The silence was suffocating.

  Souta walked.

  Firm steps.

  The echo multiplied through the crystal tunnels.

  The walls shone like petrified honeycombs.

  But there was no sweetness there.

  Only prison.

  Creamy notified:

  — Sir, the curse is draining your mana faster than your restoration rate.

  — Even with the Emanator skill, you’ll run out of energy soon.

  — Then… why are you still smiling?

  Souta kept his smile steady.

  Radiant.

  An aura formed.

  Heavy.

  Oppressive.

  Footsteps echoed like thunder.

  Five meters tall.

  A berserker sword, cracked, with lava dripping like from a volcano.

  Glowing purple eyes.

  Black armor.

  Crimson aura.

  Elite Demon. Rank SS.

  A descending strike.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  From above, downwards.

  Creamy shouted:

  — Dodge!

  Souta used Shadow Step.

  The impact made the ground tremble.

  But the crystal did not break.

  Souta smiled.

  — Such strength…

  — Physically, it’s stronger than Claw.

  He advanced.

  A direct punch.

  Impact.

  No effect.

  The demon attacked several times.

  Souta dodged.

  Counterattacked.

  No effect.

  The room shrank to half its size in seconds.

  Zoom.

  Souta almost lost his balance.

  He was struck by the sword.

  Reflective Spoon.

  At the last instant.

  It softened the impact.

  Kaboom.

  Souta stepped on the wall.

  Used the momentum.

  Attacked.

  The demon caught the blow with its hands.

  And hurled him against the ground.

  Souta spun in the air.

  Softened the fall with his hand.

  Breakdance.

  Multiple strikes in sequence.

  The beast defended itself with the sword.

  The impact pushed them apart.

  The demon roared.

  Its aura infested the scene.

  Souta smiled, charming.

  — Demons are terrible.

  Creamy notified:

  — Sir, your mana has hit zero.

  — The Emanator cannot recover because of the curse.

  — Without mana, your abilities may fail.

  — If not for the Emanator, you’d already be dead.

  Souta smiled.

  Placed the spoon on the ground.

  — We won’t run, Creamy.

  Eyes half-closed.

  Creamy replied:

  — If that’s the case…

  — Then let’s settle this with our fists. Souta completed with a piercing smile.