Immediately after Eren had received his remaining Sin Series Marks,
A bit away from the battlefield between the two kingdoms. The distinct sounds of spell castings and metal clashings could be heared in the distance.
a small group comprised of Eliza, Leela, Layla, and Reen stood upon a solitary mountain peak. Thanks to Layla's meticulous preparations, they had concealed their presence so as not to alert the Sages from either side.
Eliza's Soul Sense projection observed the battle with an impassive countenance. Yet, a glint of curiosity and anticipation gleamed in her eyes, revealing her enjoyment of the spectacle. This, despite the fact that her true body was ensconced safely behind the group within a secure runic array formation. She stood on the precipice of death, but her aura remained as vibrant as it had in her prime.
"Hehehe," Eliza chuckled as she witnessed the Rankers on both sides fighting with unwavering determination. "They do struggle like pigs," she remarked nonchalantly before turning her gaze to Layla, who was positioned to her left.
"Is it just me, or has the caliber of Rankers in this era declined somewhat?" Eliza queried aloud. Layla, the Little Witch, responded with casual agreement.
"You're quite astute, Master. While there are indeed some above-average Rankers in this era, the Rankers in general simply don't measure up to the Rankers we had during your time. Those were an entirely different breed."
"You know," Eliza began with a sigh, "I was starting to think that I would..." Her casual conversation with Layla came to an abrupt halt when she sensed something amiss.
"Hmm? There's... something going on with my castle," Eliza could feel that unsettling events were unfolding within her Purgatory. Her eyes widened in surprise as the sensation intensified, signaling that her castle had been reduced to rubble.
"Who... who could have—" Layla was on the verge of erupting in anger at the perpetrator responsible for demolishing their home. But, in the next instant, she felt something far more ominous. The Spatial Boundary she had established to create her Purgatory had vanished.
"My... My Purgatory... someone has detroyed it," Eliza mumbled in disbelief, momentarily too shocked to become incensed. Layla was about to inquire further, but in the next moment, she too sensed it.
A physically subtle yet mentally overpowering form of suppression swept across the entire region before advancing. It was akin to someone playing a piercing and jarring instrument near one's ears that made the lisnters' brain buzz before moving on to do the same to the remaining audience.
An ominous mana pluse radiated in all directions, causing even the forces of Edinburgh and Layos to come to a standstill. Suspicion hung heavy in the air as they regarded their adversaries, fearing that the Sages from the opposing side had initiated some form of action.
The climate underwent a sudden and drastic transformation, plunging the region into an eerie twilight. The earth quaked and fissured, while tumultuous mana storms swirled above, all indicating that something of colossal magnitude was unfolding nearby, within a world startlingly close to their own.
The surge of infernal energy also had repercussions for the World-Encompassing Array.
This influx triggered the defensive mechanism of the array formation, exerting a measure of control over the demonic energy surge. However, in the process, the array formation sustained some damage. While it possessed self-repair mechanisms, the weakening would persist for a considerable duration due to this incident.
***
"Unbelievable," Layla murmured, her gaze fixed on her Master. She discerned that Eliza was contemplating the same notion.
"Could... could it be him?" Layla inquired, her expression a mix of doubt and trepidation. Both she and Eliza had foreseen the possibility of Eren visiting the Purgatory once Eliza had vacated it. They were aware that Eren sought to acquire additional Sin Series Marks, and the Seven-Headed Serpent Statue had been one of his primary targets in recent years.
"It seems likely," Eliza responded, her tone heavy with gravity. She squinted, her gaze seemingly piercing through the low-hanging gray lightning clouds above that had been rapidly gathering.
"The destruction of my Purgatory and the arrival of this worldwide omen can hardly be coincidental. It appears that he succeeded in obtaining more Sin Series Marks from the statue," Eliza concluded as she keenly sensed the sudden surge of infernal energy coursing through the world of Anfang.
As a Sin Series Marks holder, she possessed acute sensitivity to infernal energy. Moreover, she had implemented measures within her Purgatory to keep her informed about its status even when absent.
She could discern that Eren had not only razed everything within her Purgatory and obliterated the Spatial Boundary but also unleashed a severe mana storm across the entire region—one potent enough to even threaten her. Eliza understood that Eren couldn't have singlehandedly orchestrated such a phenomenon. His actions had set in motion a chain reaction of events.
***
"Didn't I tell you, Master. That man is utterly unpredictable. I... I should have..." Layla's voice trembled under the mounting oppressive force. Eliza gently shook her head, interrupting her.
"It's not your fault. You've done everything within your power," Eliza assured her, her expression grave as she patted Layla's head, her fingers tenderly brushing through her hair.
"In fact, we've all done what we could. That boy was going to do something like this anyway. So what if he is a bit special? It changes nothing for me or the Lazarus Project.
I'm just thinking how many Sin Series Marks he acquired to trigger such an influx of infernal energy. Could it be two? Or perhaps three? Or maybe even more than I possess?" Eliza mused aloud.
Layla's eyes widened in astonishment. "That's impossible," she exclaimed, unable to contain her immediate reaction.
"Master, your bestowment of three Sin Series Marks was already a rarity, setting you apart even among the gifted Rankers of our time. How could someone like... like Eren... surpass you?
I... I can't accept this. Him acquiring two or three Sin Series Marks is already a miraculous feat for him. It can't be more than you."
The Little Witch argued, though her words seemed aimed more at herself than at Eliza.
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