Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Right after Eren received his remaining Sin Series Marks.

At the battlefield between the two kingdoms.

"These mana ripples… Uncle Garos, what in the heavens is going on?"

The voice, marked by shock and apprehension, echoed through a spacious chamber nestled within Edinburgh's army base. The speaker was none other than Emi Edinburgh von Renar the 9th, the reigning monarch of Edinburgh.

"This...this is an omen," responded another resonant voice, heavy with gravitas. "It means that something momentous has taken place." The tone grew increasingly serious.

"It appears that someone within our kingdom is implicated in this matter. I can sense an overwhelming surge of infernal energy suddenly injected into this closed-off world, seemingly out of thin air. Anfang's World Will is reacting and neutralizing by inducing these natural calamities," explained the source of the second voice.

Garos Renar, the King's Hand, was the speaker. As a Sage Ranker with a completely saturated mana core, he teetered on the cusp of ascending to the Saint Rank, holding an unparalleled position of power within Anfang.

He possessed profound insights into the arcane nature of mana, secrets far beyond the reach of the common inhabitants of this world.

"First and foremost, Emil, it's imperative to maintain composure. These calamities will soon abate," Garos advised, his voice emerging from the shadows.

"I'm not primarily concerned about the disasters themselves but rather the individual responsible. I would have investigated personally, but I cannot leave you alone here on the battlefield.

But this matters… we can not let it unfold on its own. Dispatch someone to probe the root of this incident urgently. It is as grave as, if not graver than, dealing with the Layos conflict," Garos admonished Emil with unwavering seriousness.

"Al.. alright, uncle Garos," Emil straightened himself in his throne-like chair. "Hmm? Wait a minute. Is it plausible that this is related to the emergence of the second Demon Prince, the one who suddenly ascended to S-Rank?"

Emil questioned his speculation based on the immense power required to shake Anfang to its core, a feat he associated with a soul fragment of a Demon Prince. As the honorary general of the Edinburgh army and the kingdom's ruler, he received constant updates from across the kingdom and the battlefield, revealing that various significant regions within Edinburgh had been impacted by the turmoil unleashed by this enigmatic entity.

Consequently, he wished to take proactive measures. If the entity behind this was indeed a recently ascended S-Rank demon beast carrying within itself the soul fragment of a Demon Prince, his forces alone would not be sufficient to contend with the threat. He would need to enlist the support of the Anfang Alliance.

"I guess it's a possibility," Garos replied, his tone less certain.

"OR, it could be an unknown entity. Nevertheless, there is a clear connection between the appearance of the second Demon Prince's soul fragment within Anfang and the individual responsible for the sudden influx of infernal energy. So we will treat them as separate entities for now while keeping the possibility of their cooperation open."

Garos offered a fresh perspective to Emil, serving not only as the guardian of the current monarch but also as his trusted advisor, offering counsel on a wide array of matters.

Emil nodded in response before continuing in a somber tone.

"Alright. Things are taking absurd turns from the last few days. And I don't think the forces of Layos are behind this.

Someone has assaulted the City of Lancelot, successfully pilfered something, and slain the City Protector, Avir Lancelot. My sources suggest that even the Alliance may have played a role in confronting the attacker, but the Sages they dispatched either perished or chose to remain discreet.

So… in the end, we are uncertain about the exact details of the incident. Moreover, mistrust is brewing even among our own allies within the kingdom. House Lancelot, for instance, remains reticent about the nature of the stolen item. These sequences of events appear far too interconnected to be mere coincidences.

What are your thoughts, Uncle Garos?"

Garos discerned Emil's latent unease stemming from recent events. It was as though Emil subtly implied that Garos could temporarily relinquish his duties as the King's Hand, granting him the freedom to address the situation personally. Given Garos's formidable prowess and resources, contending with a recently ascended host of a Demon Prince's soul fragment wouldn't pose an insurmountable challenge.

Garos sighed, comprehending the dilemma lurking in Emil's thoughts. Emil was aware that Garos had intentions to depart Anfang once the Layos conflict concluded. After all, the Spirit Beast for which he had waited for so long had been robbed from him and he had no other reason to stay.

It was only natural that the king of Edinburgh wished for Garos to resolve major issues that might potentially haunt him in his future. He wanted Garos to assure him that the royalty of this kingdom still stayed in power even after his absence.

"Hmm. These matters are undeniably troublesome. Very well, I shall see what can be done," Garos eventually conceded to Emil's subtle request, granting Emil a sigh of relief.

Emil had no qualms about Garos leaving him unaccompanied on the battlefield. As king, he recognized that he was the most safeguarded individual among his forces on the battlefield.

Therefore, he harbored minimal concern that anyone, regardless of whether Edinburgh emerged victorious or defeated in its conflict with the opposing kingdom, could incite sufficient chaos to threaten even him.

***

A few days after Eren's acquisition of all the seven Sin Series Marks.

In an unnamed region, nestled deep within a rugged mountain range, ensconced by untamed forests, Eren sat cross-legged within a spacious cave formed by skilled earth-element magic. Naya and Alephee guarded the cave's entrance.

At this juncture, amid the renewed vigor of the war between the two kingdoms, Eren dedicated himself to perfecting his Rootless Ranking Technique, diligently consolidating his newfound gains.

The attainment of all seven Sin Series Marks had not only expanded his Soul Space but also propelled him further along his Ranking Journey. Consequently, Eren's Spiritual Force had surged. His Elemental Attainments gained new enlightenment, propelling him deeper into the ranks of the Master, with his gaseous-state mana core poised on the precipice of transitioning into a liquid state.

With a fresh perspective on things, Eren smiled as he concluded circulating his Ranking Technique. He slowly opened his eyes and accessed his Status Panel to check up on his progress.