Dancing on the golden ashes-Chapter 213: Learning the Truth

Suddenly, the beast smiled wildly. That smile twisted my stomach into knots. Its massive teeth gleamed, the mouth expanding to a grotesque size—bigger than the mountain itself. It was so unnerving, so disgusting, that I couldn’t help but feel repulsed.

But that wasn’t all. The yeti began to transform at an alarming speed. Its body contracted and expanded in unnatural ways, each movement grotesque and disorienting. Then, it shook—shook so violently that I could feel the ground tremble beneath me. When it stopped, what stood before me was no longer a massive beast, but a five-meter-tall human-like figure, stark naked. The transformation was so sudden, so strange, that it almost didn’t seem real.

The ice energy swirled around him, wrapping his body, crafting armor made of jagged, shimmering ice. A massive ice crown formed atop his head, its edges sharp and imposing. In his hand, an ice sword appeared, forged with exquisite detail. The weapon wasn’t just beautiful—it radiated power, an aura so sharp that it felt as if anything it touched would be severed in half at its will. The cold, deadly energy it gave off was undeniable.

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The man stood tall and imposing, his frame massive and solid. I couldn’t help but feel a wave of insignificance wash over me. The sheer presence of him made me feel small in comparison. But I quickly shook those thoughts away. I realized it was some sort of intimidation skill—an attempt to make me falter. But even so, I could sense that this smaller, more compact form had likely amplified his strength. The massive power from his beastly form was now concentrated into a more agile, lethal version. That realization made me uneasy.

I was no longer certain that I could win this battle, but I would never give up, not anymore.

My scythe danced with fire, its golden light flickering as I infused it with lightning energy, causing it to spark with crimson arcs. The combination of the two powers made the weapon pulse with an intense, deadly energy. It felt alive in my hands, radiating the kind of strength that could tear through anything.

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The man’s gaze met mine, curiosity flashing in his eyes as he studied me.

"Interesting," he said, his voice cold yet laced with something far more unsettling. "You’re not fighting purely by relying on the system. You are different. Are you the one who will destroy this world?"

The words hit me like a crashing tidal wave, knocking me off balance for a split second. How did it know? The question echoed in my mind as I froze, caught off guard by the sheer audacity of its words. Was there something in this world—some knowledge that demigod beasts held—that I didn’t?

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," I spat, my voice cold and sharp. "You hateful demigods will all die under my blade. But don’t hold it against me—hold it against that piece of shit who made you. The pitiful creator."

In response, the man let out a laugh, deep and mocking.

"Hahaha! You believe we would side with that garbage? Not in a million years. If not for the stupid system, the one we can’t deny—forced on us by him—we would have risen against him long ago. And don’t call me by that stupid title. We are no demigods. We are the protectors of this world. And you..." His eyes narrowed, a vicious gleam flashing in them. "I can already smell the blood of one of the protectors on your hands. The Mountain Immortal, right? He was always, after all, the most gentle of us. He most likely weakened over time, lost his edge. I will never forgive you for slaying my brother. No matter what side you stand on, your destiny was already sealed. We were warned about you."

His voice dropped lower, venom dripping from each word.

"And now, that you are in my hands, I will twist that neck right off your body and feast on you later, all while cursing the one who dares to call himself the creator. If anyone here is the beast... it’s him."

The malice in his voice was so thick it almost choked me. His words stung like venom, but there was something deeper there—something I hadn’t fully realized until now. It wasn’t just me who hated that person. It seemed many of the creatures in this world shared the same contempt. And now, everything the Goddess of Fire had spoken about started to make sense. There were entities in this world, powerful beings, who were bound by the rules of someone who played the part of a god—the one who dictated their fate.

"You sold yourself to him, didn’t you?" I said coldly, my voice laced with accusation. "You were too afraid to die. That’s why you’re infected with the system. If you truly wanted to kill him, you would have died alongside the others in this world."

Instantly, his face shifted, his expression darkening as if I had struck a raw nerve. I could tell I had hit his soft spot, and a sense of satisfaction washed over me. These demigods—they were the traitors, the ones too afraid to face their end. I was oddly glad I had met the Goddess of Fire in that gem. Her words had saved me from being tricked by these creatures.

"How do you know that?" The man’s aura surged, rising like a storm. His sword trembled violently in his hand, as though it too could feel the fury within him. "No wonder I felt her aura on you. Did that bitch leave a part of her soul with her powers for you?" His laugh echoed, harsh and bitter. "Hahaha, what a twist of events. Agnia... She had always been a smart one, always outshining the rest of us. No wonder she rose to a point where we could only watch from the ground as she soared through the skies and battled gods. She was meant to be the one to save this world. Yet, even she failed. So, how can you expect us to fight back? Hahaha, we are the protectors, so we can protect the world from insects like you. All for the glorious creator."

I smiled, my expression cold as ice. "Is that so?" I let the words hang in the air, savoring the moment before I delivered my blow. "Then, I’m glad to tell you, your master was the one who gave me a quest to slaughter all ten of you. I guess he no longer needs you."