The sounds of battle echoed through the house as the demons ransacked the walls, their claws and limbs tearing through the structure like it was made of paper. Caross and Claire, both warriors in their own right, were the last line of defense for their son. Their eyes locked for a moment, and in that glance, Sam could see the silent promise in their faces — they would fight to the death if it meant protecting him.


    "Not answering, huh? I''ll say again. Do you want to live or die? Your choice," the Demon Commander sneered, his voice dripping with malice.


    "Bring it on, you demon scum!" Caross growled, his voice a mix of fury and resolve.


    Without hesitation, two swords manifested in his hands, their edges gleaming with an otherworldly sheen. He tossed one to Claire, who caught it with practiced ease. The two exchanged a look — one that said everything: no matter the cost, they would protect their son.


    Caross lunged at the nearest demon, his sword slashing through the air. The blade connected with the demon’s neck, but it didn’t even budge. The creature’s skin was like steel, a wicked grin spreading across its twisted face.


    Back flipping to gain distance, Caross gritted his teeth. "Rage Form 1!" he shouted, the air around him crackling as yellow flames burst from his body like an unstoppable storm. His muscles bulged, the power coursing through him, but even as he swung his sword again, he felt the terrifying weight of his own limitations. The demon’s neck didn’t give, but the blade shimmered with a blinding yellow light.


    "I have to do this. I must protect Sam," Caross thought, feeling the power of his rage building up within him, threatening to consume him if he didn’t finish the fight quickly.


    With another strike, his sword cleaved the demon’s head clean off. The energy from the blow sent a ripple through the room as Caross dispatched two more demons with the same brutal efficiency. But with every kill, the flames that fueled him began to wane, the power draining his body faster than he could handle.


    Meanwhile, Claire danced around the battlefield, her movements graceful but deadly. She was a master of speed, her sword a blur of lethal precision as she decapitated one demon after another. But even the mighty Claire was beginning to feel the strain.


    She caught one demon''s arm mid-swing, severing it with a single strike before flipping to her next target. The next demon’s head met her blade in a swift death, but as she killed, the toll on her body became evident. A deep, burning pain spread across her chest — one of the demons had slashed her side, and she could feel the blood oozing out, weakening her.


    "Just a little longer," she whispered to herself, her vision beginning to blur. She couldn’t stop now.


    With a fierce leap, she used a demon’s body as a springboard, launching herself into the air to deliver a final, explosive strike. The demon fell, burned and broken, but Claire was far from unharmed. She landed beside Caross, kneeling as exhaustion overtook her. Her strength was fading.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Caross collapsed to his knees, his body trembling from the toll of his power. His breathing was ragged, the rage form draining his very life force.


    Claire fell to her knees beside him, her face pale from blood loss, but her gaze never left the fight. "We can''t stop now, Caross. We must protect Sam."


    Sam stood there, helpless, watching his parents fight for their lives. His heart hammered in his chest as fear gripped him. "Wait, am I scared? I should be, but... why does this feel so familiar?" he whispered to himself.


    His mind raced back to the nightmare — the same scene, the same helplessness. My parents… they died because I couldn’t do anything. I just stood there like a lost child. But now... His fists clenched at his sides. I have the Book of Shadows’ Blessing. I have power. I have to do something. If I don’t, they’ll die, just like in my dream.


    His vision blurred with a mix of anger and fear. He had always been told that he was too young, too weak to stand against demons. He was only one year old — what could he possibly do against beings of such immense power?


    "Think, Sam! Think!" His thoughts became frantic, his eyes darting around the room, searching for any sign of hope. But there was nothing — only demons, only destruction. His parents were struggling, fading fast, and all he could do was stand there, paralyzed by the weight of his own weakness.


    But then, he noticed it. One of the demons, the one Claire had burned with her last attack, was twitching. Sam’s heart skipped a beat. That’s my chance!


    His eyes burned with determination. "Shadow''s Sword," he murmured. Dark energy pulsed around him, coalescing into a menacing, ethereal blade. His hand trembled as he gripped the hilt, the sword’s power filling him with a cold, almost unnatural certainty.


    He ran at the demon, his small body moving with more speed than he had ever known, and plunged the shadow blade deep into its skull.


    You have Leveled Up 7 Times!


    A notification rang out in his mind, and Sam barely noticed. <em style="font-family: var(--rx-font-text)">Level up? His body felt stronger, more attuned to the power flowing through him. He felt the familiar pulse of energy surging within, but there was no time to celebrate. More demons were coming, and his parents were on the verge of collapse.


    "Level up!" Sam heard the notifications continue, and with each level gained, his stats increased. He felt faster, stronger, sharper. He could feel the power inside him now.


    He didn’t wait. With newfound strength, he charged toward the remaining demons, each strike faster than the last, each swing of the blade more precise. He killed one demon, then another. His body moved with an almost instinctive grace, the dark power of the shadows coursing through him, shaping his every move.


    In mere moments, the room was filled with fallen demons, their bodies strewn about in every direction. Sam stood alone, the shadow sword in his hand, breathing heavily. But he wasn’t done. Not yet.


    He turned to face the Demon Commander, who stood tall, his expression unreadable. "Impressive, little boy," the demon growled. "But you can’t win. Your power... it’s intoxicating, but it’s not enough."


    "I’ll make it enough," Sam said, his voice steady, but his mind was a storm of thoughts and emotions. He had leveled up, yes, but how much more would he need to survive? How much more to protect his parents?


    "You came here for me," Sam said, his voice louder, filled with the weight of resolve. "And now you’ll leave... dead."


    The Commander laughed darkly, his claws clicking together as he sized Sam up. "You think you can stop me? I’ve killed children before. You are no different."


    Sam didn’t respond. He only tightened his grip on the sword, his body shaking with the anticipation of the final battle. This was it. This was his chance to change his fate. To change everything.


    For his parents. For himself.


    For his future.