"Well, well, what do we have here? A new face in my humble establishment. Step in, don't be shy."

Mason Schmidt, the man I've been so eager to meet, greets me with a deep, resonant voice that echoes slightly in the spacious room.

"It's an interesting place you've got here," I say, glancing around at the dimly lit interior filled with an eclectic mix of patrons and mysterious artifacts.

"Heh, 'interesting' doesn't even start to cover it," Mason chuckles, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Le Manoir Sombre isn't your regular dive bar. It's where you find things that go bang in more ways than one."

His words linger in the air, hinting at the hidden world beneath the surface.

I reach into my bag and pull out the Demon Orb, which inside the glass box, placing it on the counter between us. Its eerie glow casts flickering shadows across Mason's face.

"I heard this is the place to deal with stuff like this. Can you help purify it?" I ask.

Mason pauses, placing the wine glass he has been polishing on the counter before focusing on the orb. His eyes narrow slightly as he sees the glowing object, a knowing smirk playing across his lips.

"Well, well, what do we have here? An [A] ranked demon orb, huh? You've got good taste, or maybe just good luck. Where'd you get your hands on this beauty?"

"It's a long story. Anyway, can you handle it?" I reply.

Mason grins. He then touches the glass box and it glows, revealing red runes.

-Bling!

A sound was heard as the glass box disappeared. He then takes the orb and examine it closely.

"Handle? Handling the darkness is what I do best. But why would you want to purify this?"

"It's simple; I want the magic of this orb as I want to become a Manaficial," I explain.

Every Monster Orb has two layers—the outer layer holds the soul, while the inner contains the type of magic the monster possessed. Purifying the "Soul" part will prevent me from being possessed or having my soul corrupted.

"I see, but purifying this won't come cheap—or easy."

"Name your price."

"You've got guts—I like that." Mason's eyes gleam with intrigue. "Here's my offer: do me a small favor, and I'll purify your orb and more. Do we have a deal?"

I nod, "Deal."

Mason's expression remains unreadable as he leans closer, his presence almost overwhelming. "A duel. Prove you can wield the power you bear. Impress me, and I'll cleanse your orb."

I gulp. A duel? Against him? This was not what I anticipated. I expected a hefty price in Camilliums or a binding contract.

NEW QUEST! Quest: Survive Mason.

Reward: 100 Stat Points.

My nerves tighten. Mason Schmidt is no ordinary human nor a typical demon. He is the Vice Leader of the demon factions, a being of immense power, second only to Erebos in strength and cunning. According to the web novel, his capabilities are such that he can decimate entire galaxies with minimal effort.

After Camille sealed Erebos, Mason does not seek vengeance. Instead, he disguises himself as a human and opens this hidden bar, which doubles as a front for the black market. His ability to stay under the radar is due, in part, to his skill at concealing his demonic magic energy.

Demons are known for lacking allegiance to their kin, and Mason is no exception. He and Erebos rarely see eye to eye, and he is pleased when Camille sealed Erebos away.

"So, what do you say?" Mason presses, snapping me back to the present.

Crap. This is not good. Knowing how strong he is, I'll automatically lose. There's no way that a Manaless like me can win against him.

Should I try convincing him to for another way? It's worth a shot since Mason is reasonable for a demon.

"Wait, how about an alternate way? I'm a Manaless, and you'll easily win against me," I suggest.

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"Don't worry; I'll go easy on you."

Mason's reassurance doesn't assure me much. Compared to other demons in the web novel, Mason stays true to his words. But he is still a demon; demons are pretty unpredictable.

But, if this duel is how he wants me to purify that demon orb, I have no choice but to accept it. Whether I win or not, it is what it is.

"Let's do it," I say.

Mason grins. "Now you're talking."

-Flick!

The bar's ambiance transforms dramatically with a casual flick of his fingers.

-Rumble!

The sound resonates through the room as the center of 'Le Manoir Sombre' shifts. I watch, both fascinated and apprehensive, as the floor mechanisms activate.

The bar itself starts rotating slowly, revealing a hidden fighting area beneath. At the same time, the seats and tables are mechanically pushed to the edges of the room, clearing a vast space in the middle.

The walls flicker and adjust, enhancing the lighting and turning the once cozy bar into a well-lit arena.

Mason has prepared for all manner of secretive dealings and encounters, with the bar not just a facade for drinks but a front for more covert activities—like the one I am about to engage in.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

I stand ready in the new fighting arena, Mason positioned opposite me. His posture is relaxed yet intimidating.

"Ready when you are."

Mason cracks his knuckles, curling them into fists.

I nod in response, pulling out both of 'Galahad's Judgement.'

"I'm ready," I affirm, my grip tightening on the weapons.

Mason gestures with a hand and a smirking nod that suggests I take the first move—an apparent underestimation of my abilities, likely due to my Manaless status.

Determined to prove him wrong, I raise my guns and aim directly at him.

-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound of gunfire fills the arena, but to my astonishment, the bullets merely bounce off his skin, clinking harmlessly to the floor as if they strike steel.

"Is that all?" Mason asks, unfazed.

"Nope," I reply, charging forward to close the distance between us.

I aim one of my guns directly at his sunglasses and fire.

-Bang!

His head jerks slightly upward from the impact, but it is barely a reaction compared to what I'd expected.

[Gravity's Gambit]

I leap into the air, pointing my guns backward, and fire.

-Bang! Bang!

The recoil boosts my forward momentum, and I spin mid-air, extending my leg for a high kick aimed at his chest.

"Hah!"

-Clank!

My foot connects with what feels like a wall of iron. Mason doesn't flinch or stagger. This dude is built differently, indeed.

I land smoothly and deliver a swift kick to his head.

-Clank!

Again, he remains unfazed, as if my attacks are mere nuisances rather than threats.

I press the barrel of my gun right against his forehead and fire three quick shots.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

-Clank! Clank! Clank!

The bullets might as well have been rubber for all their effect. Mason's skin doesn't even mark.

Then, without warning, Mason moves his arm.

Reacting instinctively, I jumped back, but his motion was not an attack. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette.

-Flick!

A purple flame sparks to life with a casual flick of his other hand, illuminating his face in an eerie glow. He uses it to light his cigarette and then places it between his lips.

"Is that all?"

Mason asks again, now blowing a stream of smoke into the air. His calm demeanor and the ease with which he handles my attacks only serve to underline the vast gulf in our power levels.

Catching my breath, I holster one of 'Galahad's Judgement' and stare at Mason, trying to calculate my next move amidst the challenge.

His carefree attitude only adds to the pressure.

"You're tough, I'll give you that," I concede, trying to gauge his reaction.

Mason smirked, the smoke curling from his lips as he exhaled.

"Tough isn't the half of it, kid. But I appreciate the…workout."

I can tell he is being sarcastic. Looks like direct attacks are futile, I’ll shift tactics, focusing on agility and using the environment to my advantage.

“Activate!"

-Tick-Tock!

With activating the 'Chrono Pendant,' time around me slows. However, Mason's keen gaze follows my movement, his amusement apparent.

It seems he is either immune to the time distortion or just too powerful for it to affect him significantly.

I sprint towards one of the arena's pillars, gaining speed. I plan to disorient him, to create a blur of motion that might open up a vulnerability.

"Still playing games?" Mason's voice echoes through the slowed time, taunting.

Ignoring his taunts, I aim both barrels of 'Galahad's Judgment' at the chain supporting the massive chandelier above the arena.

-Bang! Bang!

-Clank!

The chain snaps, sending the heavy fixture hurtling down towards Mason. To my surprise, he looks up, showing no intention of dodging.

-Crash!

The chandelier shatters upon impact, enveloping him in a dense cloud of debris and smoke. Seizing the opportunity, I charge forward, guns blazing.

[Stalwart Advance]

-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

As the bullets tear through the smoke, a sudden purple glow ignites from within the haze.

-BOOM!

A massive explosion erupts, purple flames roaring across the arena. The shockwave is overwhelming. I halt and shield my eyes from the blast.

As the smoke clears, Mason emerges completely unscathed. His calm demeanor remains untouched, as if the chandelier was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

"Alright, now it's time to stop fooling around," he states coolly, snuffing his cigarette underfoot.

I gulp, the real challenge is just beginning.

-Fwoosh!

In an instant, Mason's form blurs, and he reappears right in front of me before I can react; his hand swings in a wide arc, connecting sharply with my face.

"AGH!"

The force of the slap sends me tumbling backward, and I roll uncontrollably until I crash into one of the arena's pillars with a resounding boom.

The impact jolts through me, and for a moment, everything is pain and disorientation. The slap isn't just a slap—it is a blow that packs the power of a wrecking ball.

It is, by far, the most painful thing I've experienced, surpassing even the stab wound I received during Maurice's first training session.

A simple slap from Mason is enough to throw my world into chaos.

I struggle to open my eyes, my vision swimming into blurry shapes and lights.

Carefully, I touch my cheek where Mason has struck me; it throbs intensely, a stark reminder of his strength.

Using the pillar for support, I slowly push myself back up to my feet, the room spinning slightly as I do so.

"So, you survived that, huh?"

"..."

I remain silent, the pain on my cheek too overwhelming for words.

-Slam!

Suddenly, a loud slam echoes through the room.