Dancing on the golden ashes

The endless valley stretched far and wide, its maze-like paths trapping us in an oppressive labyrinth. Only the soft moonlight lit the way, casting long shadows that danced around us.

I mounted Malrang, pulling Soo-Ah up with me. She sat behind me briefly before shifting onto Omenpaw, her gaze flicking toward me now and then. She didn't say anything, and the silence between us grew heavier with each passing moment.

It felt awkward—traveling in silence, knowing that in the past we could never stop talking, laughing, or sharing secrets. Yet here we were, worlds apart despite being so close. Still, despite everything, I couldn't bring myself to abandon her the way she abandoned me. Enjoy new adventures from empire

Perhaps there's still a shred of humanity left in me, I thought, especially for those I once held close.

"So…" I broke the silence, my voice cutting through the quiet. "Did you meet anyone else you knew from our world?"

I was genuinely curious. Who else from my past might have been dragged into this place? Or was it possible that nearly everyone—maybe even the entire world—had been transported here?

At first, I thought this world was meant for those with great talent. But after encountering far too many fools on my journey, I wasn't so sure anymore.

"N-no..." she stammered, barely managing to get the words out. I didn't blame her.

"But I did hear some rumors about someone."

My ears perked up. "You don't mean Kim Ha-Joon?" My heart began pounding wildly, the mere thought of him sparking a mix of fury and anticipation.

"That... yes. He's in this world," she admitted, her voice trembling as if she were terrified of him. "And... he's looking for you."

"How amusing," I snorted. "How did you find this out?"

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical about her words. Her story didn't sit right with me, and I wanted answers.

She glanced up at the moon, muttering something under her breath before answering. "My boss... well, the teenager you killed. He was a big fan of Kim Ha-Joon. Ever since I joined the party, he wouldn't shut up about him. He'd brag that he had the honor of meeting him just a few days ago."

Her body trembled slightly, as if reluctant to share the next part. "That's how I found out you were in this world... or at least, that's what Kim Ha-Joon believed. He claimed you were here, running and hiding from him like a..." Her voice faltered, struggling to finish the sentence.

"Like what? A bitch I am?" I sneered. "He's called me that plenty of times on the news and in his livestreams. But let me make one thing clear—I'm not afraid of him."

I felt the fire in my heart burn hotter, fiercer. My hands trembled with restrained rage.

"To tell you the truth, I'm looking for him too," I said, my voice dropping into a chilling, venomous tone. "And I will end his miserable life with my own hands. I'll make him regret ever crossing paths with me. I'll tear him apart, piece by piece, until he begs me for the mercy of death—and I won't give it to him. I will slowly torture him, even if it takes a million years, I will keep him alive, drowning in pain."

The flames inside me surged, consuming every corner of my mind, feeding the darkness that coiled tighter around my heart.

"YOU CAN'T!" Soo-Ah screamed, her voice cracking as it rang out. "He'll kill you, Gaon! He's a beast… too strong. You'd be digging your own grave by going after him!"

Her face was pale, terror written all over it.

"Don't worry," I sneered, the words dripping with venom. "I'm stronger than I look. After all, he never beat me once—not in a single rematch."

Memories I'd buried clawed their way back to the surface, each one sharpening my hatred. After I was framed as a cheater, that bastard came to me, pretending to be a savior. He promised to clear my name, said it was all a misunderstanding. He swore if we fought again, he'd live stream it to prove my innocence.

And I believed him.

I let him into my life, let him use me. We fought, again and again, and I crushed him every single time. I didn't hold back, didn't let him win—not even once.

But instead of clearing my name, he twisted the narrative. He made the world hate me more. They called me a confirmed cheater, said I was too shameless to stop even after being "exposed."

And him? That vile piece of garbage?

I eventually realized his true goal. He didn't care about my name or my life. All he wanted was to use me—to craft his own pathetic legend. The man who beat the world's greatest cheater.

He didn't care how much he destroyed me in the process.

Well, now it's my turn.

This time, I'll be the one to destroy him. I don't care what I have to become—devil, monster, demon, it doesn't matter. I'll burn him alive, make him scream for a mercy he'll never get.

I'll make sure Kim Ha-Joon knows true suffering before I finally end him.

I could see how Soo-Ah's expression and shoulders dropped, her eyes filled with worry. She looked at me like she was looking at someone suicidal.

"Gaon..." Her voice trembled. "I know how much you hate him, but please, don't be a fool. Think of the bigger picture... You must run, flee far, far away where he won't find you... After all... he's already a King."

I felt as if a bomb had just been dropped on me. "King? Him?" I repeated, the word tasting bitter in my mouth. For a moment, I wavered, but the fire of revenge burned even fiercer.

"So what? I'm the Ruler. If I kill the King, wouldn't that directly promote me to one?" I smirked faintly, considering the bigger picture, just as she mentioned. Killing him would mean killing two birds with one stone.

"Master!" Vargrin suddenly cut in, his tone eager. "Sorry to interrupt, but I can smell a cave up ahead—and a beast inside. Do you wish to rest there for the night?" He walked beside me, his long, stretched-out face sniffing the ground with purpose.

"A cave?" I tilted my head thoughtfully. "Sounds good... Good job, Vargrin."

The praise seemed to light him up. His tail wagged energetically, swaying through the air, and his tongue lolled out like an overgrown puppy. For a creature that had once tried to kill me, it was almost amusing to see him so eager to please. It seemed he had fully accepted me as his master.

We quickly arrived at a small cave. Inside, a peculiar creature—a half-bear, half-spider hybrid—lay lifeless on the ground. Vargrin had gone ahead and taken care of it before we arrived. All that was left for me to do was use Soul Harvest to claim its soul.

I couldn't help but feel pleased as I watched the black orb of energy flow into me. Since my beasts were bound to my soul, the creatures or people they killed were counted as my own kills.

How interesting... and funny.

I smirked. I'm now only 1% away from leveling up.

Soon, I would grow so strong that not even the bastard who controls this world would be able to tame me.

"Make yourself comfortable somewhere," I said, glancing at Soo-Ah. "You can sleep with one of the wolves—they seem soft enough."

She stood frozen, her body rigid, as though she were waiting for my commands.

"And why are you so reserved?" I asked, my gaze narrowing. "I may never forgive you, but we're still friends. Just act like you always used to."

The words that left my mouth carried a faint warmth, but my tone made it clear—I hadn't forgotten what she did to me, nor had I forgiven it.

"Right..." she mumbled awkwardly before curling up next to Omenpaw. She pulled his thick tail over herself like a blanket, and he didn't seem to mind in the slightest.

Omenpaw glanced at me briefly, as if seeking my approval. When I gave a small nod, he rested his head on the ground and fell asleep faster than I could blink.

"Keep an eye on her. I don't trust her at all—she's not the same as I remember," I growled softly to the other four wolves. Without making a sound, they moved into position, taking spots around Soo-Ah and surrounding her.

"You can speak the beast language?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of amazement.

"Yes. These are my demon beasts—they're completely loyal to me," I replied with a faint, fake smile. "I asked them to protect you."

"Th-thank you, Gaon," she said, her voice faltering as she lowered her gaze to the ground, hugging her knees. "I don't understand why you're being so nice to me. If it were anyone else, I'd probably be dead by now…"

"Don't be silly," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. "We're friends for life."

Those were the only honest words I could muster, yet I wasn't sure if she still saw me as a friend.

Soo-Ah lifted her head, her wide eyes locking onto mine. A single tear rolled down her cheek, glistening faintly in the dim light.

"Rest well. Tomorrow, we need to try to leave this valley. Do you have any idea what lies beyond it?" I asked, my tone calm but curious.

"As far as I've heard from other adventurer parties, after we leave the Valley of Blazing Doom, snow and ice quickly take over everything," Soo-Ah replied honestly. "Not many have ventured beyond, so the information is limited to rumors."

"Is that what they call this place?" I laughed, the name sounding like something a twelve-year-old might come up with. "And you call yourselves adventurers? To me, we're more like wanderers in this strange world."

I stopped there, choosing not to reveal the secrets I had learned about the previous inhabitants of this place.

"You always come up with the weirdest names, Gaon," Soo-Ah said with a soft laugh, her face blooming into the familiar smile I once knew. The sight made me pause, her warmth confusing me, muddling my thoughts about her true intentions.

"You don't say…" I replied, shaking the thought away. "Now sleep. We need to get up early and leave this place. I need to grow stronger."

I lay down on the cold ground, Malrang curling up on me, her small, soft body providing warmth.

"Goodnight, Gaon," Malrang said gently, her watchful eyes never leaving Soo-Ah.

"Goodnight," I whispered back to the fox, but before I could drift off, Soo-Ah's voice caught me by surprise.

"Goodnight, Gaon," she murmured, misunderstanding my words. "And… I'm sorry, once again."

She closed her eyes, exhaustion taking her quickly into sleep.

I shut my eyes, though sleep didn't come easily. My mind raced with the events of the day, haunted by the past and the revelations of the present. Most of all, my thoughts lingered on Kim Ha-Joon.

Eventually, exhaustion won, and I drifted off, ready to face the next day with ambition and a burning desire for strength.