'Eren, what the hell are you doing?'
As Eren strode purposefully through the battlefield, Alephee, her expression etched with gravity, trailed close behind. They remained hidden from the view of Renita, Altashia, and Hamang, their positions allowing them a stealthy insight into the unfolding conflict through the expansive scope of their Soul Senses.
Eren's footsteps slowed as he reached the fringes of the battlefield, a stance of cautious observance. His gaze was intently fixed on the scene before him, where Hamang's sword had just mercilessly severed Renita's arm.
Sedating Gaze
Authority Over Time
Eren and Alephee had synchronized their temporal time-element abilities, stretching their perception of time itself to gain a heightened understanding of each crucial moment in the battle.
'Eren, this is reminiscent of the situation with Becky. If you don't act now, Renita might…'
Alephee regarded Eren, a mixture of concern and perplexity evident in her features. She couldn't fathom his seeming reluctance to intervene when Renita's need was dire. Through their shared Mind Link, she conveyed her unease, her thoughts reaching out to him.
Before Alephee could finish her thought, Eren's response cut through their connection, his voice unflinchingly composed within their shared minds.
'Don't worry, Renita won't die here. Am I not here? Are you not here? Her injury is repairable – a lost hand can be easily restored with my potions and Instant Reset.'
Eren's words carried a clinical air as he surveyed the tumultuous contest between Renita and Hamang, his senses attuned to every nuance of the battle.
Eren's eyes, emerald beacons of determination, bore a peculiar luminance as he continued his dialogue with Alephee through their psychic link within a realm suspended beyond time.
'What truly matters for Renita is her personal growth,' Eren's words resonated, his eyelids descending as his focus intensified.
'I detect a surge of agitated spiritual energies from her. It's her Soul Sense awakening. This isn't akin to the Becky situation – my concern for Becky was negligible. But Renita… She's different.
And yet, I won't allow my emotions to cloud my judgment or obstruct her progress. This is her chance to break her confines, Alephee. I won't destroy this opportunity due to sentiment.
My feelings are irrelevant. My obligations aren't dictated by personal attachments.'
Alephee's internal sigh resonated as she realized Eren's unwavering rationale in letting Renita's Soul Sense awakening occur organically.
Though she hadn't hesitated when Eren employed a similar strategy with Becky in the past, Alephee comprehended the distinction – Eren held genuine care for Renita. Yet, he was willing to withhold his intervention to grant her the chance for personal triumph.
She acknowledged that Eren could disentangle his emotions from the immediate situation, perceiving the broader tapestry at play even when the one he wished to protect stood at the precipice of peril.
'In truth, he's been this way all along,' Alephee's inner reflection bore a touch of admiring revelation.
'But I underestimated him. The ability to separate emotions from action – this is what defines a true bearer of Elder Ichor's legacy. Another might be consumed by the weight of the bloodline's expanse. An inherently righteous soul would falter, burdened by the extensive path it sets forth. An inherently malevolent being would wreak havoc, evoking a swift retaliation from established powers.
But Eren... he walks on the narrow boundary between light and dark. He can shroud his actions in seeming emotionlessness, yet conjure any emotion when needed.
Only one with this skill can wield Elder Ichor's legacy, survive, and make the most of it,' Alephee mused, realizing Eren's unique aptitude for balance. A balance that wouldn't be understood by many. A balance that couldn't be achieved by all.
Understanding the intricacies of Eren's mindset, Alephee decided to allow him to dictate the course of action as he saw fit.
Eren welcomed Alephee's questioning without reservation. Rationality dictated such inquiries, a testament to her vigilance. Permitting Renita's Soul Sense to blossom amidst her precarious plight was akin to venturing into dangerous terrain.
Eren recognized the magnitude of this choice.
Since the inception of the final phase of the Lazarus Project, he had labored ceaselessly to fortify his inner resolve, brick by brick. He understood that a steadfast heart was indispensable, enabling him to navigate treacherous waters. Amid the tumultuous storms of sentiment, he aimed not just to endure but to thrive.
'At least Renita has me to lean on,' Eren ruminated. 'Yet, when my moment arrives, I won't have that luxury. No safety net. No backup. Not that I'll crave one.
I'll be the backup that I'll need.'
A surge of determination surged through Eren, his fists clenching in silent affirmation. With Sedating Gaze dissolved, he surged into motion, a seamless disappearance heralding his appearance before Hamang.
Blink.
It was a swift interception, sparing Renita from the potentially lethal strike that loomed menacingly.
***
"Whatever grievances you may have against me, I'd prefer if you said it to my face."
Eren's words sliced through the tense air, his tone an icy blade. He held the edge of Hamang's Summoned Sword with his bare hands, his grip unyielding.
Eren had been meticulously monitoring Hamang's actions, absorbing every word spoken, every intention revealed. Thus, his chilling intent remained unleashed, his Soul Sense a suffocating cloak.
Hamang found himself abruptly engulfed in Eren's ominous presence, the realization of his grave mistake settling like a stone in his gut. Eren's soul-wrenching aura and the pressure of his Soul Sense, as vast as a silent sea, hammered the message home:
Hamang had erred gravely by attempting to target this man. Not only had he achieved his breakthrough in the middle of the battlefield like a mad man, he had gotten even more dangerous than the known records of his deeds portrayed him as.
Swift as thought, Eren utilized his Soul Sense, knocking out the incoming Altashia without harming her. He did that to prevent her from casting forbidden spells or techniques that could further jeopardize her ranking foundation.
A colossal serpent of fire-element emerged, its serpentine form coiling protectively around Altashia, forestalling her unconscious fall.
'I really pushed it this time, didn't I?'
