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 nd was swiftly recimed by greenery, the scorched pnts 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 pnt-like creatures capable of extraordinary feats, such as moving indepely and assimiting nearby life forms. These were the tales Yverantheia heard from the creatures that had submitted to her.

  While the lower-level creatures possessed limited intelligehey were irely without it. Though they couldn't speak, Yverantheia could unicate with them thanks to her i skill, "Sn 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 owories. From the io the outer forest, she had subdued nearly all the creatures, pelling them to show their submission.

  Instead of killing them ht for a oime boost in power, Yverantheia chose to let them live and grow, allowio gain more strength over time. Her tests revealed that paihrough 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 bee the 'ter' of the forest, frequently visited by intelligent and powerful creatures seeking favor.

  "O great ruler, this is the fa by one of our stro."

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

  "We..."

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

  With experience as a saint, but not as a ruler, the s from these creatures were of no use to her. What was she supposed to do with a fang? Make a neckce? 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 fag the giant serpent. Over time, it had grown and gaihe ability to speak.

  "Do you have any s, my liege?"

  "s?"

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

  Yverantheia scrutihe snake, notig its body trembling slightly.

  ‘Did I unknowingly release my aura?’

  Retrag her oppressive presence, she looked at the snake.

  "Do I seem unhappy?"

  "Uh..."

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

  "Maybe it's time I take the step."

  "The step?"

  Yverantheia cast her gaze into the distance.

  Her ultimate goal was o bee a queen or a ruler. These were merely means to ao bee 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 do to serve, please ahe 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 stro in this forest, one of the top few," the snake replied.

  Despite the numerous s from other creatures, Yverantheia found none of them useful. Most flicted with her own power or were merely supplements, serving as susteher than true enhas. These were handed over to the snakes, and the one before her was now the stro of them all.

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

  "Worthy?" the snake echoed in fusion.

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

  "?"

  "I believe that living uhe prote of another species is an insult to your kind."

  "??"

  "o respond. I see it in your spirits, in your souls. You are warriors! Fighters for your race! Your path, your future, must be fed 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 and!"

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

  "Good. I leave this p your hands. Now, I must venture further," Yverantheia decred.

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

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

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

  "Aor, did you see that? Our warrior spirit has been aowledged... Wait, warrior spirit?"

  It dawned on the shat while they fought for their race, the cept of a "warrior spirit" was fn.

  "...Have I been duped?" it realized, slowly uanding 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 intelligeill fell short pared to the ing humans Yverantheia had dealt with.

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

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