Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

"Endure it, boy."

Aleph urged as he watched Eren's agonized form.

"The pain will be overwhelming for now. However, in due time, it will allow you to claim what was once mine. With this act, I have designated you as my true heir.

I shall also task you with completing what I left unfinished, or what lay beyond my own capacity," Aleph spoke to Eren with a steady tone even as he grappled with the excruciating pain.

Eren's perception of Aleph gradually blurred, his image dissolving into indistinctness, his voice seemingly faded as if emanating from a distant room.

"Um… that's about it. Oh, and please, take care of my sister, would you? She has her own challenges to confront. Extend her a helping hand if you're able," were Aleph's final words to Eren before his consciousness dissolved into nothingness, and he succumbed to unconsciousness.

Upon awakening, Eren found himself back in the realm of reality. When he did, he found his head resting on Alephee's lap, in the same manner that Aleph was comforted by Alephee in his final moments. When he opened his eyes, he was greeted with Alephee's radiant smile.

And when he looked around, he was greeted with the sight of destruction.

***

The moment Eren acquired the remaining Sin Series Marks from the Seven-headed Serpent Statue, it triggered a cataclysmic event in Eliza's Purgatory and beyond.

It was as if Eren's attainment of all seven Sin Series Marks was seen as a momentous omen by the very essence of Anfang's World Will. In response, a colossal mana storm was unleashed, wreaking havoc upon everything in its path.

Oddly, Eren lay unconscious in the midst of this tempest, seemingly untouched, as if sheltered by the storm's eye.

The earth trembled as fault lines snaked across the ground, and fierce winds whipped through the surroundings, akin to the relentless Winds of Void Assimilation.

The Spatial Boundary, initially established to contain Eliza's Purgatory, struggled to confine such a massive natural force. Simultaneously, the world beyond the purgatory reacted vehemently.

Dark thunder clouds gathered ominously, casting an eerie twilight across the skies, while enigmatic aurora lights danced in the heavens. The apparition of a colossal Seven-headed Serpent phantom materialized, shrouding the land in an oppressive atmosphere, compelling those who witnessed it to bow in submission.

It was as if an eerie twilight had descended in the middle of the day, ushering in a foreboding dawn filled with grim possibilities.

This upheaval persisted for a considerable duration. Eventually, the turmoil culminated in the complete annihilation of Eliza's Purgatory. The once-imposing Spatial Boundary that had defined the purgatory simply disintegrated, and the previously isolated space seamlessly merged with the outside world.

Gone were the frigid mountain ranges, the vast expanses of accumulated snow, and the relentless blizzards that had mercilessly bitten at exposed skin, leaving behind frostbite. There were no remnants of the towering structures or the intricately constructed dungeon that had dominated the landscape.

Eliza's castle, along with the colossal Titan skeletons that had served as peculiar home decor, lay in ruins. It could be said that the Titan Skeletons, along with the lingering consciousnesses attached to them, had finally found the eternal rest they had long sought.

The profound impact of Eren attaining all the remaining Sin Series Marks wasn't confined solely to Eliza's Purgatory or its immediate vicinity. Its repercussions reverberated far and wide in various manifestations.

Deep within lush forests found across all of Anfang, dormant mana beasts stirred, inciting beast tides that rippled through nearby cities. Some regions experienced seismic tremors of such magnitude that they reduced mortals' painstakingly constructed homes and structures to rubble.

Mysterious and sudden, many of the intricate magic circles scattered throughout Anfang were inexplicably obliterated. The painstaking efforts put into their creation were rendered futile as these formations ceased to function.

Even the battlefield, the stage for the ongoing conflict between the two kingdoms, felt the unsettling commotion. Both the forces of Edinburgh and Layos, though fierce rivals, intuitively recognized the imminent danger posed by the all-encompassing mana surges.

In unspoken agreement, they withdrew to their respective bases, wary of the looming disruption to their spellcasting capabilities. The battle would rage on soon. What happened was merely a temporary respite.

***

"Hey, Miss Timeless."

Eren greeted Alephee with a warm smile as he gradually returned to reality. He allowed his head to rest on Alephee's lap, relishing her gentle caresses through his hair.

Nearby, Naya maintained her watchful stance, her arms folded over her chest, her gaze alternating between them and their surroundings. Her vigilance remained unwavering, driven by the urgency to depart this area promptly.

Eren's recent tumultuous event was far too conspicuous to go unnoticed and was sure to pique the interest of the bigshots, regardless of their allegiances. Naya didn't want any more surprises.

Given the storm of disruption that Eren had inadvertently triggered, Alephee and Naya had no choice but to evacuate Eliza's Purgatory and its vicinity. They had managed to escape before employing the spatial runes of the Sansara Sage to transport themselves away from the chaos.

"You're finally awake," Alephee ceased her hair caressing and feigned a scolding tone as she surveyed their surroundings. "Just look at the mess you've made," she chided, her gaze sweeping the destruction. Eren disregarded her mock complaints and replied casually, "I met your brother."

"Did you now?"

Alephee responded, her eyes focused on Eren. It was evident that she had anticipated such an encounter once Eren acquired all seven Sin Series Marks. "What did he say?" Her stoic demeanor barely concealed a hint of agitation.

"He told me to take care of you," Eren stated matter-of-factly, sinking his head deeper into Alephee's lap. Alephee couldn't contain her chuckle at Eren's words.

"ARE YOU SURE my brother didn't tell you to take care of yourself first? Just look at the pitiful state you're in," she quipped, lightly smacking Eren's forehead with an audible smack.

Eren was on the verge of responding to Alephee's light-hearted remark with an equally playful comment when Naya interjected with a somber tone. "You two might want to wrap up your ideal chatter. We'll soon have some unwelcome company."

Alephee and Eren simultaneously wiped the smiles from their faces upon hearing Naya's warning. In the next instant, they both rose to their feet.

Acting in unison, the trio activated their space-element runes and vanished from the area before the impending, uninvited guests could cross their path.