Dancing on the golden ashes

Soon, I found myself closely observing Seraphina's journey as she grew into a leader. She took the small village and led it to unimaginable heights, transforming it into a city, and eventually an empire that stretched far and wide. It took her around fifty years, but she accomplished it. Yet, despite all her achievements, she never had the chance to live longer. She became stuck at level 99, unable to reach the demigod level. It was only then, I believed, that one would be able to gain extra years of life.

In the end, I realized the massive flaw in the system: it could not extend a person's lifespan as much as the soul energy that reigned supreme. Or perhaps, it was all part of the Creator's plan? That thought lodged itself in my heart, and it never left me.

Another twenty years passed. Now, a total of eighty years had gone by since I first began observing this place. I had become like a god, watching from above while those below were trapped in the endless cycle of life and death.

"Life is born from desire," I mused, as the realization settled in. "People desire to live on, but they can't stay alive forever, so they must leave offspring to succeed them. The same goes for the beasts and even plants. Desire is what gives life—not just physically, but mentally as well. Life doesn't need to be purely physical; emotions, wishes, goals, dreams—these are all alive, too. And when we give up, they die alongside us in a way. Those who fight for their dreams one day make them a reality. That is the law of life. Everything can be alive, as long as desire exists."

A new path opened before me, and I could feel my power surge like a tidal wave crashing against everything in its way. The air around me trembled uncontrollably, as if the very world itself recognized the magnitude of the shift that was occurring.

The intensity of my breakthrough was so immense that it forced the villagers to look up at the sky. The clouds parted, and the heavens themselves seemed to crack and shatter under the weight of my soul's power. Soon, my skill broke, and my body—no longer confined—appeared suspended in the air for all to see. Even she, the woman I had observed all my life, glanced up at me. There she stood, clad in shining armor with a crown atop her head. Her eyes widened in terror, and I didn't blame her. I looked like a demon, and my presence alone was enough to shake the world itself. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

Who knew? Maybe someday people would hunt me down, fearful of what I had become. But right now, what mattered most was the fact that my souls were merging uncontrollably. Inside me, something was happening—something so powerful that it made my heart race, faster than it ever had before. I was transforming, not just physically, but mentally. A new figure began to form within me. It was my soul—my true self—yet it wasn't quite like the human form I knew. This figure was massive, towering at a height of twenty thousand meters within my soul's world. I was not a giant in the physical sense, but inside my own realm of soul power, this figure radiated with the combined energies of every law I had comprehended. These laws took shape at the figure's core, glowing with a multicolored light that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

But even with all this power, I could feel that something was missing. No matter how magnificent it was, there was a lingering sense of impurity. I couldn't quite place it—something was off, though I knew that I wouldn't have to wait long to find the answer.

Suddenly, the sky above me turned completely black, and I found myself hovering right above the massive city I had once watched grow. I couldn't run, even if I wanted to. I was locked in place by some force beyond my control. The sky itself began to shatter even further, cracking like fragile glass. I watched in awe and fear as pieces of the sky seemed to fall to the ground, and it was only I who could see it—only I who could comprehend it. I had transcended mortality. The sight before me was indescribable, both magnificent and terrifying. My own power... scared me. It terrified me.

"So, what I've been missing... is lightning, huh?" I whispered softly, my voice barely audible over the roar of the world breaking apart. Below, the terrified faces of the villagers looked up, powerless to do anything.

"Time is a poison," I muttered, more to myself than to anyone else. "It takes life and brings death, but from death, new life is born. Yet, sometimes... someone like me appears. Someone who brings destruction, cutting off the cycle, ending life completely. And today... I have done it once again."

A calmness settled over me, cold and unwavering, as I realized the truth. I had reached the precipice of my power. The lightning tribulation would come, and when it did, everything—everyone—would be erased from existence. Only I would remain, the demon destined to destroy this world.@@novelbin@@

As the first lightning bolt struck me, it split into multiple shards, each one crackling with raw energy as it tore through the sky. The fragments rushed down toward the city, and in an instant, they decimated everything in their path. Lives were snuffed out in a matter of seconds, leaving behind only chaos and destruction.

The lightning didn't hurt me. In fact, I felt nothing as it struck my being, but I understood something then: the laws of the world were still far stronger than I was. I couldn't interfere with them, no matter how much power I had gained. And yet, at the same time, I didn't care too much. I had observed these people from afar, but they weren't my family. They weren't my friends. Their lives, while significant in their own way, weren't tied to me.

I would let the cycle end. This destruction would only strengthen my understanding of life—of how it all worked, how things had to break down before they could rebuild. It was just another part of life, another lesson in accepting the inevitable, accepting destiny.