Dancing on the golden ashes

Two days had passed since Malrang and I left Blazelia Mountain behind. The night after everything unfolded, we stumbled upon a small cave and decided to rest there. But sadly I was unable to shut my eyes at all.

My mind churned with endless questions: What exactly is a cultivation system? How did that 'Creator' develop the game system and impose it on everyone? How—

The questions swirled relentlessly, turning the night into a nightmare. I think I managed to get a few hours of sleep, though I wasn't entirely sure. Yet, strangely enough, I felt fully rested, as if my body no longer required as much sleep as it once did.

The next morning, we made our way toward the sea I had spotted from the mountain. Its blazing radiance from the night before had faded, replaced by a faint reflection of the nearby Blazelia trees, their fiery glow painting the waters in streaks of light. The brilliance had dimmed, but the sea still called to me, stirring a deep yearning within.

Yet, without a boat—and no idea what terrifying creatures or treacherous waves might lurk beneath its surface—venturing into its depths was out of the question.

I craved to explore its mysteries, to uncover what lay beneath the shimmering expanse, but I wasn't strong enough. Not yet.

So, we chose to follow the shoreline instead, searching for creatures to hunt. Malrang needed food, and this world wasn't going to provide for her on its own.

Or so I thought…

A simple-looking snake, no more than thirty centimeters long, suddenly leaped from the sea. But as it reached us, its form expanded in an instant, transforming into a colossal serpent at least thirty meters long. Its massive jaws opened wide, ready to swallow us whole from behind.

But we were no longer weak.

That fool underestimated us. With a single slash of my scythe, the serpent was severed cleanly in half. Its immense body collapsed onto the blazing red sand with a thunderous thud, scattering embers and dust into the air. Pathetic creature... It wasn't even strong enough to provide a significant boost—I barely gained 1% experience from the kill.

That day, Malrang feasted. My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as I watched the massive serpent disappear, piece by piece, into her voracious jaws. Her appetite was nothing short of astonishing.

And yet, no matter how wild or primal she looked—a massive fox devouring her prey—she was still undeniably adorable, even in her towering four-meter form.

Sadly, after traveling for an entire day, we encountered neither monsters nor people. This world was vast—too vast—and I had no way of knowing how many people from my world had been brought here.

But what haunted me the most was the thought: were there people from other worlds brought here too?

I knew this place once had its own inhabitants—people who had lived here before everything crumbled. I'd already met someone tied to this world's past, a lingering remnant of what once was. But what if there were others, from places beyond even my own? What if this was a convergence point for countless worlds?

The idea intrigued me. How would they look? How would it feel to meet them? Would they be like me, struggling to survive? Or something entirely different?

Then again... technically, I was the alien in this world.

But none of that mattered. In the end, this world—no matter who else was brought here—would belong to me!

After spending the night under the shade of a soft orange-hued tree, we stumbled upon something extraordinary the next day—floating mountains. Yes, floating mountains! They hovered high in the air, slowly rotating, defying all logic and reason.

My eyes lit up with excitement, and I quickly summoned my wings, eager to soar to the top of one.

But to my dismay, I couldn't even reach the base of the closest one. They floated far too high, beyond my current capabilities. Who knows what kinds of creatures they might hold? What secrets might lie hidden atop them? My wings carried me no higher than ten or fifteen meters before their strength gave out, forcing me to land on the blazing red ground below.

The ground, seemingly scorching, felt natural to Malrang and me as we walked across it. Fire no longer fazed us, but my disappointment burned hotter than the earth beneath my feet.

With my head hung low, I had no choice but to leave the floating mountains behind. Malrang tried her best to console me—nudging me and letting out soft whines—but nothing could ease the frustration gnawing at me. How could I miss such an incredible opportunity? To land on a floating mountain, to feel its surface beneath my feet... Aaargh! The thought drove me mad.

Still, I clenched my fists and made myself a promise: I would return. One day, I would stand atop those mountains that defied gravity, where secrets and wonders floated just out of reach.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the land, our day grew even darker. By then, we had reached a rocky valley—a labyrinth of jagged stone stretching endlessly in every direction, its exit unknown.

Walking through the narrow passage, I felt the weight of a predatory gaze fixed on me.

I wonder... Who would be foolish enough to challenge us?

Malrang sniffed the air, her tiny, plush-like form deceptively adorable.

"I can smell at least six beasts above us," she said, her voice calm but alert.

"Awoooo!"

The eerie howl echoed down the valley walls.

How nostalgic…

A pack of six wolves leapt down from the cliffs above, landing with eerie grace and encircling us. Their golden fur shimmered like woven lightning, casting an otherworldly glow against the dimming light. Their elongated, almost triangular heads gave them an unsettling, alien appearance.

Massive paws crackled with arcs of lightning, likely shielding them from the blazing heat beneath and enhancing their speed for the hunt. Their glowing eyes fixed on me and Malrang, unblinking and piercing, as though meticulously evaluating our strength.

In the distance, haunting howls pierced the stillness—a chilling reminder that reinforcements were coming. Yet, I stood unfazed. These wolves lacked the aura to truly intimidate me.

"You've picked the wrong person to mess with..." I muttered, my eyes glinting with ferocity. To me, they weren't worth much. I was ready to take them all on alone.

The moonlight bathed the ground in its silvery glow, reflecting off my scythe as I summoned it into my hand. Its cold, familiar weight filled me with resolve as I gripped it tightly, preparing to meet them head-on.

Inspect!

[Level 20]

[Tempest Prowler]

[Epic grade demon beast]

[Total Attack: 1100]

[Total Agility: 1200]

[Total Magic: 560]

[Total Strength: 1330]

[Total Defense: 930]

[Total Mana: 9300]

Level 20... not bad. I wonder how many experience points this group will give me. I only need 29% more to level up. The other five are level 19.

"Let me handle this, Malrang," I said softly to the fox before she could spring into action. She was already itching to tear them all to shreds.

The leader stood before me, growling ferociously, its bloodlust palpable. It let out a powerful howl, and in response, the other wolves' auras sparked with jagged bolts of lightning, as if attempting to intimidate me. Their growls intensified the moment I raised my scythe, but for some reason, we remained in a tense standoff.

The wolves growled at each other, their tones almost conversational, as if exchanging plans. I took advantage of the pause to attempt to decipher their fragmented whispers with my newly acquired translation ability.

I wish the lightning would just strike me already... how utterly embarrassing. I felt like one of those people in movies who become veterinarians and suddenly start talking to animals.

Still, the ability had its uses... even if I hated it.

"Th-s cr-ture m--- kil-... Da-ger-..."

The words were fractured, barely coherent, but I caught enough to understand their intent: they wanted to kill me. That alone was reason enough to take their lives. But before that, I had to test something—my new skill: [Level 1-Demon Beast Control.]

"I'm the Dark Lord. Why are you not bowing before me?!"

I extended my arm, black energy unfurling like vines from my palm. It spread quickly, slithering toward the monsters and binding their bodies as I spoke in a cold, almost indifferent tone.

My aura surged, darkness pouring out of me in all directions, blanketing the area in an oppressive atmosphere. The vines thickened and constricted the wolves, forcing them to the ground, unable to even struggle.

Oh shit! I always wanted to say that! Did it sound cool enough? Maybe I should've been colder... no, angrier! I... umm... I was starting to freak out inside. I've always been a total geek for edgy novels, and now saying stuff like this myself... it's so cool!

"This aura is terrifying..." Even Malrang trembled as she spoke, her voice shaky.

It doesn't affect me directly, but if you had used that on me before we made the Soul Link pact, even I would most likely have had no choice but to submit...

"Don't worry, this will never affect you." I smiled warmly for a brief moment, looking at Malrang's small form with a soft reassurance. But in the next moment, my expression shifted back to a cold smirk as I glanced at the pathetic wolves. I felt like I was in control—like I held the strings of fate in my hands. Why did it feel so good...?

The Tempest Prowlers writhed against their bindings, their trapped bodies surging with frantic energy. Lightning crackled and danced across their fur, lashing out in desperate attempts to sever the dark vines that restrained them. Yet their efforts were futile; they could only struggle meaninglessly.

"Submit to me!" My voice thundered across the valley, reverberating with raw power.

The distant howls ceased, an eerie silence falling over the land. It was as if the other wolves had made their decision—to abandon this pack and flee, retreating far, far away.

The beasts finally gave in, abandoning any hope of resistance. My dark vines etched a black mark on their foreheads in the shape of a scythe, sealing their submission.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"W- s-b-mit..." the leader growled reluctantly, its voice tinged with bitterness. Standing directly in front of me, it was clear it hated yielding. I could already understand fragments of their language, but I still needed more practice.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[You have tamed your first demon beasts! 6/20]

[CONGRATULATIONS! You have acquired a new achievement!]

[Beast Tamer]

[1 skill point has been awarded]

[You have now taken your first step toward awakening as a Demon Lord]

[New quest has been added to your list!]

[Tame 5000 demon beasts to evolve from Dark Lord to Demon Lord]