The next day, dawn broke.
The gates of Fate Gambling City slowly opened amid the swirling sea mist.
The lingering revelry of yesterday's feast had yet to fully fade, but curious visitors of other races were already clutching their Casino Tokens and entering this realm steeped in the unknown.
The scene inside the casino seemed a world apart from the outside.
Visitors were immediately enveloped in utter luxury upon entering.
The lofty dome overhead was not solid, but formed entirely from flowing silver runes.
Soft light poured down, illuminating every corner of the buildings in the different sections without the slightest glare.
Deep purple crystals paved the floor, with a surging river of stars sealed beneath them. Each step sent tiny flecks of starlight rippling from beneath visitors' feet, spreading several meters before slowly fading.
The columns supporting the hall were carved with dark golden giant beasts coiling upward. Dazzling Energy Gems were set between their scales, and their raised heads held crystal lamps in their mouths, giving the casino's light and shadow a rich sense of depth.
Each gambling table inside had also been cut and carved from a single piece of spirit crystal, as exquisite as a work of art.
Even the air carried a fragrance, personally blended by Fate Throat from various Spirit Plant spices. A single breath left visitors refreshed and relaxed.
This extravagant construction had consumed a vast amount of Sacrificial Power.
These seemingly meaningless decorations were, in fact, a sensory cage woven by Fate Throat.
Before building the casino, he had consulted a wealth of psychology materials in the Library and held in-depth discussions with A Lan.
From these, he had developed the casino's initial framework.
Beyond displaying Fate Gambling City's wealth, its lavish furnishings served four deeper purposes.
The first goal was to