Subsequent events unfolded with tranquility, devoid of additional upheavals.
Eren finally reclaimed Birmond's body. The welcoming enthusiasm of his companions, Jake and the others, awaited him, a testament to his ascent into the Master Rank.
Inquiries concerning Renita and Altashia's welfare followed, to which Eren responded succinctly, expressing gratitude for their well-wishes and assuaging concerns.
Dispensing with formalities within a mere ten minutes, Eren promised a celebratory gathering in the City of White Raven for his Master Rank achievement, extending an invitation to all present. As expeditiously as he'd settled the matters, Eren vanished from the scene, Birmond's remains in tow.
***
Within an obscure mountain cave, ensconced within layers of barrier magic and bolstered by an Earth Wall spell, resided an enigma.
The cave, though relatively small and draped in profound darkness, was aglow with a faint luminescence. This spectral radiance emanated from its sole occupant, a Master Rank individual engrossed in honing their Ranking Technique. Without this ethereal luminance, the cave would have plunged into absolute obscurity.
After dedicating an uninterrupted three days to assimilate the spoils harvested from Birmond's remains, Eren's eyes fluttered open. The congealed slimy membranes that once housed Birmond's remnants regained their original fluidity, merging seamlessly into Eren's hands.
A meticulous observer would have found no vestige of Birmond's corporeal existence; the amalgamated mass of slime had entirely consumed his remains. This devouring process allowed Eren to assimilate Birmond's ice-element Master Ranker's spells and the repository of his experiences.
'Sigh. In the end, I couldn't obtain those two Abilities. Tch.'
Eren's sigh wafted through the cave, tinged with the weight of his revelation. Despite the exhaustive period he invested in absorbing Birmond's essence, Eren found himself devoid of the two ice-element Abilities that had distinguished Birmond. These Abilities had begun to precede Birmond's reputation throughout the kingdom of Edinburgh.
Eren had initially anticipated that swiftly consuming Birmond's remains would grant him access to at least one of Birmond's prized Abilities. However, Birmond's demise during the battlefield conflict introduced a complex variable. The duration he dedicated to the meticulous "consumption" of his fallen foe directly impacted the magnitude of his gains.
House Remus and the White Raven Guild had a complicated history.
A decade prior, Eren and Birmond had entered into a strategic covenant, a pact borne out of the overarching wartime dynamics between their kingdoms. This binding arrangement had curtailed any actions Eren could take against Birmond or his kin, regardless of his prior inclinations to lay claim to Birmond's gains.
Nonetheless, Birmond's demise disrupted this binding accord, thereby affording Eren the opening he needed to assimilate the prolific ice-element summoner's trove of accomplishments. Eren now found himself in a position of abundance, courtesy of House Remus.
The clan's "generous contributions" had significantly enriched his path as a Summoner, giving him an extensive repertoire of spells and experiences specific to this branch of magic. In light of these considerable benefits, Eren's disposition had little room for grievances, even in the face of seemingly minor challenges.
'Haah! Never mind. I can still use these ice-element Elemental Attainments. Especially to get my hands on that Titan's corpse. I am not sure if I can use Birmond's knowledge and experiences to break a Sage rank array formation. But still, it will help a lot,' Eren mumbled to himself.
Eren's resolve remained unshaken. Drawing solace from the wealth of spells, ice magic, and Birmond's profound knowledge of ice-element arrays he had acquired, a new strategy took shape within his mind.
Eren discerned a conduit in Birmond's insights that could potentially lead him to claim the Titan's corpse safeguarded within House Lancelot's clandestine enclave. An epiphany unfurled: by building upon Birmond's intricate groundwork, he could potentially secure the Titan's body, possibly unlocking access to mimic the nightmarish Titan bloodline.
Before locking himself inside the cave for three days, Eren had taken preemptive action by notifying House Remus through a long-range communication artifact that Birmond's remains wouldn't be surrendered to them. He skillfully wove a story that he was ambushed by Carvel's forces right after he left the disputed territory, substantiating this with the public threat Carvel made against him. This fabricated narrative was made more believable due to the presence of witnesses who had listened to Carvel's threats.
Over the past nine years, the White Raven Guild had significantly fortified itself, rendering it impervious to threats from smaller clans and organizations. Furthermore, with Birmond's demise, House Remus was left weakened.
Yet, Eren was determined to preserve the alliance that had been stable for nearly a decade, rather than sow discord. This motivated him to operate covertly, assimilating Birmond's gains without arousing suspicion. Even the calculated maneuvers he executed on the battlefield to secure Birmond's remains were driven by this intent.
Despite these meticulous efforts, Eren was far from at ease. The weight of impending responsibilities weighed heavily on him. With only around five months remaining until the completion of the Lazarus Project, he was acutely aware of the pressing nature of his commitments. Even the potential advantage of space-element runes couldn't completely alleviate the strain of his demanding agenda.
Eren's mind raced as he sat in meditation, a practice he maintained even after halting his Rootless Ranking Technique exercises. His thoughts raced through his numerous responsibilities, and he began to prioritize his upcoming tasks. The unexpected Master Rank advancement during this critical juncture was indeed a boon, potentially saving him from convoluted detours. The elevated status it granted might also serve him in negotiations, particularly with Grandmaster Baelin.
"I can handle Grandmaster Baelin. Asking for a few privileges wouldn't be a big deal now that I'm a Master Ranker. But first… I must confirm the feasibility of my plan to break the World-Encompassing Array formation."
Eren pondered, recognizing the gravity of the task ahead. With time of the essence, he envisioned concluding all his commitments, including the Lazarus Project and other side endeavors, before considering leaving Anfang. Everything needed to be settled within these five months.
His mental calculus continued, and he decided that his next course of action would involve seeking guidance from Maya, a person of unparalleled knowledge due to her connection as the daughter of Sansara Sage. Eren planned to utilize his space-element runes to summon her from her expedition for a crucial meeting. As these thoughts swirled like a tempest within him, he began his journey towards the City of White Raven.
