Dancing on the golden ashes

This feeling—standing alone while an army looms in the distance, knowing there's no one beside me—I can't put it into words. It was as if the whole world had turned against me. It was overwhelming. At that moment, I wondered… how could there be so many people in this world already? Just how many of us had been summoned here? What if, one day, the entire Earth ended up here? Would our original planet benefit from humanity's exodus? Perhaps…

But I knew one thing for certain. Today, I would claim countless lives. Were they innocent? No—not in my eyes. After all, they followed their leader willingly. They marched into battle willingly.

A cold shiver ran through my body. Am I afraid? For a second, I thought I had succumbed to fear, but no—this trembling wasn't fear. I could feel it. Excitement. A twisted contradiction. Am I insane for wanting to kill? This foreign desire had crept over me ever since I took my first life. It felt good. It felt like control. But then… am I just a killer?

I wanted to hear someone tell me I wasn't. I wished someone were here to say I was doing this for something greater than myself. I wished someone would tell me this was for the empire. Yes… it was. But at the same time…

I feel so hungry.

I could feel my scythe. It was almost speaking to me, trembling in my grip. Why? It was a part of my soul—was it hungry? No… this was the real me. The one who had taken so many lives to stand where I stood now. The eerie voice in the back of my mind was right. I shouldn't care too much. I should just kill until I'm satisfied. That was the truth. That was me. The one who wished for destruction.

I took a slow, deep breath. The scent of war filled the air.

The approaching army—humans and beasts alike—marched toward my territory. I watched as confusion spread among them. They scanned the ground, expecting resistance, only to find nothing. Not a single soul. I could see it in their faces—their hopeful expressions.

They thought we had surrendered. But they would soon wake up to a nightmare.

Not a single one of them would escape. Today, the world would know my might. Today, the Demon Lord would reveal herself. I would make them understand that I was invincible.

As I floated in the sky, their gazes slowly lifted toward me. Their march came to a halt. Weapons pointed in my direction. They whispered among themselves, unsure of what they were seeing. Was I a person? A beast?

I didn't blame them for hesitating. Just look at me—horns, demon wings, hovering above them. Even I would mistake myself for a monster.

I channeled my soul energy, guiding it through my veins, concentrating it in my vocal cords. With power surging in my voice, I spoke—

"Welcome to the territory of the Golden Phoenix Empire. I am Lee Gaon, the Empress of the Undying Flame. I rule this land, and I will not allow a single soul to step beyond this point. Those who wish to die today—try your luck. I alone am enough to kill every single one of you. If you doubt me, I will show you what happens to those who defy this Empress!"

My words thundered through the battlefield like a decree from the heavens, shaking the very ground beneath them.

What did I receive in return?

Laughter and mockery filled the air.

"Suit yourselves," I said coldly.

I raised my hand, flames licking its skin as golden embers danced around me.

"Third Path of Fire… Eternity."

My soul ignited in a golden blaze, and at that moment, something inside me awakened. A new technique. The Goddess of Fire's power surged through me, its weight pressing against my very being. I felt the countless souls within me stirring, feeding the technique with their energy.

For a brief second, dizziness struck me.

But this was it.

This was the opening I needed.

I would make them run. I would make them afraid.

I would crush their morale with a single attack. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

That was how you won a war—you turned them into cockroaches, scrambling for their lives.

"First step… The life of the immortal phoenix queen." A small flame suddenly burst on my fingers, its shape taking on a small bird-like creature.

"AOOOO!"

The creature cried out, shaking the entire heaven and earth. The power in this one scream was so strong that it even made me fearful. Suddenly, it shot out, leaving me almost empty. It flew quickly toward the massive army, and those standing there laughed at the attack, mocking it with their eyes.

"What is that bird going to do to us? Eat us? Hahaha!" I could hear their laughter, yet their eyes were filled with confusion and fear after that powerful scream.

The small phoenix bird felt somewhat alive, and their words seemed to offend it. Suddenly, the tiny hand-sized bird expanded, turning into a massive, colossal phoenix, its wings stretching to wrap around heaven and earth. It looked majestic, its fire burning so brightly that even the sky seemed to dim before its radiance. Then it crashed into the group of screaming soldiers. I could still see them casting defensive skills, the entire army suddenly wrapping itself in a marvelous display of barriers and shields, but it was all in vain. The massive phoenix collided with them, and in that instant.

BOOM!

A crimson explosion shook the sky, a pillar of fire shooting upward, reaching hundreds of meters high. That one attack wiped out at least five to six thousand people in an instant, leaving many more injured.

I extended my hand, and a flood of black souls flew through the air, rushing straight into me. A moment later, my mind was flooded with endless system messages…

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

My level instantly shot up to 68. Yet, despite so many dying in an instant, my experience only crept up slowly. Too many of them were too low-leveled. It was getting harder to level up. After this battle, I should be over level 70… Who will stop me then?

My eyes gleamed with greed. I suddenly felt the urge to kill, to level up. My scythe trembled uncontrollably, urging me forward, urging me to rush in, to kill more, to feed more. I could not control myself.

I flapped my wings, red lightning wrapping around them, launching me forward at incredible speed. In an instant, I was already reaping my enemies' heads. They panicked, too afraid to even defend themselves. I flew in a straight arc, leaving behind a long, unbroken trail of blood. Beasts and humans alike fell before me.

"Demon! She's a demon!"

Yes, I am.

And so what? Today, this demon would show them that there are some enemies you cannot afford to offend.

My level shot up to 69 the moment I killed another thousand. I was extremely close to level 70. Many of them tried to fight back, but I was too fast. I dodged their attacks with ease, striking fear into their hearts.

They were like chickens, running around in panic. Too easy for me to slaughter. But there were still around thirteen thousand left. I had to pull out my big skills. Soon, the darkness danced around me, and as I stood in the very middle of them all, countless shadows left my body.

The shadows materialized into beasts.

All of them were now level 60, growing stronger inside me, and five thousand of them instantly wiped out countless people. This was a one-sided massacre. My level shot up to 71. But suddenly...

BOOM!

A golden lightning bolt crashed from the heavens, striking me. I shot out my own crimson lightning, countering the powerful force.

The attack tore the sky apart, the heavens and the earth mixing together in a storm of electricity.

And then… I saw him.

Floating above me, looking down with a presence as if he were immortal. His entire body was wrapped in golden armor, his spear dancing with golden lightning.

"Nam Ji-Ho!" I roared, anger rising to its maximum. Power surged inside me, awakened by rage.

The anger I felt right now—it made me feel immortal. The more anger I had, the stronger I became. I flapped my wings and shot toward him.

He floated in the sky, golden lightning supporting him, keeping him aloft as if he was beyond human. Then, our weapons clashed. Crimson and gold intertwined, our attacks splitting the air apart.

But this time—I was ready.

I was ready to win.

"You've changed, Lee Gaon…" he said casually, as if he still didn't see me as a threat.

I gritted my teeth. "You're pissing me off."

Just wait.

I'll have your head.

I'll make sure the whole world knows about your death today.

My body transformed, my full demon form awakening. My claws itched, my tail lashed, my wings flared. Excitement rushed through me.

If I didn't win today—I'd rather die trying.

This was my moment.

I had to give it everything.

1,000%.

Or else… he'd look down on me again.