The baby's eyes were filled with rage and excitement.

This time, I can change the future…

"His name will be Calus," a male voice suddenly said. Calus realized it was his father naming him.

The next moment, his tiny bottom was hit.

"Damn you! Who did that?!" Calus thought, opening his eyes. Suddenly, everything became clear. He saw his family's small hut, his two elder sisters staring at him with love and concern.

Of course, Calus understood what they wanted, so he screamed. His baby cries echoed around the house and out across the farm.

He knew he had a system this time. Everything would change. The price he had paid for rebirth in his last life had been worth it. With knowledge of the future, maybe, just maybe he could save everyone.

The baby clenched his fists.

Finally, with full knowledge of the system, Calus began growing. Every day, he grew stronger. Soon, he reached the Iron Level of fighters, officially stepping into the realm of strength. He was now strong enough to protect his family.

When Calus was five, his entire family was wiped out after a peak Iron-Level Beast went rogue.

Now, having grown stronger every moment, he had already broken through to Iron Level five stars. He could easily defeat the beast and save everyone, and the thought filled him with excitement.

Over these five years, Calus had discovered a lot,especially about the system. One thing was clear: the system was still low-level, so his growth had been slower than it could have been. If he could upgrade it, his rate of growth would skyrocket, and maybe by now, he'd have already reached Silver Realm instead of remaining Iron.

Calus already knew the power system of this world from his past life. It was structured like this:

Iron Level

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Platinum

Diamond

King

God

Each realm was divided into sub-levels, from One Star at the low end to Nine Star at the peak.

He knew this because, in his last life, he had reached Diamond Realm. But back then, he had fallen into a trap. His growth had been painfully slow; he hadn't even begun cultivating until he was fifteen. Now, at just five, he was already formidable.

Calus clenched his fists as he waited for nightfall. The beast's attack would come soon.

For these five years, he had been the best son possible, always helping his elder sisters, especially in their secret business ventures. Other merchants, seeing that the two girls had a hidden protector, dared not interfere. They assumed the sisters came from a fighter-level family, unaware that Calus' family was small and ordinary, just like any other commoners in the town.

Night came quickly. The mountain beneath them shook as massive animals surged from the forest.

"Calus! Quick! Run! You two follow him!" his father's loud voice rang out. Calus' eyes widened as he leapt from his cross-legged position. He knew the time had come.

The moment had finally arrived, the moment he would lose his parents, and the beginning of a journey filled with sadness and pain.

"Son, stay with your sisters. Your father and I will hold the beast off," his mother called, her voice trembling with fear.

In this life… you will be safe, Calus thought as he clenched his tiny fists and looked at his mother's worried face.

"But Mom… aren't they just normal beasts?" his second sister asked, fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

His mother's expression darkened with regret.

"I wish… but this is caused by a fighter-level beast. It's Iron Level. Even at its lowest, it is still overwhelming for us. Go now," she said, as his sisters dragged him back.

"It's time," Calus murmured, watching his mother disappear into the darkness.

"Calus, let's go," his sisters urged.

"But what about Mom… Dad… what is happening? What beast are they talking about?" he asked. He was just five and shouldn't know much about this world.

"You'll understand soon. As for Mom and Dad…" their elder sister said, her breath ragged. "They will be fine."

Even she sounded uncertain. Calus understood, they already knew their parents were likely going to die. They were adults, after all.

Calus' mind flashed back to his last life.

He had only survived because his sisters had protected him and told him to stay quiet.

He remembered their screams as the beast caught up to them, after killing their parents. He remembered being traumatized as he watched his sisters mauled to death.

But this time…

"Mom and Dad will be fine," Calus said suddenly. His sisters froze and looked at him in shock.

Before they could react, Calus disappeared.

"Calus!" his elder sister called, but her voice was swallowed by the darkness. He was nowhere in sight.

A short distance away, Calus reappeared, facing the beast that made his parents' legs tremble.

His eyes glowed red with emotion as he stared at the pig-like beast.

It was four meters tall, covered in coarse hair, with four jagged horns jutting from its jaw and bloodthirsty eyes.

Name: Blorid – Monster Boar

Rank: Iron Level, Three Star

Status: Bloodlust

Calus drew a deep breath.

"In this life… you won't kill them," he said with a confident smile.

Host: Calus

Rank: Iron Level, Five Stars

Status: Healthy

It was simple but contained all the information he needed. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Just then—

Bam!

The chessboard trembled. Trul's eyes widened. The Leader had finally made his move. He gulped.

He knew this chessboard was no simple game.

Visions appeared before him, the past life of Calus, now his present, the same system he had been given.

Was Calus the protagonist of this world? And the Leader… who was he?

The answer came into focus.

Just as Calus was about to move, a terrifying roar split the air. The bloodthirsty boar trembled in fear, and a new status appeared.

Host: Enraged Tigery

Rank: Iron Level, Nine Star

Status: Enraged from the loss of its cub

Calus' body trembled as a thought struck him:

This didn't happen last time…

"Your move," the Leader said, watching Trul intently.