Dancing on the golden ashes-Chapter 272: Broken Core of a Demon World
Everything went south quickly. From the moment we arrived in this world to now, several years later, I finally understood the problem. And now I saw why he let me stay here, why he even bothered to open the world portal for me—The demon world was dying, from its very core.
"So this is the problem that turned this world into what it is now?" I peered into the abyss that stretched for millions of kilometers below us, the sight of it hauntingly familiar—like the crater I left in the World of No End, before erasing it completely.
"Yes," Vorun answered, his fists tightly clenched, his anger palpable.
I had met Vorun not too long ago. He was the last living demon of his bloodline—a young man, barely fifteen years old but already towering over me at two meters. His muscular frame made him seem more like a seasoned warrior than a child. His eyes, blood red without discernible pupils, held an unsettling intensity. I never bothered to ask if his pupils were red too—what difference did it make? All I knew was that he wielded a terrifying power: the ability to control blood. At his peak, he could flood the world with oceans of it. But now, he was still too weak, barely a soul-split expert. He had a long way to go, and we stood in his ruined home. The air reeked with the metallic scent of blood, even though the crater in the center of this dead world had obliterated everything.
The wind howled around us, like a pack of wolves—deadly, untamed. It created an eerie, oppressive aura. The heat was unbearable, even for me. But the locals? They seemed unaffected. I couldn't help but think, This is what separates me from a true demon.
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.
It was hard to believe that this place had once been a lush paradise—green forests, towering mountains, and rivers that sparkled in the sun. Now, the sky was bright red, as crimson as blood, and the moon gleamed with the same dark hue. Honestly, it felt like I was trapped in a horror movie, though I still managed a dark joke despite the hole in my chest. Ahem…
Five years had passed since I first set foot in this vast, endless world. If I had to guess, this world was some kind of super-planet—one that didn't obey the laws of physics, or any of the rules I thought I understood. Why was I even surprised? The moment I crossed into the world of magic and immortality, everything I knew about life, the universe, and reality had been shattered.
It was almost funny, in a way. Yet here I was, with a world to rebuild.
"Sister Gaon, will you please kill the one who did this to my ancestors?" Vorun's voice trembled, his lip shaking, and I saw tears threatening to fall from his eyes. This boy, still so young, still so emotional. A demon? And yet, he felt things... perhaps they had been right all along. Demons could feel, and I knew it. I had learned that much in my own way.
"Do you want me to?" I asked, my words flat, void of any emotion. It sounded colder than I meant it to, but those around me knew why. I didn't need to say more. My gaze moved from the abyss stretching endlessly before us, back to him. His words were heavy, carrying the weight of his race, and though I could glimpse a future where he stood over the heart of his enemy, I needed to hear it from him directly.
"No, I don't…" He shook his head, his voice firm despite the tremble. "But I'm weak right now. I need to get stronger. I want to stand by your side, Sister. I want to kill him, to plunge my blade into his heart... to let the souls of my people rest. They've lost their chance to return to nature, to the mother who gave us life..." The anger and grief in his words were clear—demons didn't believe in gods. They revered nature. And now, this world, my world, was his to rebuild.
"Then let's go," I said, my voice cold but resolute. "Take one last look at this broken place. It will be the last time you see it like this. The next time, I'll have it fixed. Ready for you to settle with your new family. For now, we have work to do. We must find the missing pieces, gather the lost ones, and forge an empire that will stand against the heavens, against those who think they stand above us."
"Yes, Big Sister!" His smile was sudden, bright, and startling, the joy on his face almost too quick to believe. But in his eyes, I saw that fire. The pale skin of his seemed to glow a little brighter.
I flew, carrying him with me. He couldn't keep up with my speed, but I didn't mind. He would learn. We reached the camp swiftly, where I settled onto my throne, my mind already turning to the next steps, to the future I had to shape. There was no time for hesitation.
"We're back," I said, addressing the figure that was my true self. She didn't respond. She never did when I was in this form. I was just a shadow, a clone sent to interact, to observe. I could feel myself being absorbed back into the true being I was, but it didn't matter. This was the game I played.
"Did you see what you wanted to, Vorun?" I asked as my true self now, my attention still fixed on the plans unfolding before me.
"Big sis, big sis, can you teach me the way of soul cultivation?" His voice was eager, practically vibrating with the desire to catch up. "I want to be as strong as you! I want to stand by your side!"
Before I could respond, Eun-woo stepped in, his hand casually draping over Vorun's shoulder. His voice boomed, teasing yet commanding.
"Little bro, don't bother your big sister too much. She's got her work cut out for her. How about you and me train together? I've got a few lessons to teach you."
Before I could process it further, the air shifted. The peaceful calm shattered, and the dreadful news came crashing into us.
"Empress!" Min-jeong rushed toward me from a rift in the sky, panic in her voice. I hadn't seen her in five years. Something was wrong. "There's a huge problem! We've accidentally stirred something... someone... powerful while conducting research. Sister Seo-yeon is in grave danger. We're not strong enough to deal with it alone!"
