Reva's brownish-red hair turned gray as the demonic consciousness fully awakened within her.
Her eyes turned a deep red, her features altering as well. Her once supple white skin darkened to a deep red, while two little black horns sprouted from her forehead. Her stature and muscles grew, and though Eren still held her by the throat, her feet touched the ground again.
Reva had been transformed into a fully awakened demonic ranker through Eren's command alone. The intensity of her mana signatures soared beyond measure compared to her normal state. Her body's stats reached exceptional levels, surpassing her strength from nine years ago.
However, fear continued to etch itself on Reva's face, if not intensify. In the presence of Eren, she appeared even more terrified than before.
"Hmm, turning into an awakened demonic ranker, huh? In an ideal world, it could have been a moment of growth for you. A turning point. Unfortunately, you crossed paths with me," Eren remarked, locking eyes with Reva. It appeared that a foreign consciousness had taken hold of Reva's body, speaking through her using the demonic tongue rather than Anfang's native language.
"My... my liege... please release me. Should I kill this vessel? I..." Reva began to address Eren in a peculiar manner, in a demonic tongue, her eyes welling up as if on the verge of tears. However, before she could say more, Eren interrupted her.
"I have no interest in learning your demonic name. But I may find use for you in the future. So abandon this vessel and enter in this crystal," Eren commanded in an authoritative tone, handing her a palm-sized red crystal with a vial of blood encased within. The crystal bore intricate runic symbols of demonic origin etched upon its surface.
The demonic consciousness, now fully in control of Reva's body, hastily grasped the demonic crystal with trembling hands. Despite possessing enhanced physical abilities, she made no attempt to escape Eren's grip. Instead, she obediently followed his command without hesitation.
Soon, Reva's demonic form dissipated, the demonic consciousness vanishing from within her. Reva's body began to react adversely to the process, convulsing in pain. Her mana core was damaged, her mana circuits in ruins. Even her soul bore the scars of the ordeal.
"What... what have you done to me?" Reva asked, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and sorrow. She could hardly comprehend the profound transformation that had just taken place. It felt as if someone had extracted her vital organs without surgical precision, leaving her feeling incomplete, as if a substantial portion of her soul had been severed.
With her mana circuits and core damaged, she sensed her condition spiraling further into a state worse than death.
"You don't need to know the details, Reva. What matters is this: just a little more pain, and it will soon be over," Eren reassured her in a voice that sparked a glimmer of hope within her heart. He released his grip, allowing Reva's body to crumple to the ground, her legs no longer capable of supporting her weight. A peculiar space-element rune slithered over her neck where his hand had made contact, a rune deliberately placed by Eren.
Reva lifted her gaze to meet Eren's unwavering stare. He regarded her with impartial eyes before breaking the silence. "Regardless of your intentions, Paladin of Pain, your actions have ultimately benefited me. The lessons you imparted were numerous, and they have shaped me into who I am today. I am grateful for that," Eren stated, bowing slightly before her.
Perplexed, Reva struggled to comprehend his words, her mind unable to grasp their meaning. But before she could voice her confusion, Eren continued, crouching down to meet her eye to eye.
"Our enmity will come to an end with your death. Yet, the lessons you taught me will forever remain with me. That is all. Thank you for being a mentor I didn't ask for but needed anyway. Farewell, Paladin of Pain." Eren declared in a serious tone before activating the space element rune on her.
In their previous encounter, a space-element rune had saved Reva's life by teleporting her away from Eren's clutches. This time, a similar rune was employed, yielding similar results. However, the destination was not one of safety but rather a grim and dimly lit room.
Reva materialized above an autopsy table, her limbs bound by runic bindings upon landing. Even her mouth appeared sealed shut.
Sara Stark, an Expert-ranked individual at this point, entered her field of view, holding a scalpel. Though reluctant, Sara knew she had a duty to fulfill, having agreed to Alephee's plan. And so, with a resolute determination, she began her torment of Reva.
***
As Sara exited the room, Alephee awaited her, wearing a subtle smile. It was evident that Reva Rain had met her demise at Sara's hands, propelling Sara forward into the Master Rank.
Sara Stark had achieved her breakthrough into the B-Rank even before Eren, a remarkable feat considering her mortal status just nine years prior.
"You did a good job, Sara," Alephee said with a calming voice.
Sara mustered a smile in response to Alephee, though it carried a hint of strain. She had dedicated herself to honing her skills as a Ranker over the past nine years, adapting to the rapid progress she had achieved. Her hard work had borne fruit.
With Reva's death by her hands, Sara had made sure to sever the connection she had with her for good. It propelled her into the prestigious B-Rank at a rate that defied conventional logic.
While conversing with Alephee, Sara's thoughts drifted to Eren, and she found herself missing his clever retorts to her puns. A smile tugged at her lips as she momentarily forgot the gruesome and puke-inducing actions she had taken, instead eagerly anticipating her next encounter with Eren.
It had been far too long since they had crossed paths, and she felt a readiness to take their relationship to the next level after nine years of stagnation.
***
Meanwhile, Eren grappled with a pressing matter of his own. He was just done with getting rid of Reva when he learned from his guild mates that Ivor was on the verge of killing his own grandfather, Isen Osan, on a distant battlefield. Yet, for reasons obvious, Ivor hesitated in carrying out the task.
Isen's death was crucial for Eren to further stoke the fires of war, and it appeared that he would have to intervene in the clash between these family members who shared his city of origin.
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