Enkidu undeniably loved humans.
Although she cherished nature even more, her love for humanity remained evident.
Under Enkidu's influence, Ophis also made an effort to observe this intriguing race from a closer perspective.
Ophis found humans to be extremely unstable. Their beliefs and commitments could shift in an instant, unlike the more steadfast dragons or gods. This instability, she thought, might stem from their shorter lifespans. Immortal beings, with their lengthy existence, can't afford such sudden changes in thought without risking madness.
Yet, despite this, humans seemed to embody nearly every characteristic found in other races.
Some were more debauched than succubi, while others were more honest than angels. Some were greedier than dragons, while others saw money as worthless. Some had wills stronger than proud gods, while others could be easily overwhelmed. Some possessed talents and potential beyond even higher races, while others, no matter their efforts, could only lead inconspicuous lives.
Humanity also had a remarkable kindness that surpassed even the divine and an evil that could rival the darkest devils.
Ophis recalled the world she was born into. Over countless years, both demons and angels had chosen new blood from humans. Even divine artifacts, including the 'God-destroying tool,' which could destroy gods if mastered fully, could only be wielded by those with human blood.
She remembered Cao Cao, the human who attempted to balance gods and demons with his own strength. In a world line that might have occurred, even the Governor of the Fallen Angels was defeated by him due to her weakness. Cao Cao managed to sever her infinite power through calculation, despite being easily killable by her at the time.
Though his actions were somewhat unpleasant and childish, his will was admirable. And what he sought to prove was also "humanity."
Humanity?
— Overall, it's a race full of possibilities but also prone to self-destruction. This was Ophis's final assessment.
"So, guiding them, expanding their possibilities, and preventing their self-destruction is the duty of a king," Enkidu chuckled, responding to Ophis's thoughts.
Humans were indeed an interesting race. Ophis agreed with Enkidu's view that observing human nature, with all its glory and flaws, was fascinating.
But... is this really the king's duty?
Ophis walked to the end of the hall, approaching the throne she had never sat on. She touched the chair made from the finest materials reserved for kings.
For a long time, unless confronted with troublesome events, Ophis had mostly devoted her surface consciousness to the outside world, leaving most of her mind to practice control over her abilities. This was why her eyes seemed dull and she often appeared to be daydreaming, reflecting her indifference to worldly matters.
However, focusing solely on this surface-level consciousness...
Looking at Enkidu's smile, Ophis's eyes flickered.
Just be a little more conscious... be a little more serious...
Think of it as a smile that brings peace, as if she is in her "silence."
With this thought, Ophis sat on the throne for the first time.
Enkidu's smile grew even brighter.
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From the day the decision was made, Ophis began studying information more diligently, responding more to Enkidu, and even participating in physical combat with her.
It was serious combat.
However, Ophis soon realized that applying energy in small amounts during battles not only boosted her combat abilities but also greatly improved her control over energy, which was her weakest area.
Originally, Enkidu had dragged Ophis into fights to release some of her own wild energy, but now, Enkidu would sometimes feel a gentle tug on her robe. Looking down, she would meet Ophis's silver-gray eyes, which, even from a 45-degree angle, were undeniably cute.
Of course, "fighting" as described by the other person was not exactly cute.
But this provided an opportunity for Enkidu.
Like guiding a child, Enkidu would often agree to accompany Ophis in battles only after she had completed some important tasks.
In fact, Enkidu hoped to one day proudly use the word "play" instead of "fight."
At worst, playing around was acceptable, right?
Under the dynamic between Ophis and Enkidu, Uruk flourished just as their relationship did.
Enkidu knew almost nothing about governance, but fortunately, Ophis's vast inherited knowledge included this aspect.
Although Ophis couldn't create a new order perfectly suited to the times, she could optimize the existing system.
Ophis continued to study the magic of the era. She collected all the available human magic but found few that were genuinely helpful given her dragon-like memory. Fortunately, Enkidu had extensive knowledge of ancient divine magic, powerful enough to rival modern spells.
From a dragon's perspective, Ophis herself wasn't particularly talented in magic, except for basic forms like magic cannons. However, acquiring more magical knowledge was valuable for her future.
It's worth noting that Ophis's energy wasn't magic but a pure "energy" with no specific properties. It could be transformed into any energy she had encountered, aligning with her infinite nature. This was why she could grant others power using the 'snake'—otherwise, it might cause explosions.
However, certain special energies, like the destructive magic of Baal, required extensive analysis before imitation.
Generally, there's a delay when converting energy into magical power due to the nature of magic. Unless Ophis reached a high level in this area and rewrote the technique to operate with her pure energy, this disadvantage would remain.
Of course, Ophis also collected treasures, amassing almost all the technology available in this era.
— So why, in an age with ancient spacecraft similar to fighter jets, is there no paper?
Ophis looked at the mountain of documents and magical books and complained inwardly.
Though she knew about papermaking, she was uncertain if the various techniques and materials could be applied in this era...
In the following days, Ophis's surface consciousness was occupied by a cycle of handling government affairs with Enkidu, studying the era's magic, learning martial arts, collecting treasures, and spending time together.
With Ophis and Enkidu's cooperation, smiles increased among the people of Uruk, and the shadows Ophis had noticed before grew fewer.
Yet, an even greater shadow loomed ever closer, unnoticed by anyone.