Dancing on the golden ashes-Chapter 203: Crossed line

I stared into the man’s eyes, and for a brief moment, I couldn’t help but notice how captivating they were. But, that was exactly what they were—captivating. Nothing more. He seemed to forget who was in charge here. I wasn’t the strongest in the world just for show, but let’s be real: I was. And this arrogant little bastard had pushed my buttons, which meant it was time for him to learn that no one messed with me and walked away unscathed.

"Please don’t misunderstand," the man spoke, breaking my thoughts, "I just wanted to see if the rumors were true. And yes, indeed, you are the strongest around, but... are you strong enough to take down the beast in the ocean?"

He raised his hands in mock surrender, yet his face betrayed him—amusement danced in his eyes. I knew exactly what he was thinking. He still believed he could take me in a fight, didn’t he? Cute. It didn’t matter now, though. I wasn’t here for games. Find your next adventure on novelbuddy

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"All I need is information," I said coldly, my voice steady. "I’m not here to make friends with you, so don’t waste my time. I don’t like playing around."

Without another word, I moved closer, the air around me shifting. As I did, black wisps of energy began to swirl and writhe around me, growing in intensity. Within seconds, the entire area was filled with beasts—demonic, terrifying creatures that I had raised and nurtured in the Beast World. All of them were at level 150, their eyes glowing with an unsettling hunger.

They were my creations, and they were far more dangerous than anything this man could ever imagine. The air hummed with their presence, and the pressure in the room thickened as their power radiated. I wasn’t joking. I had no interest in games. The man’s arrogance would cost him. Now, I would get the information I needed, and if he had to be a casualty in the process, then so be it.

"Now, now..." He whistled, his eyes sweeping over the monstrous creatures that surrounded the town, their power undeniable. It was a show of force, enough to raze the entire place to the ground in an instant, but he should have known better. I wasn’t the type to do things halfway. "No need to show off your power like this. You’ll scare people away," he continued, his tone almost mocking. "You see, we’re a peaceful empire, and we’d love to stay that way, but..."

His eyes flashed with something foul, something disgusting that I didn’t care to analyze. It wasn’t worth my time. His words were useless now.

Then, as if to drive the point home, he suddenly bowed—how predictable—and extended his hand to me with a smile that I could already tell was fake. "How about I lead this beauty inside, and we can continue our chat in the palace? Wine, fruits, entertainment... all you can wish for is open to you, as much as you want. All of this can soon be yours."

That smile he gave me—it almost made me want to puke. It was so forced, so empty, as if he thought I would fall for such a cheap attempt to seduce me with riches. To think someone like him would even dare try. He truly had no idea of his place in this world, did he?

I couldn’t hold back the disgust that curled inside me. "How about no?" I brushed his hand away, my voice cold, a slight edge to it. "I’ve heard the rumors of you wanting to marry me, but do you think you’re capable of that?" I tilted my head, eyes narrowing, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "After all, not only does the man I choose in this life have to be someone I like, they must be stronger than me. So, how many successors are there? What do you think?"

I watched his face twitch, that same arrogant grin faltering just enough for me to see the brief moment of realization. He was nothing but an insect to me. And right now, he was testing my patience.

"He’s quite something, don’t you think so, Gaon?" The eerie voice echoed in my mind, cutting through the tension with its usual unexpectedness. "How about we hang him by his balls and let the people of his laughable empire watch as their emperor is humiliated by true power? I can’t believe he thinks he has any advantage over you. What a clown, haha!"

I clenched my jaw, irritated at the voice’s suggestion. There was a time when such a cruel thought might have appealed to me, but right now, this man, despite his arrogance, hadn’t crossed the line enough for me to sink that low. I didn’t have some blood feud with him. Humiliation on that scale? Not yet. But damn, did he piss me off with his presumption.

You shut up and let me talk, I snapped back in my mind, hoping the voice would stay quiet for a moment. I could almost hear it laughing before fading into silence again. It was strange how casual it was today, almost too casual. What did it want from me?

The man in front of me shifted, seemingly unfazed by my rejection, and attempted again to sway me with his words. His voice was smooth, dripping with false charm. "Lee Gaon, I am very fond of you, and I believe you have no right to refuse my offer. After all, what else do you have left? You’re just a lonely person walking through the world. Come, stay with the one who can give you everything. You won’t even have to fight ever again under my protection."

I could see through the manipulation in his words, the underlying attempt to pull me in with promises of safety and comfort. He thought he could buy me with power, with comfort, but it was laughable. He didn’t know who I was, what I stood for, or the price I had already paid.

I stared at him, the coldness in my eyes enough to make even someone like him pause for a moment. "You think I’m lonely? You think a man like you has the power to offer me anything I want?" My voice was sharp, no room for compromise. "I don’t need your protection, Khalid. I can stand alone, as I always have. And as for your offer... keep it. I’m not some toy you can play with."

There was no way I’d let someone like him think he could just sweep me off my feet with promises and power. If anything, I only felt more disgusted the more he talked.

Okay... this time he had crossed the line. I wasn’t going to let him think he could just manipulate me with sweet words and offers of power. No, it was time to show him who was really in charge.

"You truly know how to speak to women," I said, the sarcasm dripping from my voice. He probably thought I was being sincere, because the idiot smiled at me brightly. But I didn’t care about that. Instead, I flew into the air, leaving him standing there with a stupid look on his face, confused, trying to figure out what just happened.

"This is where I stand," I said, my voice carrying far and wide. "I am the sky while you are the ground. So know your place and submit to me. From now on, I, Lee Gaon, declare you my human slave, the loyal subject to the demon empress."

I shouted those words with power, making sure everyone in the city could hear me, feel my presence. The air felt charged, thick with my energy. Above my palm, a massive sun began to form. It stretched out, at least a kilometer wide, glowing with a fierce, golden light. It wasn’t just an orb; it was alive with my soul energy, thrumming with power, threatening to burn everything in its path.

The intensity of the energy was so high that even I could feel the weight of it in my chest. It was consuming a lot of soul energy, but I didn’t care. The intimidation I was radiating right now would be enough to make even the most powerful of men bend their knees before me. It was time to take control, to remind the arrogant emperor and anyone else watching that I wasn’t someone to be toyed with.

This city, this empire, would bend to my will, and Khalid would learn exactly what it meant to stand in my presence. Finally, I saw it—the fear. His face twisted, his self-assurance cracking as the realization hit him. He understood now, finally, that I wasn’t someone to mess with.

If he didn’t give me what I wanted today, well, I had already killed plenty of people. Hundreds? Thousands? It didn’t matter. A few hundred thousand more or even a million wouldn’t stain my hands any more than they already were. My soul was forged in blood, and there was no going back.

Khalid’s arrogance was a distant memory now, replaced by the cold sweat dripping down his forehead. His posture had faltered, his legs slightly shaking. The power I exuded was crushing him, suffocating him with the weight of its inevitability. I would have what I wanted, and there was nothing he—or anyone else—could do to stop me.