Dancing on the golden ashes

The city's beauty was awe-inspiring, a masterpiece of wonder and splendor. Yet, beneath its charm, I could feel the unspoken truth... I'm not welcome here.

Why would Jeong Suhan run to this place of all places?

My question was interrupted as his figure darted through the massive main gate, shattering it upon impact. Chaos erupted instantly. The city's people rose to arms, their panic spreading like wildfire. I didn't hesitate either.

With a swift motion, I summoned my scythe, its dark blade gleaming ominously. A single, powerful slash ignited with fire, severing the massive pipe before me. The weapon groaned under the sheer force of my attack before shattering into pieces.

The explosion that followed was deafening, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The outer wall trembled, cracks spreading along its surface, but it held firm but barely. If this had been any other city, that single strike would've leveled half of it. Here, though, it stood defiant, a testament to its strength.

How marvelous. I took in the sight of an Empire that left me in awe.

Sorry for this, I thought to myself, guilt creeping in as I considered the destruction I had caused. But no—if anyone should be blamed for this mess, it wasn't me. It was Jeong Suhan. Who asked him to flee here like a coward?

At the far end of the city, his figure crashed into a massive structure carved directly into the mountain. It had the regal air of a palace, yet its reinforced design hinted at something more—like a miniature stronghold built to withstand an invasion.

"Fight me, Jeong Suhan!" I shouted, my voice ringing through the air, desperate to draw him out. But no matter how loudly I called, he stayed hidden within that cursed stronghold.

So hateful and cowardly—even more so than I had imagined.

"So, you leave me no choice…" My words trembled with restrained fury as a surge of rage flooded through me, raw and overwhelming. Time was slipping away and I could already sense the presence of the other kings closing in. I couldn't afford to wait any longer.

A wicked grin spread across my face as I readied myself.

Let's see how this Soul Split Stage truly feels.

"Annihilation Slash!" The words erupted from me in a primal scream, the pure joy in my voice undeniable. Power surged through my veins, intoxicating and exhilarating. I loved this feeling—the weight of overwhelming strength, the undeniable proof that I was above everyone else. It was addictive, thrilling… and utterly magnificent.

A devastating slash tore through the air, fire, and wind merging into a colossal beam of destruction. It crashed into the palace with unrelenting force, igniting a massive explosion that reverberated through the mountain. When the chaos subsided, all that remained was a gaping, two-hundred-fifty-meter diameter hole carved deep into the rock.

And in the center of it all, a single figure stood untouched. His body radiated with an ethereal white light, his lips curling into a smile I knew all too well. That smug expression—exhilarated and triumphant—sent a chill coursing through me.

Did he make me destroy this place on purpose?

The thought made my blood boil, rage coursing through every vein. If he had orchestrated this, if this destruction was part of his plan... oh, it wouldn't end with mere torture. No, I would make sure he regretted every second of it.

Hatred surged through me, unfamiliar and overwhelming, twisting into something dark and uncontainable.

In the next moment, a sharp, menacing aura pierced through me from behind. The pain was excruciating, like being torn apart from the inside, yet no wound appeared on my body. I spun around, and there she was—a woman clad in black armor, her sword gleaming as she sharpened its edge. Tendrils of dark energy swirled around her, cloaking her entirely in a sinister aura. Her appearance was a stark contradiction to the person she was on the inside.

"I will kill you for this!" she screamed, her voice raw with fury, nearly incoherent in her rage.

But I didn't have time for her. Her anger meant nothing compared to the more pressing threat before me. Without hesitation, I activated my Shadow Parade. Ten identical clones materialized, each a perfect replica at full power.

"Buy me time," I commanded silently as they rushed to intercept her. Meanwhile, my focus shifted back to someone else who demanded my attention.

What surprised me was that Jeong Suhan didn't run this time. He simply stood there, his gaze meeting mine. His expression was calm, almost welcoming, like he was inviting me to sit down for a casual chat—as if I were some long-lost friend.

That rotten habit of his...

My soul energy churned violently, responding to the storm of emotions within me. With a sharp motion, I summoned the golden fire, and my scythe transformed instantly. The weapon burned with an intense golden flame, its heat so fierce that it even made me scared for a moment. The flames danced wildly, untamed, but I didn't stop there. I enveloped the scythe in red lightning, the energy crackling and surging with raw power. It was feral, almost uncontrollable. Balancing it was nearly impossible—until the rage came. The angrier I became, the easier it was to harness, and the stronger I felt.

With a powerful flap of my wings, I closed the distance in an instant, my scythe descending in a wild slash.

His pure white sword flared to life, meeting my attack mid-air. The clash sent shockwaves tearing through the air around us.

BOOM!

Fire and white light collided, their violent fusion tearing through the mountain itself. The ground shattered, sending rubble cascading around me. The red lightning crackling across my body moved instinctively, reducing the falling debris to harmless dust before it could touch me.

"I've missed you, Lee Gaon. It's been far too long," Jeong Suhan said, his voice warm and nostalgic. His bright smile was infuriating as if we were merely old friends reminiscing about simpler times. "Do you still remember the championship?"

His words pierced through the chaos, but I simply ignored his words. Our weapons clashed in a fierce deadlock, and I could feel his strength reverberating through my arms.

I stepped back sharply, spinning my scythe in wide, sweeping arcs. Golden fire crescent moon slashes tore through the air, raining down on him with unrelenting fury. With my free hand, I cast Soul Shackle. It wrapped around him like an invisible chain, forcing his movements to a halt—if only for a moment.

But he wasn't some weakling. He was a king, and his soul burned with a power that matched my own, strength for strength.

Before the shackles could fully bind him, a shimmering shield materialized around him, deflecting my slash attacks and in the next moment breaking him free.

Had he anticipated this? My heart shook.

Did he see it coming? Maybe it was because of his talent—predicting his opponent's every move, even if they had never crossed blades before. Or was it something more?

Who am I kidding… I laughed bitterly, mocking my own stupidity. I knew that power all too well. It was so unique, so infuriatingly unfair, that it allowed him to never lose in a fight.

"You and your pure talent," I spat, my words laced with venom. "Did you ever have to work hard for anything in your life? Tell me, Jeong Suhan!"

The hatred in my voice echoed, fueled by every memory of clawing my way forward, only to watch him shine effortlessly. But my words didn't faze him—he only smiled.

Inspect!
Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

[Jeong Suhan]

[Level 60]

[Main Character]

[King]

What the fuck?! My mind reeled as the information burned into my vision. Who gave him the role of [Main Character]? How is that even a class? To hell with that!

The implications hit me like a storm. Did that mean he was invincible, protected by the narrative itself?

Fuck that! My grip on my scythe tightened, the flames roaring to life in response to my rage. I'm not some side character in his story. I refuse to be overshadowed by his plot armor.

A dark smile spread across my face as I prepared for my next move. Let's see what kind of "story" saves him when I slay him.

Suddenly, a surge of pure white light erupted from Jeong Suhan's back. It lashed out like whips, twisting and flaring in every direction, taking the form of ethereal tails. The energy was raw, untamed, and carried a presence so overwhelming it felt like something from an entirely different plane of existence.

His speed skyrocketed, becoming almost impossible to track. Before I could react, he was already at my left, his sword slicing through the air. I barely dodged to the side, my instincts screaming at me to move.

A powerful thrust followed, narrowly missing me, but the white energy beam it unleashed struck the city behind.

KABOOM!

The ground shook violently as a massive explosion ripped through the streets. Powerful winds slammed into me from behind, nearly throwing me off balance. My chest tightened as I realized—if that attack had hit me directly, I'd be dead.

Just how powerful is he?

Before I could gather my thoughts, a sharp jolt ran through my mind. My connection to my clones shattered all at once, their presences snuffed out like candles. I glanced back to see the six kings arriving on the battlefield.

Some of them were in bad shape, their bodies battered and bleeding. The sight made me chuckle darkly. If they couldn't even handle my clones, how did they expect to handle me?

But the humor faded quickly as reality sank in. I was stuck in a deadly standoff—six kings behind me and one overpowered lunatic in front of me.

Just who'll be walking out of this hell alive?

At that moment, I couldn't help but smile. My heart raced, pounding wildly in my chest. The chaos, the tension, the sheer madness of it all—I enjoyed every second of this mess.