It was like a scene out of an old Western movie. Dust blew across the field. The tall brown grass rustled in the wind. Belaphorde stood at the gate, armed with his Aegis shield and dressed in a logo-plastered shirt, his untamed black hair hanging low over his brow. On the other side stood the Mask in their hoodie and white mask with the purple streak. She held her iconic metal nightstick and had a knife strapped to her thigh. Behind her sat Tobi with his hands tied up around a metal pole. One of his cheeks was swollen red but was otherwise unharmed.

“See, I said he’d show up! He has the money, I’m sure.” Tobi squirmed in his bonds.

The Mask crossed her arms, sizing up her opponent. “Omen Guide, where’s your retainer? You are not stupid enough to show up unarmed.”

“It’s good to see that you have recovered from our last duel. I think we both prefer an even match. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. What does someone like Tobi owe the Skulls?”

The Mask widened her stance and gripped her weapon. She did not like Belaphorde’s cold attitude.

“No matter,” Belaphorde continued. “I have a deal to offer you since you were honorable enough to step forward and declare your intentions to dule instead of striking my back when you had the chance I’m offering you the same courtesy.”

Tobi laughed nervously. “Bel, what are you doing? Did you go insane during your time in the city? Say you are joking and put forward your real offer. That ride should be worth something, right?”

The Mask raised her nightstick at Tobi to signal to him to shut his trap. Tobi flinched and tried to hide himself behind the pole.

“A duel until the other person cannot fight back. If you win, you can take my artifact,” Belaphorde held up the Aegis, “the bike, and these,” he pulled a translucent case with glowing energy cores inside from his pocket. Together it all stacked up to a fortune. “If I win, you will consider whatever debt Tobi has null and void.”

The Mask shook her head. “That’s a great offer, how am I to refuse? Today is my lucky day. I did not realize I’d have my revenge so soon. Too bad Little Big Boss is not here. Show me what you got, Omen Guide.”

With the terms decided they took a few steps towards the most open part of the factory grounds. A dusty patch with remnants of rail tracks in the ground. Tobi was sweating, his brain could not compute the situation. He was too dehydrated to deal with his life being put into a duel between an Esper, someone with superhuman strength, endurance, and that’s not to mention any sicko powers they might have; and a Guide. Just some dude with a healing touch.

Belaphorde knew what he was getting himself into. He was happy he did not have to fight more people. The Mask being the one here made things easier. That’s not to say that the battle wouldn’t be tough. He needed to get close and take her out with his draining Guiding. Any kicks and punches he could pull would not hurt her. She was larger and had every physical advantage and weaponry. He’d have to surprise her with the shield and grab her wrist.

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“You are one crazy son-of-a-bitch, and I will never forgive you for the people you have led to their deaths under your leadership or my friends that you have hurt. But I will give you this, you got some balls for a Guide.” The Skull Girl dragged out her knife, sparks flying around the metal.

Belaphorde clenched his fists, he had one pearl of power ready to slam into the Aegis. “I am not a fucking bedwarmer-Guide,” he growled through his teeth and dashed towards the Skull.

Belaphorde swung his armored arm at the girl’s head. She struck him away with her baton and went for a jab towards his gut. Bel rolled to the side, his arm throbbing.

“Good. You got some moves. Show me more of what you got.”

The Mask went on the offensive, throwing jabs and punches to test Belaphorde. Bel did his best to dodge but was too focused on avoiding the knife to respond to a swift knee to the gut, knocking the wind out of him.

“Done already? Do you need to call a friend?” She mocked and juggled her knife.

She then took the knife and held it against the nightstick. The two weapons sparked as a charge built up between them. Belaphorde slammed the core into his shield. The crevices and cracks lit up with magical energy. The Mask flicked her weapons forward and sent out a bolt of lightning. The lightning raged against the magical barrier and bounced back at her, channeling through her knife and down to the ground. A normal person might have been fried, but the Esper partly absorbed the strike as the magical properties of the lightning ate through her mana. She was winded and dizzy. Belaphorde pushed forward and the shield continued to channel the barrier and suppressing the Esper’s mana. The Mask blindly struck out with the knife towards Belaphorde who jumped at the chance to grab her wrist.

With skin contact established, he opened the floodgates and began Guiding. The Mask thrashed and hit Belaphorde with a weak hit of her baton at his ribs. Belaphorde held on. He had made an S-rank fall asleep before. The Mask was already filled with ichor, all of which evaporated in a flash. Her mana was healed but physically she was spent. She dropped the knife and fell to her knees before lying down in the dirt. The last thing she saw before everything went dark was Belaphored’s cold stare.

Belaphorde looked up to the sky and breathed. The bonedry bust mixed with sunshine was rejuvenating. Adrenaline made way for dopamine. He had succeeded. A cool feeling spread across his chest like fresh mint in his lungs. The “burnout” felt far away.

“You did it? Belaphorde you mad man I can’t believe what I just saw! Now come and help me out.” Tobi tugged on the ropes.

Belaphorde picked up the Mask’s knife and with a bit of effort sawed through the bonds. Tobi made a show of rubbing his wrists.

“Thanks for saving me. When the whole world was against me I knew I could count on you. Now let’s get out of here.” Tobi took a few steps before Belaphorde made a gesture to stop him.

“Tobi, where do you think you are going?”

“We are leaving for the city together, right? We can’t stay here.”

“Tobi, “we”’ are not going anywhere.”

“What do you mean? Come on, let’s go.” Tobi laughed nervously.

“Tobi, take these cores and the Skull’s jeep. Sell them. Go to the airport and leave. You were just someone falling down a rabbit hole of bad decisions. You still have your legal documents and half of a degree. Use your privileges to become someone new.” Belaphorde walked up and put the case with cores in his hands. “I’m deleting your number and never want to see you again.”

Tobi was dumbstruck and continued to laugh. “You are not serious? You come all this way to throw me away? Stop with this dumb prank and tell me the real plan.”

“My debts to you are paid. Your life is in your hands now.” Belaphorde turned and began walking away.

“You changed Belaphorde! I thought we were close! When did you become a hitman? You need me. I’m the only one you have left from the old Guild except Vigo.” Tobi pleaded. “We need each other. Prove that you are still the number one guy in the world, someone people know they can rely on.”

Belaphorde picked up his biker helmet.

“Don’t leave me Bel. I’ll be hunted down and killed! Don’t throw me to the wolves. My death will be on your hands Bel!”

Belaphorde got on the bike and shouted back; “you have already tried that line.”

Tobi’s shouts were drowned out by the engine. He felt light and a little bittersweet. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling or thinking. Words eluded him. The stories he had read didn’t fit into any narrative he could recognize.

Up ahead on the road, a familiar giant panther stood waiting. Belaphorde stopped, her feline eyes staring daggers as she spoke in his mind.

“I’ve come to pick you up.”