Kunal climbed down into the basement and told the cub to stay where it was.
"If you come inside, the danger to your life will increase," he said calmly.
He then looked toward the water covering the floor.
Not even a single ripple.
Was there really nothing here now?
Or was this another trap… another method to pull him into the water again?
He remembered the body floating there earlier.
The monster that had tried to kill him.
Slowly, he stepped into the water.
The cold liquid rose up to his waist as he moved deeper into the basement. Soon, he reached the area where the water almost touched his chest. The entire basement was submerged, and the faint echoes of his own movement created unsettling sounds around him.
He moved toward the wall where he had previously sensed something unusual.
Maybe there was a passage.
Maybe the wall had been broken, leading toward the building behind the mansion.
He bent down and placed his hand into the water, feeling along the surface carefully. The water had been there for a long time, making visibility impossible. But when his fingers touched the wall, he sensed cracks.
A small tunnel.
Then he came out of the water and mark a sign on the wall.
Suddenly—
A strange feeling crawled up his spine.
Someone was standing behind him.
Kunal instantly turned around, ready to fight.
And then he saw it.
A demonic entity.
Its height was nearly twice his own.
Its eye was not on its face… but embedded in the middle of its throat — a single, unblinking eye that stared with terrifying intensity.
Its entire body looked burned, the flesh blackened and cracked as if it had survived some unimaginable fire. Deep scars covered its skin, overlapping in twisted patterns that made its appearance even more horrifying.
When it opened its mouth, rows of sharp teeth became visible — jagged and pointed like a shark's, designed only for tearing flesh apart.
Before Kunal could even draw his sword, the creature screamed with terrifying intensity. The sound vibrated through the entire mansion, sending ripples across the water.
In the next second, the demon grabbed Kunal by the throat and lifted him into the air. With brutal force, it slammed him across the room.
Kunal's body crashed into a pillar.
Pain exploded through his back.
A sharp gasp escaped his lips as the air was forced out of his lungs. For a moment, he couldn't breathe. His vision flickered, and a ringing sound filled his ears. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, but he forced himself to stay conscious. Losing awareness here meant death.
His sword slipped from his hand and fell into the water.
That sword was his only reliable weapon. Without it, his chances of survival dropped drastically. Still, panic would only make things worse. He clenched his teeth and focused on staying alive.
Before he could recover, the demon rushed forward again, grabbed him once more, and hurled him into the wall. The impact was so powerful that cracks spread across the concrete surface.
The creature's presence felt overwhelming, like standing in front of a moving wall of death. Dark energy seemed to radiate from its body, pressing down on Kunal's chest and making it harder to breathe.
The demon spoke in a distorted voice.
"Last time… you survived because of luck.
This time… I won't let you escape."
It threw Kunal again.
He slammed into a light bulb, shattering it instantly. The basement plunged into near darkness, leaving only faint light from above.
The demon stepped closer and said.
"You are the first human… who has managed to stand in front of me for this long," it said.
"Everyone else either died from my first strike… or drowned in fear after hearing my scream."
Kunal forced himself to stand, struggling to breathe.
His body was already covered in injuries.
His vision blurred.
He didn't understand how to fight this creature.
But one thought formed in his mind.
I can't accept defeat this easily.
No matter how powerful it is…everyone has their own weakness. I need to find its weakness.
The demon suddenly charged toward him at terrifying speed, sending waves through the water.
Kunal jumped sideways, barely dodging the attack.
The demon attacked again.
Again, he dodged.
But this time, Kunal realized something.
In deep water… the creature's speed was slightly reduced.
He quickly tried to locate his sword beneath the surface, but he couldn't find it.
A moment later—
The demon punched him directly.
Kunal's body flew backward, smashing into another pillar before collapsing into the water.
The demon laughed.
"This water… is beautiful, isn't it?" it said.
"No one can run fast here. No one can hide.
This is the perfect place… to show true strength."
That's why I love this place.
Blood spread into the water around Kunal.
Internal injuries had already begun.
His mind raced desperately, replaying every movement of the creature. Its attacks… its speed… the way the water reacted around it. Something wasn't right. There was a pattern hidden within the chaos.
For a moment, despair crept into his thoughts.
Then suddenly—
A realization struck him.
Yes... he was right.
Water.
He love water not because of his strength but because of something else.
His body collided against something beneath the water.
Kunal looked down.
And his eyes widened in shock…
© Kunal Singh
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