Kael woke to the sound of leaves rustling violently, the moonlight piercing through the dense canopy like silver blades. The campfire he had set the night before had dwindled to embers, smoldering faintly against the chill. His body ached from yesterday's travel, muscles sore from carrying his pack across uneven terrain, but a deeper weight pressed on his mind—the memory of the demon. The old being had chosen him. Him. Kael. Ordinary Kael, wandering through the ancient forest like some lost tourist.
The words the demon had spoken echoed in his mind, sharp as daggers: "You are my successor. Through me, you will inherit power beyond reckoning. But power demands its price, and those who stand in your path will know despair."
Kael shivered. The firelight danced on the trees, casting monstrous shapes, as if the forest itself was alive and mocking him. He rose cautiously, scanning the darkness. There was something in the air tonight—heavy, oppressive, tinged with a faint sulfuric scent that reminded him uncomfortably of brimstone.
He should have packed up, kept moving, avoided the shadows. Yet curiosity gnawed at him. He felt it in his veins—the lingering pulse of the old demon's gift, subtle but undeniable. His right hand tingled, warmth crawling up his arm, like molten iron coursing beneath skin. And he knew: it was awakening.
A voice slithered from the shadows. Deep. Smooth. Almost theatrical.
"Well, well, well… look who woke up all bright-eyed and innocent. Kael, my successor. Fancy that."
Kael's heart skipped. From between two gnarled oaks, a figure emerged. Cloaked in black, eyes glinting like molten gold, the being exuded a presence that made the hairs on Kael's neck stand at attention.
"You again," Kael muttered, gripping a sharpened branch, though he knew it was useless. Against this creature, nothing he carried would matter.
The demon—or whatever this was—smirked. "Oh, don't be so formal. Let's call me… Marvax. Easier to yell when you're screaming in terror." A chuckle followed. "But seriously, Kael, don't look so scared. You're mine now, remember? We're connected. You feel that? That little buzz in your veins? That's your inheritance calling."
Kael's fists tightened. "I didn't ask for this. Why me? Why choose someone like me?"
Marvax floated closer, ignoring the natural rules of gravity, the cloak trailing like shadows cast by the moon. "Because someone had to inherit my essence, my knowledge, my power. And let's face it, kid… you were amusing."
Kael blinked. "Amusing?"
"Yes. You have that certain… flair. The kind of flair that screams 'I will somehow mess everything up spectacularly and survive anyway.' Hilarious. And practical. But don't get cocky. This power… it will change you. And those around you. Including that little bird of a village girl you seem to like."
Kael's stomach twisted. How did this demon—no, this ancient being—know about his thoughts?
Marvax waved a hand, and the forest erupted in a sudden display: shadows twisted into grotesque forms, snarling at Kael, then suddenly transforming into comically oversized rabbits hopping in absurd patterns.
"Relax!" Marvax said, laughing. "Even I like to break the monotony. Can't have you thinking I'm all doom and gloom. Though, you know… mostly doom and gloom. But hey, laughter is essential! Right? Fourth wall break, anyone?"
Kael stared, dumbfounded, a mix of fear and confusion rooting him to the spot.
Marvax leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "Jokes aside, Kael, the time to understand your limits is now. Feel your body. Every beat, every pulse. That's my legacy. You can move faster than any normal human. Your senses are sharpened. You can command elemental shadows to your will. But—and here's the catch—you'll also feel the hunger. The craving for power. The voices of those who resist you, screaming in your mind until you're ready to break them. That's the price."
Kael swallowed hard. "I don't… I don't want to hurt anyone. I didn't ask for this."
Marvax grinned, teeth glinting. "Oh, Kael… everyone gets to say that at first. But survival isn't polite. It isn't clean. And neither will your hands be. Don't worry, though, it's kind of fun once you get used to it. Think of it as… extreme gardening. Except the plants scream."
The humor was dark, twisted, but it made Kael flinch anyway.
"Training starts tonight," Marvax continued, his golden eyes flicking toward the forest depths. "You'll need it. Out there are things that will test every shred of what you are. And what you will become. I can guide, I can teach… but I won't fight for you. You're the successor, Kael. That means taking every challenge yourself."
Kael's mind whirled. He wanted to flee, to scream, to refuse. But every fiber of his being pulsed with the new energy—the power awakening inside him. His hand flared with black-gold energy, shadows dancing across the forest floor.
Marvax's voice softened, though it still carried that edge of playful menace. "Look at that, huh? Your first display. Not bad for a mortal."
Kael felt the surge. He could hear the forest breathing differently. Every insect, every rustle of leaf, every distant howl seemed amplified. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, noticing details that had been invisible before: the pattern of bark on trees, the slight shift in the wind, even the faint shimmer of magical residue left by long-gone creatures.
"Control," Marvax intoned. "Control is the key. You let the power overwhelm you… and it will devour more than your enemies. It'll consume you. But mastered… you'll be more than human. You'll be legend."
Kael nodded, determination mixing with fear. "I… I'll try."
Marvax clapped once, the sound echoing unnaturally. "Good. But one last lesson for today: Even in darkness, even when everyone you care about is gone or terrified, even when despair is gnawing at your soul… never forget to laugh. Even a little. It keeps you human. Or, well… as human as someone with SSS-tier demon powers can be. Seriously, Kael, if you don't, the forest eats you. Not literally. Well, maybe. Who knows."
Kael let out a short, humorless laugh, trying to process the absurdity in the midst of terror. It felt strange, but the tension loosened just enough for him to breathe.
The night stretched on, thick with shadows and magic. Marvax guided Kael through exercises in speed, perception, and shadow manipulation. Every failed attempt met with a grin and a snide remark—some cruel, some oddly humorous.
"Don't move like a startled squirrel, Kael. You're supposed to be terrifying. Or… at least mildly concerning. You'll get used to it."
Hours passed, and exhaustion gnawed at Kael. Yet beneath the fatigue, something was growing—a spark of confidence, a strange pride, and the faint thrill of wielding power that, before now, he had never imagined.
As the first pale fingers of dawn crept through the forest canopy, Kael stood alone on a moss-covered rock, chest heaving, shadows swirling protectively around him.
Marvax's voice floated through the morning mist. "Rest. Tomorrow… we start for real. And remember: the world doesn't care if you're afraid. Neither do I. But I do enjoy watching you try. That's entertainment enough for a lifetime."
Kael clenched his fists, feeling the hum of inherited power in his veins. A storm was coming, one that would sweep across lands, enemies, and alliances alike. And he—Kael, the chosen successor—would stand in the eye of it all.