Sam''s heart pounded like a drum, each beat a reminder of the life-or-death stakes before him. The towering Demon Commander loomed, its grotesque form radiating an aura of malevolence. Every fiber of his being screamed that he was no match, that he was just a one-year-old child facing a monster far beyond his capabilities.


    Can I really do this? Can I defeat this thing? The thought lingered, a dark cloud of doubt weighing heavily on his mind. He glanced back at his parents, their battered bodies lying motionless on the blood-stained ground. His chest tightened. I have to. If I don’t, they’ll die... and it’ll be my fault.


    Sam''s hands trembled as he gripped his shadow blade tighter. Think, Sam. Think! He forced himself to focus, to find a solution. That’s when he remembered the faint warmth in his pocket—the divine crystal. His fingers brushed against its surface as he pulled it out, but his mind blanked. How do I use it? What did Mom say?


    “Deep breaths, stay calm,” Sam whispered to himself, shaking his head to clear the panic. He turned his focus back to the Demon Commander, who watched him with a smug expression, as if he were toying with a bug.


    No more hesitation. Sam pounced, his body moving on instinct. He leapt forward, his sword aimed at the commander’s abdomen. The blade struck true, but the demon’s hardened flesh absorbed most of the impact. Gritting his teeth, Sam kicked off the demon’s thigh, using it as a platform to thrust his blade toward the creature''s neck.


    The Demon Commander growled, its massive fist catching Sam mid-air with a bone-crushing punch to his stomach. The force was so overwhelming it sent ripples through the ground, shattering nearby debris. Sam crashed into the wall of his house with a thunderous boom, leaving a crater behind as his body slumped to the ground, half-conscious.


    The pain was unbearable, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. He glanced at the divine crystal, its dim glow pulsing faintly in his hand. "What did Mom say…?" he muttered, fighting through the haze of his mind.


    <hr>


    “This crystal is our family’s heirloom,” Claire’s voice echoed in his memory. “But no one’s ever used it. Once it’s inserted into your brain, it can never be removed.”


    <hr>


    Sam stared at the crystal, his vision blurring. "So... I just…?" He pressed the crystal to his forehead, and before he could think twice, it sank into his skin. A searing pain erupted in his skull, causing him to scream out, clutching his head as the transformation began.


    <hr>


    Crystal Transformation Process Initiated.


    11%...


    42%...


    55%...


    79%...


    90%...


    99%...


    100%. Transformation Complete.


    <hr>


    A surge of energy flooded Sam’s body, and new knowledge filled his mind. He could feel the crystal’s power merging with his being.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    New Skill Unlocked: Reborn Battler Divination.


    <hr>


    Reborn Battler Divination: A divine combat buff that increases physical attack by 7% and physical defense by 4%.


    <hr>


    "Use skill: Reborn Battler Divination," Sam commanded, his voice stronger than before. Power coursed through his veins, but just as he steadied himself, the Demon Commander strode toward him, each step deliberate and menacing.


    "Is that all you’ve got?" the Commander mocked. "I can’t expect much from a child, after all."


    Sam’s eyes burned with fury. "Shut up! I’m going to kill you for what you’ve done!"


    The demon smirked. "Bold words. You know, I might even let you live—if you become my subordinate. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to order that demon over there to finish off your parents."


    Sam’s heart skipped a beat, his chest tightening in fear. The Commander’s voice was cold, calculated, dripping with sadistic pleasure.


    <hr>


    Thud. Thud. Thud. Sam’s heart raced faster than ever. This was the nightmare again—the one he’d been running from. The one where he lost everything because he was too weak.


    <hr>


    The Demon Commander began to count down. "Fourteen seconds to decide, child. Become mine, or lose everything. Fourteen… thirteen… twelve…"


    Sam frantically scrolled through the system shop in his mind, desperate for something—anything—to save his parents and himself. His fingers flicked through options as the timer ticked down.


    <hr>


    Health Replenishment Purchased.


    Sam felt warmth flood his body as his wounds began to close, the bleeding slowing to a stop. But he needed more.


    <hr>


    "Ten… nine… eight…"


    Mana Recovery Purchased.


    His depleted mana reserves began to fill, giving him a small glimmer of hope.


    <hr>


    "Three… two…"


    "Use skill: Scale-a-Pult!" Sam shouted, cutting the countdown short. Dark energy crackled as the new skill activated. The Demon Commander’s smug expression shifted to confusion, then pain, as his own scales were ripped from his body and hurled back at him as deadly projectiles. Each scale pierced his flesh with precision, leaving deep, oozing wounds.


    "Arghhh! What is this?!" the Commander roared, his voice filled with agony. His subordinate demon fell lifelessly, collateral damage in the attack.


    Sam didn’t smile. He didn’t feel victory—only fury. His parents lay unconscious, bloodied and pale. The sight made something inside him snap.


    "You’ll pay for what you’ve done to them!" Sam yelled, tears stinging his eyes as he launched himself at the Commander again. His sword flashed through the air as he clashed with the demon, again and again. Every strike carried his anger, his desperation, his resolve.


    The Demon Commander staggered under the relentless assault, his once-imposing form now riddled with wounds. Yet he refused to fall. With a guttural roar, the Commander made a final, desperate move, lunging toward Sam’s parents with claws outstretched.


    "No!" Sam screamed, his body moving faster than he thought possible. He twisted mid-air, angling his blade. With all his strength, he brought it down at a sharp angle, the edge slicing cleanly through the demon’s neck.


    The Commander’s body collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash, his head rolling to a stop a few feet away. Silence filled the air as Sam stood there, breathing heavily, his sword trembling in his hand.


    <hr>


    Sam dropped to his knees beside his parents, tears streaming down his face. "I… I did it," he whispered, his voice cracking. "Mom… Dad… you’re safe now."


    The adrenaline faded, leaving only exhaustion and the weight of everything he’d just endured. For the first time, he let himself cry—not just for the pain, but for the relief of knowing they were still alive.


    As he looked at their faces, he made a vow to himself: I’ll get stronger. I’ll protect them. No matter what it takes.