Mason’s Revenge

Chapter 13: An Offer

Mason stood near the man, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. The man, desperate and disheveled, on his knees, voice shaking, pleaded.

"Let me out! I'll reward you heavily,"the man said.

Mason raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

The man straightened, hope in his eyes. "A hundred million—or a billion dollars yearly! I can make it happen. Just help me!"

Mason scoffed. "Good deal,"he said, thinking.

‘This guy is dangerous. I need a smarter way.’

"I know you're considering it,"the man said confidently.

Mason smirked. "Can I trust you? You stole from me."

The man stiffened. "Misunderstanding. I’ll return everything. Just let me out!"

Mason stepped closer, gaze piercing. "The Ebon Steed in my backpack. Trustworthy?"

The man hesitated. "Crypt is collapsing. Help me, I owe you."

Mason thought quickly. "Fine. Work for me. No lies, no tricks. Or else."

The man agreed. "Deal. I’ll follow your lead."

The man nodded eagerly. "Deal. I’ll follow your lead, whatever you say!"

Mason leaned down slightly, meeting the man’s gaze. "Good. Because if you cross me, the Future Diary won’t need to warn me twice."

For a moment, the man faltered, but he quickly masked his fear with a forced smile. "Understood," he said.

Mason turned away, glancing at the crumbling walls of the Crypt. "Let’s get moving before this place buries us."

The man scrambled to his feet, trailing behind Mason like a shadow. Despite his outward calm, Mason’s mind remained sharp.

‘If he thinks I trust him, he’s a bigger fool than I thought,’ Mason mused. He didn’t believe in prophecies, but he wasn’t about to let his guard down around someone the Future Diary had called a threat.

Mason stood over the man, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. The man knelt on the dusty floor, his hands clasped in desperation.

"Please, help me out of here! I’ll give you anything you want," the man begged, his voice trembling.

Mason tilted his head. "Anything, huh? What does that include?"

The man’s eyes lit up, sensing a chance. "Money! A hundred million upfront, or a billion dollars a year if you work with me. I can make it happen. Just get me out before this place collapses!"

Mason chuckled, tapping his chin. "Sounds tempting,"he said. "But how can I trust you? You’ve stolen from me."

The man winced. "That was a mistake! I’ll return everything, including the Ebon Steed. Just don’t leave me here!"

Mason narrowed his eyes. "The Ebon Steed?"He felt its energy. "You think I’ll trust someone who can’t keep their hands to themselves?"

The man stammered. "I know I screwed up. You help me and I’ll make it right."

Mason crouched down. "We don’t have time. Don’t double-cross me."

The man nodded quickly. "I won’t! You have my word!"

Mason was skeptical. "Follow my rules. No games, no lies."

"Deal,"the man said eagerly.

Mason glanced at the crumbling walls. "Let’s move. This place won’t wait."

The man followed, relieved. Mason was calculating.

The ground rumbled as they hurried. The man shadowed Mason, unaware of his thoughts.

Mason stood over the man, arms crossed. The man knelt, fear in his eyes.

"Please!"the man begged. "Help me. I’ll give you anything!"

Mason raised an eyebrow. "Be specific."

The man hoped. "Money! A hundred million upfront, or a billion per year if you join me."

Mason laughed. "Why trust someone who stole from me?"

The man flinched. "I’ll give everything back. Even the Ebon Steed! Please, I swear!"

Mason’s gaze hardened. "You mean the one you thought you could take?"

The man trembled. "If you leave, we’ll both lose! This place is about to come down!"

Mason crouched down. "This place is falling apart. If you try anything, you won’t live long enough to regret it."

The man nodded quickly. "I’ll follow your lead, no tricks. You have my word!"

The man swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "I won’t! I’ll follow your lead, no tricks. You have my word!"

Mason straightened, his tone sharp. "Your word doesn’t mean much to me. But fine. You’re coming with me. On one condition—everything you know about Crypts, magic items, and whatever else you’re hiding? It’s mine."

"Deal!" the man said, scrambling to his feet. "Whatever you want!"

Without another word, Mason turned and headed toward the distant exit, the walls around them shaking violently. "Keep up," he called back.

The man stumbled, breathing heavily. Mason’s mind was elsewhere.

Mason thought, ‘I don’t trust him, but I can use him for now and decide later.’

Rumbling grew louder as they raced through the collapsing Crypt.

Mason pushed open the heavy door and froze in surprise.

"A restroom?"he muttered, shaking his head.

Muffled voices from outside caught his attention.

A group of people stood just beyond the building.

Mason sighed, "Of course, it couldn’t just end here."

Reporters noticed movement near the restroom door.

"Mr. Mason!"a man in a suit called out.

Another reporter asked, "Is it true you’ve sealed the Crypt? What secrets did you find inside?"

Mason groaned, "This is exactly why I hate attention."

The crowd pressed closer to the door.

Mason reached for his backpack, feeling the Ebon Steed inside.

Mason adjusted his hood and stepped into the noise and chaos.

Mason leaned against the restroom wall, thoughts racing.

“Maybe I should just tell them the truth,” he muttered.

He hesitated, imagining the chaos that would follow.

“Too risky,” he muttered. “I’ll just slip out unnoticed.”

Mason climbed onto the sink, pushing the window open quietly.

A loud commotion erupted outside.

“Over here! I think someone’s trying to escape!”

Mason pulled himself back into the restroom.

Something’s not right,’ he thought.

“This isn’t just any Crypt,” he whispered.

The Crypt could tear through the city like a 6.0 earthquake.

A glowing blue hologram appeared.

“Six minutes?” he said.

A sharp, angry voice shattered his thoughts.

“Hey, you!”

Mason whipped around, his body tensing. At the restroom door stood a man in a company uniform, flanked by two scouts. Their eyes locked onto him like a predator cornering its prey.

“You’re not going anywhere,” the man growled.

Mason smirked, despite the tension in his chest. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he said, already mapping his escape route in his mind.

The ground rumbled beneath their feet, and Mason’s smirk widened.

“Good luck handling what’s about to come,” he muttered before darting toward the window again, leaving the stunned men behind. The countdown continued in his mind.

Just then...

"Hey"

Mason turned slowly. Yuri had finally caught up, breathing heavily, his hand gripping the gun still hidden in his pocket. His expression was dark with frustration, and his eyes burned with anger.

“Don’t move,” Yuri ordered, his voice steady despite his rage. “While I’m still giving you the option.”

Mason’s lips curled into a smirk. Yuri didn’t realize just how much danger he was walking into. He was carrying artifacts without even attempting to hide their aura, practically waving them around like a flag.

‘He’s walking straight toward me with artifacts,’ Mason thought, amused. ‘This is almost too easy.’

The hologram above Mason’s head flickered again.

[0: 5 minutes]

Before anyone could make a move, the ground beneath them rumbled violently. The force of it sent a shockwave through the plaza, knocking people off their feet. Screams filled the air as the ground split open, creating jagged cracks that spread across the streets.

“Ahhh! Help!” people cried as they stumbled, trying to escape the growing fissures.

Yuri staggered, momentarily losing his balance as the entire plaza seemed to shake. “What the hell is happening?!”

*Boom!* The shaking intensified, and the sound of buildings crumbling echoed around them. The power cut out, plunging the area into darkness, as if the earth itself had come alive and was tearing the city apart.

Mason stood firm amidst the chaos, his gaze fixed on the glowing cracks that formed beneath his feet. The air around him hummed with power, and the artifact inside the Dugeon was making its presence known.

‘It’s coming,’ Mason thought, his heart steady. He had been through this before.

A bright, blinding light erupted from the largest crack in the ground. People caught in the light vanished without a trace, swallowed by its overwhelming force. Mason stood still, watching as the light engulfed him.

In an instant, the world around him shifted. The bright plaza, the collapsing buildings, the panicked screams—all of it disappeared.

When the light faded, Mason found himself standing in a place that was all too familiar. The air was damp and cold, filled with the pungent smell of mold and decay. Grey stone walls lined the room, their surfaces covered in rotting vines. The oppressive atmosphere was suffocating.

Mason breathed in deeply, his mind already piecing together where he was. He had been here before. He knew this Dugeon well.