"How do you feel now that Kev lies dead by your own hands?"
Eren's casual tone startled Fiona as he appeared beside her.
In the aftermath of the intense battle, with Kev Larson lying lifeless on the ground, Eren's demeanor was seemingly unfazed. The pungent aroma of the Sativa Stick still hung around him, causing Fiona's sensitive wolf-like senses to twitch in annoyance, but she chose to ignore it for the moment.
Fiona's squad had also gathered around, their expressions reflecting a mix of relief and disappointment after the fierce encounter. After all, the half-bloods couldn't do anything to the Blood Punisher Force members now that all of them were dead.
Fiona surveyed the scene, her eyes settling on Kev's lifeless form before she spoke with cautious composure.
"I... I feel relieved that he's dead. At least Kev and the members of the Blood Punisher Force who have died today won't be able to harm innocent half-bloods anymore. But deep down, I can't help but feel that true satisfaction eludes me until..."
Eren cut in before she could complete her sentence, his emerald eyes flashing with a profound understanding of revenge.
"Fiona, don't let vengeance consume you. It can taste sweet, yes, but it's essential to know when to stop and how to wield its power to your advantage. It may help you overcome hardships, but don't let it define your existence. Kill your enemies, but don't dwell on it. Move forward."
Eren's straightforward words resonated deeply with Fiona for some reason, as if they were pieces of wisdom she had been yearning for. As if he knew what he was talking about.
She smiled warmly at Eren, reaching out to touch his left arm in gratitude. "So, just kill and move on, huh? Hehe. You have a way of finding simplicity in complexity," she remarked playfully, acknowledging the truth in his advice. "Thank you, Eren. I will remember that. And thank you for allowing me to kill this guy."
As she glanced around at the surrounding monsters, she felt a sudden curiosity stirring within her. Lowering her voice, she leaned closer to Eren and asked, "By the way, Eren, how did you gain the allegiance of these mons… I mean these children of Echidna?"
Eren looked genuinely puzzled by her question, puzzling over its implications. "Gaining their loyalty wasn't a matter of striking deals," he replied casually. "They serve me willingly."
Fiona's eyes widened in astonishment. The children of Echidna were known to be fiercely loyal to their own kind, rarely submitting to outside influence. The fact that Eren had managed to command their allegiance as a half-blood fascinated her, deepening the enigma surrounding him.
'This man holds more secrets than I can fathom,' she realized, deciding not to pry into his affairs further. Fiona knew better than to expect him to reveal all his cards. Observing Eren with keen eyes, she came to appreciate the complexity of his character.
Swoosh. Zoom. Boom.
Fiona's attention was quickly diverted by the sudden release of a powerful mana pulse in the distance. Her keen senses detected the unmistakable aura of A-Rank entities locked in a fierce battle. One was undeniably human, while the other emanated a distinctly monstrous presence.
The gravity of the situation dawned on Fiona as she realized that two Grandmaster-level entities were engaged in a life-and-death struggle. She immediately concluded that Kev's superior who must have been following the team must have gotten intercepted by the monster entity.
Despite the considerable distance separating them, she couldn't shake off the feeling of impending danger. The A-Rank fighters could easily shift their battlefield and inadvertently involve Fiona and her squad in the crossfire.
The other members of House Fenris shared Fiona's apprehension, their eyes darting between each other and the surrounding monsters, searching for the safest escape route. Unlike the half-bloods, the monsters seemed unperturbed by the distant clash of powers.
Eren, ever attuned to the concerns of those around him through his Soul Sense, interrupted their fretful thoughts, assuring them that there was no need to fear.
"Rest assured, Fiona. The A-Rank opponent facing Kev's backup is none other than my loyal monster underling—an Ogre Emperor named Ror," Eren calmly explained.
Kaalmaahen, appearing beside Eren, took pride in providing further confirmation in Anfang's official language.
"Indeed, our liege speaks the truth. Ror, the Ogre Emperor, is my father. We called you here as a precaution in case Kev arrived with excessive reinforcements. But it appears our worries were unfounded."
A monster had spoken with excellent grip over Anfang's native language, letting the half-bloods know that he was talented in many fields.
Fiona's heart was put at ease by Eren's words, realizing that the creatures engaged in the battle were under his command. The trust he placed in his monster subordinates was well-founded, and she marveled at the strategic advantage he had gained through their loyalty.
***
Eren's successful expedition to the Oni Dungeon had bestowed him with invaluable assets, such as Kaalmaahen, Ror, Sharog, Lasha, and Luna—each leading their own dedicated monster squads or monster tribes for that matter. These monsters were collectively akin to Eren having a secretive version of the White Raven Guild, which operated in the shadows and provided Eren with the lethal edge he needed in every form of the battlefield.
Throughout the past nine years, these monsters had proven their worth, supporting Eren's guild in countless ways. The guild had also formed secret alliances with these tribes, allowing Eren to call upon a vast network of powerful and dependable creatures when facing high-risk missions.
Among his prized assets, Kaal and Ror stood out as one the exceptional leaders of their respective domains. Ror's prowess as an Ogre Emperor enabled him to rival A-Rank Rankers, while Kaal showed extraordinary potential to surpass even his father in the future.
Baran, too, had demonstrated his skill as a formidable monster tribe leader, skillfully coordinating with the denizens of the Oni Dungeon.
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AN: Ror was mentioned in chapter 665. Resha was mentioned in chapter 663. Baran's plans for tribe assimilation were first discussed in chapter 636.
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