The shadows retreated, sinking back into the ground as the entity reformed several meters away, standing upright once more.
Its red eye burned brighter.
The air trembled.
Raito straightened, rolling his shoulders.
"…Alright," he said quietly.
"So brute force won't work."
He wiped a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth.
"If cutting you doesn't kill you…"
Purple mana flared faintly around his body—but unlike before, it was restrained. Controlled.
"Then I'll erase you another way."
The dungeon fell silent.
The creature tilted its head, as if amused.
And for the first time—
It spoke again.
"You are adapting."
Raito smiled.
"Yeah," he replied.
"That's what survivors do."
"Are you even aware this is a dungeon?"
Raito's voice echoed through the chamber as he faced the dark entity.
