The dungeon was quiet, the chains biting into Rocky's wrists and ankles, but with Risha now bound as his summon, a spark of confidence ran through him. He could move, test strategies, and begin the path toward escape.
Yet a cold realization gnawed at him.
Lucifer.
Rocky remembered the throne room vividly—the casual flick of his arm, the overwhelming aura, the way reality itself seemed to shatter beneath his presence. Even now, his body still ached from that single devastating strike.
And the truth was undeniable:
Lucifer was a legendary summoner… thousands of leagues stronger than me.
The magical system pulsed in front of him, highlighting his own stats, his summons, and the dungeon around him. Even with Risha, his abilities were a fraction of what Lucifer commanded. The numbers and indicators flashed with stark honesty:
Rocky: Legendary Summoner
Power Level: Moderate (Wounded / Suppressed)
Summons: Gravitational Force Dragon (Damaged), Shadow Slimes (Fragmented), Spectral Wolves (Active), Risha (Bound Ally)
Lucifer: Legendary Summoner
Power Level: Unimaginable (Thousands of leagues stronger)
Rocky's jaw clenched. The gulf in power was terrifying. Even if he unleashed every summon at once, even if he pushed Summon Boosts to their limits… he would not match Lucifer head-on. Not yet.
Risha stepped forward, her crimson eyes meeting his. "Do not despair," she said, her voice calm but firm. "The gap is vast, yes—but power alone does not win battles. Strategy, timing, cunning, and allies… these are your tools. You must exploit the castle, the environment, and your Summon Boosts. That is how you survive."
Rocky swallowed, nodding slowly. "So… we can't fight him directly yet. But we can prepare. We can survive, we can strengthen… and we can get to Sylvia."
Risha's wings unfurled slightly, shadows crawling along the walls like living armor. "Exactly. Every move from here on must be calculated. You have potential, Rocky—but this dungeon, these chains, and your current strength… they are a crucible. Only by navigating it carefully will you ever hope to challenge someone like Lucifer."
The chains clinked softly as Rocky shifted, feeling both the weight of his current limitations and the spark of hope that Risha's presence gave him. The dungeon was dark. The enemy was incomparably strong. But Rocky had a mind for strategy, Summon Boosts at his command, and now, a demoness ally capable of overpowering any guardian in their path.
He drew a slow, steady breath. "Then we begin. Step by step. Strategy first. Strength later. And nothing… nothing will stop me from reaching Sylvia."
Risha's crimson eyes gleamed. "Good. The real challenge begins now. Prepare yourself, Rocky. Lucifer's power is vast, but he is not infallible. And you… you are unpredictable."
The dungeon was silent once more, but in that quiet, a plan began to form. Chains could bind him, the castle could trap him, and Lucifer could annihilate him in an instant—but with strategy, cunning, and Risha at his side… Rocky had a fighting chance.
The battle against a legendary summoner was coming. And he would be ready