The wind whipped through my hair as I plummeted toward the demon commander’s horns. Time slowed, my mind racing. I was going to die. A stupid end after all this.

"New Skill Unlocked: Rapid Mana Recovery – Restores 5 mana per second when in critical condition."

I didn’t have time to process the new skill, but I felt a surge of energy flow through me as the system kicked in. I could feel mana flooding back into my veins, a faint blue light pulsing around me like an aura. My eyes locked onto the demon commander’s jagged horns below, and I had only one thought: escape.

"Mana: 153/411"

I activated Void Step—just in time. The world around me blurred, and I vanished into the shadows, reappearing a mere millimeter from the tip of the demon commander’s horns. The ground slammed into my feet, jarring my bones, but I was alive. I rolled to my feet, panting, adrenaline pumping through my body.

The demon commander turned, his crimson eyes locking onto me with a mixture of surprise and fury. “Clever trick,” he growled, his voice deep and guttural, like stones grinding together. “But tricks won’t save you.”

I grinned, though my heart was still pounding in my chest. “Guess we’ll see about that.”

He charged at me, his massive axe swinging with deadly precision. I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade, and raised my hand instinctively. Analyse. I needed to know what I was up against.

"Analysing target..."

Demon Commander Varak:

Health: 2,896/3,000

Mana: 1,400/1,500

Strength: 350

Agility: 270

Sense: 180

Reaction Speed: 300

Reaction Time: 295

Intellect: 160

Perception: 210

Stamina: 300

"Sam:

Health: 261/343

Mana: 163/411

Strength: 53

Agility: 47

Sense: 41

Reaction Speed: 50

Reaction Time: 51

Intellect: 47

Perception: 45

Stamina: 41

My blood ran cold as I processed the numbers. His stats were ten times mine. His strength alone was monstrous, and his reaction speed was almost unmatched. I was outclassed in every possible way.

No time to dwell on that now.

He swung his axe again, and I ducked under it, feeling the wind from the force of the blow rush past me. The ground shattered where the blade hit, and I used the momentary distraction to retreat, quickly casting Shadow’s Sword into my hand.

"Mana: 153/411"

The black blade hummed in my grip, its dark energy vibrating with potential. I tightened my grip, eyes flicking back to Varak. He was analyzing me, too—watching my movements, waiting for an opening.

I had to be smarter. Faster.

He charged again, but this time I was ready. I sidestepped, thrusting Shadow’s Sword toward his exposed side, aiming for a weak point in his armor. The blade connected, but it barely made a dent. His skin was like iron, and I felt the shock of impact reverberate through my arm.

Varak grinned and swatted me aside like I was nothing. I flew back, skidding across the dirt, my body protesting in pain.

"Health: 207/343"

I coughed, trying to get my breath back, but the demon commander wasn’t giving me any time to recover. He was on me in an instant, axe raised for a crushing blow.

I had no choice. Void Step.

I vanished again, reappearing behind him. I raised my sword for another strike, aiming for the back of his leg, hoping to slow him down. But he twisted, faster than I expected, and blocked my attack with the shaft of his axe. The force of it knocked me off balance, and I stumbled back, barely keeping my feet under me.

This wasn’t working. I couldn’t beat him in a straight fight. His stats were too high, his power too overwhelming. I needed to think—strategize. If I could wear him down, force him to waste his energy, maybe I could turn the tide.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Running out of tricks already?” Varak sneered, his voice laced with contempt. “You’re nothing but a weakling pretending to be strong.”

I ignored him, focusing on my breathing, on the feel of the mana swirling inside me. I couldn’t afford to let him get in my head. I had to be calm, precise. One mistake, and I was dead.

He charged again, his axe cleaving through the air, and I narrowly avoided it, darting to the side and slashing at his arm with Shadow’s Sword. The blade barely scratched him, but I kept moving, staying just out of his reach.

"Mana: 123/411"

My mana was depleting fast. I couldn’t keep this up for much longer.

I needed an opening—a way to get past his defenses. I could feel the pressure mounting, the weight of the battle pressing down on me. Every move, every dodge was costing me precious energy. And Varak knew it.

He laughed, low and menacing. “I can smell your fear, boy. You’re running out of time.”

I clenched my jaw. Fear was a distraction, something I couldn’t afford. I couldn’t let him see the doubt creeping in, the exhaustion gnawing at my muscles.

I feinted to the left, then darted to the right, trying to catch him off guard. But he was too fast, too experienced. He blocked my strike easily, knocking me off balance again.

"Health: 173/343"

The pain was starting to wear me down, but I couldn’t stop. Not now.

“System,” I muttered under my breath, dodging another swing. “Give me options.”

"New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Blink – Short-range teleportation using shadows. Mana Consumption: 15."

"New Skill Unlocked: Phantom Feint – Creates a shadow clone to mislead enemies. Mana Consumption: 20."

A grin tugged at the corners of my mouth. That’s more like it.

Varak lunged at me, and I activated Phantom Feint, conjuring a shadow clone in my place. He swung his axe, cleaving the clone in half, only to realize too late that I wasn’t there.

I blinked behind him with Shadow Blink, raising my sword for a strike. This time, I aimed for his knee joint, a small, exposed gap in his armor. The blade sank in, not deep enough to cripple him, but enough to make him roar in pain.

He spun, his eyes blazing with fury, and I barely managed to back away before he could retaliate.

"Health: 153/343"

"Mana: 108/411"

The fight was taking its toll on both of us. Varak was stronger, but I could see the frustration building in his movements, the way his swings were becoming more reckless. He wasn’t used to being pushed this hard.

“Annoying little pest,” he snarled, clutching his injured leg. “You think you can win with these pathetic tricks?”

“Maybe,” I shot back, breathing heavily. “But it looks like they’re working.”

He roared and charged again, faster this time, his axe swinging with enough force to split me in two. I had no choice but to blink away again, my body screaming in protest as I reappeared a few feet away.

I was running out of mana, out of stamina. But I could see it now—Varak’s weakness. He was powerful, but he relied too much on brute strength. If I could keep dodging, keep wearing him down, I might have a chance.

He swung again, and I ducked, feeling the wind from his axe rush past my face. I countered with a quick slash to his side, but it barely did any damage. I couldn’t rely on physical attacks alone. I needed something more.

I activated Shadow Manipulation, sending dark tendrils snaking out from the ground to wrap around his legs, pulling him down. He snarled, thrashing against the restraints, but I didn’t give him time to break free. I summoned another Shadow Burst, launching it directly at his chest.

"Mana: 83/411"

The explosion sent him staggering back, but he was still on his feet, still coming at me.

“Die, boy!” he roared, raising his axe for a final, crushing blow.

I blinked behind him again, but this time he was ready. He spun around, faster than I expected, and backhanded me with enough force to send me flying. I crashed into the ground, my vision swimming as pain shot through my body.

"Health: 101/343"

I groaned, struggling to get to my feet. I couldn’t afford to stay down. Not now.

Varak loomed over me, his shadow stretching across the battlefield. “This ends now.”

I gritted my teeth, my mind racing. I had one last trick up my sleeve.

I activated Phantom Feint again, sending a shadow clone charging at him. Varak grinned, raising his axe to strike it down, but this time I didn’t blink away. I stayed behind the clone, waiting for the perfect moment.

As his axe came down, I lunged forward, using the clone as cover. My sword pierced through the gap in his armor, sinking deep into his side. He roared in pain, the force of it shaking the ground, but I didn’t let go. I twisted the blade, feeling it grind against bone, and for the first time, I saw real fear in his eyes.

But it wasn’t enough.

With a snarl, he swung his axe in a wild arc, and I was forced to let go, blinking away to safety just as the blade passed through where I’d been standing.

We stood there, panting, both of us covered in blood and sweat. I could see the fatigue in his movements now, the way he was favoring his injured leg, the way his breathing had become labored. But I was just as tired, my body screaming at me to stop, to rest.

"Health: 87/343"

"Mana: 43/411"

I had enough for maybe one more attack. One more chance to end this.

Varak raised his axe, glaring at me with hatred burning in his eyes. “You’ve been a thorn in my side for too long, boy.”

“Funny,” I said, wiping the blood from my mouth. “I was just about to say the same thing.”

He charged, and I dodged, flipping backward to put some distance between us. I needed time to think, to plan my next move. I couldn’t win with brute force, but maybe—just maybe—I could outsmart him.

We stood there, ten meters apart, staring each other down. The battlefield was silent except for the sound of our ragged breathing.

This was it. The final standoff.

I had one shot. One chance to end this before my body gave out.

And I wasn’t going to waste it.