Dancing on the golden ashes

The lion carried me like a queen upon his back as we entered the village. The beasts surrounding us trembled under the oppressive weight of my aura, amplified by the sheer dominance of Lee Ja-Ho's presence.

My gaze swept across the crowd—countless beasts, at least three thousand strong, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and reverence.

Good. This should be enough for me.

My heart trembled. Am I Nervous? Perhaps... After all, my destiny seemed to have irreversibly shifted onto this path. There was no stopping it now.

If becoming the Demon Lord is my fate, then so be it.

But I had no intention of invading other lands—not unless they pissed me off first. And let's face it, that seemed highly likely.

Ahem. Back to the matter at hand.

There was fear buried deep within me—fear of what might come next. Becoming a Demon Lord was no small feat, and I knew there was a chance I'd transform again.

Would I completely lose my humanity?

But then again, what even defines humanity? Is it race? Or is it the capacity to think and act as an advanced being?

As long as my heart continues to beat and my emotions remain intact, I'm still human…

Right?

And if I'm not, then so be it.

I smirked to myself.

I'll show the world they can't mess with this demoness.

As we walked through the village, the path opened up into a vast clearing near the shimmering lake that surrounded the colossal tree. The area was a wide, open space where lush red grass swayed gently, glowing faintly in the light filtering through the crimson leaves above.

Lee Ja-Ho finally stopped, his massive frame lowering gracefully onto his haunches. With careful precision, he let me down as though handling something fragile, despite knowing full well I didn't need his caution.

Still, I appreciated the gesture.

I stepped forward, facing the massive crowd of beasts gathered before me. Behind me, my current demon beasts took their positions, a towering wall of power and dominance that left no doubt about who was in charge here.

I scanned the crowd, feeling their eyes bore into me—some filled with wariness, others with barely concealed disdain. Perhaps, to them, I was just a tiny human, insignificant compared to their strength and numbers.

Let them think that. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire

I didn't mind.

If they doubted me, I would prove myself with my strength.

"Mighty beasts of Beastia!" I began, my voice echoing through the clearing with a commanding force. "From today onward, I, Lee Gaon, shall become your master. Those who refuse my rule may challenge me—here and now. I will accept any test of strength you wish to throw at me!"

A wild smile spread across my face as I continued, my tone filled with unshakable confidence.

"And for those wise enough to recognize their place," I said, gesturing to the loyal beasts behind me, "you will now step forward and accept my mark. One by one, you shall join me, just as those you see behind me have already done."

As if to punctuate my declaration, my aura erupted like a storm, the force of it crashing over the crowd. Many of the gathered beasts flinched, their primal instincts betraying their fear.

"Any questions?" I added, my voice dripping with challenge, daring anyone to speak against me.

The village erupted into chaos.

Roars filled the air as beasts scrambled to make their decisions. Some, overwhelmed by my display of power, quickly formed a line, their submission clear in their hurried movements.

But there were still others—stubborn fools with defiance burning in their eyes—who dared to question my authority.

"I shall challenge you!"

A booming voice roared across the clearing as a towering beast stepped forward. Standing at least twenty meters tall, the colossal bear's heavy frame shook the ground with every step. His presence was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

"Master, this is Pawpaw," Lee Ja-Ho spoke calmly, his tone betraying a hint of amusement. "He's the second in command of this village."

"Pawpaw?" I repeated, a small laugh escaping my lips before I could stop it.

The bear's eyes narrowed, his anger visibly growing at my reaction. "You mock me?" he growled, his voice rumbling like distant thunder.

"I thought beasts like you weren't supposed to have names," I said, my voice tinged with curiosity.

"We do," Lee Ja-Ho interjected, unbothered by the tension. "My old name was Golden Tail before Master gifted me a better one."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. The system hadn't displayed any names when I first viewed his stats. Interesting.

"You dare look away while speaking to me?!" Pawpaw roared, the ground trembling as his massive paws slammed against it.

The sheer volume of his voice was enough to make weaker creatures scatter, but I stood still, unfazed. He might be second in command, but he wasn't even close to Lee Ja-Ho's level.

A shadow loomed over me as the bear's massive paw came crashing down, the force enough to shatter bones—or so he thought.

I felt the lion beside me tense, his hybrid form motionless as he observed. Was he worried about me? No. On second thought, maybe he was worried about something else—perhaps the destruction I might cause.

In an instant, my body transformed. My elegant dress melted away, replaced by a sleek, tight bodysuit that hugged my frame like a second skin. My horns glowed faintly, radiating an aura of dominance.

With a single motion, I raised my bare hand and caught the giant paw mid-air.

Pawpaw's eyes widened, the shock in his gaze almost comical as his attack was halted effortlessly.

"You're weaker than I expected," I said coldly.

My free hand charged with power, swirling with chaos energy.

"Soul Impact!"

The punch connected with his massive belly, the impact resounding like thunder.

The bear's colossal body flew backward, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. He landed several hundred meters away, his enormous frame carving a crater into the ground upon impact.

"Wow! I never knew bears could fly," I muttered, staring at the wreckage in mild amusement.

I flexed my fingers, a grin spreading across my face.

I knew this surge of power came from the horns on my head, and for a fleeting moment, I felt a rare sense of gratitude for having awakened them.

The clearing fell silent, every beast present staring in stunned awe. For a moment, no one dared to breathe. Then, slowly, their gazes shifted from the fallen Pawpaw to me, a mixture of fear and reverence in their eyes.

"Now," I said with a sly smile, surveying the gathered beasts. "Will you please line up neatly in front of me and accept your new master, or do I need to do things the hard way?"

A hush fell over the crowd. Not a single beast dared to complain or resist. One by one, they stepped forward, submitting to my control. My numbers grew steadily, and I could feel my power increasing with every new contract. However, exhaustion crept in quickly. Despite my mana's rapid recovery rate, it was completely drained by the time I had finished branding half of them.

By nightfall, I needed rest.

I turned my eyes toward the massive tree towering into the heavens. Its crimson leaves glimmered under the pale moonlight, creating a surreal scene. Determined, I spread my wings and began the ascent. Flying halfway up was no easy feat; even with my strength, the tree's height was overwhelming. If I had to guess, it stretched to a staggering 50,000 meters or more.

Finally, I landed on a giant branch covered in vibrant red leaves. They were soft as silk, providing a surprisingly comfortable resting place. Nearby, one of the enormous fruits hung temptingly. Its translucent, gem-like surface reflected the dim light in a mesmerizing way.

I stared at it wistfully.

It made me sad.

Even if I wanted to try it, my body would betray me. Food had lost its flavor long ago, a cruel side effect of my transformation. I'd tested it with other fruits I'd found on my journey, only to be met with the same hollow result.

With a sigh, I settled in for the night, letting the magical energy around the tree envelop me. For the first time in what felt like ages, I woke up feeling truly refreshed. The mysterious aura of this place worked wonders, leaving me rejuvenated and eager to face the day.

Today, I need to finish my quest.

The previous day, I had managed to contract half of the beasts in the village, earning a total of 200 skill points from various achievements. My numbers of beasts were steadily climbing, but I still needed 1,500 more to reach my goal. The thought sent a thrill of excitement through me—I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this exhilarated.

I descended to the ground, and to my surprise, the first beast in line was none other than the giant bear, Pawpaw.

"Ma-Master," he stammered, his massive form seeming almost comical as he nervously avoided my gaze. "I-I'm the first one who wants to be your servant today."

His demeanor was so unexpectedly endearing that I couldn't help but smile.

"My, my, Pawpaw," I teased as my black energy surrounded him, quickly branding him with my mark. "You know what? I like your name. You'll stay as Pawpaw."

The bear's expression shifted immediately. A wide, childlike grin spread across his face, and he looked as if I'd just handed him the world. Despite his massive size and gruff demeanor, he seemed almost… cute.

Still, I'd heard whispers that he was far older than he appeared.

As the day went on, the line of beasts dwindled. One by one, they submitted, and my numbers steadily climbed. Finally, the last beast stood before me—a young fox with pristine white fur that shimmered like freshly fallen snow.

She reminded me of Malrang.

Her calm gaze met mine, and unlike the others, she didn't resist. The process was quick and seamless.

[Congratulations!]

[You have tamed a new demon beast!]

[Current Count: 4,999]

Only one more to go.