Dancing on the golden ashes

When I came back I found Eun-Woo training with his hammer and shield, sharpening his moves with fierce intensity. His brow was furrowed in concentration, sweat dripping down his face as he practiced each strike and block with precision. The clang of metal echoed in the air, and I could see the determination burning in his eyes—he was preparing himself for whatever lay ahead, leaving no room for doubt.

To my pleasant surprise, Eun-Woo didn't ask any questions when he heard about an entire village being massacred over a petty feud. His usual teddy bear-like demeanor shifted into one of resolute righteousness. For a moment, I saw something different in his eyes—a flicker of pain, of understanding, like he was struggling to come to terms with what we had to do. But he didn't voice it. Maybe he understood me better than I thought. But what in this world is right... I thought grimly. Aren't we about to do the same thing as that bastard?

"Get your ass up!" I smacked Kim Seong-Hoon's head with the handle of my scythe as I walked past. The lazy idiot was still sleeping while everyone else was already up, sharpening their skills before we set off.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"Your head was in my way. Sorry." For some reason, my lips curled into an impish smile, almost as if I was enjoying spending time with him.

"Big sis is bullying me... MALRANG! Help me!" he cried dramatically, putting on a ridiculous show.

"Woo!" Malrang leaped onto his shoulder, her mischievous eyes gleaming as if to say, I'm on his side.

"You two amaze me..." I muttered, half-exasperated, half-resigned. I wanted to cry, yet no tears came out. This duo would one day drive me to the brink of insanity.

"Gaon, are you sure you need to do this?" Soo-Ah's voice broke through my thoughts as she approached me again. For some reason, I couldn't stand her at that moment—especially in that revealing wizard's dress she was wearing. It felt like she was trying to draw attention on purpose.

Shit... What am I even thinking? What the hell is wrong with me? She's my best friend. I shouldn't think about her like this. Snap out of it, Gaon! I scolded myself, shaking my head to clear the unwelcome thoughts.

"You know yourself. How can I sit idly when I know he's out there, literally challenging me?" I said firmly, my voice unwavering.

"But!" Soo-Ah's body trembled, her reluctance clear. "He'll kill all of you! None of you have any idea how broken his class is—he's immortal! No! I will not let you walk to your death!" she cried out, her arms outstretched as if to physically stop me. Her eyes burned with fierce determination, pleading for me to reconsider.

"How does she know so much?" Kim Seong-Hoon cut in, his tone sharp, his eyes narrowing as he studied Soo-Ah suspiciously.

"Her old party leader was affiliated with him. It's a long story, and I'll explain the details as we go." I directed everyone to mount their wolves, then turned back to Soo-Ah. "Now, please trust me on this. No one will ever be able to beat me. I promise you that—especially not that sore loser who always lost to me. This will just be another easy victory."

I smiled at her, warmth spreading through my chest. Her concern touched me, and despite everything that had happened, it made me resent her less. Maybe, just maybe, I could accept the fragments of our old friendship again.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I will go with you," she declared, holding out her pinky finger with determination. "And I will protect you, no matter what!"

I hesitated for a moment, then linked my pinky with hers. A silent promise was sealed between us.

After mounting Ravokar, I raised my hand, signaling the group to set off. Everyone chose a wolf to their liking. Soo-Ah let Eun-Woo take Omenpaw, as both of them were the largest in the group and seemed to match each other in stature. She settled on Lykaon, whose bloodthirsty eyes seemed to soften slightly in her presence, as if they shared an unspoken chemistry.

Jieun sat on Savryn, holding Malrang in her arms. Her eyes blazed with determination. Though she had yet to take a life, she seemed different from the last time we met—more mature, more resolute. That fiery gaze spoke of her growth.

Kim Seong-Hoon was left with Vargrin, and the two bonded almost instantly. Like natural-born hunters, they shared a certain energy, making their pairing seem perfect.

It took us about twenty minutes to reach the Goblin village, riding at the speed of the Thunder Tempests. When we arrived, the sight struck me like a thunderclap—the graves built for the dead, the remnants of the destroyed village.

The memory surged through me like a flood.

"We have decided to build a stronghold here," I could still hear Kim Ju-Ho's voice, his face beaming with hope and determination. "With no cities around, we might become the first to start accepting passing players and build a community!"

I had looked forward to that future. A place of growth, safety, and purpose.

But now, it was nothing more than a ghost of a dream, a memory buried among the ashes of what once was.

"Let's go! Head east and search for some sort of castle. It should be small—there's no way he had time to build anything grand. Split up and search. If you find something, the wolves will locate each other and regroup. Don't engage alone, and don't get caught. We don't know how many people support him or what levels they are. Now, GO!" I commanded, my voice firm and resolute.

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison before splitting up. I headed straight ahead with Ravokar, my blood boiling with anticipation.

It took us a few hours to traverse the endless plains. Ravokar's speed was incredible, but these grasslands were far larger than I had ever imagined. When we finally reached the edge, the landscape changed dramatically.

What replaced the plains was unlike anything I'd ever seen—a completely metallic ground that stretched as far as the eye could see.

This place... it's like someone cast it entirely in metal. But the sheer scale... it's too extravagant. Wow! I thought, my eyes wide as I took in the surreal sight.

The monsters in this area were around level 10 to 15—nothing too threatening. The landscape was puzzlingly flat, with no trees or mountains, just endless metallic plains. The emptiness felt unnatural, as if the land itself had been stripped bare.

Then I came upon a massive crevice, its bottom glowing with bubbling lava. It was like staring into the heart of a forge. The metallic ground and walls around the crevice were dark iron, fully decorated with intricate, alien-like designs. The entire place looked like it was plucked straight from a sci-fi movie.

Is this where all the metal came from? The birthplace of this strange world's steel? I wondered, awe mingling with unease as the molten glow reflected off the dark iron landscape.

"Master, we must move. This place most definitely doesn't have any so-called castles," Ravokar growled, his tone urging me to press on.

Yet, something in my gut told me otherwise—a nagging feeling that this place held a secret, something important hidden within the depths of the crevice.

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "You're right, we must move. Let's go!"

Still, as we left, I swore to myself that I'd come back here one day, if the chance ever arose. Something about this place whispered to me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it was more than it seemed.

It took us about three to four hours to escape the desolate plain of steel. The lifeless metallic ground eventually gave way to a completely normal-looking forest. It was a stark contrast, almost as if I had stepped back onto Earth.

This place didn't have the magical or fantastical feel I'd grown used to in this world. Even the monsters roaming here looked deceptively simple—wolves, boars, and birds that wouldn't have seemed out of place in any ordinary forest.

But when I used Inspect on them, the truth hit me like a wave of cold water. Most of them were over level 20, and the entities lurking in the shadows radiated terrifying auras that sent shivers down my spine.

Looks can be deceiving... I thought grimly, tightening my grip on my scythe as I stayed alert for what lay ahead.

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"Master, I can hear Vargrin's voice. They've found what you're looking for—it's at least 20 kilometers from here," Ravokar growled impatiently. His entire body trembled with excitement, his love for battle practically oozing from him.

"Good. Take me there," I said, patting his head.

Without wasting a second, Ravokar bolted forward, his powerful legs carrying us through the forest at breakneck speed. The thrill of the hunt surged through both of us as the wind whipped past, and I prepared myself for whatever awaited us.

We quickly regrouped with the others, and what met my eyes was beyond anything I could have imagined.

How did he do that?

Hidden behind the trees, we scouted the area. Before us stood a towering Korean-style palace, its intricate architecture dominating the clearing. A massive chunk of the forest had been stripped away, replaced by an extraordinarily ornate wooden structure.

I had expected a modest castle—who in this world would have time to build something grand? Yet, this was at least twenty meters tall, its design radiating an air of authority and sophistication.

The palace was encased by a sturdy stone wall, seamlessly blending elegance with fortification. Guards patrolled every watchtower, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. From where we crouched, the lively sound of music and celebration drifted through the air, an unsettling contrast to the ominous fortress.

So, this is where you're hiding, Kim Ha-Joon... This night will be your last! I thought, my fists clenching as I prepared for what lay ahead.