Dancing on the golden ashes

The five people immediately dropped to their knees, their foreheads repeatedly hitting the ground. None of them dared to speak. My aura must have been too much for them—one of the women began coughing up blood, her face paling in an instant. I could sense it clearly: if I wanted to, I could use my Soul Reaver right now. They were nothing to me. But I wasn't here to kill. I was here for answers.

Retracting my aura, I watched as they all collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Discover more stories at empire

"Talk. I don't want to waste any more time here," I commanded coldly.

Choi Ha-Eun, the first to recover, slowly pushed herself up from the dirt. She was trembling but determined. "We... we didn't know we were in the presence of a king. Please forgive us for speaking so casually," she stammered, her head still bowed.

Her behavior struck me. Unlike the others, her recovery was quick, almost practiced. This wasn't her first encounter with a king—she was already used to such overwhelming power.

"It's north of here," she continued, her voice steadier now. "We can escort you. We swear not to break your trust!"

Inspect!

[Choi Ha-Eun]

[Level 36]

[Crimson Assassin]

[Ruler]

[Bound]

Bound? What does that even mean? This was the first time I'd encountered such a term.

"Why does your profile have a line that says 'bound'? What does it mean?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. My tone was laced with curiosity and suspicion.

Choi Ha-Eun hesitated before speaking, her voice trembling but oddly fervent. "I serve a powerful master. He is a king, like you. He is my love and my life—the great master of women!"

Suddenly, her voice rose into a scream. Her face twisted into a grotesque mix of a forced smile and tear-filled desperation. "Jang Pil-Soo owns my body and my rights!"

This... wasn't what I expected. It was painfully obvious she was under the influence of some kind of skill. Her strained expression and the hollow words she spoke screamed of a lack of honesty.

Before I could respond, the other two women joined in, their screams echoing hers, eerily synchronized. The two men, however, remained silent. They exchanged dark glances, their expressions clouded with suppressed anger and sadness.

Piece by piece, the truth fell into place. Jang Pil-Soo—it had to be him. He must have some twisted skill to control women, to force this kind of submission. Disgusting. The very thought made my blood boil.

I didn't want to meddle in this mess, but something deep inside me screamed that walking away wasn't an option.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Get up, all of you," I ordered, my voice softer but still commanding. I couldn't trust them, not yet. I didn't know how far Jang Pil-Soo's influence extended or whether this skill allowed him to spy on those he had bound. I had to tread carefully.

"Fine, I'll help you with the supreme-level beast," I said firmly, watching their reactions. "But in exchange, you must lead me to the Kingdom of Gamers. And I'm very interested in meeting this so-called master of yours."

I added a wink, hoping at least one of them would catch the meaning behind my words. But their faces fell instead. Regret and despair flickered in their eyes, their lips trembling as if they had just signed my death sentence.

They misunderstood me. They thought I was walking straight into my own demise, that I didn't realize the danger I was inviting. I wanted to tell them otherwise, to make it clear I had no intention of bowing to that bastard—I intended to slay him. But I didn't have the time to explain, and they had no other choice.

"Will you truly help us kill that beast?" Choi Ha-Eun asked, her voice carrying a fragile mix of hope and determination.

Her face changed, lighting up with a flicker of relief. She understood. The fire in her eyes burned brighter now, filled with a desperate yearning for freedom.

This wasn't about the supreme-level beast. She was clearly talking about her master—the one who had stolen everything from her.

She was different from the others. Her defiance set her apart, and it only confirmed my suspicions: Jang Pil-Soo had a way to spy on these women, to keep them bound to his control.

"Yes." I winked again, this time with a smirk. "Lead the way. I'll make it quick, and then we can move on to the next task."

I kept my tone light, as though I were referring to traveling to the Kingdom of Gamers. But I knew Choi Ha-Eun was sharp. If she truly understood, she'd know exactly what I meant.

Choi Ha-Eun shot to her feet, her sharp tone cutting through the tension. "Get up, you fools! Why are you still rolling around like pigs? Move! Move!"

Her voice was brimming with impatience, but I couldn't blame her. Who wouldn't want to seize even the smallest chance at freedom?

I followed behind them as they scrambled to organize themselves, observing the group closely. Among them, only Choi Ha-Eun stood out—her presence was different, sharper, more focused. The others were far less remarkable.

As we walked, I took the opportunity to inspect their stats. It didn't take long to confirm what I suspected: they were painfully average. Weak growth potential, no special roles, and a lack of passives to enhance their basic stats.

People like this had no hope of standing at the peak—unless, of course, they stumbled upon extraordinary luck. A rare achievement or a skill box could change everything, but for most, such fortune was as elusive as a dream.

For the first time, I felt an overwhelming sense of luck. Gaining such a powerful role—it was something others could only dream of. But who was to say that someone with a normal role couldn't stand at the peak? The thought lingered in my mind.

What if the rank one player turned out to be someone with a normal role? The irony of it would be both amusing and profoundly respectable.

I couldn't help but feel that my journey so far had been easier than most. Yet, as I glanced at the group, something struck me. None of them possessed the same darkness within.

Strange.

I should have sensed something, but there was nothing. The absence gnawed at the edges of my thoughts. Somehow, in this vast world, it seemed that only I and Kim Ha-Joon carried that peculiar presence within us.

"We're here."

The voice snapped me out of my thoughts. One of the girls pointed ahead, and my gaze followed her finger to the enormous mountain range looming before us.

The sight took my breath away. Towering peaks stretched endlessly across the horizon, their summits seemingly scraping the sky. But what truly stunned me was their color—each mountain gleamed with a golden hue, radiating an aura of majesty I hadn't expected.

We stood atop an incredibly high cliff, the sheer drop below us enough to make anyone's stomach churn. Getting down from here wouldn't be easy—especially for this group. For them, the descent would likely take a day or two at best.

"So, who are we hunting? I'll make it quick," I said, my tone curt. I didn't want to waste any more time.

"Huh? But we haven't even made it down yet," one of the men replied, blinking in confusion.

I recognized him—Kim Hyun-Woo. He was the one who had tried to grab my shoulder earlier, though I'd misjudged him at first. Now, I could see he wasn't all that bad.

Despite his lack of strength, he carried himself with an unyielding determination. His fire burned bright and fierce, a stark contrast to the mediocrity of his stats. It was clear he cared deeply for this group, and that, at least, earned him some respect in my eyes.

"Just tell me," I said flatly. "I can handle it without any of you moving an inch. I'll give you the beast, but I'm keeping the experience."

"That..." Kim Hyun-Woo hesitated, his reluctance clear. Leveling up must mean everything to them, but frankly, I didn't care.

"It's a Golden Flood Dragon," Choi Ha-Eun interjected quickly, her voice steady despite the tension. "It's been spotted in this area several times. It's a Level 42 demon beast, but it's likely grown even stronger since the last sighting."

"And you all thought it was a good idea to take on this quest?" I asked, genuinely curious. A beast like that would take at least a hundred of them to bring down.

"That... it wasn't entirely our decision," Choi Ha-Eun murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I see." I didn't need to ask further. The answer was clear—it wasn't their choice.

"Let me find it—"

RRROOOAAARRR!

The earth trembled beneath me as a thunderous roar tore through the mountains. Before I even saw it, I felt it—a surge of power that sent chills down my spine. Then, in a breathtaking display, a brilliant golden light streaked through the mountain peaks, moving with impossible grace and precision.

And there it was.

The Golden Flood Dragon.

It swam through the air like water, its massive body shimmering with an ethereal golden glow. Every movement radiated power, its aura shaking the very air. It wasn't just a Level 42 beast—it was something far greater. Overlord level, without a doubt.

My heart raced as I locked eyes with the creature. Excitement surged through me, setting every nerve ablaze. I didn't want to kill it—I wanted to fight it, to tame it. A beast this magnificent deserved nothing less.

"Look at you!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with exhilaration. "I can't wait anymore!"

Flames erupted behind me as my fire wings spread wide. With a burst of power, I shot into the sky, chasing after the dragon.

"Come back and fight me! Hahaha!"

I was so caught up in the thrill that I completely forgot about the group behind me.