The atmosphere beneath the tavern was suffocating—thick with the stench of blood, cigarettes, and strong alcohol. The air itself felt heavy, pressing against my chest like an invisible force, making it hard to breathe. It was as if the very walls had absorbed the agony of countless lost souls—crushed, devoured, and discarded by the insatiable hunger of this abyss.
Tink leaned in close, his breath barely a whisper against my ear.
"This basement has three levels. We're on the first one—where the biggest gamblers in Dagakang gather."
I swallowed hard.
This wasn't just a casino.
It was an arena.
A place where winners took everything, and losers… well, they only had two fates: leaving with nothing—or never leaving at all.
That was why this place was infamously called:
"The Black Hole with No Way Out."
The mastermind behind this floor was Voska—a manipulator of minds, a gambler whose greatest game wasn't played with cards, but with people's lives. He was ruthless. If he deemed you worthless, or if you stood in his way, you simply ceased to exist.
Here, a single misstep didn't just cost you money—it could cost you your life.
A chill ran down my spine.
All around us, the sounds of cheers, curses, and fists slamming onto tables filled the room. The air was charged, thick with desperation. Bloodshot eyes—men who had lost too much, gambled too hard—burned with madness and despair.
Across the room, a mountain of a man suddenly flipped over a gambling table, sending dice and cards flying. His face twisted with rage—he had lost everything.
Before he could even take a step, two massive bodyguards emerged from the shadows. They grabbed him without a word, dragging him toward a door in the back—a door no one ever came back from.
Tink's fingers squeezed my shoulder lightly.
A warning.
I nodded, doing my best to keep my expression neutral.
We were in the den of monsters.
And the only way out… was to survive.
We pushed through the sea of filth—men who had sold their souls for one last chance, their hands shaking as they rolled the dice. Predators and prey shared the same space, but there was no mistaking who was who.
The flickering light bulbs overhead cast eerie shadows on the stained floor, illuminating bloodstains that hadn't yet dried. The stench of sweat and cheap liquor clung to the air.
Everywhere I looked, there were eyes watching.
Calculating.
Waiting.
A wrong move, and this whole room could turn into a slaughterhouse.
In the farthest corner, women in revealing dresses leaned against the cracked walls, their eyes dull yet flirtatious. They weren't selling pleasure—they were selling a temporary escape from this nightmare.
A girl with fiery red hair stepped forward, her lips curling into a practiced smile, though her eyes were dead.
"Handsome boys like you... looking for some fun?"
Tink cast her a glance, his expression unreadable. Then, without breaking stride, he smiled faintly.
"Not in the mood tonight."
The girl didn't protest, but for the briefest moment, I saw something flicker behind her eyes—disappointment? No… it was something deeper.
It was resignation.
She was used to men coming here only for lust or gambling, never offering a real escape.
We finally reached the back of the room, where a single heavy door stood under the glow of a dying red light.
A towering guard, dressed in black tactical gear, stood in front of it. His cold, lifeless eyes scanned us, lingering on me for a second too long.
Tink, unfazed, reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small metal coin.
A skull was engraved on its surface.
Without a word, he handed it over.
The guard took it, turning it over in his scarred fingers, inspecting it like a jeweler examining a rare gem.
For a moment, I thought he might refuse.
Then, without another word, he stepped aside.
"Go in." His voice was rough, void of emotion.
The heavy door creaked open, revealing darkness beyond.
Tink didn't hesitate.
Neither did I.
As we stepped through, the door slammed shut behind us.
The true heart of this abyss lay ahead.
And at its center…
Voska was waiting.