The gate to the next floor opened without a sound.
But what lay beyond was not a room.
It was a casino.
No—a temple dressed like a casino.
Marble floors. Floating dice. A chandelier made of ticking hourglasses.
At the center, a massive roulette wheel spun endlessly in the air, carved with symbols of fate, death, truth, and madness.
Lucian stepped forward.
Naia glanced around, wary. "What is this place?"
Selaria, now clothed in a veil of reconstructed memories, whispered, "This… feels like the Heart of Fortune. But corrupted."
Then the system spoke.
But this time, it had a voice.
Not robotic. Not divine.
Charming. Mocking. Almost seductive.
"Welcome to Floor B89 – The Wagering Floor."
"Every action is a wager. Every word, a risk. Every silence, a decision.""Play wisely, little mortals. The House always listens."
Objective: Survive five rounds of Wager.Bonus: Win the right to rewrite a single truth in the Tower.
Lucian narrowed his eyes.
This was no game.
It was an arena of consequence.
A bell rang.
"Round One: Opening Bet.Choose your Stake."
Four platforms lit up before them.
Each displayed a different choice.
Your Memories
A Companion's Life
Your Powers
A Secret
Lucian grimaced.
"One of us has to place a stake."
Naia stepped forward.
"I'll do it."
"No—" Lucian stopped her. "Not yet."
He looked at the fourth platform.
"A Secret."
His hand hovered.
And he pressed it.
The system purred.
"Lucian wagers: A Secret."
"Now... reveal it, or risk its exposure at the worst possible moment."
Lucian exhaled.
Then said softly:
"I never forgot Selaria. I just pretended… so I could love Naia without guilt."
Silence.
Then—
The room shimmered.
A clock struck once.
No punishment.
But Naia looked away.
"…I knew."
Selaria said nothing.
But something inside her eyes shifted.
"Round One: Cleared.""Proceed."
They moved into the next chamber.
"Round Two: Chain Gamble.Each member must declare a promise.Fail to keep it within two floors—penalty triggers."
Lysia cursed. "That's ridiculous. They want us to trap ourselves."
Lucian nodded. "That's the point. Let's pick promises we're willing to bleed for."
Naia spoke first.
"I promise… I won't leave his side, even if I hate him again."
Lucian looked at her, eyes soft.
Selaria:
"I promise… to never let the gods control me again."
Lysia hesitated. Then:
"I promise I won't run away. Even if I want to."
Lucian stepped up.
And said:
"I promise… I'll never erase someone again—no matter the reason."
The system rang.
Each promise was engraved in light across their chests.
"Promises logged.""Let's see what the next floors do to test you."
"Round Three: Risk or Reveal.One of you must wager another's fate."
Four pedestals rose.
And the floor glowed with only two names: Naia and Selaria.
Lucian's hand tightened.
The system cooed:
"You may choose one to protect. The other's fate will become... dice-bound."
Selaria whispered, "Pick her."
Naia growled, "Don't you dare."
Lucian looked at both.
His voice calm.
"…I choose Selaria."
Naia's breath caught.
"So be it."
A six-sided die appeared above her head.
It spun.
Time froze.
Then—
Rolled a 2.
The system chuckled.
"Naia will forget one memory… chosen at random. Duration: Unknown."
She staggered.
Lucian caught her.
"I'm sorry—"
But she pushed him away.
"I don't even know what I lost… and that scares me more than remembering."
"Round Three: Cleared."
The floor changed again.
This time, a coliseum appeared.
The crowd was silent shadows.
A voice boomed:
"Round Four: Duel of Doubt.Fight a version of yourself… that chose differently."
Lucian's shadow stepped forward.
But it wasn't the Armored Lucian from before.
It was him—if he'd never stopped trying to be perfect.
If he never accepted flaws.
If he erased everyone's pain just to keep his own heart clean.
They fought.
But not with weapons.
With words. With choices. With memories.
Each attack was a vision of "what could have been."
Selaria married.Naia sacrificed.Lysia dead.Lucian alone, crowned by bones.
Lucian stood tall.
And said:
"Perfection is the slowest death."
He struck.
The shadow shattered.
"Round Four: Cleared."
The final room was empty.
Just a mirror.
In it: Lucian's reflection.
Smiling.
Then speaking.
"Final Wager: One question. One cost.Ask me anything. But the answer will take something from you."
Lucian whispered.
"…What happens if I win the Tower?"
The reflection smiled wider.
"You'll get the truth."
"But lose your reason to want it."
Lucian stepped back.
"…What does that mean?"
The mirror cracked.
And answered:
"You were never meant to survive this."
[System Update]
Floor B89 – Wagering Floor: CLEAREDRewards:– [Thread of Foresight] – Lucian may glimpse one possible outcome of a decision (cooldown: 1 floor)– [Selaria: Emotional Anchor Deepened]– [Naia: Memory Slot Lost – ???]– [Group Trust: Shaken, but Holding]
As the group exited, no one spoke.
Until Selaria finally said:
"…You protected me. Why?"
Lucian didn't look back.
"Because you already gave up everything once. I won't let it happen again."
Naia said nothing.
But behind her eyes—
Something important was gone.