Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

"What in the world is going through his mind? I thought he was supposed to keep a low profile here."

Ivor muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the singular feed within Agora. Turning to Hettie, he sought answers, expecting some semblance of explanation.

"Don't look at me. I had no clue about this," Hettie shrugged, responding to Ivor's inquisitive gaze. It was true that Hettie was still technically under Eren's command. However, Eren wasn't exactly forthcoming with many details of his plans.

"This isn't his usual approach at all," Ivor said, lost in thought, his eyes scanning for any clues. Having collaborated and clashed with Eren in the past, Ivor was well aware of Eren's preference for working discreetly, allowing his schemes to mature over extended periods before coming to fruition.

Given this, Ivor couldn't help but question the authenticity of the feed.

"Maybe it's someone impersonating Eren to draw him out?" Ivor speculated, considering various possibilities. "Well," Hettie replied, "there's only one way to find out." With that, she opened the lone post in Agora, determined to uncover the truth behind the unexpected revelation. Ivor did the same.

A spectral depiction of a mysterious man materialized in a miniature form, captivating those exploring the initial feed within Agora. Clad in simple attire with features concealed behind an intricate mask, the man bore distinctive patterns that set him apart. His surroundings offered no identifiable objects, shrouding both his location and identity in an air of mystery.

'Ah, this mask gives it away. This asshole likes that mask. Fuck! Tumko is going to have a tough time ahead.'

Ivor recognized the mask immediately, a wry smile playing on his lips. The mask served as a clear indicator to Ivor and Hettie that the enigmatic figure was indeed Eren. Their encounter with Tumko in the White Raven Guild enhanced their understanding of Eren's cryptic method of confirming his identity to his allies while keeping others in the dark.

By donning this mask, Eren inadvertently complicated Tumko Darata's presence in Labh Salem. The Fear Firdos Skill user now faced the dilemma of changing masks or swiftly departing this world altogether.

What Ivor didn't know was the fact that Eren had already contacted Tumko before releasing his feed in Agora. Tumko had been given enough time to come up with countermeasures. It also happened that Tumko had prepared to leave Labh Salem altogether along with his team.

After all, Labh Salem was nothing but a launch pad for Tumko's team. Tumko and his team couldn't go to their intended destination right from a closed realm such as Anfang.

Tumko and team had been preparing for their eventual departure for years on end ever since they landed in Labh Salem along with Ivor and others. When Eren told Tumko what he was about to do, the latter took it as a sign for him to leave Labh Salem and go to his intended destination. So he gave Eren the green signal to use his masks.

***

"Greetings, inhabitants of Labh Salem," the masked man addressed in an altered voice, deep enough to defy any resemblance to a regular human.

"I apologize for maintaining my secrecy, a necessity for my continued existence. Believe it or not, I enjoy living. I like waking up every day. It's something I have been doing ever since I was very small. Breathing is fantastic, and I intend to keep doing so for as long as I please. Kekeke."

'This guy… he is literally joking with gods at this point. Gotta hand it to his legs for carrying the weight of his balls.'

Ivor's expression darkened when he heard Eren's sinister chuckle. He surveyed his surroundings, noting the perplexed expressions of nearby den dwellers.

'Still… his cover is not blown. Or more like… 'our' cover is not blown. That's a relief.'

Observing his partner, Ivor found relief painted across Hettie's face. A sigh escaped Ivor as well when he realized Eren had chosen to reveal himself uniquely while safeguarding his identity.

The stakes were high, and in the worst-case scenario, the revelation of Eren's identity to the masses could result in a hunt for Eren, Ivor, Hettie, and their allies by the true leaders of the divine and demonic factions.

"I'm certain many of you have questions swirling about my identity. The concept of being a genuine Inheritor of Elder Ichor may be unfamiliar to most.

Allow me to explain – I am what many users of Elder Seed Artifacts aspire to be. I hold something they covet.

I'm afraid, however, that the race for the title of 'God Aleph's interior' has concluded. I've bested the other Elder Seeds from the competition by claiming something they could never attain in their entire lives."

Gasps and shocked expressions rippled through the audience, and Ivor couldn't fault them. Eren had just disclosed an achievement that appeared to defy the bounds of possibility.

While the denizens of Labh Salem might be unfamiliar with the specifics of God Aleph or the origins of Elder Seed Artifacts, they understood the significance of these artifacts and their transformation into Elder Seeds. Throughout Labh Salem's history, numerous Elder Seeds, also known as Elder Seed Artifact users, had risen to fame upon acquiring these powerful relics.

The Elder Seeds were considered an unstoppable force that defied common sense. Labh Salem still had many Elder Seeds still active and all of them were famous in their own way.

In essence, the people of Labh Salem comprehended the gravity behind someone proclaiming their supremacy over other Elder Seeds – a bold declaration laden with significance.

"At this juncture, I don't feel the need to expound much upon my identity," declared the spectral figure of the masked man, exuding confidence while maintaining a disciplined, army-like posture with arms behind his back

"Before long, the realm of Labh Salem will be buzzing with chatter and revelations about me. Some among you may be tasked to track me down. Undoubtedly, various temples and cults will place bounties on my head, attempting to quell the discussions surrounding me.

Yet, I have to say that I'm going nowhere. So there's no cause for concern. You can always locate me right here – directly in front of you.

I must extend my gratitude to Goddess Menaka for presenting me with this opportunity, and I appreciate my viewers for lending an ear to what I am about to say," expressed Eren, offering a slight bow to his audience before proceeding.

"I have a crucial message to share, and I implore you to hear me out entirely before forming any judgments. Are you prepared for this?"

Eren inquired, deliberately creating suspense, causing his audience to hold their breath in anticipation. He waited for the excitement to peak before delivering his message with grave seriousness.

"Every one of you is being deceived. Both the divine and demonic factions seek to manipulate you as pawns to advance their own agendas," Eren declared, his words carrying a weighty seriousness.

A momentary silence blanketed the surroundings, followed by a cacophony of varied reactions.

"What the fuck is this guy talking about?" queried a nearby Dreamweaver, expressing confusion.

"Hahaha! I'll have what this fucker is having," said a bald and muscular body cultivator while laughing to himself.

"Damn! He got me. I thought he was going to reveal something groundbreaking," lamented another person to Hettie's left.

"That does it. If they try to hunt this guy down, count me in," asserted someone with evident frustration and anger in their voice.

"Haah! I might as well close this subpanel and focus on drinking. I am too sober for this absurdity," remarked a tired voice from somewhere in the den.

"Yeah? Water is wet, air is invisible, and fire feels hot. Now, where's my first prize for stating the obvious?" joked another individual.

"Who the fuck is this clown?" pondered someone quietly to themselves.

"He must be a demon. Only demons try to mislead people and coerce them into signing Faustian Contracts," opined another with a judgment of their own.

"Ummm… his voice sounds sexy. And those eyes behind the mask. It's like they have a world of their own in them.

Sigh. If only he would reveal his face. I might have entertained his delusions if he were handsome enough," added a witch with a romantic inclination, eyeing the mysterious man seductively.

Ivor and Hettie found themselves surrounded by such chatter after Eren's initial statements. Though unsure of Eren's intentions behind his seemingly random and vague words, they maintained their composure, opting to hear him out.

"What is Creation?" Eren posed the question to his audience, who were still dismissing his earlier statements. Taking a deep breath, he continued.

"Creation is the origin of all that exists in the boundless cosmos. It is accessible to all, residing within us. Each of us is composed of a fragment of Creation that has endured for eternity and will continue to endure for eternity more.

The gods and the demon gods won't tell you this. But you are being used for what you have within you."