Dancing on the golden ashes

The pink-haired man screamed in agony, clutching the stump where half of his arm used to be. His cries echoed through the air, silencing the once-cheering crowd. Their shock at witnessing my power was palpable, their awe written across their faces.

But I had no time to bask in the moment.

A flock of crows darted toward me, their movements silent and coordinated, trying to overwhelm me in a sneak attack.

Not this time. I won't fall for the same trick twice.

Shadow Parade! I thought, summoning my ability.

My body split into seven identical clones, each moving with precision and purpose. The system noted that my clones carried only 70% of my strength, but it didn't matter.

With a staggering number of copies at my command, I was ready to turn the tide of this battle.

I sent two of my clones after the pink-haired man. His movements were sluggish, hindered by his missing arm and the pain it caused. Desperately, he tried to escape into the void, attempting to conceal himself in a space beyond my reach.

Foolish.

I could control space as well. It was only a matter of time before my clones cornered him and forced him out of hiding.

Another two clones darted toward the mage, who was still struggling to free himself from the rubble. The element of surprise was on my side, and I hoped to catch him before he could gather his strength.

I didn't expect these so-called kings to fall to mere clones, but that wasn't the point. This was about buying time.

I briefly considered summoning my army of beasts but dismissed the thought almost immediately.

They would only serve as cannon fodder in this battle, leaving me with heavy losses. It's far too early to rely on them.

I could feel their strength gradually growing within the Beast World, a process that consumed a significant amount of my soul power. Interrupting their growth now would set them back, and I wasn't willing to take that risk unless I had no other choice.

I did miss the Thunder Tempests—their power and ferocity—but they were still far too weak to make a difference here. They needed more time to mature before they could stand alongside me in a fight like this.

For now, I'll rely on my own strength.

The remaining three clones darted toward the man with golden hair, Park Seo-Jin. I didn't expect them to defeat him—he was far too powerful for that—but I hoped they could hold him off, even if only for a moment.

That would give me the time I needed to deal with the two women who had managed to piss me off more than anyone else here.

First of all, why does that pink-eyed one, Han Ji-Yeon, have to be so much prettier than me?

The thought ignited a spark of irritation in my chest as I surged forward, my scythe spinning in a deadly dance.

Each slash sent crescent moon-shaped fire waves streaking toward them, the fiery crescents crackling through the air with blistering speed. The attack was relentless, perfect for spamming—it barely cost me any mana but packed enough power to keep them on edge.

Let's see how long they can handle this.

Han Ji-Yeon had no choice but to summon a pink energy shield to block my attacks. The corrosive energy of the shield managed to erode my fiery crescents, neutralizing them before they could reach her.

It was clear she no longer dared to use fire against me—after all, the last time she tried, I had sent her phoenix attack hurtling back at her.

Her body bore the marks of our clash, faint burns marring her once-flawless skin. Her disheveled white hair added to her current state of disarray, a stark contrast to the confidence she exuded earlier.

But Han Ji-Yeon's face now twisted into an ugly expression, exhaustion clearly etched across her features. Her pink energy shield wavered, the strain evident as it was slowly being pushed back by my relentless assault.

As for the teenager, Yoon Da-Eun, she had chosen flight over fight. Her massive crow wings spread wide, carrying her away with graceful precision. She dodged each of my fiery attacks effortlessly, her movements fluid and calculated, as if mocking my attempts to strike her.

Not so fast.

I wasn't about to let her escape so easily.

Black chains erupted from my body, writhing like serpents as they surged toward her. The air crackled with power as the chains closed in, binding her mid-flight with Soul Shackle.

Her wings faltered, and for the first time, I saw the flicker of panic in her dark eyes.

Her body froze mid-air, ensnared by the Soul Shackle.

Several fire slashes struck her without mercy, carving into her flesh. Despite her attempts to resist, she was surprisingly sturdy—none of her limbs were severed, but her body was left with deep cuts and bloody wounds. Burn marks marred her skin, the charred scent lingering in the air.

I blurred, activating Space Distortion to close the gap instantly. Reappearing beside her, I grabbed her throat, my grip unyielding.

The strongest among their group, Park Seo-Jin, tried to intervene, his golden hair gleaming as he pushed against his restraints. But he, too, was bound by three of my clones, each holding him firmly with Soul Shackle. He wouldn't be breaking free anytime soon.

As for Han Ji-Yeon, she had her own problem to deal with—a small parting gift from me. Just before disappearing from her sight, I sent a Mind Slash her way. It wasn't meant to kill but to incapacitate.

I could already feel its effects taking hold. Her body trembled, frozen in place, as her mind reeled from the blow. She wouldn't be moving for a while.

"You're foolish," I said coldly, my voice dripping with menace. "Do you want to die young? Why did you provoke me? Once I lose control, it's hard to stop the urge to kill idiots like you…"

I tilted my head slightly, locking eyes with her. My gaze bore into her soul, my words carrying the weight of my intent.

Channeling every ounce of soul power within me, I felt the mysterious energy from my horns surge into my arms, amplifying my strength. My grip on her throat tightened, her body trembling as she struggled against me.

"Don't do that!" the man with the golden hair, Park Seo-Jin, roared, his voice filled with desperation. "I'll slay you on the spot if you dare kill her!"

His threat hung in the air, but I only laughed, the sound cruel and mocking.

"You think you can stop me?" I sneered.

Ignoring his words, I did exactly what he told me not to do.

"Plea–please spare me…" she whispered, her voice trembling, tears pooling in her eyes. Genuine fear radiated from her, her lips quivering as she begged for mercy.

I stared at her for a moment, unmoved.

"Didn't you say you wanted to execute me?" I said coldly, my voice dripping with disdain. "Killing me is fine, but when it's your life on the line, it's different? Hypocrite... now die."

I squeezed her throat with all my might. The sickening sound of her neck twisting filled the air. She was still alive—barely—but her life was hanging by a thread.

Soul Reaver… I thought, letting the low hum of my words cut through the silence.
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Her soul was ripped from her body, a glowing orb of energy resting in my hand. Her lifeless body fell limp, plummeting to the ground below, landing amidst the crowd of onlookers frozen in shock.

Without hesitation, I swallowed the orb, somewhat enjoying the taste of the human flesh. I was transforming into a true demon.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[You have slain your first king.]

[A new achievement has been unlocked: King Slayer.]

[20 skill points have been awarded.]

[Current Quest: Kill 10 kings to become an Emperor.]

[Progress: 1/10.]

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[You have reached Level 31.]

"Devil... What did she do?" someone in the crowd whispered, their voice trembling with fear.

I licked my fingers, savoring the lingering sensation of power. Then, turning to the horrified onlookers, I leaned forward slightly and smirked.

"Boo!"

The crowd erupted into chaos, people screaming and scattering like ants. Their terror only made me chuckle, a dark amusement bubbling in my chest.

But the brief moment of satisfaction was shattered as a terrifying aura slammed into me like a tidal wave.

In an instant, my clones disintegrated, wiped out without a trace.

"I told you I'd kill you if you did that!"

The voice roared with rage, and then he attacked.

A massive sword descended, its weight and force enough to split the air around us. But this time, I was ready.

My strength felt amplified, the lingering taste of the soul invigorating me. I could feel the horns on my head subtly growing, their mysterious power transforming my body, making me stronger.

I clashed with him head-on, my scythe meeting his sword in a collision that sent sparks flying in every direction.

The sheer force of our clash unleashed a shockwave, powerful enough to sweep away trading stalls and send debris flying through the air. The ground trembled beneath us, and the remaining three kings watched silently, their expressions grim as they assessed the situation.

"The Immortal Path, Verse One! Slay the enemy before me!" Park Seo-Jin's voice boomed with unyielding authority, reverberating through the battlefield like a divine decree.

"Lotus of the Immortal King, be my witness and make my enemy fall!"

In that instant, the air around me shifted violently, tightening like an invisible vice, trapping me in place.

Above, the sky darkened as a massive Golden Lotus materialized, its petals shimmering with an ethereal glow, each one radiating deadly intent. The sheer majesty and power of it sent chills down my spine.

With a flick of his finger, the lotus descended, its golden brilliance lighting up the world as it hurtled toward me with unstoppable force.

Its weight pressed down on me, the crushing energy threatening to tear my very existence apart.