The cool morning air bit at Sam’s skin as he stood in the clearing, his shadow sword resting heavily in his grip. His father, arms crossed, surveyed him critically.

  “Again,” his father said, his voice firm but not harsh.

  Sam groaned, wiping sweat from his brow. “Dad, I’ve done this drill a hundred times today. My legs feel like lead, and my arms are noodles. How much longer?”

  His mother, seated nearby with an amused smile, chimed in. “As long as it takes for you to do it right, dear.”

  Sam scowled. “It feels right to me.”

  His father sighed and approached, crouching to draw a crude diagram in the dirt with a stick. “You keep crossing your feet when you step back to parry. It’s subtle, but it throws off your balance.” He stood and gestured for Sam to follow. “Watch.”

  Taking the stance, his father moved fluidly, each step measured and deliberate. “Every movement has to be intentional, Sam. Basics aren’t flashy, but they’re what keep you alive. If your footing’s off, it doesn’t matter how strong your attack is.”

  Sam gritted his teeth, gripping his sword tighter. “I get it,” he muttered, though frustration tinged his voice.

  “Do you?” his mother asked, her tone gentle. “Sam, we’re not making you do this to frustrate you. You’re rushing ahead, but if the foundation isn’t solid, everything will crumble when it matters most.”

  The words stung, but they hit home. Taking a deep breath, Sam nodded and stepped back into position.

  Later that night, the village was quiet, the faint glow of lanterns illuminating the streets. Sam had taken to practicing alone in the outskirts, the rhythmic sound of his sword cutting through the air calming his restless mind.

  That calm shattered when a guttural roar echoed through the woods. Sam froze, his heart lurching as a massive, wolf-like beast with glowing red eyes emerged from the trees.

  Its body crackled with residual demon mana, dark tendrils swirling around its legs.

  Sam barely had time to react before Isonorai and Lareth appeared, weapons drawn.

  “What is that thing?” Sam asked, his voice tight with fear.

  “A mana-infused beast,” Isonorai replied, summoning a glowing barrier around them. “Stronger, faster, and a lot angrier than your average monster.”

  “Perfect,” Sam muttered, his grip on his sword tightening.

  “No time to joke,” Lareth said, his tone unusually serious. “Stay focused, or we’re all dead.”

  The beast lunged, its speed almost impossible to track. Sam barely dodged, the wind from its claws grazing his face.

  “Sam, bind it!” Isonorai shouted, hurling a burst of magic to divert the creature’s attention.

  Nodding, Sam raised his sword. Shadows surged from its blade, snaking toward the beast’s legs. The tendrils wrapped tightly around its limbs, slowing its movements.

  “Now, Lareth!” Sam yelled.

  Lareth dashed forward, his Flowstrike technique a blur of motion. His strikes landed with precision, severing the tendons in the beast’s back legs. The creature howled, its movements faltering.

  But it wasn’t done yet. With a sudden burst of energy, it broke free from the shadows and lashed out wildly. A claw clipped Sam’s side, sending him sprawling to the ground.

  “Sam!” Isonorai screamed, rushing to his side.

  “I’m fine,” Sam groaned, clutching his bleeding ribs. “Just keep it distracted.”

  Isonorai summoned a torrent of fire, forcing the beast to retreat momentarily.

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  Despite the pain, Sam forced himself to his feet. “We can’t keep playing defense,” he said through gritted teeth. “We need to end this.”

  “What’s the plan?” Lareth asked, his breathing heavy.

  “Isonorai, keep the pressure on with your magic. Lareth, aim for its front legs. I’ll take the finishing strike.”

  Lareth raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that, kid?”

  Sam nodded, his resolve hardening. “Just trust me.”

  The plan unfolded perfectly. Isonorai’s fireballs kept the beast off balance, while Lareth’s strikes weakened its forelimbs. Sam channeled every ounce of mana into his sword, the blade glowing with dark energy.

  “Shadow Surge!” he yelled, leaping into the air.

  The blade struck true, slicing cleanly through the beast’s neck. Its body collapsed with a final, pained roar, the dark mana dissipating into the night.

  As they stood over the beast’s corpse, the group shared a moment of quiet relief.

  “You did well,” Lareth said, clapping Sam on the back.

  Sam winced but managed a small smile. “We did it together.”

  His mother and father arrived moments later, having heard the commotion. Seeing the dead beast, his father nodded in approval. “You’re starting to fight like a true adventurer, Sam.”

  Sam’s heart swelled with pride, but doubt lingered in the back of his mind.

  As he sat by the fire that night, he replayed the battle in his head. Every mistake, every misstep. He knew he’d improved, but the road ahead still felt impossibly long.

  “I’m not there yet,” he whispered, staring into the flames. “But I’ll get there. No matter how hard it gets.”

  The shadows danced around him, a reminder of the power he held—and the responsibility that came with it.

  The familiar chime of the system echoed in Sam’s mind as he wiped the sweat from his brow. The battle was over, but his heart was still racing.

  "Level Up! Congratulations, User: Sam! You have reached Level 20."

  Sam flinched at the sudden announcement, momentarily startled. “Oh, so now you decide to show up again?” he muttered under his breath.

  The system ignored his sarcasm, continuing in its usual neutral tone.

  "Updated Stats:

  Health: 415/415

  Mana: 450/450

  Strength: 62

  Agility: 54

  Sense: 50

  Reaction Speed: 59

  Reaction Time: 58

  Intellect: 53

  Perception: 52

  Stamina: 50."

  "New Skills Unlocked:

  Shadow Counter: Instantly retaliate when attacked, using an opponent's momentum against them.

  Mana Burst: Temporarily increases mana regeneration for sustained ability usage in battle."

  Sam stared at the air where the notifications hung, his fingers twitching. Normally, leveling up felt like an accomplishment, but tonight? It felt hollow.

  The sun began to peek over the horizon, casting warm hues across the field where the beast had fallen. Sam sat cross-legged on the ground, his shadow sword resting beside him. Isonorai and Lareth sat nearby, silent for once, the exhaustion from the night catching up to them.

  Isonorai broke the silence first, her voice soft. “We did good tonight.”

  “We survived,” Lareth corrected, leaning back on his elbows and glancing at Sam. “You did fine, kid. Don’t beat yourself up over it.”

  Sam didn’t reply right away. He traced patterns in the dirt with his finger, his thoughts swirling. His chest felt tight, like a weight was pressing down on it.

  “You’re wrong,” Sam mumbled finally, his voice almost drowned out by the chirping birds.

  Lareth raised an eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?”

  Sam clenched his fists. “I messed up so many times. I got hit when I shouldn’t have, froze when I needed to act... If you guys hadn’t been there, that thing would’ve killed me. I don’t feel fine. I feel... useless.”

  The raw honesty in his voice caught them both off guard. Isonorai shifted closer, placing a hand on his shoulder.

  “Sam, you’re ten,” she said gently. “No one expects you to be perfect—or to fight like someone twice your age. You’re learning.”

  Sam shook his head, his voice cracking. “I don’t want to be learning. I want to be strong enough now. Strong enough to protect everyone. If I keep messing up, people will get hurt, and it’ll be my fault.”

  Lareth sighed, sitting up straight. “Kid, let me tell you something about fighting.” He tapped his chest lightly. “I’ve been doing this my whole life, and I still mess up. The difference is, I’ve learned to accept that it happens and keep moving forward. No one’s perfect, Sam. Not me, not Isonorai, not your parents.”

  Sam looked up at him, his eyes wide and glassy. “But I don’t want anyone to die because of me.”

  “No one does,” Isonorai said softly. “But that’s not something you can control. All you can do is your best, and tonight? You did that. You’re allowed to be scared, Sam. You’re allowed to make mistakes.”

  Sam frowned, looking back down at his hands. “It doesn’t feel like enough.”

  As the sun rose higher, painting the sky in shades of gold and pink, Sam’s resolve hardened. He didn’t feel stronger, smarter, or faster—but he felt something stir deep inside.

  “I don’t know how to explain it,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “But I feel like I’ve been given this second chance for a reason. And if I don’t do everything I can to get stronger... to protect everyone, then what’s the point?”

  His voice cracked again at the end, and he quickly wiped at his eyes, embarrassed.

  Isonorai smiled softly. “You’ve got time, Sam. No one’s expecting you to save the world tomorrow. Take it one day at a time, okay?”

  Lareth stood, brushing dirt off his clothes. “You’ve got guts, kid. Just don’t let that gutsiness turn into stupidity, yeah? Now come on, let’s head back. I’m starving.”

  Sam stood too, gripping his shadow sword tightly. As they walked back toward the village, he glanced at the horizon, the weight in his chest easing slightly.

  “I’ll get stronger,” he whispered to himself, a faint smile on his lips. “Not for me, but for them. I won’t let this second chance go to waste.”

  And for the first time in what felt like forever, the path ahead didn’t feel so overwhelming. It felt like a challenge worth facing.