Arturo was on his knees, facing such a massive accumulation of energy. He fully immersed his palms into the supernova, delving into it.

FIRE RESISTANCE.

The interface popped up to assist, allowing Arturo to enter the supernova. His skin could withstand the high temperatures, and he looked around to see layers of energy encircling the entire sphere. Arturo clenched his hands towards the edge of the supernova, trying to gather more information.

TEMPERATURE: 100°

DAMAGE EFFECT: 30% HP

ELEMENT: FIRE.

"The damage effect isn't that significant; the real threat is the temperature." Arturo began to scratch his horn repeatedly.

"Think, Arturo, think, how can I stop the supernova from hitting Kira?"

Time seemed to freeze; if he didn't find a solution, he would have to say goodbye to his little cousin and his reputation as a king. But at that moment, SIXTH SENSE activated and thought for him. Arturo's vision blurred, surrounded by images of stalagmites high above. He focused on the drops falling from above, spilling onto the ground.

"Water," Arturo thought.

Arturo's head popped out of the supernova, looking at Kira.

"Kira, listen, there should be stalagmites above."

Kira looked up, and with just one glance, she got the message. Like an acrobat, Kira jumped from rock to rock, leaping up and kicking the stalagmites with a kick. A crack opened in the ceiling, and a wave of water poured over the entire area. The supernova was engulfed by the water wave; it didn't stop its crash to the ground, but when it exploded, scattering throughout the catacomb, Kira wasn't even burnt; she was unscathed, though her HP had dropped.

The guardian's mouth dropped open at the sight. A simple elementary tactic had foiled his plans. The guardian called back his flame minions.

"Little flames!!! Attack! Attack!!!"

The flames bounced off Arturo, surrounding him. Arturo slapped them away one by one, not even giving them time to finish their final syllables. The small minions vanished into thin air. The demon backed up until he hit the wall.

"Impossible! It had no effect, could he really be the new king?!"

"Get lost, or you're next!"

"How dare you!"

The demon furrowed his brows, ready for another potential attack. But Arturo, tired and with a vein throbbing on his forehead, ran so fast that as soon as he stood before him...

"FUCK OFF!"

He delivered a kick straight to the guardian's balls.

"I didn't expect this, these miserable insects, they've defeated me."

The guardian fell to the ground petrified. His body returned to that of a rotting mummy. Arturo examined it and saw that underneath, there was nothing rotten despite being a mummy. Arturo turned to Kira with a satisfied look.

"See? I defea-"

He forgot that Kira was topless at that moment. Kira crouched down.

"Pervert!"

"They're flat..."

Arturo took off his shirt and handed it to her. Kira snatched it from his hand and put it on immediately. Suddenly, Arturo was enveloped by an aura:

YOU'VE REACHED:

LEVEL 7

"Wow, level 7 already? Making some serious progress here. At this rate, I'll actually survive in this world."

The two continued their journey to the next level. They breezed through the first, second, and third levels easily since all three were guarded by just one guardian. The path was still long, and it was uncertain if it would ever end. The castle's catacombs were infinitely large and led in many different directions. There were even rumors that one of the tunnels could lead to other worlds, but of course, that could just be a tall tale.

"I always thought you were a fire element, but turns out you're earth."

Kira quickened her pace, overtaking Arturo.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Arturo hurried after Kira.

"I get it, you wished you were born a fire element demon, right?"

Kira suddenly turned around, tears on her cheeks. It was a shock to Arturo, who didn't know how to respond, and just touched his hair in embarrassment. Kira looked down, completely lost in despair.

"Earth demons are the weakest. They have a deficit,"

"Pff..."

"Eh?"

"UHHHHHAHAHAHHAAH!"

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"It seemed like his lungs were about to burst. He clutched his stomach, doubling over until he rolled on the ground." Kira turned as red as a chili pepper.

"Stop it!"

"You're a disabled demon!"

"S...stop it!"

"I'm teasing her, but I don't even know what element I am. Maybe I'll find out later?"

Before he could even finish his step, like a shock, Arturo felt his veins freeze. Sixth sense was back in play.

"What's this?!"

Arturo turned around and saw a shadow vanish in a flash.

"Did you see that?"

"Yes..."

"We're not alone..."

Suddenly, on the wall, a gigantic shadow appeared, representing a figure. Arturo and Kira readied themselves to face it. A figure entirely dressed in white emerged, with hair thrown forward. From its back sprouted two feathery wings.

As soon as the figure lifted its head, they saw a sweet face with sparkling eyes and a halo around its head. Its slender arms bore scars everywhere; it had clearly been a victim of torture. The shackles that held it captive were still clung to its feet.

"My name is Aurelia Nachtsturm Eisenherz, I have followed you in the name of Queen Archeas, held prisoner by the demon race, and it's all your fault, Arturo."

"Tell us what you've done with the castle right now!"

The figure with feminine features soared into the air with its wings.

"Exactly what you did to us, that time."

Kira narrowed her eyes.

The girl leaned against a rock, looking at Kira.

"What's the matter? Does it bother you so much having small boobs, or is it because an earth demon like you can't even master a single magic art?"

"Shut up! Slave! How dare you speak to me, I'll come rip that mouth off!"

"Try me, come on, I really want to see..."

Kira dashed like lightning, quickly reaching Aurelia. With a powerful punch that shattered a rock, Aurelia skillfully dodged and gracefully jumped, landing light as a feather on Kira's forearm.

"You earth demons sure have strength, but you lack speed and intellect, that's why you're looked down upon."

Every word from the slave made Kira's blood boil, even if she was right. Kira knew well that an earth demon couldn't specialize in magic arts.

When Aurelia jumped down, her skirt fluttered in the wind.

"Her panties, they're white..."

That was Arturo's only thought as the slave landed, directing her gaze towards the king. He was the target she had to kill, the cause of all the suffering inflicted on the angel race.

"What do you want, anyway?!"

"Remember... the assault ten years ago?"

"Ten years ago?"

Arturo did some quick math with his fingers.

"When you attacked our kingdom, an entire army of demons against us defenseless angels."

Arturo kept counting his fingers.

"Queen Archeas didn't hate demons, she was kind and gentle, but you still attacked her kingdom, for what? Because it bothered you that her kingdom was a kilometer too close to Abylissilum."

"Uhm... I was about eight years old?"

"All this time in the dungeons, all those tortures I endured... they weren't in vain, because the plan I devised with Archeas has come to fruition, eh eh!"

"Well, I hope your plan works out. Can you please help us get out of this catacomb?"

"Fool, I came here to take you prisoner."

From Aurelia's wings sprouted numerous thorns that shot towards Arturo. While Arturo was distracted, the thorns rained down on him mercilessly.

"DIE!"

As soon as they exceeded the range of action, the thorns were projected elsewhere, hitting different corners of the catacomb like machine-gun fire on the wall.

"W...what?!"

She spread her wings and shot another myriad of thorns, but to no avail; ranged attacks were ineffective against the demon king.

Aurelia fell to the ground as if a strong gravitational force was pushing her down.

"W...what's happening?!"

"I've locked your shadow, one wrong move and I can detach your shadow, causing instant death, you'd better listen to me."

Aurelia could only listen because she couldn't even direct her gaze.

"But, you're not bad-looking, you know!"

Aurelia spat.

"Bastard!"

"Don't worry, I don't want to kill you; I've never been a murderer."

"Yeah, right!"

"I just want you to help us get out of this catacomb."

"I won't do it!"

Blood began to drip from Aurelia's nose; her life was in Arturo's hands. If she didn't obey, her shadow would be taken away; it was up to him to decide her fate. They continued along the path in that narrow conduit. Thanks to the flood during the first encounter, their thirst was quenched, but what about hunger? Kira repeatedly suggested that eating Aurelia was the best solution. In the catacombs, they hadn't yet seen any traces of animals; perhaps they were hidden, very well hidden, in those dense crevices with infinite passages.

Kira fed on a passing rat, raw and cold, but it was enough to give her some energy, while Arturo was in a complete fast, not even understanding how he was still standing.

"You know these catacombs, right?"

"Yes, this is where we angels operated in secret."

"How many of you are there?"

"100."

"What's happening in the kingdom?"

"We've stormed the castle, taking all the royal members prisoner."

So, my mother too.

"Moreover, a revolt broke out between demons and angels, the war is still ongoing, and it seems there have been numerous massacres."

There were various galleries, one after the other, tunnels leading to different paths. Arturo tightened his grip on Aurelia's shadow. The angel raised her hand and pointed to the central gallery. That was the right path; from there, they would ascend to the surface. Aurelia had no intention of lying; her life was hanging by a thread, and she knew all too well that Arturo could end her life by just tearing away her shadow.

Sincerity was evident in Aurelia's eyes. So they proceeded along that gallery. The path had no torches; it was dark, but the strangest thing was that the path seemed to go down further rather than up. Arturo gave a sharp look back at the angel. Finally, after passing an arch, the walls stretched out, opening into a vast space. It was deserted, nothing there, not even a depiction or a statue.

"Where are we?"

Kira pointed to a passage at the very end.

"There's the exit!"

They were close to climbing out of the catacomb, but as they attempted to approach, suddenly, everything began to shake. It was as if a landslide had plummeted from the catacomb ceiling. Feeling the ground pulsate under their feet and stone granules falling heavily like snow, they looked up to see a kind of face emerging from the ceiling. It was a face with harsh features. Its face had completely protruded, and from the opposite side of the wall, its gigantic arm also emerged.

After a while, its figure fully emerged from the walls; it was a golem, a gigantic golem that served as the guardian of the catacomb levels. It was definitely much more powerful than any they had faced so far. The golem, with eyes shining a bright green, threw its fist at the trio, almost crushing them. Kira and Arturo managed to dodge the tremendous blow that nearly destroyed the catacomb wall. Aurelia broke free from Arturo's grip and retreated backward.

"You bastard! You set a trap for us!"

The golem took up the entire space of the room, standing about 50 meters tall, and each of its punches could easily wipe out a village without much effort.

"The game's getting tougher!"

Arturo muttered to himself.

"Tsk... alright then, bring it on, golem!"

The golem let out a powerful roar that split the air. Its arm was raised high, ready to crush them, preventing their escape from its prison. The arm came down at maximum speed, aiming at the targets wandering aimlessly like ants.