Dancing on the golden ashes

I wasn't sure how long I had been flying. Time seemed to blur, and at some point, the sun began to rise, its golden and crimson hues creeping across the horizon like slow-moving fire. But I barely noticed. My scalp burned relentlessly, the sharp, searing pain refusing to subside as the horns on my head continued to grow.

It felt as though molten metal was being poured into my skull. Just when I thought the agony might never end, the growth shifted. The horns straightened and curved into smooth arcs, their presence undeniable now.

They weren't long—just thick enough to look solid and dangerous, with sharp, pointy tips. I think they've finally stopped growing... I reached up hesitantly, brushing my fingers over their surface. They felt cool to the touch, their texture like polished stone. I wish I had a mirror... I thought bitterly. But in this world, mirrors were nonexistent—at least until someone crafted one.

Shaking off the thought, I focused on flying. The emerald crystal lands finally faded behind me, their shimmering expanse giving way to something even more stunning. What stretched out before me was a massive forest, its beauty both surreal and haunting.

The trees were unlike anything I'd ever seen. Their trunks looked as if they were carved from pure ice, crystal-clear and glinting faintly under the early morning light. Their branches spread wide, their leaves resembling delicate flakes of snow, fragile yet untouched by the rising sun.

The air changed, too. The temperature dropped abruptly, but it wasn't cold—more like a crisp, invigorating coolness, somewhere around fifteen degrees Celsius if I were to guess. It was refreshing, the kind of air that made you feel alive.

But what truly baffled me was the grass. Amidst the icy, otherworldly beauty of the forest, the ground was carpeted in lush green grass, vibrant and full of life. It was an almost unnatural contrast, yet it felt harmonious in its own way.

I hovered for a moment, captivated. The gentle sway of the snow-like leaves above and the rich green below felt like a living painting, impossibly serene. It wasn't just the burning pain or the transformation that slipped from my mind—this tranquil beauty even made me forget the massacre I had unleashed just hours ago. The blood, the screams, the lives I had taken—they all faded, swallowed by the surreal calm of this place.

For just a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to breathe, as if the forest itself was offering me a fragile reprieve from the darkness within.

On the ground below, countless beasts moved through the forest, their forms weaving effortlessly between the crystalline trees. It was as if this entire area pulsed with life, a stark contrast to the barren and desolate places I had passed through before. This forest was alive—vibrant, thriving, and teeming with creatures.

Inspect!

My vision sharpened as the information flooded in. Wow! Most of the monsters here are level 30 and above... My eyes widened as I scanned the area further. And some are even level 40. A few of them are demon beasts. The sheer density of high-level creatures was astonishing.

Maybe I should expand my arsenal here, I mused, considering the potential. But doubt crept into my thoughts. If I do... will it make me lose my mind again when I go hungry? The question lingered heavily. The memory of losing control, the slaughter I had unleashed, resurfaced like a tidal wave, making my chest tighten.

That means I'll have to kill endlessly until I reach level 40... The weight of my resolve settled in. My destiny seemed irrevocably tied to killing, but I clenched my fists, determined not to succumb to the eerie voice again.

If I must kill, let it be beasts, I don't want to kill humans... only if they deserve it then I shall slice them in half.

I flew down and landed softly on the ground, deciding it was better to walk instead of continuing to fly. My fire wings shone too brightly in the sky, drawing attention I didn't want. Walking would be slower, but it was safer—and I needed time to think anyway.

GROWL

The sound cut through the stillness almost immediately, drawing my eyes to a strange, tiny creature standing a few meters ahead. It was growling at me, its small frame bristling with aggression. The creature looked like a fox—at least its face did—but its body was unmistakably that of a rabbit. What a weird combination, I thought, raising an eyebrow at the oddity.

Before I could dwell on it, the beast attacked. A small yellow ring shot from its mouth, speeding toward me like a projectile. But with my future sight, it was almost laughably easy to dodge. I sidestepped smoothly, summoning my scythe in the same motion.

With a quick, decisive swing, I unleashed a Water Slash. The blade cut through the creature like butter, severing it cleanly in half. Blood sprayed briefly before pooling on the ground, the beast's body twitching once before going still.

Without hesitation, I activated Soul Reaver, feeling a familiar rush as its soul was harvested and flew into my mouth.

"Foolish little thing..." I muttered, not sparing the creature another glance as I stepped forward. My attention was quickly drawn to the rustling of bushes and the soft thuds of approaching footsteps. My eyes narrowed as a small army of the same half-fox, half-rabbit creatures emerged from the foliage.

They surrounded me, growling, their sharp little teeth bared in defiance. There must have been at least a hundred of them, their golden fur shimmering under the light and casting a warm glow across the area. The sheer number of them dyed the entire space a vivid yellow, like a sea of glinting gold.

Let's see how they deal with me... and how many will dare to move.

Without any effort on my part, Intimidation, my passive skill, flared to life. The air around me grew heavy, charged with an oppressive energy that radiated out in waves. A mysterious aura settled over the creatures, and I watched as their small bodies began to tremble. They didn't flee, though—fear anchored them in place. One by one, they lowered their heads, unable to meet my gaze.

Damn, this skill is amazing. The realization sent a surge of satisfaction through me. Those much weaker than me can't even move under its pressure. If I combine this with King's Aura... The thought was tantalizing. I might not need to kill without reason anymore. Forcing them to submit without a fight would feel even better.

I smirked, standing tall as the trembling creatures surrounding me remained frozen in submission.

"Submit to your new Dark Lord!" I commanded, extending my hand. Over a hundred black vines erupted from the ground, slithering like living shadows and wrapping around each of the fox-like creatures. The beasts struggled momentarily before succumbing, bound completely to my will.

As I named each one, I felt my mana drain rapidly, leaving me lightheaded for a brief moment. But then, a surge of power coursed through me, reinvigorating my soul.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[You have tamed new demon beasts!]n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

A long string of messages flooded my mind...

[You have acquired a new achievement!]

[Expert Beast Tamer – Tame over 200 demon beasts.]

[10 skill points rewarded.]

The rush was intoxicating. Expanding my army has never been this easy, I thought with a smirk. Now I had 256 beasts under my command. It drained a substantial amount of my soul energy, but the golden plate supporting my growth ensured it wasn't an issue. With every passing day, I grew stronger.

The other beasts in the area, upon feeling my aura and witnessing me absorb the Foxarabs, yes that is what they were called in the system, scattered like leaves in the wind. They fled and hid wherever they could, though their transparent trees couldn't conceal them from my sight.

For the rest of the day, I traveled northeast, my focus unbroken. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, I encountered a group of five humans. Two men and three women, one of whom appeared to be their leader. She was young and gorgeous, probably in her early twenties, and wasted no time approaching me once they spotted me.

"Excuse me!" she called out, waving. "Would you like to join our group?"

"Sorry, I prefer traveling alone," I replied with an awkward smile, already preparing to leave.

"Please wait!" one of the men shouted, stepping forward. "We really need one more person to take down a supreme-level beast." He reached out to grab my shoulder, but I sidestepped easily, his hand swiping uselessly at the air.

"Watch your hands," I said coldly, my voice dropping like ice. "Next time, I might not let it pass." I didn't want to kill him over something so trivial, but I wasn't about to tolerate such behavior. Who just grabs someone from behind without permission?

"My apologies for him," the young leader said gently, stepping forward. "I'm Choi Ha-Eun, the leader of this mercenary group. We're desperate for help to defeat a supreme-level beast." Explore more stories at empire

"What's a supreme-level beast?" I asked, curious. It was a term I hadn't encountered before.

"Huh, little sister, are you not from around here?" A tall, bulky man in his fifties gave me a curious look.

"No," I replied simply. "I'm just a traveler."

"Ah, that makes sense," Choi Ha-Eun said quickly, cutting off the older man. "Supreme-level beasts are creatures above level 40. We took on a quest from the Adventurers' Guild to hunt one. Have you ever heard of the Kingdom of Gamers?" she asked, her tone soft yet excited.

"No," I answered bluntly. "Am I supposed to?"

"Of course!" she said, her voice suddenly animated. "The leader of the kingdom is none other than the powerful and amazing world champion. Surely you've heard of him, right?"

I froze. My heart raced, my blood boiling. No... she couldn't mean him... That piece of garbage who had trained me, only to abandon me when I needed him most.

"You wouldn't mean Jeong Suhan, would you?" I spat, anger thick in my voice. My aura flared uncontrollably, the air around me growing heavy with darkness.

The entire group stepped back, their faces pale and drenched in sweat.

"Y-Yes," Choi Ha-Eun stammered, her voice trembling. "Are you his... um... fan?"

"Hahaha." A manic laugh burst from me, sharp and bitter. "You could say that." My scythe materialized in my hand with a flash of light. Its edge gleamed menacingly as shadows coiled around me like living creatures.

"So, where did you say this Kingdom of Gamers was?" I asked coldly, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade. The area around me plunged into darkness, as my King's aura washed over them.