Dancing on the golden ashes

My heart was in turmoil. To be honest, I wasn't sure if this was the right decision. Perhaps I should've really shot her down and ended it there. But I didn't lie when I said I wasn't doing this just because of them. There were most likely people from my empire being tortured there, too. If I left them to die, then what was the point of me trying to lead this empire? I might as well give up on everything already.

I looked ahead, the wind rushing past me as I flew. I wasn't entirely sure where this so-called "human zoo" was, but with my speed, it shouldn't take too long to find it. Or so I thought.

Just where the hell is it? I cursed silently, frustration building up inside me. My mind wasn't clear, my thoughts were scattered. Maybe that was why I couldn't focus enough to locate it.

With a sigh, I summoned my two dragons and a few more flying beasts, their majestic forms cutting through the sky as they appeared around me.

"Find the half-humanoid creatures that woman mentioned," I ordered, my voice sharp and commanding. "If you find them, let me know first—do not engage."

There wasn't even a moment of hesitation. They instantly dispersed, scanning the surrounding area for any signs of the beasts.

I pushed forward, focusing my senses as well. I didn't care much about my father, that much was certain. But my brother…

My brother was someone I held dear. If I could, I wanted to protect him. At least, I didn't want to let him die.

Despite his betrayal, I wasn't as cold-blooded as they were. No matter how many people I'd killed in this world, at least I knew that family remained family—no matter how they treated you. And maybe, just maybe, I wanted to slap them in the face. I wanted to show them that without their so-called support, I had managed to rise to this point in life—a place where many people now looked up to me. I didn't need them anymore.

But deep down, I also wanted them to feel it. To feel the sting of regret. To beg for my help. To beg me to forgive them. Maybe it was my foolish desires talking, but that's how I felt.

Soon, a small cave came into view, its odd shape immediately catching my attention. It wasn't natural; the smooth edges and peculiar carvings hinted at human hands.

I landed nearby, my wings folding behind me as my feet touched the ground. It was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Recalling my beasts, I scanned the area one last time. There was nothing else nearby that looked suspicious.

What level are these monsters if they've caused so much havoc? I wondered, stepping cautiously toward the cave's entrance.

I knew it would likely be easy to deal with them, but caution had saved my life more times than I could count. I was powerful, yes, but I wasn't immortal—at least not yet.

The cave was dark, but with my night vision, it felt as though I was walking through a well-lit tunnel. The walls were lined with bones, some disturbingly fresh. Many belonged to beasts, ranging from small creatures to massive ones, but some—particularly the skulls—were unmistakably human.

Whoever they are, they clearly enjoy slaughter. A random thought crossed my mind, I wonder how they'll taste.

It had been a while since I'd fed. I needed souls to keep myself going, and this was the perfect opportunity. Recently, those thousands of souls I'd consumed had already burned away, leaving me hungry once more. Is this how it works now? The stronger I become, the more I need to feed? Or do I simply need stronger souls? Stronger souls seemed more... nutritious.

I hoped to find at least level 70 or 80 beasts—or whatever these creatures were—hidden here. As I ventured deeper, the faint sound of movement reached my ears. I could feel several auras attempting to hide themselves, masking their presence from me.

How foolish.

Who do they think they're dealing with?

With a simple flick of my finger, I pulled them toward me, their auras now exposed and their bodies dragged forward by my will. One of the newer skills I'd gained after ascending to Demon Lord allowed me to easily dominate any beast weaker than me. It didn't matter if they had higher levels—if their stats and mental strength fell short of mine, they were nothing but prey.

I grabbed both of the creatures by their throats and paused, taken aback by their appearance. They looked strikingly similar to humans, though smaller—not by much. Their faces were slightly narrower, giving them an odd, almost monkey-like quality. At the same time, they bore a resemblance to goblins. Their greenish skin wasn't vibrant, but just enough to stand out under scrutiny.

They squirmed and struggled in my grip, but when their eyes met mine, they froze. Fear overtook them, and they became completely still.

"Good," I said, satisfied with their submission. They remained terrified, yet not a single sound escaped their lips—not even to communicate with each other.

"What's wrong? Can't speak?" I sneered, my voice dripping with mockery. "Did the stupid Creator not bless you with that gift?"

At my words, their expressions shifted. Shock registered in their wide eyes, and then—surprisingly—they appeared almost happy. Of course, they understand me, I thought. If they didn't, what kind of Demon Lord would I be?

"So, if you can understand me," I said coldly, "lead me to the others. And if you even think about deceiving me..." I tightened my grip slightly, watching them shiver, "I will end you on the spot. Understood?"

They nodded furiously, their trembling intensifying. Their clothes, made of crudely stitched beast hide and fur, hung loosely on their frail bodies. They reminded me of how primal humans were described in old textbooks. Could it be that these creatures were some kind of proto-species? Perhaps, if left to evolve over time, they might one day rise to become rulers of the world.

But if that's the case... why would the Creator place them here, in the same world as us?

The thought lingered in my mind. We'd destroy them long before they had the chance to evolve. That's just human nature—to annihilate anything that threatens our dominance.

It took us only a few minutes to reach the massive cave. Inside, countless cages were scattered around, their metal bars rusted and bent. Humans—naked, shivering in fear, or entirely devoid of emotions—were crammed inside. Their hollow gazes didn't even register my presence; the darkness had swallowed whatever light remained in their souls.

Nearby, monsters loitered, inspecting the prisoners while laughing in strange, guttural tones.

"Kukuhaukiki." Their voices were beastly, unnatural, and far from human.

The moment they noticed me standing in the entrance, the entire cave erupted into chaos. Growls and screeches filled the air, but none of it lasted long. With one swift swing of my scythe, every monster's head fell from its shoulders. Silence followed, as not a single enemy remained standing.

Pathetic.

The creatures had been around levels 50 to 60—not even a challenge. The two that had led me here weren't spared either. As I absorbed their souls, I was disappointed to find they tasted... remarkably similar to human souls. Bland, unremarkable, and far from satisfying.

I clicked my tongue, annoyance bubbling inside me. Why can't I get something truly delicious? Is that asking for too much?

"Haaaah..." I let out a loud sigh, the sound echoing through the now-silent cave. It startled those prisoners who still had even a shred of sanity left.

"A human?" one of them whispered, their voice trembling.

"Yes, that sounded like one!" another said, hope creeping into their tone.

"Brother, did you come to save us?" a desperate voice called out, and soon after, others joined in, their cries and pleas overlapping.

I didn't answer. Instead, I raised my hand and summoned a massive golden flame, illuminating the entire cave. The warm light drove away the darkness, revealing the extent of the misery around me. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

The moment the prisoners saw me clearly, their hopeful cries died in their throats. Every single one of them recoiled, pressing themselves against the backs of their cages in terror.

Their faces said it all—fear, confusion, and despair.

Of course, they're afraid, I thought, glancing down at myself. Wings like a demon's, horns curling from my head, and a scythe glowing with dark energy in my hand. If I were in their shoes, I'd probably be suspicious of me too.

"Wh-who are you?" one of them stammered, their voice trembling.

I ignored the question, my eyes scanning the cages. My father and brother weren't here.

"Does she not understand human language? Are we going to die?" another muttered, their voice filled with despair.

"Great... from those freaks to another!" someone else spat bitterly.

Those words churned my stomach, a wave of disgust rising in me.

"You know what? I came here to save your sorry asses," I said, my tone sharp and cold, "but since you don't seem to need my help, you can rot here. Or better yet, use your powers to escape. I won't lift a finger."

I turned away, walking toward another tunnel. There were five in total, each leading down different paths.

"No! No! We didn't mean it like that! It was just that one person!" someone shouted desperately, their voice breaking.

Panicked cries filled the air, a cacophony of voices begging for forgiveness. Angry glares were thrown toward the individuals who had insulted me, but none of it mattered.

I kept walking, their pleas fading behind me.

The next chamber was larger, dimly lit with faint glows emanating from strange fungi on the walls. More cages were scattered around, but still, no sign of the two people I was here for.

After swiftly dispatching the remaining monsters, I moved toward yet another tunnel. I was ready to leave when a voice stopped me in my tracks.

"D-Daughter?"