Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil
chapter-1759

'Damn it. This is bad,' the Elementalist from Eren's team was beginning to lose hope.

'One is high on an adrenaline rush, and the other has his heart pierced by the cat harlot.

As for me, not only am I out of mana, but my mana core has also sustained damage due to the overdraw. I could probably cast a Skill or two for a few seconds. But that's just it. I'll be nothing but a ragdoll after that.

I thought being a Savant had given me plenty of liberty to act as I wanted. Turns out I was delusional. What did I fucking achieve by coming this far?

Are… are we going to die here?'

Vasco, piecing things together, confronted Jen while supporting Eren. Uncertain of Eren's intentions, he nevertheless followed his lead. It seemed they were all on the brink of death, rendering Eren's goals inconsequential at this critical juncture.

***

"Kihihihihi," Jen purred like a cat, eyeing her helpless adversaries.

"You could have avoided this fate, you know. If you had just left this place silently, we wouldn't have to battle it out like this. I wouldn't have to lose one of my lifelines here as well.

I only have seven lifelines remaining now. Whose fault is that? Hmm? Who will take responsibility for the cost I'll have to pay for using the Blessing?" she queried Eren and the rest, her voice dripping with anger and bloodlust as she fixated on them with a predatory gaze.

Raif and Yugi had got behind her at this point, taking ideal formation to deal with the trio of candidates who looked to have their one foot into their graves already. They just needed one more push and their troubles would be over. At least that's what they thought.

'Listen up guys,' Jen contacted her teammates secretly before they launched their final attack on Eren and the rest.

'I'll focus on getting rid of the big guy. Raif, you will target Eren. the guy's only living on borrowed breaths. You wouldn't face any problem.

As for Yugi– you will tackle that scared cat who wastes too much time thinking about stuff. You wouldn't have much trouble dealing with a fellow Elementalist,' she said to Raif and Yugi in a voice that didn't allow much scope for cross questioning.

'Haah! If he is on his last breaths, why don't you go ahead and deal with him?' Raif snorted as he thought of Jen's suggestion. Of course, he didn't say this in the communication channel, considering the kind of situation they were in. This was not the time to argue.

The Body Art Specialist could discern the logic behind Jen's tactic. However, he retained enough sanity to realize that swapping targets with her wouldn't have made much difference unless Eren still posed a threat.

It seemed as though Jen hesitated to put herself in a position that might cost her another lifeline, despite her bold demeanor. Yet, Raif perceived no issue in dealing with Eren, who was evidently on the brink of demise. The man hadn't raised his head to glance at them even once after the close encounter with Jen.

"Ready?" Jen asked rhetorically. "Three!" she announced before swiftly commanding, "Attack!"

One could say that she was subconsciously trying to overcome the trauma Eren had given her by pulling the same trick on him.

***

[ Greater Skill: Domain of Wrath

Automated Activation ]

A sudden notification flashed on Eren's screen just as he was on the verge of finishing off Yugi for good. In the next moment, a familiar sensation enveloped him—his heart pierced by an unfamiliar object.

'What the—'

Eren was forced to take control of the Greater Skill after its automated activation and prevented himself from forming a Wrath Domain. As a result of this, his attack on Yugi was halted abruptly. He was forced to look down and see what had managed to attack him when he was at his most vulnerable. An elongated finger, with metallic claw extensions, had managed to pierce through his heart from back to front.

A hole now revealed a glimpse of Eren's body attempting to close the wound through accelerated regeneration.

"Uggggh!"

Eren grimaced in pain, even though the injury wasn't fatal. He was immune to his heart being pierced but that did not mean that he was immune to the feeling of pain and misery as well.

The intense pain, coupled with his Spirit nearing zero, affected his vision.

Swoosh. Zoom. Boom.

Suddenly, Eren found himself propelled into the air by Vasco's Flame Ifrit. The clone exploded, creating a blast that carried Eren further through the air, reaching Vasco, who seemed to be awaiting his arrival.

'Come closer, damn it. You are not going to catch me like this,' Eren cursed Vasco inwardly as he braced for the imminent crash landing.

The butcher opted not to perform a mid-air maneuver to avoid tipping off the enemy that he was still functional despite the supposedly fatal injury.

"Eren! No," the butcher heard Vasco's panicked voice. "Stay down; I will—" Vasco attempted to make him lie down.

"No!" Eren halted Vasco's actions. "Help… help me get up," he requested with a hint of difficulty and grim conviction, a blend of sincerity and deception.

The butcher could have assured Vasco and Horen that he was fine, but he doubted their acting skills. So, he opted not to take the risk, letting them believe he was on the brink of death to maintain the illusion for their enemies.

Eren felt a sense of satisfaction as Vasco's detonated clone brought an unexpected pause to the battle. This temporary respite was crucial for Eren, who had just discovered something intriguing flashing on his Spectral Screen.

[ Necessary requirements met. Skill: Demi-god's Gaze can be converted into Unique Skill: Unreal Reflection by spending 1200 Origin Force Points. Would you like to continue? ]

[ Accumulated Origin Force Points: 7698.65 ]

'This greedy goddess,' Eren cursed Goddess Menaka in his head as he kept his head down.

'She doesn't want me to spend her fake money for this. Instead, she wants to claim the Origin Force I have managed to claim for myself. Capitalist through and through.'

Eren sighed internally before reluctantly accepting the offer. For one, he didn't have the luxury to argue with the goddess. Secondly, he was in a desperate situation. And lastly, he was curious about what would happen if his ocular Skill turned into a Unique Skill.

As soon as he selected "yes," he felt as if his eyes had been washed with acid. A burning sensation engulfed them, as if they were being roasted on fire.

"Three!" Eren heard Jen's voice. "Attack," she said before activating the movement Skill and riling up the two teammates right behind her.

Eren didn't have time to get used to the sensation. For better or worse, he was given the opportunity to test the Unique Skill he had just acquired right away.

[ Unique Skill: Unreal Reflection Activated ]