The crowd was still buzzing.
As I walked away from Xing Xing, I could feel their eyes on me. Some were in awe, others in confusion, and a few in fear.
But fear? That was the start of something much bigger. That was how empires were built. How kings were made.
And me? I wasn't just a king. I was the fucking emperor of this world.
But as I turned the corner, I saw something that stopped me dead in my tracks.
A figure, cloaked in black, was standing in the shadows of a nearby alley, watching me with eyes as sharp as daggers.
Who the hell was this?
I stepped forward, cocky and unbothered.
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "Got something to say, or are you just admiring my greatness from afar?"
The figure didn't flinch. Instead, a deep, gravelly voice echoed from beneath the hood.
Mysterious Figure: "I've been waiting for you, Wang Ling."
I chuckled. "Waiting for me? How quaint. But you must have mistaken me for someone else. I'm Kazuki Hashigawa now."
Mysterious Figure: "No... I know exactly who you are. You're the one the gods have been keeping an eye on. The one who will bring chaos to the world—whether they like it or not."
I raised an eyebrow.
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "You talk too much for someone hiding in the shadows."
With a flick of my hand, I summoned an energy pulse that shot forward, illuminating the alley in a flash. The figure was forced to step back, revealing themselves fully.
And damn… they were beautiful.
A woman—mid-twenties, with fiery red hair that cascaded down her back like flames. Her eyes were glowing with a strange power, like they were alive with some ancient force. She wore an outfit made of dark leather, with runes etched into the material that glowed faintly.
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "Well now… seems like I've got myself a little firecracker."
The woman's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a smirk that made my blood boil with the thrill of danger.
Woman: "I'm not here to be your plaything, Wang Ling. I'm here to give you a choice."
I snorted.
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "A choice? You think you're in a position to give me anything?"
She didn't flinch at my arrogance. Instead, her expression darkened.
Woman: "You want power, don't you? You want to make everyone who ever looked down on you regret their actions. I can help you with that. I can give you something far beyond your current abilities."
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "Oh really?"
She stepped forward, and for the first time, I felt a twinge of unease. Her power was palpable, radiating off of her in waves that made even me—overpowered—feel small for a brief second.
Woman: "You think you're the strongest? That you're invincible? The truth is, you're nothing but a puppet, and the strings are being pulled by someone else. But if you want to cut those strings and become a true god—then come with me."
My hands clenched into fists.
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "Who the hell do you think you're talking to, woman? I don't take orders. I give them."
She smiled—a wicked, devilish grin.
Woman: "You're wrong, Wang Ling. Right now, you're still bound by the chains of this world. Your power is just a shadow of what you could truly become. You have potential, but you're holding back. I can show you how to break through your limits, if you're willing to pay the price."
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "And what's the price?"
She took another step forward, her eyes glowing brighter now, almost burning into me.
Woman: "The price is your soul."
---
The air crackled with tension.
For a moment, I considered her offer. Power beyond anything I'd ever imagined… it was tempting. More than tempting. It was like the universe itself was dangling a new realm of possibility right in front of me.
But I wasn't some fool who would gamble with something as precious as my soul. Not for anyone.
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "I don't need your kind of power. Not when I've got this."
I raised my hand, summoning a surge of energy so immense it shattered the ground beneath our feet.
The woman's eyes widened for the first time.
Woman: "Impressive… but it's not enough."
Before she could react, I teleported behind her in the blink of an eye, my hand gripping her throat, slamming her against the wall.
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "You talk a lot for someone who's about to choke on her own words."
Her eyes blazed with fury as she tried to break free, but I could feel the power surging from within me—more than just physical strength. This was the essence of a Celestial Being, a force of nature that even she couldn't match.
I smiled.
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "If you want my soul, you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands. And trust me… you'll never make it that far."
Her expression faltered for just a second.
Then, as if she was willing to test me, she raised her hand, summoning a dark sphere of energy. It crackled with destructive power, threatening to obliterate everything in its path.
Woman: "You're right. I'm done begging. I'll take what I want by force."
Wang Ling (Kazuki): "Bring it On."
---
The world erupted in flames.