"Fear Firdaus!"
Tumko Darata used his ocular ability to halt his adversaries in their tracks. With his recent Master Rank breakthrough, Fear Firdaus had evolved, enabling him to exert greater influence over his targets' minds.
Upon casting Fear Firdaus, those affected would find their consciousness transported to a paradise-like garden, replete with lush greenery and towering trees. The birds would sing melodious tunes and the winds would rustle one's hair. The sunshine would bathe one's spectral bodies in golden lights, allowing them to invoke the best moments of their life.
The captivating surroundings would imbue a sense of tranquility, lulling the targets into a state of relaxation, causing their worries to dissipate.
For those with lower Spiritual Force, escaping this mirage would prove impossible, their awareness ensnared by the illusion. Those who retained some inkling that Tumko was manipulating their perception would witness the paradise scenes abruptly shift into a nightmarish visage.
The once-giant flowers within the garden would transform into menacing plant monsters, sprouting sharp teeth and agile limbs that allowed them to stand upright. Vines serving as their hands would be adorned with thorny claws. These plant monstrosities would relentlessly pursue and torment the consciousness of the Fear Firdaus-affected targets.
Previously, Tumko's ocular ability had merely startled his targets before they regained their senses. However, his ascent to Master Ranker had expanded his mental prowess, granting him greater control over his opponents' minds.
By initially inducing a false sense of security in the paradise garden, he effectively lowered their guard. When he subsequently manipulated their minds, the fear instilled in his targets was magnified, leaving them disoriented and paranoid even after exiting the illusion.
Tumko did his job. And the battlefield echoed with anguished cries:
"Aaaaah!"
"Aaaaargh… you bastard, I will kill you…"
"Surround him… Aaaaaargh!"
Tumko swiftly dispatched a group of adversaries ensnared by the Fear Firdaus, his blade gleaming with their crimson life essence as he surged through the enemy ranks. In his wake, the agonized screams of his foes rent the air as they crumpled to the ground, their grievously wounded forms staining the earth with pools of blood.
Tumko didn't need to exert much effort, especially against opponents with alarmingly low Spiritual Force, thanks to the potent Fear Firdaus. Moreover, Eren had instructed him to withhold his full strength from the outset. Thus, Tumko engaged in direct confrontations, sparing his magical abilities for strategic moments.
As a Mentalist, Tumko's Ranking Class granted him insight into the emotions of those around him and a degree of influence over them. The spells he employed operated on the same principles, permitting him to partially control his opponents' actions.
Within the spell's range, Tumko could manipulate the opponents with the spells, synchronizing them to activate just after the Fear Firdaus took hold. This enabled him to dominate their movements and disrupt their potential counterattacks with greater efficacy.
"Cognitive Control!"
Tumko promptly unleashed his second series of spells, intended for opponents less affected by his ocular ability, who hadn't succumbed to paralysis. When Cognitive Control took effect at critical moments, it hindered their movements.
Some under its influence even turned their aggression upon themselves, causing self-inflicted harm or fatalities. Tumko's journey up the ranks had rendered him one of the most fearsome Master-ranked combatants.
Close behind Tumko in his relentless charge against the Layos Rankers were his core team members: Jaad Ugar, Bhaah Laah, Teer Maar, and Kavach. Each led a team of Rankers, swiftly finishing off the foes Tumko had left in his wake as he surged ahead.
Eren's constraints on the number of White Raven Rankers deployed to the battlefield meant that Tumko, chosen for this war, had to shoulder extra responsibilities. Currently, he led his company, battling a horde of Layos Rankers as their Company Commander on the battlefield.
"What… what a monstrosity!"
"Tumko… you fucking monster. Fight me!"
"He… heeeeeelp!"
"Aaaaargh! Mages, use your AoEs on hi…. Aaaargh!"
"Berserkers… charge ahead!"
"Kill this masked bastard from Edinburgh."
Tumko, charging forward, left a trail of defeated Layos Rankers in his wake. He had been locked in combat day in and day out ever since his deployment.
***
The war saw daily interruptions, coming to a halt at sunset for the past few days before resuming with renewed intensity each morning. The nightly rest was the only respite Tumko and his team had experienced in this relentless conflict.
A few days ago, Tumko and his company had been recalled to Edinburgh's base due to a Worldly Phenomenon that had unsettled the ground forces of both kingdoms. However, when the war resumed after a brief hiatus, it did so with a thunderous impact, demanding the Rankers to redouble their brutal efforts.
Tumko stood as one of the few prominent White Raven Rankers to leave his indelible mark on this vast canvas of war. Other than Tumko and his team, no core members of the White Raven guild were present. However, Eren's selection of Tumko and his team was a testament to their high chances of survival in the increasingly treacherous conflict.
Eren believed that Tumko's ocular Ability rivaled his own Sedating Gaze. A substantial portion of Rankers from Anfang exhibited low Spiritual Force, regardless of their Rank. This bolstered Eren's confidence that Tumko could maneuver in and out of the war at his discretion, leveraging the potential of his ocular Ability.
Bathed in blood and wielding a sword, Tumko carved a path ahead. His enigmatic mask, revealing only his eyes, added to his intimidating presence. The cacophony of enemy screams and the clash of weapons and spells enveloped him.
Just as Tumko prepared to press forward and vanquish more foes, a concise message reached him from a particular source. He halted in his tracks, scanning his surroundings. Then, he turned around and addressed his core team members.
"It's time. Retreat!"
Tumko informed Bhaa Laah and the others.
Swiftly changing direction, the mentalist ventured down a different path. His core team members exchanged glances and unanimously decided to follow suit, trailing him closely.
===
AN: Tumko made his initial appearance back in Chapter 15, and he, along with his teammates, received mention in Chapter 745. The concept of "Fear Firdaus" was explained in Chapter 749.
Also, in Arabic and Persian, "Firdaus" carries the meaning of "paradise."
Now that we've connected all the dots, prepare yourselves for we're about to delve into the central part of this arc starting from the next chapter. ;)
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