Around 2600 BC, in the Mesopotamian Valley, there was a city-state called Uruk. Thanks to the governance of wise monarchs over previous generations, Uruk was more prosperous than other crowded cities.
The palace, representing the king's authority, was extremely luxurious, built with architectural techniques more advanced than those of later centuries. It used precious materials from the Age of Gods, giving it a grand and magnificent appearance. Opposite this palace stood a temple showcasing the power of the gods, which rivaled the palace's splendor.
In this magnificent palace, the hall was vast and opulent, making the figure sitting cross-legged in the middle seem extraordinarily lonely. She was a young girl, appearing no older than fourteen. Her delicate, elfin features and sharply pointed ears suggested she was no ordinary human. Her dark grey eyes, half-open and staring blankly, indicated she was lost in her own thoughts, disconnected from reality.
This was Ophis—or rather, at this moment, we should call her Ophis, the King of Uruk.
When Ophis came to her senses, she realized she had replaced the original Hero King and become the ruler of Uruk. Qi had explained that when she did not exist, he shifted everyone's fate, which they believed existed, to a fixed point and then inserted her presence.
Ophis was impressed that Qi managed this feat, though she didn't fully understand the mechanism. Qi had since fallen silent, likely asleep.
The only thing she could rely on was the boundless energy she possessed, which would never diminish. Her dark grey eyes regained a flicker of life as she stood up, letting her long black hair cascade down her back. Ophis shook off her loose black robe and turned toward the door.
"What's the matter?"
"My king, today's treasures have been delivered. Please take a look."
"Just bring them in and place them there."
The servants quickly entered with several weapons exuding a faint sharp aura. Among them was a girl dressed as a priestess of the era who knelt before Ophis.
"My king, please don't remain so absorbed in your own world. Your people need your wisdom and guidance!"
After giving her usual advice, the priestess sighed, observing the girl's dazed expression, seemingly oblivious to her words.
Despite her appearance, the new king, though cute, seemed neglectful. The plain black robe, adorned with some golden patterns to denote status, only highlighted the contrast between her appearance and the grandeur expected of a king.
Nevertheless, the priestess, just an ordinary member of the clergy, could say nothing more, especially as the high priest had not given her leave to speak further. She left quietly as usual.
Ophis watched her leave, still expressionless.
Her knowledge had given her some insight into the King of Heroes. Regardless of whether the information came from historical stories or her own nature as a dragon, collecting more treasures seemed a wise decision.
As for governing the city-state, though she had plans and could figure it out with effort, Uruk was just a small city. In her view, focusing on "conquering the Great Red" was more crucial than spending time on administrative tasks.
She moved her fingers in the air, creating a transparent ripple. While she couldn't manipulate space directly, her birth in the dimensional gap and her Ouroboros nature allowed her to travel through various spaces. With the magic secrets from this era, creating a storage space was feasible.
After placing the newly acquired treasures into the space, Ophis sat down again.
For now, energy control exercises could only be tested internally. Though uninterested in governing, Ophis knew not to destroy the city-state recklessly. If she released her energy carelessly, it could affect those around her.
The prosperity of a city-state is closely linked to its rulers' actions. Even with better cohesion in this era, Uruk's decline was inevitable as the king neglected affairs.
Naturally, other city-states, envious of Uruk's power, grew restless. One, in particular, sent troops to attack.
Outside the palace hall, several priests and officials knelt.
"My king, the enemy is invading. Please give the order to act immediately!"
The lead female priest, though anxious, spoke respectfully as she lowered her head.
In Uruk, only the king could mobilize the army.
Would the new king, who seemed indifferent, actually take action?
As the priestess considered whether to take the initiative and save the people from slaughter, the hall door finally opened.
"Where is the enemy?"
"Well?"
Surprised that the king seemed to care about the situation, the priestess was touched for a moment.
"According to the latest intelligence, the enemy is about tens of kilometers north of Uruk. They will arrive soon. We need to..."
The priestess's face twitched.
Ophis had disappeared.
"Master Priest..."
An official behind her spoke hesitantly.
"The King... seemed to be flying north..."
"…"
The priestess fell silent.
Did the king intend to confront the enemy alone?
Though not overly worried—after all, a king appointed by God would likely be powerful—there was a problem. The north was an approximate direction. Going directly north might lead Ophis off course and make it difficult to locate the enemy!