The World Serpent

"Now, is there something new you have gained from the Eternal Sword, Senior Koldreg?" 

Persia asked with a calm voice. It has been a while since she heard about the Eternal Sword. She had given it to the Great Ruler Koldreg as he had an Origin Skill related to Armaments. With his Origin Skill, he might gain a lot of information regarding the materials of the Eternal Sword and its Origin. 

"Correct, That's one of the reasons I teleported to this nation other than worrying about your disappearance. Anyway, about the Eternal Sword. The only thing I can say about it is the word Marvelous. It's the second thing I had seen that made it hard for me to analyze." 

Koldreg smiled as he held the Eternal Sword under his buff arm. Persia looked at the Eternal Sword, and it looked the same as always. But there was something within Koldreg's words that bothered her. It was about the Eternal Sword being the second thing that made it hard for his Origin Skill to analyze. 

Though, before Persia could ask about his words, Koldreg understood her curiosity and explained. 

"The first time my Origin Skill had a hard time was when it analyzed the World Tree of the Korr Region. It took me months to completely analyze, but unfortunately, I realized that I only managed to analyze the uppermost layer of the information hidden within the World Tree." 

"That time was shocking for me as I was confident that I would be able to understand how such things work. Of course, I was completely wrong, even with the help of my Origin Skill. Such was my unfortunate meeting with the World Tree, and the Eternal Sword seemed to be the second one." 

"Although it isn't harder than the World Tree. It was still the second treasure that gave me a hard time. It gave me information beyond that of the Realm of Piksyon. It gave me wisdom about something above the Realm of Piksyon. And finally, it gave me a clear sign about a future enemy." 

The last words of Koldreg echoed as the Great Rulers, including Persia, looked at him with serious expressions. Koldreg was talking about a future enemy, and they were sure that it wasn't an enemy from the foreign continental regions. Persia then spoke with a calm voice as she wondered what kind of enemy it was. 

"Future Enemy? Hmm... Interesting."

"Tell us, Koldreg. Who is this future enemy of ours? What kind of enemy is it? And, does it even come from the Realm of Piksyon or outside of it? Forgive me for the bombardment of questions, but I'm the type to extinguish a fire before it could grow to devour a world." Persia words echoed as the Great Rulers nodded in agreement. 

Koldreg smiled upon seeing the expressions of his comrades and answered. 

"Our Future Enemy are beings known as Gods. The annoying ones with the influence encompassed dozens of worlds. The Eternal Sword came from the Gods as they wanted to take care of the World Administrator. It worked, but the World Administrator stopped their influence from seeping through her world."

"Such was the story I found in the Eternal Sword. It was an interesting story though we need to be careful as the Gods might be planning to take back the Eternal Sword. Not only that, the Eternal Sword has a trail of divinity though its origins are unknown. Anyway, I'm here to report the circumstances, and I want to know about our future strategies."

That was the reason why Koldreg had arrived. It was supposed to be the second thing he wanted to talk about. The first thing was the disappearance of Persia, but since Persia didn't disappear. There was no need not to talk about the situation at hand. Koldreg was a bit excited as he had known that with Persia. The Great Forest could go further beyond the Realm of Piksyon. 

The Great Rulers and Persia had serious expressions as they thought about Koldreg's words. The Gods, Persia had heard about them from the Great Rulers. They were powerful beings that seemed to be able to enter anywhere. The only reason they couldn't enter the Realm of Piksyon was simple. It wasn't because someone or something was stopping them.

It was simply because the inhabitants of the Realm of Piksyon were too powerful and had no need for blessings. Especially the Great Rulers who have gifts beyond what their blessings could give.

"Gods, eh... It seems that they are planning to do something. The timing is too good as they seemed to begin moving at the prologue of the New Great War after the Millennium. We don't even know their reasons, but there is a possibility that they are the ones instigating the Great War. The Devils consider themselves cunning but compared to the Gods. Their cunningness seemed to fall." 

Kitsune, Drya, Statera, and Koldreg looked at Persia with curiosity plastered on their faces. The words of Persia caused their curiosity to get aflame. After all, it seemed that she had a history about Gods.

"You sound like you have a history with them."

Kitsune said with an aloof voice as Persia simply smiled and replied. 

"I don't know if I should consider that as a God, but it was my Origin. It was the reason why I am standing here and sitting on this throne. After meeting it, it never revealed itself to me ever again. I remembered asking for a wish, though I don't remember the details about it."

"But knowing myself, It seems that the wish succeeded. I realized this over and over again, but my Past is covered under a layer of the curtain. It may be a curtain created by my own foolish wish. I don't know if I should unfold the mystery of the curtain but before answering such a question. I would like to meet it once again."

Persia had a nostalgic smile plastered on her face. The fear she felt at that moment. The glamorous black plain she had seen. And the Giant Red Star that was the eye of the Serpent. She wondered if she could reach such a level. She also understood that the Serpent must have considered her as the heir of the Title known as World Serpent. 

Her Mission was to become the World Serpent and live through her life. Maybe after becoming very strong, It would be her turn to pass the torch. Well, there was no need to think about an existential crisis. She should finish the problems in front of her. The path she needed to pave still hasn't reached paradise. She needed to continue building it for herself and her new family. 

"I see... From what you are saying, it seems that you aren't talking about a God. You see, Gods are different as they are Spectral Creatures born from concepts. They are annoying. After all, as long as there is a brain. They will exist and will never wither. Even if you kill one of them, another would be born to take their concept." 

Statera explained the existence of the Gods and knew that the one Persia was talking about wasn't a God. Kitsune and Drya nodded in agreement after hearing Statera's words. Persia's benefactor seemed to be something beyond that of a God. Well, that was the only thought they could have after hearing Persia's words. 

Koldreg then threw the Eternal Sword towards Persia as Persia caught it without any problems. She looked at the Eternal Sword as it was beautiful as ever. Unfortunately, the weapons of the Gods were still a weapon of divinity. No matter what she does, it won't be hers. But what if she dismantles it and reconstructs it once again?

"The four of you should back off. I want to do something with this Eternal Sword." Persia smirked as Kitsune, Drya, and Starera nodded in agreement. Koldreg, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel a bad premonition. He instantly realized what Persia was trying though he couldn't believe it and shook it off. 

'No, she isn't planning on dismantling it, right?' Koldreg thought to himself, and his answer echoed with a serene voice.

"Correct, I am planning to dismantle it and make it my own. As long as there is divinity within this artifact, It will never be mine." Persia answered as she activated her Origin Skill Dominion Authority. While activating it, she also activated Chaos Plague and Azathoth Creation. 

With the combination of two demonic skills and an Origin Skill, the Eternal Sword started humming. It seemed to be resisting. But, Persia simply smirked upon seeing its resistance and activated her Superior Augmentation. Not only that, but she also had the passive skill Casualty Perception. With the aid of Causality Perception and Precognition, any failure wasn't allowed. 

"Break apart and be mine..."

Persia smirked as the Eternal Sword started cracking. Koldreg couldn't look at the destruction of such an artifact, so he covered his eyes. As the cracks covered the Eternal Sword, a radiant light escaped and enveloped everything. The Great Rulers didn't seem bothered and continued looking at it.

The Eternal Sword exploded, though before it could destroy the throne room. Persia controlled it using her Dominion Authority. The radiant light slowly faded as what was left of the Eternal Sword was chunks of its former glory. Persia looked at the chunks and smiled. Meanwhile, Koldreg fell to the floor as it was his first time seeing a priceless artifact destroyed. 

Kitsune, Drya, and Statera looked at the chunks left by the Eternal Sword as Persia picked the chunks with her pale hands and was satisfied. But before she could speak to the Great Rulers. A Strange sound echoed within the Heavens and the Earth. 

*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* 

War Drums sounded in the heavens and the Great War officially began.