The Gambler’s Kingdom

Jakarta, Indonesia. The city smoldered under an ashen sky. Once a thriving metropolis, Jakarta now lay in ruins. Fires still burned in the remnants of high-rise buildings, their skeletal frames standing as grim reminders of the Nine Dragons’ downfall. The streets were eerily silent, save for the occasional sobs of survivors picking through the debris, searching for remnants of their former lives.

Felix walked through the wreckage, his boots crunching over the shattered glass. The weight of victory felt hollow.

David fell into step beside him, surveying the destruction. "We fought for this?" he muttered, shaking his head. "How many lives did we trade for one enemy’s defeat?"

Felix exhaled sharply. "Too many."

From a collapsed storefront, a group of civilians watched them warily. Some faces held gratitude, others resentment. The rebellion had won, but at what cost?