Dancing on the golden ashes

My blood boiled at the thought of what was to come. Soon, this entire place would erupt into war and chaos, and I couldn't wait to test the full extent of my new powers and potential.

I glanced around, my eyes sweeping over the seven kings surrounding me. Their pure auras pressed down on me, almost suffocating in their intensity. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

And yet… I loved it.

Why? The question echoed in my mind. Why did I become like this?

But the answer felt almost irrelevant as the thrill consumed me. It was the same feeling I had back when I used to play video games—the rush of being outnumbered, your life hanging by a thread…

It was so intoxicating.

A massive pink whip lashed out, crashing against me with a blinding glow. The vibrant light pulsated, its unnatural expansion suggesting some kind of enhancement.

I raised my hand, cold and unflinching, as I gripped the whip mid-air. With a single, tight squeeze, I yanked it toward me, forcing its owner forward. My eyes locked onto the bastard who dared to attack me.

He had no honor. The fight hadn't even officially begun, and he'd already resorted to a sneaky strike.

His expression faltered, his face twisting in sudden fear. Desperation filled his eyes as he looked around, silently begging the others for help. But no one moved.

Their apathy didn't go unnoticed. So, no one likes you in this group, huh? The thought brought a dark smile to my lips. Interesting…

His body suddenly erupted in a brilliant pink light, and from his back, stunning butterfly wings unfolded, expanding dramatically—at least five times their original size. It was the only impressive thing about him.

He struggled, desperately trying to resist my pull, but it was futile. His face was already within my reach, and I could feel the panic radiating from him.

Just as I was about to end him, a flash of white light streaked past me. I tilted my head instinctively, narrowly avoiding the strike, and in the next instant, it pierced through my target's head, ending his life in a single, precise blow.

I turned sharply to find Jeong Suhan standing behind me, a mischievous smirk plastered across his face. He looked like a child who had just stolen candy from a friend—gleeful and far too pleased with himself.

I reached down, tore the soul from the lifeless corpse, and consumed it in full view of everyone.

A heavy silence fell over the battlefield, broken only by Jeong Suhan's voice.

"How disturbing. Are you truly the same Gaon I knew back then?" His tone carried a strange mix of curiosity and amusement. "Then again," he continued, his lips curling into a smile, "when I think about it, you don't seem all that different. The lengths you'll go to reach the top... I truly admire that."

As he spoke, his entire body began to glow with a radiant white light. His eyes blazed with an almost divine brilliance, making him seem like a being from another universe entirely.

"You two are despicable!" The woman in black armor spat, her voice filled with venom. Her black sword glimmered with an ominous dark light, and the others around her followed suit, summoning their weapons.

In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. I was surrounded, their intent clear. From every direction, I had become the sole target of their attacks.

"Can I play?"

The eerie voice echoed in my head, its tone unsettling yet strangely subdued. The aura surrounding it was different now—more restrained, as if it had become obedient. Ever since I advanced into the Soul Split Stage, I noticed it seemed happier. Perhaps it was because it no longer had to share space with the golden fire, which had always suppressed it.

But there was something else, something more… personal. I felt closer to this entity now, as though a silent understanding had formed between us. Slowly, I began to realize that it had always been trying to help me. In those fleeting moments when my heart still clung to human emotions, it was the one that stopped me from making drastic, irreparable decisions.

Sure, let's fight together and have fun—not as enemies, but as friends, I said in my mind. My heart pounded wildly, anticipation and adrenaline coursing through me. This time, I would push myself to my full potential. This time, I would come out victorious.

"Hehehe… Thank you."

Those were the only words it uttered before I felt it—my soul expanding, stretching beyond its limits. A surge of dark power flooded through me, its overwhelming presence almost suffocating. It was a force that didn't belong in this world, a raw, unrelenting energy that began to take shape within me.

It felt eerily familiar—like the time I fought Kim Ha-Joon. But there was a difference. Back then, we had spoken as one, two voices merging into harmony. Now, I was in control. This energy no longer asked for anything, no longer demanded to share the body.

It was mine.

The power roared through me, untamed and ferocious, unlike anything I had ever wielded before.

BOOM!

A black light exploded from my body, surging outward like a tidal wave. The darkness consumed everything in its path, corroding the attacks and auras of the other kings as if they were nothing.

And this… I thought, a wicked smile spreading across my face, this is without my 200% boost in power. If I push myself to the limit, who could possibly stand equal to me? Even someone with the role of [Main Character] would crumble under my hands.

The transformation took hold of me completely. My entire body morphed into a dark, otherworldly entity. My fingers elongated, sharpening into spear-like claws that exuded pure malice. My appearance was demonic, a twisted visage of power. The golden flames that once burned so brightly were now pitch black, and even the red lightning that crackled around me was consumed, leaving only the deepest darkness.

Above me, the sky dimmed, shadows creeping across the heavens as my power plunged the world into twilight.

I glanced toward the city, where countless eyes stared back at me, wide with terror. Their fear was palpable, and I welcomed it.

If they're afraid… that only means I'm strong.

My scythe began to transform, its blade melting away into pure shadow before reshaping itself into a pair of sinister gauntlets. Each gauntlet extended into massive, razor-sharp, claw-like fingers, black lightning crackling around them with menacing energy. They resembled shadowy talons, radiating an aura of pure destruction. The gauntlets felt impossibly sharp, as if a single touch could slice through anything.

But the transformation didn't stop there. My dress began to shift as well, the flowing fabric tightening and reforming against my body. The elegant ball gown was no more; in its place was a sleek, battle-ready bodysuit that hugged every curve. It clung to my form like a second skin, its black and gold accents shimmering with dark energy.

The suit was bold, revealing just enough to hint at danger and allure. It left the sides of my waist exposed, teasing the curve of my body, while dark, flowing material draped lightly along the back, giving it an almost regal yet deadly elegance.

My legs and feet underwent their own transformation, morphing into sharp, claw-like demonic weapons. My toes extended into curved, metallic talons, each glinting with an eerie black sheen. The tightness of the suit made me feel untamed, unbound by constraints, as though my very essence had become freer and more feral.

The outfit stretched seamlessly from my neck to my legs, perfectly balanced between functionality and flair. It was dangerous, imposing, and undeniably powerful.

My demonic wings grew a few inches, the power surging through them feeling stronger than ever. The kings around me grew visibly weary, their weapons sharpening in response to the oppressive energy in the air. Jeong Suhan's reaction was immediate—his white aura exploded again, brighter and more intense than before. The massive, tail-like wings behind him glowed so brightly it could blind anyone who looked directly at them.

Darkness and light collided, and in that moment, the battlefield became ours. Only one among the kings could stand against the combined force of our auras: Lorena Ebenhain, the woman in black armor. Her presence was steady, her dark energy cutting through the chaos.

"Die, you demon!"

The twins shouted in perfect unison, their voices sharp with rage. They rushed at me together, their movements perfectly aligned, each matching the other's speed exactly. Golden swords materialized in their hands, gleaming with radiant power. In the next moment, they vanished, their sudden disappearance leaving only their killing intent lingering in the air.

Behind them, I caught sight of the elf-eared woman with a massive wooden staff. She stood at a distance, her lips moving rapidly as she chanted, the air around her shimmering faintly with the energy of her spell.

Is that a boost in speed? I wondered for a brief second before I moved. In a blur, I vanished from where I stood. The next moment, two golden swords pierced through the air, striking the exact spot I had been.

The twins looked at me, their faces etched with shock.

Before they could react further, Lorena Ebenhain, the woman in black armor, surged forward without hesitation. Her blade flashed with incredible speed, slashing toward me. But I caught her attack mid-air with my newly-formed claws, the impact reverberating between us.

Yet they were relentless.

The one wielding the black book launched a spell at me, and in the blink of an eye, everything around me turned pitch dark. I felt an eerie, consuming power closing in, trying to swallow me whole.

Foolish, I thought, a smirk tugging at my lips. I am darkness itself.

Her magic was useless against me.

"Soul Shackle."

With a single command, chains erupted from my aura, wrapping around every opponent except Jeong Suhan. They froze in place, unable to move.

But Jeong Suhan was different. His white aura flared once again as he cast another skill. A blinding shield of light surrounded him, repelling my chains effortlessly.

"You've all met the wrong opponent today," I said, my voice cold and devoid of emotion.

"Sorry for this…"

I raised my hand, the overwhelming power surging around me as the words escaped my lips:

"Sovereign's Domain."