After the chaos of the demon general's attack, the village was in shambles. Walls were reduced to rubble, homes were in ruin, and the spirits of the villagers were shaken to the core. As much as I wanted to collapse into a week-long nap, I couldn’t just sit around. The village needed me—and my magic.

After half a day of rest, I was back on my feet, fully charged with mana and determination. The first order of business was reinforcing the village walls. I stood before the shattered remnants, cracking my knuckles.

"Alright, time to make this wall a fortress," I muttered to myself, summoning my earth magic. With a deep breath, I focused on the ground beneath me, pulling out the strongest minerals from the depths of the earth. The shimmering stones glinted in the sunlight as they floated upward, almost as if they were eager to serve their purpose.

I melded them seamlessly into the structure, layer by layer, until the wall wasn’t just repaired—it was stronger than ever. One villager, his face streaked with dirt and sweat, whistled in amazement.

"Sir Alex, you’ve got some serious magic there!"

I grinned, wiping a bit of dirt from my forehead. "Just making sure no more demon generals feel like taking a stroll in here."

The rebuilding didn’t stop with the wall. I worked with other magic users to repair homes, lift fallen beams, and restore some semblance of normalcy. Each spell took its toll, and by the end of the day, I was ready to drop. My muscles ached, my mana reserves were low, and all I wanted was to flop onto a bed and pass out.

But even as exhaustion set in, my mind wouldn’t stop racing.

Why? Why had a demon general attacked? This wasn’t in the game. They weren’t supposed to roam aimlessly, let alone target random villages. And then there was what he said…

"My precious experiment."

The thought of those words made my blood boil all over again. I clenched my fists, my anger surging anew.

"How dare he," I muttered under my breath. "How dare that bastard call Nyxis an experiment? And trying to take her from me? I’ll kill him next time. I swear it—no ash, no molten pit. Just complete obliteration!"

The memory of Nyxis’s frightened face as the demon charged at her flashed in my mind. It was enough to make my chest tighten. Protecting her wasn’t just a responsibility—it was my purpose.

But as much as my anger burned, reality hit hard. The demon general wasn’t going to stay down. He’d come back stronger, and when he did, I needed to be ready.

That meant mastering my chaos magic.

So far, my attempts had been… well, less than impressive. A week of meditation had gotten me about 1% control. That was about as useful as a damp matchstick in a storm. I needed to figure it out—and fast.

I sighed heavily, staring up at the newly rebuilt wall. "Alright, Alex, first things first. Get stronger. Second, protect Nyxis. Third…" I paused, smirking slightly. "Figure out why the hell this game world is so different from what I remember."

With those thoughts swirling in my head, I turned toward the small house where Nyxis and Lucy were waiting. Tomorrow, I’d start figuring things out. Tonight? Tonight was for rest, recovery, and maybe stealing a hug or two from my feathered goofball of a daughter.

While I was lost in my thoughts, pondering the chaos magic and the battles ahead, a sudden bump jolted me back to reality.

"Oww!" I exclaimed, steadying myself. "Nyxis, what was that for?"

She chirped happily, her feathers fluffing up as she ignored the fact that I’d nearly toppled over.

I couldn’t help but smile. Seeing her so lively always eased my heart. "Alright, alright, you win," I said with a chuckle. "It’s nice to see you in such high spirits, Nyxis. Makes me feel at ease."

I raised my hand to pat her, and Nyxis, noticing my gesture, plopped down on the ground to make it easier for me.

“Man,” I muttered as I gently patted her soft head, “you’re almost my size now. Guess that’s what being a Skyrend does, huh?”

Nyxis tilted her head at me, then chirped again, clearly proud of her stature.

After a moment, I paused, looking at her seriously. "Nyxis, were you scared before? You know… when that demon general showed up?"

Her golden eyes met mine, and she hesitated for a second before nodding. "Yes, Papa, he was very scary."

I felt a pang in my chest.

"But," she continued with a big, radiant smile, "I wasn’t afraid because you were with me!"

I froze, staring at her. That bright, innocent smile of hers—it made everything else fade into the background. My throat tightened, and I felt a sting behind my eyes. Don’t cry, Alex. Don’t cry in front of your daughter.

I hugged her tightly instead, burying my face in her feathers. "Yeah, Nyxis," I whispered. "Papa will always protect you. No matter who or what our opponent is."

Nyxis nuzzled into me, her warmth chasing away the lingering frustration and fatigue from the battle.

After a moment, I gently pulled away and turned to Lucy and the Chief, who had been quietly watching. Lucy gave me an encouraging smile, while the Chief leaned on his cane, still looking a bit pale. Edward stood a little behind them, his ever-serious expression softened just slightly.

"How are you holding up, Lucy? And you, Chief?" I asked, trying to shift gears.

Lucy waved her hand dismissively. "I’m fine. You’re the one who fought the demon general, Alex. You should be asking about yourself."

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I grinned. "You know me. It takes more than that to keep me down."

As I stood there with Nyxis still nestled by my side, the Chief limped toward me. Despite his bandaged leg and broken arm, he extended his other hand for a handshake.

“Thank you, Alex,” he said, his voice steady despite his injuries. “If it weren’t for you, our village wouldn’t even exist anymore.”

I grasped his hand firmly. “I made a promise to protect this village, Chief. It’s my duty. No need for praise, but… thank you.”

He chuckled at that, his voice tinged with a mix of relief and exhaustion. “By the way, you fought valiantly back there. I was impressed.”

I tilted my head, curious. “And you weren’t half bad yourself, Chief. Honestly, you’ve got some serious skills for a village leader. Where’d you learn to fight like that?”

The Chief let out a hearty laugh that turned a few heads. “I suppose it’s time you knew. I wasn’t always a simple village chief. Back in the day, I was a renowned adventurer. An A-rank, in fact. Ever heard of the party called Wrathian?”

“Wrathian…” I muttered, racking my brain. The name sounded faintly familiar. Was it in the game? Somewhere in the lore? Come on, Alex, think! Nope, nothing.

I scratched my head awkwardly. “Sorry, Chief. Sounds like a big deal, but I can’t say it rings a bell.”

He smirked. “That’s alright. Our heyday was a long time ago. We were a party of four: me, Asher the warrior; Lyra, our mage; Elric, the vanguard; and Elara, our support and healer. Together, we were unstoppable… until, well…” His smile faded slightly, replaced by a shadow of regret.

“What happened?” I asked gently.

The Chief sighed, leaning slightly on his cane. “Circumstances. We took on a mission in the demon lands. It was supposed to be a routine reconnaissance, but things went south. I… lost much of my strength after that mission. The party disbanded, and I found myself here. As the youngest son of a noble family, I was sent to govern this land as a way to ‘contribute.’” He gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head.

“But don’t worry about me,” he added, his tone brightening again. “I’m doing fine now. And you? You should take a break. Go have a meal, enjoy the hot springs. I’ve got villagers to check on.”

With that, the Chief gave me a pat on the shoulder and hobbled off, his presence still commanding respect despite his injuries.

“Hmm…” I muttered, watching him go. Wrathian, huh? Something about his story nagged at me, but I couldn’t place it.

“Hey, Alex!” Lucy’s voice broke through my thoughts. She walked up, hands on her hips. “You look lost in thought again. Why don’t you and Nyxis head home? I’ll bring dinner to you.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but she wagged a finger at me. “No arguments! You’ve done more than enough for today. Rest up.”

Nyxis tugged on my cloak, chirping her agreement.

“Alright, alright,” I relented with a sigh. “Thanks, Lucy. I’ll see you later.”

With that, Nyxis and I headed back to our little house. Nyxis hummed a cheerful tune as she walked beside me, and for a moment, the weight of everything—demon generals, chaos magic, battles—felt a little lighter.

After the chaos of the last few days, Nyxis and I decided to unwind with a much-needed hot bath. The soothing warmth of the water worked wonders on my sore muscles, and Nyxis seemed to enjoy splashing around, chirping happily. Once we were sufficiently pruned and relaxed, Lucy arrived with dinner.

“Here’s your meal! Eat up and get some proper rest,” she said, setting the food on the table.

We dug in, savoring every bite. As always, Lucy’s cooking was divine, a perfect mix of flavors that felt like a warm hug.

“Lucy, your food is always amazing,” I said, patting my satisfied stomach.

Nyxis chirped in agreement, nodding enthusiastically.

“Flatterer,” Lucy replied with a grin. “You’re lucky I like you two. Now get some rest. No more overexerting yourselves!”

And rest we did. Nyxis and I slept like logs, the exhaustion from everything catching up to us. It wasn’t until noon the next day that we stirred—well, sort of.

“Hey! Alex! Nyxis! Wake up!” Lucy’s voice rang through the house, jolting me half-awake. “Your lunch is here!”

“Hmm… five more minutes,” I mumbled, turning over and burying my face in the pillow. “I’m tired. Let me sleep.”

“If you don’t get up, your lunch will go cold and taste bland,” Lucy warned. “Do you want that?”

I groaned but cracked an eye open. Lucy was standing there with a smirk, holding a tray of food that smelled heavenly. My stomach growled, betraying me instantly.

“Fine, fine,” I grumbled, rubbing my eyes. I shook Nyxis gently. “Come on, sleepyhead. Let’s get moving before Lucy lectures us to death.”

Nyxis yawned adorably but got up without much protest. We both quickly freshened up and headed to the dining table, where Lucy had laid out our meal.

As expected, the food was fantastic. Every bite was rejuvenating, filling us with energy we didn’t realize we needed.

“This is so good, Lucy,” I said, truly grateful.

Nyxis chirped her agreement between bites, her tail wagging slightly.

Lucy beamed. “Glad you two like it. I was worried you’d starve if I didn’t intervene.”

We laughed, the lighthearted moment a welcome break from the chaos of recent days.

As we finished eating, I leaned back, my mind already turning to my next steps. I needed to train harder, grow stronger. The attack by the demon general had made one thing clear: I couldn’t afford to stay stagnant. Nyxis and Lucy were depending on me.

With that resolve solidifying in my mind, the day passed peacefully. As the evening fell, I promised myself that tomorrow would be a new beginning.

For Nyxis. For this village

In the depths of a shadowy citadel within the Demon Realm, the air was heavy with the scent of blood and decay. Demon doctors worked tirelessly around a massive figure lying on an obsidian slab. Belphagor Nomicus, the mighty Demon General, snarled in agony as his wounds were stitched and sealed by dark magic.

His crimson eyes burned with fury, and his claws scraped against the slab, leaving jagged marks as he growled, "That human… Who is that damned human?"

The demon doctors flinched but continued their work, knowing better than to respond.

Belphagor's mind raced, replaying the battle over and over again. He clenched his fists, his sharp nails digging into his palms. "He’ll pay for what he did to me. I swear it on the flames of the Demon Realm. And the Skyrend…" His lips twisted into a vicious grin, fangs glinting under the dim glow of demonic flames. "I will have it. That feathery abomination belongs to me."

Pain surged through his body, but his anger overshadowed it. "How dare he—how dare he lay a hand on me, Belphagor Nomicus, the Demon General? The humiliation…" His growl deepened, shaking the chamber. "If the other generals saw me like this, they’d mock me relentlessly. Lord Malachor himself would be disappointed."

The thought made his rage boil hotter. "No, I can’t let that happen. I won’t let that happen."

His claws tapped against the stone slab as a twisted plan began to take form. "The Skyrend… If I can capture it, replicate its essence, and create an army of Skyrends… Lord Malachor will have no choice but to recognize my brilliance. I will rise to his right hand, surpassing the rest of those fools."

Belphagor’s laughter echoed through the chamber, a deep, guttural sound filled with malice. His glowing red eyes narrowed with determination. "Yes… That’s the way. That human, that insolent wretch, and his Skyrend—" He spat the word like venom. "They’ll regret crossing me. I, Belphagor, who stand above all beings save Lord Malachor, will kill that human and take the Skyrend for myself."

The doctors exchanged uneasy glances but dared not interrupt as their general’s maniacal laughter filled the room.

I sat cross-legged on the familiar stone in the middle of the tranquil pond, the soft murmur of water surrounding me. The morning sun cast its golden rays, but my mind was far from the serene beauty around me. I closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing, steady and controlled.

The Previous battle replayed in my mind—a whirlwind of rage and magic. My fists clenched at the memory. That chaos magic inside me… I could feel it even now, restless, unstable, like a caged beast pacing in the depths of my soul.

When I’d been in the thick of the fight, my anger had almost unleashed it. It was on the brink of going wild, a destructive force ready to consume everything in its path—including me. Thankfully, the battle had ended before it could spiral out of control, and I’d managed to rein it back in. But the incident left me uneasy.

This can’t continue. I need to master it, or it’ll master me.

I looked down at my body, my oversized cloak draping over my frame. I gave my belly an irritated poke. This thing… Still here, huh? My body might look fat, but I knew better now. It wasn’t just fat—it was mana. Mana stored in my body like a bloated reservoir. At this point, I was practically a walking magical battery. "Seriously," I muttered, poking at my midsection, "this isn’t fat anymore—it’s all mana, right? Right?!"

But even with all this mana, my magic control had to improve.

I stretched my hands out, summoning a small flame to dance on my palm. Thanks to the countless books I’d read in the library, I’d picked up a ton of tips about fire magic. Their theories were sound, their techniques polished—but there was a fundamental difference.

I smirked, watching the flame flicker. Those researchers… They were good, but they could only create and wield fire. I, on the other hand?

I closed my palm slightly, and the flame condensed into a dense, brilliant blue spark. I can manipulate its energy levels. Adjust its intensity, its very essence. They throw fireballs; I make fire sing.

I flicked my fingers, and the spark expanded into a miniature swirling firestorm, then shrank back to a single ember before vanishing.

It’s not just about raw power—it’s about precision. Control.

I leaned back, letting out a sigh. But is that enough? Belphagor…

The name echoed in my mind, a shiver running down my spine. The Demon General. I remembered him vividly from the game. In the later levels, I’d faced him as one of the final hurdles before the Demon Lord himself. He was no joke—a relentless, powerful adversary.

And now, he’s here. In the flesh.

I tapped my fingers against the stone, a mix of nerves and determination brewing inside me. Back in the game, defeating him had been a Herculean task, one I barely managed even with maxed-out stats and a stacked party. But now, this wasn’t a game. This was real.

The stakes were higher, and I wasn’t about to lose.

I stood up, brushing the dust off my cloak. Alright, Belphagor. You may be strong, but this time, I’m stronger. I have to be.

With renewed resolve, I stared at the horizon, the first rays of dawn painting the sky in hues of fire.

Let’s see who burns brighter.

I clenched my fists. "Now it’s not a game. It’s real. He’s real. And this time, I have more than just my life on the line—I have Nyxis. I won’t lose. I can’t lose."

The chaos magic inside me stirred again, responding to my emotions. I exhaled slowly, trying to calm myself. "Stay focused, Alex. You’ve got time. Prepare, train, grow stronger."

As the wind carried the scent of blooming flowers, I closed my eyes and resumed my meditation. The path ahead was clear—I would master this magic, no matter what. Belphagor wouldn’t get the better of me again.

"You’ve picked the wrong human to mess with, demon."