Dancing on the golden ashes

On the night of the sixth day, I finally understood it. Life was born from death, and death from life. They were inseparable, a continuous, eternal cycle. The Law of Life and Death was not a single entity; it was the very foundation of the universe itself, the balance that held everything together. I could feel it now, deep within me, as if the final piece of the puzzle had clicked into place.

In that moment, something inside me changed, something fundamental. My body trembled uncontrollably as the energy surged through me. My souls, the ones that had always existed within me, began to glow with a brilliant light. It was as if each soul was crowned with an aura of power that radiated with overwhelming force. The crowns shimmered like stars, their energy so immense it felt as though the very earth beneath me should tremble.

I felt a surge of power unlike anything I had experienced before. It was undeniable, and it carried with it a terrifying weight—a presence that made everything beneath it feel small, insignificant, trembling in fear. Suddenly, the sky above me split open. A massive thunderstorm brewed, black clouds swirling and thickening, casting everything beneath it into darkness. The air was electric, charged with raw, primal power. I could feel it in my bones—the storm was a reflection of the storm within me.

Without thinking, I left the war hall, stepping outside to face the sky. I could feel the urge to crush it, to defy it—to challenge everything. Since I was a death eater, I had some understanding of the souls and how they worked. I could feel the power of Life and Death intertwining within me, urging me to seize control, to embrace the chaos of the storm and bend it to my will.

I could feel the panic spreading among the people around me, but strangely, I remained calm—perhaps too calm. It was as though my very being had shifted into a new gear, and for once, I trusted that this moment was necessary for the next step in my journey.

"Please, calm down," I called out, my voice loud and firm, cutting through the chaos. "This trial is for me. I can feel it. The brewing storm will help me break through my barrier and reach the next stage. Soon, your empress will be unstoppable!" I made sure every single person in the town of Luminara could hear me, speaking with such confidence that I knew it would ease their fears, even if only a little.

Today, I would step onto the path of the Soul Lord. I knew it in my heart—something deep inside me whispered that this was the moment. My heart trusted it, and so did I.

The sky above darkened as thunder cracked, and the sound was deafening, so loud it felt as if someone were firing a cannon right next to my ear. The entire town flinched at the intensity, clutching their heads from the pressure. But me? I stood strong. My resistance to such sounds, honed over the years, kept me grounded, though I could feel the sting of the noise echoing in my head.@@novelbin@@

And then, as if the heavens themselves were responding to my call, the storm intensified. Lightning cascaded from the sky, twisting and coiling like a living serpent. From the very heart of the storm, a chariot of pure lightning materialized, rushing down at me with terrifying speed. In the chariot sat a figure—a person, or something that resembled one. It had no face, only a void where its features should have been, and in its hand, it held a spear that crackled with raw energy.

My heart raced, but I didn't flinch. I had to embrace this. I had to let it test my resistance. This was no mere attack—it was a trial, a step toward my ascension.

"Idiot!" A voice echoed in my mind, harsh and insistent. "Attack it! If you let it hit you, you're dead! This is a heavenly punishment. You've crossed the realm of mortality—you're stepping onto the path of the immortal!"

The storm around me raged with intensity, and the thunder cracked like an unforgiving whip, driving the fear of the unknown deeper into my chest. What do you mean by heavenly punishment?! The eerie voice's warning hit me like a cold wave, and for the first time, I truly realized what I had gotten myself into.

I panicked, my heart racing as the chariot of lightning descended further toward me, its form growing ever more menacing. This wasn't some trial for ascension… This was a test of survival.

"Listen," the eerie voice spoke with an urgency I hadn't heard before, "When you cross to the level of Soul Lord, you shed your mortal body and replace it with an immortal one. Your new form is created from your own soul energy, reshaping you into your truest self. The process will be painful, agonizing, but once completed, your lifespan will extend to ten thousand years. You'll be able to control heavenly laws at will. But that's not the point right now—"

I barely registered the rest of the words. All I could hear was the mounting roar of the chariot, the lightning growing hotter and brighter. Ten thousand years? Immortal? None of that made sense to me right now.

"I've never seen the heavenly punishment on this scale before," the eerie voice continued, snapping me back into reality. "This means you will be extremely powerful after your transformation, and the heavens are against that. If you can't survive this, you'll be reduced to ashes, and not even the system can save you. So, you better attack that thing and prepare yourself!" Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

What the fuck?! I clenched my fists, rage boiling over in my chest. Why the hell couldn't you tell me that earlier?! I shouted in frustration, the words slipping from my mouth like venom.

The voice shot back, its tone sharp. "Why are you scolding me now? You triggered this! Without me, you would've been dead the moment you tried to ascend. How dare you curse me?!"

Me? How dare you curse me?! I roared back, my fury flaring. You've been renting my body, and I'm the one paying the price for all of this mess!

A sharp silence followed, and for a brief moment, I almost regretted snapping at the entity. Thank you… I said reluctantly, forcing the words out as my anger simmered. There was no time for pride or further frustration. I needed to focus.