When Sylvia said she was leaving, Liliana broke down, crying her heart out like a little girl who had just been abandoned.

  She clung tightly to Sylvia's waist, refusing to let go. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, her whole face buried in Sylvia's chest, shoulders trembling as sobs tore from her throat.

  Sylvia stood there, at a complete loss, gently patting Liliana's back while whispering soothing words. She had expected a calm farewell—but clearly, Liliana wasn't mentally prepared at all.

  Just then, Gregor entered the village after passing Titus's routine inspection. The first thing he saw was Sylvia cradling the sobbing Liliana, her face etched with helplessness and exhaustion.

  On Gregor's shoulder, the Serpent Ancestor stared coldly at the two women. His reptilian eyes flickered with a complicated glint, and he flicked his tongue silently.

  What a pity, he thought to himself. Two excellent bloodlines. If they had met under different circumstances, perhaps they could have produced a perfect offspring.

  Of course, that was a thought best kept to himself. He knew full well that saying such a thing aloud in this setting wouldn't earn him any agreement—only a fireball to the face.

  They didn't linger. Gregor returned to Village No. 2 with the Serpent Ancestor. The closer they got to Draven's aura, the more uncomfortable the serpent felt.

  His body tensed instinctively, scales prickling with unease. The mere memory of his humiliating stint as a guard dog—belt collar and all—filled him with deep resentment.

  Yet, the moment they stood before Draven, the Serpent Ancestor obediently slithered down Gregor's arm to the ground, stretching out his body straight and motionless like a well-trained pet.

  Draven gave him a brief glance and said nothing, merely turning to lead them into the Chief's Hall.

  He sat in the central seat, casting a deliberately critical gaze over Gregor from head to toe."Not bad. You almost look like a real chief."

  In truth, Draven had no complaints about this snakeman clone. The performance so far was competent—even impressive. But the appearance...

  Hairless, with a patch of brown scales on his scalp, he looked like a sick snake that had crawled out of a swamp. Just plain hard to look at.

  Gregor bowed respectfully, playing the role of the obedient subordinate perfectly.

  "Speak," Draven leaned back lazily in his chair."You got promoted to chief and instead of training, you come running back here. Why?"

  Without hesitation, Gregor began the pitch he had prepared in advance: First, he was reporting his progress so the chief could assign him new tasks. Second, he was here to petition on behalf of the Serpent Ancestor—hoping Draven would restore his battle strength.

  "I ask the chief to grant Serpent Ancestor his power back—for my sake—so he can better serve the territory."

  Draven snorted, not even looking at him."And who are you to ask for favors?"

  The temperature in the room dropped instantly. The Serpent Ancestor, still sprawled on the ground, was secretly delighted.

  That barb made the tension between them feel much more real. Perfect.

  Gregor remained silent, teeth clenched, and then slowly produced a rolled-up piece of beast hide. He held it up with both hands.

  "I offer a necromancy summoning technique, and beg the chief to accept my plea."

  He made sure to lean down low as he passed it over, giving the Serpent Ancestor a clear view of the flicker of shame and unwillingness on his face.

  Draven sneered inwardly. Not bad. That's exactly how I'd play it too.

  He took the hide with an exaggerated expression of pleasant surprise, then lowered his gaze and pretended to study it carefully.

  A few seconds later, he slammed his palm on the table.

  "Excellent! Where did you get this necromancy technique?" His eyes narrowed suddenly, the tone sharp.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  "Don't tell me Serpent Ancestor gave it to you again?"

  Gregor immediately shook his head."No, I stumbled upon it years ago. Back then, I wasn't strong enough to test if it was real, so I kept it hidden."

  Draven nodded slowly, as if satisfied."Still, that's not enough."

  He stood up and walked around to where Gregor and the Serpent Ancestor stood.

  "I'll restore the Serpent Ancestor's strength—but only if you both complete a task for me."

  "We accept!" Gregor agreed without hesitation.

  The Serpent Ancestor blinked. That quick a response? He hadn't expected that. A flicker of warmth passed through him.

  Draven squinted at him."Aren't you going to ask what the task is?"

  "I wouldn't dare. Whatever the chief commands, I will carry out."

  "Obedient, aren't you?"

  Draven patted Gregor's shoulder like an approving superior, sticking to the script.

  Then he waved his hand. A shriveled succubus corpse was dragged into the room and dumped heavily in front of the Serpent Ancestor.

  "This enough for you?"

  The serpent's eyes lit up instantly. He slithered around the body in tight circles, nose almost touching it, like he was admiring a work of art.

  His voice came out low and satisfied:

  "More than enough. Thank you for your generosity, Master."

  With that, he sank his fangs into the corpse's neck.

  Under the corrosion of his venom, the body shriveled even further—drained to the last drop.

  In the end, the succubus's corpse was slowly swallowed by the Serpent Ancestor. There was no chewing, no hesitation—her body was compressed and flattened by an invisible force, and was soon sucked into his narrow, elongated serpent mouth.

  With the final gulp, the Serpent Ancestor let out a burp that almost carried a human tone. His smooth, pitch-black serpentine body rippled, and a powerful surge of magic erupted from within him.

  The magic twisted and spiraled in the air, like an uncontrollable hurricane, quickly forming a small magical vortex in the center of the chieftain's hall.

  At the heart of the vortex, the magic churned violently, causing the surrounding air to tremble. Dust was swept up into the air, filling the hall.

  Draven narrowed his eyes and watched the center of the vortex in silence. He could feel it—a new life was taking shape.

  Eventually, the vortex contracted and dispersed, revealing a humanoid figure in the center. It had the body of a man and the head of a serpent, with clearly defined muscles and not a single piece of fabric covering its body.

  Its serpent eyes gleamed like blades, cold and sharp. It looked like neither beast nor man—an unclassifiable monstrosity.

  Draven's expression grew grim. This was the same form he had seen during his battle with Selene—the evolved body of a Phantom Serpent Demon.

  "Thank you for your gift, Master," the Serpent Ancestor spoke. His voice was damp and chilling, like venom slithering across the ground.

  Naked, he walked up to Draven, lowered his head in salute, and struck his right fist to his left chest in a gesture of respect.

  Draven casually tossed him a piece of beast hide from the table."Put this on. I don't want to see you like that again."

  The Serpent Ancestor took the hide and roughly wrapped it around his lower body.

  "What the hell is this form?" Draven asked, frowning as he looked him up and down. If he hadn't clearly sensed that the Serpent Ancestor's aura was only at the early chieftain level, he might have been concerned for his own safety.

  "This is the combat form of the evolved Phantom Serpent Demon," the Serpent Ancestor explained."If my Master dislikes it, I can revert to my original form."

  "Do it," Draven said indifferently."We can't draw too much attention on this mission. You stand out too much like this."

  The Serpent Ancestor obeyed. He curled up and transformed back into a pitch-black serpent, roughly the thickness of an adult man's arm, his scales glowing faintly with a dark crimson hue.

  He slithered to Gregor's side, looking like a typical serpentkin battle pet—nothing out of place.

  Draven then began assigning tasks.

  In Selene's territory, anyone who advanced to the chieftain level could submit a request to the Lord's Manor. Whether to establish a new village or to pledge service under her command, both were viable.

  Draven's original plan was for Gregor to use his advancement as an excuse to travel to Selene City, swindle a plot of land, and bring back a hundred slaves.

  Gregor, being a puppet personally cultivated by Draven, had a clean identity. He could apply for a village without tying it to Draven, which would prevent the Lord's Manor from becoming suspicious.

  But because of that damn succubus incident, he could no longer proceed with this step.

  Although Valeria had submitted and was now secretly gathering intelligence in the south about the succubi, Draven remained uneasy. Was Freya's operation her own initiative, or did she act with Selene's permission? He had to find out.

  Gregor was his second layer of insurance.

  "Your mission is this: Go to the Lord's Manor and request to serve under Selene. Not just this once—you must fully embed yourself within her ranks."

  Gregor understood. He and Draven were of one mind, so of course he knew the doubts and goals within the other's heart. He knelt on one knee and lowered his head."Understood. I will do everything in my power to infiltrate Selene's inner circle."

  Draven nodded and placed a black magic stone in his hand. Then he turned and instructed his attendant to bring the Nightmare Horse.

  "Ride this Nightmare Horse. It's fast, knows the road, and will find its own way back." Draven handed him the reins, his gaze deep and steady."Take the Serpent Ancestor and leave immediately."

  "Remember, I want you inside her camp."

  "Don't alarm Selene. Don't reveal your true purpose."

  "Earn her trust. Only then can we truly seize control."

  Gregor mounted the horse, the Serpent Ancestor coiled around his shoulders. The Nightmare Horse neighed skyward, hooves shrouded in black mist, and then leapt into the air.

  Draven watched their silhouettes disappear into the distance. He stood in silence for a long time before finally turning away.

  He knew this move was a critical one. But if it could uncover Selene's true intentions, it would be worth it.

  He muttered to himself,"Looks like it's time I summoned the dead myself."