"Finally! It's over."
Just as Eren believed he would be ejected from this dream-like reverie, the shattered world coalesced once more.
However, it wasn't a return to reality but rather an entrance into another dream-like realm, one depicting the moments just before the dying god's divine form was destined to be wiped from existence.
This time, there was a distinct shift. Eren's consciousness wasn't confined within the dying god's divine vessel. Instead, he materialized, taking on his true form within this ethereal domain. The surroundings had also transformed; they no longer pulsed with life but appeared frozen in time, akin to a breathtaking painting of a world on pause.
In this surreal dreamscape, Eren stood alone, his presence the sole moving frame in this otherwise stagnant tableau. Confusion swirled within him as he surveyed his surroundings, tinged with a hint of anxiety.
He was aware that he couldn't afford to linger too long within the fading memories of the dying god, as pressing matters outside of Eliza's Purgatory demanded his attention.
"Now how do I get myself out of this situation? I am on a tight schedule, damn it."
Eren pondered his predicament as he approached the remaining head of the dying god, contemplating the best means to extricate himself from this surreal realm. The notion of taking his own life crossed his mind, as a desperate bid to jolt himself awake.
However, just as Eren extended his hand toward the fading visage of the dying god, something unusual took place. The deity's head pivoted, directing its gaze squarely at Eren. What were once dim, lifeless eyes now gleamed with renewed intelligence and a spark of curiosity.
"So, you are my true inheritor?" The dying god's sudden utterance resonated with a commanding yet composed tone, carrying an air of authority tempered by understanding for Eren, a mere Master Ranker from Anfang.
In the blink of an eye, the god's ethereal form, which had dissolved into nothingness, reconstituted itself to its pristine state before Eren. Despite this transformation, the stagnant world surrounding them remained unchanged. It dawned on Eren that this was the dying god's method of communication, a profound connection transcending the boundaries of their respective existences.
***
"Thank you for meeting me. My name is Eren Elijah Idril," Eren introduced himself respectfully to the dying god, offering a bow as a token of respect. Conversing with a god of this stature was slightly intimidating, yet Eren had encountered gods before during his time in Anfang, which had granted him some experience in such matters.
He managed to maintain his composure in the presence of the dying god, who exuded no threatening aura. It felt as though he was engaged in conversation with an ordinary mortal who had somehow become entrapped within an intriguing painting.
The dying god regarded Eren with intrigue upon hearing his introduction. He sighed and reciprocated, "You can call me Aleph. As you can see, I am the progenitor of the bloodline you've inherited through a twist of fate."
"Yes. Um… I thought you were… dead, God Aleph," Eren observed Aleph warily, seeking clarification. "If that's the case, how are you communicating with me in this manner?"
The dying god chuckled lightly before responding.
"Ever so cautious, huh? You need not worry excessively, Eren. To put it simply, I am but an Echo of my former self. I exist in the past, yet my presence can still be felt in the present.
When gods fall and are erased from existence, they retain their Echo as long as some form of Anchor prevents their complete dissipation. This Anchor can either be their followers, their places of worships, or simply something that is connected to their divinity in some way. This time, my Echo was activated because you obtained the bloodline memories after being acknowledged by all Seven Planes of Sins."
"A God's Echo," Eren murmured, recalling that the omnipotent being, referred to as their mother by Aleph and Alephee, had used that term earlier. It appeared that Alephee had expended her God Spark to secure Aleph's Echo, and the White Raven's Existential Concept served as the supposed anchor for Aleph's Echo to persist.
"Eren, most gods are immortal in a traditional sense," Aleph explained, gazing at the stagnant sky while maintaining a neutral tone.
"However, those who lose their divinity and are forgotten by mortals are essentially considered dead in the eyes of the mortals. They possess no powers and have no means of regaining them.
Hehe. The nature of an Echo is such that the more it resounds, the more it dissipates until it can no longer be distinguished.
I didn't want to exist like this, to be honest. That divine curse would have surely done its job of completely erasing me along with my Echo if it wasn't for Alephee. My sister— she acted on impulse and was overwhelmed by emotions at that time.
I'm not sure whether I should thank her for her self-sacrifice or scold her for her emotional recklessness. But I guess there's no use crying over a spilled milk, right? The more you live, the more you realize, things don't happen the way you want them to, no matter how much you plan."
Aleph's recollections of his own demise left a profound sense of regret, and Alephee's current situation, a consequence of his death, ranked among his most significant regrets.
"I… I see," Eren exhaled in relief. While he was grateful for inheriting such a potent bloodline, he couldn't deny a certain unease he felt at the idea of Aleph being alive. There was an underlying sense that it could be a looming issue he'd need to contend with in the future.
"Thank you for acknowledging me as your true inheritor," Eren expressed with a composed and grateful tone. He then approached the conversation cautiously, asking, "Is there anything you wish to convey to me?"
Aleph reassured him, almost as if he could sense Eren's thoughts.
"Don't be concerned. It's been barely a day since you received all the Seven Sin Series Marks. I'll soon send your consciousness back to where it belongs after I have a few words with you," the dying god said soothingly.
