Dancing on the golden ashes

Four days had passed in the valley, which felt like an unending labyrinth. Thanks to the natural gifts of the Thunder Tempests, their keen noses guided us through the crimson death prison. I couldn't complain too much—during this time, I managed to kill eleven more monsters, pushing me to level 17. Unfortunately, I didn't gain any new abilities this time.

The sun this morning was scorching, and Soo-Ah could barely hold on, her body drenched in sweat and teetering on the edge of exhaustion. She seemed to drift in and out of consciousness, slumped on the back of the Omenpaw as we traveled. After five long hours—moving at what felt like fifty or sixty kilometers per hour, thanks to the Thunder Tempests' incredible speed—the environment finally began to change. The crimson ground gradually faded, replaced by simple rocky terrain, painting an entirely new picture. Slowly but surely, the ground cooled beneath us.

"Master!" Vargrin, who had been away for several days, suddenly appeared, his golden fur dusted with frost and streaked with snow. His eyes gleamed with the promise of good news. "I've found the exit!" he roared. "Beyond it, the snowy peaks stretch endlessly, but I sense dangerous auras nearby." His confidence was as reassuring as always—his hunting skills were unmatched.

"Good job!" I growled, pleased with my beasts. They were proving themselves more valuable with each passing day. I couldn't help but laugh inwardly whenever I glanced at Soo-Ah; her face twisted into a weird expression every time she heard me speaking in the beast language. It had taken some effort to convince her I wasn't crazy—that it was just one of my skills.

"Gaon, what now? What is our plan after we leave this place?" Malrang's voice echoed in my mind, her tone brimming with energy, eager for the next adventure.

I whispered softly, as she lay perched on my shoulders, "I have no idea. All I want right now is to climb the rankings—level, and power—but I also need to find a good place to wait for Kim Ha-Joon to catch up with me. I need that fight more than anything."

Unbeknownst to me, my eyes darkened slightly whenever I mentioned his name, a shadow creeping into my expression.

"Gaon..." Soo-Ah called hesitantly, her voice tinged with unease. "Are you sure you know where you're going? That place... I heard even someone at level 25 died there. Maybe we should turn back..." Her expression betrayed her fear, her usual composure cracking under the weight of uncertainty.

"Why are you so afraid?" I replied coldly, my tone cutting through the tension. "If it comes to the worst, I will protect you. But if you really want to go, you can leave on your own. Just ask yourself—can you survive out there alone?"

She looked so different from the brave Soo-Ah I once knew back in school. Perhaps it was the weight of this new world, filled with real, constant danger. Yet, ironically, this world somehow felt safer to me—at least here, we could protect ourselves with our own abilities.

Soo-Ah turned her head to the side, her eyes glistening slightly with unshed tears. She said nothing more, her silence a quiet surrender.

I rode atop Ravokar, the proud beast's will crushed beneath my own, ensuring his obedience. His massive paws crunched through the first layer of snow, his displeasure evident in the low growl rumbling from his throat.

"I hate snow," he complained, but continued carrying me forward, his defiance tempered by his sense of duty.

I patted his head, earning a low, irritated growl in response. Yet, beneath the gruffness, I could sense a hint of pleasure. For all his ugly and oddly shaped features, he had a certain charm. Despite everything, he was cute in his own way.

"Lykaon, Vargrin, Savryn! Scout ahead and find me as many monsters as you can. I'll take on as many as it takes—it's time for me to catch up in the level rankings!"

"Yes!" They took off without a moment's hesitation.

I was falling behind. Even Soo-Ah had already reached level 21. My ranking kept dropping, and the frustration gnawed at me. Later, I learned from her that she had arrived here at least a week before I did. I was late. Most people had been transported here well before I even knew it was happening.

But then again... I didn't exactly keep up with the news. My routine was simple: come home from work, play games, and repeat. There wasn't much room for conversation in the tiny convenience store where I worked. It wasn't exactly a buzzing social hub—just a single small table with two chairs where people occasionally sat to eat. No wonder I never heard anything.

But now, my fire burned brighter than ever. If I had to catch up, I wouldn't just catch up—I'd surpass them all!

I suddenly felt a wave of chilling wind crash against my face as the passage widened, revealing a landscape blanketed in white snow. Everywhere I looked, the thin, towering mountains stretched into the sky, their peaks coated in a layer of white that resembled scoops of ice cream.

"Wonderful..." Discover exclusive tales on empire

"Wonderful..."

Our words escaped at the same time, and our eyes met. I couldn't help but let out a laugh, and soon we were giggling like a pair of high school girls, the sound stirring memories of simpler times.

But the moment passed quickly. "Soo-Ah," I said, my tone turning serious as the laughter faded, "I'll be fighting a lot of powerful beings soon. You need to understand—I won't always be able to protect you. If you can, support me. If you can't, hide."

The warning hung in the air, firm yet hopeful. My plan depended on everything working as intended once the wolves returned.

"I'm not a weak girl, Gaon. I can take care of myself," she said, her voice tinged with irritation. Yet, despite her words, she looked fragile. If we fought, I knew I'd win easily.

"I know," I replied, a wild grin spreading across my face. "But what's about to happen will shake you."

Malrang yawned and stretched lazily, her ears twitching. "They're coming. Prepare yourself," she said, her tone calm but laced with anticipation.

The ground began to rumble, a deep vibration that made the air feel alive with tension. In the distance, snow was rising into the sky as a wave of intimidating force surged toward us. Shadows loomed, massive and unrelenting, as the mountains ahead crumbled beneath their weight.

Soo-Ah's face turned pale, her jaw slack as she stared dumbly at the approaching chaos. She snapped her gaze to me, her expression drenched in terror.

"What the fuck did you do, Gaon?!" she shrieked. "When you said you'd be fighting soon, I didn't think you meant now—or against that many! We're dead, you psychopath!" Her scream was loud enough to make my ears ring, the sheer volume grating.

I smirked, unable to suppress the wild grin spreading across my face. "If you're afraid, go hide. I told ya," I said, my voice brimming with excitement.

My heart raced as adrenaline surged through me. A new battle—finally! I couldn't wait to rip apart whatever was coming. My scythe materialized in my hand, its blade gleaming with deadly intent, and my darkness-fire wings erupted behind me, burning bright and furious. The air around me crackled, disintegrating into oblivion under the heat.

My blood boiled with anticipation. Nothing feels better than battle!

Only twenty-six more souls. That's all I need to finally figure out what Memento Vivere does. I've already absorbed 74—so close now. The thought of another world-shaking upgrade made my heart race. What could it be? If I'm lucky, there might even be enough here to reach it. Just twenty-six more...

RRRROOOOAAAAAARRRRR!

An orchestra of earth-shattering roars crashed over us from the distance. A horde of small and towering shadows surged forward, chasing three Thunder Tempests. Their expressions were twisted with anger, fury, and unrelenting bloodlust.

Inspect!

Level 15... Level 20... Level 23... Level 25! My eyes darted across the monstrous crowd, noting creatures of every kind and level. But then, in the distance, my breath caught. A towering giant loomed above the rest, its massive frame draped in thick white fur, like a mythical Yeti ripped straight from my world's legends.

It was more than I could chew—far more. But if I didn't take this risk, if I didn't stake my life here and now, I'd never catch up. I wouldn't die to monsters; I'd die to humans, trampled under their ambition.

Fire Slash!

My scythe let out a crescent-shaped slash of blazing fire, slicing through the air with a roar. The scorching arc traveled skyward, narrowly missing Lykaon, before colliding with a Level 15 and Level 17 pair of ice bears. Their icy bodies shattered instantly upon impact, shards scattering like fragile glass. The sheer force of the attack cemented my dominance, making the horde pause in shock.

Among them, the Level 25 beast locked its gaze on me, its wild eyes gleaming with a twisted excitement, as if it had just found its next plaything.

"Come, you pieces of shit! I'll slay every last one of you!" I shouted, my voice echoing as I activated my agility skills, pushing my speed to its limit.

"Just as we planned—surround them and pick them off one by one!" I growled, sending my wolves into a coordinated frenzy, their thunderous attacks crackling through the battlefield.

This battle would decide it all—whether I'd climb the ranks or be crushed under their claws.