Dancing on the golden ashes

I sat comfortably in the chair, feeling as though nobody had noticed me. I wondered if this was intended to be my seat—it was perfect for watching the fights below. And to be honest, it was quite exciting and fun.

The two men exchanged moves with incredible precision, but without any abilities. It was pure talent—strength and martial arts skill. The two of them were incredibly skilled, and I could see the sweat dripping from their faces as they fought fiercely.

To my surprise, the fighters were none other than Eun-woo and Seong-hoon. I had never expected to see the two of them face off. But with the increasing tension and the threat drawing nearer, I could understand why they were pushing themselves. They wanted to grow stronger. Even if it wasn't in terms of levels, fighting skills mattered just as much.

I crossed my legs and rested my face on my hand. It was interesting—who would win this fight? I had my money on Seong-hoon. Despite him being an idiot, he was undeniably talented. Eun-woo was also a great fighter, but he was too soft at times and far too awkward. He didn't have the merciless edge needed to truly dominate, and it showed in his fighting style. After all, he was a defender.

His massive shield radiated with the energy of the moon, absorbing every single slash from Seong-hoon without any problems. The roar of the dragon filled the room, the weapon Seong-hoon wielded raging in return. Its pride was hurt, and that roar was like a vow:

"If I don't slash this shield in half today, I will not be called the Great Frostbringer. I shall abandon my name and call myself the Blade of the Idiot."

Wait… I actually understood what it was saying. After all, I could understand beast language, and at this level, it seemed the weapon was actually alive—not just some random roar generated by the system to sound cool.

I watched as the sword grew slightly taller, and I wondered if it could communicate with Seong-hoon or if he was still unaware that his own sword was calling him an idiot. That made me chuckle.

Soon, some people in the room started to spot me, and the energy in the air shifted.

"Empress is here!"

"Look, everybody! The Empress has come to watch!"

Suddenly, the entire hall erupted into cheers and roars, making me feel incredibly awkward. My eyes met the two fighters, and they paused for a moment, waving at me. Seong-hoon, especially, seemed to turn more serious. Why is that? Is he afraid I'll laugh at him if he loses? Haha.

"Please, continue. I don't want to disturb the fight," I said, flashing a smile. "Also, the winner will get a date with this Empress. How about that?"

I joked, knowing the two were my friends. It was just me spending a little time with them, joking around. But this seemed to spark something in their eyes. I saw both Eun-woo and Seong-hoon suddenly get even more serious, their competitive drive flaring. Their eyes clashed like two lightning bolts. The intensity made me lean back in the chair slightly.

I wonder if they're acting, or if this is real motivation for them? I understand Seong-hoon—he's always trying to get closer to me, and he has a weird taste, but he's like my brother, and to him, I'm his sister. But why suddenly Eun-woo as well? Don't tell me he also wants to be my brother? But he's never called me 'sister' before…

No, I'm just overthinking. They're my friends—they would never have any different feelings for me.

I shook it off. How silly could I be? Is it because I'm starting to feel good about myself and my body that I've gotten overly confident?

"Brother, did you hear that? It seems we'll have to fight to the death today," Eun-woo said jokingly, and I could hear the laughter in his voice. It made me feel relaxed. It was all just a play.

"Right, sorry brother, but this date is mine. I know you'd love one, but you'll have to wait for your next life." Seong-hoon spat, then lunged at Eun-woo. He moved like the wind, swift and precise. In the next instant, he was already behind the bulky man, his hand, connected to the sword, swung elegantly, the blade cutting through the air with smooth precision. The blade crashed at Eun-woo's legs, aiming to bring him down with a swift strike.

But what amazed me was the agility of Eun-woo. Despite his bulky body, he jumped up just in time to dodge the attack. He twisted in mid-air, and with incredible precision, threw his massive hammer at Seong-hoon. The weapon connected directly with Seong-hoon's chest, making him spit out a little blood.

The impact was brutal, but Seong-hoon quickly recovered, wiping the blood from his lips, his expression fierce. The two of them exchanged a brief glance before smiling at each other. The tension in the air thickened.

Their movements were fluid, a dance of pure martial skill. Seong-hoon was fast, using his agility to move in and out of range, always trying to exploit any opening. Eun-woo, despite his size, was surprisingly nimble, able to block and counter with his immense strength. Every strike and block was executed with perfect timing, neither giving the other an inch.

Eun-woo raised his hammer again, swinging it with full force, aiming for Seong-hoon's side. Seong-hoon sidestepped, his sword flashing as it met Eun-woo's attack. The clash of metal echoed through the room as Seong-hoon slid behind him, trying to land another quick strike.

But Eun-woo spun, his shield raised just in time to block the attack. His movements were heavy but deliberate, his defense unyielding. With one swift motion, he swung his shield forward, forcing Seong-hoon back.

The two warriors stood facing each other, their bodies marked with the signs of their battle. There was no exhaustion, just determination. Each was fully aware of the other's strength, but neither of them was willing to back down. The fight was far from over, and I could see it in their eyes—the true competition had just begun.