The doctor's extra eyes widened as the spectral cards fanned out. Behind me, the Joker detached itself from the arc and drifted upward, coming to rest behind my head like a floating crown. It began to hum, a low digital vibration that signaled the "game" was active.
"Watch," I whispered, my voice sounding more certain than I intended.
I reached into the shimmering fan and pulled: King of Hearts, King of Clubs, 7 of Hearts, 7 of Diamonds, and the 6 of Spades.
Instead of just hovering, the five cards responded to my intent. They solidified, their holographic glow sharpening into a physical weight. Under my command, the cards elongated and softened, turning into glowing, semi-transparent strips—spectral bandages that whipped through the air. They lashed around my right hand, binding my knuckles and wrist in a tight, reinforced wrap of pure potential. Much like a sorcerer binding a weapon for a strike, I had turned the "hand" I was dealt into a physical extension of my fist.
The machine began to hum in response. In my mind's eye, the math started to stack. I could see the digital numbers populating the air, invisible to the others but blindingly clear to me.
* Base Strength: My toddler's body provided 12.
* The Chips (Base Power): A Two Pair hand adds a flat +20 to the chips. Added to the face values (10 + 10 + 7 + 7 = 34), my base power surged from a measly 12 to a solid 66.
* The Mult (Multipliers): The base Two Pair provides a 2x multiplier. Then, the Joker flared, its +4 Mult snapping into the equation.
* Total Multiplier: 6x.
Total attack power:
* 66×6=326
Suddenly, the Joker behind my head erupted. In Balatro, the card shakes and catches fire when the score hits a certain threshold. Here, a wreath of blue-white flames wreathed the spectral jester, casting long, flickering shadows against the reinforced concrete.
Ting. Ting. Ting-ting-ting!
The sound of a digital jackpot echoed in the room. The bandages around my fist didn't just vibrate; they compressed, forming a visible distortion of space.
"Takeru-kun, wait—!" the doctor started, realizing the energy output was climbing faster than his equipment could calibrate.
Too late. I stepped forward and drove my bound fist into the padded target.
BOOM.
The impact wasn't a dull thud. It was a sharp, explosive crack that sent a shockwave rippling through the floor. The heavy-duty machine, built to withstand professional heroes, groaned as the target was shoved back to its limit. The spectral bandages shattered upon impact, dissolving into a cloud of digital embers.
The monitor flickered, the numbers spinning like a slot machine before locking into the final result: 396.
For a pro hero, it was nothing. But for a four-year-old? I had just multiplied my physical strength by 33 times in a single second.
The room was deafeningly silent. Kaito's jaw had dropped so low he looked like he'd forgotten how to breathe. Aina's hands were pressed over her mouth, her eyes wide with a mix of terror and awe.
The doctor stared at the smoking padding of the machine. He slowly looked down at his hovering notepad, which had stopped writing.
"A multiplier effect based on card combinations," he muttered, his voice trembling. "And the Joker... it acts as a permanent modifier. Takeru-kun, you aren't just 'strong.' You are a variable that changes the math of a fight."
He stamped the registration form with a heavy thud.
* Name: Taiko Takeru
* Quirk: Gambler's Anomaly
* Official Rank: High-Tier Emitter (Potential: S-Rank)
As we walked out, Kaito finally found his voice, hoisting me onto his shoulders with a roar of pride. "Did you see that, Aina?! He almost broke the machine! My boy is going to be the #1 Hero!"
I looked at my hand, watching the last of the digital embers fade. I had used a basic Two Pair and one Joker. I hadn't even touched the Planets, the Steel Cards, or the Ice Cream.
I realized then that "Hero" was too small a word for what I was becoming. I was the House. And the House always wins.