The chaos on the battlefield was suffocating. The screams of the villagers mixed with the guttural roars of demons, the stench of burning wood and flesh permeating the air. I staggered backward, each breath a painful rasp as the blood from my wounds trickled down my side. The barrier flickered weakly overhead, its bluish glow dimming—a reflection of my own fading strength.

  Health: 261/343

  Mana: 123/411

  I glanced at the numbers, dread settling in my chest. I could barely hold myself upright, let alone take on another wave of demons. Every instinct screamed at me to retreat, to conserve what little life force I had left. But the weight of my comrades' desperate cries kept my feet rooted in place.

  "System," I rasped, forcing the words out, "status check."

  The system's familiar, mechanical voice echoed in my mind, as clinical as ever.

  "Status: Critically low on health and mana. Current Mana: 123. Current Health: 261. Advice: Immediate rest or potion usage is recommended. Continued engagement may result in exhaustion and death."

  "Noted," I muttered, bitterness dripping from my tone. As if rest was even an option right now.

  I clenched my fists, my thoughts racing. I couldn’t outlast them, not like this. The demons were relentless, their sheer numbers overwhelming the village’s defenses. My barrier, my magic, even my sword—all of it was useless if I collapsed before the battle was over.

  "Goddess," I called out mentally, desperation creeping into my voice. "Are you there? I could really use some divine intervention right now."

  For a moment, there was only silence, the chaos of the battlefield ringing in my ears. Then, a soft, lilting voice whispered into my thoughts, as if carried by the wind.

  "You seem to have a habit of throwing yourself into hopeless situations, Sam."

  Her tone was light, almost teasing, but beneath it lay a thread of concern. The sound of it was both a comfort and a reminder of how far I had pushed myself.

  "Understatement of the year," I shot back, my voice strained. "Got any advice that doesn’t involve me dying?"

  "Many, actually. But whether you’ll listen is another matter entirely."

  I couldn’t help but snort, despite the weight of the situation. "Fair point. So, what am I missing here?"

  "Your Reborn Battler Divination has gone unused, as has the Fire Crystal in your possession. Both would be useful now." The Goddess’s voice softened. "Your Shadow’s Sword is powerful but drains mana rapidly. Pair it with your Fire Crystal for an elemental advantage. The demons are weak to fire, particularly the lower ranks."

  I cursed under my breath. The Fire Crystal—I had almost forgotten about it. My proficiency with fire magic was minimal, but at this point, anything was better than swinging at these monsters with a half-broken strategy.

  "Additionally," she continued, "you have Analyse. Use it. Understanding your enemies’ weaknesses will help you maximize your remaining mana. Every spell, every strike must count now."

  "Right," I muttered. "Guess I’ve got some work to do."

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  I activated Analyse, my eyes locking onto the nearest demon. The system sprang to life, feeding me a flood of information.

  Target: Demon Infantry

  Level: 23

  Weaknesses: Fire, Light Magic

  Strengths: High physical resistance

  I smirked. Fire it was. Drawing in a shaky breath, I summoned the power of the Fire Crystal. Flames flickered to life in my left hand, small but steady. With my right, I gripped the Shadow’s Sword, the dark blade shimmering ominously. The combination of shadow and fire felt unstable, the energies clashing within me, but I had no time to dwell on the discomfort.

  "Let’s see how you like this," I growled, launching myself at the demon. My blade sliced through its torso, the flames licking at its wounds. The creature screeched, its body igniting as the fire exploited its weakness. In seconds, it crumbled to ash.

  500 XP gained.

  Mana: 89/411

  The victory was short-lived. Another wave of demons surged forward, their snarls growing louder. My comrades’ voices called out in desperation from behind the barricade.

  "Sam!" Isonorai’s voice rang out, frantic. "The defenses are falling! We need you back here!"

  I turned, my heart sinking as I saw him barely holding the line. His barrier flickered weakly, his face pale from exertion. The demons pressed against the magical wall, their claws tearing at the edges. Isonorai wouldn’t last much longer.

  "Damn it," I hissed, dragging myself toward him. My legs felt like lead, every step a battle in itself.

  Another massive demon—a towering figure of muscle and fury—broke through the barricade with a deafening crash. The archers’ arrows bounced harmlessly off its thick hide as it let out an ear-splitting roar.

  Mana: 45/411

  "System," I gasped, "how much longer can I hold out?"

  "At current mana consumption, approximately three minutes."

  "Fantastic."

  Summoning the last reserves of my strength, I poured my remaining mana into the Fire Crystal. Flames erupted in a desperate wave, surging toward the hulking demon. The fire engulfed it, and for a brief moment, I thought it was over.

  But as the flames dissipated, the demon stood tall, barely singed. Its glowing red eyes locked onto me, and a snarl escaped its twisted mouth.

  Mana: 10/411.

  The realization hit me like a hammer. I was out of options. Out of mana. Out of time.

  The demon lunged, its massive claws tearing into me. Pain exploded through my chest as I was thrown to the ground. My vision blurred, darkness creeping at the edges.

  Health: 8/343

  As I lay there, the sounds of battle faded. My body felt weightless, the world around me growing still. I opened my eyes, only to find time itself had frozen. The demons, the villagers—everything was suspended, as if locked in place.

  "What…?"

  A soft, melodic voice broke the silence. "You’re quite stubborn, aren’t you?"

  I turned my head weakly, my eyes widening as a girl stepped into view. Her silver hair flowed like moonlight, her white robes glowing faintly. She knelt beside me, her expression a mixture of exasperation and fondness.

  "You always did have a knack for getting yourself into trouble," she said with a sigh. "Still, I suppose I can’t let you die just yet."

  Before I could speak, she touched my forehead. Warmth spread through me as she pulled out a vial, pouring its contents into my mouth.

  Health restored to full. Mana restored to full.

  Health: 343/343

  Mana: 411/411

  She smiled faintly as she stood. "Our paths will cross again, Sam. Until then, try not to get yourself killed."

  With that, she vanished, and time resumed. The battlefield erupted into chaos once more, but I stood tall, strength surging through me.

  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.”