Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground quaked as Behemoth's footfalls caused a sizable area to sink beneath its colossal presence, leaving Galen trapped beneath. When Behemoth withdrew its limb, Galen's bloodied form was revealed. Despite Galen's resilient defense fueled by Nature mana and life force, Behemoth had inflicted severe wounds upon him with its initial strike.
Determined, Galen launched a flurry of flying weapon slashes aimed at Behemoth's front limbs in a desperate counterattack. However, the assaults proved futile as Behemoth, undeterred, refocused its attention on Galen.
Exhausting every ounce of strength and mana, Galen fought against the relentless beast. But his actions only served to wear him down further, draining his energy through his overuse of Mother's Embrace.
For a harrowing minute, Galen persisted in combat against Behemoth, while Eren observed from a distance atop the creature's head. The butcher, too, was fatigued, his mana reserves nearing depletion. After all, he had summoned Behemoth inside the spatial pocket purely using his earth-element mana because the sacred ground made it nearly impossible for him to use the readily available earth for summoning.
Sensing the opportune moment, Eren gestured, causing Behemoth to vanish as he could no longer sustain the gargantuan entity with his near-empty mana reserves. Eren, suddenly losing his footing, started falling to the ground.
Behemoth disappeared from the scene, ending Galen's misery. But unfortunately for Galen, he found himself in a really dire state, exacerbated by the grievous injuries he had sustained.
"It's time to bring an end to this charade," Eren muttered, his descent toward the ground swift and resolute. Clasping the Labrys tightly with both hands, arcs of crimson lightning danced and crackled around his body, an ethereal manifestation of his lethal intent.
The ominous aura of Death mana infused his weapon, empowering it to unleash a barrage of airborne strikes dubbed Death Rot. Eren's approach exuded an intimidating presence as he closed in on Galen, who struggled to maintain his balance on weakened legs. It was as if a meteor coated in lightning and shadow of death was approaching a feeble-looking Galen at breakneck speeds.
The remnants of Galen's four arms dangled limply from their sockets, barely clinging to his battered torso. Multiple fractures marred his body, with flesh torn asunder by the relentless assault of Behemoth. His once recognizable visage now bore the scars of merciless blows.
Yet Galen refused to yield, his spirit unyielding in the face of certain defeat. Determined to fight until his last breath, Galen was prepared to take this duel to its bitter end, whether it cost him his consciousness or his life. And Eren showed no signs of holding back. After all, he had offered Galen plenty of chances to back down after the glaring disparity in power had been laid bare in front of the latter.
Valeria watched the unfolding scene with a growing unease, her eyes tracing the relentless exchange between Eren and Galen. It was clear to her that Eren had emerged victorious, his superiority undeniable. With Behemoth at his command, he could have easily dealt a fatal blow to Galen, if not outright ending his life.
Yet, Galen's pride and unwavering faith in the Great Mother blinded him to reason. Valeria grappled with her decision, torn between the sacred rules that forbade her interference and the desire to protect Galen, a valuable warrior of their settlement. Furthermore, Galen's demise or severe injury would undoubtedly strain the potential business relationship she hoped to cultivate with Eren's Guild. Finally, a resolution took hold within her, and she steeled herself to intervene, breaching the sanctity of the duel that unfolded within the sacred ground.
Just as Valeria poised to step forward, utilizing her Matriarch Realm powers to halt the escalating conflict, time itself seemed to decelerate, the world around her fading to monochromatic stillness. An overwhelming presence permeated the surroundings, vast as the boundless sea and all-encompassing as the sky itself.
Merely brushing against this tangible presence threatened to freeze even the likes of Valeria in their tracks, rendering them immobile. She couldn't spare a glance to assess the condition of the other Matriarchs, yet an unspoken understanding hinted at their shared predicament.
The sacred ground seemed to sever its ties with the outside world, carving out its own majestic domain. Nature mana surged to unparalleled heights within this mystical realm, breathing new life into the remaining vegetation, as if touched by profound enlightenment.
Valeria's mana sense faltered within this enigmatic zone, rendering her unable to tap into her own reserves and cast her spells. Intervention became an impossibility, but as if by some unseen force, it appeared that her interference was unnecessary. All present within this ethereal enclave were caught in a state of suspended animation including Eren and Galen, their faculties rendered inert by the awe-inspiring presence they couldn't perceive or comprehend.
Yet, Valeria and the other Amazonians stood amidst the vast presence surrounding them, unafraid and undeterred. On the contrary, they felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity and connection, as if they had been reunited with a long-lost companion. Waves of profound emotion coursed through their beings, evoking both overwhelming bliss and tears of joy.
Even the esteemed Matriarchs could not resist the effects of this enchanting presence. They sensed a long-awaited recognition of their humble existence by the very entity they had worshiped throughout their lives. It was as if their most cherished and audacious dreams had materialized before their eyes, transporting them back to their youth and enveloping them in a tender maternal embrace.
"It is her! Without a doubt, she has graced us with her presence," Valeria whispered, her voice quivering with elation. The Matriarch, enlightened by her knowledge, comprehended the origin of this extraordinary phenomenon. She had never fathomed she would bear witness to such a remarkable sight in her lifetime.
Within this sacred domain, Eren's elemental powers abruptly ceased to manifest. His spells dissolved on their own, devoid of any backlash. The very essence of mana, both within the surroundings and within Eren himself, seemed impervious to his will, unyielding to the influence of his Soul Sense to a large extent.
Nevertheless, Eren retained his conscious awareness, shielded from the domain's effects by his Soul Sense. He surrounded himself with his spiritual force, ensuring he remained capable of taking action should the situation demand it.
As Eren touched the ground with a resounding thud, the earth yielded beneath his weight. A sense of helplessness washed over him within this peculiar realm, akin to stepping into a stranger's abode without a means of defense. His mana sense lay dormant, impotent within this space, and even his Soul Sense felt suppressed, shackled by an unseen force.
In the face of such immense power, Eren reached a singular conclusion. This unprecedented display could only be attributed to one force he had previously encountered.
Divine Sense!
AN: Divine Sense was first described in chapter 886.
