Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Eren found it difficult to believe the spectacle unfolding before his eyes.

Unlike the Slumbering Goddess, the Great Mother displayed a commanding mastery over her actions within her domain. He speculated that the faith energy gathered by her followers played a significant role in this capability.

"This is...unfathomable. How can one command such an overwhelming amount of mana? And how can they wield it without wrecking this entire settlement?" Eren thought to himself, captivated by the extraordinary scene unraveling before him.

It marked his initial encounter with a divine entity exerting even a fraction of their power within the confines of Anfang—a realm notorious for restricting such displays in every conceivable manner.

The Great Mother's gaze shifted back to Eren, her eyes less intense than before, now softened. Eren found himself momentarily at a loss for words. The magnitude of the situation, the weight of conversing with a divine entity, and the absence of Alephee's support burdened him.

Nonetheless, Eren steeled himself and chose to adopt a casual demeanor rather than succumb to overwhelming vulnerability. He was reluctant to expose his weaknesses to divine beings, just as he had done during his encounter with the Slumbering Goddess. Donning the mask of a resolute individual, Eren addressed the goddess without hesitation, firmly and unapologetically. His gaze shifted toward Galen, who had been the cause of the bear's demise and his own grievances.

It seemed that Nova's death in the sacred ground had caused a bit of blemish over the Great Mother's divinity. She couldn't let this stain on her divinity persist, not when her devout followers' unwavering faith was her lifeblood. To reaffirm her position of power and to strengthen the devotion of her followers, the Great Mother resolved to resurrect the fallen bear before their very eyes. This act would undoubtedly solidify their faith in her and allow her to harness an even greater surge of energy.

A gentle sigh escaped the goddess's lips, carrying a hint of sorrow. "Couldn't you go easy on my children?" Her gaze shifted to the bear cub, now a small creature that had been caught in the tumultuous events. The goddess's eyes softened, revealing a momentary vulnerability and compassion for the innocent life affected by the chain of events. But as quickly as her gaze wandered, it returned to focus on Eren, the inheritor of Elder Ichor, the one who stood before her.

"I do apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused, esteemed Great Mother. Yet, I believe you should have encouraged your followers to maintain a grasp on reality instead of utilizing their faith in you as a means to run away from it," Eren expressed, his words reflecting both his firmness and conviction.

The butcher made it clear that he had offered Galen multiple opportunities to withdraw from their duel. But Galen had stubbornly refused, absolving Eren of responsibility for his and his Beast Companion's current condition.

Eren continued, meeting the Great Mother's gaze with unwavering eyes. "Moreover, Great Mother, my name is Eren Idril. I would appreciate it if you addressed me by my name." He allowed his gaze to wander, indicating to the goddess that he held some reservations in talking with her.

The Great Mother acknowledged his intention with a chuckle, assuring him, "Do not worry. They cannot understand us. I am well aware of the significance of the Elder Ichor's existence. Therefore, the less they know, the better, wouldn't you agree?" Eren nodded, choosing to trust the words of a being such as the Great Mother, because she simply did not have any reason to lie to him.

Evidently, the Great Mother had taken precautions to ensure their interaction remained discreet, shielding their conversation from the ears of both the four Matriarchs and the surrounding audience. Galen, who had awoken and turned his head to observe Eren and the Great Mother, believed that the goddess had arrived to rescue him.

His relief at witnessing Nova's resurrection was overshadowed by astonishment, realizing that the Great Mother's primary focus lay on conversing with Eren, seemingly valuing their meeting above any other matter. He attempted to call out to the goddess, but his voice remained unheard, as if a prohibition had been placed on all present within the domain, except for Eren.

"Eren," the Great Mother murmured his name several times, as if trying to commit it to memory. She then raised her head and scrutinized Eren from head to toe before continuing their conversation.

"Eren, first and foremost, let me assure you that I am among the few divine beings who can stand by your side as an ally," the Great Mother asserted, her tone carrying a hint of sincerity. Restlessly, she began pacing within the sacred ground, the faith energy of her stone statue diminishing gradually with each passing second. Nevertheless, her presence within the domain grew more tangible, as though bridging the gap between divinity and reality.

"An ally," Eren muttered under his breath, amusement tinging his voice. He matched his stride with the Great Mother's, appearing nonchalant as they walked side by side. Curiosity piqued, he posed a question to the goddess, his voice laced with intrigue. "Great Mother, if I may inquire, what motivates you to form an alliance with someone as insignificant as myself?"

As Eren spoke, Anfang's World Will exerted pressure upon the Great Mother's domain, causing slight tremors. The monochromatic colors of the domain threatened to regain their vibrancy for an ephemeral moment before the goddess, with a wave of her hand and a surge of faith energy, reinforced its stability once more.

Surprised by Eren's composure in her presence, the Great Mother sensed his question coming and responded promptly, her words laced with sincerity. "Rather than combating the prophecies of the Eternal Ichor, I choose to embrace them as a guiding light. I hold no ill intentions toward you, Eren. In fact, your growth would serve my own interests. At least I hope so. That is why I risked sending my Divine Sense to this world."

Unaware that concrete information regarding Eternal Ichor and related prophecies would be elusive, Eren nodded nonetheless, signaling the goddess to proceed further. Encouraged by his response, the goddess continued her discourse after a brief pause.