Dancing on the golden ashes

My heart surged with intense fury, burning hotter than ever.

I no longer wanted to tame this beast.

I wanted to kill him.
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My pride had been wounded, and a primal urge to slaughter roared through me like an unstoppable tide.

"You're changing, you know that," the eerie voice echoed in my mind, its tone laced with excitement.

For once, I didn't mind.

I don't need your opinion. I'm just having fun, I thought, a wild smirk spreading across my face.

Excitement coursed through me, lighting every nerve on fire.

The ground beneath me darkened, black tendrils of power radiating outward as the Steps of the Dark Lord stacked with every step I took, the aura growing heavier, more oppressive.

With deliberate slowness, I walked toward the half-lion, half-human creature, my eyes locked on him like a predator eyeing its prey.

"I'll kill you… ha… haha!" I laughed darkly, the sound unhinged as fury consumed me.

In a quick motion, I vanished, my body becoming a blur of shadows and speed.

Superior Space Distortion activated, bending the space around me, and pushing my speed and agility to their absolute limits.

I triggered Blood Burn, feeling the searing heat coursing through my veins, pushing my body beyond its natural boundaries. At the same time, Mana Burn ignited, consuming my reserves at a terrifying rate, fueling an explosive surge of raw power.

I poured everything I had into this moment, letting my abilities drive me into an unstoppable force.

BOOM!

I unleashed Soul Impact, my fist connecting squarely with the beast's jaw. The impact was devastating, sending him hurtling through the air like a broken doll.

But I didn't just stand there and watch my target fly.

I moved fast, my body blurred as I closed the distance. The beast struggled to stabilize himself in midair, but I was already there.

I readied my foot.

Soul Impact!

With all the force I could muster, I delivered a devastating kick to his back, sending him hurtling downward at breakneck speed.

But I didn't stop.

Once again, I moved, keeping up with his plummeting form. I could see the frustration on his face, the strain in his movements as he fought to regain control.

Suddenly, the massive golden ring emerged from his back, radiating an overwhelming aura that felt like it could crush me.

His entire body shone with a blinding golden light, and then—

BOOM!

A burst of power exploded from him, his legs slamming into the ground and propelling him upward with a force that defied all logic.

In the next instant, his fist connected with mine.

CRACK!

The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, obliterating everything around us. Trees disintegrated, the ground shattered into pieces, and the forest became nothing but a massive crater.

Only the two of us remained as our bodies were locked in combat in the sky.

Fists flew, legs kicked, the air crackling with raw power as we exchanged blow after blow. Each strike sent waves of destruction radiating outward, a testament to the ferocity of our battle.

His face twisted with frustration, growing uglier as the realization sank in—I wasn't an easy target.

He most likely thought our strength was evenly matched.

But I was on top.

Of course, I was, if I couldn't maintain that edge, I'd be at a severe disadvantage. My power wasn't infinite—it came at the cost of burning myself to death.

Time wasn't on my side.

If I don't end this battle soon, I'll be the one lying in the dirt.

I never expected to encounter someone this strong. His overwhelming presence raised an unsettling question:

Who had this creature fought to climb to such heights?

Or worse—

Was this even my world anymore?

The thought gnawed at me.

It was strange, almost impossible, that someone like him existed here. On his level, he shouldn't exist in my world at all. And yet, there he stood, challenging everything I thought I knew.

I had to think of a new attack—something devastating enough to send him flying out of this world.

No time for hesitation. No time for second-guessing. It's time to end this.

The soul power around my hands began to shift, taking on the form of a spinning vortex of chaotic energy. It wrapped tightly around my fist, the air vibrating violently with its intensity.

Black, sand-like particles started to swirl around my entire arm, an ominous energy that felt raw, unstable, and unrelenting.

I could feel my bones cracking under the sheer force of it.

But there was no time to stop.

Suddenly, my head spun as a system message flashed before my eyes.

[You are being closely watched]

Fuck this.

I didn't care.

What could the creator do to me? Take away my system? Fine.

I'd train in soul energy instead.

If that bastard thought he could intimidate me, he was dead wrong.

Now, I'll show that idiot once and for all—I'm not afraid!

The beast's punch came flying at my face, but at the very last second, I ducked, narrowly dodging the attack. My hand moved with lightning speed, faster than I had ever managed before.

This is it... Fist of Eternal Chaos!

My fist, now a vortex of spinning chaos energy, struck his belly—a wall of powerful muscles that felt like unyielding steel.

A deafening crack echoed as the force of my punch tore straight through him, leaving a gaping, bloody hole in its wake. His massive body was sent flying like a ragdoll, crashing through the trees and disappearing into the distance. Blood rained down in a crimson storm, painting the battlefield in raw violence.

I stood there, panting heavily, the only one left standing in a sea of destruction. My heart raced as I stared in the direction where the beast had flown. My breath came in ragged gasps, and the sharp pain in my right arm began to creep into my awareness.

I glanced down, and the sight of my arm made me gasp.

My arm was a mess.

The bones were shattered, barely holding together, and large chunks of flesh were simply… gone. Blood dripped freely onto the ground, and I realized how much adrenaline had been masking the damage.

Shit… did I overdo it this time?

But there was no time for regret.

I forced myself to move, my body screaming in protest as I took off toward where the beast had landed.

Roughly three kilometers away, I found him.

The half-human, half-lion lay sprawled on the ground, his body mangled beyond recognition. His golden mane was matted with blood, his once-proud form reduced to a broken, heaving wreck.

And yet, he was still alive.

Barely breathing, but alive.

Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world fell silent.

His gaze burned with defiance, even in his helpless state.

"Do you submit to me now?" I asked, my voice cold and unwavering.

I already knew his answer—his pride wouldn't allow him to admit defeat. But still, I wanted to hear it from him.

"Go die, you filthy animal," he spat, his bloodied face twisted in defiance.

His venomous words only confirmed what I already knew.

Heh... good, you'll make a great warrior in my ranks.

Black vines shot out from my left hand like living snakes, slithering around his battered body and binding him to me. He struggled weakly, but his strength was gone. The battle had drained him, leaving him powerless against my control.

Despite his unwillingness, the binding was complete.

"You need a name," I muttered, my voice as sharp as the edge of my scythe.

I stood there for a moment, gazing down at him, my mind churning.

"Lee Ja-Ho," I said, my tone laced with pride.

The lion's fierce eyes widened for a split second, then narrowed into a glare, but he didn't say a word.

"From today onward, you will be my protector. You will serve your Demon Empress without question," I declared, my voice echoing with authority.

I leaned closer, a dangerous smirk curling my lips.

"Resist me, and you will die. Betray me, and I will end everything you love. This is not a choice, Lee Ja-Ho. This is your destiny."

My left hand stretched out as the black vines dissipated, revealing the battered figure of Lee Ja-Ho. Without hesitation, I activated Water Aid, channeling the soothing energy into his broken body.

The process took around thirty minutes, during which his wounds began to mend rapidly. I suspected his own immense strength played a significant role in his recovery—it was remarkable how quickly he bounced back.

The entire time, his unyielding eyes glared at me, filled with defiance. But the moment he felt his body fully healed, a subtle change overcame him. His expression softened, if only slightly.

He growled low, a sound that echoed with primal authority, yet restrained. "I shall serve you well, my Empress..."

His tone was reluctant, the words spoken through gritted teeth, but I didn't mind. His loyalty was there, even if begrudgingly so.

Moments later, I ordered him to transform back into his lion form. It wasn't because I doubted his strength in his humanoid state—far from it—but honestly, I wasn't comfortable with him standing half-naked next to me all the time.

Once he shifted, his towering, majestic lion form stood before me, and I climbed onto his back without hesitation.

Riding Lee Ja-Ho, we returned to the clearing where I had left my other beasts.

The scene was almost comical—my beasts stood victorious, looming over a group of powerful warriors, their bodies battered and bruised.

These were the same warriors who had tried to kill me not long ago.

The moment they saw Lee Ja-Ho, their defiance crumbled.

Their eyes widened in disbelief, then quickly shifted to submission. It was clear to all of them now: if a being as powerful as Lee Ja-Ho had bent the knee to me, what hope did they have?

One by one, they knelt, their pride stripped away as they offered their loyalty.

In the end, I absorbed them all into my ranks.

[Congratulations!]

[Current Beast Count: 1,442]

[A total of 120 skill points have been awarded]

My forces had grown into a staggering army.

I surveyed them, standing tall on Lee Ja-Ho's back, my aura radiating dominance.

Soon, I will become the Demon Lord... Soon...