You remember how I mentioned I also wanted to add a few aspects of compulsive gambler? Well, this is my biggest tribute. Imagine the school if you were never allowed to leave and you couldn't rest for a moment. It's like the spider's web: It's incredibly simple to leave, but you can't take any risks or everyone will be pulled down... Anyway, let's go!

Super hero time!

Shuujin: I'm placing all of my money on success! What about you, Issei?

Issei: Go, Jekyll! Obscure the truth and use intelligence with brute force to win!

Shuujin: Never thought i would say it... wrong Issei, Issei.

Issei: Aw... I wanted a super cool guy I could summon with my brain.

S + I: Break the chains! Phone up the future!

It was an utter hell. The frantic cries and cheers of the people were like cawing crows, so indistinguishable and feverish, most likely a result of having done this for a long time. The players' clothes were ruined at this point, ragged remains of the luxury they had so callously indulged in and in the dark light of the crimson hall, Issei could just make out one man slumped within his seat, blood dripping on the table as the rest of his opponents barely batted an eye.

"As I explained before, you can play your way out of debt, as long as you can accumulate the right amount to exceed the number." Onihime explained, a distinct lack of care visible in pale features as she gestured towards the crazed players. "As you can expect however, these are the people whose luck is of the worst kind, so they have been playing for a fair time. Fortunately for them, the games never stop; they can try all they like for as long as they like."

"Wait, they never stop?" the student repeated, Onihime nodding at his question. "But there are no external dealers and everyone's franticly playing right now. What about in the day, where everyone would be too tired to keep on playing?"

"Do you not feel it? The sense of regeneration, rejuvenation , fills the very air?" the black haired girl tutted in response and as he closed his eyes, the aura became near visible to Issei. "What we've been doing is supplying them a strictly regulated regeneration field that supplies them the necessary energy and nutrients in order to continue." All the boy could do is shake his head, the scent of putrid decay and sweat filing his nostrils.

"But that can't be healthy!" Issei responded, turning to the serene Onihime with no small sense of anger. "What about resting their mind? If they just keep playing on, their mind can't properly register everything that's happened; they can't be playing to their full capacity."

"Well of course; we do work within an establishment after all." Onihime reasoned with a small shrug, a small moment of seething coming from Issei. "We cannot so easily allow for better care when these people are so undeserving of it. That would simply cut into our profit margins. If they don't want to win their way out, then people just like them should go and die. Isn't that man fortunate?"

"You speak so callously of the dead… is this what being in a place like this means?" he wasn't speaking normally anymore, a slight amount of acceptance entering his thoughts. To be honest, he didn't even feel any sort of anger towards Onihime anymore, only a small bit of pity. Dealing in death, trading in torture, that was what these people apparently did on a daily basis, Onihime merely viewing it as a business model. The golden phone was already in his hands, the gothic girl giving a small tilt of the head as he opened up the device.

"I'm sorry for this, but it's simply my job." He couldn't help the small grin that poked its way through his defences, even in such a place as Onihime perked up an eyebrow. "I'm sure you can understand when I say it's simply business as usual."

CALL!

NUMBER TWO – KITSUNE!

CALL TO ARMS!

"Oh? I certainly wasn't expecting this from you." The girl remarked at the sudden heat that surrounded his body, hands lowering from their joint position in front of her navel to the sides, fingers delicately feeling for their prize. "I take it then that you object to the way we run? It is understandable; many complain when they see this room. You won't be the last either."

It really shouldn't have been intimidating at all, such a frail slip of card held between her fingers, but with a single tap from a metal claw, ripples over took the blank card's surface. The serene smile soon gave way to a manic smirk, a delicate patter engraving its way onto the surface, elegantly drawing a single heart in the centre of the card as Issei let the flames engulf his hands.

"Ah, how fortunate that the first card I draw would be the one that I desired!" Onihime stated, a demonic tone over taking the sugary voice as she tapped the card. "I feel as if there's a certain thrill to letting your strategies be decided by the cards, so much so that the weapon granted to me entire focuses upon that basis! Activation Ace!"

A sudden purple glow fell over her body, the lithe girl darting forward to collide with burning defences. A flick of his hand had the beam of fire launching towards the girl, only for Issei to give a small gasp of surprise when Onihime gracefully flipped over the attack, the heel lashing out striking his stomach.

"Do you truly believe that such simple attacks will ever grant you victory!?" Onihime roared, her clawed fingers slicing through the air like a blade, missing Issei's face by mere seconds. Her primal scratches left her vulnerable to several smaller blast from Issei, an undignified grunt escaping he girl as she drew two more cards, taps of metal against card having them undergo the same rippling transformation as the others did, this time producing a five and three.

"I see… this will be interesting!" Onihime cheered, thrusting the cards forward and letting the demonic aura lick at them like an inferno, completely uncaring for Issei's fire covered fist colliding with her side. "Frozen Three! Flame Five!"

Almost instantaneously, a combination blaze and blizzard gathered at her hands, a concoction of blue and red that was launched towards Issei, the demonic aura fading as she did so. There wasn't enough room to dodge, the boy's eyes turning to the gathered people still playing their games as if there wasn't a battle occurring right in front of their eyes.

"Damnit, if they aren't going to move…!" Issei muttered, the brunette spreading his arms wide, a barrier of flame spinning to life, the fusion attack striking the summoned wall with little effect, falling in and merely powering it up. With a thrust of his own, the wall was sent Onihime's way, the girl letting out a small shriek as it collided. "Oh yeah, I get a weapon like this, right? Where is it?"

"I can't believe they got to go play games… that totally isn't fair…"

Scribbling down the next two answers, Kunou gave a dismayed moan, her head happily meeting paper as the pencil she was working with flopped out of her hands. How was this right? How come they got to play games when she was the one who ended up getting frozen? It should be something like a… treat for getting over it! Sure, as a kitsune, she was meant to be easily able to beat ice, but she was young; cuteness beats logic, right!?

"I wonder what they're doing…?" the girl pondered aloud, uncaring for the drool that fell upon her work. It wasn't exactly as if it was important, even if her tutors tried to convince her it was. Rubbing her eyes with a yawn, the bored kitsune desperately reached out, the invisible door to fun being too far to rea-

"Wait, what!?" a glow had sudden burst from her body, the orange sheen absorbing her very being as all of a sudden, she blinked out of existence. When her tutor would arrive to pick up the work later, she would be met by absolute silence, her feverish yell causing to Yasaka to sigh.

To be honest, it was a surprise the girl even managed to last this long.

"Ah, Issei! Are you playing the games mama said you were!?" Kunou instantly greeted as soon as she caught a glimpse of the attacks sent her way, easily deflected by tendrils of Issei's whip. "Oh, okay…"

"Wait, what? Kunou?" Issei asked aloud, the sound of affirmation making him do a small double take. "But you were meant to be at ho- oh, the weapon is made from the energy of the person, you become a whip and Ophis becomes a sword! What is Miss Yasaka going to think when I say I brought her girl to a casino!?"

"So, you call upon a weapon then?" Onihime remarked, another pair of cards in hand. No matter, it appears that luck is on my side. Activation Ace! Flame Five! …! You can melt the ice and eat the fire that comes your way right? Then please, allow me to give you seconds!"

As the cards near evaporated in her hand, the demonic aura returned from before, this time combined with the raging flames of before, though she wasn't prepared for the sudden shoulder tackle, the boy sending the two of them into the wall, his arms now a blur as the whip repeated cracked against her body, ripping away fabric as he let out a primal cry.

"… Are you done messing with that yet?"

Issei turned in shock, Onihime standing with a bored expression even as she sat in front of him, dazed as she covered the few parts that had left her underwear until she melted away. The whip was flying through the air, only to be stock to the side, a dark flame covered fist striking his stomach as Onihime casually flipped black hair behind her back.

"Activation Ace – readies my body for the use of further cards and provides a generic power boost. Frozen Three - allows me use of ice based powers. Flame Five – lets me use fire based powers and… fakery four, grants the ability to utilise illusions. I hid the swap between reality and illusion in the sudden burst of fire and darkness." Onihime stated, a smile plastered upon her elegant visage. "Gambling also requires skill, careful timing and precise techniques along with being lucky on your draws to succeed; those who reside in this room are those who lack both. Tell me, are you happy with your new residence?"

"He won't be stuck here!"

They were interrupted by the shattering of wood, a furious yell matching the strength of the iris shoe that collided with Onihime, followed by two blasts from her red and black rifle, the lasers forcing the gothic girl into a defensive position.

"Rider!"

"All of you guys need to run now! The… thing keeping you in here, it's gone! Go, go!" the pink haired girl ordered, bleary eyes turning to the door leading to a stampede that roared its way out of the door, except for those who feverishly ran around the tables, collecting up all of the chips that had remained; they were the same as those used in the main building, so they would be worth something! Once the main crowd had died down, Ophis casually wondered in, shrinking with each step until she had returned to the usual size she kept.

"Well now, how did you deactivate the containment barrier? I made sure to keep that so well kept." Onihime sighed, arms folded as she looked to the ground. "Well, I suppose that's what happens when you go cheap on your protections. No matter, I shall end your group now!" four cards were drawn out of… somewhere, Onihime rhythmically tapping upon them to send the ripples flying, her eyes flicking across the faces with a small smile.

"I fear this is the end. Please, it was wonderful to have such innocent blood in our establishment, but your luck seems to have been turned against you. I apologise for this."

"Time Ten!"

"Jinx Jack!"

"Clone Queen!"

"Cataclysm King!"

"Activation Ace!"

Time crawled along at a snail's pace, multiple images of Onihime wrapping around them, encasing them in a circle of black. Issei desperately reached for his phone once more, seconds away from reaching the button as a terrible pressure pushed down on them, the sight of eah girl being alit with the devastating aura from before.

CALL!

'That's one part down!'

There was no chance that the barrier trick he had utilised before would work, not in the time limit he was being given, but there was a chance that maybe something could work, if he could just flick his fingers fast enough…

NUMBER ZERO – ErRoR!

CALL TO ARMS!

CALL!

"Such a pitiful attempt allow me to burn that strategy to the ground immediately." Onihime pleasantly requested, a foot lashing out, Issei giving a cry as his hand was forced away from the button he wanted it to, instead landing on the blank three button to cover the sudden glow that took it.

…

NUMBER THREE – TECHNOMANCER!

"Don't worry, I got it!" Rider declared, leaping up slightly to meet the flying phone, Issei's eyes widening when, out of all of the things she could've done, she slapped the bloody thing back in his direction, the boy holding up the bracelet summoned from the error so it could happily fit in. With Ophis' suddenly iron grip around the girl, much to her surprise, Issei had no obstacles as Kunou burst into life before him, the boy gently letting her down as he turned to Rider.

CALL TO ARMOUR!

"Initiating form change zero-three!"

Taking on a T-position, Rider was quick to mirror his stance, flesh almost being ripped away as only a wireframe stood where the two once were. Steadily reversing, the two images overlapped, digital squares forming a skin over the now fused body until a bright light dazzled the other three present, a small gesture from Issei dispelling the light with an unseen grin.

Now, his clothes had been replaced by a black bodysuit, highlighted with pink and purple pulses that travelled along the white lines across the armour. The ponytail Rider often wore had now become a smaller version on the top of a helmet, a feminine face carved into cold grey steel. With graceful movements, Issei rushed over to the held Onihime, several rapid taps over her body bringing up a small screen that the boy hummed at.

"Oh, this is strange. I feel like I actually know this stuff…" Issei muttered, Rider pausing in her wondrous flight to look down on the body, not too used to the idea of being out of her body and having it used as a set of armour.

"Ooh, so you can utilise touch sensitive analysis and instantaneous body records to see the various aspects of a person's body like a medical scan, as well as a touchless technology analysis!" the technophile cooed, grabbing a hold of Issei's neck as she looked to the screen. "This is so awesome! This means you can help me out with my stuff! Oh yeah, you should also press… that one, that one and this one; probably that one, just for fun."

"Um, okay then… here we go…" hesitantly reaching out to the buttons she dictated, the effects were instantaneous. The demonic energy wrapping around Onihime was instantly gone, the clones were shattered with a single finger as well as numerous other things that were happening on a microscopic level. Text flew by, only about half of which made any sort of semblance of sense to the student, but from the mad laughter coming from Rider, it seemed to be good.

"To cancel my effects so easily… what is this?" the girl asked, the first signs of confusion appearing upon her face. In response, the Rider quickly began to spouting off various facts, happily boasting about her technological abilities until the cough came from Issei, the man turning slightly to the phantom pink haired girl.

"You know that she can't hear you, right?" the boy deadpanned, Rider pausing in her dialog with a flapping mouth that let nothing out. "Basically I deactivated your weapon's energy, draining it away. Without the energy to act as a catalyst and guide to your normal spiritual energy, the excess power I simply being used as a release; think heating a room, except the room has an open window to a cold day – nothing really happens."

"Woah, Issei's going super smart here!" Kunou cheered, poking at the held Onihime with a small raspberry. "And now you're useless! We're going to take you home and you're going to have to answer to my mama!"

"Ooh, you should have some super cool energy locking handcuffs to use!" Rider happily declared, Issei rummaging around until he pulled out an odd chunk of metal, flipping it around in surprise.

"So, I just put these on her…?" as soon as the metal was put next to forcibly placed together hands, two yellow rings wrapped around the appendages, tightening around her and bringing out a short hiss.

"Well, I suppose I can't really argue with this now, can I?" the girl declared, an odd mix of respect and defeat filling her voice. "I don't think I've ever recalled having two defeats within a single night. My respect for you has risen; for a new comer, you do very well. People's first beliefs when they face my attack isn't to use some sort of machine to disable it."

"Well, my friends aren't the sort of people that you can place normal expectations on." The boy remarked, pulling the phone off of its bracelet and letting the transformation fall, Rider collapsing onto the floor with a small grunt.

"Hey, that wasn't nice you know Issei!" the pink haired girl declared, brushing off her ponytail. Regardless, Issei grabbed Onihime from Ophis' grip, making sure not to be too forceful even now. "So, did you keep your spaceship close by or are we going to have to walk a long time?"

"Don't just go dismissing me like that! You don't just handle a girl's body like that either, draping it over you like you're just wearing some clothes! You've got to make sure she's at least ready for whatever it is you're trying to do!" Ophis stood back with Kunou as the two started to bicker, Onihime remaining silent as she let herself be dragged along.

"They, get on well."

"Yeah, they do."

So we're bringing along the technomancer for the ride! I wanted to find a good way to implement the idea of gambling into a fighting style, which normally is seen in media as the use of cards itself. I thought, 'why don't I take this a step further?' and decided to add the random features shown here: she can't draw more than five cards, which will randomly be selected from the numbers with a different effect depending on the number and she can't do any alterations to her body until she uses an activation ace. I also have a special addition that will come eventually. Your clue?

SaCrIfIcE yOuR sOuL!

1 - Dragon (Ophis: scale slicer)

2 - Kitsune (Kunou: Kit o' nine tails)

3 - Technomancer (Starway Rider: .EXE(but!)cuter)

4 - ?

5 - ?

6 - ?

7 - ?

8 - ?

9 - ?

0 - ErRoR (woman: ErRoR)