Cherreads

Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: The Aftermath of Shadows and Smirks

The arena stood still. Silence, thick and absolute, cloaked the battlefield. Every world, every realm, every universe… waited.

Two figures faced each other.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji — a product of the White Room, forged without emotion, flawless in calculation.

Tokuchi Toua — a genius gambler, whose greatest weapon was his mind, not brute strength.

Behind them, a screen illuminated in blood-red letters.

[RESULT: KIYOTAKA AYANOKŌJI – VICTOR]

The roar came instantly. Some screamed in triumph. Others cursed fate. The outcome sent shockwaves across dimensions.

Audience Reactions Across Universes

Classroom of the Elite Universe

Sakayanagi sat with her usual smirk. "He did it. Even among gods and monsters, he remains untouchable."

Horikita clenched her fists. "He never lets anyone see what he's truly capable of. That's his greatest strength."

One Outs Universe

Kojima stared at the screen in disbelief. "He lost… Tokuchi actually lost."

A stunned silence fell over his old teammates and rivals.

Death Note Universe

Light Yagami leaned forward. "That wasn't just a victory. That was domination through absence. He didn't overpower him—he erased the need to."

L nodded. "Fascinating. The cleanest kind of win… no loose ends."

Kaiji Universe

Kaiji gritted his teeth. "Tokuchi went all in and still lost. And that punishment… it's worse than anything I've ever seen."

Tokuchi's Punishment

A black card floated from the sky, inscribed with symbols that pulsed with ancient energy.

The system's voice rang out:

"For your loss, Tokuchi Toua, you shall lose the core of your existence. Your ability to bluff, deceive, strategize, and manipulate. You are no longer a gambler or a tactician. You are now... ordinary."

The card entered his chest.

His usual smirk vanished.

For the first time ever, Tokuchi Toua looked... confused.

"I… can't read people anymore," he muttered.

He staggered, not from pain, but from the absence of control. The man who once played gods with a smirk now stood empty.

Kiyotaka's Victory and Prize

A strand of silver light drifted toward Kiyotaka, calm and deliberate.

"You have been unbound from the White Room's observation. No more surveillance. No more hidden commands. You are free."

His eyes flickered with something faint—perhaps relief—but his expression remained unreadable.

"…I see."

No celebration. No joy. Just quiet clarity.

Bets and Consequences

FortuneGears-9

Ciphernix bet on Ayanokōji

Wager: 12 years of foresight

Outcome: Gains 24 years of predictive vision

"Now the future is twice as clear."

VoxMind-77

Whisperveil bet on Tokuchi

Wager: Memory of their true name

Outcome: Lost identity, becoming a blank entity

"Who… am I?"

One Piece Universe

Doflamingo bet on Tokuchi

Wager: One hidden Celestial Dragon secret

Outcome: Secret exposed

Revolutionaries immediately took notice

My Hero Academia Universe

Hawks bet on Ayanokōji

Wager: His wings for one month

Outcome: Double stamina and speed

"Worth the gamble."

Re:Zero Universe

Roswaal bet on Tokuchi

Wager: Memory of a time loop

Outcome: One past path erased forever

"What was I trying to protect? I can't remember…"

More Audience Reactions

Attack on Titan Universe

Levi: "He didn't use violence. He dismantled him from the inside. That's far more dangerous."

Jujutsu Kaisen Universe

Gojo: "Cold. Clean. Beautifully ruthless."

Code Geass Universe

Lelouch: "He doesn't control the board. He erases the need for one."

Hunter x Hunter Universe

Chrollo: "Tokuchi gambled with destiny. Ayanokōji never needed to."

Final Exchange

Tokuchi, now stripped of his defining abilities, looked at Kiyotaka.

"…What will you do now, Ayanokōji?"

Kiyotaka didn't hesitate.

"…Whatever I want."

He walked away with no celebration, no arrogance. Just purpose.

Announcement Across Universes

The arena lights dimmed and the battle screen went dark, except for one message:

"Two more warriors have faced judgment. One walks free. One walks forgotten. The next contenders are being selected."

Audiences leaned forward in anticipation. Some in dread. Others in excitement.

From distant shadows, new silhouettes emerged.

Another battle was coming.

And this time, it would not be quiet.

More Chapters