Covert operations demanded a strategic approach and time to execute properly.
Sebastian knew that direct confrontation against Edinburgh would only spell disaster. But if the kingdom wanted things to not come to surface for the general populace, he believed there was still a slim window of opportunity to alter their fate.
In the worst-case scenario, Sebastian contemplated gathering all the accumulated resources of House Slughorn and fleeing to the kingdom of Layos, taking only a select few clan members with him. He intended to contact the senior members of his house to expedite their plan, ensuring a swift escape.
Silas, however, found no solace in Sebastian's explanation and was on the brink of voicing his discontent. Yet, before any words could escape his lips, he abruptly shut his mouth and cast a dreadful gaze over his shoulder. Two shadows loomed on the horizon, closing in on them with alarming speed.
Silas swiftly recognized their pursuers—Levine and Naya, both B-ranked entities tasked with chasing down the escaping Slughorns. Just as Silas was about to warn Sebastian, the Myriad Potioner beat him to it, already aware of their presence.
"Damn it! They've split their forces. Focus on running and don't look back," Sebastian ordered, fully aware that engaging Levine and Naya directly would only invite further reinforcements.
Dealing with Levine posed no significant challenge for Sebastian, given his expertise in potionery. However, Naya presented a formidable obstacle. As a demon beast with access to her beastly transformation and potent demon magic, she boasted superior physical prowess and stood on the cusp of entering the next rank, much like her master Birmond. The only reason she hadn't pursued the Slughorns alone was her caution against the Myriad Potioner's kamikaze attacks.
"Sir Myriad Potioner, over here!"
Just as Sebastian and Silas were about to alter their course, a distant voice reached their ears from the 2 o'clock position. They turned toward the source and discovered a certain Expert ranker accompanied by her team of loyal rankers, rapidly closing in on them.
Rhea Bloodweaver, her mana-infused voice resonating with conviction, declared her intentions.
"Sir Myriad Potioner, my name's Rhea bloodweaver. I'm here to help you get away from the raiders. Let me help you."
Though Sebastian recognized Rhea, she emphasized her identity. It seemed Rhea was unaware of the unfolding situation. Sebastian saw an opportunity to exploit her naivety to their advantage.
"Yes! Rid us of these raiders, lass. They're right on our tails," Sebastian responded, subtly manipulating Rhea's perception of the events.
Silas followed Sebastian's lead as they approached Rhea's team, relying on their battle formation to impede their pursuers. It would buy them the precious time they needed to successfully evade capture.
Rhea remained silent, her focus fixed on reaching Sebastian. Her group passed by the Slughorns, providing them with a shield of cover to facilitate their escape.
Sebastian inwardly expressed gratitude for Rhea's timely intervention. A cunning smile formed on his lips, but suddenly, an inexplicable fear gripped his heart—an intuitive warning derived from his ranker instincts. He sensed something amiss, an impending threat creeping closer.
Turning around, Sebastian witnessed a tense standoff between Rhea's team and their pursuers, both parties maintaining a safe distance. However, they were not facing each other but were instead fixated on him, as if anticipating an intriguing spectacle.
"Silas, WAIT! Something's not—"
In an instant, the world blurred into motion. With a lightning-fast blitz, a specialized water-element array trap activated, enclosing Sebastian and Silas within its confines. The trap created a formidable water domain, obstructing Sebastian's view of the outside world and preventing Rhea and the others from monitoring their situation.
The water-element domain had effectively isolated the two Slughorns, leaving them in suspense as to what would unfold within its mystic confines.
Just as Sebastian braced himself for the impending threat, he discovered that the array trap was not a mere containment device, but rather a catalyst for a series of debuff and poison concoctions.
Silas and Sebastian found themselves quickly enveloped in a dense mana miasma, further compromising their vision and rendering their mana senses useless. This malevolent haze was a result of combining an excessive number of potions, yielding a complex composition with unpredictable effects and side effects.
The water-element barrier successfully contained the mana miasma within its confines, preventing it from escaping. However, as it swirled closer to the two Slughorns, its density and quantity increased, transforming the domain into a toxic gas chamber.
This entire setup was devised to neutralize a Master-ranked ranker like the Myriad Potioner. The intricate mana signature of the miasma eluded Sebastian's decoding ability, leaving him unable to formulate a solution.
Silas, an Expert ranker, proved incapable of enduring the effects of the trap for long and succumbed on the spot. The debuffs and poisons took their toll on Sebastian as well, impairing his response time. Oblivious to Silas' demise, he had yet to realize that his comrade stood lifeless beside him, preserved in an eerie, upright stance. Had it not been for the trap, Silas's body would have sunk into the River Lithe by now.
Amidst the chaotic haze, a single thought raced through Sebastian's mind as he recognized the distinct style of potion deployment. There was only one person in the entire realm of Anfang known for utilizing such potent array traps against their enemies.
"Potion deployment through array traps... that son of a whore Eren Idril... he's behind this."
Regret coursed through Sebastian as he belatedly realized that Rhea had served as nothing more than a decoy, luring him and Silas into this treacherous array trap. Eren had cunningly exploited Sebastian's desperation, anticipating his fall into a trap so potent that it had gone unnoticed until it was too late.
"Sticks and stones, old man. And I don't mind being called that anyway. Keke."
A calm, youthful voice echoed from behind Sebastian, its mesmerizing tone unmistakable. Even before he turned around, Sebastian knew the identity of its owner.
"Tit for tat. You attempted to ambush me in the past, and in retaliation, I constructed the Grim Pillar Town.
Time sure flies. I feel like it was just yesterday when I killed Sienna and her goons."
The voice dripped with a devilish charm, taunting Sebastian with memories of their past encounters in the city of New Beginnings. Eren's voice sounded like he was relishing on a fond memory.
"But, to be honest, your previous ambush attempt was poorly executed. Now, this... this is how you truly ambush someone, wouldn't you agree?"
Whispers of a devil played upon Sebastian's ears, evoking frustration and trepidation within him. For some inexplicable reason, he hesitated to turn around and face his adversary, a reluctance born from an instinctive dread.
AN: Eren deploys potions through array traps for the first time in chapter 501 and 502.
