I stumbled backward, my vision swimming as the edges of the battlefield blurred. My breath came in shallow, ragged gasps as I tried to steady myself. The barrier flickered weakly, a clear indication that my mana reserves were dangerously low.
Health: 261/343
Mana: 123/411
I could barely stand at this point, and I knew pushing any further would be reckless. The demons were relentless, pouring in through every gap we left unguarded. I couldn’t help but feel the weight of our dire situation pressing down on me, but I wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet.
System, status check.
The familiar voice of the system echoed in my mind, calm and efficient as always.
"Status: You are critically low on mana and health. Current Mana: 123. Current Health: 261. Advice: Immediate rest is recommended, or a potion to restore mana and health. Further combat may result in exhaustion and potential death."
"Yeah, figured that much," I muttered under my breath.
I needed to think, fast. Taking on the rest of the demons with what little mana I had left wasn’t an option. I had the skills, sure, but I couldn’t risk draining myself completely. My mind raced, trying to piece together any strategy that didn’t involve me keeling over before the battle was even close to ending.
Right... time for some guidance.
Goddess, you there? I called out mentally, hoping for a response.
A soft, almost ethereal voice whispered into my thoughts, one that had become somewhat familiar over the past weeks.
"I am here, Sam. You seem to be in quite the predicament." There was a slight amusement in her tone, despite the chaos surrounding me.
"Understatement of the century. Any advice?"
"You have not yet fully utilized the skills and abilities bestowed upon you. I suggest a quick review before you burn out entirely. Your Shadow's Sword is efficient but costly with prolonged use, and your new Fire Crystal remains untapped. Use it strategically."
I nodded, forcing myself to focus. The Goddess’s voice continued.
"Remember, you possess Goddess Divine Protection, granting you some immunity from attacks. It may not be much, but it is enough to give you a fighting chance. Additionally, Reborn Battler Divination can bolster your strength and defense when activated. Use it wisely."
Right, Reborn Battler Divination. I’d forgotten about that in the heat of things. It wouldn’t restore my mana, but it could make me hit harder and withstand the demons' attacks better. That could buy me some time.
"The divine crystal within your head allows you access to divine magic at level 57, a significant power you have not fully utilized. Your Fire Crystal, though at level 1, offers a rare and sacred fire magic. Don't hesitate to mix your magic."
The fire magic, of course. I hadn't thought to use it yet because my proficiency was low, but I was out of options. It didn’t matter if it was imperfect; it was still another tool in my arsenal.
"Got it. I’ll make it count," I said, though my voice wavered with the fatigue threatening to take over.
"You should also make better use of your Analyse skill. Knowing your enemies’ weaknesses will help you conserve mana while maximizing your effectiveness in battle. Every moment matters now."
Analyse. Why hadn’t I used that from the start? I closed my eyes for a moment, centering myself before reopening them and activating the ability.
"Analyse active. Target: Demon Infantry."
The system immediately fed me information about the demons I was facing: their level, strengths, weaknesses, and overall health. My gaze flicked over to the demon closest to me, its health low and its fire resistance nearly nonexistent. Perfect.
I grinned, despite the exhaustion. “Time for a little fire.”
----------------------------------------
With my mind clearer now, I activated Reborn Battler Divination. A surge of energy flowed through my body, a temporary but much-needed boost to both my physical attack power and defense. I followed that up by conjuring Shadow’s Sword in my right hand. The familiar dark blade shimmered into existence, drawing on the last vestiges of my mana.
Mana: 113/411
I couldn't afford to keep the sword going too long, but I could use it strategically. I summoned flames from my Fire Crystal in my left hand—small, almost pitiful compared to my other abilities, but enough to make a difference against these demons.
"Let’s see how you like this."
With a combination of shadow and fire, I launched myself at the nearest demon. My Shadow Sword carved through the creature’s side, while the flames from my Fire Crystal ignited its already fragile form. The demon screeched in agony before collapsing into a heap.
500 XP gained.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Mana: 89/411
I could feel the adrenaline pushing me forward, but each step grew heavier. Every swing of my blade drained me further, and each second the fire remained in my hand was one more tick of my mana disappearing. I couldn’t keep this up much longer.
----------------------------------------
I gritted my teeth, backing up towards the center of the village. I could feel the weight of the situation press down on me like a physical force. The demons weren’t letting up, and neither could I. My comrades were counting on me.
System, how long can I keep fighting like this?
"At current mana consumption, approximately three minutes. Recommended action: Use available potions or retreat."
Three minutes. It was better than nothing, but it was far from comforting.
Goddess’s voice cut through again, softer this time. "You are strong, Sam, but even strength has limits. Be wise in your actions."
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. I still had time, but I needed to make sure that every second counted.
"Let’s finish this," I muttered, gripping my sword tighter as I advanced on the next demon.
It wasn’t over yet.She
I lunged forward, Shadow’s Sword slicing through the air as it cleaved into the next demon. My muscles burned with every movement, my mana slipping away with each passing second. The flames from the Fire Crystal sputtered in my left hand, barely holding form as I tried to manage both attacks simultaneously.
Mana: 72/411.
Another demon down. Another 500 XP gained.
But it wasn’t enough. The village was still overrun, the demons’ numbers growing more overwhelming by the second. The stench of blood and burning flesh filled the air, mingling with the screams of the villagers and the guttural roars of the demons. My heart pounded, every beat making my fatigue more apparent. My legs trembled, and the edges of my vision darkened.
Mana: 60/411.
“Sam!” I heard Isonorai’s voice calling from behind me, strained and breathless. “We’re barely holding them off at the barricade. You need to fall back!”
I slashed another demon across the chest, the black blood spraying across the ground as it crumbled in front of me. My chest heaved as I turned to look at Isonorai, who was fending off another group of demons with his own magic. His face was pale, his hands trembling as he struggled to maintain the barrier around the village.
“I can’t hold out much longer either,” I shouted back, my voice hoarse. “I’m running on fumes here.”
Mana: 45/411.
I could feel my mind starting to slow, the fog of exhaustion creeping in. My Shadow’s Sword flickered in my hand, the shadows growing weaker as my mana drained to critical levels.
"Warning: Mana levels dangerously low. Retreat advised."
I knew the system was right. I wasn’t going to make it much longer like this. But there was nowhere to run. The village was surrounded, the demons were everywhere, and my comrades were barely hanging on. If I backed off now, it would all be for nothing.
A sudden crash from the barricade sent a jolt of fear through me. I spun around to see one of the larger demons, a hulking figure of muscle and fury, smashing through the hastily constructed defenses. Lareth’s remaining archers tried to take it down, but their arrows bounced off its thick skin like they were nothing.
Mana: 32/411.
I was running out of time.
Without thinking, I poured the last of my strength into one final attack. I raised my hand, summoning every ounce of mana I had left into the Fire Crystal.
Mana: 10/411.
The flames erupted in a wave, surging toward the massive demon. It roared in anger as the fire engulfed it, its body writhing in agony as the flames ate away at its skin. For a moment, I thought it would be enough. But as the flames died down, the demon stood tall, barely singed. It turned its glowing red eyes toward me, a snarl on its twisted face.
"Mana levels critically low. Immediate retreat necessary."
I could barely move, my body heavy with exhaustion. My hands trembled as the sword in my grasp flickered and faded, the shadows dispersing into the air as my mana hit zero.
Mana: 0/411.
I was out.
The demon charged, its massive claws raised to strike. Time seemed to slow as I watched it bear down on me. I couldn’t dodge. I couldn’t defend myself. I was done for.
A surge of pain shot through my chest as the demon’s claws tore into me, sending me crashing to the ground. My vision went black for a moment, the world fading away as my health dropped to a dangerous level.
Health: 8/343.
I lay there, gasping for breath as the world around me faded in and out. The sounds of battle became distant, the screams and roars muffled as I hovered on the edge of consciousness. I knew I was dying.
And then… everything stopped.
The sounds of battle vanished. The pain in my body dulled, and I felt as though I was floating. I opened my eyes to find the world around me frozen in place, the demons and villagers locked in mid-motion as if time itself had come to a halt.
“What…?”
A soft, melodic sigh echoed from behind me, and I forced myself to turn my head. Standing in the middle of the battlefield was a woman—no, a girl—dressed in flowing white robes. She looked to be in her mid-twenties, her hair cascading around her shoulders like a waterfall of silver.
She surveyed the scene with a mixture of boredom and mild disapproval, her eyes lingering on the destruction before they finally settled on me. She shook her head, clicking her tongue in dismay.
“I knew you’d get yourself into trouble again, Sam,” she said, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable authority. “You always did have a tendency to bite off more than you could chew.”
I tried to speak, to ask who she was, but no sound came out. My throat was too dry, and my body was too weak. I could only watch as she approached, her steps graceful and unhurried.
“If I wanted to, I could wipe out these demons in a matter of seconds,” she said, more to herself than to me. “But that wouldn’t be any fun, would it?”
She knelt beside me, her fingers brushing against my forehead. I felt a warmth spread through my body as she reached into her robes and pulled out a small vial. Without a word, she poured the contents into my mouth, and I felt the potion’s effects immediately.
Health restored to full. Mana restored to full.
Health: 343/343
Mana: 411/411
The girl stood up, brushing off her robes as she glanced down at me. “Our fates have aligned once again, Sam. You won’t remember this, but… we’ll meet again in the future. And this time, maybe we’ll get to live out the life you promised me.”
Before I could say anything, she turned and vanished, dissolving into the air like mist. Time resumed its flow, the sounds of battle crashing back into my ears as I gasped for breath. My wounds were gone. My mana was fully restored. But the demons were still coming. I swear she said a similar thing earlier or was that just my imagination?
I pushed myself to my feet, my body feeling stronger than it had moments before. The demon that had nearly killed me stood in front of me, its claws raised for another attack. But this time, I was ready.
I dodged its strike with ease, my body moving faster than before. As I moved, I felt a surge of power course through me. A familiar sensation—leveling up.
Level up!
Attributes increased.
Health: 371/371
Mana: 429/429
Strength: 53 → 55
Agility: 47 → 50
Sense: 41 → 43
Reaction Speed: 50 → 52
Reaction Time: 51 → 53
Intellect: 47 → 48
Perception: 45 → 47
Stamina: 41 → 43
Available Points to Upgrade Stats: 5.
I smirked, gripping the Shadow’s Sword once again. This time, it was going to be different.
“Alright,” I muttered, my eyes locking onto the demon commander in the distance. “Round two.”