Chapter 5: The Death God's Oath

As Jin Mo surrendered to the pull of exhaustion, his consciousness drifted into a void—a quiet, endless abyss. In that profound silence, something stirred. Shadows rippled and coalesced, forming a figure draped in flowing black robes. The edges shimmered like mist, ephemeral yet commanding.

The figure's face emerged from the shadows—regal, imposing, with eyes that glowed like embers, piercing through the very fabric of Jin Mo's soul. This was Yama, the God of Death—the deity who had granted Jin Mo his powers and his second chance.

"Jin Mo," the God of Death's voice resonated in Jin Mo's mind, deep and solemn. "I know you are confused. What you are experiencing is not merely a dream, but a reality you must come to understand. You were reborn because of me. I could not bear to let you fade into nothingness. The other gods... they betrayed us both."

The weight of those words hit Jin Mo like a hammer. His memories flashed before him—Yoon Ha's death, his own, the betrayal, the hollow pain of losing everything. His fists clenched involuntarily, the raw emotion surging through him, despite his weak state.

"How? Why?" Jin Mo's voice trembled, barely a whisper in the vast emptiness.

"When an apostle dies," Yama explained, his tone heavy with ancient sorrow, "the god who holds their bond is weakened. Their power drains away. If their apostle dies, the god risks losing their very position, their authority... their existence. For this reason, they must hide, or run. I, however, am the strongest of all gods. Even I could not escape the laws of causality."

Jin Mo's heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of anger and disbelief clouding his thoughts. "You... you couldn't stop them?!"

Yama's voice softened, a rare vulnerability in the divine god's words. "No... I could not. The greed of the other gods tore us apart. They killed you, Jin Mo. But I was able to revive you, with the last of my strength, because I could not bear to see you disappear into the abyss."

Jin Mo's throat tightened. He had been so alone, so lost in the darkness—but now, to know someone had watched over him, had fought for him, brought a strange comfort. It was bittersweet, but it meant something.

"There are twelve gods," Yama continued, his eyes distant, as if lost in memories of a time long past. "But as the greed of the other gods grew, so did their destruction. I stood alone, untouched by their wars. I had no friends, no family... until I saw you. I saw in you the same loneliness I have carried for so long."

Jin Mo's chest tightened as tears welled in his eyes. He trembled, overwhelmed by the truth of those words. It was the first time anyone had ever truly understood the emptiness he'd carried inside. Not even Yoon Ha had seen the depths of it—only Yama.

"Jin Mo," the God of Death's voice was a soft murmur, like the wind through a graveyard, "you are not alone anymore. As I watched over you, I grew attached to you. Just as you have grown attached to me. But now... I must rest. My strength is not enough to protect you completely. You must grow strong on your own."

Jin Mo's breath hitched as he absorbed the enormity of those words. A part of him wanted to reach out, to hold on to the only source of warmth in his life. But Yama's presence was already beginning to fade, like a shadow slipping through his fingers.

"I will remain in slumber, regaining my power. I do not know when I will awaken, but when I do, I hope to see you as a strong and happy Jin Mo—no longer weak, no longer sad."

The God of Death's figure began to dissolve into the surrounding darkness, his voice now but a whisper. "You will not walk this path alone, Jin Mo. There are others who were betrayed by the gods. They, too, will bless you. With their gifts, you will grow stronger. You will rise above the others, and when the time comes... you will have your revenge."

As Yama's form faded completely, five new presences emerged from the void. They were radiant, distinct, and each one pulsed with a unique divine aura that resonated within Jin Mo's very soul.