"This is the true reward for clearing the first floor of the tower, Eren. You will receive a mark as you keep on clearing the floors.
... The mark of the Seven Sins."
Eren caressed his chin after he heard that. He was about to ask what the mark was. And how would it benefit him? But turned out he didn't need to because Eliza told him about them on her own:
"The marks let you tap into other planes and use their mana powers for your own. As for the specific benefits or disadvantages, they grant to the ranker, they may vary as per the rankers themselves.
Fufufu! I'm sure you'd be more compatible with using the mark than anyone else I've known. Because you were already seen using another plane's mana as your own."
Eliza clarified and created more questions in Eren's head. He decided to ask the most pertinent question first - what was its purpose. The Sage answered right afterwards:
"Each mark manifests differently within each ranker. So I can't say for sure how it would manifest for you. But the use of these marks would expand as you keep on ranking up. Provided you don't get consumed by them in the process.
The mark of the Seven Sins can also aid rankers in progressing much faster with their proficiency in the way of the elements. This was the reason Arthur wanted the true reward of clearing the first floor."
Eliza sighed and got up from her throne. She walked up to the statue where Eren was, stopped beside him, and spoke up once again after folding her hands:
"*Sigh! It's too much hassle to talk about them when you won't understand the majority of what I'm saying. So just consider them as a way to boost your powers with a bit of repercussion every time you use them.
Be warned though. As I said, there are several risks involved in using the mark. So only use them when you are in a pinch. And don't activate the power of the mark consecutively. It'll only harm you more.
Plus, the use of these marks outside Purgatory will be considered as you walking on a heretic path. So you need to make sure you don't use the mark on normal rankers or make sure there are no witnesses to avoid any trouble."
Eliza warned and elaborated on the mark's attributes. Eren listened and was amazed by such a thing existing in the rankers' world. He cursed the previous him because he was akin to a frog in a well.
"The Mark of the Seven Sins" refers to a series of marks that are etched onto the ranker's existence as they keep on clearing the tower's floors. Therefore, you need to clear another floor of the tower to receive your second mark and so forth.
There are seven marks in the Sins series. They are the mark of pride, the mark of greed, the mark of lust, the mark of envy, the mark of gluttony, the mark of wrath, and finally the mark of sloth.
This is the statue of a seven-headed serpent. It contains the conscious will essence of seven planes connected to each of the seven marks.
As I said, the seven-headed serpent has its collective consciousness. It has observed your performance on the first floor. And since you've cleared up the first floor, you will be qualified to receive a mark."
Eren listened carefully before asking another set of questions that came to his mind:
"Which mark will I be receiving first? Is there any order?"
Marks can be received in any order. It all depends on what the seven-headed serpent statue thinks you are apt to receive at the time.
As the ranker receives more marks, the burden on the ranker's body to act as the conductor of the foreign mana increases. Their souls would also get affected. You know what that means, Eren?"
Eliza asked Eren who was standing beside her. Eren answered after carefully processing what was said to him:
"It means I need to keep on moving forward in my ranking journey to receive more marks of the Seven Sins."
Eliza nodded before explaining further:
"That's right. That's why the tests also get tougher with each floor. You need to have a ranking status of at least the solid stage of the Ace rank to attempt the second floor. The requirement only increases as you move up the tower.
It is foolish for you to think about clearing the second floor or beyond with your current powers, Eren. You'd die on the second floor and above even before you had time to curse this place or me."
Eliza said and then turned her head to look at Eren. He was still staring at the statue. But she could tell he hadn't looked at anything and was lost in his thoughts. She continued without waiting for him to respond:
You need to consider whether you want the mark with all its repercussions and benefits right now. Or you want to skip on it. The tower's usual rewards would open up for you if you voluntarily give up gaining the mark.
I'd rather you accept the mark. Because the tasks I'll be telling you won't be a walk in the park. The mark may provide you with a chance of success and ultimately help me get the vessel I need that much faster.
But I won't force you to take the mark. Because the marks need acceptance from their bearers to make them work. The choice is yours. What do you want to do?"
Eliza said and waited for Eren to respond. Eren smiled after Eliza finished her sentence and started to circle the statue. He came to his previous post and stood before the Sage and declared what he felt from the bottom of his heart:
Sage Eliza, I had the notion that Sage rank was the limit for rankers. I believed that being a Sage would grant me the liberty to act freely in the world. Enjoy its riches and all that it had to offer without worrying about anything.
But meeting you has broadened my horizons. My ambitions have risen along with them.
It's not like I'm not scared of you anymore. My heart still quivers in your presence. I'm probably going to have nightmares after today.
But there's something else mixed in along with that fear.
A desire…
A desire to be freer than the current you.
A desire to surpass Sage rank and beyond."
If walking on the path of sins would allow me to fulfil my desires that much faster, then so be it."
