The Villain's Story

After going outside, Alan observed the other 'troops' he had. Archers were positioned on the walls of the city, some were training in their designated places, Swordsman troops and the spearmen were everywhere around the city, as well as the workers. They seemed to be conducting patrols, and drills.

Even though there were not any civilians...

Alan observed them with the help of his dragon eyes, and found out that they were not that weak or strong at all. Most of the troops were at C+ rank by human standards. They were in quite a large number and knew how to use formations that would be suitable for their...bodies.

'The knights and the beasts are the strongest here...excluding the big one in the throne room.'

Alan said, as he examined them all. Strangely, he found out that the soldiers had fewer features of a snake. The knights he had seen had their bodies covered in scales, as well as the part above their necks was also that of a cobra. The soldiers, here, were different. Their lower bodies were of snakes, yes, but the upper bodies were strange. Like a mixture of a snake and a human. More like that of a lizard than a snake. Far fewer scales also covered their bodies.

The workers were the most 'human' here. Sure, they had the lower body of a snake, but their upper body was all human, No scales, no cobra or features of other snakes.

Human, they were human. Except for the eyes, which were those of a reptile. And he found out that the workers were the weakest here, only stronger than the jade serpents that were everywhere here. These serpents were all connected to Alan in a much stranger way than the others. He could see through their eyes and feel what they were feeling if he chose to do so.

He guessed that it was because of them that he could see literally everything in the beginning. These little snakes were present everywhere, either as moving organisms or as decorations in all the rooms and the city. They were cameras, a surveillance system that covered 'every' inch of the city.

It would be hectic to use them, but Alan was surprised, and awed, of that ability. He wanted to be able to control it as soon as he could.

The workers were only a little bit stronger than they are. But he bet three of the snakes could dominate a single worker. While about ten or eight workers would defeat a soldier.

The troops he had interested him, and the fact that he, quite literally, had an army he could grow or nourish here...was amazing. The thought of reversing an ambush or a situation where his enemies ganged up on him, thinking he was alone was...cool.

"This is great."

He said, as he went back into the palace. Now, he wanted to go sit on the throne again, perhaps it was just a foolish desire, but Alan thought that maybe that throne had something in it. Something more special, that would either let him govern the area more skilfully.

"It's too big!"

He said, as he threw away the idea of walking back up to the throne room, and simply teleported to an open hallway in the palace. He didn't want to walk up the stairs again.

"I wonder if I can install elevators here...would be helpful."

He sighed, as he followed the directions given by the water. He had a good memory, but it was nowhere near as great to remember the entire way around this huge palace. He wasn't Sabrina.

It would take him a few rounds to familiarize with the place, thankfully, the water guided him.

Finally, he arrived at the throne room and had a look at the giant snake that was guarding it. The throne was as magnificent as ever, and the snake was even bigger.

"That is the serpent king, huh..."

It felt weird looking at the beast, which was his enemy not long ago. It was strange, but now that it was subservient to him, and probably as strong or even stronger than him. Nevertheless, he went ahead and sat on the throne.

"Nothing..."

He expected it, so he wasn't too disappointed.

"Now, how do I leave this place?"

He wondered, as he facepalmed whilst on the throne. He should have thought of that first! Normally, with a normal domain he would only need to wait until his mana was finished or exit it by cancelling it...but what does he do now?

Suddenly, a voice rang out as his voice was teleported away.

[Exiting Domain.]

"Huh?"

His body disappeared, and the throne room was empty, aside from the guardian fulfilling its duty.

*******

"Ugh..."

Alan groaned, as his head hurt, and he found himself to be on top of a marble floor.

"Ow."

The floor was cold, and when he looked up before him, he found out that it was empty.

The entire space was empty, besides the floor.

He stood up, massaging his head, and found an odd hallway, shaped like a pentagon, stretching into the far reaches of a dark space. Alert, he summoned his armour and spear once again. The crystal armour was no longer on his body, and so he summoned the armour of the marquis, as well as his beloved spear, the Ame-No-Sakahoko.

The spear was in display once again, but it rejected Alan's touch.

"What?"

He mouthed in surprise, as he tried to hold the spear once again. But the answer of the spear was still the same, it rejected his touch.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

He said, as he fully expressed his confusion with his face. His eyes looked at the spear with alarm. The spear was vibrating consistently, yet it stopped after a while, And Alan, still a little hesitant, went over to pick it up.

This time, there was no rejection, The spear accepted his touch once more. Sighing in relief, he called out.

"Tower, Mind giving me something to go on?"

He waited, and then he waited some more. And then some more, but the tower was fucking silent.

"Are you joking right now?"

Irritated at the silence, he made up his mind to go inside the pentagon like tunnel.

He always had his guard up, and was in a stance that would make it easier to respond to any threat. He kept walking and felt like it stretched on for miles.

He kept his pace slow, because he thought there might be traps in the tunnel. But, there were none.

It was just...a long tunnel. One filled with darkness.

"Sigh..."

He sighed as he conjured a Mana flame to light up his way. He was previously using his eyes enhanced with mana to see, but it stopped working for some reason as he ventured deep.

The tunnel's darkness reminded him of the darkness in the crystal space, before he defeated the snake.

"Damn it."

But even then, the flame continued to dim, even though Alan was supplying even more mana to it.

"So it's designed this way."

He thought, thinking that the tunnel would do it's best to restrict him of any light. He was right, because even the MANA flame was put out, and no matter what Alan did, he couldn't make any light for himself. Not only that, but he tried using [Dragon Eyes], which did work, but it was far too troublesome to use.

He kept hitting the ground and walls with his spear, to determine whether he should move forward or not. He wondered when he would be able to finally be able to see.

"The Tower and its trials, both are weird."

He remarked, going in further. He even pondered about whether he should return or not. But he decided against it.

Who knows? He might be at the end. Just a little bit farther.

"Reminds me of the tenth floor."

He said, the darkness was familiar to the one on the tenth floor, and that leas him to think if this trial was similar. The previous trials, or floors, had gifted him a domain, so it wouldn't be wrong to say he was expecting something for clearing this trial.

He just needed to find the way to do it. At various points he tried using [Dragon Eyes] but found nothing out of the ordinary. It had been days since he was trapped in the darkness. Thankfully, he had greater senses, if not, the anxiety would have done him in.

"When is it going-"

Just as he was going to complain, he saw a light in the far distance, it pierced into the darkness and he could make out a room from his view. Excited, but vigilant. He stepped forward, making sure he didn't mess up.

It would be bad to mess up here.

Finally, he reached the light, and after confirming there were no traps...He stepped in. To find an empty room, just like the one he came from.

"Did I go in a circle?"

He questioned, but the information presented itself towards him.

[Welcome to the one-hundredth floor.]