Saruto plunged into the depths of the eternal Narak abyss, his body cleaving through layers of scorching air. The deeper he went, the hotter he became. He closed his eyes for a moment, then released his aura.
A dense, dark energy emanated from his body, enveloping him and mitigating the heat, restoring balance. Paimon voice echoed in his mind: "Saruto, do you have a plan to confront Agnarus?"
"No… I don't," he replied calmly.
Paimon sighed. "Just as I expected… Listen carefully, I'll tell you how…"
But his voice began to falter, breaking: "Sa…ru…to… be careful…"
The connection was severed. Saruto opened his eyes, attempting to re-establish telepathic communication, but to no avail. "It seems the depth of the abyss is affecting my telepathic abilities…" he whispered to himself.
Then he smiled faintly. "Well… let's return to my original plan."
His gaze hardened. "I'll crush Agnarus… and take the element from him."
Moments later, his feet touched the bottom floor. It was dark, stifling, and thick with heat. He looked around—nothing. He pursed his lips and muttered, "Damn it… where are you, Paimon, when I need you?"
Then an idea flashed through his mind. He suddenly increased his energy level. His aura exploded around him, transforming into a massive sphere of dark energy that expanded and expanded until it enveloped the entire space. His senses extended with his aura, touching everything, sensing every movement, every pulse. Suddenly, he opened his eyes. "I found you."
The aura contracted again, wrapping itself once more around his body.
In the Demon Realm, the commentator's voice rose in excitement: "What a brilliant idea! Saruto expanded his senses using his aura to locate Agnarus!"
The scene returned to the bottom. Saruto advanced with steady steps until he reached a wide expanse. At its center stood a towering stone pillar. At its summit, something pulsed with a red light, like a living heart. Saruto raised his head, stared at it, and smiled. "Finally… the beating heart of Hell."
But before he could move, the ground began to tremble. Black lava erupted from all directions, filling the space. Saruto flung himself through the air, dodging the flood. Then he noticed something: lava gathering. Forming. Solidifying. A body taking shape before him. Paimon voice came suddenly: "Saruto! Can you hear me?!"
"Yes, I can hear you," Saruto replied.
"That creature is Agnarus…" Paimon said quickly.
But before Paimon could finish, Agnarus moved his hand. A wave of black lava shot toward Saruto. He dodged it quickly, but in a flash, Agnarus vanished. Then he reappeared right in front of him.
His arm extended, absorbing the surrounding rocks, swelling to an enormous size, and he delivered a crushing blow. Saruto crashed violently into the wall. Lava splattered around him. Paimon shouted, "Watch out! Black fire is covering you!"
But Saruto calmly rose, brushing the lava from his body. "Don't worry… I've enveloped myself in my aura."
Then, staring at his opponent, he added, "But… I didn't expect him to be so fast."
Agnarus began to speak, in a strange, deep language, as if emanating from the depths of the earth. Saruto said, "Paimon… do you understand what he's saying?"
"Yes… he's saying: How can a human, carrying the energy of darkness, be allowed to enter the demon realm? When did the king become so merciful?"
Saruto paused for a moment, then raised his head, having analyzed Agnarus words and Paimon translation, and spoke in the same language. "Molten rock…"
Paimon and Agnarus froze in shock at Saruto speaking in the language of a golem. Saruto continued, "You hate Dark Power wielders because of Umbra… but that doesn't give you the right to judge people… based on someone else's actions."
Then he smiled coldly. "And I don't have time to waste talking… Come on."
Agnarus body trembled with rage. He formed dozens of spears of black lava. He prepared to launch them. At that moment, Saruto lowered his arms. He thought to himself, "Since emerging from the cocoon… I haven't experienced the power of the Half-Ruler. But now… it's time to try it."
A massive burst of dark energy erupted from his body. In the Demon Realm, the commentator cried out, "What is this?! Things are escalating terribly!"
Saruto remembered Hades' words: "To activate the power of the Half-Ruler… let go of your emotions."
He opened his eyes. They were completely blank. Cold, empty, terrifying. Agnarus looked into his eyes and froze. A fear he had never felt before. Saruto began to advance. Slowly. Steadily. While Agnarus was unable to move. "No! I am the Guardian of the Flames! How can a mere boy frighten me?!" he cried inwardly.
He hurled his spears. But before they reached Saruto, they vanished. As if erased from existence. Saruto continued advancing. Step by step, until he stood directly before him. Agnarus collapsed to the ground, trembling.
Saruto raised his hand. He coated it with the energy of darkness. Then he lowered it. A tremendous explosion engulfed everything. After the smoke cleared, a giant fissure appeared in the earth. Saruto stood before it unscathed.
In the demon realm, the commentator exclaimed, "What power! We haven't witnessed anything like this for thousands of years! Saruto has set a record… as the fastest to defeat Agnarus!"
Saruto advanced toward the pillar. But Agnarus re-emerged before him. Saruto looked at him silently. Then Agnarus bowed. "You have defeated me… and earned my respect. Allow me… to offer you the beating heart of Hell itself."
Saruto didn't speak. He descended to Earth. Agnarus held the glowing heart and offered it to him. Saruto calmly accepted it.
In the demon realm, the commentator's voice boomed: "Unbelievable! Saruto not only defeated Agnarus… but earned his respect! And he obtained the first of the four elements!"
In one of the demon palaces, Astaroth smashed a cup in her hand, her eyes blazing with anger at what Saruto had done. In the king's palace, the king and Paimon watched in silence. The king said quietly, "We shouldn't celebrate too soon… he still has three elements to go."
Paimon nodded. "You're right, my lord."
The scene returned to Saruto. He stood, holding the pulsating Hellheart. He opened a small, dark portal before him and placed the heart inside. Then it closed. He raised his head, his eyes gradually returning to normal. "One element…"
Then he whispered, "Three more to go."