Dancing on the golden ashes

The moment the helmet came off, I was struck by the most beautiful face I had ever seen. It wasn't a man—it was a stunningly gorgeous woman, her features so flawless she resembled a living doll. Her pure blue eyes sparkled like gemstones, radiating a brilliance that seemed almost otherworldly. Every part of her face was perfection, an embodiment of beauty that could silence anyone who looked upon her.

But it wasn't just her appearance. The sheer power she radiated was overwhelming, enough to rule over other kings with ease.

"I… Lee Gaon…" I stammered in broken German, trying to find the words. "You… name?"

The woman looked at me, her features youthful, no older than twenty. Her lips parted, and she laughed heartily, the sound light yet unsettling. Her smile was intoxicating, radiant in a way that made me feel a twinge of jealousy for her looks.

"Lorena," she said with a dazzling grin. "Lorena Ebenhain." She bowed gracefully, her movements like that of a noble knight. "Pleased to meet you."

But as I watched her, unease crept in. There was something suspicious about her, something hidden beneath that perfect smile. It felt far too polished, far too fake.

"This person can speak German? She looks Asian. She's pretty cute—maybe she could join our empire. Then we'd have five beautiful women in our ranks," one of the twins joked, his playful tone matched by the other's laughter as they both glanced at me with mischievous grins.

"Did you forget about me? Am I not pretty?" The man in the pink dress suddenly flew over to them, pouting like a teenager. His exaggerated expression and whining tone made me cringe.

I could see the twins' faces twist in displeasure, their earlier amusement replaced with visible irritation. The scene felt oddly humorous, and I had to fight the urge to smirk.

"I… no fight. Only take white-hair person," I said, my words clumsy as my tongue twisted awkwardly around the foreign language.

I knew this fight wouldn't be easy. Taking Jeong Suhan away would be even more troublesome—especially since it wasn't like he'd come willingly.

She tilted her head, her gaze sliding past me to something over my shoulder. "The white-haired devil? He's already gone," she said with a laugh.

I turned in panic, glancing back to where he stood. Jeong Suhan was still there, his expression complicated, torn between defiance and hesitation.

Suddenly, a sharp aura pierced through the air, and my body tensed. Killing intent exploded from in front of me, raw and suffocating. Without thinking, I dodged to the side, vanishing in a blur.

A sharp black blade grazed my ribcage, its edge slicing through my skin and barely missing my heart. Pain flared, but I bit it back, my focus sharpening. That was too close. I'm such an idiot.

Suddenly, the other six kings surrounded me, their auras suffocating as they closed in. The red-haired woman, her arm now fully regenerated, rested her massive sword casually on her shoulder.

"So, a little mouse wants to play with us?" she sneered, her fiery eyes glinting with amusement. "She's one level higher than me, but does she really think that makes her so much better than us? How laughable."

Her mocking tone grated on me, each word laced with disdain.

My heart burned with a sudden, overwhelming rage. "Not only do I think like that… I am!" I shouted, my voice ringing with unrestrained confidence before breaking into maniacal laughter.

The red-haired woman roared and lunged at me, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. But I was faster. Dodging her strike, I closed the distance in an instant. My hand slammed onto her face as my wild smile stretched wider.

"Air Shatter..." I hissed.

Her head exploded in a shower of blood and gore, the remains of a once-powerful king splattering across the battlefield. I stood there, my hair now streaked with crimson, blood dripping down my face. The metallic tang filled the air, thick and suffocating.

Without hesitation, I reached into her lifeless body, tearing her soul free with a swift motion. The raw essence writhed in my grasp before succumbing, adding one more king to my growing list.

I licked the blood from my fingers, a feral grin spreading across my face as I turned to the others. My gaze locked onto each of them, daring them to come at me next.

"Don't make me mad… huhu… hehe… hahahaha!" I laughed uncontrollably, the sound echoing across the battlefield. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I was alive. Truly alive. After all the torture and suffering, I was finally back—and it felt incredible.

The atmosphere shifted in an instant, growing heavy and oppressive. Everyone froze, their eyes fixed on me in shock. Even the woman in black armor, who had been smiling moments ago, stopped abruptly. Without a word, she placed her helmet back on, her aura darkening as her killing intent soared to the heavens.

The other kings exchanged glances before their expressions hardened, the playful arrogance gone. They were serious now, their auras surging in unison.

But just as I prepared to fight them all, a blur of white caught my eye. My gaze snapped to the figure ahead—Jeong Suhan. He was fleeing at incredible speed, a velocity no less than my own.

I clenched my teeth, torn for a split second, but I knew what I had to do. There was no time to waste on these fools.

My demonic wings erupted with golden fire and streaks of red lightning, the crackling energy splitting the air around me. The sheer force of their power left the atmosphere trembling, shards of energy ripping through the battlefield. Without hesitation, I blurred into motion, shattering the formation of the kings as I broke free.

I surged forward, all my focus locked on Jeong Suhan's fleeing figure. My speed pushed me to the limit, every ounce of strength poured into the chase.

I can't believe that coward would really flee. What a great mentor.

My rage boiled over, my thoughts spiraling into madness. Just you wait, Jeong Suhan. The next time I catch you, I'll slay you slowly, piece by piece. I'll burn you in my flames for days—no, months! You'll beg for death, and I'll never let you have it!

HAHAHAHA! The wild laughter echoed in my mind as I pushed myself even faster, my rage and determination fueling every beat of my wings.

A streak of white light tore through the endless mountain range, weaving between jagged, towering peaks. The blue sky stretched endlessly above, but the mountains seemed infinite, their rocky spires piercing the heavens as if to guard the secrets of this land.

Ahead, nestled within the heart of a colossal, smoldering volcano, was a city like no other. Its walls were forged from blackened obsidian, glimmering faintly under the harsh sunlight, while veins of molten lava snaked through its foundation, casting an eerie red glow across the entire structure. Towering smokestacks reached skyward, spewing clouds of ash and steam, marking it as a place of ceaseless labor and creation. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire

The city seemed alive, its fiery forges breathing heat and light into the mountain. Gigantic, gear-like mechanisms turned steadily on its outer walls, grinding with a rhythmic hum that resonated through the air. The sound was a symphony of industry, a constant reminder of its purpose. Streams of lava flowed down the volcano's slopes, diverted by massive iron channels that led into the city's core, feeding its fiery heart.

This was no mere city—it was a fortress of flame and metal, a place where weapons of war were likely born and kingdoms shaped through raw power.

Is this where their kingdom lies? I wondered, my eyes tracing the intricate pathways carved into the mountain's surface. I guess those memes about German engineering weren't just empty words. I laughed silently.

As I pursued the so-called white devil, Jeong Suhan, the city loomed larger with each passing moment. Behind me, I felt the faint auras of my pursuers lingering. They were far too slow to keep pace, even the black-armored woman struggling to catch up.

Suddenly, a sharp sense of danger surged through me. My gaze snapped ahead, and I spotted a massive obsidian pipe, its opening glowing faintly with a violet light.

Before I could fully process it, the pipe roared to life, unleashing a devastating beam of energy. I dodged just in time, the attack screaming past me and obliterating an entire mountain behind me. The sheer force of the explosion sent shockwaves through the air, and for a moment, terror gripped me.

That wasn't even someone's power, I realized, my heart racing. It was a weapon—a tool of human engineering.

As I steadied myself, my eyes caught a glimpse of something ahead—a massive metal sign carved into the volcanic rock. Written in bold Latin letters, it read:

"The Empire of Molten Core," I whispered under my breath, the name rolling off my tongue with a sense of awe. Its weight lingered in the air, as if the words themselves carried the power and might of the city before me.