Breaking In

The world outside Kuro's hut felt colder than before. Even though the painkillers Kuro had given him eased the ache in his side, Jude's mind raced—restless and sharp. Every step he took toward the Fatebound base felt like a step toward his own death, but there was no turning back now. He wasn't doing this just for Elara anymore; he was doing it for himself, for the broken piece of his soul that still clung to the hope that he could change fate.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Jude was already deep in the forest, moving like a shadow. Kuro had managed to gather some information, but not much. The base wasn't far from where he was—just on the other side of the valley, nestled against a cliffside. Kuro had warned him that it was practically impenetrable. A fortress. A place where even the bravest knights wouldn't dare to tread unless they were part of the Fatebound Order.

But Jude didn't care about any of that. He wasn't looking to break in quietly; he was looking to break it all.

The plan was simple—get in, get Elara, and get out. And if the Fatebound knights stood in his way, so be it.

Jude reached a clearing where the trees thinned out, revealing a sprawling, high-tech facility guarded by towering stone walls. The base sat on the edge of a cliff, its sheer drop a natural barrier. The guards patrolled the perimeter, their movement synchronized in a way that betrayed their training. They weren't just soldiers; they were elite warriors, handpicked for their role in the Fatebound Order.

Jude's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword. He wasn't sure if the blade would be enough against their kind, but it was all he had. His other powers were still growing, unpredictable—he wasn't ready to use them yet, but he would if he had to.

He crouched behind a large boulder, watching the knights' movements, noting their routines, waiting for the right moment. His heart thudded against his chest, every beat loud in his ears.

The minutes passed, and the guards' shifts began to change. Now was his chance.

Jude pushed forward, silent as a wraith. He moved quickly, darting between shadows, making his way toward the gates. His senses were on high alert, every muscle coiled, ready to react. When he reached the outer perimeter, he pulled out a small device Kuro had given him—a signal jammer that would temporarily disrupt the base's surveillance. It was only a matter of seconds before the cameras would go blind.

He pressed the button, and the screens flickered, then went dark.

His heart rate spiked. This was it. There was no turning back now.

He rushed toward the nearest entrance, relying on his speed and instinct. The guards were none the wiser, their attention focused on the monitor showing the usual footage of empty grounds. Jude slipped through the crack in the fence, his body tight with adrenaline.

The inside of the base was colder than he had imagined, its sterile, metallic halls giving off an eerie hum. The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance, signaling the approach of more knights. Jude pressed his back to the wall, his breath slow and controlled as he watched them pass.

Once they were out of sight, he moved again, this time more cautiously. He could feel the weight of the air pressing in on him. The deeper he went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. This place wasn't just a military base—it was a prison, a place meant to break those who dared to defy fate.

A series of iron doors stretched down the hall, each one guarded by knights, but Jude wasn't here to play games. He picked up the pace, staying low, his eyes scanning the area for weaknesses.

As he neared a large door, the sound of voices reached his ears. He froze.

"Did you hear that?" one of the knights said.

"It's nothing," another answered dismissively. "It's probably just the wind."

But the tension in the air was palpable. Jude had to move faster. He darted to the side, sliding into a dark corner just as a patrol rounded the corner. He pressed himself against the cold stone wall, holding his breath. The knights walked past him, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows.

Jude waited for them to move out of sight before sprinting toward the door. This was it.

He reached it, his hand on the handle, when he heard a voice.

"Stop right there."

Jude froze, every nerve in his body tingling with the familiar sensation of danger. He didn't turn around. He couldn't afford to waste time.

A knight stepped out from the shadows, his armor gleaming under the dim light. "Who are you?" the knight demanded, his voice sharp. "What are you doing here?"

Jude's heart hammered in his chest, but his eyes narrowed. "I'm just passing through," he said with a wry grin, the words slipping from his lips with ease. "Don't mind me."

The knight didn't buy it for a second. He raised his sword, his gaze never leaving Jude's. "You'll answer to the Fatebound Order."

Jude's instincts kicked in. Without thinking, he whipped out his sword and launched himself at the knight. The clash of steel rang through the air as their blades met with a sharp, metallic shriek. The knight's strength was impressive, but Jude's agility outmatched him. He ducked under a sweeping strike, slamming his shoulder into the knight's chest, sending him crashing into the stone wall.

Jude didn't stop to watch him fall. He was already sprinting toward the door, his hand slamming against the cold metal.

The door slid open, revealing a small room filled with dim lights. At the far end, a cage—Elara.

She was unconscious, her hands bound, her face pale, her body frail. Jude's heart lurched at the sight, but he didn't hesitate. He bolted toward her, slashing through the chains that held her captive. His hands shook as he carefully lifted her limp form into his arms.

"Come on, Elara," he muttered under his breath, his voice tight with emotion. "We're getting out of here."

He turned to leave, but before he could take another step, the sound of heavy footsteps reached his ears. A dozen knights, fully armored, stepped into the room.

Jude's heart dropped. He was surrounded.

"You think you can just walk in here and take her?" one of the knights sneered. "You're a fool."

Jude tightened his grip on Elara, his eyes scanning the room for a way out. The knights closed in, their weapons raised. He had no choice now.

He'd fight.

With a roar, Jude charged forward, slashing with his sword, cutting down the first knight that tried to block his path. But for every knight he took down, two more appeared, their swords flashing through the air. The space was cramped, and he had no room to maneuver.

It was only a matter of time before they overwhelmed him.

A sudden pain shot through his side, and Jude gasped, stumbling back. The knights pressed in, their strikes faster, more precise. He fought to stay on his feet, but his vision began to blur, the edges of his sight darkening.

"Jude!" Elara's voice cut through the haze of battle.

But Jude couldn't move. His body was giving out. And just as he felt his knees buckle, a heavy blow struck him across the chest, sending him crashing to the ground.

Darkness closed in, and his last thought before losing consciousness was a single name:

Elara.

He had failed.

Elara was gone. The Fatebound knights had taken her, and he had been too weak to stop them. His body ached, every limb heavy as if shackled by unseen chains.

Then—light.

Not the warm glow of the sun, nor the cold artificial light of the Fatebound base. This was different—flickering, shifting, like the neon signs of a gambler's den.

A voice, smooth and playful, slipped into his consciousness.

"Damn, kid. You sure know how to make an entrance. Or in this case, a tragic exit."

Jude's eyelids fluttered open, his vision blurry. His body was no longer on the cold, hard floor of the prison cell. Instead, he lay on a velvet couch, his wounds crudely wrapped in bandages that reeked of alcohol. The air smelled of smoke and old playing cards.

The room around him was a dimly lit parlor, lined with poker tables and roulette wheels that had long since gathered dust. A massive chandelier hung overhead, its bulbs flickering as if struggling to stay alive. The walls were covered in peeling wallpaper, the words The Gambler's Paradise barely visible through the grime.

And then there was him.

Leaning against a table, shuffling a deck of golden-edged playing cards, was a man who looked as if he had walked straight out of a high-stakes casino in a world where fate had no rules.

He was tall, lean, and draped in a long, dark coat with playing card symbols embroidered in red along the sleeves. His black boots were scuffed but well-worn, and a red scarf was wrapped loosely around his neck. A smirk played on his lips as he twirled a card between his fingers.

His eyes—golden and sharp—studied Jude like a gambler sizing up his next big risk.

"Who the hell…?" Jude's voice was hoarse, his body barely moving.

The man chuckled, flicking a card toward Jude. It landed just beside his hand. The Joker.

"The name's Kazimir," the man said, tucking the deck into his coat. "And you, my unfortunate friend, are in a world of trouble."

Jude forced himself upright, groaning as pain shot through his ribs. "Where—how did I get here?"

Kazimir stretched, cracking his neck. "Dragged you out of that little mess you made. Thought you were dead at first, but turns out you're just really bad at fighting elites. No offense."

Jude scowled. "I had it handled."

Kazimir barked out a laugh. "Sure you did, kid. Sure you did." He grabbed a glass bottle from a nearby table and took a swig. "Let me guess—you went charging into a heavily guarded Fatebound base, got your ass handed to you, and now your little friend is locked up in some high-security dungeon while you're here, half-dead and at my mercy."

Jude clenched his fists. He didn't need the reminder.

Kazimir sighed, placing the bottle down. "Look, I'm not here to rub salt in your wounds. I'm here because you interest me, and that doesn't happen often."

Jude eyed him warily. "What do you want?"

Kazimir's smirk widened. "Straight to the point. I like that." He stepped closer, the dim light casting shadows across his sharp features. "Let's just say I have a bit of a… complicated relationship with the Fatebound Order. And when I see some kid running headfirst into their base like he's got nothing to lose, I get curious."

Jude narrowed his eyes. "You're a Wild Card, just like me."

Kazimir grinned, pulling a golden coin from his pocket and flipping it in the air. "Ding, ding. Give the boy a prize." The coin landed in his palm, vanishing between his fingers like a magic trick. "I broke my fate years ago, and ever since, I've been doing whatever the hell I please."

Jude's breath hitched. This was one of the few Wild Card's he has met besides himself. "Then you should understand why I need to get her back."

Kazimir studied him for a moment before sighing dramatically. "Kid, you really don't get it, do you?" He flicked another card at Jude, and this time, it was The Tower—a symbol of destruction and chaos.

Jude didn't react.

Kazimir leaned in, his golden eyes gleaming. "Fate is a rigged game. The moment you try to cheat it, the house always strikes back. You think breaking into the Fatebound's main stronghold and snatching their prized captive is something you can just do?"

Jude gritted his teeth. "I don't care how impossible it is."

Kazimir chuckled. "Of course you don't." He straightened, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, then. Let's make this interesting."

Jude frowned. "What do you mean?"

Kazimir pulled out a single playing card and held it up. "I'll help you. I'll even get you inside that base. But…" His smirk turned devilish. "Only if you win a little game."

Jude eyed the card warily. "What kind of game?"

Kazimir's fingers snapped, and suddenly, the entire room shifted. The walls seemed to fade away into a swirling abyss of red and black. A massive roulette wheel materialized behind him, spinning slowly.

Jude felt the air grow heavier, like the weight of fate itself was pressing down on him.

Kazimir grinned. "A game of chance. A test of luck." He flicked the card toward Jude again. This time, it landed face-up. The Ace of Spades.

"If you win, I'll take you to her." Kazimir's grin widened. "If you lose… well, let's just say you won't have to worry about fate anymore."

Jude stared at him, his heart pounding.

This man was insane. But if Kazimir truly had the power to help him, then he had no choice.

He reached out, his fingers brushing against the card.

Kazimir's golden eyes gleamed with mischief.

"Let's see if fate is on your side."