Dancing on the golden ashes

I sat on the back of Hwangryong as we soared through the sky. This type of transportation was far more amusing, and honestly, I enjoyed it.

Besides, the dragon wouldn't stop complaining about not having enough space to stretch out, so what else could I have done for him? Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

My other beasts rested quietly in my beast world. I hadn't yet decided if I wanted to focus on gathering random beasts or searching for rare ones. After all, I had no idea where I was right now, and there was plenty of time to take things slow and power up before sensing the direction I needed to go.

I miss my empire.

The thought crossed my mind, and I couldn't help but sigh. I wouldn't mind going back, but before that, it would be nice to run into an unlucky king and gain another advancement.

Also...

My stomach dropped at the thought.

If Jeong Suhan decided to attack my empire on his own, I doubted anyone would be strong enough to stop him.

"Master!" Hwangryong's voice suddenly broke through my thoughts.

"There's a powerful aura ahead. I can feel a strong enemy. Do you wish to go there?"

I snapped out of my daze and looked ahead. A massive forest stretched before us, the trees towering at least a one thousand meters tall. Their thick trunks swayed gently in the wind, yet somehow didn't snap under their own weight.

It was marvelous.

I couldn't help but wonder how such immense trees stayed upright. But then again, this world had already proven to be far too strange to comprehend. Nothing here ever made sense.

"Yeah, let's check it out. Also, I want to explore that forest—it looks fun," I said, a hint of excitement in my voice.

It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in a while. For some strange reason, when I wasn't consumed by chasing people down for revenge, I actually felt… happy.

Is that a wake-up call for me?

I brushed the thought aside. Well, I still had people to catch, and a part of me hoped I'd meet more of them in this world. But one thing was becoming clear: there would probably never be anyone as hateful as Jeong Suhan.

Soon, we hovered above the forest.

"Master, the aura is somewhere in this forest. Do you want me t—"

Before Hwangryong could finish, I quickly summoned him back into my beast world.

I dropped to the ground, an excited smile on my face. I wanted to see for myself what the golden dragon held in such high regard.

Falling through the thick, lush trees, I landed softly and scanned my surroundings. That's when I noticed it—a small dog.

It looked like a husky, but much smaller, barely more than a pup.

This is what he sensed? Not exactly the powerful beast he made it sound like…

"If you conned me, Hwangryong, I swear this will not end with just a beating..."

I muttered the words under my breath, hoping he could hear.

Inspect!

[Level 5]

[Hound of the North]

[Mythical-Grade Demon Beast]

My eyes lit up as I stared at the tiny pup.

"Yet another mythical-grade beast. Hell yes!"

Without wasting a second, my hands moved as if my life depended on it. Black vines shot out, binding the pup to me in one swift motion.

"Let's name you… Howl," I said with a grin. "Hehe, I've heard your kind loves to howl a lot in my world. Hope it's the same here."

Excitement filled my voice as I spoke.

The puppy looked scared at first, its tiny body trembling slightly, but once the binding was complete, it visibly relaxed. Its eyes shifted, gazing up at me with what almost looked like admiration.

I tilted my head, curious. Does my power somehow change how beasts see me?

The thought lingered, but I brushed it off. For now, I had a new companion, and I was more than happy about it.

I picked the tiny pup up in my arms, holding him close.

"So cute," I muttered, staring at the little thing.

I hoped it would grow quickly, feeding off my soul energy to become the powerful beast it was destined to be.

But nothing in this life comes free.

Suddenly, the ground beneath me trembled violently, and a deafening howl pierced through the air, crashing against my ears with enough force to nearly shatter my eardrums.

"I think your mama is coming for you..." I said, looking at the pup.

I held him out in front of me, showcasing all his adorable cuteness.

"Time to say goodbye to her for now," I added, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Rest well in your new world. Your mom will join you soon."

I wasn't cruel enough to separate them permanently, but I knew what needed to be done. It would take a good fight to make the mother come to her senses—and submit to me.

The moment the pup was summoned into my beast world, a massive figure came rushing at me.

It looked exactly like a full-grown husky but at least ten meters tall, which left me wondering if the Creator had taken inspiration from Earth for this one.

"Hey now, relax, you giant dog. Is this how you bark at your owner?" I said with a wild grin, ready to put it in its place if I had to.

But then—

"Who are you calling a giant dog?"

A woman's voice rang out, clear and sharp.

The massive husky suddenly began to shift and transform, and before I knew it, a tall figure nearly two meters in height stood before me.

She still had her dog ears and tail, but her aura radiated strength and agility, as wild and untamed as before.

Her appearance, though humanoid, was nothing short of beast-like.

"A human?" I shouted in surprise, my eyes widening.

"Human?" She tilted her head to the side, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation.

"I'm no human. I'm Beastia, the race of the most powerful beasts!" she snapped, her voice sharp.

Her entire body was covered in an outfit made of fur, fitting snugly against her skin. It looked practical—probably convenient too, since she didn't seem like someone who needed to change clothes often.

Wait—no! What am I even thinking? That's not the problem here!

Why is a half-beast, half-human creature standing in front of me? And the pup I just bound to myself… don't tell me…

The worst-case scenario hit me.

Would people think I'm now taking humanoid creatures as slaves?

I couldn't help but laugh at the thought. But it also puzzled me.

Or… did it mean beasts could evolve into this form?

My mind raced as I remembered the creature I'd seen in the ocean—despite being colossal, it had resembled a human in some ways, though not completely.

It couldn't just be a coincidence. I had a feeling there was a connection here, one I didn't fully understand yet.

"Give me back my son!" she screamed, her voice filled with fury.

Before I could even react, she lunged at me, her hands transforming into massive beast-like paws.

The impact was immediate. Her claws slammed into me, sending me flying through the air.

It didn't hurt much—her strength wasn't enough to truly harm me—but I had been too lost in my thoughts to see the attack coming.

My back collided with a massive tree, the trunk snapping in half with a deafening crack before crashing to the ground.

Her power was breathtaking.

Before I could recover, the force of her attack caused several more trees to snap, toppling like dominos. In an instant, it felt as if the entire forest was starting to crumble around us.

"NOOO!" the beast woman screamed, her voice trembling with rage.

"The holy forest! What have you done?" she shouted, her words almost incoherent in her fury.

I jumped to my feet, dusting myself off as I shot her a glare that could cut through steel.

"How is this my fault? You're the one who sent me flying!"

Her level was impressive—70—but she was barely an overlord. Compared to me, she was nothing more than a nuisance.

With a smirk, I clenched my fist and gathered my strength. In the blink of an eye, I was standing right in front of her.

"Soul Impact!" I roared, throwing a powerful punch that connected squarely with her face.

The force of the blow sent her flying, her body crashing through the remaining trees like a wrecking ball. Whatever was still standing in her path toppled like they'd been caught in a storm.

So much for your holy forest.

Suddenly, countless half-beast, half-human figures began to emerge from the shadows of the crumbling forest.

Their eyes burned with fury, their postures tense and ready for battle.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what was about to happen.

So, this is how it's going to be…

A wild grin spread across my face as I cracked my knuckles.

If this turns into a fight, it looks like I'll have an army of Beastia people to deal with.

This is going to be fun.

Time to fill my beast world with truly fascinating creatures!

But I knew I'd have to be extremely careful not to mess them up too much. They were powerful, unique, and would be valuable allies. And when I finally become the true Demon Lord, I'll have an army of helpers to support our empire.

"Come!" I shouted, my voice brimming with pure excitement.