A f*cking trickery.

Apollo regulated his breathing to calm his mind.

Devils… They only worked from the shadows, so there wasn't much Apollo could read about them when he visited the library at the Great Serpent Cultivation School.

That left him oblivious to the fact that a Devil—true to their name—is exactly what they are: liars without conscience. They'll do anything to get what they want, without caring about morals, truth, or right and wrong. Selfish beings, driven purely by goals and desire—nothing more.

Be it in another world… these beings are known as tricksters… Did I really believe they adhered to rules? That they cared about their words? Apollo felt like a fool, despite carrying the experiences of someone at least a hundred years old.

All this power, all these new things… it clouded my mind. As Apollo thought this, he turned off the translucent holograms in front of him.

Then he stepped forward.

"So, what is the challenge?" Apollo asked, his voice laced with fake eagerness. He didn't need to know his opponent—he already understood what they were up to.

There was no contract. The Devil had just planted poison around his heart to kill him. Clearly, the creature had no intention of keeping its word. Apollo was going to die—whether he won or lost.

If it were anyone else, they would've fallen for the trick. They would've believed the Devil. But thanks to the System's warning, Apollo knew the true intent of this despicable being.

His mind raced, trying to figure a way out while the Devil in front of him began explaining the so-called "challenge."

"The challenge already began when the contract entered our hearts," the Devil said, wearing the same smug grin, as if victory was already in hand.

Bullsh*t Apollo thought, careful not to let his expression slip. He didn't want the Devil to realize he was aware of the deception.

"The challenge is simple…" The Devil's confident smile shifted into a cold, cunning one. "You have to tell me whether I'm lying or not. Point out where the lie is… but only if I lie. If you manage to guess correctly, you win the Devil's Challenge. You'll gain the right to claim my life… and the answers you seek."

Another bulls*ht, Apollo thought, his stomach churning in disgust. Now it made sense—why the Devil had so easily agreed to his condition. There was never a "Devil's Challenge" to begin with. Just another method to kill him. Maybe this was how Devils hunted—tricking their prey to death.

All for the sake of fun… Dmn, I hate these beings,* Apollo sighed inwardly.

Still, no matter how much he loathed the manipulator in front of him, Apollo couldn't just punch the Devil in the face. He'd been tricked. And just thinking about it made him want to crawl into a hole out of sheer embarrassment.

If he'd been in his usual state of mind, he would've taken precautions before that black ink ever entered his chest. But regret wouldn't help now.

What mattered more was figuring out how to get the poison out of his system without using his Alm Points…

…and how to kill this Devil standing in front of him.

One thing is true, though—Apollo doesn't know much about this Devil. The records only ever showed them lurking in the background.

The Beggar couldn't tell how strong this Devil was. No Cultivation Stage leaked from the Devil's body. The only thing he could feel was the crushing pressure that tried to force him to kneel. Fortunately, with his Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation Technique, that intense pressure vanished.

So Apollo had only one option left: drag this nonsense out while he thought of the perfect plan. He suspected he only needed a few minutes anyway. He may have grown overconfident in his strength, in his Cultivation… but he still trusted in his genius to solve any problem thrown his way.

Seeing the human remain silent, deep in thought, the Devil let out a low chuckle.

"Too late for regret. The Contract has already been initiated. You're not allowed to run," the Devil said. "If you're thinking of giving up, then be prepared to die."

Apollo didn't respond. He just stared at the Devil for a few seconds before finally opening his mouth.

"This challenge of yours is basically me telling whether you're lying or not. Do I have to say when you lied and what the lie was?" Apollo asked with a smile.

"Correct. Though I bet you're not going to figure it out," the Devil said with a shrug. At the same time, the boiling black water behind him churned and rose, forming a throne-like black chair. The Devil sat, watching the small human with a glint of amusement in their eyes. "Thirty minutes. That's the time limit."

"Alright," Apollo replied, then fell silent.

The Devil didn't say another word—just waited for the time to pass.

But after five minutes, the Beggar opened his mouth.

"I know the answer," Apollo said, taking a few steps forward—his small feet walking atop the boiling black lake, sending ripples trailing in his wake.

"Oh? Interesting…" The Devil raised an eyebrow. Standing up, they also stepped forward until only a few meters remained between them. "Tell me. Am I lying or not?"

"Before I answer that, let me ask you something," Apollo said, his voice low and sharp. "What happens if I punch you in the face—so hard I might kill you?"

His eyes glinted dangerously. His aura flared. The lake beneath his feet recoiled, the air around him churning with intense winds.

The Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation roared to life. His aura blazed even brighter, and a spectral Great Serpent projection coiled around him.

Five minutes of thinking… That's all Apollo needed to form a plan.

The Devil watched as killing intent poured out of the beggar. Sensing the Cultivation Stage emanating from the human—and the overwhelming pressure growing with it—the Devil was visibly surprised, before their serious expression returned.

"If you try to kill me, I'll merely disappear. But the Contract will remain. You'll still die… and I'll still win," the Devil said, eyes narrowing. "Are you abandoning the Challenge?"

Apollo shook his head. "I'm not. Like I said… I already know the answer."

"Then tell me," the Devil said. "If you're so confident, tell me if I li—"

Suddenly, the Beggar vanished in a blur—and before the Devil could finish speaking, a fist slammed into their face!

A thunderous explosion erupted. The lake burst into mist. The shockwave shattered the ground, hurling debris into the air and sending chunks of dirt flying toward the sky.