Ethan struggled beneath the crushing weight of the demon fox's claws, its grip digging mercilessly into his small frame. He thrashed, gasping, trying to break free, but it was useless. There was only one thought echoing in his mind, sharp and final.
Death.
For the first time, he truly understood the wrath and coldness of demons. This wasn't some boss fight with a restart button. This was real. And in real life, there were no second chances.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he clenched his eyes shut, heart racing, breath caught. He stopped fighting. Fear turned to quiet surrender. If this was how it ended… he didn't want to see it.
Then...
CHUCK!
A sharp sound split the night. Something fast, faster than his thoughts, sliced through the air.
The fox jerked violently. Its claws loosened.
An arrow jutted from its skull, buried deep between the glowing red eyes. The beast collapsed beside him with a heavy thud, lifeless in an instant.
Ethan blinked, trembling, blood pounding in his ears.
It was a miracle he was still alive.
Ethan turned his trembling gaze toward the direction the arrow had come from. His breath caught.
There, standing just beyond the trees, were his parents, their expressions a mix of fury and desperation. Behind them, the young maid stood pale and shaken, barely keeping up.
"Mom… Dad…" Ethan's voice cracked. Guilt surged through him, heavy and sharp. His eyes welled with fresh tears.
Zane rushed forward, dropping to his knees. "Are you alright, my son?" he asked, his voice hoarse with worry. Freya was right beside him, already pulling Ethan into her arms, her hands frantically checking for wounds and bruises.
Then... smack!
Freya's palm struck Ethan's cheek. Not hard, but enough to make the forest fall silent again. The pain wasn't physical, it was the sting of her fear.
Tears rolled freely down her face as she pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Don't ever scare us like that again, okay?" she whispered, voice breaking.
Ethan clung to her, his body trembling.
"I'm so sorry, Mother," he said through sobs, the weight of everything finally crashing down on him.
Before Freya could even turn, the remaining two Hellfang Foxes lunged from the shadows, fangs bared and eyes blazing with bloodlust.
But they never reached her.
In the blink of an eye, Zane's sword flashed through the air, twice.
Two clean strikes.
Two heads hit the forest floor with a dull thud.
Time itself seemed to pause, as if stunned by the sheer precision and speed of the execution.
Zane stood over their corpses, blade dripping, his eyes glowing with rage. "Come near my family again," he growled, voice low and deadly, "and I'll make you regret being born."
Even in death, the foxes weren't free from his hatred.
Behind him, Ethan had gone limp in Freya's arms, the exhaustion of the night's horrors finally overtaking him. His breathing was soft, calm now. He was now Safe.
Zane mounted his horse, glancing back once to ensure Freya had settled Ethan in her lap.
The young maid climbed onto her own, pale and still shaken, climbed unto her own horse. Her eyes fixed on the bloodied forest's floor.
Without a word, they rode out of the forest, leaving behind the bloodied soil and burned trees.
The night had been cruel, but their son was alive. That was all that mattered.
*****
The morning approached the next day.
Morning sunlight poured through the tall window panes of Ethan's room, casting soft golden streaks across the floor. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open. He sat upright, blinking against the light, his mind still clouded with memories of the night before.
The forest, the chase from the foxes and the pain he had to endure to stay alive.
He glanced down at his body, expecting to see wounds, bruises, blood or anything. But there was nothing. His skin was smooth, healed completely. Not even a scar remained.
"What…?" he muttered, lifting his hands in disbelief.
Then, DING!
A familiar chime echoed in his head, and a translucent screen appeared before him.
— SYSTEM MESSAGE —
[Kill a Demon: Unsuccessful]
[Failed to kill the Hellfang Fox]
Ethan's face twisted with annoyance. "Tch… Seriously?" he muttered. He wanted to smash the system window into pieces.
After everything he went through, that's what it had to say?
KNOCK. KNOCK.
"Ethan? Are you awake?" came his mother's gentle voice from the hallway.
Before he could answer, the door opened and Freya stepped inside.
Ethan couldn't bring himself to look at her. Guilt sat heavy in his chest, dragging his eyes to the floor.
Freya chuckled softly, walking over to sit beside him. "It's not your fault, dear," she said, brushing his hair back. "You had the right intentions, just like your father did at your age. But it's okay. You'll grow stronger with time and training. One day, you'll be just like him."
Ethan looked up slowly, his eyes misty. "Thanks, Mum…"
It wasn't much, but her words lifted something off his heart. Just a little.
She smiled warmly. "I healed you last night while you were asleep. You were in bad shape… but you're safe now."
Ethan nodded quietly, still soaking it all in.
"Come now," she said, standing and straightening her robe. "Your father wants to take you on a tour around the village today."
He blinked. "A tour?"
Freya smiled wider. "Yes. You've been cooped up too long. It's time you saw more of Almsworth."
Ethan's eyes lit up. He'd never explored the entire village before. The thought of seeing it all, especially with his father, made something stir in his chest with excitement.
Without another word, he jumped out of bed and began dressing himself, energy returning to his limbs.
Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.
*****
Outside in the courtyard, Zane stood with his arms crossed, watching the mansion's doors with a hint of anticipation. The moment he saw Ethan step out, fully dressed and accompanied by the young maid, a proud smile spread across his face.
"Well, well," Zane called out, his voice warm. "You're all dressed already, huh? Ready for the trip?"
His smile widened as he ruffled Ethan's hair.
Taking his son out into the village was always something he cherished. There was a deep, personal pride in it, especially knowing his firstborn was a boy. A son to carry his name, his strength, his legacy. It was the kind of pride that made Zane stand a little taller, speak a little louder, and boast without shame.
He placed a firm hand on Ethan's shoulder and led him toward the stables.
"Today, you get to ride your own horse," he said. "Pick whichever one you like."
Ethan's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
Zane chuckled. "Of course. You're not a baby anymore."
They stepped into the cool shade of the stable. The air was filled with the scent of hay and leather, and soft snorts echoed from the horses inside.
Ethan moved through the rows carefully, taking in each horse... tall, majestic creatures with coats of deep brown, black, and gold.
But then, at the far corner of the stable, something caught his eye.
A smaller horse, almost his size, with a sleek white coat and a mane that flowed like silk. Its eyes were soft, and it gave a gentle snort as Ethan approached.
"This one…" Ethan whispered, reaching out a hand.
The little horse stepped forward, nuzzling his palm.
Zane watched from behind, a smile tugging at his lips. "Good choice," he said. "Looks like she picked you too."
Ethan gently led the calm white horse out of the stable, its hooves making soft thuds against the stone path. With a bit of effort, he climbed onto its back, steadying himself with the reins. The horse barely flinched, obedient and peaceful beneath him.
Ahead, his parents were already mounted, Zane looking bold and proud, Freya graceful and composed. Two guards flanked Ethan on either side, their eyes sharp, their presence reassuring.
As they began their journey, the rest of the household staff stood at the gates, bowing low. The maid who had watched over Ethan offered a small, relieved smile as they rode past.
Leaving the estate behind, they entered the heart of the village.
Almsworth was vast and lively. Colorful market stalls lined the cobbled streets, with merchants shouting prices and customers haggling for goods. Children weaved through the crowd playing games, and townsfolk bustled about their daily routines.
Majestic statues of past heroes stood tall in various squares, their stone faces weathered with time but no less revered. The blend of magic and tradition gave the village an ancient charm, a world far removed from the Earth Ethan once knew.
Even so, Ethan couldn't help but enjoy it. The sights, the scents, the energy, it was everything he had imagined a fantasy world would be.
Well, almost everything.
He glanced around hopefully, a sheepish grin on his face as his mind wandered.
"One of these days," he thought, "maybe I'll see the kind of outfits those NPCs wore in fantasy games…"
They finally arrived at a grand shop nestled in the heart of the village—a tall, wide structure with a worn wooden sign and shimmering materials displayed at its front. Weapons of all kinds hung along the walls, while mystical stones, potions, and enchanted relics lined the shelves inside.
Dismounting, they left their horses with the guards stationed nearby. Ethan followed his father into the shop, eyes wide as he scanned the trove of magical items.
A cheerful voice greeted them the moment they stepped in.
"Hey, Chief! Long time no see. How's it going?" said the shopkeeper, a stocky man with a wild beard and an even wilder grin. He looked genuinely pleased to see them, almost as though he'd been expecting this visit.
Zane smiled faintly. "Hey, Koby. Hope you're keeping well," he replied, his eyes already wandering the walls of the shop.
Koby's attention quickly shifted to Ethan. "Well, look at you! You've grown, little man."
Ethan forced a polite nod, though he inwardly winced at the comment. He hated being treated like a child, even though, technically, he still was one.
Just then, Freya whispered something to Zane before stepping out, leaving them behind. Two guards trailed after her as she disappeared down the village road with a few familiar women.
Koby noticed the tension in Zane's gaze. His cheerful demeanor turned more serious.
"What are you looking for, Chief?" he asked, leaning slightly over the counter.
Zane crossed his arms. "Something that can suppress mana. My son's is... unstable. High-level. I don't want it drawing the wrong attention in the future."
Ethan blinked, surprised.
That was the reason for the trip?
Koby nodded and vanished into the back, returning moments later with several glimmering artifacts, rings, necklaces, bracelets, all imbued with mana-compressing enchantments.
"Let's test a few and see what fits," he said.
Ethan watched the items curiously but remained quiet. He'd never actually checked his mana level before.
Guessit'stimetofindout, he thought.
DING!
— SYSTEM MESSAGE —
[Mana Level: Unlimited]
Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief.
Unlimited...?