Ivor listened to what Eren had to say with extreme focus. He looked down and started pondering every piece of advice he received from Eren.
"Those who inflict pain must have the courage to bear it as well."
Ivor mumbled Eren's statement a few more times before clenching his grip on his daggers. He felt as if Eren's words were the missing pieces he needed to fully utilize his Ability.
The Ability he had gained from Purgatory.
Just one move from Eren made Ivor realize something else too. He didn't want to hold anything back against Eren anymore. He didn't have the luxury of doing so.
Ivor closed his eyes and stabilized his breathing briefly. His eyes shone with newfound vigor when he opened them.
"I haven't said this to anyone in a long while but thanks for responding to my wishes, Eren. I realized that I was asking for too much when I requested you to go all out on me while trying to save my Aces.
I'll face you with all my strength as well."
Ivor said before stomping his right foot forward. It appeared to be a harmless action. But an otherworldly mana pulse was generated when he did that.
"Mark of the Seven Sins: The Armour of Pride!"
Ivor mumbled to himself before being enveloped in golden mana. This cloud of golden mana started molding into magnificent gold armor that fit its wearer perfectly.
***
When Ivor appeared in front of the seven-headed snake statue, he was chosen by the sin of pride. This was his farewell gift to Eliza after surviving the first floor of Purgatory.
Eliza saw Ivor as a defective pawn. Something she could use if Eren decided not to play by her rules. She could use Ivor in such a way that everything Eren worked for would turn futile if she chose to.
Ivor served first and foremost as a deterrent against Eren. Plus, he could aid Layla in doing her tasks– acting as the third player in the Lazarus Project.
As such, strengthening Ivor also served Eliza's purpose. That's why he was also offered to receive a mark from the seven-headed snake statue
Eliza realized that Ivor had his own flaws. He was brash and too proud. Eren was far more cunning than he was. The guy was a straight shooter for the most part with his inflated ego. Still, enhancing his powers allowed Eliza to make him stick to the cause.
Ivor was easy to handle as long as he saw that the person handling him had the resources he needed. The man also had a one-track mind that always made him seek personal growth over making connections based on camaraderie.
The Osan junior acted the same way in LA as well. He linked himself with Jason because he thought he could be used by the royal bastard in exchange for better growth prospects. Ivor knew his acquaintance with Jason was never based on friendship. But he had expected Jason to not betray him because he had not given him any reason to do so.
Unfortunately for Ivor, things didn't turn out as well as he had hoped. Jason lured him into Purgatory only to be served as a sacrifice. To please Eliza, Jason's father Arthur had caught Ivor to be the scapegoat for his son.
And yet, Ivor couldn't say that everything that happened to him after entering purgatory was a disaster per se. It eventually paid off for him when he earned himself the Sin series mark.
Ivor's Ability was very straightforward. He would manifest an armor made of pride mana that would protect him from head to toe. It was as strong as the pride he felt deep in his heart. The Ability was bound to him and could be activated by stomping his right foot forward.
There were no limitations to the armor's protection itself. It could even allow him to tank the spells of a higher-ranked entity, provided his emotions of pride were intense enough. If his pride was put in the right place and channeled the right way, the armor would render all physical and magical attacks null and void.
Ivor's Ability made him near invincible among those who were in the same rank as him. However, there was a catch.
Ivor would feel the pain of the attacks that would land on his pride armor even if he didn't take the damage that comes with it. The pain and suffering he would feel would be greater than those he would receive if he just received those attacks on his bare body.
Ivor had quite a high tolerance for pain to begin with. The man was practically laughing like a maniac when he first fought with Eren and kept on receiving grievous wounds from him.
Yet, Ivor would hesitate in using the pride armor because it amplified the pain to such an extent that he felt overwhelmed. He was hesitant to pay the price for using a seemingly invincible Ability.
If and when he uses his pride armor in the right way, Ivor would be okay physically. But mentally, he would suffer more than usual to the extent that even a tough guy like him would be afraid to feel the pain.
One could say that Ivor had to pay the price for cultivating his pride. The more proud he became, the more his ability would be enhanced. And he would be forced to face even greater amounts of pain and suffering because of it.
Being proud was a positive attribute for Ivor. But he needed to back that pride with the right convictions. Otherwise, his pride would do him more harm than good.
***
Golden armor manifested around Ivor when he activated his Sin Series Ability. It covered his limbs and torso like metallic armor that was also malleable and flexible like leather armor.
Ivor gave off the aura of someone proud and dominant. As pride mana spread throughout the vicinity, an otherworldly presence was felt.
"Hmm? She allowed him to receive the mark too, huh? This… this will be interesting.'
Eren had never fought someone who could use the Sin series Abilities like him. The butcher licked his lips and smiled wolfishly as he finally started developing an interest in this fight.
