Marcelo Moreira, 15 years old, was an ordinary boy, leading a quiet and almost unnoticed life. But that didn't mean he was completely alone. In the classroom, there was Kaori Nakamura, a girl with a smile that could brighten any environment. The daughter of a Brazilian and a Japanese, Kaori had something special about her that made Marcelo feel at ease.

  They always chatted, especially during the longer classes. It was Marcelo's way of dealing with the boredom of school life.

  "Hey, Marcelo, have you finished the essay for Portuguese class yet?" Kaori asked, leaning over his desk.

  "Almost... I'm still figuring out how to finish," he replied, looking at his notebook while trying to hide his slight nervousness.

  "You should help me later," she said, with that playful tone Marcelo loved.

  He smiled, feeling awkward. "If you treat me to a snack at the canteen, I'm in."

  Kaori laughed. "It's a deal!"

  But before she could respond, a strange sensation filled the air. The classroom suddenly fell silent, and a heavy energy enveloped the room. A golden light began to emanate from the ceiling, engulfing the whole classroom.

  "Are you... seeing this?" Kaori asked, frightened, gripping Marcelo's arm.

  "Yes... what's happening?" he replied, panic starting to rise in his voice.

  Suddenly, everything became a blur. A blinding light blinded the students, and Marcelo felt as if he were being pulled out of his world. When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the classroom.

  Now, he and all the others were in a large medieval hall, with stone columns and dim light coming from torches on the walls. In the center stood a hooded man holding a staff, staring at them with a serious expression.

  "You have been summoned to this world," he began, his deep voice echoing through the hall. "We have been forced into this. You are our last hope against the great demon that threatens to destroy everything."

  The students were confused, murmuring among themselves. Kaori still held Marcelo's arm, while he looked around, trying to understand what was happening.

  "You have received powers," the hooded man continued, gesturing with his staff. "Each of you has been blessed with unique abilities to face this evil. Prepare yourselves!"

  One by one, the students began to glow as they received incredible powers. Marcelo watched, stunned, as his classmates displayed impressive abilities.

  When it was his turn, the hooded man frowned. He tried to conjure something, but nothing happened.

  "What... why didn't he get powers?" one of the students asked.

  "It can't be..." the wizard murmured, visibly worried.

  Before he could explain, a sinister laughter echoed through the hall. The torches flickered, and a gigantic shadow emerged from nowhere, taking the form of a demon.

  "He's here!" shouted the hooded man, recoiling. "The demon... he invaded the summoning!"

  The students screamed, trying to understand what was happening.

  "How could he get in?!" Kaori asked, gripping Marcelo's arm even tighter.

  "He... manipulated the magic," the wizard answered, his voice trembling. "I don't know how, but he broke our barriers! This should have never happened!"

  Before he could say more, the demon attacked. A wave of black energy swept through the hall, hitting all the students.

  Marcelo watched in horror as his classmates fell to the ground, screaming in pain. Horns began to grow from their heads, piercing through their skin. Their faces deformed, their eyes glowed with intense red, and their expressions became monstrous.

  Kaori fell beside him, clutching her head as she screamed, "Marcelo... it hurts...!"

  "Kaori!" he shouted, trying to help her, but it was useless. He watched helplessly as the horns sprouted from her head and the warm smile he adored transformed into a cruel, empty expression.

  The wizard tried to react, but before he could cast a spell, the demon attacked him, impaling him with a black spear. The hooded man's body fell to the ground, lifeless.

  "Now, you are mine," the demon said, laughing as he looked at his new minions.

  Marcelo, still powerless, stood frozen in terror. He watched as the others rose, now possessed, wearing expressions that were no longer human. They were monsters.

  Kaori turned to him, her eyes glowing red. "Marcelo..." she murmured, but her voice was different. It was cold, inhuman.

  He took a step back, tears streaming down his face. "Kaori... please, tell me you're still in there…"

  She didn't respond. Instead, she lunged at him, her movements quick and wild. Marcelo barely managed to dodge and started to run.

  The possessed advanced behind him, their footsteps echoing through the hall. The demon laughed again, satisfied with his victory.

  Marcelo ran out of the hall, not looking back. As he escaped, a single promise echoed in his mind.

  "I will find a way to save you. I promise…"

  Marcelo, still panting, got up from the stream, trying to control his breathing. His hands were trembling, but he noticed something that made him stop for a moment: his school bag was still on his shoulder. He had almost forgotten it amid the chaos of everything that had happened. The backpack was wet and dirty from the run, but it didn't seem to have been damaged.

  With a sigh of relief, he opened the bag and saw that inside there was a water bottle that, fortunately, hadn't leaked. He drank the liquid eagerly, trying to regain the energy he had lost during the flight. The water not only quenched his thirst but also brought some clarity to his dazed mind. He was alone in a strange, dangerous world, but he still had something in hand that could help him survive.

  Marcelo looked around, absorbing the scenery. The forest was dense, and the darkness of the sky didn't help at all. The trees, with their twisted trunks and intertwined branches, seemed more threatening than welcoming. Every sound around him felt amplified, as if the very world was attuned to his movements.

  He put the bottle back in the bag, trying to think of a plan. "What do I do now?" he thought, feeling the pressure build in his chest. His friends, Kaori, all the others... were lost. There were no powers, no more control over them. The demon, with its incomprehensible strength, had taken everything.

  Marcelo turned toward the road that stretched in front of him. He didn't know where he was going, nor to where he could run, but something inside him said he couldn't keep running forever. He needed to find answers. He needed to figure out a way to deal with this world and, perhaps, reverse what the demon had done.

  He looked to the side and saw a small clearing in the forest. There, he could rest a little and try to understand what to do next. The fear was still there, overwhelming, but he couldn't let it paralyze him. He looked up at the sky, which now seemed darker, and, with renewed determination, decided to move forward.

  "I will come back... I will bring you back," he murmured, resolute. "No matter what happens."

  Marcelo took one last look at the surroundings, took a deep breath, and headed toward the clearing. His journey was just beginning.

  Two days had passed since Marcelo's world had been turned upside down. He didn't know where to go, but he kept wandering through the forest, looking for any sign of survival. The school bag was still with him, as was the water bottle, now slowly emptying. Hunger and exhaustion were overwhelming him, but he couldn't stop. Every step took him further away from what remained of his old life and closer to an uncertain destiny.

  It was then that, while carefully walking between the twisted trees, he heard a noise behind him. When he turned, he saw a hooded figure emerging from the shadows. Armed with a sword, its eyes were fixed on him with a fierce look.

  Marcelo instinctively backed away, his eyes wide with fear. "What do you want?!" he asked, his voice hoarse from lack of water and tension.

  The woman looked at him with distrust. "You... are one of them?" she asked, her tone grave. "Are you with the possessed?"

  "No!" Marcelo shouted, his eyes becoming teary. "I'm not one of them! I... I'm just... I'm just a boy! I don't have powers, I'm not like them!"

  The warrior seemed to doubt his words, her gaze becoming more calculating. "Rumors have spread quickly. All the possessed have a uniform, and yours... looks like what they used to wear. That tells me you have something to do with the destruction of our world."

  Marcelo tried to explain, but the words wouldn't come out. He was still in shock over everything that had happened, he didn't know how to convince someone of his innocence.

  "I... I'm not an enemy! I... was summoned along with them! But something went wrong... The demon, he... he possessed everyone! I was left behind. I don't... I don't have powers, you have to believe me!"

  The warrior didn't seem convinced. She advanced toward him, the sword shining in the filtered sunlight.

  "I can't risk my life for someone who might be lying," she said coldly, making a swift movement with the blade. Marcelo jumped back, trying to dodge the blow, but ended up falling to the ground, his bag hitting the ground hard.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "Please!" Marcelo shouted, getting up quickly. "I just want to survive! I have nothing to do with them! I'm the only one who is free! The only one who... who hasn't been corrupted!"

  The warrior hesitated for a moment, staring intently at him. Something in Marcelo's expression seemed genuine, something that made her lower her sword slowly. She looked at him more carefully, as if trying to decide what to do.

  "If what you're saying is true..." she started, her voice still distrustful, "then you shouldn't stay here. The possessed are spreading everywhere. They will find you. I can't protect you, but I can help you get out of the forest. There's a village nearby."

  Marcelo looked at the warrior, feeling a mix of relief and the sense that he was still far from understanding what was really happening. "Thank you... I don't know what to do, but... I accept your help."

  The warrior nodded, still cautious. "If you really are who you say you are, then come. But stay quiet and don't be a burden."

  Marcelo followed her, unsure of where the path would lead him, but with one thing in mind: he needed to survive and find a way to deal with the situation. The journey was just beginning, and he still didn't know how difficult it would be.

  Marcelo followed behind the warrior through the forest, trying to keep pace despite his extreme fatigue. Each step made his muscles ache, but he knew he had no choice. Even with the warrior's reluctant assistance, he couldn't afford to seem like a burden.

  After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, he decided to speak. "I... I'm grateful for not killing me," he said, his voice hesitant.

  The warrior glanced over her shoulder, still serious. "I still haven't decided if you deserve to live," she replied coldly. "But tell me... Who are you, really?"

  Marcelo swallowed hard but forced himself to respond. "My name is Marcelo Moreira. I'm 15 years old. I was summoned to this world along with my classroom. I don't know exactly how it all happened, but..." He paused, trying to organize his thoughts. "A wizard appeared before our class. He said he brought us here to fight against a demon that threatened your world."

  "Continue," the warrior said, still skeptical.

  "I don't know the details," Marcelo continued, rubbing his neck. "This wizard began granting powers to my classmates. They became incredible, stronger, like heroes from the stories I read." He lowered his gaze, the painful memories still fresh. "But when it was my turn... nothing happened. I stood there, frozen. That's when everything went wrong."

  The warrior stopped abruptly, turning to face him. "What do you mean by 'went wrong'?"

  Marcelo took a deep breath, forcing himself to meet the woman's unwavering expression. "The demon... he invaded the summoning. He killed the wizard... and began possessing my classmates. They changed before my eyes. They grew horns... Their faces became deformed, as if they were no longer human."

  The warrior's eyes narrowed, but she remained silent, allowing him to continue.

  "I don't know why, but he didn't touch me. Maybe because I didn't receive powers. All the others... they turned against me. They attacked me." Marcelo closed his eyes for a moment, trying to push away the memories of screams and monstrous faces. "I ran. That was all I could do. And since then, I've been trying to survive."

  The warrior was silent for a moment before speaking. "And how did you manage to stay alive for two days?"

  Marcelo pointed to the bag he was carrying. "I still had my school bag. Inside, there was a water bottle and some snacks. But now that's almost all gone." He paused and added, "I know it seems little, but it was enough to keep me going until now."

  The warrior sighed, looking less hostile, although still cautious. "I see. My name is Lina. I am a warrior of this world, and I am investigating the recent events... especially the rumors about the 'possessed.' Now, at least, I know that the rumors are true."

  Marcelo nodded, trying to absorb the new information. "Lina... Do you think there's any way to save my classmates? Can they still return to normal?"

  She shook her head slowly. "I don't know. Possession by demons is something that consumes the soul. But, if there's a chance, perhaps the wise or the mages of this world may know more."

  "Thank you... for not abandoning me," Marcelo said, his voice filled with gratitude.

  "Don't thank me yet," Lina replied. "If you really want to survive, you'll have to prove that you're not just another burden. Let's get out of the forest first, then we'll see what happens."

  Marcelo nodded and followed her, determined to find a way to survive and perhaps rescue the few ties that remained with his old life.

  Two days had passed since Marcelo and Lina began their difficult journey through the forest. Both were on alert, knowing that the possessed could be nearby. Marcelo still carried his school bag and his water bottle, now almost empty, as he followed Lina, who kept her sword ready the entire time.

  The silence of the forest was interrupted by a strange sound, like branches snapping under heavy footsteps. Lina stopped abruptly, raising a hand to Marcelo. "Stay still and don't make a sound," she whispered.

  Marcelo nodded nervously, but his heart raced when a figure emerged from the trees. A monstrous man with long, curved horns, deep scars covering his body, and a grotesquely deformed expression. His empty black eyes conveyed nothing but fury and instinct.

  Lina's eyes widened at the sight of the creature, and she immediately raised her sword. "It can't be... Mandzu!"

  "Mandzu?" Marcelo asked, confused, but his voice trembled with fear. "Who is that?"

  Lina kept her eyes fixed on the creature. "A legend... or at least, I thought it was. They say he was a possessed warrior many years ago during an ancient summoning. He would have escaped the demon's control, but no one knew if it was true or just a myth. It seems it was real."

  Mandzu let out a deafening roar, advancing toward them with brutal force. Marcelo instinctively pulled back, tripping over a branch.

  "Stay behind me!" Lina shouted, running to intercept the attack.

  The impact of her sword against the possessed man's arm echoed through the forest. Mandzu was incredibly strong, and Lina could barely hold her ground against his violent blows.

  "Mandzu is far stronger than any other possessed I've ever heard of," Lina murmured, dodging a blow that cracked the trunk of a nearby tree.

  Mandzu let out another roar, his deformed hands trying to grab Lina, who slashed at his arm with a precise strike. However, the creature didn't seem to feel pain.

  Marcelo, watching everything unfold, searched for something that could help. He found a large rock on the ground and threw it at Mandzu. The stone hit his head, but the monster didn't even react.

  "That won't work!" Lina shouted, dodging another heavy punch.

  "Then what do we do?!" Marcelo yelled back, panic rising.

  Mandzu advanced again, forcing Lina to retreat. With each blow, she seemed to grow weaker, her movements slowing.

  "Mandzu is much stronger than any other possessed we've faced," Lina admitted, panting heavily. "If we keep this up, he will kill us."

  Marcelo observed the creature, his heart racing. "Then we need to get out of here now!"

  Lina seized the moment when Mandzu hesitated to strike him in the leg, forcing him to kneel. Not wasting any time, she grabbed Marcelo by the arm and pulled him away as Mandzu let out another furious roar, trying to rise.

  "Do you think he'll follow us?" Marcelo asked, looking back as they ran.

  "Hopefully, he will lose our trail," Lina replied, still gripping her sword tightly. "But Mandzu is a force of nature. He may have escaped the demon's control, but he is completely dominated by the curse. And if the legend is true, he won't be the only one of this kind."

  Marcelo swallowed hard, feeling the burden of her words. "If there are others like him... then we are even worse off than I imagined."

  "Perhaps," Lina said, pausing to catch her breath. "But as long as we are alive, we still have a chance. We need to keep moving."

  Mandzu was left behind, but his presence haunted Marcelo. He couldn't shake the vision of the monster's empty black eyes from his mind, a grim reminder of what could happen to anyone who succumbed to the demon.

  Lina then began to fight Mandzu.

  The battle dragged on, and pain and despair consumed Marcelo. He watched as Lina fought with all her strength against Mandzu, the monstrous creature who, according to legends, had been possessed by the demon for so long. With each strike from Mandzu, she was becoming increasingly battered, struggling to keep her stance.

  Lina tried to block another attack, but Mandzu's arm was ruthless. She was thrown back, hitting the ground violently with a sound that made her bones crack. Marcelo screamed in desperation at the sight of her downed form. Fear gripped him.

  "Lina!" he shouted again, witnessing her prone body marked by the fight. He felt helpless as he saw her struggling to rise, blood trickling from her side, sapping her strength with each passing second.

  "Go away!" she screamed, her voice barely audible. "You can't do anything here! He'll kill you, Marcelo!"

  Marcelo felt a wave of impotence wash over him. He wanted to run to her, to help her, but he couldn't move. His feet felt glued to the ground, his eyes fixed on her. The ache in his chest was as strong as the pain he felt at seeing his friend being overwhelmed by that monster.

  Mandzu, with empty eyes and grotesque horns, charged at Lina. She tried to rise once more but her motions were slow, her energy fading. Marcelo was terrified as he saw the creature's arm raised, ready to deliver the fatal blow.

  But in a moment of desperation and pure adrenaline, something inside Marcelo awakened. He felt his heart race, his breath quickening, as a wave of courage and rage filled him. He couldn't let her die there; he couldn't lose anyone else.

  With tears in his eyes and his body trembling, Marcelo grabbed a large stone from the ground and ran toward Mandzu.

  "Mandzu!" he shouted, his voice shaky yet strong.

  Mandzu turned slowly, intrigued by the boldness of this frail boy. However, the possessed one didn't hasten to attack. He merely watched with a look of disdain plastered on his deformed face.

  Marcelo, with the stone in hand, willed himself not to hesitate. He lifted it with all his might and tried to hit Mandzu on the head. However, the creature was too quick. With a fluid movement, Mandzu dodged the stone, which flew past him. But Marcelo didn't stop. He used the momentum of the monster to strike at the twisted horns growing from its forehead.

  Mandzu's horns were large, twisted, and threatening, but at the impact of the stone, something extraordinary happened. The sound of the collision was like the crack of lightning, and to the astonishment of both, the horns shattered in half and fell heavily to the ground.

  Marcelo, stunned by what he had just done, recoiled. The very Mandzu staggered, and his eyes shone with growing fury. The creature's body trembled as if it were losing control. However, a new silence enveloped the forest.

  Mandzu stopped. His eyes began to change. The dark energy that surrounded his body, that malevolent aura that made him almost invincible, began to dissipate. Like smoke carried away by the wind, the monstrosity he had become started to disappear, and what remained was something completely different.

  Mandzu's form shrank. The deformed skin smoothed out, and his muscles shrank until the grotesque figure transformed into an ordinary man. An elderly and skinny man, with surprised eyes and a vacant stare. Mandzu's face was tired, marked by suffering and loss.

  "He... came back to normal?" Marcelo asked, his voice still trembling.

  Lina, who was still fallen on the ground, looked at the transformation with wide eyes, incredulous. She hadn't known that something like this was possible. Mandzu, the man of legends, the monster who had been taken by the demon for so long, was now free. But how had that happened? She had no clue how that was possible.

  "I... how long...?" Mandzu murmured, his voice hoarse and broken.

  Lina, finally dragging herself closer to him, trying to muster the strength to stand up. "You... are... free?" she asked, a mixture of disbelief and relief in her voice.

  Mandzu raised a hand, touching his own face as if trying to comprehend what had just happened. He looked at his arms and, as he realized flesh had returned to normal, tears began to well up in his eyes.

  "I... I am me again?" he whispered.

  "Yes," Marcelo replied, with an emotion he could barely understand. "You're free, Mandzu."

  Lina, finally standing up, looked at the man with a mix of compassion and sadness. "You... were possessed for so long. I... I didn't know there was a way to break it. I didn't know the curse could be lifted."

  Mandzu, with a faint smile, looked at her. "I... thought I would never be free. But thanks to you... maybe I can rest. Free."

  Marcelo looked at the man, his heart heavy. He didn't know what it meant to be possessed, but now he understood the silent struggle that Mandzu had fought all that time. He knelt beside him, feeling a connection with that man, a feeling of compassion he never thought possible.

  "You are free," Marcelo whispered. "And that's what matters."

  Mandzu, with his eyes closed, breathed heavily, and before he could say anything more, his body gave way. He smiled one last time, as if in gratitude, before falling into an eternal sleep.

  Lina looked at him, a pained expression on her face. "He finally found peace," she said, her words low.

  Marcelo remained silent, feeling the weight of the loss. But for some reason, he also felt a strange sense of relief. The demon was still out there, still possessing those who had once been human, but now he knew that sometimes, even the impossible could be broken. And that gave him new hope.

  "Now we need to keep going," Marcelo said firmly. "The demon is still out there, and we have a lot to do."

  Lina nodded, still processing everything that had happened. They were far from finishing the battle, but for the first time, they felt that there was a real chance of victory.