Before the Fall: Rise of the Apocalypse King
Chapter 40: The Queen’s First Gamble

Chapter 40: The Queen’s First Gamble

After having a deep inner talk with herself about becoming the queen of this new, power-hungry world... Aiko suddenly stopped.

Reality hit her hard.

She had nothing.

No money.

No big friends.

No support.

She was just a regular prostitute who somehow came back in time—with future knowledge, yes—but still the same old her.

It felt like someone had poured a whole bucket of ice water over her head.

She blinked slowly, feeling the truth hit harder with every breath.

She had no strong backup. No secret fortune. No hidden skills.

What now? Hook up with a rich prince from the UAE?

Where would she even find one? Walk into a palace and ask for a sugar daddy?

Marry a top businessman? No chance.

Her manager was just a low-level guy with zero big connections.

What about the stock market?

Nope. She didn’t even understand the basics.

Crypto? Same story. Total zero in that field.

With a frustrated sigh, Aiko flopped back on her bed. Arms wide. Eyes staring at the ceiling.

"Maybe I’m just meant to die again. Just like last time."

She stared at the wall blankly.

"If you’re going to send me back in time, God, at least give me something useful."

"Like Obito’s Sharingan from Naruto," she mumbled. "A pocket world to store stuff..."

"Or a space ring like those cultivators have. Or maybe invisibility. Anything!"

She covered her face and groaned.

"Why, God? Why’d you send me back if I’m just going to die again? This time out of stress!"

Her stomach growled loudly.

"Alright, alright. Let’s eat first. Then cry later."

Dragging herself to the kitchen, she grabbed the old frying pan to make some spaghetti.

But the pan was so old... the iron was rusted at the edges.

She stared at it and sighed again.

"I don’t even need zombies to kill me. This rusty pan could finish me off just fine."

She ran her fingers over the handle gently.

It was the same pan Maze had gifted her on her 18th birthday. She had been using it ever since.

Then suddenly, a thought flashed in her mind.

Her eyes lit up.

She dropped the pan on the counter and rushed to her room.

She opened her dusty old laptop and began typing quickly.

She searched for that same company again—

But this time, she focused on one thing...

The merger news.

If Aiko remembered correctly, around this time of the year... a big buzz had started online.

It was about a company announcing a major merger.

But the twist?

It was fake news.

Still, people believed it—just for a while—and during that short hype, the company’s crypto coin shot up like a rocket.

She quickly typed the name into her laptop.

Found it.

The same coin. The same moment.

Her heart skipped a beat. Her lips slowly curled into a wide grin.

Then she started laughing. Loud, crazy, out-of-nowhere laughter.

"Ha... ha ha ha ha ha!!"

She couldn’t stop.

"God... You cheeky little guy... You really do want me to become the queen of this world, huh?"

She leaned back, still smiling like she’d won the lottery.

"You’re such a nice guy, really. If you ever come down to Earth, come visit me. I’ll make sure you have a very good time," she said in a playful, teasing voice, winking at the ceiling.

Without wasting another second, she opened her demat account.

She didn’t even hesitate.

All her savings—what little she had—she placed it all on the coin.

A big, bold bet.

"This is it," she whispered to herself, staring at the screen. "Either I become a queen... or I die the same death again."

Her finger hovered over the button for a second.

Click.

"It’s done."

---

That night, around 1 a.m., the front door creaked open.

Maze was home.

She used her spare key and walked in slowly, trying not to make noise. But her steps were heavy.

Aiko woke up with a start. Her instincts were sharp now—too much tension in her new life.

She rubbed her eyes and stepped out of her room, yawning.

But the yawn died on her lips.

Her eyes widened.

Maze was standing there—tired, bruised, with her makeup smudged and her shoulders slumped.

Aiko’s sleep disappeared in a flash.

"What the hell... Maze!?" she gasped, rushing forward. "What happened? Who did this to you?"

Maze raised her hand, as if waving the question away.

"It’s nothing, Aiko. Just some people showing their true colors... the beast they hide during the day comes out at night."

Her voice was calm, like she’d said this a hundred times before.

Aiko’s eyes filled with worry. "No. Don’t do that. Don’t brush it off. Tell me what happened."

Maze smiled softly. "I told you, it’s nothing. I got paid well. That’s enough."

Then she turned and started walking to the bathroom.

Aiko didn’t follow.

She just stood there, frozen.

Watching her.

The bruises. The pain in her walk. The quiet sadness in her eyes.

She clenched her fists.

Her chest felt tight.

Maze... the only person who ever held her hand when she was down...

Who gave her food when she was starving...

Who hugged her when she cried at night.

Who became more of a mother than her real one ever was.

Aiko looked at the dim hallway as Maze disappeared behind the bathroom door.

"I swear..." she whispered under her breath. "I’ll save you, Maze."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but they didn’t fall.

Her voice was steady.

"You were there for me when no one else was. You held me together. You saw worth in me when I saw nothing in myself."

Now it was her turn.

Even if she had to cheat... steal...

Even if she had to make a deal with the devil himself—

Aiko was ready.

She would rise.

Not just for herself...

But for Maze.

-----------

Morning sunlight slipped through the half-open curtains, casting a warm glow over the small dining table. Aiko stirred the tea in her cup, her mind racing even as her face stayed calm. Maze sat across from her, sipping her coffee quietly, dressed in her usual oversized shirt and a tired smile.

Aiko glanced at her, then looked down at her plate.

She decided to ease into it.

"So... the weather’s nice today, huh?" she said casually.

Maze blinked, then chuckled softly. "Really? You’re starting with the weather?"

Aiko smiled back, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Her fingers tapped the table nervously.

"Maze..." she began slowly, "what if I told you... that the world we know is going to end?"

Maze raised an eyebrow but didn’t laugh or brush it off. She waited.

"I mean it," Aiko continued, her tone serious now. "Everything—our cities, our systems, our way of life—it’s all going to fall apart. Soon."

A beat of silence passed between them.

Then Aiko looked her in the eye.

"Do you trust me?"

Maze didn’t even hesitate.

She reached across the table and held Aiko’s hand.

"I trust you completely," she said with a warm, sincere smile. "You’re not just my friend, Aiko. You’re like... my sister. If you say something, I believe it. And if you ever need anything—anything at all—you can count on me."

Aiko felt her chest tighten. Her eyes burned. The strength and love in Maze’s words made her feel both grateful and guilty at the same time.

They got up and hugged, holding each other like true sisters who had only each other in the entire world.

Aiko pulled back slightly and wiped her eyes.

"I have a plan," she said. "There’s this crypto coin... it’s about to skyrocket. I used my savings to buy some already, but... if I can invest more, we’ll be set. At least financially."

Maze didn’t even blink. She stood up, walked to her room, and came back with her mobile phone and transfered all her savings into her account.

"My savings," she said. "Take it."

Aiko’s mouth opened in surprise. "Maze, are you sure? What if I’m wrong? What if this fails?"

Maze smiled. "Then we’ll be broke together. I won’t blame you."

She walked toward the door, grabbing her bag for work.

"I’ve lived with bruises and pain all these years, Aiko. Money was never my salvation—you were. So do whatever you need to. I believe in you."

Then she left, just like that.

Aiko stood frozen for a moment, holding the envelope, staring at the closed door.

Her heart was pounding.

Maze’s trust—so complete, so pure—felt like a weight and a blessing at the same time.

She sat back at her laptop and took a deep breath.

With zero hesitation, she bought the coin again.

All in.

Every coin she can buy, with every dollar she had.

Not just hers, but Maze’s too.

And this time, she didn’t feel afraid.

------

Twenty days passed.

The world hadn’t ended—yet—but for Aiko, everything had changed.

The fake news spread just as she remembered. People bought into the hype. The coin exploded in value.

And Aiko?

She was now a billionaire—even after taxes and deductions.

The number on the screen was real.

She touched it. Refreshed it five times. It didn’t change.

It was real.

She fell back into her chair, letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

They were safe.

She now had the power to protect Maze. To rise. To take control of their fates.

And most of all...

Her dream—the dream of becoming the Empress of the new world—was back on track.

She smiled, fire gleaming in her eyes.

Now the real game would begin.

==============

Author’s Note:

Roman has chosen the dark path. The world will burn again... but under **his** rule this time.

If you’re enjoying the chaos, don’t forget to:

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Your support helps the story rise — and ensures Roman doesn’t come after *me* for stopping. 😂

See you in the next Chapter!

—Author