Dancing on the golden ashes-Chapter 240: Testing Begins…

Now I knew this path I walked would most likely be the death of me, but when had I ever feared death? Okay... maybe a couple of times... but why would I care anymore? Right now, I was my own master, and the system that once directed my path and held me in chains was now part of me, but not in the way I had first imagined. Not even close.

I could feel my body growing stronger, as if the system and cultivation were two entirely different techniques. The system had lost its familiar window, yet as long as I focused and turned my senses inward, I could feel exactly what made it so special.

As I glided through the sky, my wings stretched wide and powerful, I felt the strange pyramid inside me pulsing. Each wave of power spread through my body, washing over me like a flowing river. I believed it was mana — the same energy I had once relied on to cast skills like Chaos Slash and Black Strike. Those abilities still existed within me, yet they no longer felt like separate commands. Instead, they had become part of me, as natural as moving my limbs or breathing the air.

Curious, I decided to test my power. When I hunted a few wandering monsters, I noticed something strange. As they fell, I felt a faint energy escape their bodies and rush into me. It was subtle, like a quiet whisper threading through my veins, yet I could feel it strengthening me ever so slightly. I believed that was how leveling had worked before. How mysterious...

There was still so much to explore. Each skill I once possessed now felt deeply rooted within me, as if cultivation and the system had blended into one. Now that I thought about it, I realized that bastard must have drawn inspiration from cultivation when he created the system.

I hated to admit it, but the truth was clear. As twisted and cruel as he was, the Creator was a genius. Crafting something so complex required extraordinary talent. But that’s the thing about geniuses, isn’t it? The smarter they are, the more arrogant they become. They convince themselves they are untouchable, sitting at the top of the world without a single doubt in their minds.

That is where people like me come in. People who know how to steal that brilliance right from under their noses. It sounds terrible, doesn’t it? But I had no choice.

I promised myself I would master this system, break it down piece by piece, and learn to craft my own. If my sin powers couldn’t rip it directly from that bastard, then I would create something new — something powerful and independent. I needed a system that belonged to me alone, one that he could never influence or corrupt.

Because if I failed, if I couldn’t break his hold entirely, then even if I succeeded in reviving my friends, they would never be free. And that thought... that sickening idea that my friends could still fall under his control… that was far more disturbing than anything else.

My scythe manifested in my hand, its cold, familiar presence instantly filling me with comfort. I traced its sharp edge with gentle fingers, feeling an odd sense of affection. So far, this weapon had been the most comfortable one for me, and I knew it would most likely stay that way forever.

"Old friend," I murmured softly, my grip tightening as memories surfaced. "We were introduced by the system, and now you’re part of my soul." My gaze lingered on the dark metal, and for the first time, I felt something new — a connection that went beyond the surface. Even when I had summoned this weapon from my soul before, it had never felt quite like this. The bond we shared now was different. It was deeper... unbreakable.

"Now we’ll be together forever." I hugged the weapon close, a quiet chuckle escaping my lips. The cold steel felt oddly warm against me, as if the weapon itself was responding to my words.

A cold glint flickered in my eyes as I turned my gaze toward the horizon. I needed to test something out. With a powerful flap of my wings, I soared down from the sky and landed in a golden field that stretched endlessly before me. Monsters roamed the area, their low growls blending with the faint rush of crystal-blue rivers that wove through the land. The monsters here were weak, nothing more than low-level fodder — perfect for what I needed.

"Let’s see..." I muttered under my breath. Inspect!

Visit freёnovelkiss.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

I expected to see their levels appear in my mind like before, but nothing showed up. Instead, a flood of information surged through my thoughts, overwhelming me with knowledge I hadn’t actively sought. It wasn’t just the name of the creature — The Mythical Wind Deer — or its level, which was 102. I knew everything. Its abilities, its weaknesses, and even how it would react if I moved closer. It was as if I had always known... like some kind of innate knowledge buried deep inside me had awakened.

Is this how the Creator perceive the world? Or had my system evolved to some new peak? Whatever it was, I felt strangely powerful — almost godlike.

"Sorry for this," I said softly, an apologetic smile curving my lips, yet my voice remained cold. "But you’ll have to become an honorable sacrifice for my friends."

Before the deer could react, I flicked my scythe, and a thin black slash cut cleanly through its skull. The beast collapsed without so much as a twitch, its death painless and instant. The black orb — the same one that always appeared before — rose from its body and floated gently in the air.

I sighed and lowered myself to the ground, summoning the orb into my palm. I could have placed it in my soul container where my family’s energy waited, but I refused to waste time. My other hand moved instinctively, and dark shadows burst from my body like a violent tide. One by one, my beasts emerged from the swirling void — beasts I hadn’t seen in so long that I almost forgot what their presence felt like.

They all stared at me, their gazes intense and unwavering. Something was different about them. The familiar presence of the system that once chained them was gone — no longer weighing them down.

"Thank you, Master," a calm yet powerful voice spoke. It was the Dragon Goddess Scaelvorix, now in her human form. Her violet hair flowed like silk, and her golden eyes no longer glimmered with pride, but with something far deeper — respect. True respect. "You freed us from our shackles," she continued, her voice steady and firm. "We owe you our lives now."

One by one, the others followed her lead, bowing deeply before me. Their expressions, once filled with arrogance or rebellion, now held only loyalty.

I was touched... yet confused.

"How?" I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. "How did your systems disappear?" My gaze shifted back to the Dragon Goddess. "Did I... do this?"

It seemed too coincidental. If they had been part of my system before, perhaps when I absorbed my own power into myself, it severed their ties to the Creator’s influence as well. I didn’t know for sure, but one thing was clear — they were safe with me now. And that thought warmed my heart more than I expected.

"Rise up," I muttered, rolling my eyes at their stubborn kneeling. "You’re embarrassing yourselves."

None of them moved.

"Seriously," I added with a sigh. "You’re my friends... my family. There’s no need for that. All I ask today is that you keep watch and make sure no idiots decide to interrupt my studies."

They rose to their feet in unison, their faces still serious, their eyes unwavering in their silent promise to protect me. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I wasn’t walking this path alone anymore.

"Mas—"

"Call me big sis. That’s good enough for all of you," I interrupted with a laugh, shaking my head at their stubbornness. They were too serious sometimes... maybe they needed a little beating to loosen up.

"Yes, big sister," Scaelvorix replied with a soft smile. "We know exactly what you’re planning to do, and we’ll protect you while you’re busy."

I paused, blinking in surprise. She could feel it? That was unexpected... but not impossible. After all, the bond I shared with my beasts was special. Even before the system had fully merged with me, there had always been something deeper — something more instinctive — that connected us.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. I had something far more important to focus on.

I turned my gaze to the soul resting in my palm, the dark orb flickering faintly like a dying ember. This... this was what I needed to understand. If I couldn’t reconstruct this soul — if I couldn’t restore something as simple as a beast’s spirit — then how could I ever hope to reforge the souls of my friends?

I clenched my fist around the orb, swallowing hard. The thought of testing on a human soul terrified me. What if I failed? What if I destroyed what little essence they had left?

No... I couldn’t risk that. I had to start step by step and I had to prove to myself that this was possible.

I can do this... I have to.