Dancing on the golden ashes

The two men hit the cold floor with a thud. I really wanted to continue this exchange, but I knew it would likely level the entire place. Min-jeong had worked tirelessly to provide the materials for this structure, and I couldn't bother her—or anyone else—right now with unnecessary construction. Everyone was training hard, and I didn't want to disrupt that.

"Did you have enough?" I asked, eyeing the two of them as they lay motionless on the ground. Their transformations had faded, and the brothers were back in their normal, daily forms.

"Ugh... big sis, did you really need to go so hard on us? I can't even move..." Seong-hoon groaned, clearly drained.

"If you can still complain, then that means you're perfectly fine," I teased, a playful smile tugging at my lips.

I looked over at Eun-woo. He was slowly getting up, his face wearing an unhappy and disappointed expression. It seemed like he wasn't as pleased with the outcome as Seong-hoon was.

"Eun-woo, don't worry. Soon, the two of you will be able to grow stronger. After this battle, if we survive, I'll allow you all to train freely. I'll take over the ruling on my own. I'll finally be able to repay you all for keeping this place safe and in order."

I moved toward him, supporting his weight as I smiled softly. I couldn't help but think about how hard he had worked to prove himself.

"I'm proud of the two of you. With you both around, I know that I will be safe."

Carefully, I carried him over to Seong-hoon's side, then lifted him as well, bringing both of them to the room we had set aside for war strategy. The war room was designed specifically for exchanging ideas during times of conflict, a place where we could meet to discuss tactics and plans when the time came.

I sat them down in the chairs around the round table and took my seat as well, facing them both.

"Now, take your time to catch your breath, and we'll discuss the upcoming battle. I want to hear your ideas and thoughts."

Time passed quickly as the two of them regained their composure. I could see they could barely move an inch, their bodies still heavy with exhaustion, but that didn't matter right now.

"Big sis, you know, you really need to learn how to hold back..." Seong-hoon complained, rubbing his sore body. I shot him a warning glance.

"Says the one who came at me with full power. Be thankful I didn't completely crush you," I retorted with a small grin, despite the seriousness of the conversation.

"You're right," Eun-woo suddenly chimed in, wincing slightly as he held onto his ribs with one hand. "We were careless and rushed in without thinking enough. We didn't know you had a skill that could instantly knock us out..."

I nodded. "You're right, you didn't know, but that doesn't mean you couldn't learn to be prepared for such attacks. You both need a skill of your own—something that allows you to break free from any trap. But we'll talk about that later."

I wore a more serious expression, my focus shifting entirely. "Now, how should I deal with that monster that's almost three times my level...?"

"What about that cannon? Did you manage to find it useful?" Seong-hoon asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Yes, but it wouldn't be that useful if I'm not here to load it up with soul energy," I replied, my voice steady. "We'd need a lot of people constantly sitting there, loading them up. That won't do. In case something goes wrong and it explodes, we'd have too many casualties. Plus, there's the risk of stacking too many people in one spot. It'll be a good distraction for a few hits, but I'll load the cannons before the battle. They'll serve as defense in case the monster breaks through."

I didn't sugarcoat my words. I needed them to understand the gravity of the situation.

"But here's another problem," I continued, my tone turning more serious. "How do I fight it on my own? I can't even imagine dealing enough damage to slay it. I could train my soul power for the next few days nonstop, but would that be enough? Who's to say I won't be instantly killed...?"

The atmosphere turned gloomy in an instant.

"Is there any reserve stat points that you possess?" Seong-hoon asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"Right... I did have some stockpiled, and in the last battle, I also received a lot. I haven't even checked..."

I closed my eyes, reaching into my mind. The status window popped open before me, and my heart almost stopped at the sight.

Noticing the change in my expression, Eun-woo's voice broke through the silence. "Gaon, is everything alright?" His face was full of concern, the worry clearly evident in his eyes. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

"Yeah..." I replied in a blank voice, my gaze distant as I stared into the space before me. "It's actually more than alright... it's..." I struggled to find the words. I knew I had a lot, but not this much.

"How many do you have?" Seong-hoon's voice grew impatient, a mix of urgency and curiosity. It was clear he really wanted to know.

"1510..." I said, my voice cracking. It was a staggering amount, so staggering that I didn't know if I could even handle it properly.

"What!?" The two of them jumped from their chairs, despite their injured states.

"How is that even possible?!" Eun-woo roared.

But I had no answer for them. Even I was shocked by the amount. With this much, it might just be enough for me to stand a chance, but it still puzzled me how I managed to gather so many. It was enough to make one in this world. The only message that seemed to explain it was this:

[Congratulations!]

[You have successfully slayed the Emperor while at the King's level]

[The difficulty of the achievement has been determined as impossible and one of a kind]

[Reward: 1000 skill points]