Chapter 28: Deathly Gambit
From Kirbo's perspective, the air around him tensed as he gripped his katana, steadying it in front of him. Laugh's smug grin didn't falter, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he began to channel his magic.
"Let's see what you've got, Kirbo," Laugh taunted. "I bet this next hit doesn't even scratch me."
Kirbo narrowed his eyes. The magic around Laugh pulsed and intensified, swirling into a powerful aura that seemed to vibrate with excitement. Kirbo muttered under his breath, "Alright, you want to gamble? Let's see if you're ready to pay up."
In one swift movement, Kirbo struck. His katana cut through the air with immense force, slicing clean through several buildings in its path and gouging deep rifts in the pavement as Laugh darted to the side, untouched. Kirbo's blade carved a devastating arc, but Laugh only smirked.
"Nice swing," Laugh chuckled, the edges of his silhouette barely fading back into place from where the blade had just missed him. "But you lose, and I win. Again."
Laugh's ability: Deathly Gambit. Laugh can place a magical "bet" on an outcome, giving him an instant boost in power if it turns in his favor. The higher the stakes, the more his magic strengthens, and after five successful bets, he reaches a state called Golden High—a state where, for three minutes, he manipulates probability itself to favor every action he takes.
Kirbo clenched his katana, analyzing Laugh as he felt the heat of the enhanced magic now radiating from him. Laugh's aura swirled and expanded, enhancing his movements. In a blink, Laugh was in his face, his hand outstretched.
"Pay up," he sneered, sending Kirbo flying backward. Kirbo crashed into a fountain, water spraying around him as he rolled to his feet, the impact barely causing him to wince.
"Okay, that's it," Kirbo muttered, brushing the water off. "You want to play games with me? Let's make it interesting."
Without a second thought, Kirbo activated Time Hop. The world around him froze as he entered his personal timestream, allowing him to skip over what would've been a full sprint toward Laugh. In the blink of an eye, Kirbo closed the gap, reappearing in front of Laugh with his katana poised to strike. Laugh barely had a moment to react as Kirbo's blade came down.
But just before the blade connected, Laugh smirked, placing another bet under his breath, "I bet that I'll dodge this too."
The magic around Laugh pulsed, and he sidestepped the attack, evading it with the enhanced speed his bet afforded him. Laugh's laugh echoed through the air as he lunged, fist raised, and struck Kirbo with enough force to send shockwaves rippling through the plaza. Kirbo grunted, skidding backward but catching himself before he could be launched too far.
"You think you're so clever," Kirbo said, his voice cool but irritated. "But you're only delaying the inevitable."
"Oh, am I?" Laugh's grin widened, almost daring Kirbo to continue. "I've got plenty more 'bets' where that came from."
Kirbo took a deep breath, letting his own magic surge through him. "Fine," he muttered, "I'll give you a real reason to gamble."
With a slight smirk, Kirbo activated Time Hop again, but this time, he poured more energy into it, stretching its limits. Time around him warped and slowed until it was nearly at a standstill, each droplet of water from the broken fountain hanging motionless in the air. Laugh was frozen in a smug expression, his stance ready for the next strike.
In the few seconds he had, Kirbo maneuvered himself into position, setting up a devastating blow with his katana aimed right at Laugh's blind spot. He could feel his magic wavering from the energy drain, but he was determined to make it count.
