Dancing on the golden ashes

My fingers brushed against the horns on my head. I had no idea where this would take me. To be honest, it was scary.

If my body ever transforms from human to demon, do I stay myself? Or perhaps the dragon is mistaken...

I refused to believe I would no longer be a normal human.

I held the beast tightly by its horns, my grip unrelenting. It didn't move. The golden glow that had surrounded its massive body slowly retracted, fading back into its core.

"You're not dead, are you? Get up! I'm not playing around here. Hey!" I shook its head slightly, frustration creeping into my voice.

Is it actually knocked out? The thought caught me off guard. I don't think my punch carries that much strength.

Could it be related to the power of these horns? My gaze shifted toward the horns on my own head, the question burning in my mind.

Rrrrhhrrhhh...

The dragon's low, resonant growl rumbled through the air, deep and menacing. The entire mountain range trembled slightly under its power—a stark reminder of the unimaginable force it held.

I summoned my scythe, its dark blade gleaming with an ominous light, and pressed it gently against the dragon's scaled scalp. "Tell me everything you know about the so-called demon race," I demanded, my voice steady yet laced with urgency. "I vow to you—I am not one of them. But something within me is changing. That much is true, and I must figure out what."

My neon-green eyes locked onto the dragon's glowing gaze, shining with an undeniable curiosity that refused to be ignored.

The dragon trembled slightly, though I couldn't tell if it was from fear or if something else had shaken it. Yet, it remained still.

"Human," it finally spoke, its voice deep and steady, "you are touching secrets not meant for controlled beings like you. If the despicable Creator learns of this, you will die."

Its words took me by surprise. I hadn't expected the Flood Dragon to know about that person.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Was it not part of the system?

Inspect!

[Level 42][Mythical Grade Demon Beast]

[The Great Golden Flood Dragon]

"Well, you seem to be part of the system, so how are you so knowledgeable?" I asked, my curiosity laced with suspicion. Something felt off—there had to be more to this.

"What do you know, newcomer?" it sneered, its voice dripping with disdain. "You've barely been here for what, two months? That's when your kind began infesting these vast lands. MY RACE HAS RULED HERE FOR ETERNITY. YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A SPECK OF DUST IN MY PATH!"

BANG!

I smacked the back of its head again, this time holding back some of my power.

"I don't have time to play games. Talk, or else…"

"Heh… All you know is how to solve problems with brute strength," it sneered. "That's why your world is so rotten, isn't it?"

My eyes widened for a moment, my aura fluctuating unnaturally as the dragon's words struck a nerve.

"Why? Are you surprised?" it continued, its voice calm but biting. "We Flood Dragons have the power to peer into one's soul. I can see it now—you're no demon. But your brutality, your methods... they reek of their bloodline.

Perhaps you are a descendant of theirs. Your entire world—what a despicable place."

"Now you've done it," I growled, charging another punch. But just as my fist hovered above its head, I froze.

If I strike now, I am exactly the person it accuses me of being. But isn't violence sometimes the best answer? Or is it just my bones and soul urging me to think that way?

I felt a pang of conflict, the tension clawing at my resolve.

"You're not so bad, I guess," the dragon said suddenly, its voice softer. It shifted slightly and began to rise, moving us both out of the crevice caused by our fall.

Once on stable ground, it spoke again, its tone unnervingly calm.

"Let me tell you something about demons," it began, lying down gracefully and making no effort to shake me off its head. "They act just like you so-called humans. There is little difference between the two.

When it comes to protecting their own, demons are willing to destroy the world. But when greed overtakes their souls…"

It paused, its golden eyes locking with mine.

"They are capable of destroying the universe itself. Does that sound familiar to you?"

"So what? Aren't most races like that? The sins you're talking about are—"

"No," the dragon interrupted sharply. "These sins are a distinct feature of demons. Angels and beasts do not share such flaws. Angels act as saviors of this world. Their only sin is their pride and sense of superiority. Yet they would never kill their own—unless one was deceived by demons."

"Wait, wait, wait," I said, waving a hand to stop it. "Angels? You're talking about those things with golden wings that live in the sky? What are you even saying right now?"

The beast let out a low chuckle, its deep voice reverberating through the air. A small puff of golden smoke escaped its nostrils as it laughed.

"The angels I speak of are nothing like the fairy tales your world tells," it said. "Those are stories crafted by demons seeking salvation and redemption. The true angels were a race that lived in this world, alongside demons and beasts."

It paused, its golden eyes narrowing as it looked directly at me.

"You've already met one of them, haven't you? Your fire… it's just like hers. The Goddess of Fire. Agnia."

Those words shook me to my core. I jumped down from the dragon's head, pacing around it as I locked eyes with its deep, golden gaze. There was something unsettling about them—an ancient, mysterious power that seemed to peer into the very fabric of the universe.

"You know too much about me..." I said, my tone cold and sharp.

"Heh..." The Golden Flood Dragon let out a small golden flame from its nostrils, a subtle smirk curling its massive lips. "I'm a sacred beast, after all."

"You seem to take a lot of pride in that," I replied, my voice dropping as shadows began to swirl around me. "Tell me… how demonic do I look right now?"

In an instant, my entire body was consumed by darkness. Shadows floated and coiled around me, spreading outward in all directions, swallowing the light.

"Sovereign's Domain," I said softly, my words laced with power.

A staggering 40,000 mana drained from me in an instant. The dragon was completely engulfed in the darkness, its time slowed to a crawl while mine flowed as normal. I could see it—fear and shock flashing in its majestic eyes as its body trembled uncontrollably, unable to resist.

I moved swiftly, closing the distance in a heartbeat, my blade resting firmly against its scaly throat. I could feel it—a slight shudder, a faint gulp as the great beast realized its helplessness.

In this domain, I am the absolute ruler. No one defies me.

If this is what makes me a demon, then so be it.

With a snap of my fingers, I canceled the domain, but my scythe remained firmly in place, its sharp edge pressed against the dragon's throat, a clear and deadly threat.

"And now... witness the power of the Goddess," I declared, my voice steady and commanding.

My body shifted as golden flames erupted around me, wrapping me in their divine radiance. I began weaving a move that wasn't even part of the scripture imprinted in my soul.

"Five Paths of Fire: First Path... Birth!"

The name of the first step rang out, but I didn't stop there. My fingers moved swiftly, combining the intricate energy of all the steps into a single, overwhelming technique.

"Birth of the Goddess!"

A surge of power exploded from my trembling hand, unleashing a radiant golden aura that washed over the entire area. The air felt sacred, heavy with divine energy. Even the sky itself seemed to bow to my command, shifting to a brilliant shade of gold in response.

From my outstretched hand, a beam of golden flame shot forth, its sheer intensity draining me almost completely. If not for my advancement to the Soul Orb stage, I might have perished then and there from the loss of soul energy.

The flames roared like a living force, carving through the air before slamming into the distant mountains. The impact was cataclysmic—mountains disintegrated, leaving a massive golden sphere spinning violently where they once stood. The explosion sent shockwaves rippling outward, shaking the earth and leaving the air thick with heat and power.

The flame shot forth like a beam of light, streaking across the sky before colliding with several mountains kilometers away. The ground quaked violently, and the air itself seemed to shudder.

The temperature soared instantly as a massive sphere of fire formed where the mountains once stood. It spun with incredible speed, its energy pulsating outward in waves of destruction. The shockwave from the explosion sent powerful gusts of wind rushing over me, stirring the air with an almost deafening roar.

I could only imagine the expressions of the people waiting outside the mountain range. They'd expected me to emerge with the slain dragon, but after seeing this display of power, I hoped they'd think twice before asking about the body.

They don't need to know the dragon still lives. It knows too much—and now it's mine.

"The powers of demons and angels in one... how is that even possible…"

The dragon's voice was barely a whisper, but it was loud enough for me to hear.

"I'm going to have a lot of fun with you," I said with a smirk, my voice dripping with confidence. "There are so many secrets you hold. You are to submit to me now!"

I extended my hand, and a dark thread shot from my palm, piercing into the dragon's body. The binding took hold instantly, linking the beast's soul to mine.

"You may choose your own name. I'll allow you that much," I added, my tone firm but almost mocking.

I could feel the dragon's soul struggling fiercely against the bond. Its essence was powerful, pure, and unyielding, but the fear I had instilled was enough to shatter its defenses. After a moment of resistance, it finally gave in.

"Just call me Hwangryong, Master..."

The Flood Dragon lowered its head, fully submitting to me.

"Good," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. "This world shall one day know your might, Hwangryong. I promise you—I will not be like the demons you spoke of. I am human, after all. And we… we are greater than demons."