Minerva awoke before dawn, her body thrumming with newfound energy. She didn't bother with her usual morning routine; instead, she stood in the center of the clearing, eyes closed, feeling the pulse of the cosmos around her.
With a thought, she levitated off the ground, dark energy swirling around her feet. She opened her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips as she surveyed the forest below. It all seemed so small now, so insignificant compared to the vastness of her potential.
As she descended, Minerva noticed something odd. The Luminous Cervid, her faithful companion since the beginning of her journey, was nowhere to be seen. She frowned, reaching out with her enhanced senses, but couldn't detect its presence anywhere nearby.
"Hm. Seems it couldn't handle the new me," Minerva mused, surprised at how little the creature's absence bothered her. "No matter. I don't need a pet anymore."
She set off through the forest, her feet barely touching the ground as she moved with inhuman grace. The trees seemed to bend away from her path, as if recognizing a superior force.
After a few hours of travel, Minerva came across a small village nestled in a valley. In her previous life, she might have stopped to rest, to interact with the locals and learn about their culture. Now, she saw it as an opportunity to test her newfound powers.
Descending into the village, Minerva called out, her voice resonating with otherworldly power. "People of this land, come and witness the arrival of your new goddess!"
The villagers emerged from their homes, a mix of awe and fear on their faces. An elderly man, presumably the village elder, stepped forward cautiously.
"Who... who are you?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Minerva smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I am Minerva, Celestial Tyrant, wielder of cosmic forces. Kneel before me, and I may spare your insignificant lives."
The villagers hesitated, exchanging worried glances. This wasn't the benevolent deity they had hoped for. The elder tried to reason with her. "Please, great one. We are but simple folk. We have little to offer-"
Minerva cut him off with a wave of her hand, sending him flying backwards. "I didn't ask for offerings. I demanded obedience."
Panic erupted in the village. Some people fell to their knees, while others turned to flee. Minerva's eyes glowed with dark energy as she raised her hands.
"Let this be a lesson," she declared, cosmic power building around her. "Defiance has consequences."
With a gesture, she unleashed her power. Buildings crumbled, the earth shook, and screams filled the air. In mere moments, the village was reduced to rubble, its inhabitants either dead or cowering in terror.
As the dust settled, Minerva surveyed the destruction she had wrought. She felt no remorse, only a cold satisfaction at the demonstration of her abilities.
"Impressive," a voice said from behind her. "But wasteful."
Minerva spun around, energy crackling at her fingertips. A figure stood there, cloaked in shadows, its features indistinct.
"Who are you?" Minerva demanded, her voice laced with threat.
The figure chuckled, seemingly unimpressed by her display of power. "Someone who can show you how to truly harness your potential. Destruction is easy. Creation, control, domination - these are the true measures of power."
Minerva hesitated, her curiosity piqued. "Go on," she said, lowering her hands slightly.
"Come with me," the figure said, extending a shadowy hand. "I'll show you how to build an empire that will span galaxies. But remember, young Tyrant, true power always comes with a price. Are you willing to pay it?"
Minerva looked back at the ruined village, then at the mysterious figure. Without a word, she took its hand. In a swirl of dark energy, they vanished, leaving behind only destruction and the echoes of screams.
The journey of Minerva, the Celestial Tyrant, was far from over. It was, in many ways, only just beginning.