Dancing on the golden ashes

At that moment, confusion hit me like a wave.

Is it possible that we're no longer in that illusory world?

The thought spiraled in my mind, refusing to settle. Then where the hell are we?

Before I could dwell on it further, my system returned, its familiar interface flickering back into existence. Relief coursed through me as its energy surged, and within moments, my body was fully restored, the wounds and pain disappearing as if they'd never existed.

I hate to admit it... but I missed the system.

[Lee Gaon]

[Level 24]

[Player]

[Soul lord]

[Ruler]

It had been a while since I'd seen this screen flicker in my mind—half a month without it, maybe more. Or was it longer? Time had blurred in that void of pain and darkness.

I looked around, taking in my surroundings. The walls were caved in, jagged and oppressive, leaving only a small pocket of space for me to even stand. The air was thick and heavy, pressing down like a constant reminder of how close I was to being buried alive.

But amidst the suffocating silence, I was certain I'd heard something earlier. Kim Seong-Hoon's voice...

The memory of it flickered faintly in my mind, like an echo in the darkness.

My eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, thanks to my special skill. The shadows no longer felt impenetrable; instead, they revealed faint outlines of the caved-in walls around me.

However, despite this newfound clarity, I hesitated. I couldn't dig carelessly, no matter how much I wanted to escape. One wrong move could cause this fragile pocket of space to collapse entirely, burying me alive beneath who knows how much earth and rubble.

"Seong-Hoon? Jieun? Eun-Woo?"

The words escaped my lips before I could think, carried by the fragile hope of hearing a familiar voice in return. Minutes passed, and still, no reply came.

A cold dread crept over me, sinking deep into my chest. What if they're dead? The thought was unbearable. If they're gone... that would be because of me. Regret twisted in my gut, heavy and suffocating. If only I had been stronger back then... if only I hadn't let them down.

The weight of my failure pressed down on me as heavily as the rubble above.

Desperation took hold, and I couldn't sit idle any longer. I began digging through the dirt and rubble, moving slowly and carefully. With my enhanced strength, it wasn't as difficult as I'd feared, though every movement felt like a gamble against collapse.

After what felt like an eternity, a small tunnel emerged, opening into a larger space.

I crawled through, my heart pounding, and found myself in what appeared to be a cave. The air was damp and cold, the silence pressing in like a living thing.

It was pitch black—utterly impenetrable to anyone without my skill. Thanks to my ability to see in the dark, I could make out the jagged walls and uneven ground. Without it, I would've slammed headfirst into the nearest wall without even realizing it.

I hope they survived... The thought clung to me like a lifeline. Seong-Hoon, Jieun, Eun-Woo—please be somewhere here.

I pressed forward, navigating the dark cave. It wasn't just a cave, though—it quickly revealed itself to be a sprawling maze. Each path I took seemed to twist and turn, only to end abruptly in a dead end.

Frustration built with every wrong turn, but I couldn't stop. I wouldn't stop.

To make things worse, the place was teeming with monsters. They lurked in the shadows, their low growls echoing faintly through the tunnels. Fortunately, they were all low-level creatures—no real threat.

The moment they sensed my presence, most of them retreated, slinking deeper into the darkness as if knowing they couldn't challenge me.

I had no idea how long I'd been traveling—minutes, hours, maybe even days. The unchanging darkness and the endless twists of the cave made time feel irrelevant.

Eventually, I reached a crossroads. Ahead of me lay the main path, wide and predictable. To my right, however, a small passage veered downward, narrow and shadowy.

Something about that path called to me, an inexplicable pull deep within my chest. It wasn't just curiosity—it was as if a part of me was hungry to explore it, drawn by some unseen force.

Who am I to refuse?

I promise it's not an addiction to danger or adventure. This path felt special and unique, as though it were waiting just for me.

With a deep breath, I stepped into the smaller passage, letting the strange pull guide me forward.

As I descended, a faint glow appeared in the depths—a flickering, warm light, like the radiance of a small fire. The dim illumination danced across the jagged walls, creating shifting shadows that seemed alive.

Then, I heard a low, rhythmic sound reverberating through the narrow space. It was deep and steady, like the sound of something... snoring.

What the hell is down here?

My heart raced as I edged closer. Whatever it was, I wasn't going to risk being detected. I activated my Superior Space Distortion, shrouding myself in silence and masking my steps entirely.

And then, I saw it.

The sight before me was utterly mind-boggling, unlike anything I had ever imagined.

Lying there, sprawled in a pool of molten magma, was a massive beast at least five meters long. Its entire body glowed with the fiery intensity of molten rock, as though it wasn't made of flesh or skin but of the very essence of magma itself.

Its form resembled that of a colossal crab, its jagged claws radiating heat waves, the edges glowing with a dangerous brilliance. The magma surrounding it bubbled lazily as if it were nothing more than a comfortable bath for this extraordinary creature.

It was both terrifying and mesmerizing. A creature born of pure elemental power, resting in its natural habitat as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

What even is this thing?

I couldn't look away, both baffled and awestruck by the sheer otherworldly beauty of the scene before me.

Something deep within me stirred—an undeniable desire awakened. It wasn't just fascination—it was the same feeling I used to have when playing gacha1 games, that burning need to collect every rare character.

And here it was, a living, breathing treasure, unlike anything I'd ever seen before.

I still have a lot of free slots until my next upgrade, I thought, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips. This is the perfect opportunity!

I felt a twinge of guilt. Sorry, my friends... But the pull was irresistible. Right now, there's something more important than finding you—I want that thing!

The beast, lounging in its molten sanctuary, had no idea it had just become the focus of my obsession.

Inspect!

[Molten Crab]

[Epic Grade Demon Beast]

[Level 25]

[-Stats-]

[Total Attack: 2100]

[Total Agility: 1040]

[Total Magic: 4030]

[Total Strength: 2350]

[Total Defense: 5030]

[Total Mana: 30600]

It's perfect!

My Demon Beast Control skill had reached Level 9, granting me an astounding 400 slots. The sheer number was insane—more than I could imagine filling any time soon.

But a thought gnawed at me. Where exactly would I hold all those beasts?

If I traveled the world with 400 beasts—let alone the 5000 I'd eventually command as a Demon Lord—it wouldn't just attract attention. It would scream, army incoming! And armies had their own set of problems.

Imagine feeding them... Now that's another nightmare.

The logistics were mind-boggling. Food alone would require resources on a scale far beyond what I could manage while wandering. I would need infrastructure and people...

I would need something on the level of a kingdom. A place to house them, feed them, and maintain order.

But me? As a ruler of one?

Nah... sounds stupid.

I could barely lead a group of three without everything spiraling into chaos. The idea of managing an entire kingdom felt absurd—laughable, even. What would my leadership motto be? "Survive and hope for the best"?

No, ruling wasn't my thing. Yet, the thought lingered. If I wanted to command an army of beasts and thrive in this world, maybe I'd have to figure it out someday.

Or find someone foolish enough to do it for me hahaha...

The realization hit me like a bolt. If I wanted to sustain my growing arsenal of beasts, I needed a stronghold—a place capable of feeding and housing my future army. This wasn't just about collecting creatures anymore; it was about building something bigger.

Better not to linger on those thoughts. Now, come to mama, you beautiful thing!

Dark energy seeped from my hand, twisting and curling like living vines. The tendrils were thicker and more substantial than ever before—a clear bonus of leveling up.

They slithered toward the beast, slowly wrapping around its molten body, trying to breach its core. But there was a problem.

The creature's shell, made entirely of hardened magma, was impenetrable. My energy recoiled each time it tried to enter, unable to pierce the blazing armor no matter how much force I applied.

The resistance only seemed to provoke the creature. Its eyes snapped open, glowing like miniature suns, filled with intelligence.

The towering crab rose from its magma pool, its massive claws glistening with molten rock. Heat radiated from its body in waves so intense that even I felt the need to step back, despite my resilience.

It locked its mocking gaze on me, and I knew at that moment—I'd messed up. This wasn't going to be easy. Hell, this could turn into the most dangerous fight I'd ever faced.

When I think about it, I was in a cave, surrounded by unstable walls and ceilings. If the fight got out of hand and the cave collapsed, I'd be buried alive. No amount of strength or skills would save me from that.

The creature's towering form radiated heat and power, and I realized with a sinking feeling that it wouldn't go down without a good fight.

This only makes me want you more!

I grinned wildly, the thrill of the challenge igniting a fire within me. The desire to capture this magnificent beast surged to unimaginable heights, reaching the sky itself.

You're mine, whether you like it or not.

A term used for lottery-style game mechanics where each pull gives a random result, such as a monster or character. It's similar to a slot machine, relying on chance and luck.