[ Help me…. Getting rid of the shackles. ]
The response echoed within Eren's consciousness, and if he had control over his body at that moment, his eyes would have widened in astonishment.
Thanks to the profound connection he had established, the butcher understood the meaning of the shackles that burdened Anfang's consciousness instantly. The World Will sought his assistance to break free from the World Encompassing Array, an intricate web of divine intervention cast upon it by the Slumbering Goddess.
Anfang's World Will harbored a deep aversion towards the intervention of the Slumbering Goddess. The divine being had cunningly exploited the desperation of Anfang's residents during that era, manipulating them into unwittingly constructing their own prison. Through her artifice, she ensnared not only the people but also shackled the very consciousness of the world itself.
The World Will yearned for liberation from the stifling grasp of the World Encompassing Array, imposed upon it by the goddess' divine magic. It craved the pure essence of freedom, unburdened by any external influences. The constraints forced upon it went against the very nature of its being.
During the Calamity War, the World Will found itself powerless to break free from the chains of the World Encompassing Array. However, it now sensed an opportune moment to cast off these restraints and reclaim its autonomy once more.
[ Why should I involve myself in such a grand and seemingly impossible task? ]
Eren expressed his doubts, his thoughts echoed through the enigmatic State of Epiphany. Despite the profound connection he felt with Anfang's World Will that could have made ordinary souls lose themselves in it, he remained level-headed. Breaking the shackles imposed by a goddess was no ordinary feat, and Eren knew it was a colossal undertaking beyond his mortal capabilities.
The request seemed burdensome and time-consuming, and Eren felt a strong aversion to accepting it. His ultimate goal was to leave the world of Anfang after completing the Lazarus Project. As he approached the rank of a Master Ranker, he would have the qualifications to venture beyond Anfang and accelerate his Ranking Journey.
Accepting this request would bind him to Anfang and hinder his progress. At least that was his conjecture.
Eren's determination to explore the world beyond Anfang remained resolute, as he sought greater heights and possibilities beyond the confines of the land he had come to know. Fulfilling the demanding request of Anfang's World Will would only serve to restrain his growth potential and impede his quest for the boundless opportunities that lay beyond the world he knew.
[ Help me… because I… we helped you first… ]
However, amidst his thoughts, another resonating foreign thought echoed in Eren's mind, accompanied by a series of vivid images and scenes from the past. To his surprise, Eren began to understand the significance of Anfang's World Will's plea.
In a flash, Eren's consciousness was drawn into a not-too-distant past. Scenes of events in which he was not physically present unfolded before his eyes. The first scene showed the birth of a boy named Ivor in Isen's manor, in the City of Osan.
Astonishingly, upon chancing upon a view of the calendar, Eren noticed that Ivor and he shared the same birthdate, with only a few hours of difference. He witnessed Ivor's journey as he broke through into the Novice rank with a lightning-element affinity and witnessed his growth until he was ready to attend LA.
The scenes played out from a third person's perspective, and it dawned on Eren that Anfang's World Will had compiled and presented these experiences to him. Initially confused about the connection between Ivor and himself, Eren's questions were soon answered as the scenes shifted, revealing the profound link between Ivor and his own past.
The scenes of the past changed once again.
In the vivid display this time, Eren's attention shifted to Arthur Renar, engaged in conversation with an experienced couple he recognized as Lin Lehan's parents – Grandmaster Garvin and Cybil Lehan. Renowned Array Experts, they were often consulted by the kingdom of Edinburgh for various projects.
Through the revelations of Anfang's World Will, Eren learned how Arthur sought their expertise to uncover clues about the elusive Osan Woods' Butcher.
Garvin utilized the Seer Array to communicate with Anfang's World Will, seeking much-needed clues. However, the World Will's responses were enigmatic and open to interpretation. When Arthur received the ambiguous clues from Garvin, he assumed Ivor to be the notorious Butcher, rather than identifying Eren.
Discovering that Anfang's World Will had intentionally led Arthur astray left Eren utterly shocked. He realized that Anfang's World Will had manipulated the course of events, crafting Ivor's existence to serve as a convenient scapegoat. The fabric of cause and effect, intricately woven by Anfang's World Will, had set Ivor on a path destined to be linked with the butcher– with him.
Curiosity and astonishment entwined in Eren's mind as he considered the implications of these revelations. Filled with newfound understanding, he inquired.
[ Can you… can you look into the future? ]
It was impossible that Anfang's World Will could shape Ivor's existence so precisely without knowing what Eren would ultimately become. The mastermind behind this elaborate scheme became evident to Eren, realizing that Anfang's World Will had orchestrated the apparent coincidence between him and Ivor from the very beginning.
Eren's mind buzzed with curiosity, eager to understand the intricacies of Anfang's World Will's planning. Despite considering himself a skilled strategist, the consciousness had orchestrated events with such finesse that it made Eren's own planning seem amateurish. However, the elusive answers he sought soon came his way.
Anfang's World Will responded in a neutral tone, shedding light on its unique perspective.
[ Glimpses of infinite future possibilities are commonplace for an existence like mine… us. I… we simply allowed the possibility to exist and watched as events unfolded, shaped by your actions and the actions of others. ]
The consciousness' words were neutral, presenting the truth of its extraordinary intervention.
It finally dawned on Eren why he had managed to remain concealed from Arthur's relentless pursuit. He understood that engaging with Arthur during that period would have been a fatal event, and survival would have been a distant dream.
Anfang's World Will, for all its vastness and power, was unable to actively interfere and prevent someone from taking action. It couldn't prevent Arthur directly. So it chose to foster possibilities that could ensure Eren's survival once he escaped Eliza's Purgatory.
The World Will had played its part in shaping the threads of fate, allowing him to find a path to survival.
[ So you mean to say… I owe you one. And now you want to invoke the principle of Equivalent Exchange, huh? Kekeke. You truly are the World Will of Anfang. Not that I am complaining. I guess as your child… I am just like you. ]
Eren's amusement bubbled forth as the revelation sank in. The profound connection with Anfang's World Will left him astonished, finally allowing him to gather his thoughts.
The realization of how cunning and calculated the World Will truly was left him chuckling to himself. It seemed that the traits of this boundless consciousness had been inherited by him as one of its inhabitants– its child.
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AN: There are just too many reference chapters to mention separately. Basically, from chapter 248 to 360.
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