Dancing on the golden ashes

It was a peaceful day in Luminara City. The streets bustled with life as merchants peddled their wares, and children played under the watchful eyes of their parents.

Malrang lay lazily on her belly in the small wooden house she had claimed as her den. Her golden eyes stared off into the distance, her fluffy body stretched out as if without a care in the world. But the truth was written all over her face—longing.

She missed Lee Gaon.

Her ears twitched as she thought about their time together, about the bond they shared. But before she could drift deeper into her memories, a sudden, immense power struck her like a tidal wave.

Her entire body tensed, and she yelped as a flood of energy surged through her, overwhelming every nerve.

A long system message began to scroll through her mind, filling her thoughts with its endless notifications:

[Congratulations!] Your next journey awaits at empire

[You have reached Level 48!]

[Evolution Initiated. Transformation Commencing...]

Her small body began to change. She twitched and writhed as her frame expanded rapidly, her soft fur rippling as her size grew. The walls of the wooden house creaked in protest before they gave way completely, shattering into splinters as she rose.

Two new tails burst forth from her back, and the already fluffy foxterit now stood proudly with four tails swaying behind her. Her body grew larger and more imposing, towering at an incredible ten meters tall—even without her Overlord Transformation.

Passersby stopped in their tracks, their mouths agape and their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

Whispers filled the streets.

"Malrang...?"

"Is that really her? What's happening?"

"She's enormous! Did Gaon do this?"

The whispers were drowned out by a powerful howl that shook the city. It was loud, commanding, and filled with an almost otherworldly resonance. Everyone in the city recognized it.

It was her howl.

But the power behind it this time... It was nothing they had ever felt before.

More system messages flooded her mind, confirming what her instincts already knew:

[Congratulations!]

[You have evolved into Grand Foxterit!]

[You have ascended from Overlord to Apex Tyrant!]

Malrang's massive frame trembled with raw, unfamiliar power. She raised her head high, her golden eyes now gleaming with an almost divine glow. The crowd stared in awe, many unsure whether to celebrate or fear this transformation.

Then, as if pulled by an invisible force, Malrang turned her gaze toward the northeast. Her massive form remained still, her eyes fixed on something far beyond the horizon.

"Gaon..."

The word escaped her massive jaws, her deep, resonant voice carrying the same softness and affection she had always reserved for Lee Gaon. Only now, it was laced with something more—urgency.

It wasn't a thought. It wasn't a guess.

She knew.

Something had happened.

And Gaon needed her.

...

Slowly, I felt my consciousness stirring, like waking from a long, heavy dream. I wasn't sure if the nine days had passed already or not, but this time, death didn't feel as foreign or terrifying as before. It was strange—almost unsettling—how much easier it was to contemplate the second time around.

Something was different, though. I could feel it deep within my soul.

Life and Death.

The skill had grown, evolving into something far greater than I could have imagined. Its presence hummed within me, powerful and unyielding, as if it had become a part of my very existence.

But none of that mattered.

I became aware of my body—or what little I could feel of it. I was lying in some sort of pool, the liquid warm and strange against my skin. The sensation was odd, foreign, and it only served to irritate me further.

Fuck.

That single word summed up everything I felt.

I hated all of this. Every single thing.

I clenched my teeth, my mind racing with a singular thought:

I will destroy him.

The rage boiled inside me, hotter and fiercer with each passing moment. I couldn't stop the torrent of thoughts crashing through my mind.

I will kill him.

I will kill that damn Creator.

I will tear him apart, piece by piece.

"Fuuuuck!"

My silent scream echoed in my mind, trapped by my inability to move. The frustration was unbearable, a storm of fury that threatened to consume me entirely.

I need to move.

I need to break something, to destroy something, anything.

A heavy sigh escaped me, the weight of this damned life pressing down like a crushing force.

This life... It's so annoying.

I let myself sink deeper into the pool, my thoughts a swirling mess of rage and helplessness. Yet even in this chaotic state, one thing remained crystal clear:

The Creator would pay.

And this time, there would be no mercy.

[Welcome back to the world of No End, Lee Gaon.]

[You have revived.]

[Your class has evolved from the Awakened Death Eater to Ascended Death Eater!]

[You have gained a new control over the Lightning element.]

[Proceeding to evolve it into class-specific Red Lightning.]

[New element added: Red Lightning.]

[Your scythe now has Lightning runes added alongside the Water runes.]

[Your body has been reforged!]

[You are no longer part of the human race.]

[New race: Demon.]

[You have gained a new ability!]

[Blood Burn – Burn your blood to increase your battle power (innate ability).]

[Your Fire Wings have been replaced with Demonic Fire Wings.]

[Your soul has been greatly enhanced.]

[You have evolved from Soul King to Soul Sovereign.]

[You can now directly infect souls with your power, branding them with enslavement.]

"HAAAAA!" I gasped for air as my head broke the surface of what I thought was water. But it wasn't—it felt dense, almost alive, pulsating with concentrated soul power.

The realization sent a shock through me. I closed my eyes and instinctively looked within my soul.

What I saw made my heart race.

My Soul Orb had grown—no, it had exploded in size. It now spanned an incredible hundred meters, radiating an overwhelming power that reached its absolute peak.

What the hell is going on?!

My mind reeled. This wasn't normal. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Is he helping me? Or trying to stop me?

My thoughts raced back to the Creator. That faceless, inscrutable entity. His plans, his motives—it was all too strange, too incomprehensible.

This... this felt unreal.

And then, the notifications hit me like a freight train.

"WAIT. WHAT?!"

I froze.

"Demon?!"

"NO. No, no, no, no!"

My breath hitched, my pulse hammering in my ears. "This can't be happening."

"What the actual fuck?!" I whispered, my voice trembling as my mind scrambled for answers.

I'm no demon. I'm human.

"This has to be a bad, stupid joke… Right?!"

I glanced down into the shimmering pool of soul energy, my reflection staring back at me. But what I saw wasn't me—or at least, not the me I used to know.

"Who the hell is this person?"

The woman in the reflection was flawless, almost ethereal. Her skin was smooth and radiant, without a single imperfection. Crimson lips contrasted sharply with her pale complexion, giving her a striking, almost doll-like beauty. Her face had a natural elegance, as if she had been painted by the hands of a divine artist.

I touched my face, expecting to feel some sort of cosmetic mask or makeup smearing beneath my fingertips, but no—this wasn't makeup. It was me. My features had changed so drastically that I didn't even recognize myself.

And then there were the things that horrified me the most.

My eyes.

Once a soft, familiar green, they were now neon red, glowing with an otherworldly intensity that pierced through the reflection like two burning embers. It was almost impossible to look away from them—they were the eyes of a predator, of something not quite human.

And my hair...

It was no longer dark and unassuming. Instead, it had transformed into a pure, shimmering snow white that almost seemed to glow in the dim light. It wasn't just the color—it was the texture, the way it cascaded down in silken waves that felt unnatural in its perfection. The strands looked as if they were woven from light itself, pristine and untouchable.

But the worst part—the part that made my heart sink—were the horns.

They had grown, fully black now and glossy, curving elegantly yet ominously. They were as long as my hand, making them impossible to ignore. Their presence screamed the truth I didn't want to admit:

I wasn't human anymore.

I had truly become a demon.

My gaze dropped lower, and I noticed my clothing had changed as well. My black ball gown, adorned with extravagant gold patterns, had evolved even further. The intricate gold embroidery that had once traced the fabric now shimmered as if alive, dancing like fire whenever the light touched it. The dress clung to my figure with an elegance that bordered on divine, its aura radiating power and regality.

But it wasn't just the dress anymore—gold accessories now adorned my body. Elaborate bracelets coiled around my wrists like molten metal, and anklets jingled faintly with each step. Delicate gold chains and pins wove through my snow-white hair, enhancing its radiant beauty, while a thin, gilded collar sat around my neck, completing the look of an empress.

Every detail screamed dominance and wealth, as though I had been born to rule.

Maybe my words came back to bite me… Now I'm truly a Demon Empress... Hahaha...

A self-mocking laugh escaped my lips, dripping with bitterness and disbelief. The sound echoed in the air, hollow and cruel, as if even the world itself was laughing with me—or at me.

Before I could gather my thoughts, a strange sensation washed over me, and without warning, I was transported back. The shimmering soul energy that had enveloped me faded away, and I found myself once more standing amidst the rubble of the once-grand city.

The sight struck me like a blow. Broken walls, shattered buildings, and streets littered with debris stretched as far as I could see. A chilling silence filled the air, broken only by the faint crackling of embers that clung to life among the ruins.

Not even one person remained.

The vibrant city, which had once stood as a symbol of strength and ingenuity, was now reduced to nothing more than ash and rubble—a grim reminder of the destruction I had wrought.

For a moment, I could only stand there, taking in the aftermath of my own power.

"Is this… what I've become?" I whispered, though the emptiness around me gave no answer.