Dancing on the golden ashes

I could feel the air around me freeze, not physically, but emotionally. A stillness hung in the air, thick with dread. Nobody dared to move, not even an inch, after my words. The entire group stood frozen, their eyes fixed on me, the weight of fear pressing down on them like a heavy blanket. It was as if the world itself had stopped, and all that remained was me, the one who held the power.

Now, I waited. I waited for the leaders of the kingdoms and empires that had plotted against my slave to show themselves. I wasn't in a rush. I wasn't going to chase them down. No, they would come to me. I was prepared for whatever came next.

I'm a good owner, after all, I thought, the words tasting strange in my mind. Though, maybe that's a little weird to say…

I chuckled softly, the sound eerie in the silence.

Anyway, I thought, my smile fading into something far colder, I will protect him. And I will take my revenge. Nobody—no one—can mess with the people I swear to defend.

I looked around, and that's when I felt it—the air began to tremble, the energy shifting, growing heavier with every passing second. Multiple auras were approaching at a rapid pace, a clear sign that they sensed something was wrong here.

One by one, they surrounded me, forming a circle in the air. All of them were over level 150, their power palpable as they descended with an air of authority. Their eyes locked onto me, and I could feel them scanning me, sizing me up with no regard for the respect I deserved. It was as if they didn't even care, as if they had no qualms about inspecting me without my permission.

How rude, I thought, the sting of their disregard settling under my skin. Maybe I've been silent for too long... Maybe they think they rule this world now.

A dark smile curled at the edges of my lips.

Well, time to beat some idiots up.

"This… who is she?" Several voices gasped in surprise as they caught a glimpse of my stats. I could see the shock in their eyes, their bodies trembling as they took a few cautious steps back, trying to distance themselves from the undeniable power they were witnessing. Some of them recognized me—one of them was a woman I had met a long time ago. She looked a bit older now, but there was no mistaking her.

Lorena Ebenhain. I watched her face flash with both anger and fear as she realized who stood before her.

"Lee Gaon…" she whispered my name, and I returned her gaze with a smile so warm, so unsettling, that I could see her eyes widen in terror. She almost turned to flee, but something kept her rooted to the spot. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

"Hello," I said softly, but my voice held an icy edge. "And I welcome all of you to the party of death. Today, I, Lee Gaon, shall destroy the twenty kingdoms and show you all how your people suffer before they die. Do you think I look demonic? Heh… I am a demon, after all." I flashed them a cold smile, the kind that made the air feel even colder.

In response to my words, I saw their confidence falter—at first. But then, slowly, they regained their composure. Their abilities began to surge around them, and they lifted into the air, each one preparing to strike. They thought they could combine their attacks, overwhelm me, kill me.

Stupid idiots... I muttered coldly under my breath.

With a simple thought, I reached out and grabbed the air itself, twisting it around me. The very laws of nature bent to my will, and in an instant, I returned all of their attacks right back to them.

Did they think their pathetic systems and their feeble tricks could match me?

Pfft…

Several of the attackers lost limbs in an instant, their screams filling the air as the attacks they had launched turned against them. A few others merely scoffed, managing to block their own attacks with some effort, but the fear in their eyes was undeniable. They knew, deep down, that they stood no chance against me—not individually, not even if they banded together. They could feel it, the overwhelming strength I commanded. And just like that, they fled.

Boring... I thought, a sense of amusement flickering through me. This had become too easy, almost predictable.

But I didn't let them go. With a single thought, I shackled them in place, the invisible chains locking their bodies in place, leaving them no room for escape. I split myself into clones, each one taking position around them, my scythe resting gently on the neck of every last one of them.

My clones spoke in unison, their voices cold and commanding, "One move and your head flies."

The chilling words echoed in every language the invaders could understand. The majority of them were Korean, but there were others—foreigners who had no business here. German, Chinese, Japanese, and Italian. They had come, invaded these lands, and pushed their territories into what had once been ours.

But now, they would learn their lesson. If the other fools were too afraid to stand up to them, I would.

"Please! I can pay you a lot of money! Anything you need!" A woman with bright blue hair screamed, her voice full of desperation. "You want part of my empire? Take it! Take all of it! Just let me go!"

I didn't even flinch at her plea. There was no point in negotiating with someone who had already lost their humanity, someone who had willingly embraced the demonic path. She was beyond reason.

I turned my gaze to another woman, her beautiful, silky black hair flowing like a dark waterfall. I could sense her power—level 200, strong, yet trembling with fear. Her voice rang out with clarity, cutting through the air like a blade.

"There's no point in begging," she said coldly. "She will not listen. If we want to live, we must fight."

I watched them closely. Their eyes were filled with fear and defiance, but there was no escape from the fate I had planned.