Dancing on the golden ashes

"Why… Why are the two of you here?" I asked, my voice trembling. Fear gripped me. Why them? How is Malrang talking?

"You two aren't real, right? Malrang, you can't talk—I know that," I said, refusing to believe what I saw.

"She recently evolved," Seong-Hoon interrupted, his tone casual and infuriatingly familiar. "You should've seen it. It was epic."

I stared at him, the same annoying idiot, as if he'd never left.

"We got teleported here from Luminara Palace," he continued. "We were in the middle of planning to look for you. It's been too long, Gaon. All news about you disappeared. Where have you been?"

Malrang jumped to my shoulder, her soft voice cutting through my panic.

"Where have you been, Gaon?" she asked, her concern evident.

I didn't know how to respond. My throat tightened.

"That…" I hesitated, swallowing hard. "I'm sorry, okay? I'll be back soon. I just… I need to win this trial. These stupid games. And then I'll be able to kill Jeong Suhan—the person responsible for my suffering. So please, just wait a bit longer..."

Malrang gave me a playful punch on the cheek, her expression gentle.

"Of course we'll wait," she said softly. "But you don't have to do it alone. We're here with you."

Before I could reply, Seong-Hoon pulled me into a hug. Warmth spread through my body, and for a moment, the weight on my shoulders felt lighter.

"We're here for you, sis," he said, his voice steady. "So don't worry. Let's do this together."

I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I missed them so much.

But the moment of relief shattered.

Out of nowhere, black ropes shot from the shadows, wrapping around both of them. They were forcefully dragged away, suspended in the air with their mouths gagged.

Terror surged through me as I reached out, helpless.

"Let the second game begin..." the Creator's voice boomed, cold and detached.

"Choose one," he said. "The other must die. Only then will you be able to proceed to the next stage… and have your revenge."

That disgusting voice... Why?

"You have ten minutes," the Creator announced, his voice cutting off abruptly.

I was left alone with my thoughts, forced to confront the impossible decision before me. Memories flooded my mind, unbidden and overwhelming.

I relived the moments I had shared with both of them. Malrang—my first companion in this world. I remembered the day we met, her cheeky personality, her unwavering loyalty. And Seong-Hoon—at first, I hated him, his annoying habits and endless interruptions. But over time, his friendship became something I cherished deeply.

How was I supposed to choose?

The ones who had stayed with me the longest, the ones who had been by my side when I needed them most—why was I being forced to decide which one should die?

Slowly, I felt myself spiraling into madness. My thoughts twisted and turned, searching for an answer, but none came. I couldn't do it. Not between these two.

Suddenly, movement caught my eye.

Jeong Suhan stood in the dim light, his body drenched in blood. He had passed the stage. A corpse lay at his feet, its identity hidden by shadow.

He turned toward me, his mocking gaze landing on me and the two suspended in the air. His lips curled into a playful smirk, as if this was all a game to him.

My chest tightened as I looked back at Malrang and Kim Seong-Hoon. Neither of them struggled against their bindings. Their eyes were filled with tears, but their gazes were soft, kind.

I knew in my heart that neither of them would resent me for choosing the other.

But… how could I?

Why would I choose?

No.

I clenched my fists, my body trembling.

There has to be another way. I refuse.

"Weakling..." Jeong Suhan's voice cut through the silence, dripping with mockery. "Kill them both, and you won't have to suffer anymore. Then, you can take it out on me. Isn't that what you wanted? Didn't you want to fight me? Didn't you want to kill me?"

He spread his arms wide, his blood-stained figure illuminated by the dim light.

"Then come. I'm waiting. I'm standing right here!"

His taunts pierced through me like daggers, stoking the fire of my rage. I felt the flames around me crackling wildly, their intensity growing with every second. The air itself trembled as the red lightning surged to life, crackling violently around me.

My vision blurred with anger, my grip on control slipping.

Then, a sudden crack.

I froze as I realized the lightning had lashed out, striking Seong-Hoon. His flesh burned where it hit, the acrid smell searing into my senses.

"No…" I whispered, my voice shaking. The fire and lightning wavered, the storm within me threatening to consume everything.

"I'm sorry!" I screamed, my voice cracking with desperation.

Seong-Hoon looked at me, his eyes filled with sadness, but he didn't blame me. His mouth moved, but the black ropes muffled his words, leaving his attempts at reassurance unheard.

Time continued to tick, each second feeling like an eternity.

Five minutes left…

"What do I do?!" I shouted in my mind, panic and fury threatening to overwhelm me. How do I escape this without killing anybody?

My thoughts spiraled.

Fuck! He promised!

The memory of the Creator's words stabbed at me. He said he wouldn't mess with them. Was that promise only for the first trial? Had he been lying all along?

"Fuck! Fuck!"

Before I could even process what was happening, both of them were released, falling to the ground.

Their bodies moved almost immediately, and I barely had a moment to react.

Seong-Hoon summoned his weapon, the familiar glint of determination lighting up his eyes.

Malrang, meanwhile, transformed. Her form grew and grew until she towered over us all, at least twenty meters tall. Her massive fox form radiated power, her fur shimmering like flames in the dim light.

"Kill one of them or die," the Creator's cold, detached voice rang out, leaving no room for compromise.

I barely had time to process his words before I found myself dodging attacks from both of them.

"Stop!" I shouted, my voice desperate. "Why are you two attacking me?"

Seong-Hoon's voice broke through the chaos, strained and choked. "We… can't control… Please… free us… kill… us…"
Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

Malrang only growled, her massive form radiating an uncontrollable fury.

For the next four minutes, I danced on the edge of survival, dodging every attack as best I could. But my resolve faltered, my body slowing as exhaustion set in.

Seong-Hoon's blade finally found its mark, pinning me to the ground.

I tried to resist, to push him back without hurting him, but I couldn't bring myself to strike. And yet, he didn't finish me off either.

Tears streamed down his face as he screamed, "Please… choose me! Kill me instead of Malrang. I'm okay, really. I'll be fine. Just do it! You must think about the others waiting for you, big sis! DO IT!"

His words tore through me like knives. My hands trembled as fire and lightning sparked to life in my palms.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice breaking as I closed my eyes.

The energy surged forward, striking his head. The light in his eyes faded instantly as his body slumped to the ground.

But it wasn't over.

"One more remaining," the Creator's voice echoed, cruel and unrelenting.

Through the pain and tears, my voice erupted in a scream. "You said one, you heartless shithead!"

The Creator's voice replied, calm and detached. "You took too long. The rules have changed."

Before I could react, Malrang's massive form lunged at me, her glowing eyes filled with primal fury.

I don't want to do this.

Her towering figure bore down on me, claws outstretched, and I knew I didn't have a choice. If I hesitated, I'd die.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice trembling with anguish.

At that moment, instinct took over. My flames surged outward in a massive wave, engulfing her entirely. The fire burned with a fierce intensity, consuming her in an instant.

Her massive body crumpled, the flames leaving nothing but ashes in their wake.

I fell to my knees, my cries echoing through the chamber as tears poured down my face, thick and heavy, as if they were mingled with blood.

Then, the sound of applause filled the air once more, mocking my grief.

I stared in disbelief as their bodies—both Seong-Hoon and Malrang—began to dissolve, turning into wisps of black smoke. The tendrils of smoke rose into the air, vanishing as if they had never been there at all.

"Fake…?" I whispered, my voice trembling as a fragile spark of hope ignited in my chest.

Please, let it be true. Let them have been fakes.

Because if I'd truly killed them… I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Not after my revenge was complete. I'd have to end it all.

"Congratulations on passing your second trial, Lee Gaon and Jeong Suhan!"

The Creator's voice boomed enthusiastically, shattering the somber air around me.

"You two are truly selfish and heartless individuals—I loved it! Oh, what a brilliant show!" he exclaimed, his tone dripping with mock amusement.

I clenched my fists as his voice continued, giddy and mocking.

"Oh, how I don't want this to end. If I could, I'd keep you two here forever, playing my little games. It's so delightful to watch!"

"I mean, I could," the Creator continued, his tone playful and infuriating. "But not now. I have other plans for the both of you."

My hatred for him burned brighter than ever.

"One last game remains," he announced with an air of mock grandeur.