Dancing on the golden ashes

My heart pounded wildly in my chest.

For the first time, I stood face-to-face with him—the one responsible for dragging me into this world. The Creator.

Did I hate him? Did I worship him for granting me this power? I didn't know. All I knew was that I wanted to kill him. More than anything else, I wanted him dead.

Without thinking, I rushed toward the window, desperate to reach him. But the moment I moved, I felt it—my power stripped away. Almost all of it.

Yet, a flicker of fire ignited around me with a single thought, and relief coursed through me. I still had my soul powers, and with them, I could manipulate the rest of my abilities. Fire came easiest to me, the most familiar and natural.

My gaze dropped to myself, noticing the shift in my appearance. My dress had returned, but it was different now, radiating a fiery intensity. The black and gold were replaced with crimson tones, flames flickering across the fabric. It was beautiful, commanding even, but I cared little for its appearance. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire

My focus was singular.

I needed to find a way to reach him. To reach both of them.

"Please, take a seat," the Creator said, his voice smooth and commanding.

I glanced around and saw a chair in the center of the room. It was crafted with a regal elegance, tailored with intricate, rich designs, as if meant for royalty.

Reluctantly, I sat down, my teeth clenched in frustration. I hated this. Hated that I was powerless here. In this space, there was nothing I could do but follow his instructions, no matter how much I despised it.

Only then did I notice a small window in the distance. Through the faint light, I could make out a figure inside—someone else was there.

Jeong Suhan?

Perhaps he was part of this trial too. The thought gnawed at me, and I couldn't help but wonder where all of this would lead us.

"You're right, Lee Gaon. Jeong Suhan will also take part in this," the Creator's voice echoed, smooth and knowing.

Fuck off, I thought bitterly, glaring at him.

A faint giggle escaped his lips, confirming what I suspected—he could read my mind.

"This trial you're about to take part in is called the Game of Death," he said, his voice laced with unsettling amusement.

What is this? Some kind of reality show? I scowled internally. I wish he'd just let us fight and get it over with.

Despite my irritation, I waited for his next words, scanning my surroundings. The room was unnervingly empty, with no visible doors or escape routes.

"Soon, the both of you will take part in the first game," he continued.

Suddenly, a deafening cheer erupted around me, as if a massive crowd was watching from unseen stands. The sound made my skin crawl.

Seriously, how lonely is this guy? I thought, grimacing. This is a bit…

SNAP!

With a snap of his fingers, everything changed.

I found myself teleported into a strange, dark chamber. The air felt heavy, suffocating, and even with my sharp eyes, I couldn't see anything. The room was pitch black, swallowing every hint of light.

But I didn't panic. I stood still, steady, focusing my attention on my ears. If there's going to be a sneak attack, I'll hear it coming.

Whatever was next, I was ready to face it.

"Let the first game begin!" the Creator's voice boomed with energy, followed by the echoing cheers of an unseen crowd.

Suddenly, a single light illuminated the room, revealing a mirror in front of me.

What is that…?

"Welcome to the Hall of Reflections," the Creator's voice announced grandly.

Then, silence.

I stared into the mirror, and slowly, a figure began to take shape. My breath caught as I realized who it was—it was me. But not the me of now.

The woman in the mirror sat slumped in her gaming chair, her eyes hollow and lifeless as they stared at the screen in front of her. Her frame was gaunt, her body frail, and her hair messy. The room around her was a disaster, filled with trash and the remnants of a life spent in isolation.

"Why is it me?" I murmured, my voice barely audible.

Something stirred inside me as I stepped closer to the mirror. My hand reached out instinctively, longing for something I couldn't quite define. I wanted to go back—back to when life was simpler.

"You can go back, right now," the Creator's voice whispered, his tone almost gentle. "Just go. Swap places with her, and it will all be over."

The words tempted me, pulling at the deepest corners of my mind. What if I just… stopped? What if I forgot about this endless revenge? What if I returned to that simpler life?

But as the thought lingered, I hesitated.

That life wasn't just simple—it was lonely. Empty. The kind of existence I had vowed never to return to.

Then, another light flared to my side. A second mirror appeared, much larger than the first.

In its reflection, I saw another version of myself—a vision of power and grace.

A woman of striking beauty with flowing white hair and elegant black horns sat on a throne, exuding strength and authority. She gazed out over a vast empire, her domain filled with life and prosperity. Beside her stood her friends, each smiling warmly, their presence radiating trust and companionship.

And there was Malrang.

She rested peacefully on my lap, her small form curled on my thighs as I gently stroked her fur.

The two mirrors couldn't have been more different—one showing the emptiness of what was, and the other a glimpse of what could be.

I stood frozen between them, torn by the choice laid before me.

Another mirror materialized to my right, and the image it reflected sent a chill down my spine.

A twisted version of myself stood there, surrounded by destruction. The heads of my friends lay at her feet, bloodied and lifeless. Flames consumed everything around her, licking hungrily at the ashes of her empire.

Our eyes locked, and I felt my whole body tremble.

Is that… me? That demon… is me?

"No," I whispered, shaking my head violently. "No, I'd never become like that. Never..."

I grabbed my head, my thoughts spiraling into chaos. I didn't know what to choose.

"You have one minute left to decide," the Creator's voice announced, cold and emotionless. "Refusal will result in death."

A massive timer appeared above me, the golden numbers 60 burning into the air. The seconds began to tick down, each one searing into my mind like a branding iron.

Then, more mirrors began to appear—hundreds of them. They circled me, each one showing fragments of me—my past, my present, my future. They began to shift and swirl, the images mixing together until it was impossible to tell one from the other.

Panic clawed at my chest as the mirrors started flying off into the distance. My heart raced as I realized the cruel game I was trapped in.

I have to find it. I have to find my destiny. But which mirror…?

The golden timer burned brighter as the seconds slipped away.

30 seconds left.

I stumbled forward, my eyes locking onto a mirror. It showed me alone, sitting in my messy room, isolated from the world. My hand reached for it instinctively, but I stopped myself.

No… I can't go back. I refuse to go back.

Something deep inside me pushed against the thought, rejecting it entirely.

Then I must go forward. I must find the future where I'm happy.

My gaze darted desperately through the swirling chaos. Where is it? Time was running out. I have to find it!

I grabbed the mirror, but my legs refused to move.

It's too good to be true. Too bad to be true. Too lonely to remember.

"I will not choose," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I refuse... and I also refuse to die."

Suddenly, my eyes caught sight of a mirror I hadn't noticed before. It was distant, almost impossibly far, yet I knew it was different. In it, I saw my true reflection—not a past, not a future, just me.

Less than five seconds remained.

With everything I had, I rushed toward it, pushing my body to its limit. At the last moment, me and the other me collided, swapping places.

I turned back, watching through the mirror as she burned to ashes, along with every other reflection. All those possibilities, all those alternate paths—gone in an instant, reduced to nothing.

This whole thing was a trick, I realized bitterly. It had been designed to manipulate me into choosing a false hope, to lure me into abandoning the present. If I had fallen for it, I would've been dead.

Suddenly, applause erupted around me, loud and thunderous, as if thousands were watching.

And then I heard them. Familiar voices.

"Big sis, where are we?"

"Where is this place?"

My heart clenched as the voice echoed in my mind.

"Ah! Gaon!"

I spun around and froze.

Malrang and Kim Seong-Hoon stood before me, looking exactly as I remembered them. Malrang's eyes sparkled with excitement, and Seong-Hoon wore his usual smug grin. They rushed toward me, their expressions a mix of surprise and relief.