Dancing on the golden ashes

The darkness around him spun in thick, swirling circles, as if nourishing his body with its ominous energy. The air pressed heavily against my skin, almost suffocating, and each breath felt harder to take. The air seemed to pulse with a heavy, unnatural presence. Each passing moment made me feel like something was fundamentally wrong, like an unseen force was creeping closer.

Whoosh!

My eyes widened, a tingling sensation running through them as they revealed a glimpse of the future. I saw a massive dark sword descending to stab me from above. I instantly jolted to the side, using my Superior Space Distortion to dodge just in time.

BOOM!

A massive dark sword struck where I had stood, leaving me shivering. Fuck... I'm so glad I have this ability... I almost became a kebab...

"Why are you running? Aren't you a proud genius gamer? Come on now! Fight me like a real man! Or was all your talk just empty words? Where's that bravado now? You called yourself the best, but here you are, trembling and dodging. Face me properly, if you dare!"

"Idiot, I'm a woman. But I will beat you up even harder!" My scythe danced in my palm, and I sent a rapid-fire attack at him. Fire and water were my main elements, as I used my elemental slash attack. Each time he dodged, no longer underestimating me. Each attack that hit left a small wound despite his defenses.

As long as this idiot lets me drag this fight out, I will win despite our level difference.

A sharp pain suddenly hit my stomach, and when I looked down, I saw a moderately big hole inside me. It came out of nowhere; at least I couldn't tell when it happened. There was no indication of an attack. Warm blood spilled out of me, but my body shivered in cold—I was dying.

You're an idiot, Gaon. Why did you come here so early, or maybe it was too late...

"Let me out... I'll help you kill him..." At that moment, the darkness inside of me flared up.

Why? So you could overtake me forever just like his darkness? You think I'm stupid. I'm not sure what you are, but I will not let you control me. Not now! Not ever!

"Who I am and what that thing is, are not the same. I like you, Gaon. We are already one, after all. So let me help you. After this, I promise—I'll let you be yourself again. That is my vow to you."

NO! Even when my eyes were becoming heavier, I was not ready to lose myself. I had to keep trying, my last option was to try to drag this out as much as I could.

I activated my newly acquired healing ability, desperate to mend myself as quickly as possible, but it wasn't fast enough. My wound sealed at a steady pace, my organs regenerating sluggishly, but it was clear that Kim Ha-Joon had no intention of letting me recover.

"You still haven't had enough?" he sneered, pausing for effect as a wicked grin stretched across his face. "Or are you begging for another hole inside you?"

He raised his staff, its dark energy crackling ominously, his eyes glinting with unrestrained malice.

"This time," he said with a mocking chuckle, "I might even aim for your head!" His laughter erupted, cold and relentless, echoing through the battlefield like a cruel reminder of his dominance.

"Bye, my love. I really wanted to have you by my side, this tigress that nobody could tame, but I understand now, you'll never be tamed, so it's better to just let you go."

Why is this life so unfair to me? Why do others get to enjoy life, why not me?

"Write to me from hell." Kim Ha-Joon spat out, and a dark thin needle materialized in his palm. This time I could see what gave me that wound. He concentrated all of that power in a needle-sized attack, and when it reached me, he expanded it to hit me. He is good... I have to admit.

If only I had another 10 seconds, I would recover from this wound and have another chance...

Whoosh!

I closed my eyes. It was time for me to go on a new journey. Well, I had a good one. What can I say, in my next life I will be more careful, I will protect those that I hold dear and will stop pushing them away... Yes... that would be a good life... Goodbye...

"NOOO!" A familiar scream echoed by my ear, and when I opened my eyes, my heart stopped. She stood in front of me, her eyes filled with fierce determination, arms spread wide to shield me. A massive hole was in her chest, yet she remained standing, her body trembling but unwavering. The earth wall she raised loomed in front of us, her last desperate attempt to protect me.

"SOO-AH!" I screamed at the top of my lungs with the last amount of energy I had. I wanted to gouge out my eyes. Everything hurt more than the wound I received before. "Why!? Why the hell did you save me!? You idiot! NOOOO!" I cried out. Soo-Ah's smiling face looked at me, her breath coming in shallow, rasping gasps, tears of happiness in her eyes. Her body trembled violently, each breath a painful struggle, and her lips quivered as she fought to hold on.

"I've never wanted to hurt you, my sister, remember? I promised I'd always protect you, now I pay the price for my sins. If you can live, I'll be happy, even on the other side." She tried to lift her arm, but it dropped back down; she didn't have the strength to move.

I shook my head in refusal, tears blinding me. "Save your strength, don't move! I will get us both out of here. Hey! Don't close your eyes, Soo-Ah! NOOO! Stay for me! Don't leave me again!" I tried to reach her, dropping my scythe which disappeared back inside me. Not like this, fate please no, why her? Yes, she hurt me, many times. BUT! She's my best friend, goddammit!

I dropped on my knees, catching her falling body, as our faces met for one last time. "Please stay with me! Kim Ha-Joon, do something, you heartless fool! Isn't she your girlfriend? Don't you love her?"

"Hahahaha!" he laughed happily as if he had lost his mind. "No! I only dated her to get to you, that was the only reason I ever needed her, but I have to admit she was a good slut." He mocked us, as he dropped on his butt, rolling and laughing, losing his mind completely.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!" I screamed, holding Soo-Ah's hand. Her wound was not healing at all. Panic gripped my chest, my heart pounding in my ears. I couldn't lose her—not like this. Wait—my new ability. Please, let this work. Come on, water aid, heal her!

A brilliant blue light escaped my trembling palm as the water rushed out of it and filled the empty hole, I tried to close the wound, yet I could not recover what was once lost.

"Thank you for being my friend, I love you." Those were the last words I heard before her eyes shut forever, never to be opened again.

"NO! Don't sleep... wake up... Soo-Ah... this isn't funny... my sister..." A keening wail escaped my lips, piercing and heart-wrenching, as I clutched her close. The sound was primal, born from a place in my soul I didn't know existed—a place that screamed for this to not be real.

I was kneeling on the ground, my gaze hollow and unfocused as I stared at her cooling body.

"What a touching goodbye. How fitting... I have to say, Gaon, you are really an unfortunate one." He got back up on his feet after having a good time, his steps louder than anything else I'd ever heard. Each step reminded me of Soo-Ah. I've failed to protect the person dear to me... so useless...

"Now let me send you off for good. I will be considerate and let you join her quick, before she completely cools down." He burst out laughing again, but I didn't care.

Hey... I know you can hear me. I don't care anymore. Even if you go back on your word, I will not care. Just give me whatever strength you promised. Take me...

"Why did it have to come to this... you poor child... today I will show the world your might, and put an end to your suffering. Remember it was ____ who caused all of this to you. One day we will slay him together!"

My heart skipped a beat, and I lost myself slightly, yet for some reason, I was still myself. I could feel the power surge through me, as the darkness overtook my soul, suppressing the golden fire.

Experience tales with empire

"We'll do this together. After this is over, Kim Ha-Joon will no longer exist in this world."

An indescribable surge of power coursed through me, overwhelming and relentless. My wounds closed in an instant, the darkness enveloping me like a freezing shroud. Its energy seeped into my veins, sharp and biting, as if I were submerged in an icy, unrelenting torrent.

My mind teetered on the edge—half-blank, half-conscious. All that remained was a torrent of emotions: endless sorrow and a bloodlust so deep it threatened to consume me.

"Tonight we will become the new darkness. If the world stands before us, we will swallow it, destroying everything that threatens our loved ones. I, Lee Gaon, declare you dead, Kim Ha-Joon..." The words that escaped my lips were a blend of my bleeding heart and the darkness that had overtaken it.Nôv(el)B\\jnn