledged her words.

The Dealer made the same pledge, placing his invitation under Nocturn’s witness without adding any of his usual teasing.

Nocturn’s blessing was unlike contracts... contracts had loopholes and such, but swearing on Nocturn’s name in his realm and not abiding by it?

That’s a different breed of breaking a rule.

”We would like to receive you as a friend, Celesti. There is no hidden arrangement behind it.”

Levi considered their invitations more seriously.

They had willingly bound themselves to those assurances... that deserved some consideration, especially when neither had asked him for anything beyond a visit.

Still, a protected visit and a trusted relationship were different matters. He knew too little about either of them to decide on the latter today.

”I’ll keep your invitations in mind.”

Neither pressed him for a date.

Levi thanked them again and approached the departure gate, only for The Dealer to call after him.

”Celesti... I know your situation makes it difficult to trust people, but not everyone is coming for your head.”

Levi slowed.

”Some people want to befriend you,” The Dealer advised with a serious tone. ”Some would even support you without expecting anything in return. You won’t find out who they are if you never give them a chance.”

His voice softened.

”At some point, you have to take a leap of faith.”

Levi stopped before the gate and turned his head toward him... the doodly mask did nothing to hide his stubbornness.

”If you were in my position, would you take that leap?”

The Dealer opened his mouth, but his answer didn’t come as easily as his advice.

Madam Future remained silent.

They knew Levi was hiding his identity for a reason. They had also witnessed enough of his abilities to understand why he guarded his secrets... but knowing he had enemies didn’t tell them everything he stood to lose.

Levi had people he trusted. Some of them were already in danger because they had chosen to remain beside him.

He couldn’t treat another person’s good intentions as a reason to forget that.

”Your invitations are appreciated,” he said. ”I just... need time.”

He stepped through the gate before either could reply.

For a while, The Dealer remained where he was, considering the question Levi had left him... Levi’s rejection hadn’t disheartened him in the slightest.

He understood that anyone hunted down by both Radians and Oblivars’ followers’ factions would guard themselves as much as possible.

The fact that he had chosen to meet them in a secured cafe was already a leap of faith on its own.

So, he didn’t push it for now... but what he could push for was the bet between him and Madam Future.

He turned toward her and held out his hand with a wide grin.

”Well... pay up.”

She glanced at his open palm.

”You remembered that quickly.”

”He won.” He shrugged. ”You called my interpretation overly optimistic. I believe we have settled that disagreement.”

Madam Future shook her head before retrieving a small crystal.

Fine silver bands curved through its translucent interior, surrounding tiny flecks of light that appeared almost motionless.

A Chrono Crystal... one of her race’s prized treasures, harvested exclusively on their home planet.

The Dealer accepted it and turned it between his fingers.

”Always a pleasure.”

”Enjoy it. You won’t win the next one.”

”Oh? A prediction?”

Madam Future walked away without answering, leaving him chuckling as he stored his winnings.

***

Levi returned to his studio and lay flat on the bed.

For a few minutes, he did absolutely nothing.

Nobody wanted an answer, nobody was attacking him, and there wasn’t a die waiting to ruin his day... he intended to enjoy the peace before dealing with anything else.

”You sure have worked hard, little one.”

”Good work, master.”

The Titan acknowledged his efforts in a kind voice, and the Omnithar Genie quickly joined him.

”Tsk, he still needs plenty of work.”

Ash’Kral clicked his tongue, his standards apparently unaffected by Levi winning a Baron-ranked game without possessing a genuine Dominion.

Levi raised a middle finger in his direction without bothering to lift his head.

Then, after a moment of consideration, he forced himself to sit up against the headboard. If he gave in to the exhaustion now, he wouldn’t wake up for hours.

There was still work to be done.

He opened the game’s settlement, passed the victory confirmation, and paused when a dim entry drew his attention.

[HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT: THE HUNDREDTH SEAT.]

[FULL BOARD TRAVERSAL: INCOMPLETE.]

[TITLE NOT AWARDED.]

’So claiming the throne wasn’t enough.’

He checked the requirement... it forced him to win the game while crossing one hundred tiles in total towards the throne.

This meant tiles retracted, tools, and such methods to shorten the path voided the achievement.

Reaching the final tile through the Replicate Tool had allowed him to compete for the throne, but it hadn’t completed the sections of the Board he had bypassed.

Considering how often the Board could send someone backward, steal their position, or force them into a duel, completing the entire course required considerable luck alongside the strength to survive.

Hidden achievements were hard to obtain for a reason.

”I guess this title ain’t for me.”

Unbothered, Levi rubbed his forehead as he dismissed the notice and opened the financial settlement.

His hand stopped against his forehead.

[LIVESTREAM AND TICKET EARNINGS: 8,000,000 NOCRIX CREDITS.]

[TRANSFER COMPLETED.]

”...Eight million?”