Daniel awoke, now in his five-year-old body. He opened his eyes slowly, examining the world around him. Every memory, every experience from his past life had returned to him with perfect clarity. He knew exactly what needed to be done.
In his previous life, he had no allies during the Demon King's onslaught. He had always been introverted, preferring isolation over connection, trusting no one. He believed the world was a cruel, forsaken place that existed only to tear him down. But now, he knew the truth. There had been good people—people he had overlooked. This time, he would not make the same mistake.
Finally, a chance at another life. This time, I will kill that bastard of a Demon King, he thought, clenching his small hand into a trembling fist.
Then a voice broke through his thoughts. In front of him stood a boy, about his age—perhaps a bit older—accompanied by two others. To his side, Daniel heard the soft cries of another boy, who was crouched beside him. He realized he was witnessing a familiar scene: a local bully named Daren was tormenting a helpless child.
Daren stood with his two lackeys, Sebastian and Elias. Daniel turned to Daren, his expression sharp, his gaze piercing. Daren flinched, stepping back slightly before catching himself. His eyes narrowed, masking his unease behind a smirk.
"What are you looking at?" Daren sneered, laughing. Sweat formed along his temple as he struggled to ignore the weight of Daniel's glare. But it was suffocating—an intensity far beyond anything a five-year-old should possess.
What's gotten into him? What is this aura? Daren thought, unable to comprehend what he was feeling. The oppressive sensation was not even Daniel's aura—it was only his gaze.
Daniel stood up and cracked his knuckles. He could feel the weakness in his young body. His strength was nothing like before. He would have to rebuild it from scratch.
Daren, growing impatient, turned and shouted at the crying child, "Use your magic before I kill you!"
He laughed cruelly as the boy shakily raised both hands. "I'm sorry..." the child said through his tears, beginning to activate his spell.
Daniel smiled. I just hit the jackpot, he thought. The boy beside him was someone he remembered well from his previous life. His name was Klav—a child born with a rare and powerful skill that would eventually make him a Grand Mage. A skill ranked S+, called:
"Chrono Severance!"
As Klav cast the spell, a window appeared before him with a soft chime, like a bell ringing in the distance.
Chrono Severance. A powerful S+ tier skill that once earned Klav the title of Grand Mage. The ability allowed the user to freeze their target in time for a limited period. All damage dealt during the freeze would only be applied afterward, creating a delayed but devastating effect. It had once managed to stop the Demon King, though only briefly. The spell broke easily against such an overwhelming force, especially because Klav had only managed to refine the skill to an S rank after awakening—still far too weak to hold off the Demon King.
There was, of course, a major drawback.
Nothing is perfect in this world, is it? Daniel thought.
When the spell was used, Klav had to summon a magical circle that formed a bluish-white mana sphere. It moved slowly—far too slowly. Daniel dodged it with ease.
"How..." Daren murmured, confused. He turned on Klav, rage taking over, and screamed louder. Klav trembled even more, on the verge of collapsing in fear.
"Stop screaming at Klav, you worthless pig," Daniel said coldly.
Daren's face twisted with fury. He lunged at Daniel, but Daniel sidestepped cleanly, grabbed Daren's head, and slammed it into the ground with every ounce of force his small body could muster. The earth cracked slightly beneath the impact.
He spat on the unconscious boy. "Instead of tormenting others and making them do all the work, learn how to fight."
He turned to Klav. "And you. Come with me."
Klav flinched, his whole body shaking as Daniel approached. But Daniel gently placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eyes. Klav's fear slowly melted away as he saw that Daniel meant no harm. Instead, he saw a quiet kindness—a call for friendship.
Then one of the lackeys behind them growled, "Where do you think you're going?"
Sebastian and Elias sneered, their faces smug despite the sweat dripping from their brows. They tried to look confident, but it was clear they were unsettled.
Daniel turned to them, his eyes cold and sharp. His gaze pierced through their bravado, straight to their trembling hearts. It was not just a look—it was a warning.
They both gulped at the same time, then turned and ran, dragging Daren's limp body with them.
Daniel turned back to Klav and asked, "Can you show me your window?"
Klav nodded nervously and opened his status window. A user could only show their status to another person if they gave explicit permission. Otherwise, the viewer would need a special skill to access someone else's information.
------
[System Status]:
Name: Klav Jofin
Race: Human
Age: 5
Tier: F
[Attributes]:
Strength: 5
Speed: 5
Durability: 10
MP: 20
[Skills]:
Chrono Severance (S+ Awakened | Power: F-tier):
Allows the user to freeze a target in time. All attacks on the target during the freeze will be applied simultaneously after the time freeze.
MP: 20
------
Just like I suspected. The skill's power is still only at F-tier. I need to push it well beyond SSS—or whatever lies beyond even that. I couldn't read the Demon King's status, but if a Grand Mage with SS-tier power couldn't even leave a scratch, then he must have seen Klav as nothing more than an insect, Daniel thought, narrowing his eyes.
He looked forward as they walked into the village. "You have an extremely powerful skill, Klav. You need to start refining it—immediately."
He stopped. Klav halted beside him. Daniel turned and looked at him directly.
"Why don't we be friends?"
Klav stood frozen. In his short life, no one had ever asked him that before. He had never had friends. No one had ever truly cared.
Overwhelmed, Klav wanted to hug Daniel, to say thank you without words, but he was too shy, too used to rejection to initiate the gesture. Daniel noticed. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and embraced Klav.
Klav's eyes widened, and for the first time, he smiled without fear. And so, their friendship began.
The village bustled with life, its cobblestone paths worn smooth by generations of footsteps. Modest wooden houses with thatched or tiled roofs lined the narrow streets, their chimneys releasing gentle streams of smoke into the sky. Vendors called out cheerfully from simple market stalls, offering everything from fresh bread and ripe fruit to handmade trinkets, dried herbs, mana crystals, and even a few Uncommon to Rare items.
Children darted through the lanes, laughing as they brandished wooden swords in mock battles. Older villagers tended to livestock or chatted in small groups by the communal well, their voices rising in friendly banter.
The air carried the rich scent of baked goods and roasted meats, blending with the earthy aroma of hay and damp soil. Though unassuming, the village radiated warmth and familiarity—a quiet sanctuary untouched by the chaos of the wider world, at least for now.
Daniel led Klav to his home, while Klav—who lived in the village orphanage—followed curiously. When they reached the small house, Daniel knocked on the wooden door. It was answered by his older sister, a girl with striking silver hair and pearl-blue eyes. Though only two years older, she was already attending the local magic school, having awakened a B-rank skill.
The moment she saw Daniel, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. He hugged her back, clinging to the warmth of a loved one he had lost in his previous life. She had died during the village raid that would occur in just a month—killed by bandits. Daniel silently vowed to prevent that future, to grow strong enough so no one he loved would fall again.
When she finally released him, she looked past Daniel and noticed Klav, her expression curious.
"And who is this?" she asked.
Daniel stepped forward and said proudly, "My friend, Klav. He's the same age as me."
"Aww," she said with playful enthusiasm. "That's so wonderful. You finally made a friend."
Just as she finished speaking, a gentle voice called from inside the house.
"Elira, can you come help me with the stew?"
Daniel's sister turned her head toward the sound, then called back: "Coming, Mom!" She looked at Daniel and Klav, then smiled warmly at the smaller boy standing shyly beside her.
"Klav, would you like to stay for the night?" she asked kindly. "We have extra food, and I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind."
Klav's eyes widened. No one had ever invited him to stay over before. He glanced at Daniel, who gave him a small nod of encouragement.
"If it's alright… I'd love to," Klav said quietly.
Elira beamed. "Then it's settled. Come on in. Dinner will be ready soon."
She stepped aside to let them in, and the two boys entered the cozy house, the scent of simmering stew greeting them as they crossed the threshold. It was warm, comforting—a feeling Klav had never known in the orphanage.
Daniel and Klav sat quietly at the table as Elira and their mother moved gracefully about the small kitchen, placing bowls, spoons, and a steaming pot of stew onto the wooden surface. The aroma was rich and comforting—a blend of rabbit meat, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, and a gentle curry seasoning that clung to the air like a warm blanket.
Elira ladled generous portions into their bowls. "Here you go," she said, smiling as she handed one to Klav and another to Daniel.
Klav stared down at the food, eyes wide, steam curling softly from the surface. He took a tentative bite—and his world shifted.
The stew was hot, but the flavor was exquisite. The savory broth soaked into the tender meat and vegetables, the spices dancing delicately across his tongue. It was unlike anything he had ever eaten. His hands moved quickly now, spoon after spoon disappearing into his mouth as he devoured the meal with an urgency born not of hunger, but of pure delight.
Daniel, watching, raised an eyebrow as Klav nearly finished his bowl in less than a minute.
Their mother chuckled softly, amused. "Oh my, no need to rush. There's plenty more if you want it."
"This is so good!" Klav said, his voice full of childlike wonder.
Elira smiled as she took her seat beside them. "Mom's stew is everyone's favorite. Even grumpy old Mr. Lath across the road always asks for leftovers."
"Because he can't cook," their mother said, rolling her eyes fondly as she sat down. "But I'll take the compliment."
Daniel gave a small laugh, then added, "He burns tea water."
Laughter filled the table. Even Klav, shy and quiet, let out a small giggle.
As the meal continued, the warmth of family life surrounded them. Elira told a story about a mishap at the magic school—how someone had accidentally set a chalkboard on fire trying to cast a basic fireball. Their mother listened with patient amusement, offering gentle advice and jokes. Klav slowly joined the conversation, answering questions about himself, though he left out the orphanage for now. He didn't want to break the mood.
The room glowed with candlelight and laughter, and for a moment, everything felt perfect.
But then, as the plates emptied and the laughter softened, Daniel's gaze drifted to the far end of the table.
There, beside an empty chair, sat a dusty old mug, untouched. The wood beneath it bore faint scratches—marks left behind from years of use. That chair used to be filled with a deep voice and strong presence, a hand always resting on Daniel's shoulder during dinner, grounding him.
Now, it sat silent and still.
Daniel's smile faded, just slightly. His hand tightened around his spoon.
Elira and their mother didn't notice—still chatting with Klav—but for Daniel, the chair was a reminder. A scar in the fabric of an otherwise peaceful night.
He looked down at his empty bowl, then back at the chair, his heart quiet.
I'll protect them this time. No matter what it takes. You can count on me father.