Eren had mentally braced himself for the solitary execution of the Lazarus Project.
Though he had a considerable number of allies and subordinates at his disposal, Eliza had accounted for them, rendering them effectively useless.
The Lazarus Project held different objectives for each side. For Eren, it symbolized the liberation of Reen from Eliza's grasp, while for Eliza, it represented her resurrection to her prime form. The moment either side achieved its goal before the other would tip the balance.
Eren had meticulously planned many aspects, yet uncertainty loomed in his encounters with Eliza. He harbored the belief that he was destined to lose in their impending struggle. Despite her frailty, Eliza remained a formidable adversary, not just a Sage but a one-of-a-kind dragon-type half-blood, renowned as the strongest Titan Slayer in her prime.
Eren's progress over the last decade had been remarkable, yet still insufficient to stand firmly against Eliza. He wasn't even a century old. Contending with an old monster who had lived for centuries on end was unthinkable even for him.
Given this reality, he devised a strategy to continue the game, even in the face of defeat. He aimed to transform the contest into a series of rounds, allowing him the opportunity for a comeback if he lost the initial round.
To realize this, Eren needed to ensure that Eliza believed in her imminent victory, creating the illusion of success while reducing the number of participants on his side in their intricate game.
He recognized the futility of engaging Eliza in a battle of attrition, a contest she was sure to dominate. It was akin to a game of chess, where the pieces had been arranged on the board before Eren even entered the match.
The Witch of the Enderflames had plotted a checkmate scenario for the butcher, regardless of his moves. His sole recourse was to allow her to claim victory, forcing her to reset the board and engage in a new game where he could secure the win.
A definitive triumph.
Eren's inner thoughts seethed with anger and determination.
'So, voodoo magic, huh? They're resorting to tricks from their home world. Is it only effective on homunculus vessels? Otherwise, they would have surely tried it on me,'
Eren deduced that voodoo magic evidently came with certain limitations, particularly within Anfang. Otherwise, Layla and Eliza wouldn't need to rely on him to carry out their schemes if voodoo magic held such overwhelming and all-encompassing power.
'They're trying to one-up me. In every fucking way. Not that I blame them or feel wronged. After all, I'm also trying to screw them. However, that old hag should have reserved such moves for the eleventh hour. I suppose she's underestimating me, which is kinda natural if I think about it from her perspective.
Kekeke. Despite enduring substantial losses at the hands of previous-era Rankers, these cunning witches still fail to grasp the fundamental truth. They indeed fought for this world in the past but I guess never fully integrated with its core values due to their otherworldly heritage. That heritage became their blindfold, preventing them from seeing the obvious truths.
While the past treatment of half-bloods might have been unjust, it's essential for them to acknowledge their own role in their downfall instead of attributing their hardships solely to the indigenous people of Anfang,' Eren thought to himself as he tried to understand what Eliza and Layla were thinking and how their decision-making process was based on.
Eren consistently made an effort to understand his adversaries, striving to grasp their actions and underlying motivations. Despite the appearance of victim-blaming, his contemplations were actually acts of self-reflection, an attempt to envision the experiences of half-bloods who lived during the Calamity War era. This was especially pertinent because both Eliza and Layla hailed from that period.
'When faced with adversity, anyone, even a true Anfang native, would naturally prioritize self-preservation. The true Anfang Rankers of the past may have been ruthless, but their brutality ultimately ushered in an era of peace for this world. They seized control and pursued what was in their best interest, never underestimating their adversaries.
The land of the faithless isn't a paradise where wishes come true by mere desire. And that's the beauty of it.
The witches don't realize that no Ranker should ever be underestimated. Voodoo magic, mystical arts, and other foreign hocus-pocus shit can kiss my true Anfangian ass. I'll fuck those witches so bad they'll wish they should have just died in the era they belong to.'
Eren vowed silently. Despite his otherwise composed demeanor and aristocratic facade, Eren's agitation led him to express himself in profanity, a habit from the past timeline he couldn't shake off even now.
Alephee then relayed that someone wished to meet Eren. Eren had sensed the presence of a Master Ranker waiting outside his secluded chamber, and he gave Alephee a nod before inviting the individual inside.
"Ivor Osan, you may enter," Eren declared, directing his gaze in the direction from which Alephee had emerged. Ivor promptly revealed himself, his demeanor serious and preoccupied with myriad thoughts.
"Have you spoken with Sage Eliza?" Ivor inquired while maintaining eye contact with Eren. Although Eren seemed composed, his eyes betrayed a hint of redness, a testament to the inner turmoil he was experiencing.
Ivor had never expected to see the enigmatic Osan Woods' Butcher rattled, even if it was a minor disturbance. Eren appeared, if only slightly, more human to Ivor now.
"Yes, I have," Eren confirmed, nodding. He then turned and motioned for Ivor to follow him. Alephee walked alongside Eren, signaling for Ivor to do the same.
The secluded chamber expanded to reveal a solitary cliff on the opposite side. Eren's private chamber was essentially an enhanced artificial mountain cave imbued with spatial-element magic.
This secluded cliff was inaccessible from the outside, concealed by mysterious spatial distortions. Only Eren could reach this location by entering his private space.
Eren led Alephee and Ivor to the very edge of the cliff before turning around. He faced Ivor before speaking in a serious tone.
