Max became satisfied with this increase.

He checked his status once again.

[ Host Name: Max

Magic Realm: None

Vitality Realm: 4th Stage Health Seeker

Age: 1/155

Race: Abyssal Lord (25%)

Ability 1: Mastery of Dark Magic

Talent: Top

Magical Techniques: None

Movement Techniques: None

Skills: Enhanced Senses ]

'I broke through to 4th Stage Health Seeker and my race changed to Abyssal Lord.' Max pondered as he looked at his status once again. I think I have to find a way to increase the Magic Realm and Vitality Realm, it can't go on like this.'

'Also, this Abyssal Lord sounds like a strong race. It helped me awaken an ability despite not fully awakening.' Rubbing his chin, Max shifted his focus to the new ability he got.

[ Mastery of Dark Magic: The Abyssal Lord has an innate understanding of the dark arts and can wield magic associated with darkness, death, and destruction. ]

'Oh…so, that weird feeling I am having inside my body is because of this dark magic.' Max looked at his palm, from which a dark and sinister-looking magical substance emerged. He dropped in on the grass beside him to see what would happen.

'Hmm…just the attributes the system said this dark magic possessed.' Max saw, the moment his dark magic touched the grass, it turned it dead first and then into ashes. 'It will be very helpful.

At that moment, he heard the system's notification again.

[ Ding ]

[ New 2 Mission Has Arrived ]

[ Mission 1: The First Subordinate

Synopsis: As the Demon Emperor, you can't have anyone under you. So, recruit your first subordinate and use that as a stepping stone to create the biggest army.

Reward: A Random Breathing Technique (Peak Earth Grade), A Random Weapon (Earth Grade)

Penalty: None ]

[ Mission 2: The Base

Synopsis: A Demon Emperor can't always roam around in the forest and live in the trees. Go make a small base first and then try to upgrade it later on.

Reward: Shop Function, A Binding Spell (Earth Grade)

Penalty: None ]

'Heh? Those look like basic missions, yet they are very important too. But I do not know why the system is making me take these steps so early?' Max turned very curious. He was always cautious about anything, and he would think through even the smallest things.

After thinking for a minute or so, Max came up with an assumption. 'Time, it is because of time. This is not the earth where you can make anyone stronger by just giving them guns. Here you have to accumulate power over time, and it might take years. So the earlier I lay the groundwork, the better.'

Max then glanced at the rewards. 'I need the first mission's rewards most right now. The second would be easy, as I will just build a small wooden house first.'

Max sorted out all of his thoughts, and headed outside his safe area. 'I hope I don't meet big monsters.'



'Hmm..weird, I didn't see any kind of beasts nearby, but I saw some big ones roam that made me sweat hard. Why does it feel like I am in the most dangerous territory where small and weaker beasts don't roam around much.' Max pondered as he walked against the current of the stream.

Most of the civilizations are built near a large water source, and the stream he lived by had to come from one of those. Max felt he needed to live close to human civilization as a source of news and resources. He might not live in the city or town with his appearance, but he could supply his needs from time to time.

As Max walked slowly, while always activating his "Enhanced Senses" all the time, he suddenly stumbled upon another cave. He decided to check on it.

As Max got closer, he started to get a similar feeling in his heart. 'This…is there another demon just like me that is being born?'

Max cautiously entered the cave and saw that it was almost the same size as his. In the end of the cave was an egg the same size as his with red and pinkish patterns glowing on its shell.

As he got closer, he started to feel the egg was…beating.

'What is happening?' Max asked himself the question, and the system popped out to answer him.

[ Host, it is because the demon inside the egg detected someone with a stronger bloodline than it.]

'Oh, is there a bloodline hierarchy among the demons?' Max instantly guessed after reading the keywords in the system's words.

[ Yes, the demons with a low-ranking bloodline will always respect someone with a high-ranking bloodline. But remember, demons are cruel and deceitful creatures. If they see someone weaker than them possessing a high-ranking bloodline, they will instantly kill them to make their bloodline stronger. ]

'That was expected.' Max nodded his head in understanding. Then he raised his vigilance against the egg. It might have a lower bloodline than him, but he couldn't guarantee it will be weaker than him.

'So, system, when will it ha-' Max wasn't able to finish his sentence when he heard something.

Crack

Max looked at the egg with wide eyes and saw the egg start to shake intensely, and cracks started to appear all over.

Max went into battle mode and readied himself to attack if anything hostile came out.

Crack-Thrush!

The egg then burst open, and its shell flew everywhere. From it, something jumped toward Max.

Max was about to swing his sword but halted as he felt zero hostility, and from what he saw through his eyes, he couldn't see himself attacking.

The figure leaped onto Max and hugged him tightly.

"..L…Lor….Lord…" A cute yet feminine voice sounded from the figure. This figure was currently pinning Max down on the ground and leaving Max dumbfounded.

Max uttered, being stumped. "It is a girl."