Dancing on the golden ashes

My hair and dress swayed gently in the soft wind as it wove its way through the narrow valley. Curiosity gnawed at me—I craved to know what lay beyond this labyrinth. Without hesitation, we pressed forward, unafraid of what the night might hold beneath its dark veil.

Somehow, the night had begun to feel comforting, wrapping me in the soothing embrace of the moonlight.

I sat atop Malrang's back, the Thunder Tempest pack trailing behind. Slowly but surely, they were beginning to accept me as their new master, their submission cemented by the overwhelming display of my power.

After I killed their leader, I absorbed its soul—a sight that shook them to their core

The valley stretched endlessly, its crimson ground radiating intense heat—enough to cook anything alive that lacked fire resistance or a thick hide. The rocks along the sides were slightly cooler and less red, but the overall temperature made the place feel like a scorching desert.

It was desolate, eerily silent. Aside from the wolves I had encountered, I hadn't seen any other beasts.

Why am I so unlucky at finding monsters these days? I thought, frustration bubbling. I'm falling behind.

But then again, could I really complain? I had grown immensely strong in such a short time.

Ruler... Dark Lord... the Fire Goddess's legacy...

All of these powers had come to me so quickly, so suddenly. I hadn't even had the chance to fully assimilate them. Everything was happening too fast, overwhelming in its intensity.

And yet, despite the whirlwind of events, I felt an odd sense of belonging. This world... feels like home.

I could sense the change within myself. Each day, I grew stronger and stronger, yet my level ranking continued to drop, currently sitting at 671. Countless people were relentlessly hunting beasts, climbing the ranks as if it were all that mattered. But that didn't mean they were growing truly stronger than me.

I bet I could easily kill anyone five or more levels above me.

This world might currently feel like a game to most, but I could see the bigger picture. I've been lucky enough to stumble on the details yet unknown to other people. And that gave me an advantage.

Suddenly, Malrang's nose twitched. She stopped in her tracks, sniffing the air intently.

"Malrang, can you smell the exit?" I asked, watching her ears perk up.

"No," she replied, her voice calm but alert. "But I can smell... something else. Creatures, up ahead."

"It's a familiar scent," Vargrin growled, rushing to the front of the pack. Lowering his head, he sniffed the ground, his sharp claws scraping at the crimson dirt. After a moment, his gaze lifted toward the path ahead.

"Master!" Vargrin barked urgently. "I can smell your kind ahead of us. If my nose does not betray me, they're currently fighting a crimson deer. Our pack had been hunting that deer for days—it kept evading us, leaving us hungry and frustrated. Eventually, we drove it into this valley, but we lost track of it when we sensed a powerful foe and decided to change targets..."

His tone was calm and carefully measured, but I could sense the weight behind his words. He was holding something back. It didn't take much to understand—it was my presence that had caused their hesitation and ultimately cost them their target.

"Humans ahead...?" I mused, resting my chin on my palm, my elbow sinking into my knee. A flicker of thought passed through my mind. Should I intervene or let them be?

A smirk crossed my lips. Perhaps I should kill that deer myself... and steal their experience.

"How strong is that monster?" I inquired, my tone casual but curious.

"It's much stronger than all of us combined," Vargrin admitted, his voice laced with tension. "Our pack originally numbered thirty, but we were forced to split up after entering this place."

"Let's approach from the shadows and see how the fight unfolds. I'd rather not meddle in the affairs of other humans... I..."

My voice trailed off as three familiar figures flashed through my mind. A pang of longing struck me—I missed them, in a way. But I also wanted to forget.

I'll stay alone if there's no one who can truly accept me.

If I fell into darkness, I would drag myself out with my own power. I didn't need their support. I never did.

I ordered Vargrin to take the lead. He moved stealthily, guiding us through the narrowing path with precision. Malrang was forced to revert to her tiny form, her massive size no longer practical in the confined space.

Stepping gracefully onto the crimson ground, I left faint, dark imprints with each step—Dark Lord Steps, building up agility in case I needed to strike swiftly and steal the kill for myself.

This was surprisingly entertaining—hunting with the wolves. It felt as though I had been transported back in time to when my ancestors first began taming them.

But, of course, back then, I'd likely have been relegated to picking berries and washing bloodied clothes at best. Hunting like this would've been out of the question.

Which made it all the more exhilarating now.

We gradually reached the end of the labyrinth, where the narrow path widened dramatically, revealing an open space up ahead.

"We should take this path up and watch from above," Vargrin growled softly, motioning toward a narrow, somewhat accessible trail that led upward.

It wasn't an easy climb. I had to make a few small, careful leaps to ascend, as it was far from a regular path. Each movement was deliberate, ensuring no sound betrayed our approach.

The seven of us lay low on the cliff, carefully watching the events unfold below, taking care not to reveal our presence.

My eyes locked onto a towering crimson deer, at least five or six meters tall, yet surprisingly slim in build. Its horns bore a striking resemblance to those of deer from my world, yet here they mirrored the Blazelia trees, appearing as though they were ablaze.

Flames surrounded the creature, and the crimson sea of fire it commanded engulfed a small group of humans. No more than ten of them were locked in a desperate battle against the monstrous beast.

I could barely make out what they were screaming—the distance was too great, nearly 500 meters separating us. On top of that, the cliff we were perched on was quite tall, further muffling their desperate shouts.

"Ranged unit! Use your ice magic to tame this monster! We need to extinguish these flames before they consume us!"

The voice was commanding, firm. He seemed to be the leader of the group—or at least a tank—responsible for coordinating the party.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"We need to secure its escape path! Those with earth magic, seal all the exits!"

The one shouting was a young boy, no older than 14 or 15 years old. He held a shield and sword, his armor plain and unremarkable. Yet his determination to slay the monster was undeniable. Positioned at the very front, he absorbed the brunt of the fire attacks, his shield glowing faintly as it endured the onslaught. Each swing of his sword sent powerful shockwaves at the beast, but they left little more than scratches.

Behind him, the rest of the party attacked with precision and force, wielding a dazzling array of weapons and magic. Blades flashed, flames roared, and the air crackled with energy as martial arts and magic intertwined. Their relentless assault forced the monster to scream in pain, but the Crimson Deer refused to relent.

It suddenly darted toward an open path, seeking an escape in a desperate flash of speed. But before it could flee, a massive rock materialized, slamming into place to block its way.

A young girl stood at the source of the magic. Though I couldn't make out her features clearly from this distance, something about her seemed oddly familiar, as if I'd seen her before.

I shook my head, dismissing the thought. Now wasn't the time to dwell on it. I needed to stay focused, to observe, and to wait for the perfect moment to strike.

"Master! They seem to have pushed the monster into a corner. Should we move?" Ravokar asked impatiently, his body trembling slightly. Sparks of lightning crackled around his oddly shaped head, betraying his eagerness to rush in and sink his fangs into the deer.

"Calm down... Not yet!" I said firmly, signaling to Malrang with a glance to keep Ravokar in check. I couldn't afford any reckless moves; the timing had to be perfect.

Malrang immediately leapt onto Ravokar's head, curling up comfortably as her fluffy tails draped over his face, effectively blocking his view. She turned to me with a cheeky grin. "Don't worry, I've got this one under control."

The fight was far from over—I could feel it. The monster, though cornered, still radiated energy. It wouldn't allow itself to be taken down by this group so easily.

And I was right. In the next moment, the deer broke free from the enclosure, darting at lightning speed around the battlefield. Its hooves left a trail of sparks, igniting flames wherever they struck.

Slowly but surely, the fire began spreading from the corners of the battlefield. Then, in a breathtaking display of power, a massive fire tornado erupted, spiraling into the sky and engulfing the entire open area in blazing flames, threatening to consume everything in its path.

What a terrifying skill!