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chapter 7 : Beyond the Ashes

chapter 7 : Beyond the Ashes

The ground trembled violently under the bull demon's thunderous charge. Its massive hooves shattered the earth, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. Lightning crackled in its glowing red eyes, mirroring the fury of a beast that knew no mercy.

Around me, the serpent demon's tail coiled tighter, cutting into my leg, its constricting force threatening to snap my bones. The eight-eyed spider demon lingered in the distance, its venom-dripping fangs clicking with anticipation, its shadow spreading like a predator preparing for the kill.

I was surrounded.

Despite the power I had gained through relentless battles, I felt utterly helpless. My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled against the serpent's unrelenting grip. My strength, my cultivation, my will—none of it mattered. I was not strong enough.

As the bull demon barreled toward me, time itself seemed to slow, mocking me as I stood helpless in its path.

I closed my eyes.

There was no hope left. I had fought and failed. I had pushed myself beyond my limits, but now, I was trapped by my own weakness. In that moment, I accepted my death, my fate. I welcomed the darkness, letting the crushing weight of despair take over. And yet, the pain never came.

Then, something inside me broke.

The Void Awakens.

In that instant of surrender, a darkness erupted deep within me—a power beyond comprehension, a vast void that consumed everything in its path.

The serpent demon's tail turned to dust, disintegrating before it could even release a cry. The bull demon froze mid-charge, its immense form cracking as the void swallowed it whole. The eight-eyed spider screeched in terror, its legs curling inward as it too was wiped from existence.

In the blink of an eye, they were gone.

And so was everything else.

I stood alone in an endless black void, a space devoid of light, sound, or substance. But it wasn't empty—it hummed with a power that resonated deep within my very soul.

The void wasn't just destruction. It was balance—creation and annihilation, intertwined in a perfect harmony.

For the first time, I understood. This power had always been within me, waiting to be awakened. It wasn't something I had earned through cultivation or effort. It was a force tied to the very fabric of existence itself.

And now, it was awake.

The devastation was all-consuming. What had once been a thriving wilderness was now barren, lifeless. The trees were reduced to ash, rivers cracked and dry, the beasts of the realm wiped away by the force of the void I had unleashed.

I stood frozen, the magnitude of what I had done slowly sinking in. I had killed them all. In an instant, I had destroyed everything. The devastation spread before me, a silent testament to my actions, and in the stillness, the weight of it all came crashing down.

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My heart sank as I looked around at the desolation I had caused. Why? Why had I done it? What had I hoped to achieve?

I whispered to the void, my voice trembling, "What was the point? Was it worth it? Was all of this worth the price I've paid?"

The silence that answered was deafening.

Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, but I couldn't shed them. I wouldn't. Not anymore. I had spent so long chasing power, carving my name in blood, convincing myself it was all part of a noble cause. But now, standing amid the ruins I had created, I saw the truth.

I had become a destroyer. A monster.

The realization hit like a crushing weight.

Every crack in the earth, every burned tree, every dried-up river—it was all a reminder of what I had become. A force of destruction, blind to the cost of my hunger for power. For so long, I had convinced myself that I fought for survival, for strength. But now, in the stark quiet of this broken world, I saw the lie.

I hadn't sought strength to protect or to help. I had sought it for myself. To be more. To prove myself. And in the process, I had destroyed everything that stood in my path. Life had been nothing but a means to feed my insatiable desire for more.

"Power is a fire that burns bright, but it leaves nothing but ashes in its wake," I thought, the bitter truth sinking in. I had believed I controlled it, but in the end, it had consumed me.

There was no going back now. The void, my power—it was too much to undo. If I held onto this power, I would continue to destroy, until nothing remained. I would eventually destroy myself, too.

A deep ache settled within my chest. I was so far gone, I couldn't even recognize the person I had been before. I had been consumed by it all—the desire, the destruction. The whispers of the person I had once been, a person who had sought power out of necessity, now seemed like distant echoes.

I didn't need this power anymore.

I sat down amidst the ruins, trembling. Taking a steady breath, I reached deep within myself, seeking the void—the very thing that had defined me for so long. It fought against me, pulling me back, refusing to let go. But I wasn't afraid anymore.

With everything I had left, I tore myself away from it. Piece by piece, I unraveled the power I had unleashed. The pain was excruciating, as if the fibers of my soul were being ripped apart, but I kept going. The power clawed at me, strangling me, but I refused to relent.

And then, finally, it was done.

The void was gone.

And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt… peace.

The barren landscape stretched out before me, and though the sky was dull, the weight that had burdened me for so long lifted. The absence of the void left a strange emptiness, but this time, it wasn't a void I feared. It was freedom.

I had chased power, convinced it was the key to survival, that it was the only way to prove my worth. But now, as I stood amidst the ashes of what I had destroyed, I saw it clearly. Power, built on the suffering of others, was a lie.

I had killed, I had taken life, and for what? To be stronger? To stand at the top?

I had emptied the world. I had destroyed it. All for my own pride, my own hunger.

But now, I saw the cost.

I couldn't undo what I had done. But I could start again.

This time, I would seek no glory. I would seek no power. I would walk a different path—the path of understanding, of balance.

I stood, unsteady on my feet. My body was fragile, but for the first time, I didn't mind.

I would walk this new journey, not for the power, but with purpose. For the sake of myself.

Unbeknownst to me, the realm had been sealed.

The power I had unleashed was far too dangerous to roam freely. Unknown forces—perhaps even my master's influence—had sealed the realm, locking away the void energy I had awakened. The echoes of that power were contained, unable to spill into the world beyond.

I was completely unaware of the changes happening outside this place. The realm was locked away, a quiet prison for the forces I had unleashed. Meanwhile, the world beyond carried on—conflicts brewing, new dangers arising—that I could never have imagined.

My journey was far from over.

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Author's Thoughts:

I apologize for the delay in uploading chapters. I've been busy with exams, but from today onward, I'll be uploading chapters daily. Thank you for your patience, and I appreciate your continued support!

I'll be updating daily at 15:00