"So, my little one, how did you find your reward?" Dan asked.
Sophia smiled and replied in a voice filled with satisfaction.
"It's truly incredible, Father. It feels as though my strength has undergone a tremendous leap. I never imagined that the rank of King would be this magnificent. Every cell in my body has been freed from the limits that once confined me."
"You should be proud of yourself, my daughter. You have achieved a legend that will remain in the history of this world for ages, and you have proven that your will is stronger than every obstacle."
Sophia nodded humbly and answered sincerely.
"Thank you, Father. Everything I have achieved is because of your support."
"Very well. What do you intend to do now? Will you remain on the Outer Continent for a while longer?"
Sophia fell silent for a moment before replying with firm determination.
"No, Father. I will head toward the final half of this journey. I will advance toward the Tower that awaits me to test my will."
"Very well, my little one. Move forward, prove yourself, and conquer the Tower just as you conquered this continent."
Shortly after Sophia's conversation with Dan came to an end, she vanished from the edge of the Outer Continent, leaving behind nothing but the ashes of the Death Wolf and the traces of a battle that would be immortalized in the legends of this world.
She then appeared inside the grand hall of her city, where her loyal followers had gathered. They had accompanied her journey since its earliest days and had been waiting for her ever since she contacted them after her victory. The instant her figure materialized in the center of the magnificent hall, every one of her followers immediately lowered their heads, as though their necks had been crushed beneath an immeasurable weight. None of them could resist the overwhelming presence and aura radiating from her. To them, she had become an existence that could only be obeyed, especially with the sacred crimson aura flowing from the circular halo behind her.
Sophia raised her right hand toward her followers, a powerful women's corps, and the crushing pressure vanished from them. Yet they still could not raise their heads out of reverence and awe. Even after the coercive force disappeared, another invisible pressure prevented them from meeting her gaze, leaving them to bow before their mistress with both their bodies and their hearts.
"This is the end of my journey in this world. I am leaving."
Her words were brief and direct. Not a single person dared interrupt her. They remained as motionless as statues.
She then continued in an even firmer tone.
"Therefore, before I depart, I will leave behind a portion of my legacy as a reward for your service to me."
At that moment, a dense crimson aura enveloped the enormous stone tower, and the entire city began to shake violently. Panic spread among the inhabitants, especially as the astonishing crimson light engulfed everything in a blood-red radiance.
The tower gradually began to transform. It rose higher and higher until it surpassed the clouds, while the surrounding ground itself lifted to form an entirely new, solid foundation beneath it. At the same time, the tower's dull gray stone changed completely into a brilliant crimson color that reflected the light of the royal aura, making it resemble an eternal flame burning at the heart of the city.
"I have transformed the Tower into an Artifact of the Path of Slaughter , a sacred relic that will help cultivate powerful individuals who walk this Path, so that it may become a shield protecting the human race within this Inner World. Anyone who chooses this road will find within it the means to pursue their ambitions."
She then raised her hand once more, but this time she pointed toward the kneeling women before her with her index finger. In that very instant, a unique crimson aura surrounded each of them, and their appearances began to change noticeably. They became younger, as though the years themselves had retreated, returning them to the prime of their youth. Vitality surged through every part of their bodies once again, while their lifespans expanded beyond three thousand years. At the same time, both their hair and their eyes transformed into a deep crimson, marking each of them with the Queen's own signature.
"This is your reward for serving me. Therefore, make certain to protect this city. That is now your new duty."
"Your command is our will!"
The women's corps answered in perfect unison, their voices echoing throughout the hall with absolute devotion and unwavering obedience. Then, without uttering a single word of farewell or looking back even once, Sophia disappeared completely from the hall.
In the next instant, she appeared on the first floor of one of the paths within the Tower of 4000, ready to face challenges worthy of the Queen of Slaughter who had just been born.
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