Episode 9 of "Mashle" revolves around the simultaneous battles of Mash and Lance against their respective opponents.

The episode begins with Lance's fight against Wirth, who is characterized by his obsession with individual worth. Wirth represents House Lang, an entity that thrives on the magical meritocracy of the world and provides its members with resources to enhance their privileged status. Wirth believes that his superiority and the resulting success, both in battle and in life in general, are inevitable.

Lance's opposing philosophy defines the dynamic of their battle. While Lance acknowledges his own abilities and efforts for his successes, he criticizes Wirth's reliance on the advantages of a privileged group and labels him as second-rate. After Lance defeats him, Wirth's backstory reveals his struggle with self-worth and his dependence on the achievements of his elite group for validation.

Meanwhile, Mash's opponent, Abyss Razer, possesses an evil eye that nullifies magic, making him a social outcast. This battle is interesting because Razer's power is ineffective against Mash, who possesses no magic.

In this episode, the series introduces the concept of "Secondth," a form of magic that amplifies the user's power.