Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Simon observed his hands, just like the attacker zombie, his body too was giving off a surge of curse energy. Smiling, he relished on the feeling that the curse energy was giving him right now.

From his expression to his appearance, it couldn't be said anymore as to who was more menacing, the attacker zombie or him.

<strong>GROOARRAR…</strong> the attacker zombie bellowed, it tried to stand back up only to be kicked to the wall by Simon.

<strong>BAM…</strong> Whatever was left of walls after the destruction, caved in from that kick. He did not even use much strength yet the force from his causal kick was enough to cause this much damage. This once again showed how powerful he was right now because of the curse energy circulating within him.

It wasn't like this was his first time coming in contact with an energy that deviated from the standard mystical energy. Cecilia the Forest Spring Royal Spirit that he had taken in as his little sister also used the power of nature's energy that was different from the mystical energy.

He remembered Irene also telling him about how there were different types of energy. Nevertheless, the one that was more abundant and widespread in the world of Althaea was the mystical energy.

The curse energy might seem more powerful, but he had no way of harnessing it nor any knowledge about it.

Shaking the distracting thought out of his head, Simon checked his status. There he could see his level was currently bolstered to level 488 temporarily along with his stats and basic abilities. No wonder he felt so powerful, the curse energy had directly boosted his level by a total of a hundred.

Although there was still a couple of levels and an entire realm gap between him and the attacker zombie, one also had to factor in the race they both belonged to. Simon was a Demon Noble with a rank of a Demon Viscount, how could a mere zombie who managed to breach level 500 thanks to the effects of the curse energy be able to match him?

On top of that Simon from the beginning was used to defeating opponents that were dozens of levels higher than him, this much of a difference was basically non-existent to him.

BANG… the attacker zombie got up after pushing the debris aside and immediately charged at him bellowing loudly. [Brutal charge] the skill was way more powerful now; nonetheless, Simon did not feel like there was a need for him to dodge or get aside.

He simply extended his hands and said condescendingly "Flame Magic Mastery- [Flame Spear Barrage]".

But the next instant, he frowned his brows when he saw that nothing happened. He was unable to use or invoke any response from the flame Magic that he was so proud of.

"Gale Magic Mastery… Lightning Magic Mastery" What was happening, why was he suddenly unable to use any of his magic? Just as this thought surfaced in his mind, a notification popped up in front of him.

[Due to using a different form of energy other than the mystical energy, you are unable to harness the elements. A different method is needed to invoke the cry of the elements].

"What?!" that was the first reaction Simon had after reading the instruction and boom, the next thing he knew, the world was spinning around him.

Simon's body crashed onto the ground and only stopped after breaking a few big pieces of debris on the way. It seemed like he was tackled and sent airborne by the charge of the attacker zombie while he was distracted.

The situation had changed it was all cool and good when he was overpowering the attacker zombie with just his physical ability alone. However, to defeat it he needed to use his magic which he was unable to due to him using a different form of energy.

All along, he had been using the mystical energy to harness its different forms but it seemed that the same wasn't possible while using the curse energy. Simon tried channelling the mystical energy nonetheless, it failed for two reasons.

First, there was no mystical energy within the hall and secondly, his body can only absorb one energy at a time. That is to say, as long as his body hosted the curse energy, he cannot use mystical energy.

If he cannot use the mystical energy or his magic, then what should he do? Simon was pounded onto the ground and on the air like a ragdoll as he contemplated as to what his next set of actions should be.

Thanks to the powerful effect of the curse energy, that bolstered all his stats temporarily, his body had become so strong that he didn't feel much damage even when hurled like that.

[Your level is being temporarily bolstered by the curse energy. All your basic abilities and power are increased by tenfold]. He recalled the notification that had popped up when he absorbed the curse energy.

"I guess there is no other way than to use my physical prowess to best it" Simon used some force and easily got out of the grasp of the attacker zombie and sent it flying away just like it did to him.

Since the curse energy was boosting all his basic abilities by tenfold, then didn't it mean… at that moment, a wide pair of ominous bat-like wings and incisive claws that was coursing with curse energy, simultaneously protruded from his back and hands.

<strong> BOOOM…</strong> a debris that broke the speed of sound, was hurled towards him by the attacker zombie.

Simon who was still getting used to this newfound energy, extended his hand and casually swiped it down.

SHIIING… PSSHH… At that moment, a powerful incisive curse energy came out of his claws slashing the boulder like debris and the attacker zombie in the distance in one go.

<strong> GROAARRR…</strong> blood like a fountain erupted out of the zombie as it reeled back, fazed by the attack.

"So that's how the curse energy works" Simon commented looking at his ominous claws and the scene of destruction caused by his simple action. It seemed that he was wrong, he did not need his magic to kill the attacker zombie, his physical powers and basic abilities were enough to do the work.

Flashing a wicked smile, Simon flapped his wings and with a dull booming sound, he disappeared. No, that was not right, he had not actually disappeared but simply moved at a speed that was difficult for the eye to capture him.

The attacker zombie with its low intelligence was unable to tell where its target was. It looked all around when suddenly it felt a presence directly behind him.

The attacker zombie hurriedly turned around and extended his six hands to grab and mash its target when they suddenly fell down on the ground limply. It took a few seconds for the zombie to realise that its arms had been severed.

When it looked back up it saw Simon smiling sadistically at him. The next second a foot came flying at its face and sent it flying back in the distance.

<strong>BOOM…</strong> though the next it got back up once again.

<strong>ROOARR…</strong> the attacker zombie bellowed and regenerated its arms in a grotesque way and started hurling everything that was near it towards Simon in anger.

BANG… BANG… BANG… dozens of small and big debris came flying at him with the speed of a missile. Nevertheless, none of them managed to hit their mark as Simon was so fast that it seemed like he was teleporting and dodging all of the attacks.

FLAP… with every flap of his wings, he would cover the distance between him and his opponent in an instant.  Now that he was somewhat familiar with the curse energy he finally understood some of its uses.

It could be seen from how strong his flight ability and claws had become just from channelling curse energy into it. So what if he can't use his magic? His current physical prowess was enough to go against even a Demon Earl.

What was a attacker zombie compared to it? Although it would be a little troublesome given its uncanny regeneration, he still had the confidence to kill it given that its weakness should also be its head.

Simon laughed, he was sure that whoever set this trail, did not expect this kind of change to trigger.

Zipping through the barrage of debris, he appeared in front of the attacker zombie and threw a storm of punches towards it. The entire hall rocked with criss-crossing cracks appearing everywhere and soon even the ceiling was starting to collapse.

The scene had transitioned from him losing to suddenly having the upper hand was so drastic that even Simon had difficulty believing it.

After the rain of punches, the attacker zombie had a badly disfigured body with fist size holes dotting its figure. Nonetheless, its regeneration triggered swiftly repairing its body.

Simon smirked, this was precisely what he wanted. After fighting with the attacker zombie for a while, he finally understood how its uncanny regeneration worked. Since it instinctively only defended its head not allowing any attacks to pass through, it knew that was its weak point and any damage done to the other parts of its body could be swiftly healed by the regeneration.

However, as someone whose regeneration was similarly bolstered by the curse energy, he knew that when the body suffers too much damage, most of the energy within the body gets directed towards the wounds to close it leaving one defenceless for a moment.

Simon was waiting for that exact moment when the attacker zombies regeneration kicked in to deal it the final blow.