The room was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the wooden walls as Adam sat on his bed, his thoughts racing.

The nightmare he had just endured still clung to him, vivid and suffocating. He stared out of the window, noting the inky blackness of the night outside.

The silence was almost oppressive, broken only by the faint rustle of the wind. The scenes from his future sight spell flashed in his mind, each memory more horrifying than the last.

His heart raced as he recalled the chaos, the blood, and the devastating losses. But as he turned his gaze back into the room, his fear momentarily subsided.

His family surrounded him—his mother Rachel sat close by, her worried eyes never leaving him.

His father Ricky leaned against the wall, his face lined with concern. Sophia sat beside him, holding his hand tightly, her presence a comforting anchor.

"Adam, are you okay?" Sophia asks worriedly. She doesn't understand why Adam has been behaving strangely since morning and now he has fainted and was unconscious since afternoon and has just opened his eyes.

His siblings, Eric and Yami, stood nearby, their expressions filled with anxiety. Even George, Sophia's brother, hovered protectively in the corner.

Adam took a deep breath, his chest tightening. Why am I so afraid? he thought, his mind racing. I have a cheat code. I can become the greatest person in this world. And here I am, cowering because of one vision.

He closed his eyes, exhaling slowly to steady himself. When he opened them again, a faint smile appeared on his face. "It was just a meaningless nightmare," he said, forcing a lightness into his voice.

Rachel leaned closer, her hand brushing against his forehead. "I'm right here, Adam," she said softly. "You have nothing to fear."

Adam turned to her, his smile growing more genuine. "Thanks, Mom," he replied. But then, with a sheepish grin, he added, "My head hurts a lot. Can you all… leave me alone for a bit?"

His request brought a wave of confusion. Rachel hesitated, glancing at Ricky for guidance. But Adam's father, ever perceptive, stepped in to defuse the tension.

"Come on, everyone," Ricky said, his tone light. "Let's give Adam some space. He needs to rest."

He turned to Sophia and George with a mischievous grin. "Hey, do you two want to see my best trick? It's the one I used to beat your father—more than once!"

George's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Show me!" he exclaimed, his curiosity overtaking his worry.

Eric chimed in, his enthusiasm matching George's. "You have to show us, Dad!" Sophia, though reluctant, followed the group as they filed out of the room. She glanced back at Adam, her grip tightening on his hand before she let go.

Rachel lingered by the door, her gaze fixed on Adam. "If you need anything, call me," she said firmly.

Adam nodded, watching as she stepped out and closed the wooden door behind her. The click of the latch echoed in the silence, and for the first time that night, Adam was alone.

---

Adam sat motionless for a moment, the stillness of the room wrapping around him like a cocoon. Slowly, he opened his eyes and exhaled, his expression hardening with resolve.

"Alright," he muttered under his breath. "If I've accepted this world as my new home… if I've accepted these people as my family… I won't let anything happen to them."

He pushed himself off the bed, standing tall despite the faint ache in his head. "Let's see just how far my mana can take me."

Closing his eyes, Adam began to focus. A thought crossed his mind—how much mana did he actually have? Was his reserve large enough to sustain prolonged spells?

He decided to test it. "Check my mana reserves," he said clearly, his voice steady.

A faint blue glow appeared in the air before him, forming into a translucent number: 1008/1008.

Adam's eyes widened in surprise. "So that's my limit," he muttered, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Not bad."

He knelt on the wooden floor, placing his palms flat against the cool surface. "Alright, let's begin," he whispered. Closing his eyes, he focused his energy.

"Survey."

From his hands, a wave of white light pulsed outward, invisible to anyone but Adam.

The light spread quickly, surging through the house, out into the garden, and beyond. It moved like ripples on a pond, crossing the village and reaching the surrounding borders.

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The pulse continued to spread, touching the edges of the forest before returning to Adam.

He opened his eyes, watching the energy flow back into him. His body tensed as images began to form in his mind—a detailed map of the village and its surroundings. He could see every structure, every path, and even the faint outlines of the forest beyond.

But something caught his attention.

At the eastern edge of the village, a cluster of figures was gathering in the forest. Their shapes were faint, but their movements were deliberate. Adam's heart quickened as he focused on them, willing the spell to reveal more.

The outlines of their bodies grew sharper, and he noticed their attire—dark, sinister clothing that matched the ones he had seen in his vision. His breath hitched as his focus deepened.

Each figure had a faint blue glow emanating from their chest. Most of the glows were small, barely noticeable, but one stood out. The figure at the back of the group had a fire in his chest—a bright blue flame that was almost the size of Adam's hand.

"That's him," Adam whispered, his fists clenching. "The one from my vision. The one who killed my father and brother."

His jaw tightened, his resolve hardening into something unshakable. He stood, his eyes blazing with determination. "So, the time has come," he muttered. "I won't let this happen. Not now. Not ever."

And with that, Adam turned toward the door, his heart pounding with the weight of what lay ahead.Adam stood in his dimly lit room, a thin veil of sweat clinging to his forehead.

His heart thudded loudly in his chest, but his resolve was stronger than the fear that gnawed at his mind.He had seen them—those dark figures in the forest, slowly advancing toward the village.

His Survey spell had laid everything bare, revealing the exact threat his family and home faced.For a moment, Adam closed his eyes, forcing himself to breathe deeply.

The memory of his vision lingered in his mind like a dark shadow. His father, his mother, and his brother—all lying lifeless because of these attackers.

He clenched his fists, the weight of his determination pressing against his chest.

"No," he muttered under his breath, his voice steady but laced with anger. "I won't let that happen. Not now. Not ever."

Adam turned his gaze to the window, where the darkness of the night loomed over the village.

He knew what he had to do. His powers were still untested, his offensive spells unrefined, but he couldn't sit idly by.

"Teleportation," he said firmly.

Before the word had even fully escaped his lips, his body was enveloped in a blinding blue light. In the blink of an eye, the familiar surroundings of his room vanished.

Adam reappeared in the heart of the dense forest, his boots crunching softly against the damp earth.

The air here was cold, carrying the sharp, woody scent of pine and the faint rustle of unseen creatures.

Towering trees surrounded him, their branches weaving a canopy that blocked out most of the moonlight.

He glanced at the dark silhouettes in the distance—the attackers.

They were moving steadily, their black robes blending into the shadows as they advanced toward the village.

Adam inhaled sharply and whispered, "Check my mana reserves."Once again, the faint blue numbers appeared before him: [900/1008]

"Teleportation costs 100 mana points," he murmured, filing the information away for later. A small smile tugged at his lips. "At least I'm learning how this works."

But the smile quickly faded as his gaze returned to the approaching figures.There were so many of them, each step bringing them closer to his home.

Adam crouched low behind a massive tree, its rough bark pressing against his back as he tried to steady his nerves.He closed his eyes, placing one hand firmly on the ground. The cold, damp earth sent a shiver up his arm, but he ignored it. "Survey," he said.

A pulse of white light radiated from his hand, spreading outward in waves that only he could see.The magic moved like ripples in a pond, traveling through the forest, brushing past the attackers, and returning to him.

Adam opened his eyes, his mind flooded with information. "Thirty-eight of them," he muttered under his breath. "Twelve archers, eight spearmen, and eighteen swordsmen. And him…"

His jaw clenched as he thought of the figure he'd seen in his vision—the one who had killed his family.Adam could feel his anger bubbling to the surface, but he forced himself to stay calm.

Adam sat back against the tree, trying to formulate a plan. His mana reserves were still at 900, which meant he had enough energy for a few more spells. But charging in recklessly wasn't an option.

"There has to be a better way," he thought, his mind racing through possibilities. Then, an idea struck him."If I can't face them head-on, I'll just have to stay hidden," he whispered. "Stealth," he said, the word rolling off his tongue with ease.

Immediately, a strange sensation washed over him. It was as if the very essence of his presence was being erased. He glanced down at his hands, but they were still visible."Invisibility," he added, the word barely a whisper.

This time, his body disappeared completely. Adam looked at his hands—or rather, the space where his hands should have been—and felt a rush of amazement.

He was completely invisible, blending seamlessly into the shadows of the forest."Let's begin," he said, his voice low and determined.

Keeping low, Adam crept closer to the group. The attackers were only ten meters away now, their quiet murmurs carrying faintly through the still night air. He paused to check his mana reserves again:

<890/1008.>

"Ten points each for Stealth and Invisibility," he noted silently. "I'll need to manage this carefully."

He raised his hand, shaping it into the form of a gun. The memory of action movies he'd seen back on Earth flashed through his mind as he aimed at one of the men—a swordsman walking near the back of the group.

"Aur Bullet," he said, his voice firm but quiet.

A small orb of air and energy formed at his fingertip, glowing faintly before shooting forward with incredible speed. It whizzed through the air, its trajectory sharp and precise.

But Adam's inexperience showed. Instead of hitting the man's head, the bullet struck his shoulder, tearing through flesh and bone. The man let out a blood-curdling scream, collapsing to the ground as blood pooled beneath him.

The group froze, their heads whipping around in confusion. Some raised their weapons, scanning the dark forest for any sign of an attacker, while others rushed to the fallen man's side.

"What was that?" one of them barked, his voice tinged with fear."I didn't see anything," another replied, his bow drawn and ready to fire.

Adam crouched lower, his heart pounding in his chest. He hadn't meant to miss, but now wasn't the time for regret.

The leader of the group stepped forward, his towering figure exuding an aura of authority. The faint blue flame in his chest burned brighter than the rest, a clear indication of his power.

"Stay alert," he commanded, his voice deep and commanding. "We're not alone."Adam watched him closely, his mind racing. "He's the one," he thought, his anger flaring once more.

He considered his next move. Another bullet might give away his position, and teleporting directly into their midst could be suicide. For now, he decided to wait and observe, his invisibility keeping him hidden.

---

End of the chapter 8.