The sounds of battle roared through the house. Wood splintered and walls cracked as the demons tore through the structure, their claws slicing through everything in their path. Caross and Claire stood firm, battered but unwavering, a last, desperate line of defense for their son.

  Their eyes met for a fleeting moment amid the chaos, and in that glance, a silent promise passed between them: they would fight to the death if it meant protecting Sam.

  "Not answering, huh?" The Demon Commander’s voice dripped with contempt, his twisted grin gleaming in the dim light. "I’ll ask again. Do you want to live… or die?"

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

  A sword materialized in his hand, its edge glowing with an otherworldly light. Without hesitation, he tossed a second blade to Claire, who caught it effortlessly. Their eyes locked again, an unspoken understanding passing between them: this was their stand, no matter the cost.

  Caross surged forward, his sword cleaving through the air toward the nearest demon. The blade connected with its neck—but stopped short. The creature’s skin was like steel, the strike barely leaving a mark. The demon laughed, a guttural, mocking sound that sent shivers through the room.

  Caross gritted his teeth, his muscles straining. "Rage Form One!" he bellowed, and the air around him erupted with crackling energy. Yellow flames burst from his body, encasing him in a fiery aura. His muscles bulged with newfound power as he launched another strike.

  This time, the blade cut clean through the demon’s neck, severing its head in a single, brutal motion. The room trembled as the force of the attack sent shockwaves through the air.

  But Caross’s power came at a cost. With each swing of his blade, the flames that fueled him began to flicker, draining his strength faster than he could control.

  Claire moved with a deadly grace, her sword a blur as she weaved through the battlefield. Each strike was precise, each movement calculated. One demon fell, then another, their grotesque forms collapsing under her blade. But even as she fought, her breaths came faster, her body slowing.

  A sharp pain tore through her side. One of the demons had slashed her, its claws cutting deep into her flesh. Blood soaked her tunic, and a burning pain spread through her body.

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

  With a fierce leap, she vaulted off a demon’s body, spinning midair before driving her blade through its chest. The creature fell, writhing, before it crumbled to the ground.

  But Claire was running on borrowed time. She landed beside Caross, dropping to one knee as exhaustion overtook her. Her breaths were shallow, her strength rapidly fading.

  Caross collapsed beside her, the flames around him flickering out. His body trembled as he gripped his sword for support, his voice ragged. "We can’t stop now. We have to protect him."

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  Sam stood frozen in the doorway, his small frame trembling as he watched his parents fight. The sound of their blades, the roar of the demons, the destruction—it all crashed over him like a tidal wave.

  His heart hammered in his chest, his breaths coming in short, shallow gasps. "This is just like the nightmare," he whispered, his voice shaking. "I’m standing here, watching them die."

  Tears stung his eyes as he clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. His parents were giving everything to protect him, and yet he could do nothing.

  You’re too young. You’re too weak. The voice of doubt screamed in his mind, paralyzing him.

  "Think, Sam! Think!" he yelled to himself, his voice cracking with frustration. But his thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, spiraling into despair.

  He looked at his parents. They were slowing down, their movements faltering. Blood dripped from their wounds, pooling on the floor.

  He couldn’t let this happen.

  Not again.

  Then, he saw it—a demon Claire had struck earlier, writhing on the ground, weakened but not yet dead.

  This is your chance, a voice whispered in his mind.

  Sam’s fear twisted into something else: determination.

  He reached deep within himself, calling on the power that had been dormant for so long. "Shadow Sword," he whispered, his voice trembling but resolute.

  Dark energy swirled around him, coalescing into the shape of a blade. The weapon pulsed with power, its edge sharp and cold. Sam’s hand trembled as he gripped the hilt, the weight of the sword filling him with a strange certainty.

  His legs moved before his mind caught up. He sprinted toward the demon, his small body propelled by a surge of adrenaline.

  With a fierce cry, he plunged the Shadow Sword into the creature’s skull.

  You Have Leveled Up 7 Times!

  A notification rang out in his mind, but Sam barely registered it. He pulled the sword free, his breaths ragged as he turned toward the remaining demons.

  With each level gained, he felt stronger, faster, sharper. The fear that had gripped him was gone, replaced by an overwhelming sense of purpose.

  He charged at the next demon, his strikes precise and unrelenting. The Shadow Sword sliced through their defenses like a knife through paper. One by one, they fell under his blade, their twisted forms collapsing in heaps around him.

  The room fell silent. Sam stood amidst the carnage, the Shadow Sword still crackling with energy in his hand. His chest heaved as he surveyed the destruction.

  Only one figure remained.

  The Demon Commander stepped forward, his towering form casting a long shadow over the room. He clapped slowly, his claws clicking together.

  "Impressive," he said, his voice a low growl. "I see now why the others fell. But do you really think you can defeat me, boy?"

  Sam tightened his grip on the sword, his body tense but ready. "You came here for me," he said, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. "And now you’ll leave… dead."

  The Commander’s grin widened. "Bold words for a child."

  He lunged forward, his claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed.

  Sam moved on instinct, the Shadow Sword meeting the demon’s claws in a shower of sparks. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, but Sam didn’t falter.

  This was it—the fight that would decide everything.

  He wasn’t just fighting for himself.

  He was fighting for his parents. For their future. For a chance to live.

  The fear that had once consumed him was gone, replaced by a blazing resolve.

  "I won’t let you win," he said through gritted teeth.

  The Commander laughed, his voice echoing through the ruined house. "Then show me, boy. Show me the power of the shadows!"

  And with that, the battle began.

  To Be Continued…