Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

"Fufufu!"

In a secluded corner of the Lionhearts Duchy within the Edinburgh kingdom, an ancient Sage made her return, ending her extended absence.

This was the resurgence of a Sage, a prominent figure from the Calamity War era and once renowned as the most formidable Titan Slayer of her time.

Witch of the Enderflames.

"Ah, fresh air after a millennium of waiting. It feels invigorating."

Eliza murmured with a smile as she emerged from Purgatory, her eyes brimming with hope and anticipation. Her Soul Sense projection led the way out of the dense forest, the very same where Eren had intervened in a clash between two Adept-ranked beings to shake off his pursuers after exiting Purgatory.

Reen trailed Eliza closely, her expression mostly inscrutable, though traces of concern and yearning flickered in her eyes. Part of her savored the newfound freedom outside Purgatory, and her ravenous instincts tempted her to hunt nearby mana beasts for sustenance and security. However, Reen suppressed her impulses, recognizing that her actions remained at the sole discretion of Sage Eliza.

Walking alongside Reen was Leela, the other guardian of Eliza's Purgatory, whom Eren had encountered shortly after he first laid eyes on Eliza's mummified form. Leela bore an uncanny resemblance to Layla, her twin sister. Yet, unlike Layla's haughty demeanor, Leela exuded an air of innocence and humility.

Leela shouldered a significant responsibility—to care for Sage Eliza's physical body, which rested within a coffin-like container suspended before her. At this pivotal juncture in the Lazarus Project, Eliza had severed the runic bindings that had tethered her mortal form to the confines of Purgatory.

Having liberated her body from these enchantments that had sustained her existence, Eliza knew she had but a week or two left to live. Not that she had much time left even if she were to stay cooped up in Purgatory. The runic bindings, no matter how long they had stayed with her, came with expiration date as well. She had only hastened the inevitable by a little.

The Witch of the Enderflames, however, was willing to accept this risk. Having endured immense losses in her past, she had little left to forfeit. She had meticulously orchestrated her resurrection as part of the Lazarus Project, and now, it was time for her to take action.

"Arthur met his end, huh? Poor fellow. I could have let him have the Sin Series Marks he was yearning for if he was alive at this point."

Eliza sighed dramatically as she strolled leisurely ahead, absorbing the information Layla had relayed to her. Needless to say, Arthur Renar would have bristled at Eliza's words had his soul been privy to them. Eliza had denied him the coveted Sin Series Marks during his lifetime, using them as bait to enlist him in the Clean Slate Project. After all, Reen's birth, as an artificial demon beast conceived within a laboratory, owed itself to this very project.

Eliza had manipulated the Duke of Edinburgh with deft skill to orchestrate her desires, so she felt confident in handling someone like Eren, who had been a mere unknown when he first entered Purgatory. The Clean Slate Project was the first step. And the Lazarus Project was the second and final step of her resurrection plan.

'Hmm. Things turned out better than I had once imagined it to be. However, I shouldn't underestimate him. After all, he ascended to the Master Rank in such a short span. That young whelp truly exceeded my expectations.'

Eliza mused with a sly smile. In the next moment, she turned to Reen, addressing her with a blend of curiosity and playful banter.

"Do you not think highly of your master, Reen? He plunged two kingdoms into war just to set the stage for my return. He appears to have done everything within his power to ensure the Lazarus Project's success. Aren't you impressed by Eren?"

Eliza inquired, her grin knowing. Reen, however, remained silent. She understood that Eliza enjoyed baiting her to provoke reactions, and having spent a long time with the Witch of the Enderflames, she had grown adept at handling her various mood swings. Opting for silence was often the best response to Eliza's multi-faceted comments.

"Tch! You've grown dreadfully dull. Seems you've picked up some truly insipid habits from your master," Eliza muttered in mild annoyance before shifting her attention to Leela without making eye contact.

"Leela, dear, it appears Eren has acquired Shallot's Mirror. I may need to rely on you when the time comes to manage certain matters," Eliza commented casually. Leela nodded and replied in a gentle tone, "Certainly, Master Eliza. But where is my sister?"

Eliza's smile widened as she responded to Leela. "She's secured us a good spot near the battlefield between the two kingdoms. We must hurry," Eliza urged, quickening her pace. Layla had prepared a space-element array not far from the Purgatory's entrance, making it easy for them to reach Layla's location swiftly.

"Another battle?" Leela murmured to herself, gazing ahead with a hint of bitter nostalgia in her eyes. It was clear she was attempting to avoid revisiting painful memories from a past era, memories that had irrevocably altered her existence, as well as her sister Layla's.

Eliza empathized with Leela's thoughts, hearing her sigh. She chuckled before speaking with a voice filled with both excitement and suppressed anger.

"Irony, isn't it, Leela dear? When I fled to my Purgatory after being betrayed by all of Anfang and the entire Anfang Alliance, it was amid a battlefield between the world's inhabitants and otherworldly invaders.

I was the driving force in that war against those wretched invaders, yet they forced me to flee. Now, as I stand at death's threshold awaiting resurrection, I'm running toward yet another war – the one I'm eagerly anticipating this time," Eliza mused aloud, looking at the sky and sighing contemplatively.

"Oh! This cheeky brat Layla really does her job well. I've finally located that Space Gate. Let's move quickly.

Quick! I don't want to miss the spectacle of two armies locked in a life-and-death struggle. Fufufu! I really want to witness the battlefield's excitement once more."

AN: Leela was first mentioned in chapter 338.