Dancing on the golden ashes

"Holy shit, it's coming fast!" I screamed as the yeti closed the distance in an instant, its massive body crashing toward me like a tidal wave.

I shot into the sky, dodging left at the last second. As I passed its enormous frame, I unleashed a relentless barrage of Fire Slash attacks. Wherever I flew, flames followed, carving through the air like streaks of light.

Let's dance if you'd like!

I didn't care about my mana anymore—my regeneration was keeping up with my attacks, fueling the onslaught.

Five... Four... Three...

Time was on my side. But the yeti wasn't backing down. Its body swelled to twice its size, its stats visibly doubling before my eyes.

Two... One...

A surge of energy erupted within me, raising my power by 190%. The battlefield seemed to slow as we locked eyes, mutual hatred burning in our gazes.

Then, with a deafening boom, my Fire Slash collided with the yeti's massive fist. Black flames engulfed the impact zone, consuming everything in their path. The yeti's fist burned like dry twigs, the flames licking hungrily at its arm. For the first time, my attacks had an effect.

"Now... I will finally slice you to pieces, you garbage!" My shout reverberated across the battlefield, shaking the air with its force.

A rapid-fire barrage of fists rained down on me, the yeti relentless despite the pain it had endured. I had no choice but to retreat, darting away to gain some distance.

"Is that all you've got?" I shouted, my voice cutting through the chaos.

As if provoked by my taunt, the yeti grabbed a massive chunk of broken rock from the mountain it had crushed earlier.

We're not playing baseball here...

FWOOM!

A storm of boulders rained down from above, the air thick with the sound of crashing stone. Landing on the ground, I pushed my speed to the limit, moving faster than ever—at least seventy kilometers an hour—as I weaved through the onslaught, dodging every single rock.

I have to get close. If I don't, it'll keep pelting me from a distance.

The yeti leaped from one mountain peak to another, its massive frame moving with unnerving agility and speed. Its crushing weight turned each landing into an earth-shaking impact, adding the destructive power of a living bulldozer to its assault.

I split the twenty-meter-tall boulder flying directly at me in half with a precise slash of my scythe. The icy fragments roared past my ears, crashing into the snow below and sending a flurry of white bursting into the sky.

Let's see if I don't make you pay for crushing me like an ant!

My rage surged, every cell in my body screaming for vengeance, demanding the yeti's blood.

Dodging the next incoming boulder, I split my body into three, my clones seamlessly blending with me as we rushed toward the giant yeti. Its wild eyes darted between us, desperately searching for the real one. Without magic, it had no chance of identifying me.

We ascended into the sky, our black fire wings darkening the heavens. My first clone dove toward the monster's remaining eye, while the second targeted its ankles. Meanwhile, I focused on preparing a devastating attack, using the distraction to buy myself the time I needed.

"Die, you fucker!" I roared, slamming my palms together. A massive beam of fire blazed to life, its energy threatening to consume everything in its path.

BOOM!

The entire sky trembled as the attack detonated, its boosted power shaking the battlefield. My clones disintegrated instantly under the force, while the yeti raised its massive palms to block the blow, shielding its face.

The destruction was catastrophic. Mountains in a one-kilometer radius crumbled to dust, yet the yeti emerged from the chaos, smiling maniacally. Its charred body radiated wild energy, its palms only slightly burnt. But then I saw it—black flames dancing across its palms, as if it had absorbed the power of my attack.

Not good!

I ran as fast as I could, panic coursing through me as the yeti hurled my own attack back at me with terrifying precision.

I thought it couldn't use magic... what the hell is this? My mind raced. It collected my energy and sent it back with almost the same power—this is insane.

The fiery projectile grazed past me, missing by mere inches as it shot into the sky. But before I could even think to celebrate, a massive palm struck me with crushing force, sending me hurtling back to the ground.

I crashed hard, but this time, I was okay. A few broken bones—nothing adrenaline couldn't numb. Before I even had time to breathe another barrage of fists came crashing with a massive body falling from the sky. The weight of a towering twenty-meter giant was enough to crush me alive, as if an entire apartment building would suddenly fall on the side.

I used Space Distortion to quickly evade the attack, the ground trembling beneath me like a minor earthquake. Snow exploded into the air, scattering everywhere and leaving the entire area blanketed in white. Visibility was poor—I couldn't see the beast clearly anymore. This was its natural habitat, after all.

Then, through the haze, the massive palm came into view, looming large.

I decided to stand my ground. My power was still heavily boosted, and I had to make the most of it before it wore off. I'd never tested how long it would last in battle before, but based on previous fights, it usually faded after five minutes.

So far, I'd never pushed it to that limit... but this monster was different. If I didn't kill it soon, I might never get the chance.

If magic wouldn't work, brute force would have to do. Using my speed to its fullest, I slashed at the yeti's massive palm as it came down on me.

The blade connected, and with a clean stroke, I severed the hand in a bloody half.

Good!

GRRAAWWWWWWWWRRRRAAAAAAGHHHHHHH!

The monster screamed in agony, its powerful roar blasting away the snow in a violent wave. Even as my ears bled from the sheer force of the sound, I pushed forward, undeterred.

Let's see how you like some shadow magic.

My scythe danced in my hands as I unleashed a volley of Shadow Blasts at the beast. It immediately tried to swat them away with its massive palms, but a flicker of terror crossed its face as it realized—this magic was different.

Explosions erupted all over its massive body, each detonation tearing through its flesh. Blood splattered in every direction, staining the snow crimson. The beast staggered, barely able to keep itself upright on its enormous feet.

Time to finish this. It's now or never!

I pushed my speed to the limit, nearly teleporting as I darted around the yeti, slashing at everything in sight—fingers, toes, flesh, face. My scythe became a whirlwind of destruction, carving through the beast with relentless precision.

The yeti flailed, trying desperately to catch me with its massive hands, but I was too fast. Its once-impenetrable defense and rapid regeneration couldn't keep up with the relentless assault.

BOOOOM!

The yeti's colossal body crashed to the ground as I severed its knees, rendering it immobile. I didn't stop there—every joint, every vulnerable spot became my target. I systematically dismantled it, reducing the once-mighty beast to a writhing, helpless figure.

When it could no longer move, I stepped back. The yeti lay sprawled on its stomach, its blood-soaked eyes burning with hatred as they locked onto me.

"Had fun?" I growled in its own language, my voice cold.

"How... my..erious... This l..tle ant is... so... st..ng," it rasped, its voice weak and broken.

I could barely understand the words, but the meaning was clear.

Maybe this ability isn't so bad after all.

As I stood there, I felt great—a twisted kind of satisfaction coursing through me as I looked deep into its eyes. I was ready to play.

Darkness seeped from me, spreading like a shadowy tide. The Shadow Barrage struck from all directions, slicing into the yeti's massive frame. Each slash tore into it, refusing to let it rise, slowly torturing it with relentless, agonizing precision.

"Ha... Ha... Hahaha!" My laughter echoed across the battlefield, unhinged and wild. Maybe I was a maniac—who wouldn't be after getting their revenge for the pain I suffered before?

You killed me before... so now it's my turn to repay the favor.

I took my time. With two minutes left before my power boost expired, I carefully worked the yeti down to the brink of death, slicing it apart bit by bit. Its massive body was reduced to a broken, trembling shadow of its former self.
Continue your saga on empire

If anyone saw me now, they'd think I'd lost my mind. Well... someone was watching. I glanced toward Soo-Ah. She couldn't tear her eyes away, as if they were glued to me. From this distance, I couldn't make out her expression, but if I had to guess, she was probably disgusted.

What do I care? I'm enjoying myself here.

With only twenty seconds left, the yeti let out a desperate, pitiful plea. Its voice was barely audible, rasping from a throat that could hardly manage the words.

"Spare me... I can ser-serve you... master..."

I stared into its pleading eyes, hollow and desperate, filled with the loneliness of something that clung to life against all odds.

Extending my hand, I gently patted the soft fur on its forehead.

"Okay... I shall spare you..." I said with a warm, almost serene smile.

For a fleeting moment, its eyes lit up with hope, its face softening with an expression of gratitude and relief. I could feel it leaning into my touch, as if the simple act of my hand resting on its forehead offered it solace—comfort it had never known before. In that brief instant, it felt safe.

Until...

Air Shatter...