Dancing on the golden ashes

The ice spreading across the ground left me in awe. Somehow, this fool possessed incredible power—he just needed the right motivation to bring it out. I couldn't help but wonder how strong he might become someday. Could he even surpass me?

If Kim Seong-Hoon would stop fooling around, I bet he'd already rank in the top fifty. The thought lingered in my mind. I wonder... is being in this group actually holding him back?

"Good. I like your determination," I said with a smirk, glancing back toward the others. "Now let's head back before something happens to those two..."

Eun-Woo was still trying to kill the boar, his shining hammer crashing down repeatedly, but the creature's resilience was staggering. Sweat dripped from his brow as exhaustion set in, yet he refused to back down.

"No. I'm sorry," he said, his voice firm as he stood surrounded by ice. "I'll leave the three of you and join you later." Suddenly all the ice was gone as I turned by head back. "I need to grow stronger, and I can only do that alone."

So I was right...

"I want to face near-death battles, to push myself to the very edge—only then will I truly grow," he said, his voice resolute. His hand moved over his blade in a deliberate motion, almost as if he were speaking to it in a silent, unspoken language.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked, a strange hesitation creeping into my voice. For some reason, I didn't want to let him go. But who was I to stop him?

"Mhm." He nodded firmly. "Fifteen days..." He suddenly said.

"I know time is limited, but that should be enough, right?" His burning eyes met mine, and I knew there was no convincing him otherwise.

"At least go and say goodbye to the others," I urged.

"Nah... Eun-Woo won't let me go—I know him too well," he said with a wry smile. But I noticed the faint tremble in his frame. "Just tell them I'll be back later."

His voice grew firmer as he added, "Let's meet in the same city square. When I return, I promise I'll be much stronger."

"Just don't get yourself killed out there, or those two will cry forever," I said, trying to sound casual.

"And you won't?" he asked, his hopeful eyes locking onto mine.

"I'll cry if you actually come back," I replied with a teasing smirk. "Now go, haha."

To be honest, I wasn't sure if I'd cry for any of them. Ever since Soo-Ah's death, it felt like all my tears had dried up, leaving me hollow inside.

"You're just as mean as always," he said with a faint smile. "But I'm happy to have you as my Big Sis."

He began stepping backward, his unwavering gaze still locked on mine. "Maybe this world isn't as cruel as it seems. Maybe it's an opportunity—a chance for us to grow stronger. Let's work hard and achieve the impossible, so that when we return, we'll be so powerful that even the system won't be able to shackle us."

His voice softened as he added, "I'll miss you, Big Sis."

"Okay, now go. I don't have all day," I said, waving him off. Your next chapter awaits on empire

"Yeah... I'm going," he replied, though his eyes lingered on mine, unwilling to look away.

Just as I was about to turn back to Eun-Woo and Jieun, his hand shot out, grabbing my waist and pulling me into a hug.

"Listen, Kim Seong-Hoon," I said, my voice dangerously low. "I'm this close to ending your miserable life. If you don't let go in three seconds, your head will be flying."

Lately, he'd been crossing the line too often. Am I being too soft on him?

The instant he felt my killing intent, he shoved himself away from me, not daring to meet my eyes. Without a word, he vanished into the dense forest, leaving only the faint rustle of leaves in his wake.

I stood there for a few minutes, staring in the direction he had disappeared. I knew I couldn't let the others chase after him—this was something he had to face on his own.

Let's see how strong you'll grow in those fifteen days, Seong-Hoon.

Before I realized it, a small smile tugged at my lips, unbidden.

Well, it's time to head back. I sighed, already dreading how I'd explain the situation to Eun-Woo.

It took only a moment to return, and when I did, I found Eun-Woo standing over the slain boar. His hammer hung heavily in his bloodied hand, its surface smeared with gore. Sweat poured down his face, his chest heaving with exertion—but he had done it.

Jieun, however, hadn't taken her eyes off the scene, her unblinking gaze fixed on the dead creature. A chill ran down my spine. There was something unsettling about the intensity in her stare, almost as if I were watching a future psychopath in the making.

"Where's Brother Seong-Hoon?" Eun-Woo asked the moment he saw me returning alone. He straightened, scanning the area behind me for any sign of him.

"He'll be back in fifteen days. He said he wanted to train alone. I hope you'll understand," I said, keeping it simple. Words were never my strength anyway.

To my surprise, Eun-Woo didn't protest. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but then he closed them again and turned his attention back to the slain boar.

"Can you butcher this monster for us? And start a fire too... if it's not too much," he said quietly. His calm tone couldn't mask the hint of sadness in his voice. Of course, his best friend had left without a word to him. This big teddy bear was too soft; his heart was likely aching, though he was doing his best to act cool.

"Sure," I replied.

A few hours passed, and Eun-Woo and Jieun ate their fill, preparing for the days ahead. The small giant devoured nearly the entire boar, his appetite seemingly insatiable—maybe because of the pain he was hiding. He couldn't seem to stop himself.

After finishing the meal, we ventured deeper into the forest. Along the way, we left a bloody trail behind us, fighting monsters relentlessly. It wasn't about survival—it was about honing our skills.

I was beginning to control my darkness better, which was a constant struggle without the system's help. Jieun, meanwhile, was something else entirely. She created new skills at an alarming pace, her soul energy growing stronger with every fight. I couldn't help but wonder if she'd been born in the wrong world. Her talent was so extraordinary, it would be hard for anyone—even in this era—to believe it.

Eun-Woo grew stronger too. He learned how to wrap his shield in moonlight energy, making it nearly unbreakable. His hammer could now materialize from thin air, crashing down on his enemies with devastating force.

And so, five days passed.

I could say everything had been going well—until now. At this moment, I wasn't sure whether to run or fight.

A massive bear, towering at least fifteen meters tall, loomed over the three of us, its killing intent palpable. Under normal circumstances, it might not have been so bad. But... I might have accidentally cut off its ear while it was sleeping.

Why? Well... I mistook it for a tree and wanted to test my new skills. Yeah, great idea, Gaon.

GRRROOOOOAAAARRRR!

The beast's roar shook the entire forest, uprooting trees and sending them flying like twigs. The sheer force of the sound made the ground tremble, and I could feel it reverberate in my chest. The waves of energy from the roar hit us like a physical blow, leaving my ears ringing and my stomach churning with nausea.

"I doubt we can run," I said quickly to the others. I wasn't sure if they could even hear me over the ringing in their ears, but their stances said it all—they were already prepared for battle.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

My scythe materialized in my hand, its blade surrounded by flames that danced wildly in the air, radiating intense heat.

"Gaon, I'll take the lead!" Eun-Woo shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I'll make sure you have plenty of openings—just watch me!"

His body lit up with a brilliant mix of sun and moonlight, the two energies blending into a dazzling display. The bear hesitated, its attention drawn to the sudden shift in Eun-Woo's aura, as if it were taunting the massive creature.

In the past five days, we hadn't wasted a second. Each of us had worked tirelessly, trying to replicate the feeling of using system-given skills and channeling that into our soul energy. Without this world forcing us to adapt, we'd never have tried it. After all, the system made everything feel instant and effortless. Why bother training when the results were handed to you on a silver platter?

But now, in this fight, all that effort would be put to the test.