Dancing on the golden ashes

I watched Seong-hoon's powerful frame soaring through the sky, his majestic draconic wings creating fierce gusts of wind with each commanding flap. A domineering aura radiated from his body, making him look like an immortal dragon warrior gazing down upon the mortal world from a realm far beyond. His presence alone was enough to suffocate weaklings and cowards, instilling fear in all who opposed him. He's finally reached the point where he can once again stand by my side. Together, we shall fight eternally—him, me, and the entire demon legion.

"Seong-hoon, watch yourself. He's not simple," I cautioned calmly, my voice steady and distant. I should feel worried, considering Jeong Suhan was once my mortal enemy. Yet, even now, my heart remained indifferent, content to let fate unfold as it may.

"Don't worry," Seong-hoon replied confidently, his voice ringing out with playful arrogance. "I want to stretch my old bones a bit. I've been dead for thousands of years—it's about time I got some action!" His laughter echoed boldly as his figure vanished swiftly into the distance, hurtling after Jeong Suhan, who was still desperately attempting to stabilize himself from the previous attack.

"How dare you attack our king!" A bulky figure suddenly roared from below, wielding a massive axe crafted from molten metal. The weapon glowed dangerously hot, dripping fiery droplets that burned through the air and sizzled into the earth below. He swung it down with ruthless force, aiming to kill me instantly. I casually raised my hand to intercept and crush the incoming axe—but before I could act, a mighty hammer blazing with the power of a thousand suns collided violently against the axe, sending sparks exploding outward in every direction.

"Big words from worthless trash like you! Now, perish!" Eun-woo's voice thundered across the battlefield as he swung his celestial hammer again with overwhelming force. His second strike shattered the molten axe effortlessly, landing squarely upon the attacker and sending him plummeting helplessly toward the ground.

BOOM!

A gigantic crater exploded into existence, splitting the earth and scattering debris. It's unlikely anyone could survive such overwhelming strength. Eun-woo's power had clearly grown unmatched in a one-on-one fight.

"Great job, Eun-woo," I remarked coolly. "Your strength has grown tremendously—you can now wield the power of a sun itself." My casual words caused him to quickly turn toward me, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

"Hahaha! Gaon, you're going to make me blush," he laughed awkwardly, shy as ever. "I'm not that strong!"

He's still the Eun-woo I know—modest, shy, and far too humble for his own good.

My eyes suddenly caught movement—a pair of powerful figures closing in. One of them was Khalid, Emperor of the Al-Qamarim Empire. His body radiated golden energy, marking him unmistakably as the Immortal Emperor. The curved blade in his hands, a magnificent scimitar, shone fiercely as he slashed, silently aiming at Eun-woo's exposed back. The attack was so precise and potent that time itself seemed to slow—a perfect skill for assassinating an opponent unnoticed. I could have intervened, but—

There's no need.

A violet slash abruptly split through the fabric of space itself, a wave of dark energy rushing toward Khalid faster than thought itself.

"What the—!?" Khalid screamed in pain, his voice strained as the violet energy effortlessly split his body from head to waist. Blood and flesh tore apart, barely connected by thin threads of muscle and sinew. Yet, shockingly, he wasn't dead. His body rapidly regenerated, stitching itself together as if countless invisible strings pulled him whole again.

Min-jae appeared, his violet hair wild and billowing gracefully around him. His majestic wings unfurled proudly, enveloping the very sky as though he were a violet angel of death. His eyes glowed coldly, declaring silently to all that none surpassed him.

"Listen well, buddy," Min-jae growled threateningly, his voice filled with authority. "You can fight anyone you want, we're not afraid. But don't even think about playing dirty with that sneaky time-control of yours. It won't stand against my void. You're facing me now—understand?" His massive violet longsword pulsed with terrifying void energy, its mere presence seemingly able to slice through the universe itself.

"Heh," Khalid laughed arrogantly, cracking his neck sharply. A wild expression surfaced on his regenerated face. "Such big talk. Why don't you hurry up and die already?" He lunged again, swinging his gleaming scimitar fiercely. Min-jae simply laughed mockingly, slashing downward, splitting reality itself. A gaping violet rift swallowed them both, vanishing them instantly into the void.

A sudden chill brushed my neck—a cold, lethal wind promising death—but vanished just as quickly. Ji-hoon stood in front of me, daggers crossed in a perfect defense, intercepting a thin, emerald needle-like weapon inches from my neck. From the shadows emerged a nearly naked woman, her pale skin exuding an intoxicating scent of poison.

"Impressive reflexes," she purred, her emerald eyes filled with curiosity and interest as she studied Ji-hoon closely.

"You aren't worthy to exist in her presence," Ji-hoon replied sharply, his voice as cold and harsh as metal grinding against metal. His demonic aura surged violently, as if he'd clawed his way up from the deepest abyss of hell. His dark, bottomless eyes, with their piercing crimson pupils, radiated a terrifying executioner's presence. They were the last things you'd see in the darkness before death. "Disappear now."

Ji-hoon's daggers blazed fiercely, shining with a sinister crimson aura that radiated thick, violent blood energy. With a sudden push, he forced the woman backward through the air, her startled form swiftly retreating several steps. Before she could fully recover, Ji-hoon vanished like a phantom swallowed by darkness, reappearing instantly behind her, his dagger aimed mercilessly at her exposed neck.

The woman's reflexes proved impressive, she reacted in the blink of an eye, lifting her needle-like weapon to deflect the strike. Yet Ji-hoon wasn't deterred. He spun gracefully midair, his lithe body twisting sharply at an impossible angle, bringing his second dagger slicing toward her vulnerable ribcage with lethal precision.