Awake

"Who are you?" Asked Max with a curious look as he stared at the figure of a man who was standing not too far away from him. He was supposed to be startled by the appearance of the manly figure but surprisingly he wasn't, he felt as though they were connected somehow.

"My name is Yama," the man said calmly. His eyes glittered as he stared at Max. "Do you know me?" he added.

"I don't! I should be asking you that because you approached me yourself," Max said still with his gaze fixed on the man.

"If I am correct, you awakened the remaining part of me during your breakthrough. I am quite surprised to be honest, for a mere human to awaken me is something I never expected even when I was still asleep." Yama said, his voice filled with surprise.

"I awakened you?" Max asked in shock. 'That explains the strange voice I was hearing during...' he stopped his thoughts halfway and returned his gaze to Yama who was patiently waiting for him to ask questions. "Were you the one speaking through me?" He asked and Yama smiled and nodded without saying a word.

"That explains.... the strange powers are from you, that is if I'm correct, but why would you give me your powers? When I am not even strong enough to control them." This greatly confused Max as at then — why would the powers be given to him when he isn't fit to have them.

Yama let out a slight chuckle and began to approach Max. Now, Max could see his full appearance, the long black hair reaching his waist, his thin shoulders and his black eyes that look hollow. Max could not take off his eyes from Yama until he was close enough to him.

"I gave you my powers because I trust you and have chosen you to become a demon lord with the hope that you will become a better ruler than I am."

These words shocked Max that he had to take some steps backwards. "De-demon lord? Are you a demon? And why would you give me your powers when you don't know me?"

"I am or should I say I was. I am the first demon to be created and I brought about the existence of all other demons, but who would have known that the ones I call family will rise one day to challenge me. Unfortunately, I am no longer alive but I am happy that I've found a successor and that is you. Do not worry about the powers, the system given to you by Damon will help you grow in strength until you are finally able to control all my powers, I do not need to know you before I chose you...." Yama paused and studied Max's face, the calm look on his face was all he needed to know that he would be willing to succeed him.

Before Yama died, he had predicted the changes that would occur after he was gone and as such he met with Damon and handed his core to him with a mission to find anyone who can awaken him after absorbing the core.

"What about Damon? Why not him?" Max asked after a long period of silence. Damon was powerful, that he had noticed but why wouldn't he be chosen to become the successor rather, he was chosen — as weak and useless as he is.

"Some things can never be understood but bear in mind that I chose you because I trust you. You must not for anything let anyone control you or force you into doing their bidding or you'll regret it in the end. I am weak already and have nothing to live for, in fact, I am happy you could awaken me or else I would have disappeared without completing my mission."

"What mission?" Max asked as he noticed a glimmer of pain cloud his dark eyes, the heftiness of his voice was visible as well.

"Those that killed me, I want them wiped from the face of this world most viciously. I want them to experience what I experienced a hundred times more... it is a shame that I can no longer do it, I won't even be able to see the pains in their eyes when they die. This you see here is my soul and soon it'll vanish and when that happens, I'll be forever gone." The heaviness in Yama's voice as he spoke sent ebbs of anger to Max's veins. He didn't know why, but he felt anger building inside of him rapidly, it was like he could feel the pains Yama was having.

"I promise you that I will complete this mission, I'll kill all those who rebelled against you and I won't rest until they are all gone," Max swore with the sincerity of his heart. He had never made a promise to anyone but feeling the pains of Yama, he felt a burning desire to help him.

"I am happy!" Yama said with a relief smile on his face, he could finally rest in peace knowing that he will be avenged sooner or later. "I think it is time for you to go back," he suddenly said.

"Huh? Go back where?" Max asked in confusion.

"You need to wake up or you will never," Yama said, he didn't wait for Max to talk and then placed his hand on Max's forehead.

----------------

*Coughs*

"What is this place?" Max asked as he opened his eyes and looks around him, he could not see clearly, yet he knew that he was in a strange place. "Why the thick fogs and...." he paused on his words and closed his eyes for some time. "There are so many dark energies in here, stronger than one could imagine," he added after opening his eyes again.

*Ding*

<<New Quest>>

<<Absorb the dark energy all around you>>

<<Reward: A level up and a new skill>>

Max found this new quest quite strange and tempting but at the same time impossible. He couldn't think of any reason as to why the system will give him that kind of a quest and he was not certain if he could absorb the dark energies in the place because of how weak he is.