"Haah... It's done."
Lensa exhaled breathlessly. Swiftly, the volutric flask shrank to palm size, transforming into a translucent potion vial suffused with light-elent mana. Its contents, an enigmatic purple brew, seed to simr perpetually.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Applause broke out, accompanied by Eren's appreciative smile. Drawing close, he enveloped Lensa in his embrace, his hand caressing her hair as she nestled against his chest.
"Do… Do you want to summon the Spectral Beast?" Lensa inquired between breaths.
With a chuckle, Eren responded, "Keke, no need. With this, you're fully prepared, my darling."
Lensa found solace in Eren's agreent to allow her another attempt at Minerva's tests. While she remained uncertain about her own capabilities, she placed strong faith in Eren's discerning judgnt. His words infused her with newfound assurance.
"Eren," Lensa murmured gently, her head resting upon his chest.
"The way you're doing changes within your city, and the presence you carry around those close to you... Are you planning to go sowhere?
Another period of introspection and secluded training, perhaps to deepen your Ranking Path? But you have just broken into the Master Rank. Why would you…"
Eren hesitated briefly before replying.
"Well, in a way, I'm indeed planning to go sowhere very far, Lenny. The future is still kinda a blur to , but one thing is clear – I won't wait for opportunities to co to .
The space I have here has served its purpose. Let's just say I'll gather all the valuable tools and toys I can and venture out in search of a "bigger playground.""
Lensa sensed Eren was planning sothing big, though the details eluded her. She understood he wouldn't readily share them either. It appeared this had been a long-considered plan, and she refrained from burdening him with probing questions.
"Hmm. I... I want to accompany you to that 'bigger playground,' wherever it may be. Take with you," Lensa implored, her arms encircling Eren, absorbing his comforting presence. Eren chuckled before responding.
"Fear not. This place will forever remain a ho I can return to, Lenny.
I'll just go ahead and have a look, securing a foothold. And then I'll pave the way for others to follow.
And if your eagerness cannot be contained, there's a possibility within Minerva's Utopia that might lead you to that 'bigger playground.' Sage Minerva will explain everything.
That is, if you can truly beco her rightful heir," Eren assured, his hand tenderly tracing circles on Lensa's back.
Lifting her head, Lensa t Eren's gaze, and an unspoken understanding flowed between them. Moving closer, their connection deepened, and their lips t in a tender kiss. The secluded potion lab transford into a realm exclusively for the couple to share this intimate mont.
***
Around four months remain until the conclusion of the Lazarus Project.
The pace of events on the battlefield between the kingdoms of Edinburgh and Layos was intensifying. The Ace and Adept Rankers were no longer adequate cannon fodder, as the deploynt of Master and Grandmaster-ranked entities was becoming increasingly common.
Eren didn't wait for Carvel's aggression. Instead, he initiated a preemptive strike on House Horin, located within the kingdom of Layos. With Slyphie's assistance, he tapped into cultist organizations and rogue Rankers, leveraging them against House Horin without the need to personally enter Layos.
Carvel Horin, a Master Ranker elf, had overtly threatened Eren following the death of Birmond on the battlefield. Ard with a wyvern nad Akass from the kingdom of Layos, Carvel sought vengeance for his nephew Hamang's death at Eren's hands.
Unbeknownst to him, Eren had already marked the entire Horin clan due to Carvel's hostile words. Instead of spewing venom verbally, the butcher preferred to take decisive actions.
House Horin experienced significant losses, and their control over ranking resources within Layos suffered due to various surprise attacks sponsored by Eren. Carvel's intentions to avenge Hamang were sidelined as he grappled with the aftermath of Eren's devastating strike against his clan.
Though Eren had carefully concealed his involvent, anyone familiar with the dynamics between the two kingdoms would likely deduce his hand in the attacks against House Horin. He had harnessed the fringe elents within Layos to cause another internal upheaval.
Eren's focus on consequences appeared to have waned as the war between the kingdoms approached its end. It seed that he just didn't care if he would be persecuted by the Anfang Alliance after the war.
Carvel now deeply regretted provoking Eren. The latter ca across as a vengeful demon to him, uninterested in re threats but inclined to deliver ruthless blows that left enemies devastated.
Carvel ca to a conclusion regarding Eren. This was a form of enemy one shouldn't ss with unless they had a way to completely get rid of them with one swift move.
Of course, Carvel had attempted similar tactics against Eren, exploiting his wealth and connections. However, curiously, cultist organizations and rogue Rankers within the kingdom of Edinburgh didn't accept offers to harm Eren's forces no matter how tempting Carvel made them out to be.
The Grimdawn's reputation seed to deter any attempts to target him or his forces in Edinburgh. His previous actions had beco a shield against the enemy's potential aggression.
As a long-standing powerhouse in Layos, House Horin's recent tribulations had a ripple effect on the kingdom's military strength along the border dispute. The kingdom of Edinburgh benefitted from this turmoil– scoring more victories on the battlefield as the two sides kept settling border disputes across various regions.
To safeguard itself from potential targeting by Layos' fringe elents, House Horin found itself resorting to drastic asures. The house relinquished its resource-abundant territories and shut down all of its businesses. Additionally, they relocated most of their mbers to remote areas.
These actions tarnished House Horin's reputation, paving the way for rival houses within Layos, which had long standing grievances with House Horin, to capitalize on their vulnerability and seize what was once rightfully under House Horin's domain.
The butcher didn't need to intervene directly once House Horin's adversaries began their maneuvers. It could be argued that his prior actions had set off a chain reaction, compelling these adversaries to act against House Horin.
===
AN: Carvel Horin threatens Eren in chapter 1435.
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