Dancing on the golden ashes

I wanted to rush in, my blood boiling with anticipation, but this time, it was Kim Seong-Hoon who stopped me. His hand pressed against my stomach, holding me back. Anger flared in me, but I swallowed it. Now wasn't the time for petty frustration—I had an objective right in front of me.

"Big sis, wait," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We need a strategy. We can't just run in like that. You said so yourself."

His unwavering gaze made it clear—there would be no room for recklessness this time.

"Yeah, but I've changed my mind. I'd love to just rush through them and kill every single one of them." My voice shifted at the very end, carrying an edge that made my party members furrow their brows in concern.

"You're not yourself right now. Calm down," Eun-Woo said, his massive hand resting on my shoulder, steady and grounding.

Jieun reached out, her small hand slipping into mine. The gesture was simple but powerful. It pulled me back, even if only slightly, from the swirling storm inside.

I could feel it—the fog clouding my mind, the relentless urge to kill gnawing at every corner of my being. The only thought rushing through me was destruction, pure and simple. It was consuming me, and I hated it, even as I craved it.

"You see those two guards on the eastern tower?" Kim Seong-Hoon asked, his voice calm yet focused. "If we can take them out silently, we'll have a clear entry point. No one else seems to be paying attention. This stronghold is way too easy to dismantle. Let me handle it."

"They're just level 10," he added confidently, a glint of determination in his eyes. "Leave this to me."

"Are you sure?" I asked, my tone cautious.

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I didn't know much about him, but I could see he had a good heart—too good. Killing would only stain it, and I wasn't sure he was ready to bear that weight.

"Yes..." He exhaled deeply, the moonlight casting an elegant glow over his face. His sword shimmered ominously, and suddenly, the air around us grew deathly cold.

In a flash, the sword transformed into a sleek dragon bow, its ethereal design radiating power. Two thin, needle-like arrows materialized, glowing faintly in the stillness. He pulled the bowstring with a practiced grace, and the arrows sang through the air with a soft zing!

The projectiles struck true. The two guards froze in place, their muscles locking them upright even in death. The eerie stillness of their lifeless forms sent a chill down my spine as the oppressive silence reclaimed the area.

"Amazing..." I whispered under my breath, barely audible.

It was a mistake I would regret almost instantly.

"Wait...! Did I hear that right? You said I'm amazing!?" Kim Seong-Hoon's face lit up like a child being praised for the first time. "I will never forget this moment. Big sis praised me! I'm going to treasure these words forever!"

"I didn't say anything. It must have been the wind," I retorted sharply, trying to salvage my pride. "Now piss off before I decide to shoot you down as well!"

As he lunged for a hug, grinning like a fool, I skillfully dodged and darted toward the undefended wall, leaving him pouting in the moonlight.

"I have to say, brother, your dedication is slowly paying off," Eun-Woo teased Kim Seong-Hoon, his tone light but edged with amusement. I caught the comment just before slipping out of earshot.

The group moved swiftly. We'd left the Thunder Tempests in the forest, their task simple—distract the guards while we infiltrated.

I hate stealth missions... I thought with a huff. I'd much rather rush in and destroy this entire place. This is so damn annoying.

We scaled the stone wall with ease, landing softly on the other side. What greeted us took me by surprise. The interior of the stronghold wasn't just functional—it was breathtaking.

Beautifully manicured gardens stretched out before us, their meticulous design and serene beauty resembling the grandeur of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was an odd contrast to the dark purpose of the man residing here.

"They must have someone with gardening powers," Eun-Woo chuckled, his voice a bit too loud for comfort.

A couple of guards snapped their heads in our direction.

"Good job," I muttered flatly, my words dripping with sarcasm.

Before anyone could react further, a couple of heads flew into the air, severed cleanly by my scythe. I stood in the middle of the pristine garden, bathed in moonlight, my gaze fixed on the towering palace. The silence was deafening as the guards and my own group stared at me with blank expressions, the surreal beauty of the scene contrasting sharply with the blood I'd just spilled.

"KIM HA-JOON!" I roared, my voice amplified with swirling soul energy, resonating like a megaphone. "DRAG YOUR ASS OUT HERE AND MEET YOUR END! I, LEE GAON, CHALLENGE YOU TO A DEATHMATCH! THIS WILL BE MY FINAL VICTORY AGAINST YOU!"

My words echoed across the stronghold, carrying far into the night, their intensity shaking even the surrounding forest. Every soul within earshot now knew—this was the beginning of the end.

"HAHAHAHAHA!" Laughter erupted around me, mocking and jeering, their expressions dripping with disdain. They looked at me as if I were a fool.

"You...?" A boy, barely twelve at most, stepped forward, his golden sword glinting as it hummed with gathering energy. "Challenge the Emperor? You're unworthy. Who do you think you are? Let me end your stupid show, big sister."

Before I could respond, he lunged at me, his blade aimed directly for my chest. His movements were sluggish, almost pitiful—he was only level 12, after all.

"Sorry, kid," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Remember in your death that you attacked me first."

Air Shatter...

A concentrated wave of air erupted from my palm, ripping through him before he could react. The boy froze mid-air, his body disintegrating into nothingness, leaving only a faint shimmer of golden light where he once stood.

The laughter stopped.

The youth's body erupted into a gruesome explosion, fragments scattering across the garden. The once-mocking crowd fell silent, their expressions shifting from disdain to abject terror.

"Now you're afraid?" My voice cut through the tension, cold and sharp as steel. "You dogs have no right to berate me. You're just an idiot's lackeys. Move, or I will slay you all!"

Most scattered like leaves in a storm, but four figures remained rooted in place, their defiance radiating like an unyielding wall.

Four men, each exuding powerful auras, stepped forward, their presence stifling.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Level 25, 23, 28, 21... My eyes locked onto the strongest of them—the one missing an arm. His katana rested at his side, holstered but humming with restrained menace. His attire stood out: all black, with a traditional Japanese straw hat shadowing his face.

He didn't look Korean.

Japanese? The thought struck me with unease. Does that mean it wasn't just my country that was affected?

His killing intent was palpable, a suffocating weight pressing against me, and his unwavering gaze confirmed what I already knew: this one would be a challenge. A formidable foe.

The corner of my lips curled into a smirk. Perfect.

The others standing beside the one-armed swordsman each exuded their own menace. A mage, cloaked in shadow, gripped an eerie black staff that radiated a chilling death aura. His eyes gleamed with malice, and the air around him felt cold and heavy, as though he dragged a piece of the underworld wherever he went.

Next to him stood a towering warrior, a hulking mass of muscle with molten axes that glowed ominously. His long, fiery beard matched his blazing red hair, giving him the appearance of a walking inferno.

But the one who truly made my skin crawl was the man wielding a black whip. His tight leather attire clung to his grotesque frame, far too revealing for comfort. He was hideous, his features resembling a toad, and the lustful gaze he fixed on me made bile rise in my throat.

Disgusting.

I was about to take a step forward, my scythe itching for action, but my group had other plans. Before I could react, they moved as one to stand in front of me, forming a protective barrier.

Everyone but Soo-Ah stepped forward, their eyes blazing with determination as they silently chose their targets.

"We'll handle them. You have a serious battle coming up. Don't bother yourself," Kim Seong-Hoon reassured me, his tone firm and unwavering. For once, I felt truly grateful to him.

Suspense hung thick in the air, an electric charge between the two groups. No words were exchanged, only the language of sharp, unwavering gazes as both sides sized each other up.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The sound of slow applause broke the silence, echoing eerily through the gardens. All eyes turned to the palace entrance as a figure clad in a dark tunic emerged from the shadows. A black hood obscured his face, but something about his presence—the way he moved, the chill that followed him—sent a shiver down my spine. I knew it was him...