Chapter 390

Chapter 390: In the Shadows

Had Mason truly found peace?

Midi wondered silently.

The dark elf roaming gunslinger’s casual mention of his crushing defeat before crowds proved he’d moved beyond past failures without lingering shadows. Midi vaguely recalled Mason as the cold, arrogant guy everyone despised. Now the matured man showed entirely different demeanor.

Not all who failed remained shackled by bitterness—some grew wiser. Though unclear why Mason became slave warrior, their current exchange suggested no irreparable conflict remained. Yet Midi detected blazing battle intent in the gunslinger’s eyes.

“Midi Asreks, you’re no enemy. I should thank you for cutting off my arms—it revealed my true foes.” Mason curled his lips into a frosty smile. “But since we’ve met, let’s fight. To me, you’re like a ghost from the past!”

“Fight if you will. Yet treating me as Grinding Stone risks breaking your own blade,” Midi countered.

Gunfire roared as answer. Twin silver pistols leapt into Mason’s hands like metallic butterflies, unleashing bullet-storm.

After awakening, roaming gunslingers abandoned physical ammunition—their magic now forged bullets. Energy flowed from palms into weapons, materializing as deadly projectiles. These magic bullets surpassed ordinary ones in power while eliminating ammunition needs.

True lethality lay in shifting bullet types and Attributes unpredictably. Explosive rounds might follow freezing shots. When targets armored against fragmentation, armor-piercing bullets tore through defenses. Countless tactical variations became possible.

But current Midi dwarfed his former self against the transformed Mason. With contemptuous snort, golden-red sword light whirled around him like blade whirlwind, grinding incoming bullets to dust amidst metallic screeches. Occasional explosive rounds detonated uselessly—their shockwaves failing to budge the Dragon’s Blood-enhanced warrior.

Midi charged through gunfire barrage like siege engine. His blistering speed denied Mason any retreat. Explosions rocked the arena yet distance kept shrinking.

At arm’s length, Midi’s dual swords descended like crimson axes—Demon Swordman skill: Mountain Shatter.

Mason backflipped desperately. Swords struck stone arena, webbing floor with cracks around massive crater.

“Years passed, yet this is your progress?” Midi taunted. Against old opponent, he employed same old method—overwhelming brute force.

No matter how fierce your attacks are, mine will be fiercer!

This proved true as Mason’s grand-looking assault couldn’t even breach the defense of Midi’s Golden-Red Sword Lights.

With a single skill activation, Midi forced Mason to abandon his offensive and retreat.

"Fine. If you want real combat, taste this, human." True anger ignited in Mason’s eyes at Midi’s challenge.

He snapped his fingers.

Darkness instantly swallowed the arena and surroundings.

Dark elf innate skill: Dark Barrier!

Though effective against surface humans, this couldn’t trick Shaded Realm natives. Wolfspider tribe members instinctively activated Night Vision Abilities.

Yet when their infrared vision engaged, they gasped.

Their heat-sensing sight failed – multiple phantom Masons now filled the Dark Barrier-shrouded arena.

"My original Composite Skill: Illusion Formation. How do you like it?" Mason’s voice surrounded Midi.

"Self-created Composite Skill? I underestimated you." Midi finally stopped his reckless charges in the darkness.

The Illusion Formation targeted all three main Shaded Realm vision types:

1. Infrared vision (dark elf specialty) – neutralized by high-temperature bullets flooding the area with uniform heat signatures.

2. Sonar vision (bats/vampires) – disrupted by sonic bullets creating fake echoes while canceling real footsteps.

3. Scent tracking (magical beasts) – overwhelmed by odor bullets that could poison careless sniffers.

The Dark Barrier itself was secondary – wilderness environments already lacked light. Mason used it mainly to block the cavern’s magical lights.

Knowing Midi’s thorough preparation, Mason skipped simple tricks and deployed his ultimate trump card. This formation blocked 90% of Shaded Realm creatures’ perception.

Though Mason’s infrared vision suffered too, he knew every bullet’s location – creator’s advantage let him move freely while others floundered.

"I bear no hatred, Midi. I thank you for shattering my arrogance and revealing my true enemies." Mason’s voice boomed. "But since we’ve met again and I’ve used my trump card… DIE HERE!"

The stands erupted. Blind spectators buzzed with speculation.

Even Galantis abandoned her aloof act, pacing anxiously – no need to hide emotions when Midi couldn’t see. She’d maintained composure during his winning streak, fearing encouragement might inflate the slave’s ego.

"Don’t lose, Midi Asreks…" The priestess whispered. "I’ve remembered your name properly. At least survive until I can use it!"

Amid crowd noise and Mason’s taunts, two magic-forged high-speed armor-piercing bullets flew silently from a suppressed barrel toward Midi’s back.