Dancing on the golden ashes

I held the man high, making sure everyone in the crowd could see him. An idea began to form in my mind—something new, something fitting for a pathetic creature like him. Among the skills I'd gained through my endless torment, there was one in particular that seemed perfectly suited for him. Level 65 was still relatively high; instead of overtaking his country, I could make him my puppet. The irony made me smile.

"No, please, let me go! I'm sorry, I—" His panicked plea was cut short as my hand struck his face with a resounding slap.

"Sorry?" I snarled, leaning in close. "You're sorry for torturing so many women? Is that how you show your supposed superiority?" My voice dripped with venom. "Just for that, I should boil your 'thing' in cooking oil and make you beg for mercy."

His face turned ashen, the color draining almost instantly. He struggled weakly against my grip, but it was futile. I slapped him again, the force snapping his head to the side.

"The more you struggle, the more I'll slap you," I warned, my tone low and icy. Bringing my face close to his ear, I whispered, "Now, tell me, why did you come here? Were you really here to take me away? Do you actually think you're capable of that?" My voice took on a mocking lilt, each word designed to cut deeper. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

I could see the humiliation in his eyes, the broken pride of a man who thought he was untouchable. Perfect. I wasn't just going to defeat him—I was going to break him, destroy him completely… only to rebuild him later into something far more useful.

"Big sis, what should we do with the rest of them?" Seong-Hoon asked, his expression filled with disgust.

"I have a plan, though it might be a bit hard for all of you to accept. I hope you'll understand." The thought of enslaving someone might seem cruel—especially for an empress. In our old world, it was a deeply rooted taboo. But here? Here, strength ruled over everything. It didn't matter how kind a ruler was—if a stronger enemy appeared, they'd show no mercy. Honestly, the same could be said of previous world, though it was cloaked in complexities.

"Yes," Seong-Hoon said without hesitation, his tone suddenly that of a loyal subordinate rather than a friend. Sometimes I still felt conflicted about how I should view everyone—friends, comrades, or simply those who followed me.

"Bring them to my throne room," I instructed, glancing at the leader in my grasp. "And him as well," I added, knocking him out cold with a flick of my wrist and handing him off to Eun-Woo. "I'll take my leave until then."

I turned toward the gathered crowd near the gates. Their eyes were wide, filled with awe. I could feel their gazes even without looking directly at them.

"Hail the empress!" they chanted in unison. Their voices filled the air, and though I didn't fully understand why, it felt good. For the first time, I felt like I wasn't just taking up useless space in the universe—I had purpose.

"Thank you, everyone," I said warmly, my voice carrying over the noise. "Now, please, return to your daily lives. I will deal with these intruders. And for all the families who've suffered at their hands, I promise this: they will pay. Soon, we will have a puppet country to ensure their crimes never go unanswered."

A soft smile graced my lips as I blurred out of sight, disappearing from the crowd's view. The eruption of cheers that followed echoed behind me as I entered the palace. The sound tugged at my heart, bringing a faint but genuine smile to my face.

The palace doors creaked open, revealing the path to my throne. For the first time in what felt like forever, I had the chance to sit on it. The grand, imposing seat looked as inviting as it was regal. I brushed my fingers along the armrests, taking in every detail of its craftsmanship, before finally settling down.

The seat welcomed me with its softness, a stark contrast to the hard, unforgiving ground I'd grown used to. As I leaned back, I allowed myself a brief moment of peace, the weight of my role as empress settling on my shoulders—but this time, it didn't feel so heavy.

I let my body relax, sinking into the throne's plush comfort. It felt far too good—almost intoxicating. The weight of power settled over me, but instead of feeling burdensome, it was... alluring.

"Are you happy now, Gaon?" The eerie voice suddenly echoed in my mind, its presence as unwelcome as ever.

Why? Are you here to tell me I'm doing something wrong again?

"Hahaha, not at all," it replied with an unsettling chuckle. "In fact, I'm pleased you've finally settled down. And yet... you're sinking deeper into the desires of power."

Heh... Are you saying I'm going to lose myself in a power struggle?

"Exactly. It's not the first time you've mentioned taking over the world. And don't try to fool me—I can tell you weren't joking. This isn't the right path for you, Gaon."

What do you know? The one who forced me to kill and devour souls now has the audacity to lecture me? That's rich. Let me guess—you're just scared I won't need you anymore.

The voice fell silent, and for a moment, I wondered if I'd struck a nerve. A small, self-satisfied smirk tugged at my lips.

"Even so," it finally spoke, its tone softer, almost… regretful? "You need to listen to me. Don't lose yourself. If you have the chance, step down and go rogue again. That's your path, Gaon. Being alone will make things easier for you."

There was something strange in its voice—sadness, maybe? No, that wouldn't make sense. Whatever this entity was thinking, it didn't matter.

Before I could ponder further, the palace doors swung open, and Eun-Woo and Seong-Hoon escorted the eleven men inside.

"Thank you," I said, leaning forward slightly. "Please, make them kneel before me." Without hesitation, they forced the captives to their knees. Malice flickered in their eyes, but beneath it, fear was evident.

I crossed my legs and stared at the pitiful group before me. "So," I began, my voice cold and taunting, "what should I do with the likes of you? Any suggestions?"

"Please, let us go," one of the men begged, his voice trembling under the weight of my aura.

"No. Wrong answer." I raised my hand, summoning a small orb of darkness at my fingertip. With a flick, I sent it hurtling toward the man's shoulder. The moment it struck, his flesh began to rot, decay spreading rapidly from the impact site. This was the combined power of darkness and death powers, something I could now wield even without the system. Though with the system's support, it was infinitely stronger.

"AAARRRGGGHHH!" His screams pierced the air, the sound sharp and desperate. The others recoiled in horror, scrambling to put distance between themselves and their writhing companion.

"Let's try this again," I said, my tone dripping with malice. I leaned back slightly, letting the shadows around me dance ominously. Even if this was an act, it felt right—like a role I was always meant to play. Alien, yes, but also strangely familiar and… comfortable.

"How can we solve this situation?" I asked, my voice calm but laced with menace.

One of the subordinates broke first, his panic spilling over. "Kill our leader!" he cried, his voice frantic. "It was all his idea! Please, just spare us!"

"Yes, yes!" the others cried in unison. There was no loyalty among them.

Betrayal… If there was one thing I despised above all else, it was betrayal.

"And what about you?" I turned to their leader. He had already resigned himself to his fate, his posture slumped in defeat.

"Spare them," he said quietly, his head bowed. "Let my men return home."

"I see... Good."

The ten faces lit up with newfound hope, their expressions quickly twisting into smug grins as they sneered at their own leader. Their behavior said everything about the state of their country—self-serving and rotten to the core.

Let's see... All of them are rulers. Perfect.

"Seong-Hoon," I called out casually.

The two of them were chatting quietly, with Eun-Woo leaning closer to whisper, "Don't you think Gaon's changed a little?"

"Yeah, but this version of her is really cool," Seong-Hoon replied, his tone far too casual for my liking. "What do you think—does she also look a bit hotter now?"

My ears burned, and I clenched my fists. Did these two really think my level wasn't high enough to hear their private little chat?

"Now that you mention it... yeah, you're right," Eun-Woo added, confirming my irritation.

"Seong-Hoon!"

I raised my voice, and the moment they noticed, they jumped, guilt written all over their faces.

"Ah? Ye-yes!" Seong-Hoon stammered, clearly trying to act as if nothing had happened. His expression was priceless—half apologetic, half pretending innocence.

"Tell me," I said, my voice calm but sharp, "how many more kills do you need to reach King level?"

Seong-Hoon immediately caught the hidden meaning in my words. That's why I trusted him—he understood me best.

In a flash, one of the rulers' heads flew through the air. Seong-Hoon's aura surged, his level spiking as he ascended to King level. I nodded in approval, watching the shocked faces of the remaining men as they screamed like frightened children.

"Eun-Woo," I said, turning to him next.

Without hesitation, another head rolled, and Eun-Woo's aura surged as well, signaling his rise to King level.

"Good," I said simply, my voice carrying a note of satisfaction. Their strength would be invaluable to the empire.

"Now," I continued, "invite Jieun, Min-Jeong, and a few other trusted rulers. It's time to strengthen our empire."