Back at the Inkwell Hell Casino, it was absolute bedlam. All the regular customers have already high-tailed it because an all-out battle broke out. The casino employees were already rebelling against Monty Bank and doing all kinds of things to defy him. The Devil's loyal imps have had enough and were viciously biting and scratching the meanie-bags. The casino was coming apart thanks to Monty's lousy managing. He's all but lost control and was fuming on the spot as everyone picked on him nonstop and refused to take any orders from him. The only true bosses of the casino were the Devil and King Dice…

"Hey! Stop that! You're tearing them apart! Get back you foul little creatures!" Monty angrily tried shooing away the imps but they laughed in his face. "Hey you!" Monty pointed an angry finger at Mr. Wheezy who'd been able to restore himself. "You're the security around here! Stop these imps!"

But with a nasty smile, Mr. Wheezy merely sicced his cigarette bats on Monty Bank which swooped down at him and beat him with their bat-wings. "Stop this! I am the owner of this casino! You have to obey me. Obey me I say!" But this enabled Pirouletta to give Monty a good kick in the rear when his back was turned.

Monty turned around to furiously attack Pirouletta but was stopped by Mr. Chimes who banged his cymbals loudly with erratic notes, causing Monty to clap hands over his ears. "You'll pay for this! Every single one of you!" Monty yelled in a rage. "Yeeeeowww!" Monty angrily turned around to see that Mangosteen had sunk his chompers into his rear-end. "Get off me you creepy little…,"

Monty held up his razor-sharp dollar-bills threateningly but Mangosteen squirted ink into Monty's face before rolling away laughing hilariously. Wiping the black ink from his face with a napkin, Monty now turned his wrath onto Phear Lap who was calmly sitting at the bar enjoying a drink while watching all the chaos. "Listen here you mangy horse! Where is King Dice?" Monty demanded.

"King Dice is taking a well deserved break," Phear Lap said shortly. So far he'd been successful in making sure Monty Bank didn't learn about Dice's real whereabouts. He only hoped that Dice found the Devil okay…

"That lazy incompetent moron," Monty said spitefully. "I'll never understand why the Devil chose him. A homeless bum who comes from nothing. It's the biggest insult to decent hard-working, well-off, ambitious characters like me. I'm telling ya, that no good King Dice conned the Devil."

Phear Lap merely ignored Monty's usual insults. But then Monty hadn't taken his mean eyes off of him. "You didn't answer my question. Where is King Dice?" he asked again. "I'm not paying that blockhead to slack off. The casino is in disarray and it's his job to fix it! Tell me where he is now!"

Looks like Monty wasn't going to let it go. Phear Lap tried coming up with another excuse. "He um… King Dice has… some very important tasks to attend to. He will be back within the hour." Unfortunately this wasn't enough to dissuade Monty.

Now Monty Bank was eying Phear Lap suspiciously. "You mean to say? King Dice is not here in the casino?" Before Phear Lap could say anything, Monty was already barking orders at his own minions. "My meanie-bags, find King Dice! Find him and give him a good bite from me!"

This was not good. The meanie-bags stopped their rampage and immediately started heading for the door. Those meanie-bags were like slobbery dogs and would have no trouble sniffing out King Dice. Phear Lap had to stop it. "Everyone! Stop those meanie-bags! Don't let a single one escape!" he shouted at once.

"Ah-ha! So King Dice is somewhere he shouldn't be, is he?" Monty said shrewdly and that's when Phear Lap realized his mistake too late. "I don't trust that guy. In fact, I think I know perfectly well what is really going on here." With that, Monty Bank instead turned all his meanie-bags on all the casino employees. "Destroy everyone and everything," Monty ordered his meanie-bags. "I'm officially too good for the Devil's Casino."

The savage meanie-bags wasted no time in attacking the casino-employees as ordered. Pirouletta let out a scream as three meanie-bags jumped on her but she'd managed to throw them off by spinning her roulette-wheel and began to fight back. A bunch of meanie-bags surrounded Pip and Dot and let out vicious growls. But Pip and Dot's stomach-region opened to let out a demonic roar and the meanie-bags went scampering like scared dogs. Phear Lap let out a fierce whinny as he unleashed a gift-box which exploded into the meanie-bags upon impact with flying horseshoes hitting multiple targets.

While they were all distracted, this enabled Monty Bank to slip out of the casino unnoticed. He knew exactly where King Dice had gone. There was no way he could allow it to happen. Most of all, he knew he would never be safe again if the Devil got released from the trap he'd set out for the black demon. Monty still had the book on him. There was only one way to ensure his continued safety. Monty was going to banish the Devil back to Inkwell Hell for another fifty years. It would at least keep the Devil from claiming his soul for a little while…

Meanwhile back at the mausoleum, the Spectre Syndicate didn't dare to venture below where they knew the king of evil lurked. But they couldn't help but become uneasy at the loud noises emanating from down below. The Devil was still trapped inside the symbol. And no matter how hard Dice tried, he couldn't seem to put so much as a dent on it. Dice concentrated with all his might as he held his poker-cards in hand, and for what felt like the millionth try, Dice flung five cards at once at the symbol to break its connection. But it had no effect.

"Well, you nearly hit me there," the Devil said jokingly. But then he saw the look on Dice's face and realized the die-headed man was starting to feel frustrated and upset. "Dice… It's ok. Try again."

"I don't get it. Why isn't it working?" Dice said breathlessly. He was already starting to lose confidence. "Aren't I strong enough? Isn't my magic strong enough?" He needed to free his boss and fast.

"The powers I've given you were a gift," the Devil told him gently. "Up til now you've been relying on my strength. Your power can grow and become stronger. You need to take this strength and make it your own." He waited patiently for Dice to catch his breath before trying again. "Draw strength from your own soul, Dice."

Dice tried to bear the Devil's advice in mind but somewhere inside, he felt something holding him back. He ignored the feeling and instead concentrated. Again Dice swung his arm and put all his strength into his cards. But the cards hit the symbol and bounced off. They still weren't strong enough. "I can't do it," Dice thought in despair. "I can't do it. I'm not good enough. I'm not strong enough."

"Dice?" the Devil's concerned voice cut into Dice's rambling thoughts. "Is something wrong, Dice?"

"No, I'm fine!" Dice said sharply. "Come on you stupid cards! Work already! I can do this. I can do this. Hold on, boss. I'll have you out of there in no time." But when Dice summoned all the strength within him, something unexpected happened. He tossed a card but it flop to the ground. "What?" Dice threw another card but it flopped to the ground too.

The Devil watched with a somber expression as Dice tried summoning his cards to throw as projectiles but they flopped to the ground weakly. Now his Ace of Spades, Ace of Clubs, Ace of Diamonds and Ace of Hears stood around on the ground looking up at him with pity in their beady eyes. "Wha…What's happening?" Dice said confused. "This has never happened before. Why are my cards not working?"

"They can't work. Even they know something is holding you back," the Devil stood around, staring at Dice with his yellow eyes gleaming intelligently. "What is it, Dice? You have the strength inside you yet you're holding back. Why?"

"I don't hold back!" Dice protested. He frowned down at his poker-cards who continued to eye him sadly. "Back into my sleeves, now!" Dice commanded them. But his poker-cards twittered a no at him and backed away. His poker-cards have never disobeyed him before. "What are you doing?" Dice turned to the Devil who continued to watch his every move. "Why is this happening?"

What the Devil said next totally took Dice off-guard. "You're afraid…"

"I'm not afraid of anything," Dice said defiantly.

"Dice, I can smell your fear from here," the Devil insisted. "You think I can't sense it?" The Devil could see it in Dice's eyes. An old fear Dice has been carrying around inside him for so long. "You're afraid of failure," the Devil said, never taking his eyes off of Dice. "You're afraid that you can't do it."

"I can do it!" Dice snapped. He was starting to lose his temper now. "I know I can do it! I have to do it! If I can't do it, you'll…," But Dice stopped mid-sentence and seemed unable to go on. The old fears were coming back. Stronger than ever… Dice couldn't face the Devil but he could feel those demonic eyes watching him knowingly.

And then the Devil finally said it for him. "You're afraid I'll reject you." Dice said nothing to this. But the die-headed man's silence said it all. "Are you still afraid that I only see you as a weak and puny mortal? Is that it?" Dice still refused to answer him and avoided his eyes. "Look at me, Dice," the Devil gently pleaded. "Please look at me…"

Now Dice did look at the Devil and suddenly felt self-conscious. Like he was back to wearing shoddy rags again. The Devil didn't appear to be judging him but he could sense the turmoil in his soul. There was no fooling the Devil. His boss could always see right through him. Dice couldn't bury the old hurt anymore. The Devil knew a tormented soul when he saw one and he was holding out his hand to Dice. Begging his right-hand man to come to him, to pour out his very heart and soul. In the solitude of the mausoleum, Dice was feeling all kinds of feelings right now.

"I chose you…," the Devil told him. "I had my reservations about you at first. But you've proven yourself to me, Dice. You being here for my sake are all the more proof of your loyalty to me. I have no doubts about you. But you… You still have doubts about me."

"No…," Dice denied. "How could I? I wanted to work for you. I was more than willing to serve you. I never had to sign a soul-contract." And yet Dice still hung his head in shame "But I…I wasn't strong enough to protect your casino. I couldn't even stop Monty Bank from taking over."

"But you are strong," the Devil reassured Dice. "In fact, you're the most despicable, conniving, sleazy con-artist I've ever met." But an admiring grin spread on the Devil's face. "You're a sinner and you're mine. I won't give up on you. I don't want you to have any doubts about me, Dice. I won't reject you. Can you believe in that? Can you believe in me?"

Listening to the Devil's words, Dice tried to keep the old doubts at bay. Growing up in that orphanage did him no favors. Suffering from a lifetime of rejection, ridicule, homelessness, hunger, and abandonment scarred Dice in a lot of ways. But he couldn't afford to let that affect him now. The Devil was right. Maybe it was high time to stop relying on the Devil so much and find the inner strength within himself. Time for King Dice to become a villain in his own right.

Dice grinned back at the Devil and finally got his old spark back. He looked down to see his poker-cards still eying him uncertainly but Dice held out his hand to them. "Sorry I yelled at ya, fellas," Dice apologized to them. "I'm ready to do this now."

With an excited twittering cheer, his poker-cards eagerly returned to him and Dice could harness their power once more. This time Dice concentrated with all his might and tried to put his all into it. Gazing over at the Devil who looked at him with confidence and love shining in his eyes motivated Dice all the more. "This one is for you, boss…" Dice said a wink.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out, feeling the power growing in the palm of his hand, and thinking about nothing but the Devil's love, Dice threw his poker-card and watched it whizz straight at the pentagram. At first Dice feared the poker-card wouldn't stick but then something amazing happened. Maybe he'd overdone it because the poker-card exploded like a bomb upon impact, causing the Devil to leap out of its way to dodge it. The Devil hadn't been expecting that kind of power that it really startled him. Nevertheless, he frowned over at Dice who stood there looking just as awestruck at his own power.

"Are you crazy? You nearly blew me up!" the Devil said irritably.

But then the Devil realized that a hole in the ground put a dent on the pentagram breaking its seal on him. The symbol was broken. He was free. Dice had done it. The Devil and Dice looked at each for a moment and both broke into a loud cheer before running to each other for a happy hug. The two of them were too busy celebrating that it took them a few seconds to realize footsteps could be heard coming down the spiral stone-stairs. The Devil and Dice turned around in time to see that Monty Bank had finally caught up with them.

"Well, well… So this is where you snuck off to, King Dice," Monty clapped sarcastically. "You really are a sneaky guy. Then again, you've had a great teacher for that…," Monty turned his cold eyes on the Devil.

"You've got some nerve coming here," Dice said coolly although he was angry all the same by seeing the pompous man standing there before him. "You're better off running for your life. What do you think you can accomplish by coming here?"

"I came here for the satisfaction!" Monty replied dramatically. "You should have just dropped dead. But nooo… That stupid poker-card of yours saw me mixing that poisonous cocktail. With you out of the way, I thought I stood a better chance of convincing the Devil to allow me to run his casino."

"So that was you?" Dice said outraged. "You sneaky son of a…" Dice could even hear his Ace of Spades letting out an angry twittering growl. "You've never had what it takes to the run the Devil's casino. I'm the one who earned the crown. That's why I'm called King Dice!" Beside him, the Devil was gazing adoringly at the die-headed man.

The Devil already armed with his pitchfork was starting to advance on Monty who for once looked afraid for himself. "I believe you owe me something," the Devil grin maliciously. "You owe me big…"

Monty was backing away nervously as the black demon moved in to claim his soul. "Wa-wait! You can't! I won't let you!" In a desperate bid to save his own hide, Monty was suddenly digging something into his suit-pocket and pulled something out. "This is the end for you. I'll see to it you never see the light of day you cursed demon! Begone forever!"

With that, Monty Bank threw what appeared to be a chest-like object down at the Devil and Dice's feet. Ah-ha! That there is a demon-snatcher!" Monty said triumphantly. "It captures any demon without fail and seals them away for fifty years! Inkwell Isles will no longer be plagued by your hellish presence!"

The Devil, Dice and Monty all stared down at the miniature chest on the ground. A minute went by, another minute went by. Nothing was happening. "Huh? Why isn't it working?" Monty said worriedly. "It's supposed to suck you up!"

The Devil stood with his pitchfork ready, Dice stood armed with his poker-cards, ready to aid his boss in battle. The chest gave a sudden wobble… And then it suddenly grew to a giant size. The chest grew pointy fangs and a long pink tongue lolled out of its opening. The Devil, Dice and Monty stared in surprise at the chest with the gaping maw and its hungry growls. Without warning, the chest turned on Monty Bank and opened its jaws wide.

"NOOOOOO!" Monty screamed as the chest gobbled him up and swallowed him into its chest-like mouth. With a loud belching burp, the chest wagged its tongue around, looking for something else to catch and eat. With Monty Bank finally gone and no longer a threat, the Devil and Dice lowered their hands while watching the chest grunt and grumble around for something else to munch on.

"Well whaddya know… It's a monster-chest," the Devil said. "I had one as a pet once. But I had to get rid of it because it wouldn't stop eating my treasure. I guess Monty Bank has mistaken it for a demon box."

Dice was real glad that it was over. Monty Bank was no more and the Devil was freed. He was definitely feeling a lot happier. Dice's poker-cards twittered lovingly in his hands while rubbing up against his face. Now he turned to the Devil. "We better get back to the casino. Monty Bank has those nasty meanie-bags running rampant there. We'll probably have one heck of a mess on our hands."

Putting his pitchfork away for the time being, the Devil turned to Dice and said with a charming grin. "After you?" he bowed courteously to Dice.

"Always the gentleman, boss…,"Dice smiled fondly. With that, Dice teleported himself away into his hidey-hole and the Devil followed suit by vanishing into thin air into the fires of hell.

I guess poor Dice had a lot of mental and emotional issues he'd been burying inside for so long that it effected his potential to develop his own power. Luckily with the Devil's guidance, Dice will be able to get character development. Only one more chapter to go!