The message didn't disappear.
It remained on the screen, glowing above the table like a verdict carved into reality itself.
SYSTEM MESSAGE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH
For a brief moment—
no one spoke.
Then the text shifted.
New data began to appear.
PLAYER DETECTED SHURA DAIGO
A pause.
As if even the system itself was measuring something beyond normal parameters.
Then—
NEW PLAYER RANK: A
Silence fell over Table 17.
Not the usual silence of tension before a bet.
Not the silence of calculation.
This was something heavier.
Something closer to fear.
Even the dealer—
the neutral presence who had shown no reaction to anything until now—
hesitated.
His hand hovered slightly above the deck.
For the first time, the illusion of control cracked.
Oda's fingers trembled.
His glasses slipped slightly down his nose as he stared at the screen.
"A… an A?" he muttered under his breath.
His voice shook.
"An A… among us?"
His throat tightened.
This isn't supposed to happen.
His thoughts spiraled.
Not this early.
"Damn…" he whispered.
"I hope he leaves the table now…"
His voice dropped even lower.
"I don't want to play against something like that…"
Kaito exhaled a long stream of smoke.
But this time—
it wasn't calm.
Not really.
His fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the table, an unconscious rhythm betraying the shift in his mind.
"I didn't expect that," he said quietly.
His eyes finally moved toward Shura.
For the first time in the entire game.
"He was Rank D."
A pause.
"After just a few rounds… he jumped to A?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What the hell happened in that void…"
The cigarette burned between his fingers, forgotten.
For once—
Kaito Murakumo didn't look relaxed.
Mika hadn't moved.
Not since she folded.
Her body was still.
Too still.
Her lips were slightly parted, but no words came out.
Her eyes were distant.
Lost.
Because unlike the others—
she knew.
She had felt it.
That pressure.
That force.
That moment where her own will had disappeared.
He made me fold…
Her fingers curled slowly into her palm.
And Ren…
Her gaze shifted toward him.
How did he survive that?
Itsuki shifted in his chair like a caged animal.
Normally, this would have been his moment.
A vulgar joke.
A loud comment.
Something to break the tension.
Something to prove he wasn't afraid.
But he didn't say anything.
He couldn't.
Because someone was watching him.
Slowly—
hesitantly—
Itsuki turned his head.
Toward Tetsuya.
"…That means…" he whispered under his breath.
"…he's higher ranked than Tetsuya…"
His eyes lifted.
And what he saw—
froze him completely.
Tetsuya's head was lowered.
His face hidden in shadow.
But his hands—
were clenched tightly.
Veins visible.
His shoulders were tense.
And then—
Itsuki heard it.
A whisper.
Low.
Dark.
"…That trash… surpassed me?"
Itsuki's stomach dropped.
Tetsuya's voice continued.
"How is that possible…"
The air around him felt sharp.
Dangerous.
"I'll kill them…"
His fingers tightened further.
"I'll kill all of them if I have to…"
"…just to rise."
Itsuki swallowed hard and looked away immediately.
For the first time—
he felt real fear.
Tanaka sat quietly beside Ren.
Her eyes were not on the screen.
Not on Shura.
Only on him.
Ren Takahashi.
He looked…
gone.
His body was there.
But his mind…
was somewhere else entirely.
Tanaka's expression softened slightly.
He's still not back…
"Are you okay?" she asked gently.
Ren blinked.
Slowly.
As if returning from a place far away.
"Yeah…" he muttered.
"I think…"
His voice was weak.
Uncertain.
"Thanks…"
He swallowed.
"I don't think I would have—"
He stopped.
Because suddenly—
Tanaka's hand rested over his.
Warm.
Soft.
Real.
"It's okay, Ren," she said quietly.
She smiled.
Her cheeks flushed slightly red.
For a brief second—
the world felt normal.
Ren stared at her.
Confused.
What…?
His thoughts stumbled.
Does she… like me?
His brain tried to process it.
Like… actually?
Then—
he shut it down immediately.
No.
No, no—what the hell am I thinking?
This is not the time for that.
His gaze dropped.
His thoughts spiraled again.
What just happened…?
Images flashed in his mind.
Yomi.
The black void.
The garden.
The ocean.
The fisherman.
Kenroku.
The words.
I do not belong to the dead…
His hand slowly moved to his chest.
The cross.
Still there.
He touched it lightly.
His fingers trembled.
"It's real…" he murmured.
Tanaka tilted her head.
"Did you say something?"
Ren shook his head quickly.
"No…"
But inside—
nothing made sense.
Across the table—
Shura still hadn't fully recovered.
His body sat upright.
But his posture was loose.
Almost empty.
Like something had drained everything out of him.
His eyes were unfocused.
Distant.
Like a puppet with its strings cut.
He gave everything, Ren thought.
That wasn't normal.
That wasn't just poker.
His mind replayed the moment.
"Void Adaptation…"
The words echoed again.
What was that…?
He looked down briefly.
Then toward Tan.
The snake.
Still calm.
Still watching.
What would I have done without it…
At that moment—
the doors to the hall opened.
Two guards stepped inside.
Dressed in black.
Silent.
Professional.
They walked directly toward Table 17.
No hesitation.
No explanation.
They stopped beside Shura.
One of them spoke calmly.
"Shura Daigo."
No reaction.
The second one stepped slightly closer.
"Please come with us."
A pause.
Then—
slowly—
Shura moved.
He stood up from his chair.
His body wavered slightly for a second.
But he stabilized.
He turned.
And just before leaving—
he stopped.
For a moment.
His eyes shifted.
Toward Ren.
And something changed.
For a brief second—
that overwhelming presence was gone.
No void.
No monster.
No Yomi.
Just Shura.
The same one who had sat beside him earlier.
The one who called him—
"brother."
"Hey…" Shura said quietly.
Ren looked up.
"I'm sorry."
A small pause.
"Good luck."
Ren froze.
He didn't know what to say.
Couldn't say anything.
Because the person standing there—
was not the same one from before.
And yet…
was exactly the same.
Shura turned.
And walked away.
The guards followed.
The doors closed.
The pressure lifted.
Slightly.
But not completely.
Because something else had taken its place.
The aftermath.
The screens flickered again.
A new message appeared.
CURRENT PLAYER RANKING – TABLE 17
METRIC: POWER
Murmurs spread instantly.
"Power…?" Oda whispered.
"What does that even mean…"
No one answered.
The list appeared.
1. TETSUYA KUROGANE
Ren nodded slightly.
"That was expected…"
Tetsuya didn't react.
He didn't even look at the screen.
2. REN TAKAHASHI
Ren froze.
"…Me?"
His voice came out dry.
Uncertain.
Tanaka leaned closer slightly, smiling.
"Look," she said softly.
"You're second."
Ren stared.
How…?
Across the table—
Kaito scoffed quietly.
"Second?"
He took another drag.
"This guy?"
Smoke drifted upward.
"Unbelievable."
3. KAITO MURAKUMO
Kaito smirked slightly.
"Guess I'm still doing something right."
Even though—
he hadn't played much at all.
4. AIKO TANAKA
Tanaka glanced briefly at the screen.
Then back at Ren.
No comment.
5. ITSUKI SAIONJI
Itsuki leaned back.
"Tch…"
"Could be worse."
6. KENSHIN ODA
Ren frowned.
"Sixth…?"
He looked at Oda.
He just won a big hand earlier…
His thoughts raced.
Tanaka and Kaito barely played…
How are they above him?
What is this system measuring…?
7. MIKA FUJISAWA
Mika didn't even react.
Her eyes remained empty.
Distant.
Whatever had happened in that void—
had broken something inside her.
At least for now.
The screen faded.
The room fell silent again.
Then—
a voice cut through it.
Sharp.
Cold.
Impatient.
"Alright."
Tetsuya.
His head lifted slowly.
His eyes were different now.
Focused.
Dangerous.
"Let's play."
His fingers tapped the table once.
Hard.
"We're done wasting time."
His gaze shifted.
Directly toward the dealer.
"Deal."
The word wasn't loud.
But it carried weight.
The dealer swallowed.
For a brief second—
he hesitated.
He could feel it.
The dominance.
The pressure.
Then—
his hands moved.
Cards slid across the table.
One by one.
A new round began