Child of Destiny

Chapter 1713: Morax, The Wise and Cunning

...

”Waiting? It seems like you have been expecting me to arrive,” said Shin as he continued to walk forward.

”Paimon mentioned that the greatest variable may appear in this place. After all, you always appear whenever there is a big event concerning the Evil Faction and Righteous Churches,” replied Morax as he slightly stretched his body.

Shin squinted his eyes as he heard the name ʼPaimonʼ as he recalled that it was one of the strategists of the Pandemonium Descendants alongside ʼBelialʼ.

Morax might not be able to see the expression that Shin was making due to the hood of the cloak and the mask that the latter was wearing. But he could still tell what the other side was thinking based on the small movements that they were making.

”It looks like you know quite a lot about us. I guess Diablo do have found a way around to bypass the system contract he has signed with the organization when he has left,” he said before quickly adding. ”Well, that is not the big deal since what you know about us is most likely the general information that anyone can get due to the Sword Godʼs infiltration at that time.”

”Our operations and other plans are something that canʼt be shared with others anyway,” he added before raising his stone spear and resting it on his shoulder. ”Letʼs start this already. I am sure that the guy inside is about to finish his job there.”

”Or you can also stay there and not do anything as I am too lazy to fight right now. I still have better things to do after this operation, letʼs not waste our time and energy with each other,” he continued.

Shin tilted his head to the side as he felt that this guy was quite interesting compared to the other members of the Pandemonium Descendants that he had met so far, particularly those from the Seven Sin Devils of the Pandemonium Troupe.

”Too bad, Iʼm quite excited to fight someone from the Pandemonium Troupe who is not a Sin Devil,” he said.

Morax slightly curved his lips into a grin as he asked. ”But arenʼt you quite in a hurry? And I also donʼt think you have the time to deal with me when your partner is being cased by that crazy woman.”

Shin raised his head a little when he heard those words, suspecting that these guys from the Demonic Churches and Corrupted Cult were somewhat ʼgettingʼ along with each other when they were supposed to be batting heads from what he had learned about them.

Setting that thought aside, Shin shrugged his shoulder. ”I trust her abilities, so there is no need to worry about her.”

Sensing that Shin was getting ready to fight, Morax unexpectedly said something that caught the other party off guard. ”I donʼt like doing something troublesome as I find it a waste of energy. But I also canʼt let you disturb our plans once again. How about making a deal with me?”

Shin could not help but pause a little while looking at the other party with a strange expression under his mask. He was confused at first but later realized as he recalled what type of person he was facing according to the information that they had.

– ”That guy is a strange one. He likes to make a deal with everyone whenever he is doing something. But donʼt let your guard down when you encounter him as he is still one of the guys with the strongest battle capabilities among the members of the troupe aside.” –

Recalling the comment that Diablo had given about Morax, Shin stared at the other party before gesturing. ”Letʼs hear it out.”

Seeing that Shin wanted to hear what he wanted to say, Morax became even sure that Diablo had indeed disclosed some information about the organization, particularly the members that they had to be wary of.

But it was not a big deal as Zero and some people had launched an attack on one of their main bases, where they had gotten similar information about the Pandemonium Descendants and disclosed it to the special portal meant for the top-ranking gods of the game.

Morax thought for a moment before speaking. ”It is a simple deal. Letʼs just bet whether I will let pass these doors without obstruction if I win or you will stop meddling with this affair if I lose.”

”Sir! But thatʼs-…” one of his men behind tried to say something, but Morax just raised his hand to reject their words. ”It is fine. I will take responsibility for whatever happens. Moreover, this is not our main mission anyway. It is just a side job that I have taken out of boredom.”

”As for Azazel-… Well, my contract with him only mentioned to delay anyone who tries to enter the tomb hall until he finishes his business inside.”

”He said that it would not take that long as he is only planning to pick up something inside. But given that he still has not come out up until now, something unexpected must have happened inside,” he added as he waved to his subordinates to reassure them that it was not a big deal.

”Azazel? One of those unique existences within the Pandemonium Troupe? I guess this is not going to be simple,” mumbled Shin as he heard that there was another member of the Troupe, with an even powerful fighting capability beyond that door.

”Anyway, my contract with that guy is about to expire after a few more minutes anyway, so it is not a breach of contract even if I let this guy pass,” said Morax as he turned to Shin.

”What are the rules?” asked Shin as he also found it a little convenient, especially when Cloe was still being chased by the members of the Corrupted Cult.

”I donʼt want to show much of my abilities due to the orders given to us, so letʼs make this a little simple,” started Morax before introducing the conditions of the bet. ”Three, letʼs make this three-bout bet.”

”We are going to attack each other at the same time with whatever skills or abilities we have. There is no limit and anything is fine.”

”The results can either be a win, a lose, or a draw. The one who has the greatest number of wins after three bouts will be the winner. But if we have an equal number of wins or if our exchanges end up in a draw, then I will admit defeat since I am the one who proposed it.”

”How does it sound? Quite favorable to you, donʼt you think?” he asked as he spread his arms, seemingly inviting Shin to accept.

But contrary to what showed on the surface, Shin could see that it was more complicated than anyone could think.

The rule only indicated that either side only had to win two points for them to win. It was simple enough, yet also somewhat complicated at the same time.

The exchange alone during each round required a lot of psychological warfare. Either side would have to use a skill strong enough to either repel the attack of the opposing party or overwhelm them altogether.

If the skill that the one side had thrown was not powerful enough, then they would be most likely to lose that bout in an instant. This was why going all-out and throwing the strongest skill under their arsenal was the most logical choice to avoid such an accident.

This was no different fighting each other with all they had while setting aside all the unnecessary steps such as gauging the strength of their opponents, reading their habits, setting up the rhythm during the battle, and such.

The trickier part was what came during the exchanges.

If Shin took the first exchange half-heartedly, then he would most likely get killed in that spot. But if he wasted his most powerful skills in the process while his opponent used their strength just barely to negate that power, then he would be in trouble for the next two rounds.

What made it even more difficult was he had no idea what kind of skills or how strong the opposing party truly was.

Without exact information about the opponent, Shin was immediately put in a difficult position, especially when the latter had most likely studied him and his style as they considered him as one of their greatest obstacle and the main target of elimination.

The deal might sound favorable to him. But in truth, it was meant to push him into a corner where he had no choice but to retaliate with all his might.

Given that he could not waste too much of his strength or skills against this opponent, especially after hearing that there was another member of the Pandemonium Troupe right inside the tomb hall, Shin had to approach this matter with full caution.

”No. It is not just that. This so-called deal is already the start of the psychological warfare by itself. Then, did he purposely mention Azazel to affect my mind?” mumbled Shin as he started to realize why Morax was one of the trickiest to deal with within the Pandemonium Troupe. ”His title as the Wise Demon doesnʼt do him justice. The Cunning Demon fits him better.”

Just like how the devil tempted its victims with its sugar-coated words, pulling them into a seemingly ʼfavorableʼ deal, Morax was hiding his evil intention with his ʼreasonableʼ offer.

Shin scrutinized Morax with his sharp gaze while the latter showed nothing but ʼsincerityʼ when he presented the deal.

”A trap hidden behind such words,” Shin raised his brows as he saw Morax in a new light. ”Interesting.”

”Did you say three bouts? Alright, letʼs do that,” he said, accepting the condition of the other party.

Morax could not help but raise his brows when he heard Shin accepting the deal that easily, especially when he could tell that the latter could see through his façade.

But that did not last that long as he started grinning widely. ”You are truly interesting. Then letʼs start.”

*Ding*

Right after he said those words, a system contract appeared before Shin and Morax, laying out all the conditions and rules of the bet.

...…