Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

"How do you feel, my little brother?"

Eren inquired, drawing from his Sativa Stick and exhaling a billowing cloud of smoke into the brisk air. The two sped through the sky, leaving behind the desolation where Argo had transcended into the S-Rank. It was a hazardous place to linger.

Eren was certain that Argo's breakthrough had piqued the interest of formidable beings across the world. He had initially believed he had everything under control, yet he had underestimated the shockwaves generated by Argo's S-Rank Breakthrough Calamity, which reverberated throughout Anfang. No matter how busy the old monsters were busy in their affairs, they wouldn't miss something as astonishing as Argo's breakthrough.

Argo had assumed his majestic eagle form, a formidable demon beast. Perched on his back, Eren relished his smoke, battling the gusts of wind that tousled his hair and ruffled his clothes.

Argo had evolved from an epic-tier creature to a legendary-tier entity, his demonic prowess now exceptionally potent. He could shift into his demonic form and control his size with greater finesse.

His transformed body had undergone a metamorphosis post-S-Rank breakthrough. Every beat of his wings generated tempests capable of threatening small cities and devastating towns. His physical might alone could overwhelm Grandmaster Rankers and A-Ranked entities without relying on mana or demonic powers.

"Hahahaha! The fresh wind in my lungs. A horizon about to welcome a new day. And the very pinnacle of this little world," Argo replied to Eren's earlier question with exhilaration. "Boss, I feel fucking great. Absolutely amazing. Like I'm ready for anything," he proclaimed, soaring higher and executing free backflips, a blur in the sky once more, breaking the sound barrier with his speed.

"Aaaaaargh! Slow down, you fat bird."

Eren mumbled as he struggled to bring the Sativa Stick to his lips. He was certain the wind would have stolen his smoke if he hadn't protected it with a layer of mana. Despite his words to Argo, Eren wore a genuine smile. He was sincerely thrilled for Argo.

Through him, he could taste what it was like to dominate the world's apex.

Eren harbored the desire to experience Argo's current sensations personally. However, he understood that achieving S-Rank alone wouldn't suffice. He yearned to feel untouchable and invincible in any world.

The skies of Anfang had been lowered for him. He aspired to explore larger skies in other realms even before hitting the ceiling of this world. That's how much he wanted to grow. At an unprecedented level. The kind of growth that was never imagined by the denizens of Anfang ever before.

"Hahahaha. Roger that. Let's find a place to touch down," Argo decided to conclude his aerial antics. The sky was his realm as the Lord of the Flies, and he could explore it at any time. No need to rush the experience.

Argo was also intrigued by Eren's impending actions. He wanted to hear his plan. After all, Argo sought to push the boundaries of his newfound might, and the conflicts unfolding across Anfang, along with Eren's imminent confrontations with powerful figures, provided the perfect stage for Argo to showcase his prowess.

***

"What is this?" Eren inquired, gazing at an ethereal cloud of smoke ensnared within a translucent layer of Gluttony mana. This hovering cloud was handed to him by Argo the moment they touched down on the cliff of an unfamiliar mountain.

The Gluttony mana used to create the runes containing the smoke was gradually eroding the ethereal haze. Through his familiarity with Gluttony mana, Eren sensed that these runes weren't designed to consume the smoke. Instead, they had to devour it to maintain stability and prevent it from being reclaimed by Anfang's world.

"That sweet little thing is what's called the Origin Force," Argo elucidated, sporting a smug grin as he observed the ethereal cloud floating above Eren's hand.

"You mentioned you wanted to cultivate Gluttony mana, but without a God Spark, you wouldn't be able to tap into gluttony-related emotions. So, I... I mean... Beelzebub did the heavy lifting, wrestling the Origin Force from Anfang's clutches. What you see there is your share from our deal," Argo stated, his arms folded confidently.

"Origin Force?" Eren muttered as he gazed at the ethereal cloud. When he had initially asked for help with his Ranking Journey and the harnessing of people's emotions, he hadn't fully grasped the mechanics at play. He'd simply sought to derive some benefit from his significant investment in Argo's restaurant chain venture.

"Is that all? Where's the rest of it?" Eren inquired with a skeptical look, implicitly requesting anything else Argo might have acquired through his extraordinary breakthrough. Argo snorted disdainfully before continuing.

"Stop the cap, boss. Your outstanding swindling skills won't work on me," Argo retorted, pointing to the dense cloud of Origin Force.

"You don't know jack shit about what I've given you, do you? Yet, you pretend it's a modest share. What I've given you is already extravagant, to the point where even the apostles of gods wouldn't hesitate to come for your ass if they learned of your possession.

That's the dankest stuff you got there. I can guarantee you of its quality as your one and only reliable fence dealing in Origin Force," Argo shook his head in disbelief, sighing deeply.

Eren pursed his lips upon hearing Argo's words. He shrugged as if conceding, "Well, I had to try," before posing the most obvious question.

"What is the Origin Force, though?" Eren inquired, attempting to touch the ethereal smoke with his other hand. In the next moment, his hand passed through the cloud as if it had never been there.

Argo chuckled before elaborating.

"The Origin Force is something sought after by all gods and Demon Princes. They look for that stuff like those snorters look for white lines. But you don't have to dwell on it too much for now.

I mean... you won't be able to utilize the Origin Force here in Anfang even if I were to tell you. However, I'm sure you'll come up with something once you venture beyond this world," Argo explained.

AN: Monster and beast categories related to epic and legendary tiers were explained in chapter 434. Eren asks Argo to help him cultivate Gluttony mana in chapter 1257.