The grove buzzed with the quiet hum of preparation. The walls gleamed with their crystalline reinforcement, soldiers patrolled with vigilance, and the teleportation circles pulsed steadily as Fae Lords coordinated the defense. But beneath the surface, tension gripped the grove. Selene could feel it, a slow, grinding pressure that resonated with the whispers of something greater looming on the horizon.

  The Serpent King’s forces had been spotted only miles from the grove’s border. Their army, a writhing mass of venomous creatures and cunning warriors, moved like a coiled snake ready to strike. Selene stood atop her castle, her gaze fixed on the jungle that bordered the eastern edge of her domain.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by Radiance, who approached with a determined stride. “The scouts report their numbers are vast,” Radiance said. “The Serpent King has committed everything to this attack.”

  Selene nodded slowly, her mind racing. “Then they’re desperate. They know they can’t outlast us, so they’re betting on overwhelming us.”

  She turned to Eternity, who stood quietly nearby. “Is everything in place?”

  The Fae Lord of Eternity inclined his head. “Our forces are positioned to counter their advance. But there’s something else you should know.”

  Selene raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

  “The Serpent King carries something powerful,” Eternity said. “A relic or artifact of unknown origin. Its energy is... disruptive. It could tilt the battle in their favor, even if we’re prepared.”

  Selene’s eyes narrowed. “Then we’ll need to ensure they don’t get the chance to use it.”

  ---

  As the hours passed, the tension in the grove mounted. Selene walked the halls of her castle, the weight of her position pressing down on her. She thought of the whispers, the constant demands of leadership, and the choices she had made to build her empire. Once, she might have balked at the idea of sending others to fight and die for her. Now, it felt natural. Expected.

  She paused at a window, gazing out at her army. Her Fae Lords, her creations, her people—they followed her not out of blind loyalty but because she was stronger. In the world of the Fae, power was absolute. And as their queen, it was her power that held them together.

  For a moment, she let herself think about what that meant. What does it say about me? she wondered. That I’ve become someone who doesn’t hesitate to send others to die? That I see them as tools in my hands?

  The thought was interrupted by a deep voice echoing across the grove.

  “Queen of Balance!” The voice was cold, sibilant, and carried an unnatural edge. “I am the Serpent King, ruler of the Venomous Depths. I come not as a fool seeking battle, but as a king with an offer.”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Selene’s eyes narrowed as she stepped onto the balcony. In the distance, the Serpent King stood atop a massive serpent, his forces arrayed behind him like a living tide. He held aloft a strange artifact, a twisted emerald scepter that pulsed with dark energy.

  “I propose a duel,” the Serpent King hissed, his voice carrying easily over the distance. “You and I. One on one. No armies, no interference. The victor claims everything.”

  A system prompt appeared before Selene.

  《System Alert: Duel Challenge Issued》

  《Relic of the Venomous Duel Activated》

  《Accepting the challenge will bind both parties to its terms. Armies cannot interfere until the duel is concluded.》

  Selene felt her Fae Lords’ gazes on her. Radiance’s voice was the first to break the silence. “You don’t need to do this, my Queen. Let us deal with him.”

  But Selene shook her head. “He’s challenging my authority. If I refuse, I lose credibility—not just with him, but with all of you.”

  She pressed 《Accept》 without hesitation.

  ---

  The battlefield shifted around them. The scepter’s power transported Selene and the Serpent King to an isolated clearing, far from their armies. The air shimmered with the relic’s magic, sealing them in a space where only one would leave victorious.

  The Serpent King studied her, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and malice. “You’re different from the others,” he said. “You don’t look like a warrior. What are you really, Queen of Balance?”

  Selene didn’t answer immediately. She drew herself up, her presence radiating authority. “I am balance itself,” she said. “The force that keeps chaos and order in check. You think you can challenge that?”

  The Serpent King sneered. “Balance? That’s just an excuse to let others fight your battles. What power do you really have?”

  Selene’s lips curved into a cold smile. “You misunderstand what it means to rule. My power isn’t meant for the trivial. My Fae fight because it is their place. But you’ve forced my hand.”

  The ground beneath her feet began to glow, and the air around her grew heavy. The Serpent King hesitated, sensing the shift.

  Selene raised her hand, and the concept of her power became clear: Balance. For every action, a reaction. For every force, its opposite.

  When the Serpent King lunged, his massive serpent striking like lightning, Selene didn’t dodge. Instead, she raised her hand, and the serpent’s strike reversed, its momentum slamming it into the ground.

  “You see,” Selene said, her voice calm and measured, “balance doesn’t just mean harmony. It means consequences. You act, I react.”

  The Serpent King roared, summoning venomous shadows to strike her. Selene stepped forward, her form glowing with the light of her concept. The shadows dissolved as their energy was redirected back at him, striking him with twice the force.

  “This is why your armies follow you?” the Serpent King hissed, his movements frantic. “Because you hold them in fear of your power?”

  Selene’s expression turned colder. “They follow because I am their Queen. They know their place, just as you will know yours.”

  With a final gesture, Selene summoned the full force of her power. The air warped around her, and the Serpent King’s form froze as his movements were mirrored and thrown back at him. The scepter in his hand shattered, and he collapsed to the ground, defeated.

  ---

  The battlefield dissolved, and Selene reappeared in the grove. The Serpent King’s forces, now leaderless, scattered into the jungle. Her Fae Lords stood in silent awe, their gazes filled with a mix of respect and fear.

  Selene met their eyes, her voice firm but calm. “This is why I rule. This is why you fight. Because together, we bring balance.”

  Her words hung in the air as she turned and walked back to the castle, the weight of her victory settling over her. Deep down, she knew the Serpent King’s question still lingered: What have you become?

  The Queen of Balance, perhaps. But also something far more dangerous.