Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil



Compound Elemental Fusion Spell: Fire-Snake + Stellar Speed + Death Rot

With this urgency in mind, Eren opted to unleash an untried Compound Elemental Fusion spell, a fusion amalgamating three disparate elemental profiles. His prowess in fire, time, and death mana converged as he conjured an entirely new entity into existence.

Eren's incantation birthed a fire snake, distinct from his typical fire-element serpents. This one possessed a unique appearance, compact and agile. Unlike the mana body characterized by vivid orange and red flames seen in his conventional creations, this snake exhibited a blackish-red hue, a clear indicator of its potent death mana infusion.

While the female Ranker struggled to come up with strategies to counter Eren's unrelenting assault, she failed to notice a diminutive flame serpent skillfully infiltrating her defenses. The mana barrier, already weakened by Eren's ceaseless onslaught, could not recover in time to intercept the serpent's advance. Swift and agile, the flame serpent advanced with exceptional speed toward the female Mage.

Eren's flame serpent had been conjured using Spell Integration and Compound Elemental Fusion, a feat his evolved mana core now enabled him to accomplish. This particular serpent had been imbued with Stellar Speed, rendering it difficult for the female Ranker to intercept before it sank its fangs into her.

"Aaaaargh!"

In a moment of agony, the female Ranker cried out as the serpent's bite found purchase on her right toe. Her distress stemmed from the insidious presence of vile death mana coursing through her system, eroding her mana circuits.

Death Rot stood as a formidable spell within Eren's arsenal, one he rarely invoked due to its complex execution. However, his recent ascension to B-Rank had amplified his mastery over all elemental spheres, empowering him to meld spells of distinct natures.

This advancement not only permitted him to utilize Death Rot in novel ways but also opened avenues for inventive variations, a realm he was still in the process of exploring, deploying each iteration to unveil the potential for fresh combinations.

With a single, successful bite, the flame serpent injected a concentrated dose of its stored Death mana into Eren's adversary. This venomous bite induced a profound corrosive effect.

The insidious Death Rot methodically ate away at the female Ranker's flesh and vitality, its malevolent influence radiating from the bite mark and rapidly spreading across her form.

Infused with fire properties, the Death mana engendered an agonizing burning sensation that compounded her suffering. The infusion of time-element mana expedited the process, leaving the female Ranker no respite to seek a remedy.

The inflicted damage proved sufficient to sow a flaw within the female Ranker's spellcasting prowess. Eren astutely seized upon this vulnerability, materializing before her with the grace of a Blink.

As his form emerged, his fingers underwent an elongation, tapping into the potency of his Life Drain Ability. His hands took on a withered appearance, nails metamorphosing into dagger-like points, which found their mark by piercing the female Ranker's neck from opposing sides. The utilization of Life Drain facilitated the replenishment of Eren's vitality, stamina, and a portion of his dwindling mana reserves.

The female Ranker's once-youthful figure underwent a rapid transmutation akin to a mummified state, age prematurely manifesting in her form mere moments after Eren's assault. Her countenance swiftly devolved into that of an aged crone, a result of Eren breaching her defenses and executing his unrelenting maneuver.

Soon after, her constitution crumbled beneath the corrosive influence of Death mana, the malevolent energy completely claiming her as it eradicated her life essence.

The Life Drain Ability had undergone a notable evolution, now capable of siphoning a greater portion of the target's mana and stamina. This enhancement served Eren well, affording him the means to restore himself during the heat of combat, each successful strike becoming an opportunity to recharge.

Given Eren's reliance on Hero's Heart to bolster his Base Stats, the deployment of Life Drain emerged as an ideal decision in his current circumstances.

"Haash!"

With a profound exhalation akin to a sigh of relief, Eren vanquished the time-element Mage, acknowledging her resilience. He recognized her as a formidable adversary.

Had it not been for his Compound Elemental Fusion, she might have indeed succeeded in prolonging the confrontation. She was astute in perceiving the instability of Eren's Ranking Foundation, the volatility underlying his explosive onslaught of spells. Her strategy rested on extending the skirmish, anticipating Eren's eventual mana depletion.

"Your efforts were commendable. I shall offer you the Last Rites, honoring your role as a capable opponent," Eren declared sincerely, a snap of his fingers instigating the female Ranker's dissipation. In an instant, her fragmented remains were engulfed by hues of fiery red and orange before disappearing into thin air.

Simultaneously, Eren's summoned creatures had effectively dispatched their adversaries. These conjured allies had been summoned through advanced iterations of Spell Integration and Elemental Fusion, possessing a comprehensive arsenal of potent abilities to neutralize the Layos Rankers. They awaited Eren's directive to initiate their decisive maneuvers.

'Damn. This was so obvious. Why didn't I realize this before?'

A newfound realization dawned upon Eren, one he had previously overlooked.

His summoned entities could express his Elemental Attainments with greater liberty than he himself could at his current state. While he bore the brunt of Sansara Sage's space-element debuffs, his summoned creatures were unburdened by such hindrances.

They functioned as conduits through which Eren's elemental spells could manifest at their zenith.

"Hmm, moving forward until the culmination of the Lazarus Project, my approach should focus on the use of Hex Gear or Summoner Class. Employing my summoned creatures to carry out my experiments seems to be the most suitable solution," Eren swiftly resolved to address the previously neglected oversight.

The engagement between Eren and an entire Layos Rankers unit concluded within a span of five minutes, a testament to Eren's formidable Individuality. One might even argue that it ventured into the realm of the monstrous, if not the outright abhorrent.

Lifeless Layos Ranker bodies littered the battleground, leaving Eren as the sole living presence. Yet, amidst this aftermath, Eren's preoccupation centered on the optimization of his newly acquired powers, maximizing their potential. As he immersed himself in these reflections, a voice communication reached him, rousing him from his musings.

With a focused gaze directed toward a specific orientation, Eren processed the information imparted by his comrades and mumbled introspectively.

"So, Edinburgh suffered defeat, did it? Birmond Remus met his end at the hands of Carvel Horin."

Winning a battle, losing the land.

Eren's hands clenched into fists as he made a resolute decision to make his way to the battlefield where two seasoned Master Rankers, both commanders of their respective factions, had engaged in a duel on.

"This so-called strategic land means nothing to me. I couldn't care less that Edinburgh's claim on this territory has been lost. Yet, they damn well better hand over Birmond's lifeless body to me," Eren muttered to himself, his determination resolute.

Eren took Hamang's headless body and severed head into his storage space. Without a moment's delay, he vanished from view, his destination being where Carvel was situated, even though he had just taken the life of Carvel's kin.

Birmond Remus's recently deceased form held significant importance for Eren. Birmond was a rare ice-element summoner hailing from House Remus, and Eren harbored intentions of devouring his entire repository of Elemental Attainments and spells.