Adam's mind spun with questions as his so-called brother stood before him, claiming kinship and chaos in the same breath. Lance's words—claiming responsibility for abducting their mother and now trying to take Adam away—set his blood boiling.
"If I'm really your brother, what's my name?" Adam demanded, his fists clenched.
"Adam," Lance said, his tone mockingly soft. "You really don't remember me? I'm the one who took your little mom away. I couldn't take you since you were human back then, but I brought her to the demon realm to figure out how to turn you back. Father wasn't around, but now he is, and trust me, he's eager to see the king's son in action."
Adam froze, then snapped back, his voice filled with rage. "You injured my friend, claimed my mom, and now you're trying to take me? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't tear you apart."
Before Lance could respond, Adam's father's voice echoed in his mind.
"Careful, Adam. Lance is my strongest child. He's the Dragon Demon."
Adam sneered at the disembodied voice. "Oh, now you want to talk to me? And really, Dad? You had a kid with a dragon?"
Lance smirked, his aura darkening. "Come on, little brother. Be realistic. You can't beat me, and running isn't an option. Let's make this easy—come with me willingly, and no one else has to die."
Before Adam could retort, Lance raised his hand, unleashing a barrage of lasers. The ground erupted in flames and chaos. Adam barely managed to summon a protective blue dome, shielding his friends from the brunt of the attack. But the sight of Max's crumpled body in the aftermath was too much.
"System," Adam growled, his eyes glowing with determination, "how many free stat points do I have?"
[5,508 free stat points. Would you like to convert them to +30 levels?]
"Yes."
The surge of power was immediate. His body transformed—blue, glowing fur covered his skin, and fifty tails swayed behind him. Elemental abilities unlocked in an instant. Adam leapt into the air, wings sprouting from his back as he channeled his newfound strength into a massive attack: fire, wind, lightning, light, earth, and water fused into three colossal arrows. He hurled them down with all his might, dashing across the battlefield to deliver even more elemental strikes.
The earth shook as the final blast hit, leaving a massive crater in its wake. For a moment, silence reigned.
But Lance's voice shattered it. "Impressive, little brother. But I'm still stronger." His figure appeared behind them, unscathed.
Before Adam could react, Lance disappeared into the shadows, leaving Adam to tend to Max. His heart sank as he saw his friend lying motionless.
"Max," Elizabeth sobbed, kneeling beside him.
Adam's father spoke again. "You can save him, Adam. Give him your blood."
Adam didn't hesitate. Ignoring his friends' shocked protests, he pricked his finger and let his glowing blood seep into Max's wounds. Max screamed in pain as his body floated in the air, transforming before their eyes. His hair grew darker, his teeth sharper, and his eyes gleamed with a feral yellow light.
[You have made a Werewolf.]
Max stirred, then stood, his movements more agile than ever. "Adam," he said, bowing deeply, "you saved me. I don't know how I can repay you."
Elizabeth, Tyler, and Shawn weren't as forgiving. "Explain. Now," they demanded, their voices echoing with fear and anger.
Adam took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "I was born without an ability. One day, I unlocked a strange power—the blue flame—and with it came a system that tracks my stats, quests, and skills like a game. Turns out, my power isn't just the flame; it's all the elements. And my dad? He's the demon god, sealed inside me to control my power. Lance, the guy we just fought, is my brother."
His friends exchanged uneasy glances, but there was no time to delve deeper. "We need to get back," Adam said, his voice firm. "This isn't over."
{Meanwhile, in the Demon Realm}
In a darkened classroom, Alex stood amidst a pile of lifeless bodies, his breathing heavy and his hands slick with blood. The graduation test was simple: kill or be killed. And Alex had survived.
"Grandfather," Alex muttered as he stepped out of the carnage, "I've proven myself. I'm ready to go to Earth."
His grandfather, the demon overseer, grinned. "If you can come back alive, I'll allow it."
Alex didn't wait for further instructions. He opened a portal and stepped through, emerging in a bustling human city. The clash of modernity against his bloodstained form drew disgusted stares, but Alex ignored them.
"Hey, where can I get a beer?" he asked a passerby.
Moments later, a group of suited agents surrounded him.
"Kid, how old are you?" one of them asked.
"Uh... sixteen," Alex replied, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
"You're coming with us," another said, throwing a black bag over his head.