Dancing on the golden ashes

My eyes shone, captivated by the mesmerizing beauty of the fire as it engulfed everything, trapping the people within. Their desperate struggle to resist the searing heat was futile. Before my eyes, three of the mages were reduced to ashes.

The remaining survivors, who managed to react in time, sought refuge within an earth shield cast by the girl from before.

"That's a powerful attack, but it means this is the end. This is the beast's last struggle," Vargrin growled, his claws digging into the dirt as if preparing to leap.

"We can move in as soon as this hurricane of fire dies down," he added.

"No," I said coldly, standing up and locking my eyes on the deer flying around the battlefield at lightning speed.

"I'll deal with it now!"

Without hesitation, I activated Space Distortion and spread my fiery wings, launching myself toward the target.

"Master!" Vargrin screamed, crouching, ready to jump and follow, but Malrang stopped him with a firm paw.

"Trust your master and watch!" she reprimanded him. Her words echoed faintly in my ears as the roaring flames consumed me.

My scythe spun in my hands, a deadly blur of motion. With a swift throw, it tore through the air, gaining incredible momentum before slicing the deer cleanly in half at its hip.

But the battle wasn't over. The deer began regenerating at an alarming pace, its body struggling desperately to reconnect with its severed half. It lay on the ground, writhing, its eyes wide with fear and pleading for mercy.

For a moment, something deep within me rebelled. My old life and morals clawed to the surface, urging me to spare it. But then, the darkness inside me rose, snuffing out the pity. Rage and killing intent consumed me, sharper and more absolute than ever.

"I suppose I'll leave you intact for my beasts to feast..." I muttered, my voice cold and unforgiving.

Wind Slash!

A compressed gust of wind tore through the air, slicing the monster's head cleanly in half. It collapsed instantly, lifeless.

[Congratulations][You have slain an epic monster: Blazelia Deer]

[Your experience increased by 5%]

Soul Harvest...

A delicious black orb flew into my mouth, its rich flavor filling me with exhilaration. Wow. I didn't know deer could taste this good! Amazed by the flavor, I found myself craving more.

As the flames died down, they revealed the earth prison on the other side of the battlefield, standing undisturbed amidst the scorched terrain.

The rocks crumbled, revealing seven remaining people. They looked at me with a hostile gaze, clearly unhappy with me stealing their prey.

"You piece of shit! How dare you steal from us?! I'll kill you and carry your head as my trophy!"

An ugly-looking young man snarled, lashing out at me with unbridled rage. His words were venomous, but they only made me laugh inwardly.

Some people truly have a death wish.

I was ready to kill all of them, but at least one of them had some sense. The leader of the group raised his hand, stopping the idiot with a death wish.

"Sorry, friend," he said, his tone apologetic, though a tinge of irritation was unmistakable in his voice.

"My teammate here was too hot-headed. We're thankful that you saved us from that fire tornado," he added with a bright smile. Yet, I had never seen a smile so blatantly fake.

"But," he continued, his true intentions slipping through, "that doesn't mean you're allowed to steal our kill. You must compensate us for that, don't you think?"

His party members grinned, their expressions dripping with greed and lust as their eyes shamelessly roamed over my body—particularly my bare legs. Slowly but surely, they crept closer to me, closing the gap.

I stood still, leaning on my scythe, pressing its blade lightly into the ground to steady myself.

"I see..." I said, my voice cold, taunting. "And what if I refuse?"

Their lecherous grins widened, and the entire group broke into mocking laughter.

"What can a girl like you do to us?" the leader sneered. "Are you going to stomp on us with your high heels?" His smile twisted into something vile, a mask of barbaric lust and twisted desires.

I felt my patience slipping, my rage bubbling to the surface.

"Watch your mouth, kid..." I said, my voice low and laced with venom. "Kill them..." The darkness inside me screamed, urging me to end their miserable lives.

The tall, middle-aged man in silver armor stepped forward, towering over me. His expression was smug as he reached for my arm.

"You're a funny one," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Come play with this older brother. I'll make you feel like a real woma—"

His words were cut off, never to be heard in this world again.

In a single, fluid motion, my scythe flashed through the air. His head flew skyward, while the rest of his body collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, staining the earth crimson with his blood.

I watched as the stunned expressions of the group turned to sheer terror. Their knees trembled, the arrogance they flaunted moments before evaporating into thin air.

I let my aura surge. The Ruler Effect took hold, forcing all of them to their knees in an instant. Even the young woman, who had been retreating quietly and hiding herself from my gaze, had no choice but to submit, bowing low before me.

The men trembled like frightened rabbits facing a wolf. Speaking of wolves... I raised my hand, and five streaks of lightning tore through the sky, striking the ground with thunderous force. My wolves materialized behind me in a flash.

Malrang sat perched on Ravokar's head, her sharp gaze fixed on the men. I could feel her killing intent radiating, as fierce a fire that burned in her heart.

The group's eyes widened in horror. A sour stench suddenly tainted the air, breaking the oppressive silence. I didn't need to look down to know the source—puddles were forming beneath the teenager.

"Seriously...? You can't even hold it in?" I said, my voice dripping with disdain. "What a pitiful thing..."

I felt a wave of disgust wash over me. These fools were pathetic, their souls reeking of cowardice.

"Pl-please spare us!" The same idiot who had lashed out at me earlier was now the first to beg for his life, his voice trembling with desperation.

I growled softly in wolf language, and in an instant, my Thunder Tempests descended on the five men, mauling them without mercy. Their final moments were consumed by confusion—they had no idea it was my command that sealed their fate.

Malrang leapt onto my shoulder, her gaze fixed on the lone woman still kneeling on the ground. She tilted her head curiously before speaking, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Why did you leave her alive?" she asked, clearly disappointed. She had wanted to end the entire group.

"I wonder why..." I muttered, my eyes narrowing as I studied the young woman. The longer I looked at her, the more familiar she seemed. She looked to be my age, yet there was something else—something hauntingly recognizable.

No... it couldn't be her...

I stepped forward, my scythe poised to deliver a lethal strike. I took a swing, fully prepared to end her life.

But before the blade could connect, she broke, her voice trembling with fear and anguish.

"Gaon! Please spare me! Please... I'm sorry... I'm sorry!"

Her tear-streaked face and familiar voice froze my hands mid-swing, stopping me from taking the head of someone I once held dear. That voice—it shattered my heart in an instant.

"Jeong Soo-Ah?..."

My scythe vanished mid-swing, dissipating into the air.

This was the one person I could never kill. Not even if she hurt me. Not even if she betrayed me. She was my best friend.

"Why..." I struggled to find the words. "Why are you here?"

Why her? Why...

Was this another sick plot from that self-proclaimed Creator? Why... why…? I never wanted to see her again. Not after everything. Ever since I was framed as a cheater, I had clung to the hope that she would stand by my side. But she didn't.

"How could you, Soo-Ah?"

I had held that question inside for so long. Now, as my voice trembled, my eyes slowly filled with tears. The pain was unbearable, and it made the darkness within me flare, threatening to break free, clawing for control of my mind.

She knelt before me, sobbing uncontrollably, yet no words left her lips. Her body trembled, and she bit her lip so hard I thought it might bleed.

"WHY!?" I screamed, my voice echoing through the empty battlefield. "WAS I REALLY SUCH A SCUMBAG FRIEND TO YOU? WHY DID YOU LIE TO THEM!?"

I wished, in that moment, that I would never meet anyone I cared about in this cruel world.

Soo-Ah turned her face away, her lips trembling as if she wanted to speak but couldn't. Her body shook even harder, and tears streamed down her face, falling silently to the ground.

"SPEAK TO ME!" I cried out, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. My body shook uncontrollably, barely able to contain the storm within.

"Did they pay you? How much? Why?" My voice softened, trembling with despair. "I trusted you, Soo-Ah. I trusted you more than anyone. You were the only one I could rely on... my best friend. We were inseparable. So why...? Why did you do it?"

At that moment, I remembered the pinky promise we made back in middle school—to always be there for each other, to stay best friends forever, and to stand together against anyone who dared to bully either of us.

My aura surged uncontrollably, a torrent of darkness erupting around us. The black flames of my sorrow and fury rose, encircling us in a blazing ring. The fire mirrored my emotions, dancing mournfully as though sharing my pain.

"Let go, Gaon... She broke you. She hurt you. Summon your blade—let her neck feel the same pain you've endured for years. You can never trust her again. Trust only me, Gaon. Only me!"

The voice echoed in my mind, its venomous words weaving into my thoughts. I could feel my grasp on myself slipping, my scythe slowly materializing in my hand.

Get out! I screamed inwardly, my voice trembling with defiance. I told you before—this is my body!

The flames around me roared, shooting high into the sky. My scythe's blade hovered inches from Soo-Ah's neck, stopping just short. A thin line of crimson appeared as the blade left a small cut, her blood dripping slowly to the ground.

I cried. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face as my scythe vanished once more.

"Get up... and go," I said, my voice hollow, drained of all emotion. My eyes, now devoid of tears, stared into the distance as I turned and walked away, leaving Soo-Ah kneeling on the ground, soaked in her own tears.