Dancing on the golden ashes

The fourth soul was especially strange. The bluish, ghastly light pulsed faintly, growing stronger with every passing second. I had never heard of anyone splitting their soul into four, but what truly chilled me was the fact that this soul wasn't even mine. It had appeared out of nowhere, now resting snugly within me as though it belonged—but its presence felt foreign, unnatural.

Whose soul is this?

The thought lingered, gnawing at my mind. If this thing was some eerie entity lurking inside me, would it try to take over? Or… was it somehow born from within me, manifesting as a fourth soul?

Pushing aside the unease, I focused on the soul's power, trying to rotate it. To my shock, as the energy stirred, the black chains constricting me began to thin. The oppressive force weighing me down was halved in an instant. Testing the change, I shifted my body, feeling the chains loosen their hold.

"Break for me!" I growled through gritted teeth, channeling more of the soul's energy. The reaction was immediate—cracks formed along the chains, their grip weakening further.

The air around me began to tremble and rumble. The bluish light intensified, bathing the entire space in its eerie glow. And then, like a sudden spark of realization, I felt it—a strange connection to everything around me. The space itself seemed to bow to my will, as if I could command it with a mere thought.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion erupted from me, unleashing a vortex of raw energy that twisted and roared through the air.

My heart trembled in an indescribable way, as though it had suddenly started racing a thousand beats per second, only to settle back to its normal rhythm in the very next moment.

The black chains shattered into small fragments, each piece drifting away from me in slow motion, as though time itself had stalled. But in the very next moment, everything reversed—rushing toward me at blinding speed. The fragments pierced my skin, each stab sharp and jarring, trying to suppress me—or so I thought. Slowly, the shards began to melt into my body. I could feel the transformation, my skin growing tougher, more resilient, yet still flexible and oddly squishy. The sensation was strange and unnerving.

Floating in the void, I became acutely aware of my body for the first time—I was completely naked. My bare skin was exposed to the world's energy, and it felt as though the energy itself was caressing me, caring for me in ways I couldn't comprehend. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

What the hell has happened to me? How much time has passed? Has my thousand-year sentence finally ended?

My thoughts were sharper now, honed by the solitude of countless years. I had spent endless moments reflecting on everything—what I was, what I might become. But one question haunted me above all: What awaits me on the other side? My friends were likely long dead, and who knew what this world had become? Had humanity destroyed itself, or had we thrived and rebuilt? I couldn't answer any of these questions—not until I saw the world with my own eyes.

"Now, how do I escape?" I muttered under my breath, my voice breaking the heavy silence. I glanced around, realizing for the first time how calm everything had become. Before me stretched a celestial road, shimmering with an ethereal glow, its endless path both breathtaking and otherworldly.

"How beautiful…" The words slipped from my lips, unbidden. It felt like I was adrift in space itself, surrounded by endless stars, each one gradually lighting up in a dazzling display. The scene shifted, the stars beginning to spin around me, their rotation growing faster and faster until the sheer speed left me both dizzy and awestruck. It was as though I had become the very center of the cosmos, everything revolving around me.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion erupted, flooding the space with blinding white light. I instinctively shut my eyes against the brilliance. When I opened them again, I found myself seated on what seemed to be a chair.

"What is this place?" I muttered, glancing around. The gothic-style room where I had once met the Emperor of Death now stretched before me, its eerie grandeur all too familiar. My gaze fell on the massive black door at the far end, its ominous presence still unchanged.

What am I sitting on?

Lowering my eyes, I realized I was perched on the very same throne where the skeletal figure had once rested. Strangely, the massive seat had reshaped itself to fit me perfectly, as if it had adjusted its size just for me. I stood up, still slightly dizzy, my movements unsteady. The skeleton was nowhere to be seen, and the room seemed… smaller, its oppressive vastness diminished.

How many years…? The thought clawed at my mind, refusing to let go. I clung to the fragile hope that only a fleeting moment had passed in this world, but what if it hadn't? What if centuries had truly slipped by?

I began to walk around the grand hall, my steps echoing in the emptiness. My eyes searched for something—anything—hoping to find the skeleton, to ask how much time had elapsed. But the hall was devoid of life. My aimless wandering brought me to a small wooden door, its humble design standing in stark contrast to the rest of the room. It seemed to lead somewhere—perhaps to answers.

I reached out, gripping the handle with my hand. But then, I froze.

What am I even looking for? My friends? Did I even have any?

The thought struck me like a dagger. The endless years of torture had chipped away at my memories, leaving me questioning not only who I was but also the faces I had once held dear. Had I truly cared for anyone, or were they all figments of a forgotten life?

My hesitation melted away as my hand tightened around the handle, almost acting on its own. The door creaked open, revealing a massive bedroom beyond. A pitch-black bed rested at its center, its presence commanding the room. I stepped inside, scanning the empty space, but there wasn't a single soul in sight.

A glint caught my eye—a massive mirror stood against the far wall. My feet moved of their own accord, carrying me toward it. As I came to a halt in front of the mirror, I hesitated, then lifted my head.

On my head rested a black crown. Its sharp, pointed edges gave it an imposing appearance, though the hollow center made it feel oddly light. It felt more like a tiara, but its perfectly round shape gave it an air of authority. I reached up to take it off, but it wouldn't budge, as though it were glued to my scalp. Strangely, I didn't mind—it made my horns look more elegant.

Had I always looked this way?

I inspected my body, my gaze lingering on every detail. It felt different—or perhaps I had simply forgotten how I used to look. A faint smile tugged at my lips. I'm… pretty.

I stared at my reflection for a moment longer, admiring the unfamiliar yet beautiful figure staring back at me. But then something in the mirror caught my eye—a small fox plush toy sitting in the corner of the room.

How odd.

Turning around, I walked over and picked it up, inspecting it closely. A single tear rolled down my cheek, unbidden, and I clutched the toy tighter. Its warmth was overwhelming, stirring something deep within me. And then, like a tidal wave crashing through my mind, memories surged forth.

"Malrang…" I muttered, the name tumbling from my lips like an old melody.

Malrang… yes, I knew someone by that name.

My eyes widened as realization struck. I quickly summoned my system profile, and in an instant, everything came flooding back. The connection was still there, faint but unbroken.

[Malrang]

[Level 48]

"So… you're still out there. Good," I said, my voice flat and emotionless. Despite the joy swelling within me, I couldn't express it. Why do I feel so happy yet so empty at the same time?

A strange pull beckoned me, drawing me from the room. Something—or someone—was calling to me. Carefully, I placed the fox plush back on the bed, smoothing it down as if it were precious. Then, turning on my heel, I walked toward the massive black door. With a single thought, the door swung open as though this place now obeyed my every command.

Beyond the door, the outside world greeted me for the first time in what felt like an eternity. The eerie forest stretched endlessly ahead, its oppressive silence broken only by the faint scent of the ocean drifting through the air. It was a reminder of where I was and what was my goal before I ended up in this place.

As I stepped out of the hall, the same souls that once bowed before the Emperor of Death were now bowing to me. Their ethereal forms trembled slightly, their submission complete.

To the side, a tall skeleton sat on the ground, its bony figure slumped as it gazed into the distance.

"Emperor of Death," I said coldly, my voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

The skeleton turned its head toward me, empty sockets locking onto my gaze. Its crown was gone.

"Don't call me that anymore," it replied in a sorrowful tone. "I am no longer the Emperor of Death. I'm just a nameless soul, waiting for my days to come to an end." It paused, the weight of its words hanging heavily in the air. "My time has passed, and yours has only just begun. I failed in my mission… now, you must continue my work. In time, as your powers grow, you will come to understand what you need to do."

"Why should I play your game?" I snapped, the bluish ghastly light surrounding me flaring with intensity. The air trembled, and the souls around me shivered uncontrollably before the force of my power. Yet, the skeleton remained unphased, its hollow gaze steady.

"Because," it said quietly, "the one who holds such power must pay the price."

There was a deep loneliness in its words, a pain that resonated beyond the physical.

My eyebrow twitched. "What price?"

The skeleton fell silent, its empty sockets seeming to pierce into my very soul. For several agonizing minutes, it said nothing.

Then, in a voice heavy with finality, it spoke.

"Your life..."