"Did you forget something?"
Morax, who had been waiting for Elliot's response, finally lost patience and reminded him.
He had originally wanted Elliot to bring it up himself, but the man just kept his head down, silent and motionless, his mask hiding his expression. Morax grew more and more restless.
"What?" Elliot asked instinctively, caught off guard.
"How can you wield two elements at the same time?" Morax pressed, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.
"Oh, right. That too." Elliot suddenly realized.
"If you reacted like this in battle, how could I ever lose..." Morax muttered, utterly speechless.
"Then tell me first—how did you gain the power of Geo?"
"This... isn't it just something you're born with? How else would you have it?"
Hearing this, Elliot chuckled. "Exactly."
"How is that 'exactly'? I mean..." Morax trailed off mid-sentence, suddenly freezing in realization.
He stared at Elliot, stunned, and muttered in disbelief, "You had two elements from the very beginning!?"
Elliot gave no answer—just a shrug.
"Damn, I was expecting some earth-shattering secret about how to gain a second element."
"To think it was simply innate... sigh..."
"But still, this is fascinating. I've roamed the world for so long and never once seen an god who commands two elements. You're the first!"
"Speaking of which, why don't we spar again?"
"This time, I won't lose so easily."
Morax's gaze lit up like that of a child discovering a new toy,brimming with curiosity, like a child facing the unknown.
At this moment, he lacked the steadiness of age, carrying instead the playfulness and naivety of youth.
"Is that so?" Elliot asked with interest.
"Yes," Morax replied firmly, his confidence in his own strength clear.
"A match like this would be meaningless even if I won. Why don't we add some terms?" Elliot suggested.
"That makes sense. Alright then—if I win, you remove your mask." Morax's tone hinted at his curiosity about Elliot's true face.
After all, mystery itself is a form of allure. Everyone craves truth, which is why they chase after the unknown.
"Fine. But if I win?"
Elliot didn't state his own terms right away; instead, he threw the question back at Morax.
He suspected that this hotheaded youth might come up with something better than what he himself could think of. Testing him was worth a try.
If the condition was unreasonable, he simply wouldn't agree.
If it was acceptable, he'd take it.
And if it exceeded his expectations—that would be a profit.
From any angle, letting the other side propose terms was the wiser move.
"Uh..." Morax lowered his head in thought.
He carefully studied Elliot, as though weighing the value of seeing his unmasked face against what he could offer in return.
Elliot waited calmly, unhurried.
The longer he watched Morax struggle, the more amused he became. It was a good sign—hesitation meant careful thought, and people only deliberate over things that truly matter.
It was like buying a computer, a camera, or a phone—you hesitate, compare, and research before deciding.
But when it comes to a cup of milk tea or a pack of instant noodles, you choose without much thought, because even a mistake costs little.
"Well? Have you decided?" Elliot began applying pressure.
By all rights, he should have been the one to propose a condition, but instead, he pressed Morax—yet Morax didn't even think it strange.
"How about this..."
"If you win, I'll acknowledge you as my big brother."
"I've lived this long and never once yielded to anyone in a fight. This is the biggest condition I can offer."
"But I still feel like I'm losing out. If I win, all I get is you taking off your mask. If you win, I have to call you big brother. That doesn't sound fair..." Morax muttered his thoughts aloud.
Hearing this, Elliot spoke slowly, "Then I won't let you suffer a loss. If I lose, I'll tell you a secret."
"A secret!?" Morax's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Yes. A big secret." Elliot raised the stakes.
He hadn't expected Morax to actually offer something like "I'll call you big brother."
"Good! Then it's settled! A contract is sealed—those who break it shall suffer the punishment of stone."