"Hmm? Quite impressive."
Eliza maintained a keen watch over Eren's actions from her well-protected vantage point, finding herself genuinely impressed by his approach to dealing with his adversaries.
"Fufufu. He truly lives up to his reputation as a butcher.
His method of dispatching the cannon fodder may be a tad messy compared to other Rankers, but there's an odd elegance to it. It's like a skilled meat cutter creating chaos all around but delivering a perfectly tender, boneless cut in the end."
"Hmm? That girl with those daggers! Is she the same homunculus you mentioned to be Alephee, Layla dear?"
Eliza's attention shifted to Alephee who was reanimating Eren's defeated foes into his allies. With her extensive experience in forbidden and restricted magic, Eliza recognized that Alephee's powers were not typical of necromancy but rather related to the manipulation of time.
Nevertheless, she couldn't pinpoint the precise origin of these unique abilities, as if Alephee followed a distinct branch of magic unbeknownst to Eliza.
"Yes, Master," Layla replied with a concerned tone.
"That's the homunculus we subjected to our voodoo magic. Should… should I restrict her now?"
Layla's eyes remained fixed on Eren's intense battle, a sense of unease growing within her. Unlike Eliza, Layla felt deeply unsettled by Eren's rapid growth and the considerable potential he was revealing. She was particularly wary of Alephee, who stood steadfastly by Eren's side, supporting him in his every move.
Layla had prepared her Lazarus Project meticulously and didn't want any surprises from Alephee at this critical stage. Unlike Eliza, Layla lacked confidence in her ability to confront Alephee if it came to that. She was inclined to restrain Alephee using the voodoo magic trap she had readied in advance to alleviate her concerns before Alephee could surprise her with something unexpected.
"Fufufu. Don't be hasty, Layla dear," Eliza chuckled and affectionately ruffled Layla's hair before continuing.
"Let our little kitten play out all his trump cards to the fullest. He's fighting those battles on our behalf, after all. In fact, if it weren't for the Sages in the skies, I might have lent a hand myself.
But… I can't remain concealed once I intervene. So timing is key," she added, her gaze shifting upwards to the aerial combat of Sages which was obscured by the clouds.
"Alright," Layla conceded, putting aside her doubts and reservations. She had considered cautioning Eliza about Alephee potentially posing a greater threat than anticipated.
However, she decided to follow Eliza's lead instead of sowing doubts or causing hesitation, respecting her master's judgment.
***
"Just get killed!"
Within a split second, a decision was made.
Eren replied with evident ruthlessness, his voice cold and his eyes bloodthirsty. Looking at Ariella in contempt, he spat on the ground before abruptly vanishing from his position.
'Cursed by the feminine, huh! Kekeke. I'll embrace this curse gladly.
I can always butcher these harlots until they lose the courage and their lives in an attempt to fuck with me.'
Eren thought to himself as he approached the half-blood member of House Lowin, the world around him turning into a blurry tunnel.
Eren had abandoned the idea of reasoning with Ariella or trying to win her over to his side. His previous attempts to secure House Lowin's support had failed, and he had come to accept that the house would eventually oppose him due to Demonmir's influence.
'Let my weapons do the talking.'
Since words proved ineffective, Eren was ready to let his swords take charge of his case.
Swoosh. Zoom. Boom.
Ariella wasted no time in unleashing the full extent of her powers the moment Eren sprang into action. She tapped into her bloodline heritage, setting off a profound transformation within her.
Her physical attributes surged to extraordinary levels, her mana surged through her veins, and her mana signatures intensified in a fraction of a second. Her eyes took on a vertical and beastly appearance, while a spectral, membranous form enveloped her entire body. This membrane quickly ignited with white flames, the distinct bloodline ability of the Celestial White Lion, the progenitor of House Lowin.
House Lowin members were distinguished by their unique bloodline lineage, making them one of the most formidable clans within the Last Blood Bastion.
These individuals were known for their fierce ambition and fearlessness, far surpassing regular Rankers thanks to their bloodline gifts. Their attacks were lethal and the gift of white flames they received also allowed them to use them as their primary defense, boosting their chances of overall survival against regular Rankers of their generation.
This was the reason Edgar had dared to meddle within Edinburgh and trigger an incident at the Edinnica Arena.
However, only a select few half-bloods within House Lowin could genuinely unlock the full potential of their bloodline. The beast's powers were typically harnessed effectively only by JJ Edgar. And it was possible for Edgar only after he had attained the Sage Rank.
Yet, in the past decade, Ariella, with the support and resources provided by Demonmir, had managed to purify her bloodline, unraveling greater mysteries and unlocking hidden powers within her genetic heritage.
As Eren and Ariella confronted each other in the heart of the battlefield, their weapons clashed fiercely. Dozens of moves were exchanged in a mere instant, with the resounding clash of metal damaging the surrounding environment due to the sheer force of their movements.
Swoosh. Zoom. Boom.
Upgraded Sedating Gaze + Unlimited Weapon Works + Hero's Heart + Sin of Wrath + Partial Shapeshifting + Instant Reset + Blitz Bolt
Eren, in his full attack mode, was vastly different from his usual self. He identified Ariella as his adversary and unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks without concern for her counter offensives.
Moreover, since Eren had relinquished most of the space-element runes, he felt a newfound freedom in dealing with his adversaries. He was unburdened when casting his elemental spells, and he moved with a sense of liberation as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders, allowing him to move more like a wind and attack like the infamous butcher he was.
"Aaaaargh!"
In the blink of an eye, despite Ariella's tapping into her formidable bloodline powers and partially transforming into a beastly form, her body bore countless injuries.
Swoosh. Zoom. Boom.
Ariella's screams and desperate cries fell on deaf ears as Eren relentlessly bombarded her with his unrelenting assault.
===
AN: House Lowin's bloodline heritage of White Flames was mentioned in chapter 1181.
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