Dancing on the golden ashes

I looked closely at each beast and person around me. Their gazes pierced me to the bone as if they were trying to measure my strength, their shining eyes calculating whether they could take me on or not.

Was this some sick plot of the Creator?

Did he have his hands on nearly every race in this world? Or were these people just accidents, creatures that had evolved beyond his control?

Either way, it didn't matter.

I'll have to use them against him.

I moved quickly, my body becoming a blur as I weaved through the endless crowd.

The weaker beasts fell effortlessly, thick black vines binding them in place. One by one, they succumbed to my control. It was far too easy. Most of these creatures hadn't even surpassed Level 40, making them nothing more than fodder to me.

I felt like a child receiving their first-ever Christmas gift from Santa.

[Congratulations!]

[You have tamed a new beast!]

[Congratulations!]

[You have tamed a new beast!]

[Congratulations!]

[You have tamed a new beast!]

The messages raced through my mind, each one a satisfying reminder of my progress—another step closer to achieving Demon Lord status. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

[Current Beast Count: 640]

One-third of the beasts here were now under my control. Their once-angry glares had softened into looks of respect—or fear.

Yet, some still held resentment in their eyes, though it didn't matter. They couldn't break free from my grasp, no more than the first beast I'd ever tamed could.

This power of mine was growing at a drastic rate. Looking back to where I started, I had truly become a one-woman army.

If I wanted to take over a kingdom now, it would only be a matter of time before all the beasts under my control became the most feared force in the world.

But before that, I had to tame all of them.

Many Beastia people here were weak, but a few stood out—powerful, commanding, even more so than the woman I'd sent flying earlier.

A deafening roar shattered the air, threatening to burst my eardrums.

A massive lion with a golden mane leaped in front of me, his colossal frame blocking my path entirely.

"Little ant," he growled, his voice dripping with disdain. "Stop this madness now, and I, the great warrior of the Beastia clan, will grant you a quick death."

His expression was cold and condescending, looking down on me like I was beneath him.

What an interesting kitty. I want it!

My eyes gleamed with excitement as I studied him. He was a Level 80 beast—far stronger than anything I'd seen so far.

But it wasn't just his strength that intrigued me.

His rank: [Apex Tyrant]

I had never encountered anything like it before. My heart raced at the thought of testing my strength against him.

Without hesitation, I summoned all the beasts I controlled so far. Their towering forms surrounded me, awaiting my command.

"Don't kill anyone," I ordered sharply, my voice echoing with authority and making them scatter.

Turning back to the lion, a glimmer of greed sparkled in my eyes as I grinned.

"I want you, kitty. Submit to your new Empress!"

"Arrogant fool!" the lion roared, its voice shaking the very air around us.

Its massive body began to grow, swelling to at least three times its original size.

Above the lion, a colossal golden ring manifested, glowing with an ethereal brilliance. The sheer power radiating from it was overwhelming, making my heart race with adrenaline.

The pressure was suffocating as if it were trying to crush me under its weight.

But then, my King's Aura surged to life, pushing back against the oppressive force. The clash of auras filled the air, each fighting for dominance.

This gave me a slight pause. King's Aura doesn't work on beasts, so how come he can pressure me? I thought, confused.

Yet here I was, facing off against a power that could suppress me. Was this because the Apex Tyrant's aura worked on humans?

Or was it because this race was special—half-beast, half-human—and didn't entirely follow the rules?

The realization made my blood boil with excitement.

Darkness surged through me as my body transformed once more. Two pitch-black claws manifested on my hands, and my dress shifted into its demonic form. My entire presence radiated a primal, untamed aura as my power rose to match his.

With a roar, we clashed.

The lion's massive paw grazed my shoulder, nearly ripping it off as I tried to close the distance. Despite his enormous size, his movements were swift and dangerously precise, each strike carrying immense power.

Above him, the colossal golden ring began to radiate an even stronger energy.

Before I could fully react, a massive golden beam shot out, aiming straight for me.

I dodged to the side, my body blurring with speed, and the beam smashed into the ground with a deafening explosion.

The shockwave tore through the forest, uprooting trees and leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

The lion turned his glowing eyes skyward, the golden ring pulsating with power. Another beam shot upward, disintegrating the trees and sending a clear message to everyone around: He was the strongest here.

And this battle would be one of the toughest I'd ever faced.

"You don't like to give up easily, do you?" I growled, readying my claws.

In a blur, I appeared above the beast, unleashing a flurry of Chaos Slashes that rained down from above. The massive cat roared in pain as the attacks tore into its flesh.

But before I could follow up, the colossal golden ring above it glowed brightly, casting a radiant aura that healed its injuries almost instantly.

In the next moment, I was blindsided.

A massive claw slammed into me with crushing force, sending my body flying through the air.

Before I could recover, the lion leaped into the sky with the agility of a rabbit, its massive frame defying logic.

I tried to react, but even with my eyes catching glimpses of the future, it was too fast.

At that moment, a harsh truth hit me—I had overestimated myself once again.

But rather than feeling despair, it only fueled my determination.

I clenched my fists, the fire of my resolve burning brighter.

I can't lose. Not here, not now, not ever.

I felt my body lose all control, hurtling through the air.

In the next moment, I crashed into the ground at least a kilometer away, the impact sending shockwaves through my body as I rolled violently across the dirt.

Finally, I managed to stabilize myself, dragging my claws into the earth to slow my momentum, carving a long, deep line into the ground.

Barely a moment to breathe—

The lion crashed down from the sky like a meteor, its massive body aiming to flatten me.

I dodged to the side just in time, and the colossal beast slammed into the ground, making the earth tremble beneath us.

So much power... I need to be more careful.

My horns began to shine, reacting instinctively to the oppressive aura surrounding me.

Suddenly, my gauntlets vanished, replaced by sleek, sharp knuckles forming on my fists.

I froze for a second, realizing I had little control over the transformation. My soul had forged them on its own.

It felt like something deep within me—something primal—had awakened.

A raw, burning desire to fight with my bare hands surged up from the depths of my being.

Was this a challenge for dominance? A battle to prove who truly deserved to rule?

I clenched my fists, feeling that ancient instinct course through me.

A faint wisp of energy escaped my fists, swirling around my arms like crimson flames.

It carried an aura that felt connected to my horns as if the fire and my very essence were one. My legs suddenly felt lighter, as though the power surging through me had unlocked something primal.

With a single quick step, I was already beneath the lion.

This time, it didn't notice me.

I crouched, channeling all my strength, and with a powerful jump, I launched an uppercut.

My fist connected with its massive belly, sending the beast hurtling into the air.

A painful groan escaped its maw, blood spraying from its mouth.

That day, for the first time, I saw a flying cat.

ROAR!

A thunderous roar echoed from above as the lion descended. Its eyes burned with rage, its aura wild and chaotic.

But before it hit the ground, its body began to shift.

The massive lion transformed into a half-naked man, his crotch barely covered, leaving the rest of his muscular frame glaringly exposed.

I couldn't help but notice the ridiculous spectacle: the chiseled muscles, the golden mane of hair flowing like silk, the sharp lion-like eyes, the ears, and the swaying tail—all screaming raw, beastly power.

The man landed on all fours like a predator, his long nails gleaming like miniature claws.

In the next instant, he disappeared from sight.

Fast.

No—he was now at least twice as fast as before.

A chilling aura of death surged from my left. My instincts screamed, and I raised my arm just in time to block.

A devastating strike collided with my arm, the force rattling through me. I felt the bone crack under the impact, pain searing up to my shoulder.

But I held firm.

The blow sent me skidding back a few meters, my nails digging into the ground to steady myself.

My spirit burned fiercely, refusing to waver.

This wasn't just a battle to tame him anymore.

This was personal.

My pride was on the line, and I would fight until one of us was left standing.