The World Serpent

During the eternal night where the jet-black darkness covered the Realm of Piksyon, the pale silver moon shone with its ever-glowing moonlight giving radiance to the Realm of Piksyon. The dark heavens were serene, along with its bright twinkling stars. The night was glamorous and calm as it was cold and windy. 

But below the starry night sky were cities inflamed by destruction and suffering. 

Within the Realm of Piksyon, in the Endless Grassland where countless states and cities stood, A powerful invader began her invasion upon the vast land. She had the title Demon Lord and was known as the Great Ruler of Azathoth or the World Serpent. She was keeping her promise and devoured those that dared to retreat from the game they began. 

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

The deafening thunderous explosions sounded within the night. Along with the crimson flames of blood, with ashen dust rising to the heavens. They were about to meet the destroyer, the devourer. Within the smoke-covered night sky, a gargantuan dark silhouette revealed itself. It resembled a serpent with Golden Eyes and Demonic Horns with Bat-like Wings. 

"FIRE!!!"

A General shouted while ordering the cannons plastered on the city walls to fire towards the colossal monster. Unfortunately for him, such a weapon wouldn't work against a monster that would defy the heavens. He didn't know why such a monster invaded his city, but he understood that he needed to kill the monster or nothing within the Endless Grassland would be able to survive. 

"Why isn't it working? Why the hell is a monster attacking us? Where is the Great Ruler?" The General couldn't help but shout in fear. He was breaking apart as he was helpless as an ant. A subordinate then appeared right beside him and answered his questions with a calm voice. 

"The Great Ruler of our Nation has escaped along with the riches he could bring. We are now left with nothing other than the destruction brought by his enemy." The subordinate was calm at first, but he was slowly breaking apart like the General. There only hope left them to get devoured by the serpentine monster. 

"W-what!? Why? Why did our Great Ruler have a conflict against such a monster? This is the end. There is nothing we could do about it. Order the evacuation, evacuate everything, and don't leave anyone behind!!!" The General shouted as the Subordinate nodded and relayed his orders to his army. 

The evacuation began as the people of his nations were escaping through the city gates. The capital city was about to fall. What would happen to the remaining cities of their Nation? Other nations would probably eat them and break the territory of their Nation apart. Such was their end, like the nations that came before them. 

"General, I have relayed your orders. I also have a new report about the situation." The Subordinate appeared once again right beside the General. The General turned his gaze towards the Subordinate and questioned with a serious and cold voice. His face lacked any emotions as if he already had lost himself. 

"What is it?" 

"It seems that we were wrong. The Great Ruler of our Nation is currently planning to face against the monster. He is currently heading towards the serpent to kill it and save our nation." The Subordinate was hopeful that their Great Ruler would be able to defeat the serpent that invaded the capital city. The General, on the other hand, wasn't easily swayed by his words.

"Who told you that?" The General asked as the Subordinate thought about it and answered. "I heard it from the soldiers. They managed to see our Great Ruler facing against the serpent. It seems that he was on a carriage before meeting with the serpent. Though, I'm quite sure that we probably have hope of defeating the monster." 

"So that's how it was... I guess that bastard is really a coward. Planning to escape but unfortunately met with the serpent. I guess this should be the punishment for not doing his duty. We have supported him and have done everything he wanted. When push comes to shove. He dared to abandon our nation."

The General concluded that the Great Ruler of their Nation wasn't planning to fight against the Serpent. He simply, unfortunately, met with the serpent while escaping. Nothing more, nothing less, he would have wanted to speak the truth to his army, but the Great Ruler was the hope of their Nation. The situation would worsen if he had spoken the truth. 

"Has the evacuation concluded?" The General questioned as the Subordinate turned his gaze towards the city gates that were full of people. Their race wasn't powerful or advance in terms of technology. Mana didn't bless them, and they weren't particularly smart. They were pretty much normal. 

"It might take time for the Evacuation to conclude. Fortunately, The Great Ruler is buying time by facing against the serpent." The Subordinate answered as the General looked at the Serpent and the Great Ruler. It seems that despite being a coward. He was still useful for buying time for the citizens of the nations to escape. 

Even though he was a coward, the General had no choice but to continue trusting the Great Ruler of their Nation. Otherwise, their Nation and species would lose everything. That was the price of power and protection. There was no need to be prideful in front of beings that could erase a country. 

"Assist the Great Ruler, make sure he doesn't die." The General gave his orders as he left the wall he was standing on. The Subordinate looked at him leaving as Subordinate relayed his orders to the remaining walls of the Capital City. Cannons continued firing along with explosions sounding from the center of the Capital City. 

Even if the Cannonball wouldn't be able to pierce through the serpent's scale. They could still use it to support the Great Ruler of their Nation who was about to fight the serpent. 

Meanwhile, within the center of the capital city, a Great Ruler was about to fight against the serpent from the Occidental Region or the Great Ruler with the title Occidental Guardian. He was quite nervous and wanted to escape. Unfortunately, he met with the serpent and had no choice but to fight for his survival. 

Though, along with the help of cannonballs and the support of the army in the capital city. He might be able to fight against the serpent and defeat it. Thinking of defeating the serpent, the Great Ruler couldn't help but think of the fame he would receive from the Great Rulers in the Realm of Piksyon. 

You are one of the Supreme Commanders that dared to retreat after hearing your fate. Didn't I already give you a warning before about what happens if you retreat from the Great War? Or were you confident that I wouldn't be able to reach this deep within the Endless Grassland?"

"All of you are the same as always. Prideful and Cowards, But... That is to be expected from the weakest Great Rulers. The only thing good you have is the biomass contained within you." The distorted voice of the serpent echoed as it looked at the Great Ruler with its Golden Amber Eyes. 

The previous thoughts of the Great Ruler disappeared as he felt fear overtaking his heart. He couldn't move a single part of his body. He couldn't believe such a fact. He was the Great Ruler, the Peak of Realm of Piksyon. That was, of course, the truth, but he forgot one thing.

The reason why the Great Rulers of the Great Forest could protect themselves against the thousands of Great Rulers within the Realm of Piksyon was simple. They have evolved beyond the boundaries of the Daemon Monster. Their power was not to be underestimated and along with their Origin Skill. They were able to transcend beyond like many others. 

The Daemon Beast, Daemon Monster, and finally the Mythical Daemons. Within the Realm of Piksyon, there were only about 12 Mythical Daemons. Four of them resided within the Great Forest while the remaining ones got scattered within the South, North, and the Arcanum Region. This was why Persia was confident within the Endless Grassland. After all, there wasn't a single Mythical Daemon inhabiting it. 

"It appears that fear has overtaken your heart. You are a coward. You were simply blessed by luck to awaken an Origin Skill." The serpent mocked the Great Ruler as it opened its jaws. The Great Ruler uttered in fear as he slowly backed away from the serpent.

"Please, please, no!!!"

There was nothing the Great Ruler could do, but get devoured by the serpent. With that, the Great Ruler died, and it was time for the serpent to find the next targets. Before it could leave, a strange notification echoed within its head. The biomass it had gained from eating Great Rulers was better than expected. 

'I have evolved a lot during my hunt. The borders of the Daemon Monster are about to be revealed.' The serpent thought to itself as it looked at the capital city and left for the next Great Ruler. The Weak Great Rulers were easy to handle. Unlike the strongest ones, there was nothing different between a Weak Great Ruler and a normal animal. 

The serpent then left as its gargantuan silhouette slowly faded within the ashen smoke covering the heavens. The nation was spared, but the Great Ruler within it got devoured. During the night, the Endless Grassland met a complete decimation of about tens of dozens of Great Ruler. 

Such was their fate for defying the wishes of the Serpent.