Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Eren’s Sacrifice (3)
Chapter 67: Eren’s Sacrifice (3)
Erst had screamed at the top of his lungs.
"BLOODHOUND BLAKE!!!"
His screaming had barely finished as he ran. He hadn’t made a decision, it was just his pure anger and rage.
Erst was not someone who liked Eren. If anything, throughout his life, he hated his younger brother. Yet, the sight of his brother’s severed head resting so casually in that man’s hand burned something deep inside him, and whatever hesitation or reason he might have had disappeared completely as his body moved forward on its own.
He charged straight towards Blake with everything he had left despite the pain that still lingered in his chest.
There’s a saying: two males should never be born. Mostly, brothers end up becoming enemies of each other as they are always in a constant fight.
But there’s another saying, in dire situation, it is your brother that comes handy!
The ground beneath his paws cracked slightly from the force of his push, and even though every instinct should have told him to stop, to think, to understand the difference between them, he ignored it all and focused only on closing the distance.
Blake did not move at first.
He simply stood there with an unchanged expression as he watched the scenes unfold. He heard the loud scream yet he only viewed Erst as nothing more than an insect.
It was almost as if he didn’t even deserve a reaction.
Blake lowered his head sighed and casually lifted his longsword a bit. And then he swung it.
What followed was not something that could be described as a mere attack.
A massive arc of force tore through the air. It split everything in its path as though the forest itself had been reduced to nothing more than fragile paper, and the wave that followed carved a clean, devastating line across the land behind Erst, erasing trees, soil, and everything else that stood there.
Erst had twisted his body at the last possible moment. Thanks to that, he barely managed to avoid the attack.
Even Erst could say that he was at death’s door, especially when the attack passed so close that the air itself seemed to slice against his skin, leaving behind a burning sensation that lingered even after it was gone.
He gazed behind, only to see that nothing was left.
He gulped hard, turned to the front and resumed his run.
He pushed forward again, lowering his body and forcing his legs to move faster despite the strain, because somewhere in his mind, a single thought repeated over and over again... that if he could just get close enough, even once, he might be able to land a hit.
Blake moved again.
He sighed once again and the sword that he had swung, which in fact was simply him raising it up, now came down gently.
That was enough. That was simply enough to generate another attack!
Another wave followed, wider than before, and this one did not pass through empty space.
Several wolves who had rushed ahead were caught in its path, and before they could even react, their bodies were cut apart cleanly, the force of the attack sending blood and fragments scattering across the ground as if they had never stood there at all.
For a brief moment, Erst’s eyes widened.
Once again he screamed, "YOU BASTARD!!!"
And then he lept. There was a long jump after which his speed increased.
He came closer and closer. He would bend where there were bushes, almost as if he were playing hide and seek. The obstacles could very well hide him... and maybe it could have worked, if not for him shouting, making his presence known and facing someone like Blake... if not for all these reasons, maybe, just maybe it would have worked...
Maybe, he could have landed a hit... just maybe...
But just as he had closed in, he jumped hard to bite off Blake’s head directly from his neck. Except, Blake’s hand closed around his throat mid-charge, halting his movement completely as though all the force he had gathered meant nothing at all, and before Erst could even react, he was lifted high, very high, with ease.
For a second, their eyes met.
Blake’s gaze held no interest.
"...Pathetic."
Erst eyes moved. From trying to meet Blake’s gazes, his eyes fell on the head that rolled down in the ground. It was Eren’s head that Blake had just let go...
Erst, who was grabbed by his neck, tried to bend his body.
He even moved his paws with his sharp claws, trying to leave some damage...
But Blake simply sighed before slamming Erst down with a force that cracked the earth beneath him and drove the air out of his lungs.
BAM!
Gaaaaaaaaa!
Erst coughed. His body had been shaking from the impact, but even then, he did not stop.
He did pause for a second but then darkness gathered around him, condensing rapidly as he forced whatever energy he had left into one last attempt, and from the ground, spears of darkness surged upward, aiming to pierce Blake from multiple directions at once.
They shattered.
Yes. They were not deflected, nor did Blake even think about dodging them.
They simply broke apart before reaching him, as though something unseen had crushed them effortlessly.
This alone had left Erst baffled and dumbfounded.
But...
Erst tried again.
This time many more weapons were conjured from darkness. There were blades, spears and even imperfectly shaped shards...
All of them were conjured from different directions and this time, they had more force...
...except, all of them shattered the instant they were formed and launched towards the bastard.
Blake’s grip tightened slightly, and with that single motion, the difference between them became absolute.
Erst could barely breath. He could feel his esophagus becoming narrower by the second. But that was not all.
All the arteries and veins leading to his brain were being squeezed. The blood supply was decreasing and he felt as if he could faint any second...
He was already at the phase where he was flailing in the air.
He could see a few things... few memories...
"Hu hu, brother, brother, when you become the Leader, make me your general. I will help you conquer all the clans, hu hu ha ha ha!"
Eren’s childish voice nubbed his ears.
"Brother, how about this move? Its cool right?"
"Brother, what about this...?"
"Hehe, brother, today I will be going to the trial!"
It was only after the trial that Eren had changed.
When Erst had asked him, "So? How was it? What attribute did you get!?"
Eren replied, but his reply was only cold.
"Death attribute."
Erst was glad and extremely happy when he hugged Eren.
"I’m glad! Two brothers, and both are Death Wolves! Our clan is going to prosper!!!"
Eren wasn’t excited. Not even the least bit.
His eyes remained emotionless as he gave out a cold sigh. He looked towards Elder Liik.
"Uncle, I want to participate in the Fangs of the Clan."
"...?"
"I want to challenge Brother Erst for the position of the head."
"..."
’Ah... why am I recalling this right now...?’
And Erst closed his eyes.
