"Without a doubt, Galen has the upper hand."
Seraphina sighed and made her observation known, her gaze fixed on Galen's progress. She recognized the rapid growth in his mastery of Axe Arts within a remarkably short period.
Galen, a rare male Evoker who harnessed Nature energy with nearly the same proficiency as his female counterparts, stood as a devoted follower of the Great Mother. His path as an Evoker was both grand and ambitious, supported by exceptional talent and unwavering faith, making him an outstanding Valiant Guardian.
While Seraphina believed Galen would emerge victorious, Valeria interjected with a grim tone, her eyes shifting to Eren with a peculiar interest. "Do not be too quick to dismiss Eren, Seraphina," Valeria cautioned. "Evokers, blessed by the divine, indeed progress along their path more swiftly compared to the Rankers. Our society boasts a greater number of powerhouses than Rankers. However..." Valeria's voice trailed off as she pondered something deeply.
"Among the multitude of ordinary Rankers who follow the predetermined path set by the Land of the Faithless, there exist a few abominations with dreadful Individualities," Valeria continued, her voice tinged with a sense of foreboding. "They wield their elements and weapons in such a manner that even an army of Evokers would struggle to withstand their might when they reach their peak.
The world of Anfang… is known for producing a few terrifying children in every era."
Seraphina was about to say something when she heard Valeria's response. However, before she could fully grasp the implications of Valeria's words and forumate a reply, a frigid and impassive voice pierced through the air, originating from none other than Isadora, who took the initiative to speak her mind.
"Titan Slayers!"
Isadora muttered under her breath, her words laden with understanding as she remembered reading about the figures from the past era that Valeria was alluding to. Seraphina's eyes widened with comprehension, realizing the perspective through which Valeria was now regarding Eren.
Valeria, being a repository of knowledge on Anfang's lost history, possessed intricate details about the Titan Slayers who had valiantly fought during the harrowing Calamity War. The sheer notion that Valeria equated Eren with those legendary figures left Seraphina in disbelief, struggling to fathom the weight and significance that Valeria attributed to him.
***
While the four Matriarchs engaged in their own discussions, a silent agreement passed between Eren and Galen, signaling the commencement of their duel. With their preparations complete, both combatants vanished from their positions simultaneously. In the next instant, a tempestuous storm of mana erupted at the heart of the battlefield as the two men clashed, their weapons drawn.
A symphony of metallic clashes filled the air, accompanied by the dazzling spectacle of sparks dancing amidst the chaos. Eren's dual-wielding Katar blades clashed against Galen's Axe Arts, showcasing a myriad of multi-faceted attack patterns. The ground beneath them cracked under the strain, forming spider-web-like patterns on the once-sacred ground, while the sheer force of their clash reverberated through the surroundings.
Eren's Expert-ranked mana surged with an untamed ferocity, more wild and volatile than ever before. Galen's Nature mana surged with equal intensity, causing trees and vegetation beyond the sacred ground to grow at an alarming pace. The clash of weapons resonated, with Eren's flying weapon attacks leaving their mark. Each strike created a resounding sonic boom as it sliced through the air, aiming to breach Galen's defenses at close range.
In front of the live audience of anticipating and excited Amazonians, Eren began to dominate the duel, inflicting severe damage upon Galen. Despite Galen's valiant attempts, his attacks failed to land on Eren, who effortlessly diverted or dodged them with supernatural speed and agility, courtesy of his time-element spells. Eren materialized only when he knew his strikes would connect, denying the Axe-wielder any chance to harm him, let alone deliver a fatal blow.
Galen couldn't believe what was happening.
He found himself helplessly outmatched, struggling to keep up with Eren's unearthly weapon handling. Despite possessing formidable Axe Arts, Galen was unable to match Eren's comprehensive understanding of weaponry and his devastating elemental spells, which steadily chipped away at Galen's defenses, inflicting increasing pain.
Thunder crackled above and clouds of blue and orange flames materialized within the sacred ground, testament to Eren's precise manifestation of elemental spells. The combination of Eren's potent magic, profound mastery of elements, exceptional agility, nimble weapon handling, and impeccable timing proved deadly. The watching Amazonians witnessed Eren's attacks drawing blood from Galen, and leaving his body marred by numerous slashing wounds.
"Aaaaargh!" Galen screamed in agony as Eren's swift strike severed his right arm from its shoulder joint. However, Eren's immersion in his Individuality drove him further. It could be said that he was compelled to continue, faced with the mountain of a man that was Galen.
Galen's blood stained Eren's katars, which sliced through the air with precision, deftly parrying Galen's Axe Arts before launching a simultaneous counter-attack on Galen's solar plexus, eliciting another pained cry.
The relentless assault continued, and the next blow severed a substantial chunk of flesh from Galen's right thigh. A sizable piece of his thigh soared through the air as Eren's daggers struck from an unconventional angle.
Streams of blood gushed forth, painting a macabre scene as Eren relentlessly pressed his attacks. Subconsciously employing his Sedating Gaze on Galen at intervals, Eren rendered his opponent more vulnerable to his onslaught.
Unlike Callista, Galen's soul proved to be less impervious to Eren's ocular Ability, leaving him vulnerable to the full brunt of Eren's relentless assault. Within a mere half-minute of their duel, Galen had already endured a staggering amount of suffering.
Eren's acute soul since played a vital role in deciphering Galen's intricate Axe Arts. It also granted him the ability to seize control of Galen's consciousness at precisely the right moment, even if it was just for a fleeting fraction of a second. This invaluable advantage allowed Eren to inflict devastating injuries upon his opponent.
Pressing his relentless assault, Eren's merciless strikes resulted in the severing of Galen's remaining arm from its joint. Yet, the tenacious grip of Galen's hand still clung to the handle of his axe, causing the weapon to be propelled through the air, carried along by the momentum of the dismembered limb.
"Grrrrrr!"
A bestial roar erupted suddenly, shattering the soundscape. Just as Eren prepared to deliver what seemed to be a final blow to the defenseless Galen, a colossal mana beast in the form of a twelve-foot-tall bear materialized from beneath the ground.
The majestic creature served as a shield, positioning itself between Eren and Galen, effectively warding off the impending strike. Galen suppressed a pained cry, using the newfound respite to create distance between himself and his relentless adversary.
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