"The unoccupied throne, huh!"
Eren muttered under his breath, his mind recalling a similar conversation he had with Alephee. While he had no interest in establishing dominance over all of demonkind, he had desired to obtain the Elder Artifacts as soon as he heard about them. Eren suspected that these artifacts held the key to unlocking the full potential of his bloodline powers and the multiple classes he had acquired.
The Great Mother had provided a brief but enlightening explanation about the gods and demons' hunt for the Elder Seeds, emphasizing that the prophecies regarding the seeds were often vague and prone to misinterpretation. The true inheritor of Elder Ichor would be chosen from among the Elder Seeds which were akin to saplings. A faction of demonkind, as well as certain gods, actively sought to eliminate them before the Seeds could sprout and become a threat.
Within her divine domain, the Great Mother had manipulated the passage of time, allowing her to impart this knowledge to Eren swiftly. She also shared a few prophecies related to the Elder Seeds, offering him a glimpse of the challenges that awaited him beyond Anfang.
"So, the term 'Elder Seed' basically encompasses all those who possess the Elder Artifacts," Eren muttered, summarizing the goddess's explanation to himself. "And the true inheritor of Elder Ichor is supposed to be someone among the Elder Seeds capable of claiming the vacant throne. And since I possess the bloodline of Elder Ichor itself, rather than those mythical artifacts, I am considered a unique kind of Elder Seed."
Though stressed by the dangers that awaited him outside the safety of Anfang, Eren's determination to acquire Elder Artifacts only grew stronger. He believed that these artifacts would be better suited for him, given his bloodline, than any other Elder Seed. He resolved to actively seek out these artifacts and other Elder Seeds in order to secure the artifacts for himself.
In a way, Eren became the first Elder Seed in history who had plans for other Elder Seeds for their possessed artifacts. Had the Great Mother paid attention to his thoughts, she would have seen Eren in a different light.
Of cours, Eren was aware of the challenges he would face. The Elder Artifacts and the Elder Seeds holding them would likely be elusive, and both demonkind and the gods would be fervently hunting them down. Acquiring the Elder Artifacts would undoubtedly paint a bigger target on his back.
As Eren processed the information imparted by the Great Mother, his mind raced with various thoughts and considerations. However, before he could delve further into the past and potential future, the goddess interrupted his musings.
"I believe that your bloodline, rather than your status as an Elder Seed, is the primary reason some of the Demon Princess perceives you as a dangerous Seed requiring elimination," the Great Mother stated, her voice carrying weight and significance. "Among all past, present, and future Elder Seeds, you are the sole individual who poses a formidable threat to both the Demon Princess and the gods."
The goddess speculated that someone was safeguarding Eren, intentionally obscuring his presence and information from the Demon Princess and the gods. She reasoned that if it weren't for this intervention, the "Prophets" would have already detected the birth of someone possessing the Elder Ichor bloodline.
Eren swiftly concluded that it was Alephee who had been manipulating the Prophets' seer visions to make prophecies about him. She was the only one he knew capable of such an act.
Initially regretting that Alephee wasn't present during his audience with the Great Mother, Eren now felt relieved. He knew that the goddess would have sensed Alephee's presence immediately had she been with him.
Though Eren desired an alliance with the Great Mother, he recognized the importance of keeping Alephee's existence hidden from powerful entities like her. Alephee served as his trump card when dealing with matters involving demons and the divine.
The goddess, lost in her own contemplations, momentarily fortified her domain against the mounting pressure exerted by Anfang's World Will. She quickly regained her focus and spoke with honesty and seriousness.
"That is why I reached out with my Divine Sense after I detected your blood on my sacred ground. It is also why I am willing to establish a cooperative relationship with you—because your potential as an Elder Seed knows no bounds.
By further refining your bloodline, the unoccupied throne shall one day be yours. This is a goal I want you to achieve, as it holds the key to my own salvation," the goddess concluded, sighing as the weight of her revelations settled upon Eren.
Eren pursed his lips and massaged the back of his neck with his left hand, contemplating the proposition the goddess had laid before him. It became clear that she had vested interests in aiding him to claim the unoccupied throne.
"Hmm. It appears our time together is drawing to a close," Eren remarked, his voice brimming with confidence as he addressed the Great Mother. "I must express my gratitude for the invaluable information you have shared. It seems we could potentially forge a harmonious relationship. However, before we delve into your desires, I believe it is essential to prioritize my own."
Eren was wary of becoming a mere pawn in the goddess's grand scheme. He recognized his insignificance in her eyes in terms of his powers. However, he also didn't want to draw her away from him, knowing that true allies were hard to come by. Thus, he aimed to establish a cooperative partnership while safeguarding their individual interests, ensuring that neither would be bound to any commitments that contradicted their own self-interests in the future.
Asserting his stance, Eren also sought to be the primary beneficiary of this alliance. It was his way of stating that the goddess needed to earn his trust before he could consider assisting her.
A soft chuckle escaped the goddess's lips, amusement glimmering in her eyes as she listened to Eren's demands. She acknowledged his astute nature, recognizing that he understood the treacherous nature of the waters they were navigating.
'This man. Maybe… just maybe… this Seed will truly turn out to be someone who could…' the goddess thought to herself before making up her mind.
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AN: Chapter 1203 mentions steps taken by Alephee to obscure the prophetic visions.
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