Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil
chapter-1404

Blink.

Unlimited Knife Works.

With a swift blink, Eren activated the Unlimited Knife Works, unleashing a relentless onslaught of lethal strikes at close range.

His Katars cut through the enemy captain's defensive spells, armor, and even Trump Cards, thanks to his extraordinary Ability gained from Sage Luftansa. In a display of unparalleled proficiency and skill, Eren's peculiar weapon-specific Ability turned the unfortunate elf into a shredded mess of minced meat.

The Sage himself would have marveled at how his successor wielded the Ability with such mastery.

In a unified cry, the Rankers from Layos rushed towards their fallen captain, hoping to rescue him from Eren's relentless onslaught. Unfortunately, by the time they reached him, it was too late – their leader had already met his end.

Seizing the opportunity, Eren swiftly activated a movement spell, propelling himself towards a nearby opponent. His Katars unleashed a flurry of elemental attacks – Blitz Wave and Igni Wave – with deadly precision. But one of the enemy Rankers saw that his comrade's life was hanging by a thread and decided to flank Eren from behind, launching a series of axe attacks.

With a wry smile, Eren realized he was caught between two foes. This was bound to happen since he had barged into the enemy stronghold.

He deftly parried the sword attack from his first opponent and responded with a barrage of elemental strikes, combining Blitz Wave and Igni Wave to great effect. The enemy Ranker, however, was not one to be trifled with. He retaliated with his own elemental spells, conjuring a storm of purple water that formed into a myriad of razor-sharp daggers hurtling towards Eren with deadly intent.

The purple water also created a barrier around the Ranker, serving dual purpose by providing the Ranker with defensive measures as well.

Meanwhile, the other enemy Ranker, who had sneaked behind Eren, wasted no time in shattering the Blitz Shield that Eren had hastily deployed for protection. He then unleashed a barrage of compressed wind-blades from his axe, slicing through the air and tearing through the weakened defense.

Within just a few seconds of dispatching the enemy captain, Eren found himself surrounded by his adversaries. He couldn't help but admire the Layos army's preparedness – despite the loss of their leader, they regrouped quickly and coordinated their attacks effectively.

The battlefield was now enveloped in a chaotic storm of mana clouds, the result of the intense close-range combat. Eren knew escaping from this relentless onslaught would be challenging; the cooldown period of his Blink ability made it impossible to use again so soon.

Rather than retreating, Eren made a bold decision to confront the two enemy Rankers. Drawing strength from the Hero's Heart Ability gifted to him by Ken, he fortified his body and bolstered his physical defenses, preparing for the impending clash.

Aware of the peculiar properties bestowed upon the cluster of water summoned by the enemy Ranker's Elemental Aspect, Eren opted for a different approach. Instead of relying on his lightning-element movement spell, he invoked Earth Steps, enveloping his legs in an anti-gravity field that repelled everything in their vicinity.

Sedated Perception

Stunning Speed

With his keen mastery over time-element spells, Eren manipulated the perception of time around him. As if drifting into an ethereal realm, everything seemed to slow down, granting him an advantage over his adversaries.

Eren's journey through the ranks had not only enhanced his time-element abilities but also invited Alephee's influence, infusing his spells with a dreadful potency.

However, this newfound mastery also presented a challenge – the restrictions of the Near-stagnant World seemed to tighten, hinting that his rapid progress in Elemental Attainments required his body and Ranking Status to catch up in order to fully unleash his boundless elemental prowess.

Motion Manipulation

Eren's agility and mastery over time-element spells enabled him to perform remarkable acrobatics. Seizing the opportune moment, he used the enemy Ranker's bent thigh as a springboard to propel himself into the air. With precision and finesse, he then leveraged his shoulders to launch even further, soaring an impressive 15 meters above the ground.

Thanks to his effective use of Earth Steps, Eren managed to evade the harmful touch of the enemy Ranker's purple water. Swiftly adapting to the situation, he seamlessly transitioned to Wind Steps mid-flight, seemingly stepping on air as he ascended higher, granting him even greater freedom and maneuverability in the air.

Total Control

Through his time-element spell, Total Control, Eren demonstrated astonishing spell-switching prowess, effortlessly moving from one spell to another without any delay or loss of efficiency. Even within the confines of the Near-stagnant World, Eren's mastery over his arsenal of elemental spells surpassed conventional understanding, elevating both his offensive and defensive capabilities to extraordinary levels.

Eren swiftly pivoted and observed the two enemy Rankers, who were charging toward each other in their failed attempt to catch him. Their expressions shifted from confusion to surprise as they realized Eren's absence between them. His mastery of time-element spells allowed him to savor their bewilderment, relishing the advantage he had gained on the battlefield despite the debuff imposed by the space-element runes.

However, as he smirked in triumph, he couldn't help but curse the limitations of having only one mana core. With a myriad of spells and abilities at his disposal, Eren yearned for greater mana reserves to fully unleash his potential as a multi-element and multi-class Ranker.

He compared it to a highly advanced flying vehicle equipped with countless features, but shackled by a small fuel tank, preventing it from utilizing its full capabilities.

'My diverse spells and multiple classes mean nothing if I don't have the mana reserves to support them.'

Eren pondered, his mind filled with frustration and determination. 'I need a second mana core. Or perhaps something even better,' he mused aloud, his inner voice tinged with curiosity and hope.

'A simple question needs a simple answer no matter how ridiculous it may sound. To resolve my problem, I'll need a mana core that continuously replenishes itself by absorbing the very essence of the universe.

Of course, no matter how simple an answer is, it would be useless if it does not turn into a feasible solution. Now the question is: Is that even possible?' Eren questioned, his eyes scanning the surroundings as if seeking answers from the world itself.

Eren was deep in his thoughts even while he was battling against the forces of Layos. In his peculiar state, he couldn't help but wonder if such a remarkable power source could exist.