Dancing on the golden ashes

The faces of the two of them suddenly lit up, their expressions glowing like the brightest sun. I could see the hope radiating from their eyes, the belief that we truly had a chance. But in mine, there was only fear—a deep, gnawing fear that I couldn't shake. It was the fear of the unknown, the fear of failing them when they needed me most.

"Just what in the world happened to you, big sis? This is amazing! With you around, we can easily win this battle now. Who would ever dare to mess with us? You're unstoppable!" Seong-hoon practically shouted in joy, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he looked at me.

But despite his elation, a deep, gnawing unease settled in the pit of my stomach. That many skill points… I couldn't help but wonder what the cost of all this power might be. What if something happened when I used them? What if I suddenly died for nine days, leaving everything behind, helpless to stop the chaos?

The thought chilled me to my core. If that happened... This entire place would become a graveyard. My mind raced with the weight of that possibility. But then, a voice inside tried to rationalize it. No, maybe I'm overthinking this...

To reach this level, I had consumed countless souls, draining them like a river running dry. The power surging through me had come at a cost, and I could feel the danger lurking. But still, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread—when would my next evolution take place? What if I pushed too far, too fast? The uncertainty was suffocating.

I took a shaky breath, trying to calm the storm inside. I can't afford to be distracted by fear now. But that voice inside me won't stop...

"Right... I will have to sit in my room and carefully allocate the points to the right places. But what if, at that time, I get kicked out for being too strong? That wouldn't happen, right?" I said aloud, my concerns crashing over Seong-hoon and Eun-woo. I could see the unease flicker in their eyes, and for a moment, the atmosphere grew tense.

"You're overthinking it, Gaon," Eun-woo suddenly said, his voice calm and steady, yet it held an unusual intensity. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a brief moment, I felt a strange discomfort—a connection I couldn't quite explain.

"This is fate," he continued, his words soothing yet firm. "You were given these points so you could have a chance to fight. If not for that, do you really think the system would favor you when you're constantly going up against the Creator?"

Wait... They knew that? The thought hit me like a jolt. How much did they understand about my struggles, my constant battles with the Creator? What did they really know? And why did his words resonate so deeply within me?

"Wait, how do you know about it?" I asked, suspicion clouding my eyes as I glanced between them.

"Everybody knows," Eun-woo replied, his voice steady. "Many have witnessed your battles from afar. They saw you fend off the Creator in your last battle. Even if we weren't there ourselves, we believed the news was true. We just didn't know where you disappeared to afterward."

His words hit me like a hammer, and I froze. How? I could swear no one was there to witness my fights. Had I missed something, or had someone seen me? The weight of their knowledge suddenly felt heavier than I expected.

"..."

I couldn't find the words to say, the shock leaving me speechless. Only a quiet breath escaped my lips as I processed what he'd just revealed.

"It's okay," Eun-woo continued, his voice soft but resolute. "You don't need to explain yourself. We know that everything you do has a reason, and we support you to the end."

His reassurance hit me deeply, the sincerity in his voice cutting through the whirlwind of questions in my mind. For the first time, I felt like they truly understood, and that feeling was both comforting and unsettling at once.

"Thank you..." I said quietly, my heart heavy with emotion. I knew I had these amazing friends who would stand by me, no matter what. And I was deeply grateful for that. Their words reignited the fire inside me, the fire I needed to keep going. I would protect them, no matter the cost. And if it meant becoming the true demon in this world to ensure their safety, then that was the path I would walk.

"There's no need to thank us for anything," Seong-hoon said, his voice warm and sincere, his bright smile never fading. "We're the ones indebted to you. Right, brother Eun-woo?"
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"Yeah, so just don't be afraid and do what you feel is best," Seong-hoon said, his voice filled with determination. "No matter what, the entire empire will support you. We haven't been together for that long, but the people have already accepted you as their leader. Your strength and charisma have inspired many, and they cheer for you. On the day of the battle, we'll all stand behind you. If you fall, we fall. If you succeed, we'll stand with you and celebrate. And we won't sit idly by either. As much as we can, we'll attack the monster too. Even if it only does a little damage, it's better than nothing!"

His words hit me like a wave, filling me with a renewed sense of purpose. We had a chance. I could feel it in the air, the solidarity, the trust. The fight ahead wouldn't be easy, but with them by my side, it felt like it might be possible.

As the night sky gave way to dawn, I sat alone in my room, cross-legged on the bed. My mind was quiet, but underneath, I could feel the weight of the decision ahead.

"It's time..." I whispered to myself, a mix of resolve and fear in my heart. I really hope nothing goes wrong...

I took a deep breath, focusing my mind as I prepared to increase my stats. This was my next step—one that could change everything.