Dancing on the golden ashes

This entire time, I had believed I was alone. Up until this moment, they knew they were heading toward their deaths—but every single person in this room, including that fox, understood that running away was never truly an option. Rising up to fight was the only way to solve the crisis. Even though I feared for them, I swore to myself that I would protect them, protect the entire empire.

I could see their eyes light up at my words. Is this how it feels to be a leader? My mind swirled with questions that were almost alien to me.

"I wish I knew how to solve this without a fight, but thank you for staying with me." My voice rang out with power. "We still have some time to prepare. I suggest we relocate those who don't have the strength to fight to designated shelters." I glanced around at everyone, still kneeling on the ground. "Stand up—don't make me feel embarrassed," I said, my face growing a little hot. Commanding people still felt so strange; they were my friends, not mere servants. It was all too complicated, and I sighed deeply.

"Don't worry, big sis," Kim Seong-Hoon reassured me. "We will all prepare for this fight in five days. Also, our engineers are rapidly working on a weapon—something that works like a cannon. It might just help us turn the tide in this battle if we can finish it in time."

His words were enthusiastic, and it was enough to put everyone slightly at ease. I suppose that's the charm of Seong-Hoon—the clown of our group. Still, I knew I could rely on him to train our people quickly and devise basic strategies for battle. Having him around wasn't so bad after all. I laughed quietly to myself, and a small, warm smile escaped my lips. This only made him stutter as he began explaining the new weapon—a device that converts soul energy into a more concentrated and potent form.

And then I remembered the time I had destroyed a similar cannon in the Empire of the Molten Core. I was genuinely surprised that people had already managed to develop such weapons. But I guess that's what makes us humans so formidable—we are natural innovators. Even those without overwhelming strength can create tools that shift the balance of power, much like our ancestors did when they first picked up a stick and learned to use it as a weapon.

"Who came up with this idea?" I asked, genuinely curious to know whose mind was behind it all.

"Ah, that's Ryu Chae-Rin," Eun-Woo replied with a grin. "She's the most talented teenager I've ever seen. You must visit her workshop, Gaon. Your presence might spark some inspiration in her—she's been dying to meet you for so long, but she's too shy to come greet you herself. A visit from you would boost her morale and that of the other scientists."

Eun-Woo lit up like a light bulb. Sometimes, I couldn't fathom where all his boundless energy came from. I longed to rest for a bit, but there was no time for that now—time to get back to work.

"I didn't even know we had such a place in the city. When did we build a science center or something like that?" I remarked, catching the group's disappointed glances in response.

"Listen, Big Sis Gaon, you really need to start spending some time here. I'm not sure if it's you, the empress, or all of us," Jieun teased. Her words made me blush a little, but they also broke the heavy atmosphere and brought laughter from everyone. And that, in the end, was more than enough for me.

After several more hours of intense discussion, we finally hammered out our battle plan. Ten cannons were to be installed along the city walls. They were still undergoing tests, but it was better than nothing—if even one worked, it could give me a slight edge.

In the forthcoming fight, I was to take the lead, drawing the monster's attention. The rest of the forces would only engage if the beast became distracted by me; otherwise, they'd stick to long-range attacks from a safe distance. I wasn't worried about taking a few hits—I was fast and agile, capable of dodging effectively, while the massive beast, despite its overwhelming power, would likely be slower. As for my beasts, they would hold the flanks, attacking only on my command or ensuring the safety of the citizens within the city. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

Moreover, we decided to recruit fighters from across the empire, but only those with a level exceeding 50. We agreed that those below that threshold wouldn't be effective in this dire battle. For now, everyone else was to leave the city to hunt, train, and grow stronger, so that when the time came, we would all be as prepared as possible.

This was our best shot—a coordinated effort to protect our home and delay the inevitable.

In this fight, Malrang would be my biggest support—her level had reached 71 thanks to our link. I felt a twinge of jealousy, knowing she didn't have to struggle as much, but at the same time, I was proud that I could help her grow to this point. She might be the key to turning the tide of this battle.

"I'm heading out to Ryu Chae-Rin's workshop. I'll see the eight of you later. Please proceed with our plan and make sure to calm the people down. Later tonight, I will make a public appearance and give a speech—hopefully, it'll be enough to boost their morale..." I said, uncertainty threading through my tone. But there was no time for doubts now.

"Take care, Empress," Seong-Hoon giggled. I wondered what he was up to now—whenever I saw that stupid look on his face, something would either go wrong, or he would reveal something I didn't know. Either way, I couldn't let him get into my head; otherwise, he'd take every chance to bully me again.

"Yeah..." I replied awkwardly. In the blink of an eye, I found myself standing next to a wooden house, decorated in traditional Korean designs.

"So, this is the place, huh..."