Abyssal Sovereignty

It had been some time since Yverantheia's fierce battle with the demon tiger.

The once scorched territory of the giant serpent had not only recovered but seemed more vibrant than ever. In the Abyss, both flora and fauna were dangerous and powerful. Even the charred land was swiftly reclaimed by greenery, the scorched plants serving as nutrients, causing the new growth to flourish beyond its previous state.

In the deeper parts of the Abyss, there were even more formidable plant-like creatures capable of extraordinary feats, such as moving independently and assimilating nearby life forms. These were the tales Yverantheia heard from the creatures that had submitted to her.

While the lower-level creatures possessed limited intelligence, they were not entirely without it. Though they couldn't speak, Yverantheia could communicate with them thanks to her inherent skill, "Sovereign of All."

Through careful testing, Yverantheia discovered that this skill granted her not only power but also knowledge, including the use of magic. Because these lower-level creatures had submitted to her, she could access their knowledge, albeit with some difficulty due to their limited intellect.

During this period, Yverantheia had ventured around the area, defeating the creatures with their own territories. From the inner to the outer forest, she had subdued nearly all the creatures, compelling them to show their submission.

Instead of killing them outright for a one-time boost in power, Yverantheia chose to let them live and grow, allowing her to gain more strength over time. Her tests revealed that power gained through submission was greater than that from killing, and even if these creatures died by other means, she could still retain a minimum amount of power from them.

Now, the serpent's territory had become the 'center' of the forest, frequently visited by intelligent and powerful creatures seeking favor.

"O great ruler, this is the fang left by one of our strongest."

"This is the finest fruit we've found..."

"We..."

Listening to these sycophantic words, Yverantheia couldn't help but hold her head in her hands. She sought strength, planning to conquer the entire Abyss. But this current situation felt like a hassle.

With experience as a saint, but not as a ruler, the offerings from these creatures were of no use to her. What was she supposed to do with a fang? Make a necklace? As for the fruit, it was at least edible.

"Um..."

A snake beside Yverantheia spoke cautiously. It was the same snake she had beaten before facing the giant serpent. Over time, it had grown and gained the ability to speak.

"Do you have any concerns, my liege?"

"Concerns?"

"Yes, I believe you need a change of pace."

Yverantheia scrutinized the snake, noticing its body trembling slightly.

‘Did I unknowingly release my aura?’

Retracting her oppressive presence, she looked at the snake.

"Do I seem unhappy?"

"Uh..."

The snake looked awkward, though it lacked facial expressions. Thanks to the knowledge gained from the giant serpent, Yverantheia could still read its discomfort.

"Maybe it's time I take the next step."

"The next step?"

Yverantheia cast her gaze into the distance.

Her ultimate goal was never to become a queen or a ruler. These were merely means to an end—to become strong enough to eliminate all obstacles and fulfill her vengeance.

But now, she was entrusted with the giant serpent's legacy, burdened with the responsibility of its kin. She couldn't just...

"If there is anything I can do to serve, please command me," the snake beside her spoke.

Yverantheia remained silent, scrutinizing the snake as if deep in thought.

"Um..." the snake hesitated, sensing something amiss with its natural instincts.

"Hmm... What is your current strength level?" Yverantheia asked.

"Thanks to your aid, I am now among the strongest in this forest, one of the top few," the snake replied.

Despite the numerous offerings from other creatures, Yverantheia found none of them useful. Most conflicted with her own power or were merely supplements, serving as sustenance rather than true enhancements. These were handed over to the snakes, and the one before her was now the strongest of them all.

"Good... It seems you have proven yourself worthy," Yverantheia remarked.

"Worthy?" the snake echoed in confusion.

"After my battle alongside the giant serpent, your predecessor, I witnessed the noble spirit of your kind."

"?"

"I believe that living under the protection of another species is an insult to your kind."

"??"

"No need to respond. I can see it in your spirits, in your souls. You are warriors! Fighters for your race! Your path, your future, must be forged by your own hands!"

"Uh..."

"By my authority as the ruler of this forest, I decree that you shall act as my proxy, guarding this forest and the serpent kin!"

"...Ah... I shall obey your command!"

Yverantheia's stirring words ignited a fire within the snake, compelling it to respond with determination.

"Good. I leave this place in your hands. Now, I must venture further," Yverantheia declared.

"Rest assured, I will protect this place," the snake vowed.

With a slight nod, Yverantheia departed, leaving the snake in a submissive stance.

"I can't believe she trusts me so much," the snake thought, lifting its head and gazing in the direction Yverantheia had gone, eyes filled with hope and joy.

"Ancestor, did you see that? Our warrior spirit has been acknowledged... Wait, warrior spirit?"

It dawned on the snake that while they fought for their race, the concept of a "warrior spirit" was foreign.

"...Have I been duped?" it realized, slowly understanding that Yverantheia's words had swayed it into accepting this responsibility.

Yverantheia, once a saint, had learned how to deliver speeches to stabilize the masses when necessary. This time, she had used those skills to sway the snake. Despite its growth, its intelligence still fell short compared to the cunning humans Yverantheia had dealt with.

"Wait! Lady Yverantheia!!" the snake called out, but it was too late for her to hear.

"...Now, where should I go next..." Yverantheia mused, examining a simple map drawn from the collective knowledge of other creatures as she selected her next destination.