Dancing on the golden ashes

The night soon turned to morning, and the empire fell into a quiet lull as the festivities ended. After the dance, Seong-Hoon and I didn't exchange another word for the rest of the night. The air between us felt heavy with unspoken emotions, so I chose to spend the remaining hours chatting with the citizens instead. It was heartwarming—wholesome, even.

People shared their stories of how they had ended up in this world, each tale more surreal than the last. Some, emboldened by the drinks, pledged their loyalty to me with slurred yet heartfelt words. I smiled and accepted their kindness, feeling a deep sense of connection with each of them. No matter who they were or where they came from, I believed everyone deserved a chance.

But the peace was short-lived.

As the first rays of sunlight painted the sky, a heavy atmosphere settled over the city. A commotion arose near the gates, and I instinctively knew something was wrong. My relaxed demeanor shifted into alertness as word reached me of strangers at the city's entrance.

Several imposing figures stood before the gates. Their armor gleamed menacingly under the morning light, and their domineering auras seemed to suck the air from the surroundings. Yet, it wasn't just their appearance that set me on edge—it was their presence. They reeked of hostility.

Then, one of them stepped forward, a smirk plastered across his cruel face. His voice boomed through the silence, dripping with arrogance.

"Hey, you pathetic worms! I heard your precious empress has returned. Why don't you send her out here to me? Or maybe you'd rather watch me burn this little empire of yours to the ground!" He threw his head back and laughed, a disgusting sound that echoed through the streets, jolting the city awake.

"Isn't that the voice of that idiot?" someone in the crowd muttered.

"Yeah, that self-proclaimed 'Handsome Emperor.' Did he seriously bring himself here just to die?"

"Pfft," another person chuckled, and soon laughter rippled through the gathering. "That fool has no idea which lion's den he's walked into. Let him in—I want to see how he plans to take our empress away."

The entire city burst into laughter, their confidence in me filling the air with an almost tangible energy. Despite the humor, I could feel the underlying tension. No matter who it was, I couldn't let such arrogance go unchecked.

I stepped out of my room, finding my friends gathered outside, their faces a mix of anticipation and readiness. Their eyes met mine, silently awaiting my decision.

"Heh…" I smirked, crossing my arms. "What do you think? Should I show them who the boss around here really is?"

Their grins mirrored my own, and I felt a spark of excitement light within me.

Jieun stepped forward, her confidence unshaken. "Big sis Gaon, I can handle it! Who does that person think he is?" She showed no fear, her hands balled into fists, but I couldn't help but laugh.

"No, no, it's fine. I'll take care of it myself. Besides, I don't want to kill them—yet. I'll just rough them up a bit and get any useful information out of them… even if it means using some creative methods." My words caused everyone's gazes to shift slightly, their expressions uneasy.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Haha!" I laughed it off, but deep down, I wasn't joking. The thought of making those who dared to threaten me suffer was oddly satisfying. When had I developed such a habit? I didn't know, but it seemed I enjoyed tormenting those who pissed me off.

"Big sis, he's strong," Seong-Hoon interjected, his tone laced with concern. "Even if he can't compare to you, you should still be careful. We don't know if he brought an army with him." His expression turned serious. "If you want, I'll fight him. I can't let some random trash face you."

His determination made me pause, but then his next words surprised me. "I've reached level 50 already. I'm not that weak."

I tilted my head, studying him. "Level 50? I didn't expect you to grow so fast… All of you are pretty high level. Just what exactly happened while I was away?"

I glanced at the others, scanning them with my senses. Though Seong-Hoon was the only one at level 50, the others weren't far behind. Their growth was impressive.

"Right, we forgot to tell you, Empress," Choi Min-Jeong began, bowing respectfully.

I sighed. "I told you already, unless absolutely necessary, just call me Gaon."

"Right… Big Sister Empress Gaon…" she said sheepishly.

I groaned. "Can you really not drop the 'empress'?"

"No! I want to call you Empress all the time!" she declared with an oddly determined look.

"Fine, fine, have it your way. Just tell me already what happened," I said, giving in.

Choi Min-Jeong took a deep breath, her expression growing serious. "After you left, a few days later, a massive beast wave crashed into the city. Many people had to take up arms to defend it. We're not sure what causes these waves, but they've been repeating every two to three days."

Her voice carried a weight of urgency, and I noticed her chest heaving slightly, likely from the tension of recounting the events. The room fell quiet as her words sank in.

"Even I'm not sure what causes the other beasts to act like that," Malrang spoke, her voice steady but laced with unease. Her fur stood on end, making her look slightly funny, but I knew the situation was serious. "All I can say is their eyes are filled with pure terror, and I can feel a powerful aura looming somewhere far from this city. It's approaching… day by day, closer and closer."

"But," Eun-Woo interrupted, his tone calm yet firm, "because of that, we've managed to grow a lot—though so have the other kingdoms. It's said that the fool behind the gate is already at level 65. He's higher than you, Gaon, but I believe in your strength. He most likely can't even take one hit from you." He chuckled, but his emerald-green eyes shone with pure respect. It caught me off guard. I'd always wondered why Eun-Woo took his role so seriously, but now I started to understand.

"I see..." I murmured, my gaze fixed on the gates. They creaked open slowly, and a tall man stepped forward, at least ten others following behind him. His armor was so shiny it reflected the morning light, making him appear like some grand warrior. But the size of it? Too big. I couldn't help but smirk. What are you compensating for? I laughed inwardly.

"Which one of you is Lee Gaon?!" roared one of the men flanking him, his voice booming.

No one answered. Instead, the crowd erupted into laughter, their amusement echoing through the square. The group looked confused—and furious.

"What's so funny, you garbage?!" the leader bellowed, his face red with rage. He resembled a kettle on the verge of boiling over.

"Not much," a teenage boy from the crowd snickered, his voice cutting through the tension. "Just watching dead men walking."

The leader snapped, his aura flaring as he lunged forward, aiming to kill the boy.

I moved at lightning speed. Catching his fist mid-air, I felt the impact but brushed it off. It was weak. I shoved him back with ease, sending him crashing into his group like bowling pins. They fell in a heap, their arrogance shattered.

"Who do you think you are to threaten my people?" I said coldly, my voice like ice. "If you wish to die, die alone. You won't lay a single finger on them."

The group scrambled to their feet, their faces pale as if they'd seen a ghost.

"What the fuck are you?!" the leader growled, his voice shaky but defiant.

"Me?" I taunted, stepping closer. "I'm your owner. Can't you tell? Are you blind? I could fix that—come here, let me take a closer look at your disgusting face."

My words ignited his fury. His aura flared even brighter, the pressure rippling through the square. For a moment, I worried it might damage the city.

"Everyone," I called out, my voice steady but commanding. "Look closely. This is the strength I've achieved. Let these fools who dared to stand before me be the testimony to what your empress is capable of."
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The crowd fell silent, all eyes locked on me. Every breath I took was met with quiet anticipation, the tension thick in the air.

"Sovereign's Domain," I whispered. Darkness erupted from me, swallowing the entire enemy group in an instant. The crowd was spared the sight of what came next.

Inside the domain, the eleven men stood frozen, their eyes wide with fear. In a single motion, I knocked out all ten subordinates, leaving only the leader standing. He moved sluggishly, weighed down by the oppressive energy. For someone at level 65, he was nothing but a joke compared to Jeong Suhan. I reached him easily, grabbing him by the throat. With a simple swing, I shattered his overly elaborate armor, revealing his scrawny frame beneath.

This is their leader? I thought, unimpressed. Who in their right mind would follow such a weakling?

Outside the domain, it had all happened in the blink of an eye. As the darkness dissipated, the crowd gasped at the sight before them. Ten men lay unconscious on the ground, while the leader dangled high in the air, my hand gripping his throat.

"So," I said, my voice cold and cutting, loud enough for everyone to hear, "tell me why you've come here. And decide quickly—should I hold your public execution now or later?"