Lili... - I muttered under my breath.

Everyone's eyes turned toward me, their expressions wary and tense.

Gustav stepped forward and lifted me, my wrists bound in golden chains that shimmered faintly under the light.

Stella and Lian were kneeling beside Lili, casting spells over her limp body. Healing magic—at least, I think so.

I struggled to piece together what had just happened. Was this the consequence of failing the mission? Did I go berserk?

System... give me a clue here... damn it. -

-- Seems like Leon's calmed down. Bring Lili inside. -- Gustav's voice was firm but calm.

Stella used magic to carefully lift Lili's fragile form. The glow of her spell wrapped around Lili as they made their way into the house.

Gustav stayed behind, glaring at me.

-- What's happening to you, boy? -- he asked sharply.

Father, what just happened? - I asked, my voice trembling.

-- You attacked Lili, Leon. You almost killed her. -- His tone was laced with disbelief and anger.

Can you unchain me now? - I pleaded.

-- I can't. This is your mother's magic; she's the only one who can dispel it. But what were you thinking? Why did you attack Lili? Was this part of your training? --

I don't know. I'm not sure what happened. It feels like... I forgot something. The last thing I remember is my vision going dark, and then suddenly, this... --

-- Hypnosis? -- Sting suggested from the doorway.

-- Impossible. Hypnosis is an innate skill of Orc Mages, and no Orcs exist on the human continent. -- Gustav dismissed the idea quickly.

Gustav sighed and carried me into the house. As we entered, I saw the trail of blood on the floor. Was it Lili's?

The door to my room was open. Lili was lying on my bed, her face pale, her breathing shallow. Stella and Lian worked tirelessly, pouring mana into her body. Stella looked up as Gustav entered.

-- Is Leon okay? -- she asked, her eyes scanning me for any signs of lingering hostility.

-- Yes. He's calmed down now. -- Gustav replied.

With a flick of her hand, Stella dispelled the chains binding me.

-- We need to take Lili to the capital. Her mana is completely depleted, and her body is too weak to replenish it. Only the Holy Priest in the capital can restore her mana flow. For now, Lian's mana is keeping her alive, but even that won't last long. -- Stella's voice was urgent.

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Just then, Ishla appeared, her presence commanding as always.

-- Ah, Stella, in trouble again, I see. Why is it that every time I find you and Gustav, you're in some sort of mess? -- Ishla said with a smirk.

Coming from someone who caused chaos in the village with her goblin investigation, If you just tell the whereabouts of the goblin to the authority, everything will goes smoothly.

-- Ishla, can you teleport us to the capital? -- Stella asked

-- Hmph. What choice do I have? I won't stand by and let an elf die—half-elf or not. -- Ishla replied, already preparing a teleportation circle.

Wait. If she can teleport, why didn't she just teleport directly to the goblin cave earlier?

-- Ishla, why didn't you teleport us to the goblin cave instead of investigating it? -- Sting asked, echoing my thoughts.

-- A mere human wouldn't understand. Teleportation isn't as simple as snapping your fingers. To teleport, I need a clear mental visualization of the destination. Without that, it's impossible. -- Ishla explained, her tone slightly condescending.

That made sense. I'd noticed Lili could only teleport to spaces within her line of sight. Maybe I should learn teleportation—it seemed like a useful skill.

But now wasn't the time to think about learning magic. Sario was dead, and Lili lay on the brink of death. This was my fault. I let the Goblin King kill Sario, and now the system might have used me to try and kill Lili.

-- So, who's going to the capital? -- Ishla asked, stepping into the completed magic circle.

Lili stirred weakly, her voice barely audible.

-- No... I need to return to my homeland... the demons... -- she said, coughing up blood.

-- No, Lili. You need treatment in the capital. Just rest for now. -- Stella insisted.

-- Once you return, Stella, I'll prepare to travel to Hanisha. But for now, Lili, conserve your strength. -- Gustav said.

-- Enough of this sweet talk. You're wasting my life force here. Let's go already. -- Ishla said impatiently.

The magic circle activated, and in an instant, they disappeared, leaving behind an empty, silent room.

Gustav and Sting sat down at the table, their movements slow and heavy.

-- I can't believe it... Sario is really dead, -- Sting murmured, his voice trembling.

Gustav slid a piece of paper across the table toward Sting.

-- You need to take this to the village chief right now. It's a letter from the baron himself. We met him after Sario and I defeated the goblins in the other village, -- Gustav said firmly.

-- What's this letter about? -- Sting asked, furrowing his brows.

-- A direct order. All citizens across the human continent, age twenty-one and above, are being drafted for the war against the demons, -- Gustav replied.

-- This is insane! Most of them are inexperienced—they'll just die on the battlefield, -- Sting said, slamming his fist on the table.

-- We don't have a choice, -- Gustav countered. -- If the council and Hanisha fall, it's the end of human civilization. It's worse than I feared. The demons aren't just advancing on land—they're dominating the seas and skies as well, using massive magic-powered ships.

Sting's voice faltered. -- Everything's falling apart so fast. Just a month ago, we were laughing and enjoying life... now it's all a mess. --

Gustav's expression hardened. -- Take the letter to the village chief. Prepare yourself as well. Once Stella is back, we're heading to Hanisha immediately. --

Sting nodded, standing up reluctantly before heading out to deliver the letter.

Gustav turned to me. -- Leon, come with me, -- he said.

He strode outside, and I followed. The devastation outside was almost unreal. The ground was scarred with craters, like a war had erupted right at our doorstep.

-- Leon, I know you're strong—just like your mother when she was your age. But that's not enough, not yet, -- Gustav said. He suddenly stopped in the middle of the garden, striking an odd stance.

-- You defeated the goblin king, which makes me proud. Now, show me what you're capable of, -- Gustav said with a grin before leaping toward me, fists swinging.

What the hell? Where did he get this energy? We just fought goblins, and he's been on a mission since yesterday!

I dodged his first swing, but he grabbed my leg mid-air and slammed me into the ground. Pain shot through my back.

-- I know you can handle this—you're my son, after all. Now, listen carefully. Strength alone can't defeat demons. Magic is their specialty. If you want to win, you can't play by their rules. Use your magic on me—don't hold back! --

I summoned multiple fireballs, hurling them toward him. Then, I conjured a whirlwind, feeding the fire with the wind to create a massive inferno.

The flames engulfed Gustav, but he stomped the ground, creating a shockwave that snuffed them out.

Then he moved strangely, like he was dancing. In the next instant, he dashed toward me with crushing force, each step cracking the earth beneath him.

A fist slammed into my stomach. Pain radiated through my body, and I felt my mana draining rapidly. My body automatically formed a barrier under my skin, but each layer broke under his relentless strikes.

What the hell?! Is he trying to kill me?

-- This is the technique I've honed to kill thousands of demons: the Anti-Mage Fist. The core principle is to engulf your fists with mana and attack the mana inside the user body, not the user, -- Gustav explained.

paradoxical, Gustav...

-- The human body generates mana in the liver, which flows to the chest. From there, 95% goes to the brain, while the rest is distributed to the body. Demons are the opposite; their mana generates in their heart and is evenly distributed across their organs. If you attack the mana where it flows, you can disrupt it and weaken the user. - Gustav continues

He punched me again—lightly this time, but the pain was unbearable.

-- By repeatedly striking the user, you can theoretically drain their mana to zero, -- Gustav continued.

I collapsed to the ground, gasping.

/System: WARNING!! Your mana is draining rapidly. 34% remaining...

-- Remember this, Leon. Everything has mana: the fireballs you throw, the trees, even the air. Learn how it works. You're not just strong—you're smart, too. Master this technique and protect your mother and your... sister. --

Wait! Sister?! - I gasped, struggling to get up.

Gustav chuckled. -- Oh, right. We forgot to tell you. You're going to have a little sister soon. Your mom is pregnant. --