'Hehehe, Grimdawn, your game is up.'
Carvel Horin sneered.
'Now that you've attained the rank of Master, don't blame me for not holding back. Pity, though, that you chose this place to achieve your long-awaited breakthrough,' Carvel's maniacal laughter rang out as he fixed his gaze on Eren.
Carvel, despite his injuries, still possessed enough strength to engage Eren in battle. His elevated rank had brought about similar enhancements to his mana core and soul as Eren's own breakthrough. Thus, while cautious of Eren's ocular prowess, Carvel's resolve wasn't paralyzed by it.
Still, Carvel saw fit to leave the task of dealing with Eren to Akass. In his assessment, Grimdawn was shrewd beyond measure.
Only the raw power of a wyvern could counteract Eren's cunning tactics, however devious they might be. Even after taking heavy damage from Birmond and Naya, the wyvern retained enough vigor and might to handle four Rankers like Eren at the same time.
With a sinister grin, Carvel observed the encroaching lava dragons, closing in on Eren and Naya – his sole remaining adversaries. Despite Eren's confident demeanor, Carvel discerned his vulnerability. Both his Spiritual Force and his Rank status appeared to be in a precarious equilibrium.
'You won't venture close to me, will you? Clever move,' Eren swiftly deduced Carvel's motive. 'No matter, it's to my advantage,' he contemplated, gazing at the oncoming tide of molten creatures. Swiftly adopting a stance akin to a military posture, hands tucked behind his back, Eren raised his voice to a resonating crescendo.
"Grandmaster Luan! I, Eren Elijah Idril, participated in this battle under the command of the late Master Birmond Ramus. On behalf of Edinburgh, I concede defeat in this battle and relinquish our claim to this land to Layos' forces."
Eren proclaimed with his voice imbued with mana, ensuring it carried for miles without excess volume. Within mere seconds of his arrival on the battlefield, he acted with speed and precision, preempting Carvel or the wyvern from launching an assault.
"Rankers from both sides– cease your attacks."
As the fearsome dragon-shaped figures, forged from molten lava currents, drew dangerously close to Eren, an aged voice resonated with unwavering authority. It was the unmistakable timbre of Grandmaster Luan, the figure assigned by the Anfang Alliance to oversee the clash unfolding between the rival realms.
The sky reverberated with Akass' roar, the wyvern's vocal retort aimed at the heavens as an expression of its discontent. The desire to exact vengeance on Eren for his combined manipulation of Spiritual Force and the Sedating Gaze Ability, an act that had tumbled the mighty beast from the skies and into a state of disgrace, coursed through the wyvern's instincts.
Yet, despite the fiery pride that marked the heart of dragonkind, the creature understood when compromise outweighed aggression. In the presence of Grandmaster Luan's commanding voice, both the wyvern and Carvel quelled their animosity towards Eren.
With Akass nullifying its draconic powers, the once-lively lava serpents, their heads shaped in the likeness of dragons, devolved into mere trickling streams of molten rock. These fiery torrents liquefied the frozen terrain and the layers of snow, their warmth inducing a fog that obscured Eren's view as he regarded Carvel with a knowing grin.
'Devious fellow.'
Carvel muttered inwardly, his thoughts laced with exasperation at Eren's cunning maneuver. Only now did Carvel discern Eren's strategy in timing his appearance. Eren had seemingly bided his time, anticipating the emergence of Grandmaster Luan on the cusp of the conflict's closure, as dictated by the Anfang Alliance's schedule.
Eren's intervention was astutely timed, neither delayed nor premature. It allowed him to save Naya's life and swiftly admit defeat, sparing him a confrontation with Carvel and Akass.
Grandmaster Luan descended like a meteor, landing squarely between the two opposing sides, straddling the boundary that demarcated the icy inferno from the domain of flames. His gaze turned upon Carvel, who bowed with a deferential stance before addressing the Grandmaster.
"I extend my gratitude to Grandmaster Luan for presiding over this battle," Carvel spoke respectfully, proceeding to fulfill the formalities required by the circumstance.
"On behalf of the Layos kingdom, I acknowledge Master Eren's concession of our claim," Carvel's gaze shifted to Eren, his face bearing a begrudging acknowledgment.
Grandmaster Luan then cast his gaze upon Eren, his voice resuming in an impartial tenor.
"In accordance with the Anfang Alliance's directives, this territory is now ceded to the Layos kingdom. A grace period of two hours will be granted for any remaining Anfang forces to conclude their activities and withdraw beyond the demarcated boundaries.
The Anfang Alliance assumes no responsibility for any repercussions should the Edinburgh forces exceed this time frame and attract the attention of higher-ranking entities from Layos."
Grandmaster Luan's tone bore a firmness that implied the potential consequences of overstepping the stipulated limit. Eren's comprehension of Luan's implicit message was immediate: remaining in this region for more than two hours would warrant pursuit and potential confrontation with the Grandmasters or even Sages from Layos.
"Thank you, Grandmaster Luan. We shall comply with the stipulations," Eren conceded with a respectful bow towards Luan, aligning himself with the rules as outlined.
At this juncture, the residual Layos and Edinburgh forces were converging, forming a palpable contrast against the backdrop of the battleground. The Edinburgh troops materialized behind Eren, while the remaining Layos squads assumed their positions with an air of triumph behind Carvel.
Despite the toll of lost lives, the Layos contingent emerged victorious, having secured the contested terrain. They could mourn their fallen comrades later; for the present, they reveled in the evident despondency etched upon the faces of the Edinburgh Rankers.
On the whole, Edinburgh had suffered multifaceted defeat. Not merely forfeiting the land, they also incurred a notably higher tally of fallen Rankers compared to their adversaries. Were it not for Eren's preemptive declaration of the land's cessation, Carvel would have likely persisted in his hunt for the remaining standing Rankers from Edinburgh.
This was a timely retreat.
AN: Grandmaster Luan was first introduced in chapter 1357.
