Meanwhile, on Turtle Mountain, after tightening the mouth of the storage bag, Merna's expression showed faint satisfaction as he nodded.
"I thought I was dealing with a reckless fool, but it turns out you're far more perceptive than expected. This mortal named Axel has no supernatural training, yet his body is hardened like forged steel, strong enough to rival enhanced abilities. Someone like that should be under my command."
He paused, thinking carefully.
"I already have two disciples, but neither is suitable. The question is, what role should I give this one?"
Merna narrowed his eyes.
"One of them lacks discipline, unstable and cruel, obsessed with violence. The other is clever to a fault, always twisting logic, always arguing. Neither can lead. Intelligence without restraint is just as dangerous as madness."
He exhaled slowly.
"But Axel… he is different. No powers, yet unbreakable. Sharp mind, sharp tongue. If refined properly, he might be worth something."
Merna glanced at the bag in his hand.
"If I put him through enough pressure, I could shape him into exactly what I need."
Then suddenly, the weight in his hand dropped.
His expression shifted. He quickly opened the bag.
Inside, the others were still trapped, struggling wildly. But Axel was gone.
Merna's face darkened. He looked up at the sky and roared.
"So you interfere now? You wanted a fair gamble, yet you help him escape? Does he have something special, or are you just afraid of losing?"
"Miss me?"
A burst of flame flickered in front of him, and Axel stepped out casually, grinning.
He looked at Merna, who had been shouting at the sky.
"What is that, calling for backup? Or are you just talking to yourself?"
Merna stared at him in silence.
He tried to understand what he had just seen. Escaping the bag was already impossible for an ordinary person. Appearing from fire made even less sense.
Axel stretched his arms and smirked.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
Merna placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly.
"I underestimated you. That was my mistake. If we had finished that gamble, I might have lost. But it's not too late to try again."
He raised a golden cymbal, letting it spin slowly in his hand.
"I don't know how you escaped before. So let's try something simpler. If you can escape this, then I will accept the result."
Axel's grin widened.
"Another bet? Now you're speaking my language."
He tilted his head.
"But let's make it worth something. If I win, you release the people you captured. If I lose, you can name your price."
Merna shook his head immediately.
"No. The stakes must be equal. If you lose, you serve me. That is my condition. In return, you may choose only one person to take back."
He lifted the bag slightly.
"Choose carefully."
Axel didn't hesitate.
"I'll take the Dragon Lady. The other one can wait."
He cracked his knuckles and smirked.
"And don't worry, we can always gamble again later. You're not exactly hard to beat."
Without waiting, Axel jumped into the air.
"Go on. Throw it."
Merna frowned but did not hesitate. He tossed the golden cymbal forward.
It expanded instantly, sealing Axel inside.
Then he reinforced it, pressing it between two massive rock formations.
Inside, Axel raised his fist and struck the inner surface.
A deafening boom echoed out.
Merna flinched. That sound alone was enough to shake him.
Even powerful weapons had never produced that kind of impact against the cymbal.
Inside, Axel covered his ears briefly.
"Yeah, that's solid."
He flexed his fingers.
"Didn't even dent it. Not bad."
He smirked again.
"But that's not really the problem, is it?"
He took a step forward.
Outside, Merna watched carefully.
Then, without warning, flames flickered in front of him.
Axel stepped out again, completely unharmed.
Merna's eyes widened. He turned to the cymbal, then back to Axel.
"You… you won?"
His voice dropped, anger creeping in.
"How is that possible? How do you keep escaping? No one beats me at this. No one."
His expression twisted.
"I understand people. I understand patterns, decisions, outcomes. That's why I always win. So how did you win?"
His body began to change.
Wind roared. Thunder cracked.
His small form expanded into a massive figure, towering over Axel.
"You shouldn't be able to do this."
He grabbed a spiked mace and pointed it forward.
"Unless someone is helping you."
He raised his voice.
"Is that it? Are you being protected? Is that why you keep winning?"
Without warning, he swung the mace down at Axel's head.
Axel didn't move.
He raised one hand and caught it.
The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, but Axel stood firm.
He looked up, smiling slightly.
"You're still stuck on that?"
He tilted his head.
"You keep calling me your master, like that explains anything. If you really believed you could surpass him, why are you still using him as your excuse?"
He tightened his grip on the weapon.
"There's no right or wrong here. Just strength."
His eyes sharpened.
"If I'm stronger than whoever you worship, then why wouldn't people follow me instead?"
He shoved the mace aside.
"Simple logic."
Axel stepped forward, his voice dropping.
"So here's the real question."
He looked up at the towering figure without any hesitation.
"If I'm stronger than you…"
A faint grin returned.
"Why are you still standing?"
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