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Chapter 31: The Roll of Illusions
The battlefield was stained in silence. Blood, broken terrain, and monstrous corpses littered the nightmare zone, fading into ash with the passing chaos.
And then—reality bent.
As if the air itself tore open, a dark, celestial portal appeared. Its spiraling energy buzzed with ancient resonance. Etched into its frame were the words:
> "Only four may enter."
Riven narrowed his eyes. "Only four?"
Vex stepped forward, his hand still crackling with the residual power of Crackpoint Impact, now evolved into a devastating long-range strike. "That's not right. There's six of us."
Torren, Lysa, Chester...
He paused.
Riven began counting again, eyes drifting across the field.
"Wait. Six?"
He turned. There were three corpses: Torren, whose soul had been severed… Lysa, who had collapsed beside him… and Chester, face-down, unmoving. And yet—
Why did something feel wrong?
Suddenly, Chester's body flickered. His form glitched like a hologram reaching its expiration.
> Poof.
The body vanished. Not in gore or decay—but like a clone disappearing after a timer had run out.
Riven froze. "That... wasn't the real Chester?"
Before they could react, the portal behind them surged with violent force, forming a vortex.
>
A rift opened. Unnatural wind howled as Vex and Riven were yanked backward—sucked into the rift screaming, the blue and red auras around them clashing in panic.
And then—darkness.
When their vision cleared, they were no longer in the nightmare zone.
They were in a vast white void... surrounded by Chesters.
> Dozens of them.
Each wore a different mask. Some laughing. Some crying. Some lifeless. They just stood there—motionless, yet very much aware.
Riven's breath caught in his throat. "What the—"
Vex didn't even finish his curse before the entire void began to warp.
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Scene Shift: Hidden Safe Zone
The hideout was dimly lit. Candlelight flickered lazily. A dice rolled across the table.
Clink... clink... clack.
Chester leaned back in his chair, watching the die bounce and fall.
"Useless roll," he said with a grin. "Might as well make it entertaining."
He turned to Veyla. "Come on, admit it. This is better than sulking."
Veyla sighed, clearly annoyed but slightly amused. "You forced me into this, you freak."
Keen walked in, arms folded. "Are you guys seriously playing right now?"
Chester snorted with laughter. "What can I say? I've got the Gamble Set—might as well use it."
> "And besides... haven't I always told you?"
"Never underestimate a Fool."
He winked, as if this entire nightmare had been his game board all along.