Dancing on the golden ashes

Chapter 123 The Final Game

"Are you ready for the final?" the Creator asked, his voice oozing with cruel amusement. "Only one of you will walk away from here alive, and I have a pretty good guess who the winner will be.""Drums, please!"

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The sound of drums filled the air, their rhythmic pounding echoing ominously around me. Flashy, multicolored lights danced across the stage, casting surreal and shifting shadows.

"Two world-class gamers!" the Creator's voice boomed theatrically, each word laced with mock excitement. "Will now face each other in the ultimate game of..."

He suddenly fell silent, letting the tension hang thick in the air.

Then, with a sudden burst of enthusiasm, he finished:

"Capture the flag!"

In an instant, everything shifted again.

The space morphed into a massive, open stage, vast and imposing. Around me, it felt as though we were outdoors. Towering mountains stretched endlessly in the distance, their peaks disappearing into the clouds. Below them, countless waves of beasts prowled, their numbers seemingly infinite, their roars echoing through the air.

Then, a familiar sensation washed over me. My system powers returned, surging through my body like an unstoppable tide. I clenched my fists, my gaze locking onto Jeong Suhan, who stood across from me.

"Now, now, children, don't fight," the Creator's voice rang out, light and mocking. His laughter grated on my nerves.

"Or you can try," he continued, his tone growing sharp and menacing. "But I promise, you'll regret it. After all, I'm standing right before you. Do you dare disrespect me, Lee Gaon?"

His voice boomed, daring me to act. I couldn't see his face, but I wished I could. I wanted to see the expression he'd wear when I finally tore him down.

"Go fuck yourself," I spat, venom dripping from every word.

This bastard didn't know who he was messing with.

Just you wait, I vowed silently. One day, I'll end you.

"I knew you'd say that," the Creator giggled, his voice dripping with amusement.

"Now," he continued, "somewhere in this vast space, I've hidden a little, tiny, very miniature red flag. About the size of a needle." His words carried a maddening glee. "The first one to find it will win the game. And the loser..."

He paused, his laughter turning twisted and perverse. "The loser will instantly die."

I scanned the area quickly, taking in the mountains, the beasts, and the seemingly endless terrain. To find something so small here—it would be a task based purely on luck. Even with my system abilities, it would be nearly impossible.

But then an idea sparked.

"Wait," I said, narrowing my eyes. "I can use any ability I want, right? And you won't interfere?"

The Creator's voice sounded intrigued, almost curious. "That's right. What will you show me?"

A competitive fire ignited in my chest.

"Great," I said, a confident smirk tugging at my lips. "When do we start?"

"To give you both a fair advantage, I will teleport you to random locations," the Creator announced, his voice laced with amusement.

Before I could respond, a blinding white light engulfed me, and in the next moment, I found myself standing on the edge of a massive cliff. The view stretched endlessly before me, the mountains and valleys sprawling in all directions.

I had no idea where I was or how I'd even begin to find the flag. All I knew was that the timer in my mind had already started.

[59:59… 59:58… 59:57…]

The system's monotonous voice echoed each second, ticking away at my sanity. It was seriously annoying.

One hour… That's all I have.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. There was no time to waste.

I leapt off the cliff, the wind roaring around me as I descended, scanning the terrain below.

"Let's begin, then," I muttered under my breath, extending my hand.

In an instant, my beasts filled the area, appearing one after another.

I couldn't help but smile. It had been so long since I'd last seen them, their presence a familiar comfort. They had grown stronger in my absence.

The Thunder Tempests now stood tall at Level 42, their crackling energy a constant hum. The Molten Crabs, now slightly taller, had also improved, reaching Level 40.

Then there was Magmaclaw, its fiery presence commanding as ever, now an impressive Level 46.

But the crown jewel of my army—the Golden Flood Dragon—swam gracefully through the air above me. Its shimmering scales gleamed in the sunlight, and its power was palpable. At Level 51, it rivaled even my own strength.

"Let's find this flag," I said, my voice steady with determination. "And let's show him who he's messing with."

"You all know what to do, right?" I asked, my voice firm.

All my beasts nodded in unison, their powerful forms ready for action.

"Now, go find that flag for me! Whoever finds it first gets a belly rub."

That was all it took. In an instant, they scattered like a storm, each beast rushing to scour the massive terrain for the hidden flag. Their eagerness brought a fleeting smile to my face, but I had no time to waste.

Now… where are you, Jeong Suhan?

Suspicion gnawed at me. Something about him didn't sit right. Had he been working with the Creator all along? Why else would he have lured me into that cave? There was no way he already knew about this place. And that role of his… Main Character. It didn't bode well.

If I find him, I might just find the flag too.

Summoning my demonic wings, I focused my energy. I used superior space distortion to boost my speed as red lightning and golden fire propelled me forward. With Steps of the Dark Lord maxing my agility, I pushed myself harder than ever.

I launched into the sky, scanning every inch of the endless terrain. But the task was maddening. The vast expanse of mountains felt infinite, and time ticked away mercilessly.

[30 minutes left]

My beasts scoured the area tirelessly, but it was like

A scream tore from my lips, filled with an anger I could no longer contain.

"We are untouchable," the eerie voice declared through me, its power overwhelming. "If you try to mess with us again, I will sacrifice myself and shatter this entire system of yours!"

The ground quaked, the Creator's once-commanding voice now trembling with terror.

The little world he had created was breaking, fracturing under the weight of an unknown power rising within me.