Dancing on the golden ashes

I could hear the entire town bustling. People rushed to the gate, and through a narrow wooden crack, I caught glimpses of the crowd. Most of them wore extravagant armor, though some sported only half-body coverings. It was clearly a kingdom of men—barbaric and unruly. Well then, how about I teach them a little manners?

With a push of my arms, the massive wooden gate creaked open. Despite its several tons of weight, it felt as effortless as opening the double doors of a tavern. My current strength made such tasks trivial.

As the gate swung wide, my eyes locked onto the stupefied faces of the men before me. Their expressions screamed disbelief, as though they were staring at a monster. Well… maybe they weren't entirely wrong, but that's beside the point. Ahem, focus, Gaon.

The men, weapons in hand, quickly aimed at me. A quick scan of their levels revealed most were around 30 or 40—fairly weak, but they would do for now. My plan was simple: deal with the most notorious criminals among them and give the others a choice—submit or die. And if I ever heard a single whisper of them plotting against women again… heads wouldn't roll. No, balls would...

"Who the fuck are you?" A man stepped out from the crowd. His short black hair was shaped into a ridiculous bowl cut, making him look like a joke despite his size. He was tall—easily two meters—and extremely fat. Wow, did this guy eat an elephant? I laughed internally, but a small crack of laughter escaped my lips, drawing an immediate reaction. His brows furrowed, his face twisting with displeasure as anger and hatred burned in his eyes.

"You… you dare mock me? You think I look funny?" he roared. Suddenly, a burst of power surged from him—an aura of level 50—and I could feel the weight of a ruler's presence radiating from him, attempting to suppress me. But his smug expression vanished the moment I responded in kind.

My king's aura erupted in full force, crashing down on him and everyone else. The pressure forced them all to their knees. Some of the stronger ones managed to resist for a brief moment, their faces twisted with effort, but most crumbled immediately under the weight.

I stood motionless, expressionless, my eyes cold and unfeeling as I watched them struggle. I waited. Patiently. But the one I truly came for had yet to show up.

"Han Seungho... you have ten seconds to present yourself before me, or I will make you regret ever being born!" My voice boomed across the square, laced with menace. I tightened my grip on his soul chain, the invisible link that bound him to me. Though illusory, I could faintly see the shimmering outline of the chain if I focused hard enough. With it, I had complete control over him—his will, his actions, his very being.

Still, he dared to defy me, failing to appear. My patience snapped. With a firm tug, I poured my power into the chain, gripping it as though it were physical. Moments later, a man clad in a brand-new suit of armor came hurtling out from the highest tower of the citadel.

The sight was absurdly comical. His face twisted with panic, tears threatening to spill, as he tumbled through the air like a puppet yanked too hard by its strings. He rolled and spun, a helpless yoyo being reeled back in by its master.

With a sharp motion, I extended my arm and caught him by the throat, halting his chaotic descent. My grip tightened as I lifted him effortlessly, holding him aloft like the worthless dog he was.

"I warned you," I said coldly, meeting his terrified gaze.

"Master... hahaha, I didn't realize you were here already! If I'd known, I would've come straight to you. You know I would, right?" Han Seungho's voice carried a desperate, nervous laugh as he attempted to mask his panic with faux cheerfulness.

His stupid expression was enough to make me want to puke. He had the look of a guilty child caught red-handed, scrambling to hide the evidence, as if I were foolish enough to fall for his pathetic tricks. Did he really think he could fool me?

The onlookers shifted their gazes between him and me, their faces painted with shock and disbelief. Their so-called 'king,' the man they had followed, admired, and likely feared, was now revealed to be nothing more than my slave. I could imagine the dissonance in their minds—how many of these fools had been swayed by his ridiculous red-pill ideologies, only to now see him bowing to a woman's command? Oh, how the mighty had fallen.

"The mighty, what is this?!" One of the men on his knees shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of desperation and misplaced courage. "Rise, rise, Emperor, and kill that bitch for us!" His words seemed to ignite a spark among the crowd.

"Yes!" Many others quickly joined in, their chants rising like a wave of rebellion, filling the air with their rallying cries. "Boss! You can do it!" they shouted, voices echoing through the city as more men began to emerge from alleys and corners, drawn by the commotion.

I watched their faces, filled with naive hope, their gazes fixated on Han Seungho as though he were their savior, their great leader who would strike me down and restore their pride. It was almost comical. They had no clue that with a single command from me, their so-called "emperor" would turn on them and paint the streets with their blood. The thought made me chuckle softly, though I kept my expression neutral.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Han Seungho's sudden roar cut through the air like a thunderclap. The sheer force of his voice made even me raise an eyebrow, momentarily surprised by his outburst. The crowd fell silent almost instantly, their hopeful expressions faltering as they stared at their "mighty" emperor, unsure of what had just happened.

The town fell into a deafening silence, as if his words were bolts of lightning striking from the most powerful thunderclouds. The sheer force of his outburst left everyone speechless and stunned. Even I, for a fleeting moment, was taken aback. I didn't expect this manchild to muster the courage to speak up so boldly.

"You all have no idea what is going on, so shut the fuck up and listen to me well," Han Seungho's voice boomed, carrying disappointment and sorrow but laced with a powerful, commanding tone. "Because if you don't, all of you will die."

His words hung in the air like a blade ready to drop.

"This," he continued, pointing at me with a trembling hand that steadied as he spoke, "is Lee Gaon, the Empress of the Empire of the Undying Flame. She is stronger—far stronger—than any of you can even imagine. I, Han Seungho, have willingly devoted myself to serve her. From this moment forward, our empire is under her control. From now on, we all serve the Empire of the Undying Flame."

He stepped forward, his voice rising to a fierce crescendo. "Those of you who are unwilling—those who refuse to change your ways—will have to answer to me first. I will kill every single one of you who stands against her, right here, right now!"

His declaration carried a weight that could have crushed weaker men, but instead of rallying the crowd, his words were met with disbelief. Murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire, and a few brave—or perhaps foolish—souls cracked a laugh, their disbelief written all over their faces.

"This has to be a joke, right?" Some of the onlookers laughed, their disbelief evident in their mocking tones.

"Good words," I said, my voice cold and sharp. "I like that. Then... how about you prove your worth?" My eyes locked onto Han Seungho, who froze under my gaze. "Kill all those who laughed just now, and those who have committed the worst crimes among them. Only then will I spare the rest and accept this pitiful lot under my wing. How does that sound?"

It wasn't a suggestion—it was an order, and he knew it. His body trembled, his face pale as he rose to his feet, his every movement betraying his inner turmoil. He hesitated, his eyes darting toward the crowd, now filled with terror and desperation.

"Yes, master..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.

And then he moved.

For all his faults, Han Seungho was strong—his level gave him an edge. He descended upon the crowd like a storm, his blade cutting through the air with precision. In seconds, ten bodies fell to the ground, lifeless. The laughter that had mocked me moments ago was silenced, replaced by horrified gasps.

The remaining men tried to run, their feet stumbling over each other in panic. But I wasn't about to let them escape. With a mere flick of my wrist, I unleashed a wave of pressure that pinned them in place, their knees buckling under the invisible force. They had no choice but to stay and watch the carnage unfold, their wide eyes reflecting the massacre before them.

And I? I stood there, watching as Han Seungho hunted them down one by one. Was it wrong that I found this... enjoyable? Perhaps. But in this world, power and fear were the only currencies that mattered, and I intended to be rich in both.

When it was over, Han Seungho returned to me, his face pale, his hands trembling as he knelt before me. In his grasp, he held a bloodied sack, and from within it, he poured out the heads of fifty-three men. The ground was soaked with blood, and the air was thick with the stench of death. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the muted sobs of those who had been spared.

Han Seungho bowed his head, his voice shaking but resolute. "Master, from today onward, you are to command us as you see fit. If any of them dare complain, I will personally kill them for you. This, I vow."

The crowd stared, their faces pale, their spirits broken. Fear was etched deep into their hearts, an unrelenting reminder of what they had witnessed today.

"Good dog..." I praised him in front of everyone, ensuring they knew who was in charge.