Dancing on the golden ashes-Chapter 268: Not Alone

"Is that so?" I replied casually, the words almost slipping out without any thought. This world, with its eerie stillness and unexplained mysteries, was intriguing, and it only deepened my suspicions. Why had he sent me here? What did that bastard really want from me? There were so many possibilities, each more unsettling than the last.

I ran through the versions I had crafted in my mind, considering the possible reasons behind his actions. Each theory was a thread, and I had to pull them all to uncover the truth. But even as I pondered, I knew one thing for certain: whatever his plan was, he had underestimated me.

One: He wanted to break me. He wanted to shatter all hope I had left, to destroy any possibility of me succeeding. So, he sent me to this dead world, this barren place, hoping to crush my fantasies, my dreams of a better future. To trap me in hopelessness. How pathetic. If that was his goal, it was nothing more than a childish attempt. I wasn't that weak. And frankly, not having a heart made it easier to deal with these things. I had already lost so much, and the thought of his petty manipulations failing was almost laughable.

Two: I was still a pawn in his twisted game. There were secrets I hadn't uncovered yet, layers of deception I hadn't peeled back, and I might never get the chance to. But if he thought he could play me, use me like some piece on his little chessboard for his greater scheme—then I will break it. I had no intention of being anyone's tool, no matter how grand or intricate his plans might be. He wouldn't control me. Not again.

And Three: This was the most unsettling possibility. He sent me here to trap me forever. Perhaps this place was so vast, so locked by chains of fate that I would never escape it. I could feel it now—the weight of something unseen, some force that was meant to keep me grounded in this world of ruin. But if that was his plan, then he had made the worst mistake of all. I will break any chains that dare to bind me. Even if it meant breaking through death itself, I would find my way out. I would not be contained. Not by fate, not by him.

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The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. He had underestimated me at every turn. I had been broken before, but that didn't mean I would bend to his will now. Whatever game he was playing, it would end on my terms. The path ahead was unclear, but one thing was certain: this was my fight now, and I would carve my way through it, no matter the cost.

Malrang landed on my shoulder with a soft flutter of her wings, settling herself comfortably as if she belonged there, as if this was where she was meant to be. "You know," she began, her voice light and teasing, "to be honest, where you go is my home, and I believe it applies to everyone here. So you don't need to worry about where anyone came from. Just focus on what you need to do now. And know that we will always find a place next to you, even if you push us away."

Her tail flicked playfully against my nose, and in that instant, I couldn't help but sneeze. The sharp, unexpected burst of air caught me off guard, and before I could compose myself, her laughter rang out, bright and full of mischief.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. She was still the same sneaky, cheeky fox, always finding ways to catch me off guard, always with her tricks. She didn't need a reason—she just liked to bully me.

I wished I could get mad at her, chase her around and make everyone laugh, like I might have once done. But that wasn't me anymore. I simply looked ahead, my gaze fixed on the horizon, the world stretching out before me. In my mind right now, only the goal remained. To grow stronger. To find a way to reach the Immortal Emperor's realm—without a heart to support me.

Even if everyone told me I couldn't, even if they said it was impossible, I would do it anyway. The path was mine to carve, and no one—not even my own doubts—would stop me from reaching the top.

Soon, another month passed in our journey. The shock of resurrection had started to fade, and people had begun to adjust. They had started to get along with one another, and even in this desolate world, there was a sense of unity. It was as if everyone had become brothers and sisters to one another, and their bond felt strong, unshakable. But... I hope that won't get in the way of their personal romance. We needed to keep the numbers growing, build a new civilization. That much was clear. But I didn't care much for their relationships. It was only natural to let nature take its course.

Today was different, though. A change had come. We had reached an interesting place—a massive island, larger than anything we had seen so far. It wasn't like the barren land we had crossed. This island felt significant, and as I looked at it, I realized the ruins of what seemed like a citadel lay ahead. The island was large, perhaps the size of the UK from my world, maybe a little bigger, with a shape that felt foreign. It was clear that it had once been home to something, someone... but now, it was all ruins. A piece of a broken civilization.

The others, the ones eager for answers, instantly ran toward it. Around fifty or so men, including Seong-hoon, Eun-woo, Ji-hoon, and Min-jae, dashed forward, their excitement palpable. Their enthusiasm echoed through the air, but it didn't touch me. Not really.

I could hear some of the women laughing in the background, their voices light. "See, I told you they're still boys at heart," one teased.

Another responded, her voice tinged with amusement, "Ahh, don't bother them. All men are like that. Most here just don't want to make fools of themselves in front of the empress."

Empress. The word didn't mean much to me anymore, but I understood its significance to them. The laughter, the teasing—it didn't affect me. I had no interest in it, and no heart to feel it. My focus remained on the ruins ahead, on the discovery, on what lay in this new place.

Then, just as I was about to turn away, I heard it—someone shouted. The sound was sharp, urgent.

"Empress! We found someone!"

Huh? Someone? A person? In this world?