The nightmare hit Sam like a wave of ice-cold water, shattering his peaceful slumber. His breath caught in his throat as he witnessed the unthinkable.


    "Mum... Dad... please, don''t kill them! You DEMON! Please, I beg of you!"


    His voice echoed in the abyss of his dream as he saw them—his parents, bound, helpless. A dark figure loomed over them, its grotesque hand raised high, and in an instant—Slash! Slash!


    Blood sprayed into the air as Caross and Claire’s heads fell from their shoulders, their lifeless eyes staring into the void. The sound of their bodies hitting the floor was a sickening thud that rang in Sam’s ears.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    Time froze. Sam looked up at the demon, its eyes glowing with malice, as it turned its wicked grin upon him.


    "NOOOOOOO! YOU MONSTER!" Sam screamed, his voice raw with agony. He reached out desperately, but the world around him shattered.


    Suddenly, Sam’s eyes snapped open, and he gasped for air. Sweat soaked his brow, his heart hammering in his chest. It was just a nightmare. Just a nightmare. But... something felt wrong. The dream had felt too real. He could still feel the terror, the helplessness of watching his parents die. Why did it feel like he was there—trapped in that moment, unable to stop the inevitable?


    He sat up in his bed, his hands trembling. He grabbed the nearest stool and walked to the window, staring out into the darkness of the night. Just a nightmare, he reminded himself, trying to calm his racing thoughts. But deep down, his gut twisted with unease. In his old life, nightmares sometimes came true. What if this one does too?


    The thought gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside. No matter if it’s true... He clutched his chest, feeling the reassuring weight of the Book of Shadows’ blessing within him. I have the power now. I’ll be fine.


    But even as he reassured himself, a deep sense of dread lingered. He jumped up and down, his anger building. Why am I getting so frustrated? His emotions were a tangled mess, an overwhelming flood of anxiety, fear, and anger. The nightmare had left him rattled, and no amount of self-talk could shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.


    He clenched his fists and threw the stool aside. Focus, Sam. It’s your birthday tomorrow. Get some rest. He lay back down, trying to calm his mind, but even then, the thought of the demons lurking in his nightmares clung to him. What if they were real? What if they were coming for him?


    In the end, he managed to fall into a more peaceful sleep. His dreams were quiet—calm, even. But somewhere deep inside, his subconscious still whispered warnings, shadows moving on the edges of his mind.<hr>


    Morning came bright and cheerful, but to Sam, it felt like a false dawn. He awoke to the sound of his parents’ voices—cheerful, too cheerful. It reminded him of the way a typical isekai protagonist would be greeted after defeating the final boss. The kind of happiness that seemed too good to be true.


    Still groggy, Sam rubbed his eyes, blinking as the sunlight streamed through his window. His parents were smiling widely, their faces radiating joy.


    "Happy birthday, son!" Caross and Claire exclaimed, their voices filled with excitement.


    Sam didn’t have time to respond before his mother picked him up. Instinctively, he squeezed her chest—it was soft, smooth. For a moment, he froze, then quickly pulled away, looking up at her face to see if she was upset. She blushed slightly but didn’t scold him. Instead, she seemed to let it slide, her maternal love outweighing any embarrassment. It’s my birthday after all, she thought, smiling warmly.


    Caross, watching from the doorway, sighed quietly to himself. "You''re lucky, son," he muttered under his breath.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    They all headed downstairs, and as they entered the living room, Claire covered Sam’s eyes with her hands, leading him carefully to the center of the room.


    "Three, two, one... Surprise! Happy birthday!" they cheered together.


    Sam''s eyes widened as he looked around at his presents. There were three things that caught his attention: A white crystal, a penguin teddy bear, and four pieces of paper. His gaze lingered on the papers, curiosity bubbling up inside him.


    Caross, noticing his son’s interest, spoke up. "Son, those four pieces of paper will decide what path you’ll take to enhance or hone your abilities. Pick one, and we’ll arrange for a tutor to guide you."


    Sam eagerly picked up the papers and examined them. The first read Swordsman, the second said Emotion Enhancer, the third said Rage Manager, and the fourth said Learn Magic.


    Magic... That seemed like the obvious choice. He already had the Book of Shadows’ blessing, after all. But there was something about the other papers that piqued his curiosity. Rage Manager? Emotion Enhancer? What were those even about?


    But in the end, magic called to him most strongly. It was a power he could wield, a power that felt like home. He picked the paper marked Learn Magic and clutched it tightly. "I choose magic," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.


    Claire smiled proudly. "Look, honey, he’s going to be just like us."


    Caross, looking at Sam, frowned slightly. "Don''t you mean just like me? Since you were mostly a swordsman?" he said bluntly.


    Claire smirked, teasing. "I was the one who taught you the real power, remember?"


    Caross’s pride took a small hit, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to Sam, eyes softening. "You may not understand this, Sam, but that white crystal is a Divine Crystal. It specializes in divine power. It’s not just any normal crystal—it’s a Level 57 Divine Crystal, one of the rarest in the world."


    Sam blinked. Level 57? That sounded... important.


    Caross looked concerned. "Wait, Claire. Isn’t there only 15 of these in the entire world, excluding this one?"


    Claire nodded solemnly. "Yes, and they’re not something that can be easily used. Once inserted into your brain, it’s permanent."


    Sam didn’t fully understand the implications, but his mind raced with thoughts of what the crystal could do. It was clearly powerful. He wondered if it could be analyzed. Would it tell him more about its true nature?


    New skill unlocked Analyse


    Accept skill? Y/N


    Congratulations you have learned the skill Analyse!


    Analyse


    Analysing Divine Crystal level!


    Analysis complete Divine Crystal Level 57


    Skill Analysis level 1


    50,000 XP required to level up the skill Analyse.


    He activated the new skill he had just unlocked, Analyse, and instantly, the crystal’s properties appeared in his mind.


    Divine Crystal Level 57. An incredibly rare and powerful item with immense divine energy.


    Sam’s heart raced with excitement. I’ve got to be careful with this. He didn’t know what it was for yet, but he had a feeling it would be important in the near future.


    Before he could think further, Claire’s expression turned serious. "Just how much money are we talking about..."


    Her words were cut off by a chilling, guttural sound. Outside the house, a blue teleportation circle appeared in the air, crackling with dark energy. One by one, demons began emerging from it, their figures horrific and grotesque. Soon, 21 demons stood in front of the house, their eyes filled with malicious intent.


    Demon 1, the commander, looked around. "This is where the mana is coming from, isn''t it?" he growled.


    The demons moved swiftly, destroying everything in their path. Walls cracked and splintered under their assault. Claire and Caross exchanged a brief glance, their hearts sinking. Demons. They had come for something. But what?


    Sam instinctively reached for the crystal in his pocket, ready for whatever was coming.


    The demons, breaking down the walls piece by piece, quickly made their way to the front room. A fist the size of a boulder crashed through the wall, and the demons poured in, their eyes hungry for destruction.


    Claire and Caross looked at each other in horror. There were too many of them. The demons were too strong. They could only take a handful down, but what about the rest?


    Sam’s eyes widened, his heart pounding. He turned to his parents, terrified. They’re here to kill us.


    Claire, her voice shaking, gathered all her courage. "Why are you here? What do you want from us?"


    The demon commander grinned. "What do I want? I’m here to kill your son."


    At those words, Claire and Caross’s worst fears came to life.


    To Be Continued...