Dancing on the golden ashes

We moved slowly through the narrow corridor, the stench growing stronger with every step. It clung to the air, making my stomach churn. I wanted to puke just thinking about what was happening in this place, but I had already suspected something like this and mentally prepared myself for it.

"Please follow me and try not to fall behind," Choi Ha-Eun said with a lighthearted giggle. "Who knows who might try to pull you into their room? But knowing Sister's strength, it would only spell doom for them."

Her casual tone grated on me, though I kept my expression neutral. She navigated the maze-like corridors with ease, like she owned the place.

And that only made it worse.

The thought of her being used here, forced to entertain disgusting people, filled me with a deep sadness I couldn't ignore. I clenched my fists as we continued, my resolve hardening with every step.

After what felt like an eternity walking through the narrow passage, we passed countless curious stares. The women here, if you could call it "dressed," wore clothing that left very little to the imagination.

I felt my cheeks flush, despite being a girl myself. This place… the energy here felt strange.

Choi Ha-Eun eventually stopped at a door, twisting the handle. But before she could even step inside, the door was flung open with a violent force.

A tall man stormed through, slamming the door so hard that it sent Choi Ha-Eun flying.

Reacting instantly, I moved to catch her. My arms steadied her just in time, stopping us from collapsing like dominoes.

"The fuck is your problem, you sluts?" the man snarled, his irritated gaze locking onto us. His anger was palpable, and it didn't take a genius to guess that something inside the room had set him off.

"What's my problem?" I shot back, stepping forward with a cold glare. "My problem is your stupid big head. How about I fucking end you right here and now? Huh?"

My voice dripped with venom, and the tension in the air thickened as our gazes clashed.

"Who do you think you are, you damn woman?" he snarled, his face twisting into an ugly mask of fury.

His eye twitched, and it was clear he was on the verge of completely losing it. Suddenly, his entire body flushed red, and the oppressive aura of a ruler surged forward, trying to suppress me.

What a joke... He must be an idiot to think that would work on me.

I noticed his expression shift when he realized that only Choi Ha-Eun and I remained unaffected by his oppressive aura.

The other two girls, however, weren't as fortunate. They collapsed to their knees, trembling under the pressure.

Before I could retaliate, a flash of steel caught my eye. A small dagger pierced through his chest, the blade emerging from the other side.

The man staggered, his body convulsing as he turned to face the room behind him.

"You… You trash of a human being," he spat, his voice trembling with rage. "How dare you?"

From the depths of the room, a low and tired voice echoed, carrying an unsettling calm.

"Mr. Kim, I'm sorry for this," it drawled, each word deliberate. "But you see, nobody is allowed to touch my toys. Not even you. So… die in peace now."

As if submitting to the command, the man collapsed to the ground at my feet, lifeless.

Two half-naked men emerged from the room moments later, their faces void of emotion. Without a word, they picked up the corpse and squeezed past us, their movements eerily mechanical as they carried it off to some unknown destination.

"Ah, my beloved girls, come in," a commanding tone called from the room.

The three women, almost like puppets on strings, immediately dropped their clothes and walked inside without hesitation.

I stood there, speechless. What the fuck are those powers? This is so despicable.

My disgust quickly turned to rage, and I followed, ready to end this bastard. Read latest chapters at empire

But the sight that met me inside made my stomach churn.

At least twenty or thirty women were lined up, completely naked, crouched on all fours like obedient dogs. Their eyes were fixated on an old, naked man at the center of the room.

He was fat, short, and revolting. The sheer sight of him made bile rise in my throat.

Inspect!

[Jang Pil-Soo]

[Level 31]

[Puppeteer of the Souls]

"Ah, you've brought a friend," the man said, his voice oozing with smugness. His beady eyes scanned me, and a revolting grin spread across his face. "Not bad. Beautiful face, nice body. She'll do just fine as my new toy."

He snapped his fingers, and an illusory chain materialized from the lower half of his body.

The sight made my skin crawl. This power… I want to burn it from existence.

The chain glowed with potent soul energy as it shot toward me, aiming to bind me. I could feel the oppressive power radiating from it.

But it wasn't nearly enough to threaten me.

I didn't resist. I let it approach, and in seconds, the chain coiled tightly around my neck, attempting to choke me.

The man's disgusting smile widened. He most likely thought he'd already won.

"What a fool..." I sneered, my voice dripping with disdain.

In an instant, my scythe materialized in my hand, its edge glinting ominously as I swung it with a speed he could never hope to match. My target was precise—one small but significant part of his body.

"AAAAAHHHHHH!"

A blood-curdling scream tore from his lips as he clutched the part he had never imagined losing, his face contorted in pure agony.

"Oh, how I'll enjoy tormenting you," I said coldly, my scythe raised for another strike.

But before I could attack again, the women rushed to his defense, encircling him like a human meat shield.

Pathetic.

It was the most cowardly move I had ever witnessed, yet it fit his character perfectly.

"Wow," I said, my tone dripping with mockery. "Don't you have any honor as a man? Hiding behind the women you've manipulated with your superior soul energy? And now that you've hit a wall, you're planning to run? Pathetic. I won't allow that..."

"These are just my tools!" he screamed, his voice trembling with rage and desperation. "All of you women are nothing but fucking sluts, looking down on us men! You don't deserve to live—only to please us and fulfill our desires!"

His words were nearly incoherent, spat out with unhinged fury.

Disgusting...

"You moron!" I screamed back, my voice echoing with fury. "Just because you were rejected by a few women doesn't mean all of them are the same! If you'd been an honest man—if you'd actually tried to look good, smell decent, and not act like a fucking pig—you might have found someone! But now? Now you'll die!"

I rushed forward, my rage driving me. With swift, precise movements, I shoved the women aside, clearing a path to him.

He was sprawled on the ground, clutching the mangled remnants of his manhood, his face contorted in agony.

"I'm sorry to all of you!" I shouted, my voice firm yet laced with regret, as I unleashed a powerful force.

The women protecting him were slammed into the walls with incredible force. Most of them passed out instantly, their bodies crumpling to the ground, while a few were left barely able to move.

Finally, I reached my target.

Desperate, he launched a dagger at me. The blade grazed my thigh, leaving a sharp sting and a creeping numbness that quickly spread through my leg.

"Hahaha!" he laughed maniacally, his eyes wide with deranged glee. "You're just a stupid woman! You're going to die now! Nobody has ever survived my poison—nobody!"

I felt something unnatural invading my body, a cold, venomous energy spreading through my veins.

But I didn't panic.

With my free hand, I immediately cast a Water Aid skill over the wound. The soothing water energy surged through the wound, quickly neutralizing the poison and expelling it from my body.

The man's smug expression twisted into one of pure terror as he realized what I had done. His confidence shattered, and, with a trembling body, he literally pissed himself.

"My scythe shall be your redemption… Die."

With a swift motion, my scythe cleaved through the air, severing yet another head.

This time, I didn't use Soul Reaver.

This soul... it's too filthy. Not something I'd ever want.

Even Kim Ha-Joon, with all his flaws, was a more decent human being than this disgusting fool.

Slowly, right after his death, the entire place erupted into chaos—a weeping house of freedom and disorder.

Cries of liberation filled the air, blending with the cacophony of interrupted debauchery. The shouts of unhappy customers were soon replaced by the sound of their bodies being flung into walls or through doors, likely by the newly freed women seeking revenge. The noise was deafening, but I didn't care.

I knew this would bring me trouble, but I couldn't just stand by and watch as these women were used, enslaved under someone else's spell.

The room I stood in was no different—tears streamed down faces, the cries of the freed women growing louder. Amidst it all, Choi Ha-Eun met my gaze.

The fire in her eyes burned bright, cutting through her tears, and I could see the depth of her gratitude without her needing to say a word.

As for me, I didn't linger. I had to get out of this place—and fast.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om