Dancing on the golden ashes

My rage surged, almost overflowing, as my gaze locked onto Malrang. Her massive body was riddled with sword and spear wounds, her fur matted with blood. Yet, despite it all, she stood her ground, unyielding and defiant.

The sight only fueled the fire burning within me.

"Who is that bitch?"

The sudden voice snapped my attention to a woman on the battlefield. She stood out with her pink hair and a short, overly revealing dress that seemed completely impractical for a fight. Her sneer was as sharp as her words, her presence radiating arrogance.

I couldn't help but notice her features—her face twisted with fury and disdain, as if life itself had done her no favors.

Her massive spear spun gracefully in her hands, and before I could react, she leaped high into the air, her weapon aimed directly at me.

"Mere level 30 ruler..." I said coldly, my voice dripping with disdain. "It's time for you to make me a king!"

Without hesitation, I moved, leaping off Magmaclaw with deadly precision. My scythe materialized in my hands as my wings burst forth, their fiery expanse illuminating the battlefield.

My entire body ignited in flames—dark and golden fire intertwining and dancing across my form. Even my scythe transformed, its blade wreathed in a sinister mix of black and gold flames. The ominous glow it cast across the battlefield was mesmerizing, and I couldn't help but smirk.

It will be the last thing this person ever sees.

"Annihilation Slash!"

I roared, pouring every ounce of strength into the attack, combining two of my most powerful abilities into a single devastating move.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

My newfound mastery over soul energy surged through me, a torrent of immense power that would have overwhelmed me before—but now, I was in control.

My scythe blazed with fire and darkness, its aura so intense it seemed to warp the air around it. The weapon suddenly expanded, its blade growing to twice its usual size, radiating an energy so destructive it felt as though nothing in its path could survive.

The surge of power was exhilarating... until I felt my mana drain sharply.

10,000 mana gone in an instant...

The sheer cost left me momentarily stunned, but before I could fully process it, a system message flickered across my vision:

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[You have unlocked a new skill through combination: Level 1 Annihilation Slash (10,000 mana)]

For a brief moment, I felt an unseen presence, like a shadow lingering just beyond my perception. The Creator.

I clenched my teeth, the realization settling in. He was watching me—slowing my progress in soul cultivation, forcing me to rely on mana instead.

Is this his way of controlling me? Of keeping me from growing too strong in soul cultivation?

The thought only fueled my defiance. I tightened my grip on the scythe, its fiery glow flickering like my resolve. If this is how he wants to play, so be it.

"What the hell is that?!" the woman screamed, panic flashing in her eyes as her body suddenly glowed red. Her spear radiated with intense power, a deafening hum echoing as it prepared to claim my life.

But who am I?

I'm the Goddess of Fire and Darkness. Not officially, sure, but who cares? I'll just make it official myself. Self-proclaimed it is!

Whoosh!

My attack struck with unstoppable force, the power of my combined flames obliterating everything in its path. Her spear, no matter how strong, melted instantly under the sheer intensity of my scythe.

The woman didn't stand a chance. The moment the blade of my scythe connected with her body, she was consumed in an instant. Not even ashes remained...

I don't think she even understood what hit her.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[You have successfully finished your quest and will now proceed to evolve to the King level]

[You have become a King!]

[Your stats have now been increased by 3 times instead of 2]

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[You have acquired a new achievement!]

[King of the World]

[Ten skill points have been rewarded]

[You have received a new quest:]

[Kill ten Kings to become an Emperor]

[Current Emperors in the world: 0]

Finally... I've been waiting for this moment for far too long. Every battle, every struggle—it's all been building up to this... The higher I climb, the fewer people will dare to look down on me. And one day...

I could feel my heart pounding wildly in my chest, each beat echoing like a drum in my ears.

One day, they'll all tremble in my presence.

This was just another step toward that destiny, another challenge to prove that nothing—and no one—could stop me.

The battlefield froze in an instant as I gracefully landed atop Magmaclaw, the glow of molten energy surrounding me like an aura of power.

My eyes locked onto a single figure among the chaos—a man wielding a lightning spear that crackled with immense energy, radiating thunderous power with every subtle movement.

He stood tall, his long white hair cascading like a waterfall of light, framing striking pink eyes that glinted with confidence and intensity. I had to admit... he was handsome as hell.

His chiseled body was partially exposed, his six-pack gleaming under the faint light as though it had been sculpted by the gods themselves. His every movement sent ripples through the air, an aura of strength that demanded attention.

And yet, it wasn't just his appearance that caught me—it was his power.

He's a King, I realized instantly, feeling the weight of his presence pressing against me.

Level 35, huh?

I couldn't help but smirk, though unease twisted in my gut. Well, this doesn't look great for me. This fight might even be harder than the one I had with Kim Ha-Joon...

But despite the odds, I felt the familiar fire of determination ignite within me. Let's see if this so-called King can handle the Dark Lord.

He had been fighting Kim Seong-Hoon and the others alone, while the rest of his group had surrounded Malrang and the Thunder Tempests.

But then I saw it.

One of them lay bloodied on the ground, barely clinging to life. It was Ravokar.

He lay in front of Malrang, his battered body shielding her. Even in this state, his pride and arrogance had refused to let him retreat. He had stood his ground, defending her with every ounce of strength he had left.

My chest tightened, anger coursing through my veins like fire.

I will take revenge for you, my friend.

My grip on my scythe tightened, the flames around it roaring to life.

All of them will die.

"Prepare to die," I said coldly, my voice carrying the weight of my bloodlust.

Behind me, the army of Molten Crabs roared, their molten bodies glowing brighter with each passing second. Lava dripped from their fiery forms, sizzling as it hit the ground, a testament to their rising excitement.

"You're not qualified," the man replied, his tone even colder than mine.

His pink eyes glowed with an unsettling power, as if he could see straight through me, peeling back every layer and reading my soul.

"I'm Lee Gaon," I declared, my scythe blazing with dark flames as I pointed it at him. "And today, I will claim your life—and the lives of your army. If you don't believe me, let my scythe be the testament to your doom."

"Likewise," he replied, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "I'm Nam Ji-Ho. You should at least know my name before you die."

I locked eyes with everyone on the battlefield.

The enemies grinned mockingly, their expressions filled with smug confidence. They must have placed their complete trust in him, the man they believed was unbeatable.

On the other hand, those on my side—both people and monsters—looked at me with a mix of hope and despair. Relief flickered in their eyes, but it was overshadowed by doubt, as if my arrival was just one more step toward inevitable defeat.

Do I really look that useless to them?

"I've got this," I said firmly, my voice cutting through the chaos. "Consider him already dead."

"Charge!" Without hesitation, I sent my army of Molten Crabs charging forward, their molten bodies roaring with excitement as they tore into the enemy ranks. Meanwhile, I leapt into the air, my dark fire wings propelling me high above the battlefield.

With Dark Lord Steps, the shadows beneath me writhed, marking my path with darkness as I stepped on the air. My agility surged to its peak, the combination of skills making me a blur on the battlefield. My Superior Space Distortion added an almost ghostly quality, leaving afterimages in my wake as I closed the gap in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, my scythe was already at his neck, its dark and golden flames licking the air dangerously. I stood just beside him, the blade resting lightly against his throat.

Yet, he didn't flinch.

Instead, he grinned, his pink eyes gleaming with anticipation. "It looks like our fight will be legendary," he said calmly, his voice steady, almost mocking.

I spun away in a flash, retreating only to launch another attack. My scythe slashed at him in a deadly arc, but his spear moved just as swiftly to meet it.

BOOOOM!

The clash of weapons unleashed a shockwave so powerful it tore across the battlefield, forcing both allies and enemies to retreat. The weaker ones were thrown into the air like leaves in a storm.

As the dust settled, a wild grin painted both our faces. The thrill of battle burned in our eyes.

This was it.

King versus King.