Frantic energy surged through Daseos as he leapt from the bed.
A creeping sense of dread filled the room, making the very air feel heavy.
Panic heightened into a frenzied search as Daseos jumped off his bed, his hands scrambling over the sheets and feeling through every inch of the surrounding space.
"Where... Where is it?!"
His voice came out in ragged bursts, desperation clawing at his throat as he rummaged through the chaos of his room, his heart pounding painfully against his ribs.
That pendant was a relic, a fragment of a past that was ripped away from him too soon.
It was an emblem of his lineage, a symbol of his heritage.
It was one of only two remnants of his family's legacy that he managed to hold onto through the unyielding storm that was his life.
The mere thought of losing it felt like losing a part of himself
For Daseos, it was like an anchor, grounding him through every storm life had thrown his way.
And now, it was gone.
His racing mind, in its desperate attempt to make sense of the situation, stumbled upon a revelation.
He felt a chill running down his spine as he suddenly turned, his eyes fixating on the glowing interface that floated in the corners of his vision.
The room seemed to tighten, the walls inching closer as a myriad of possibilities raced through his mind.
'Could it be...? The system... the pendant…'
Each heartbeat pounded in his ears, a frantic drummer signaling a whirlpool of emotions — fear, anger, and hope all intertwining in a cacophony of turmoil, echoing the chaos in his mind.
His gaze shot towards his study table, where the second artifact lay; the revered Demon Codex.
Its pages, thick and rich with ancient knowledge, seemed to pulsate with a quiet energy.
A rush of memories overwhelmed him.
He remembered very abstractly the times when the elders of the Demon Clan would narrate tales of the Codex's power when he was a child—before he lost everyone.
How it wasn't just a book, but a reservoir of the clan's history and secrets.
His family had safeguarded it for generations, and now—
It was his turn.
As he gazed upon it, an epiphany dawned on Daseos.
Maybe, just maybe, his family had left him with more than just struggle.
Maybe they'd entrusted him with a destiny, a responsibility he was only beginning to fathom.
"I've been so focused on the past that I never truly acknowledged what ya'll left for me."
His voice broke, a whisper in the silent room, as realization dawned upon him.
He approached the Codex, his fingers grazing its surface with a gentle reverence.
"A legacy, a mission... and perhaps answers."
His heart swelled, a tumultuous sea of grief and longing clashing against newly ignited sparks of hope, creating a fierce storm of emotions that threatened to spill out from his eyes.
Yet within the chaos, there was a whisper of something stronger, something resolute rising from the depths of his being, reforging broken connections in unexpected, yet welcome, ways.
He felt a connection, thin but unbreakable, reaching out from his past, guiding him, possibly gifting him with something substantial, a tool, a path.
It was like a beacon in the darkness, a lifeline thrown to him across the void of years and loss, a message from his family saying, "You are not alone. You have never been alone."
An idea sparked suddenly in Daseos's mind, pulling him from his deep well of reflection.
He moved hurriedly, throwing open a drawer and retrieving an intricately carved jade vial — the gift from Lilith after his first extort— *ahem* withdrawal from his best friend Rex the ATM.
His eyes darted to the interface that hovered persistently in his vision.
==========
[ Daseos Demon — T0 ]
Wealth: 250,637
P: 178
M: 162
==========
His eyes widened, disbelief setting in.
'An increase of 150,000? Just like that?'
Quickly unscrewing the delicate lid, he peered inside.
The contents revealed three small pills, neatly nestled within.
'Each pill is worth $50,000?! I knew Lilith was from an affluent family but to casually hand over something of this value…'
He carefully closed the vial, a myriad of feelings rushing through him as he secured it back in its place.
He leaned back, allowing a sigh to escape his lips,
'We really are worlds apart huh~'
It was then that he shook off the complex emotions, regaining his composure as he turned his attention back to the four lines of data hovering in the corner of his vision, particularly the way it calculated his net worth.
'So, this… primitive system calculates my net worth, but does it only recognize items I physically touch? What about intangible assets?'
Despite Antagonia's villainous tendencies, they too, like any civilized society, had progressed into the digital age.
Even in a world centered around villainy, they couldn't ignore the conveniences and complexities of digital finance.
I mean… even humans could argue there's no easier place to find 'villains' than within their own financial sectors.
But the glaring question remained,
'How does the system account for intangible assets? I can't exactly 'touch' digital currencies or stocks. Does it not count?'
Daseos sighed, his poverty was the greatest restrictor of his imagination, he couldn't even test out certain theories because well, he had no access to them.
Because… He was so poor.
But frustration wasn't going to get him anywhere.
Daseos was nothing if not a survivor. He'd figure out this system, step by step, no matter how long it took.
For the next few minutes, his mind became a rapid-fire machine, considering the potential variables, tossing out one question after another.
Would taking a loan count?
Could he work as a cashier or a bank clerk?
Would all the cash that passes through his hands count as wealth points?
What about if he borrowed money?
What happens if he were to spend the money in hand?
A flurry of questions flooded his mind but above all, one stood out.
'WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS SYSTEM FOR?'