Less than a minute.
The unspoken and unanticipated staring contest between Eren and Garos lasted less than a minute.
Yet it provided them both with the time they needed to ready themselves for the impending battle.
In this brief interlude, Garos, with his Sage Rank, managed to recover significantly from his severe injuries. He had even succeeded in healing the once gaping neck wound Eren's attack had inflicted. What was previously a bloody injury had transformed into a deep cut that was slowly but surely repairing itself.
With a solemn tone, Garos issued a warning to Eren.
"Eren Idril, surrender the Shallot's Mirror you stole from House Lancelot, and I may contemplate sparing your city. Make no mistake, you will meet your end here.
But at least spare those who worked under you from suffering the consequences of your actions, don't you agree? I'm offering this proposition because I don't wish to create a commotion before my dear friends from Layos.
The Sages from the other side are silent only out of courtesy, and I have no intention of prolonging the inevitable confrontation that awaits you," Garos stated as he gripped his gladius firmly.
Eren met Garos' words with a composed voice and a tranquil countenance.
"Garos, do you really believe I'll die just because you asked nicely? And after you've made this personal, do you think I'll let you off so easily?" Eren's gaze shifted to Argo's fading form as he continued speaking.
Garos burst into laughter at Eren's retort.
"Boy, do you imagine yourself as a Sage just because you've sipped that potion? Do you truly consider yourself my peer? Even the most accomplished Sages of this age wouldn't dare to claim equality with me.
I've walked this world for nearly 2000 years. Your meager three decades of existence, your modest abilities, and your borrowed strength are insufficient to even scratch me."
Garos declared as he advanced towards Eren. "Your destiny was sealed the moment you failed to eliminate me with a single strike. Let's see how you manage to survive this time."
The King's Hand remarked before unleashing his Elemental Attainments.
Under Garos' command, the very air adopted fluid properties, bearing down on Eren with such force that the ground beneath him cracked, forming a 15-foot-deep depression. Simultaneously, Garos extended his Soul Sense to exert mental pressure on Eren.
Eren felt as if he were submerged deep in an ocean, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Inhaling the affected air Garos' Elemental Attainment produced felt as if it could cause him to implode from within.
Thankfully, he had become immune to Garos' Soul Sense because his Soul Sense was as potent as Garos. It also meant that Eren's Sedating Gaze wouldn't work on Garos. So the butcher didn't even bother trying.
To counteract the debilitating influence of Garos' Elemental Attainment, Eren used his own water-element Attainments. He then employed a Movement Spell, closing the gap between himself and the Sage Ranker without displaying a shred of fear or apprehension.
Aqua Steps!
In the ensuing moment, time seemed to slow down for both Eren and Garos as their weapons clashed. Metallic echoes filled the air and sparks flew as they wielded their respective weapons with such versatility and finesse that they left a lasting impression on the onlookers, including the lower-ranked individuals in the audience.
Garos was battling handicapped. His dominant hand was gone. So he failed to employ his Weapon Comprehension as effectively as he used to.
Swoosh. Zoom. Boom.
Garos found himself taken aback as Eren managed to parry and counter his strikes. While Eren's Elemental Attainments didn't rival Garos', he possessed exceptional Weapon Intent and even more remarkable Spiritual Force.
Additionally, Eren harnessed the power of Wrath Mana, channeling his emotions into his Weapon Intent, thereby making his Intent-driven magic as potent as Garos'.
'Un fucking believable. He is a Demonic Ranker as well? What the fuck Edinburgh's intelligence bureau was doing all this time to let such a huge threat go uncheked like this for so many years?'
Garos thought to himself as he battled with Eren. A Sage Ranker like him was unable to get rid of a simple Master Ranker like Eren. This felt humiliating for Garos even though he was battling with Eren handicapped.
If anybody had said this would happen one day to Garos in the past, he would have laughed at their faces. He was preparing to leave Anfang because he had been at this world's pinnacle for a very long time. How could he have known that some upstart would come to challenge him and still hold on his own while doing it?
'It… it must be those potions!'
Clang. Clang. Push.
Garos concluded and self assumed.
'Even Myriad Potioner's concoctions wouldn't be able to achieve something like this. It can only mean that he received those potions from… from Minerva.
He had been monopolizing Minerva's Utopia for a decade after all. That means he has already claimed her inheritance. What a ticking time bomb this man has been! Even the most dangerous known cultists aren't as sinister and scheming as this little bastard.'
Garos learned more about Eren the more he fought with him. And the more he learned the more shocked he was. He couldn't figure out how someone who had his Ranking Path set as a Close Combat Expert obtained Minerva's Legacy?
Hack. Slash. Cut.
At first, Garos thought of suppressing Eren with his Elemental Attainments alone. He had not used any spells in his battle against Eren, thinking it was not required.
But he changed that decision merely within ten seconds fighting with Grimdawn after engaging in a close-range brawl with him. Even though Eren had failed to injure Garos yet, the way Eren moved and operated on his weapon made Garos subconsciously nervous.
'This man… he is not normal. Beelzebub must have done something to him. Demonic Blessing? Has he also allied with Demonmir?
First of all, why did the two Demon Princes appear at the same time in the same world? It… it can't be a coincidence, can it? What the fuck is happening inside Anfang. It was never this chaotic in the last 2000 years.
I… I need to kill him. Fuck!'
