Rocky sat against the cold stone wall, chains biting into his wrists, while Risha stood a few feet away, wings folded elegantly, her crimson eyes gleaming like coals in the dim dungeon light.
"Alright," Rocky said, voice hoarse but steady. "If you're really my ally, tell me why. Why help me? You could just let Lucifer finish me off."
Risha tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Because you are… different. Most humans I encounter are predictable, bound by fear, ambition, or loyalty. You… you are willing to risk everything for someone else. That quality—stubborn, reckless, but unyielding—is rare. It makes you dangerous… and worth guiding."
Rocky frowned. "So all this… chains, tests… it's just to see how I handle it?"
"Exactly," she replied. "You've survived impossible odds already. Quadrillions of slimes, gravitational storms… yet here you sit, bruised but unbroken. Now I need to see if you can think when power alone cannot help you. Strategy, patience, cunning… these are your greatest weapons in the Dark Castle."
Rocky let out a slow breath. "I've trained for power my whole life… but I've never had to fight like this. Always facing armies, monsters… but not cunning like Lucifer. Not this kind of trap."
Risha crouched slightly, letting a faint glow of her magic trace along the chains. "Cunning is a skill, not a gift. You can develop it. And I can guide you—teach you how to manipulate your environment, how to use Summon Boosts subtly even while restrained, how to exploit the weaknesses of the Dark Castle itself."
Rocky's eyes brightened slightly. "Even while chained?"
"Yes," Risha said. "Your summons are still linked to you, even faintly. Your connection is stronger than most mortals. The chains suppress brute summoning power, but they cannot touch ingenuity, improvisation… clever tactics. You'll need both to save Sylvia."
Rocky clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "Sylvia… I can't fail her. Not now."
Risha's gaze softened, a rare flicker of warmth in her otherwise sharp demeanor. "I understand. That is why I am here. I could move freely, confront Lucifer directly—but that would endanger you, and the balance of this castle… and, perhaps, you would never grow stronger. You must be the one to act, to outthink him."
Rocky looked at her, a hint of frustration mixed with curiosity. "And you… why help me? What do you gain?"
Risha's smile turned sly, almost teasing. "Ah… perhaps I simply enjoy seeing a summoner rise to the challenge. Perhaps I have my own reasons that will reveal themselves in time. For now… think of me as a shadow on your side. Present when needed, unseen when danger is greatest."
She stepped closer, letting her hand hover just above his chains without touching them. "Remember this, Rocky. Fear and frustration are tools. Use them. Anger clouds judgment, but focus sharpens it. Patience and observation will win where raw power fails."
Rocky nodded, absorbing her words. "So… I survive this dungeon, outthink Lucifer, rescue Sylvia… and maybe then we figure out the rest?"
Risha's crimson eyes glimmered in the torchlight. "Exactly. And trust me… the lessons learned here will determine not just your survival, but the fate of everyone involved in this war. You are the key, Rocky. Do not forget it."
The chains clinked softly as Rocky shifted his weight, mind racing with possibilities. Outside, the Dark Castle's shadow loomed over the land, but within the dungeon, a plan was beginning to take shape.
Risha stepped back, wings folding neatly. "Rest now. Observe. Think. When the moment comes, you will act—and I will be watching, guiding… and waiting for the perfect opportunity."
Rocky's jaw set. He might be chained, bruised, and outmatched… but with Risha's guidance, with cunning and Summon Boosts at his command, he could still change the game.
The demoness's presence faded into the shadows, leaving Rocky in the cold, dark dungeon—but not alone.
And for the first time in hours, he felt a spark of hope.
Rocky leaned back against the cold stone wall, chains digging into his wrists, mind racing with everything Risha had said. He closed his eyes, focusing on the faint resonance of his Summon Boosts, searching for a way to interact with the chains, with his environment… with his summons.
Then, suddenly, before his eyes, a glimmer of light appeared—subtle at first, like a reflection on water, then sharper, more defined. Symbols began to float in the air, shimmering with energy only he could perceive.
A magical system interface materialized in front of him.
Name: Rocky
Class: Legendary Summoner
HP: 100% (Wounded: -50% temporary)
Summons: Gravitational Force Dragon, Shadow Slimes, Spectral Wolves
Summon Boosts: Active (Efficiency 40%)
Dungeon Status: Chained / Magic Suppressed
Objective: Rescue Sylvia
Hints: "Observe environment. Test Summon Boosts. Await opportunity."
Rocky blinked. His pulse quickened. "A system…?" he whispered. "I can… see my power… stats… and objectives?"
A soft glow pulsed from the interface, almost like a heartbeat. When he reached out mentally, the system responded, letting him interact with his summons indirectly, calculate his chain suppression, and even simulate possible escape routes.
Risha, hovering in the shadows, tilted her head. "Ah. You see it. The system chooses when to appear. It is… a tool, Rocky. Not a crutch. You must use it wisely. It can reveal opportunities, weaknesses, and timing, but it cannot act for you."
Rocky's mind raced. "So… I can test my Summon Boosts even while chained… see which strategies will work before I act…"
"Exactly," Risha said. "Think of it as your guide. Every dungeon, every trap, every opponent has weaknesses. The system simply helps you visualize them. Your success will come from how you use the information it provides."
The interface shimmered again, highlighting the chains, the dungeon walls, and faint traces of magical energy in the shadows. Rocky's eyes gleamed. He could see… movement patterns, magical flow, even subtle weaknesses in the bindings.
For the first time since the throne room, hope surged through him. With Risha guiding him and the system now at his side, Rocky had more than strength—he had information, strategy, and precision.
He clenched his fists, letting the chains bite, but his heart burned with determination.
Sylvia… I'm coming for you. And this time, nothing will stop me.