"I..."
Duke rubbed his head, his expression dazed.
A massive amount of memories had just been unlocked.
Duke's brain wasn't like Morin's.
When too much information was processed at once, it overheated easily.
Like a CPU pushed past its limit.
"Looks like you already know magic exists," Morin said, raising his hand. "Then I won't hide it from you."
He cast a clarity spell on Duke.
This spell had originally been customized for Erik in the previous X-Men world.
Once activated, the mind became instantly clear, and information-processing ability rose sharply.
It had played a key role in preventing Erik from turning into a full-blown "scene man."
A cold sensation spread from Duke's brain through his entire body.
The dizziness vanished instantly.
His energy surged.
"Are you a sorcerer too?" Duke asked in surprise.
"No," Morin shook his head.
"I'm a magician."
"A magician?" Duke looked confused.
"How can a magician use magic?"
"Why can't a magician have magic?" Morin replied reflexively.
"Haven't you heard of people using magic performances as cover to use real magic? Who said magicians can't have magic? What's wrong with this society? Why are magicians being discriminated against-"
He stopped himself.
"Ahem. Let's talk about your situation."
"I... I didn't even know I'd done something like that," Duke said, forcing a bitter smile.
He felt like he was watching someone else's life.
Those memories weren't there before.
But now he clearly knew they were his.
The disconnect felt strange.
Very strange.
"I have to say," Morin said, patting his shoulder,
"You're impressive."
"You're the third person to tell me that," Duke said, his expression complicated.
First Mephisto.
Then the man who stood up to Mephisto-the one called the Ancient One.
And now Morin.
Duke couldn't help wondering.
Could Morin also be someone extraordinary?
He didn't know who the Ancient One truly was, but anyone who could confront the Lord of Hell without losing wasn't simple.
"I know you have a lot of questions," Morin said.
"I'll answer them later."
"For now..."
"I think you want to try speeding."
"Yes!" Duke answered instantly.
Mephisto's curse had been vicious.
Duke was a fanatic motorcycle enthusiast.
He was also genuinely skilled.
Otherwise, Mephisto wouldn't have chosen him.
But the curse prevented him from riding fast.
A motorcycle that couldn't go fast was meaningless.
A hundred miles per hour was trivial for Duke.
But he couldn't exceed it.
Not being completely forbidden meant hope remained.
That hope was the cruelest part.
Scratching an itch through your boots.
Pure torment.
And worse-
Mephisto had his eyes on Duke's soul.
The moment Duke died, hell would truly begin.
If he hadn't met Morin, he would've lived his entire life trapped in this pain.
"Look, this one's wrecked," Duke said, glancing at the scrapped modified car, then at Morin's bike.
"Okay," Morin said.
This time, he let Duke ride it.
Not because he lacked alternatives.
Teleporting to grab another bike would've been trivial.
He simply treated it as respect for what Duke had endured.
"Open temporary access," Morin said to the [Police Universal Vehicle].
"Voice control?" Duke looked shocked.
"And you really agreed?"
"You get one chance," Morin said with a chuckle.
"Did you think I'd ride an ordinary motorcycle?"
"Alright!" Duke jumped on eagerly.
"Wait for me-I'll be right back!"
"No need," Morin said, shaking his head.
"I'll be in front of you."
"This thing's fast. If you lose control, I can still save you."
Do you think I haven't read The Back View?
Even if Duke didn't mean it like that, Morin wasn't taking chances.
"You... how are you going to be in front of me?" Duke asked.
"The bike's just for show," Morin waved a hand.
"I'm faster on my own."
Morin could break the sound barrier easily.
1368 kilometers per hour was just normal speed.
Breaking the sound barrier didn't mean that was his limit.
His true speed was far higher.
Compared to that, even the [Police Universal Vehicle] in [Extreme Speed] mode wasn't enough.
"...Alright," Duke said.
Magic existed.
Someone being faster than a motorcycle wasn't hard to accept.
"Activate [Extreme Speed] mode," Morin said.
"You can start now."
"Countdown."
"Five. Four. Three. Two."
"Go."
Duke twisted the throttle instantly.
The motorcycle shot forward.
Morin stepped ahead effortlessly.
"Whoo!"
Four seconds.
They broke a hundred miles per hour.
Duke didn't let go.
He twisted the throttle fully.
Today, the curse was gone.
He wanted everything.
Speed.
Wind.
The roar of the engine.
Two hundred miles per hour.
Three hundred.
Four hundred and eighty kilometers per hour.
He held it.
Perfectly.
Morin never had to intervene.
"Now I know why Mephisto chose you," Morin said when Duke finally stopped.
"You're the best Rider among ordinary humans."
"Thanks," Duke said, grinning as he took off his helmet.
He clearly didn't want to get off.
"I'll get you one," Morin said, raising an eyebrow.
"The best in the world."
"Except this one."
"Deal!" Duke jumped down instantly.
"Hehehe. You're too generous."
He just didn't want to part with a good bike.
Now that Morin had promised, he knew where the line was.
If he couldn't tell what he could and couldn't ask for, he'd never have survived this long.
He would've already become Mephisto's Rider.
Body taken.
Freedom gone.
"It's fine," Morin waved it off.
"I'm not short on money."
"Let's go."
"The Ancient One said you could ask me anything."
"You must have questions."
"I do," Duke said.
A lot.
"But first-"
Morin gently touched the bike and stored it in his dimensional space.
"Let's go back to the city."
"How?" Duke asked.
Seeing the bike vanish, he already knew they weren't driving.
"Like that Ancient One?" he guessed.
"Opening a door?"
"No," Morin shook his head, placing a hand on Duke's shoulder.
"I don't know that spell."
He activated teleportation magic.
Different from the Ancient One's portals.
More like Nightcrawler's movement.
With pre-casting.
And mana cost.
The scenery warped.
They were back in the city.
"This..." Duke looked around, stunned.
"Just teleportation," Morin said.
"It's almost evening."
"How about a drink? I'll explain everything."
"Okay."
Duke could only nod.
The last hour alone had overwhelmed him.
Without the clarity spell, he'd already be unconscious.
He had questions.
Many.
"Who is the Ancient One?"
"The Sorcerer Supreme. Earth's guardian."
"Why did he help me?"
"I don't know," Morin said calmly.
"But if God knew, he would've helped too."
"Watching a devil get humiliated-by a mortal-is the kind of thing that gets talked about for thousands of years."
"Does God really exist?"
"If Mephisto exists, why wouldn't God?"
"Then why did He-"
"No idea. Maybe He was asleep. Next question."
"...Why would the Ancient One agree to Mephisto's conditions?"
"As Sorcerer Supreme, his duty is protecting Earth from dimensional invasions."
"He has to think big picture."
"Some things must be abandoned."
"Perfection isn't an option."
"He chooses the least costly path."
"So... am I important?"
"No," Morin said flatly.
"You misunderstood."
"He just thought you'd embarrass Mephisto."
"And there was nothing Mephisto wanted that he couldn't stop anyway."
"What?" Duke was stunned.
"But you said he protects Earth-"
"He's powerful," Morin said.
"But he's still one person."
"Sometimes sacrifices are unavoidable."
Morin recalled the green glow in the Ancient One's eyes.
The Time Stone.
"He can see the future."
"That's why he knew I'd help you."
"Don't question his choices."
"They were the best outcome."
"Or think of it this way."
"If he refused, there would've been a war."
"Mephisto would've paid a price, then invited other Lords of Hell."
"While the Ancient One was stretched thin, lesser demons would invade."
"In the end, Mephisto still wins."
"Just with higher costs."
"So the Ancient One agreed."
"At least you benefited."
"Then... the devil released onto Earth-"
"I said it before," Morin smiled, swirling his glass.
"He already knew the ending."
"The process doesn't matter."
"Only the optimal result."
As Morin spoke, his own thoughts cleared.
When he first learned of the Ancient One, a question had bothered him.
Why let Blackheart come to Earth?
Now he understood.
The Ancient One had seen the future.
Seen him.
The reason the Ancient One never appeared in the original story was obvious.
He was being held back elsewhere.
Poor Blackheart.
He thought he'd finally escaped being a "crown prince who waited thousands of years."
Thought he'd seize the Contract of San Venganza.
Build a small hell.
Found his dynasty.
He never realized-
He was just a pawn.
If Blackheart succeeded, Mephisto would take his body and soul.
If he failed, the Ghost Rider would end him.
Either way, Mephisto gained thousands of top-tier souls.
And conveniently disposed of a rebellious son.
No matter what-
Mephisto won.
And Blackheart's rebellion?
Understandable.
Demons didn't have family bonds.
And a crown prince who waited thousands of years...
Even a sixty-year prince was tragic.
Thousands?
Unbearable.
Blackheart:
"There's no such thing as a crown prince who waits forever!"
"I rebel today!"
"I build my own future!"
Morin's eyes lit up.
A thought formed.
This-
Was a golden opportunity to make a fortune.
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