Dancing on the golden ashes

I couldn't move. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as I knelt there, my hand still pressed against the gravestone. This entire area was so quiet—devoid of any human presence. Perhaps, in this world, it was too much for anyone to visit the graves of the fallen. The battle for life was unceasing, after all. Every day, people went out to hunt beasts, yet only a few ever returned. It was a dangerous job, and only the strongest warriors would leave the safety of their homes, willing to risk their lives.

It was perfect for me.

I could stay here, with my family, for as long as I needed.

The memories of my childhood flooded my mind, overwhelming me in waves. And with them, the tears wouldn't stop. Each drop felt like a reflection of the pain buried deep inside me. The sharper I became, the more I grew in power, the more it hurt. It was as if my soul was bleeding, the pain deep and raw. It stabbed into my chest, sharp and unrelenting, as if digging all the way down to the hollow depths of my heart. That hollow heart that seemed to have no end, no warmth.

Yet, in that moment, I wished it would fill up again. I wished it would beat once more, as it once had, full of life and full of hope. But the truth was, the more I advanced, the more tragic this life of mine became. The more I realized that no matter how far I went, no matter how powerful I became, I would always be searching for something I had lost long ago. Something I would never find again.

"I will rise high in this world," I whispered, my voice carried on the wind, a promise to the family I had lost. "And when the time comes for me to reach the heavens, I will dominate them as well. Watch me from up there. I promise to show you how your daughter proves herself to be the best once again."

A deep sigh escaped me, the weight of my words pressing on my chest. "Yet during that time, please, don't judge me anymore. Don't let other souls blind your love for me, if you ever had any for me. And please… let the god, if one exists, know that I'll come for him, and force him to return you to me. For now, rest. Until one day, I can bring you back to life. All of you…"

My voice trailed off into the sky, lost in the wind, as I prepared to leave. I heard voices approaching, and I knew I couldn't stay. I didn't wish to be seen here, not like this. If anyone recognized me, it would be a complication I didn't need. There weren't many left from my generation, only the ones who stood at the top now, the leaders of the world. Those who would tremble beneath my power.

But I wasn't strong enough yet. Not nearly. I still had loose ends to take care of, and I needed to reach a level where even the creator couldn't save them. That was my goal. And nothing would stand in my way.

I flapped my wings, and in an instant, I was gone, like a phantom, never having been there in the first place. The world was none the wiser to my presence. The only trace I left behind was a small engraving on my family's grave.

"I had always loved you all—Lee Gaon."

I could still feel the aura of my slave somewhere in the distance, a faint pulse that called to me, yet even as I drew closer to the Empire of the Golden Phoenix, I realized something. His aura was no longer present. And as I neared the once-mighty city, I discovered the grim truth. The Empire, once a beacon of power standing proudly in the heart of the forest, was now nothing but ashes.

What the hell happened here? The thought clawed at me, frustration and concern bubbling up inside. Did the enemy attack again?

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I had to know. After all, this place wasn't just a city—it was something I had worked tirelessly to build, to shape into an empire I could be proud of. To see it reduced to nothing… it struck at something deep inside me, a mixture of anger and helplessness.

I scanned the wreckage, my eyes sweeping across the ruins. I could feel it, though—the faint trace of Han Seungho's aura lingering in the mountainous area, about a thousand kilometers to the east. The energy was weaker now, almost fading with every passing second. There was only one explanation: he was either caught in a battle, or he was dying from old age. But the city's remains were still fresh, the destruction too recent. That could only mean one thing—he was in the midst of a fight, somewhere out there, struggling against an enemy.

I couldn't wait. My wings flared out as I propelled myself into the air, my speed unparalleled. I covered the distance quickly, the world blurring around me. His aura beckoned, though weak, and I pushed myself harder, the need to reach him growing with every beat of my wings.

I didn't really care whether he lived or died, after all, Han Seungho was a piece of shit, after all. But he was my property. And those who dared to kill what was mine would need my permission first. No one touched my belongings without consequence.

Soon, I reached a wide and long mountain range, its landscape bathed in an unnatural red hue, casting an eerie glow over everything. It was unlike anything I had seen before. And there, in the midst of this strange terrain, I saw him. A man in bright, flashy armor, fighting off ten attackers. All of them seemed to be over level 100, their powers pulsing with an intensity that made it clear this was no ordinary skirmish.

I didn't waste a second. My wings flared, propelling me forward with blinding speed. In a heartbeat, I was in the thick of the battle. With a swift motion, I reached out and grabbed one of the attackers, a man with striking blue hair, and lifted him into the air by his throat. He dangled like a helpless chicken, his feet kicking as he struggled for breath.

The fight came to an immediate halt. The remaining attackers froze, eyes wide with shock, as I hovered above them, the world around us silent except for the pounding of my cold heart.