Dancing on the golden ashes

The three of them stared at me, their expressions a mix of disbelief and wariness. It was as if, in their eyes, I had become something... alien. Something monstrous.

"Big sis, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Kim Seong-Hoon's voice broke the silence, sharp with disappointment. For the first time, his usual lighthearted tone was replaced by something heavier—something resembling mistrust.

It felt as though a tiny crack had formed in the bond we shared, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of it.

"I don't even need to explain myself," I said sharply, my voice firm. "But if you really want to know so badly, it's because I didn't want to drag any of you into this—not yet."

I looked at them, my gaze unwavering. "As far as I know, we'd already be dead if that Creator found out we've started piecing things together. Or maybe he does know and simply doesn't care about the likes of us. But even so, it's better to be safe than sorry."

All of them nodded in agreement, the tension between us easing as quickly as it had risen. The weight of the moment lifted, and things began to feel normal again.

"That's amazing," Kim Seong-Hoon muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "I want to learn how to control soul power too. If that could boost my strength further, then maybe... I could even beat big sis!"

Before he could gloat further, I struck the top of his head with my fist.

"Keep dreaming," I said flatly, rolling my eyes as he yelped in exaggerated pain.

"Ouch... okay, okay, I'm just joking," Kim Seong-Hoon muttered, raising his hands in mock surrender. But I caught the subtle movement of his crossed fingers.

I sighed, resisting the urge to slap my own forehead.

"So, what do we do now? Head down and explore?" Eun-Woo asked, breaking the moment. "We can't stay here forever—it's bound to get suspicious if we linger too long."

What should I say... Even so, who knows what kind of language these people speak? If we look too suspicious, we'll end up in trouble. Best-case scenario, we get locked up somewhere. Worst-case scenario—we die struggling. Hopefully, it's neither of those.

"Try reading the text again first," I said firmly. "If that doesn't bring us back, we'll have to move down there and figure out if there's something we need to do. This doesn't feel like actual time travel. It's either some sort of trial or a vision. Either way, we need answers."

My voice was resolute, even as unease churned within me.

Kim Seong-Hoon tried reading the text again, but it was all in vain. Nothing happened. We were left with no choice but to descend the mountain.

The endless city loomed around us, its vastness oppressive. My worst fear clawed at the edges of my mind: What if this mountain was a sacred place? What kind of disaster would we have brought upon ourselves? And how did I know I was right about it...?

"HALT!"

A booming voice interrupted my thoughts. A guard floated before us, clad in golden armor that shimmered under the sun. Behind him, spectral wings of wind spread majestically, a testament to his power.

Luckily for us, he spoke Korean. That small mercy made the situation slightly less dire—but not by much.

"Who gave you permission to climb the Mountain of the Sacred Deva?!" he demanded, his voice sharp and unyielding. "Speak now, or meet your fate!"

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. His presence alone screamed authority, and I could instantly tell he wasn't someone I could fight—or even attempt to challenge.

Think, Gaon. You need to come up with a lie, and fast.

"Greetings, Senior," I said respectfully, bowing slightly. My voice was steady, but my heart raced. Nudging the others, I signaled for them to follow suit. "We were carrying out a mission given by the Goddess of Fire, Agnia."

The guard's eyes narrowed sharply. "You dare lie to me? Why would the great goddess send you here?"

His golden spear shifted, its tip aimed directly at me. The power emanating from it was overwhelming, a force that threatened to obliterate me on the spot.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I am her disciple," I declared firmly.

Raising my palm, I willed the golden fire within me to spark. A pure flame erupted, its light radiant and sacred, illuminating everything around us.

The guard's stern expression faltered as the flame's brilliance overwhelmed him. The sheer force of the energy it emitted sent him flying back several meters, his composure visibly shaken.

"Th-That's the sacred light of the chosen few. Y-You! Who are you?" the guard stammered, his voice trembling with shock.

The sacred flame of the chosen few? My mind raced. How come she never mentioned anything like that?

That goddess was truly up to no good. If she dared to force some kind of fate on me because of these flames, I swore I'd find a way to undo her. I'd dig her out of her grave, and if that wasn't enough, I'd rewind time itself to kill her again. Your journey continues on empire

"My name is... Surya," I said smoothly, fabricating a lie on the spot. "And these are my servants. They are not allowed to have names, so don't bother with them."

The words spilled out effortlessly, but inside, I braced for his reaction. It was complete nonsense, and I could only hope it would work.

"S-Sorry for misunderstanding the situation," the guard stammered, lowering his spear. "Please ensure you fill out the proper paperwork next time you wish to carry out missions on the sacred mountain. That will save us all the trouble of... misunderstandings."

"Yes, Senior, I understand. I'm sorry for the oversight," I said, bowing again with feigned humility. "May we go now?"

Every fiber of my being screamed to leave as quickly as possible, before he caught a whiff of the mountain of lies I'd just served him.

"Yes, of course!" he said, stepping aside with newfound reverence. "And please, send the Goddess of Fire my regards."

"Certainly!" I said confidently, stepping forward. "Let's go, you disgusting slaves. We have a job to do."

I raised my hand, signaling my friends to follow. I could practically feel the "what the fuck was that about" looks burning into the back of my head, but I didn't care. Formalities could wait—this was about survival, and improvisation was key.

"Yes, master!" Kim Seong-Hoon replied enthusiastically, his tone far too genuine for comfort.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I had to fight the urge to gag. It was as if he actually meant it. I'm going to puke later, I thought, quickening my pace to escape his unsettling energy.

We moved swiftly, slipping behind houses that seemed to be made of clay. Yet, even walking past them felt oppressive, as if their very presence radiated spiritual power.

The sensation was overwhelming, shaking me to my core.

This world is... amazing.

"So, what now?" Eun-Woo whispered, his voice low as he fell into step behind me. His eyes scanned the surroundings with a restrained curiosity, his discipline keeping him in check.

"Shouldn't we search for the Goddess of Fire and ask her to help us find a way out?" Jieun interrupted, her voice laced with curiosity.

"No, that's a bad idea," I said, shaking my head firmly. "She's a very prideful individual. If she found out I used her name to get past the guard, we'd all be dead in the blink of an eye."

Jieun's expression faltered, and Kim Seong-Hoon chimed in before the silence could linger.

"I suggest we first learn about this place," he said thoughtfully. "We'll need food and a way to stay under the radar. Changing our outfits and masking ourselves should be easy enough. But..."

He grinned mischievously and pointed directly at me. "Our flashy, beautiful big sister stands out way too much. We can't just walk around like this without drawing attention."

I glared at him, already regretting letting him talk.

"So, how about we go to a pub?" he continued, undeterred. "You know, like in video games or anime—pick up a thing or two about this place while grabbing some food. It's the perfect plan!"

Annoying as he was, his words made sense. Information was our most valuable tool right now. I'd learned that the hard way too many times before.

"Yeah, but we have no money," Eun-Woo said bluntly, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "How are we supposed to blend in? Right now, we're nothing more than beggars in flashy outfits. Do you want us to sell our clothes? Or should we just steal from some unlucky person?"

His words hit me like a shockwave. Eun-Woo—who I couldn't even imagine stealing candy from a baby—was suggesting robbing someone. The thought shook me deeply.

"No, we can find another way to—!"

My sentence was cut short as we left the alley, only to find ourselves stepping into a massive square teeming with people.

The sheer pressure of their presence hit me instantly, their auras so overwhelming that it felt like the air had been sucked from my lungs.

This was the mysterious realm of cultivators.

Everywhere I looked, people radiated power and grace. Each one seemed impossibly beautiful, like walking works of art. Not a single face was less than stunning.

Some strode through the square with their hands behind their backs, exuding confidence and authority. Others flew gracefully on swords, their robes fluttering as they passed. The market was alive with activity—mysterious treasures of every kind being displayed and sold.

It was breathtaking, intoxicating even.

This is what the world must have been like before everything fell apart... before the system overtook it all.

This wasn't just a place—it was an immortal paradise, a dream any human would long for. And yet, I couldn't shake the feeling of how small and insignificant we were here.