Later that night, in the quiet of their room, Zane and Freya spoke about their son, Ethan, his exceptional fire magic and the immense mana he possessed.
"I don't think we should let Ethan train or push his strength any further. Did you see the amount of fire he produced even at his age?" Zane said, his voice tense, frustration etched across his face as he paced the room.
His concern wasn't without reason.
In the past, it was his own overwhelming mana that had drawn high-level demons to their village, igniting the first demon invasion.
The thought of history repeating itself, this time through his son, filled him with dread.
Freya understood the weight behind Zane's worries, truthfully, she hadn't expected Ethan to inherit so much of his father's power. Still, she needed to ease his mind. Gently, she pulled him down to sit beside her and let his head rest on her lap. Her fingers moved softly through his hair, calming him as he stared silently at the ceiling, lost in thought.
"Don't worry, my love. Ethan will be fine," Freya said softly, her voice calm despite the weight she carried in her heart. "All we need to do now is find a mana-suppressing item for him. With that, we'll have nothing to fear." Though her tone was steady, she shared every bit of Zane's concern.
Not only did her words ease the storm in his mind, but her gentle touch made the tension in his body fade away.
Zane let out a quiet breath, resting against her. In moments like this, he was reminded just how much strength he drew from her presence.
He truly didn't know what kind of man he would've become if he hadn't married Freya.
A sudden scream tore through the quiet night, echoing from the third floor—Ethan's room.
Both Zane and Freya jolted upright, their eyes meeting in alarm. Without a word, Zane was already on his feet, racing toward the door with Freya close behind.
Only to find one of the maids frozen in place, her eyes wide with fear and fixed on the hallway ahead. She stood trembling, unable to speak, as if caught in a nightmare.
Zane stormed past her and flung open the door to Ethan's room, only to find it empty.
"Where is my son?!" he roared, his voice shaking the walls as he turned back to the maid.
"I—I don't know, my lord," the maid stammered, bowing her head with terror. "I came to check on him like usual, but… he was already gone. I swear, I have no idea how.... "
Freya's heart dropped. Panic settled in her chest like ice. She darted through the mansion, calling Ethan's name, checking every room, every hallway, every hidden corner she could remember. But nothing.
The household fell into chaos. Servants scrambled, lanterns were lit, guards were summoned, but Ethan was nowhere to be found, neither within the mansion nor around its grounds.
Zane wasted no time. With fury and desperation burning in his veins, he saddled a horse. Freya climbed up beside him, holding tightly to her worry. The young maid responsible for Ethan, pale and trembling, was pulled up as well.
Without waiting for further explanation, they charged out into the village, the night wind cold against their skin.
Their only goal was simply to bring their son home.
Deep within the forest, Ethan moved with quiet determination, his small frame cutting through the underbrush with surprising speed. Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting pale shadows along his path as he pushed his body to its limit.
Breathing heavily, he dropped to the ground and began the final set of sit-ups. Sweat clung to his skin, his muscles ached, but his eyes burned with resolve. This wasn't just training, it was just his beginning.
Moments later, a faint chime echoed in his mind as the system updated.
— QUEST ALERT —
[10 Push-Ups: Success]
[10 Sit-Ups: Success]
[1km Jog: Success]
[Kill a Demon: Unsuccessful]
Ethan wiped the sweat from his brow, standing tall as he glanced deeper into the woods.
Barks echoed through the forest, bouncing off trees from every direction, growing louder and closer.
Ethan's instincts screamed danger, but his body was still recovering from the intense training, he could barely lift his body, let alone run away.
Still, he kept his breathing steady, heart pounding but mind clear.
He crouched low, eyes scanning the shadows, ears tuned to the smallest rustle.
Grabbing a nearby stone, he flung it toward the thick brush where the sound had come from. A sharp thunk echoed through the night followed by a low, menacing growl.
"Got you," Ethan whispered, a grin forming despite the tension.
His past life's countless hours of action games and tactical simulations weren't useless after all. The patterns, the movement, the anticipation, it all felt familiar. But this wasn't a game, this was real.
Then, from the darkness, it emerged.
A massive fox stepped into the moonlight. Its body was larger than Ethan's, covered in crimson fur that shimmered unnaturally. But it wasn't just the size that made it terrifying.
Its jaw was metallic, cold steel fused into flesh and each incisor gleamed with a deadly sharpness. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Ethan with a hunger that sent chills down his spine.
The System popped up again.
DING!
— QUEST —
[Kill the Demon]
[Demonic Beast Detected: Hellfang Fox]
Ethan stared at the screen. The battle was unavoidable now, but in his current condition, there was nothing he could do. His body was bruised, his stamina almost drained… until suddenly....
DING!
— SYSTEM MESSAGE —
[New Item Acquired: Lifestone Elixir]
[Explanation]: A shimmering golden potion stored in crystal vials, the Lifestone Elixir is brewed from rare soulgrass, moonpetal herbs, and crushed lifestone shards found only near mana-rich waterfalls. When consumed, it rapidly accelerates cell regeneration, closes open wounds, and restores lost vitality.
[Effects]:
- Instantly heals minor to severe injuries
- Boosts natural healing for a short time
- Restores a small portion of stamina and mana
[Quantity: 3/10]
Without hesitation, Ethan uncorked one vial and downed it in a single gulp. A warm energy surged through his veins, knitting wounds, easing the pain, and refilling his strength.
[Quantity: 2/10]
"This should do it," Ethan muttered, stretching his hand toward the system reach out to his black blade.
[Weapon: Black Blade] — Access Denied
[You are not strong enough to wield this weapon]
[Executioner Class: Locked]
The system rejected him.
His grip tightened. Without access to his Executioner class or the Black Blade, he had only one choice left, fire magic. The very technique his father taught him.
"Alright then," he whispered. "Let's burn."
Ethan whispered the incantation, just as his father had taught him. Mana surged from his core, swirling into his palms and condensing into a bright sphere of flame.
He hurled the fireball with all his strength.
It soared through the air and struck the fox dead-on, erupting into a burst of flames that lit nearby trees ablaze.
"Yes!" he gasped, eyes darting to the system screen, anticipating a level-up notification.
Nothing appeared.
His grin faded.
From within the smoke, the Hellfang Fox stepped out, completely unharmed. Its red fur smoldered, but it wore no burns. Its crimson eyes glowed with rage, and its metal jaw snapped with a sharp clang.
The wind shifted through the forest, carrying tension with it.
A new system message blinked into view.
[Hellfang Fox: Lv. 20]
[Your Level: Lv. 5]
Ethan's breath caught in his throat. He took a step back.
'Run'..... That was the only thought that remained.
He turned and sprinted, tearing through bushes and roots, pushing his small body harder than ever before. The Hellfang Fox chased close behind, each thunderous step shaking the earth beneath him.
This wasn't fear of a monster.
This was fear of dying again.
Tears spilled from his eyes as he ran. "I thought the Black Blade would help me… I thought I could win…"
His confidence shattered.
Behind him, more demonic howls echoed through the forest. Three more Hellfang Foxes had caught the scent of mana, and they were closing in fast.
Branches whipped at his face. Panic burned in his chest as the forest blurred past him.
This wasn't what I expected.
He was just a scared kid running for his life.
As Ethan ran, his foot snagged on a twisted root buried beneath the underbrush. He crashed to the ground hard, a sharp pain shooting through his leg. Dirt scraped his arms and blood trickled from a fresh wound on his knee.
He tried to stand, but his leg gave out beneath him.
Barely able to move, he dragged himself behind a nearby tree, pressing his back against the rough bark. He clutched his mouth shut with trembling hands, biting back the urge to cry out. The pain was unbearable, but the fear was worse.
The forest fell silent. Footsteps padded through the leaves. Low growls echoed all around.
They're searching for me…
His heartbeat pounded in his ears. Every second felt like an eternity. His body shook from dread.
Why did i come here?
He had mistaken confidence for strength and belief for preparation. The forest didn't care about excuses, and neither did the demons hunting him now.
Shame weighed heavily on him. Regret curled deep into his stomach.
Then.... TUNK!
His foot nudged a loose stone. It rolled forward, bumping another with a dull knock.
The foxes growled in unison, ears perking, eyes scanning.
They turned toward his direction.
Shallow breath surged out as Ethan tried to crawl away, but it was too late.
One of the Hellfang Foxes leapt from the shadows, its massive form colliding with him, knocking the air from his lungs. Its breath was hot. Its metal jaw snapped dangerously close to his neck.
Ethan screamed. A desperate, terrified cry, echoing through the empty forest.
But no one came, he was alone out in the dark with his predators.
Ravens burst from the trembling trees, their wings slicing through the night air like knives. The forest had gone still, too still, just before they took flight, as if the world itself had held its breath.