Dancing on the golden ashes

Despite my relentless attacks, there was no end in sight. The battle dragged on, and I knew I had to do something different, but there was nothing that would give me the edge. We were perfectly matched, this purple lightning phoenix was like a mirror of myself, neither stronger nor weaker. Did that mean I had to surpass my own limits, rise to even greater heights in the heat of battle?

The thought was maddening, and unlikely, but it was the only choice I had left. I had to try. There was no other option. The fight had dragged on for so long, the endless cycle of attacking and regenerating, that my will was starting to falter. Perhaps this was a test, not just of strength but of my mental resolve. My energy was wearing thin, and I could feel the crushing weight of time running out. How much longer could I hold on?

Without warning, the beast suddenly exploded with lightning so intense it threatened to consume me. It seemed I wasn't the only one trying to gain the upper hand. The storm roared as it surged toward me, a violent explosion that shook the very air around us. Then, in an instant, it vanished.

The phoenix appeared behind me in a blur, its sharp lightning-infused wing slashing through the air with terrifying speed. The impact sent me hurtling toward the ground, and I crashed into the earth, creating a massive crater that sent shockwaves through the surrounding landscape.

Just you wait. I'll cut you into a million pieces!

I cursed, my fury igniting once more. The rage flowed through my veins like fire, stoking the flames of determination. I surged up from the crater, my body a blur of motion. I danced with my scythe in the sky, each swing a graceful yet deadly move. My weapon became an extension of my will, each strike carving my story into the fabric of the battle. The story of the one who slays the phoenixes and challenges the heavens.

Yes, that felt right. I was not just fighting for survival anymore. I was creating my legacy, etching my name into the history of the world, whether it would survive or perish.

I could feel my body being flooded with a mysterious power—no, perhaps it was a power I had forgotten, one that had only manifested once, many years ago. The power of emotions, or perhaps the power of sins. It was within me, somehow intertwined with my fate and the system itself. The energy surged within, so potent and overwhelming that it began to shatter the air around me, causing the very world to tremble uncontrollably.

Yes... now I understand. The more I sin, the more power I accumulate. How fascinating. The wrath within me is overflowing, and even though I don't know exactly how to control this power, I can feel it calling to me. It begs to be released.

A wide, twisted smile spread across my face as the madness slowly began to take root in my soul. But strangely, it felt... good. The power surged through me like an uncontrollable tide, washing over me in waves of pure, unrelenting strength. My entire being felt as though it was brimming with raw, destructive force, and I embraced it.

With a fierce slash of my scythe, I released the chaos energy in a blinding rush. The crimson energy cut through the air, racing toward the beast. This time, when the slash collided, it didn't slice the phoenix in half as before. No, this time, it left a wound, a deep gash that refused to regenerate. The lightning around its neck crackled in agony, and a small hole appeared, as if the very laws of existence were now denying its right to remain in that space. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

The beast screamed uncontrollably, its shrill cry filling the air with pure terror. For the first time, I saw the fear in its eyes, a fear that wasn't just born of lightning, it was the fear of the heavens. It feared me. And if it kept targeting me, I would destroy it, just as I had vowed.

One strike after another, my attacks grew more relentless, each one packing an unstoppable force. Every slash, every long-distance attack I cast, was fueled by the mysterious power of wrath that burned through my veins like wildfire. The more I fought, the stronger I became, the more power I drew from the chaos within me. The beast, now almost fully shattered, seemed to weaken with every hit, its form breaking apart as if unable to withstand my rage.

I moved higher into the sky, rising above the battle. I had crossed the threshold—I stand above the heavens. I could feel it in my very soul. A small black hole began to form in my hand, swirling with darkness and raw energy. Without hesitation, I launched it toward the beast.

Almost instantly, the beast was engulfed by the force I had summoned. I could feel the power devouring it, pulling it into the vortex I had created, as if the very essence of its existence was being erased. And with that, I felt a rush of pure lightning energy pour into me, flooding my body and soul. The energy was so pure, so raw, that it didn't even hurt me—it felt almost like an embrace, enveloping me, strengthening my very being.

It refined me, my body, my soul, and my soul energy until I felt as if I had transcended my previous limitations. The power coursing through me was like nothing I had ever experienced. It was a feeling of invincibility, of standing above all that had come before.

Now, I could feel it. When I met those demigod beasts in the future, they would crumble at my feet. And the one who killed everyone... and also the creator, the one who had orchestrated all of this, would soon find out what true power meant. I was no longer the little pawn he had toyed with. No. I was the one dictating the rules now. And when our paths finally crossed, I would make him bow to me. I would make him acknowledge that I was no longer beneath him, no longer at his mercy.