BXBX NOVEL Chapter 23: Gambling System
The higher-ranked a fighter is, the lower the payout for a win, as they are considered more likely to succeed. Conversely, betting on a lower-ranked or unknown fighter yields higher returns if they win, due to the perceived lower chance of victory.
When Kyle and Nate first registered for their fight, Kyle, as a newcomer, was given the lowest possible odds. The bookies assumed he would lose to his opponent, who was ranked 48th. On the other hand, Nate, being more familiar with the arena\'s regulars and having a decent track record, had much higher odds of winning, resulting in lower potential payouts for bets placed on him.
Kyle and Nate made their way to the gambling booth to collect their winnings. It was surrounded by a throng of disappointed gamblers who had lost significant sums betting against the unlikely victor, Kyle.
Everyone was angry and frustrated, with murmurs of dissatisfaction growing louder as the reality of their losses set in.
The system was automated and efficient. Kyle handed over his betting slip to the attendant, who fed it into a sleek, black machine. There was a momentary pause, and then the machine chimed, displaying the amount of credits he had won.
The odds on Kyle to win was a staggering 20 as many had bet against him. This meant, Kyle had earned twenty times the amount he placed. Placing 14 credits, he had gotten 280 credits!
"How could he have won? He was just a nobody!" A boy who had betted against him shouted, pointing his finger at Kyle.
"He must\'ve cheated! There\'s no way a newcomer could beat someone ranked 48th!" another added, his voice tinged with desperation.
The attendant behind the counter remained unfazed, accustomed to the mix of emotions that followed the submission of bet slips.
She calmly transferred 280 credits to Kyle and moved on to Nate, who had a far less eventful collection.
Nate\'s victory, while impressive, was expected, and thus his odds were lower, being 1.50. Hence, since he had placed 100 credits; he obtained 150 credits in return.
As they turned to leave, the crowd parted, some glaring at them with barely concealed resentment. A few academics shouted insults and accusations, their frustration palpable.
It was clear that many had lost substantial amounts, having bet heavily on Crusher\'s win over the supposed Omni Lord. The atmosphere was tense, with the potential for confrontation lingering in the air.
Kyle, sensing the hostility, kept his head down and nudged Nate, who seemed more amused than concerned. "Let\'s get out of here before things get ugly," Kyle muttered, his voice low and cautious.
Nate chuckled, shrugging off the angry murmurs. "Relax, they won\'t do anything. Not here, at least. Rules are rules," he replied, referring to the strict no-violence policy outside of the designated fighting areas.
"I wonder why they can\'t direct their anger on Crusher. He was the one who lost after all!" Kyle whispered to Nate as they left.
"It\'s their problem. The fact is that we won and they can\'t do anything about it." Nate replied with a grin, raising his voice high to be heard.
The two navigated through the dimly lit stairs of the underground complex, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly. The further they got from the arena, the quieter it became.
The tense atmosphere of the arena gradually gave way to the relative calm of the academy\'s main buildings. As they emerged from a hidden passageway behind the nondescript door, they left the ancient library where the arena was located.
Kyle saw off Nate at his dormitory which came before his before heading towards the Year 1 dormitory.
Kyle located his dormitory which was mostly quiet as most of the awakened were fast asleep, ready for the next day. The air was cool, a welcome change from the environment of the underground arena. Despite being night-time, it was well illuminated by various magic artifacts.
Kyle entered his room and immediately got onto his bed, feeling the adrenaline of the evening finally wearing off. He let out a deep sigh, staring up at the ceiling. "What a night," he murmured, still processing everything that had happened.
\'Yes, the five stat points I obtained from my victory!\' Kyle suddenly remembered and requested his status.
"Status!"
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Awakened: Lv MAX
EXP: 160/160
HP: 20/20
Energy: 21/22
Mana: Null
Agility: 16
Strength:18
Vitality: 10
Stamina: 11
Intelligence: Null
SP: 5
Inventory: 1* Tier-1 Mana core, 1*Egg.
[Elements]
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Kyle observed his status before deciding on how to allocate his Stat points. \'Agility has always been pivotal in how I fight.\' he concluded before making his improvements.
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AGI: 16 >> 20
VIT: 10 >> 11
HP: 20 >> 22
SP: 5 >> 0
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His HP had gone down during his fight, which confirmed his thoughts on how it worked. So, it didn\'t hurt to add 2 extra points to it.
Kyle wanted to have a feel of his Agility increase but eventually decided to do so the next day.
"Good night, System. Wake me up by 7 am," he decided so he could get enough rest, even if it was for only seven hours.
Kyle, exhausted from the night\'s events, eventually drifted off to sleep.
And so, the night passed quietly, the dormitory settling into a peaceful stillness. Outside, the academy\'s grounds were bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, a serene contrast to the chaos and excitement of the underground arena. The future was uncertain, but for now, Kyle could rest, gathering his strength for the battles and adventures yet to come.
He didn\'t know that as he slept, he was being observed. His progress, will and determination were all being watched. Great responsibilities lay on his head, those affecting billions of lives!