Dancing on the golden ashes

Time passed slowly as I wandered through the world, eventually finding my way to a small village. The people here were a mix of ethnicities, living in a strange but peaceful harmony. The language they spoke seemed to be English, or something very close to it. It wasn't difficult for me to pick it up. I had already known a bit from before, but with my language skill now activated, I could grasp it in seconds. Yes, it's a cheat, but who wouldn't want to save time learning, rather than spending years perfecting their skills? Only me? Fine, whatever... Ahem...

I observed the villagers as they went about their day. Their strongest warrior was only around level fifty. I couldn't help but scoff inwardly. It was ridiculous—so many years had passed, and he'd reached only this low level? How? Perhaps they were too weak or, more likely, too cowardly to venture into the wilds and level up. Instead, they formed parties to fight off the monsters that frequently plagued the village, using numbers to make up for their lack of individual strength.

The village itself was quaint but humble, constructed entirely from sturdy wood. Nearby, a massive forest stretched out, reminiscent of the one I had first emerged from. But this forest was different. The trees here felt stronger, their wood more resilient. Even the villagers at level twenty struggled to chop them down. They spent hours hacking at one tree, only managing to fell it after five. Pathetic. It was hard to watch, knowing they had no true understanding of how to grow stronger. At times, I found myself itching to lend a hand, to show them the true power of someone who knew how to cut through such things with ease. But I held back, unwilling to disturb the natural course of things. Instead, I continued watching, allowing the village to grow at its painfully slow pace.

Ten years had passed in what felt like the blink of an eye, and the village had expanded considerably. I watched as the people slowly grew in strength, each of them carving out their own lives. Children were born, running around with excitement, their laughter filling the air. The village, once a humble settlement of around two hundred people, had grown to five hundred over the years. Though it wasn't a massive increase, it was impressive given how isolated they were.

Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

What intrigued me most, though, was how quickly the children adapted to the world they had been born into. By the time many of them reached five years old, they were already allowed to join in the adult hunts. The adults would form teams, and while they didn't let the children fight, they would allow them to watch as they killed the beasts. This way, the kids gained little experience in combat, but their bodies grew strong nonetheless. Once they hit level ten, they were allowed to hunt low-level monsters under adult supervision. It was a slow process, but they were certainly growing stronger.

Among them, there was one child who stood out—a small girl, one of the first to be trained. She reminded me of Jieun, and just like that, a wave of painful memories crashed over me. The ache in my chest flared up, and for a moment, I thought I might let it consume me. But no. I forced myself to endure, pushing the pain aside. Sometimes, no matter how hard it was, you had to push through and remind yourself that things would be alright in the end. I knew if I gave in to the despair, if I let myself fall into depression, I might shut down entirely and abandon everything I held dear.

It was strange, really. When I first came to this world, I was so focused on fighting alone. I thought I didn't need anyone. I didn't care about making friends. But fate, as it often does, had other plans. Now, I found myself caring for these people, the very ones I had once been so afraid to get attached to. And somehow, they had become the most important part of my life.

Yet, I had lost it all. But it's okay. I'll bring them back, right? It will be alright. I will save all the souls and revive them... But enough about that...

The girl I was talking about was named Seraphina. She had silky brown hair that shimmered like the softest threads of silk. She was so beautiful, like a delicate doll, yet there was something fierce in her eyes. When she fought, she exuded an aura of dominance and natural leadership. It was as if everyone around her instinctively followed her, recognizing her strength even at such a young age. I was stunned by how quickly she had adapted, amazed that a child could reach such a level of power.

Her role? A Golden Berserker of the Four Directions. What that exactly meant, I had no clue, but there was no mistaking the power it bestowed. She was a force to be reckoned with. And to be honest, she was a little too powerful for her age. Even as a child, she could wield a massive two-ton long sword, swinging it with ease as if it were nothing more than a mere twig. The raw strength and precision she displayed were beyond anything I'd ever seen from someone her age. I couldn't help but wonder—what would she achieve as she grew older?

At just level 45, she had already climbed to the position of the seventh strongest warrior in the village. With her talent and drive, she was destined to become the leader in another ten years, maybe sooner. I was eager, curious to see how far she would go, what heights she would reach in the years to come. Something told me Seraphina's future was going to be one for the history books.

And so, another ten years passed. The little girl who had once been so small and innocent had grown into a stunning young woman. Seraphina had become so beautiful, so enchanting, that the men of the entire village practically drooled over her. It made me laugh every time I saw it. Of course, it was all for nothing—if any of them dared to mention dating, they'd find themselves on the receiving end of a serious beating. She wasn't having any of it, and I couldn't help but admire her for that.

I liked her. No, I didn't just like her—she was amazing. Through watching her grow, I found myself gaining new insights into the laws of life. With every step she took, every new challenge she overcame, I grew one step closer to my own breakthrough. The more I observed her, the more I realized that sometimes, the answers we seek aren't just found in books or isolated contemplation—they're found in the living, breathing moments around us. And through Seraphina, I was beginning to understand that in a way I never had before.@@novelbin@@