— The Sigil that Suppressed the Demon —
Eren plunged into the surging crimson-black miasma and was instantly engulfed by a wave of the Power of Oblivion. It wasn't like fire—it was like countless icy fangs gnawing at him, every nerve screaming in agony.
Driven by instinct, he desperately circulated the Meta Dippe technique.
Then, something impossible happened—the destructive Power of Oblivion was being drawn into him, transformed by his body itself!
"Hmm?" The silver-haired man high above showed surprise. "A mortal body, capable of devouring the Power of Oblivion?"
A flicker of unease crossed his features. "This one... cannot be left alive."
He opened his mouth and spat out a beam of dark light—lightning-fast, aimed straight at Eren. It was a ray of destruction capable of erasing all things, one even Eupheron hadn't dared to face head-on.
The aura of death tightened around Eren's throat. Just as he believed he would be turned to dust—
A burning sensation erupted between his brows.
A shadow surged from within him—the mysterious Obsidian Sigil. It expanded wildly, transforming in an instant into a mountainous silhouette that stood between heaven and earth. Its surface swirled with an eerie light, radiating a pressure that seemed capable of devouring everything as it rotated.
"What... what artifact is this?!" The silver-haired man's voice held fear for the first time. He stared fixedly at the seal, muttering in disbelief, "Is this... the Celestial Tome? The Terrestrial Tome? Impossible! Such things should not remain in this world—!"
His face paled drastically, his arrogance crumbling into terror in an instant.
The 'god' who had looked down upon all life mere moments ago now transformed into a streak of light without hesitation, fleeing desperately into the sky!
But—it was already too late.
The Obsidian Sigil suddenly split, instantly transforming into thick, domain-like walls that sealed the entire space like an iron prison.
The silver-haired man dashed left and right within it, but like an insect trapped in amber, all his struggles were futile.
"No—! Why are you in this forsaken land?! I refuse to accept this—Ahhh—!!"
With a final, spatially distorted scream of despair, his form was swallowed by the Sigil, vanishing into nothingness.
Eren stood frozen, his mind a blank slate.
The Obsidian Sigil had suppressed such a powerful being—instantly?
He suddenly understood: that day in the prison cell, the jade pendant hadn't just unlocked a legacy; it had also awakened this immensely powerful artifact.
As Eren's thoughts raced, the Obsidian Sigil rapidly shrank, transforming into a stream of light that shot back into the space between his brows.
— The Unscathed Hero —
He forcibly steadied his mind and took the opportunity to absorb the residual Power of Oblivion. TThe purity of this power far surpassed any shadow energy he had ever encountered.
After absorbing all of it, he sensed that the energy core within him was now about two-fifths full.
Quietly, he guided a portion of the purest annihilating energy, carefully sealing it within the Obsidian Sigil for future study.
Just then, the voices of Johan and the others grew closer. Having seen the miasma dissipate, they had turned back.
"Eren! You're alive!"
"Do I look like I'm hurt?" Eren spread his arms and turned a circle.
"You bastard! You scared us to death!" Johan rushed up and punched him in the shoulder.
Immediately, everyone began asking questions all at once—
"Where's that demon?"
"How did the miasma vanish?"
Eren had his story ready. "He was destroyed by a force that suddenly appeared. Probably some ancient sealing mechanism was triggered. Once the demon died, the miasma naturally faded."
The group exchanged glances. The explanation sounded plausible, yet was full of unanswered questions. But if it wasn't that, could it really be that Eren had killed that self-proclaimed divine monster?
Johan keenly grasped the crux of the matter: "Eren, that miasma even overwhelmed Elder Eupheron. Why are you unharmed after charging into it?"
Eren shrugged helplessly. "I know I can absorb shadow energy, so I wanted to see if I could handle this too. I couldn't just watch the miasma consume everything, could I? Who knew that before I could even do anything, the guy just... ended."
His account was reasonable.
Hearing this, Nadia spoke up solemnly, "To risk your own safety in a critical moment, attempting to save others... Eren, your courage is worthy of respect."
The looks the others gave Eren held a new degree of admiration.
Xunhuan Lee leaned in, pulling out his comb. "Brother Eren, you're truly our hero! Here, let me tidy up your victorious appearance!"
"Thanks, but you should keep it for yourself," Eren said, quickly pushing him away.
— The Master Returns —
At that moment, a streak of light trailing a long tail of flame plummeted from the sky, crashing into the ground like a meteor.
Under the wary gazes of the group, a figure struggled within the crater—it was Eupheron. His hair and beard were scorched, his robes tattered, and he looked utterly disheveled, but his eyes still held their sharp light. Having survived both that terrifying attack and a fall from such a height, his strength was truly unfathomable.
"Hey, you kids, just going to stand there watching an old man lie here? My bones are about to fall apart!" He grumbled, pulling out his gourd and taking a fierce swig. The pain on his face seemed to ease a little.
"Elder Eupheron, are you alright?" Nadia hurried over to help the old man up.
"Alright? How could I not be alright? I am the peerless Eupheron, unmatched under heaven." The elder tried to put on an air of invincible majesty.
"By the way, where's that silver-haired demon?"
Nadia briefly explained what had happened.
Eupheron's eyes, previously somewhat cloudy, instantly sharpened like a hawk's. They locked onto Eren.
"So," he said slowly, his voice carrying a hint of pressure, "you were the only one present when he vanished?"
Suppressing his nervousness, Eren stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for saving me earlier, Elder. I also wish to know... what exactly was that silver-haired man? Was he truly a god?"
Eupheron's face darkened. He swept his stern gaze over the group. "This matter is classified—SSS-level secrecy. Not a word to anyone. Understood?"
Then, his eyes returned to Eren. "You, your name is Eren, correct? Come with me."
Eren's heart tightened. He glanced at Nadia.
Nadia gave him a slight nod. "Eren, go. Elder Eupheron is a senior elder of the GVA. He won't harm you."
Somewhat reassured, Eren followed Eupheron to a secluded spot. "Elder, what did you wish to speak with me about?"
Eupheron remained silent, simply staring at him with those soul-piercing eyes.
Unnerved by the intense gaze, Eren couldn't resist a quip. "Elder, my name is Eren, male, prefers women."
"Pah! What nonsense are you thinking, boy?!" Eupheron scolded irritably, but his expression remained serious.
Suddenly, without any warning, he raised a finger and pointed directly at Eren's brow!
Eren felt a vast, icy force surge into his mind like a tidal wave—an invasion that could strip him bare in an instant. If it succeeded, all his memories and secrets would be laid bare!
Horrified, he mobilized all his spiritual energy to resist desperately. But the other's mental power was like a mountain—his defenses crumbled upon contact. It's over!
At that critical moment, the Obsidian Sigil deep within his mind activated autonomously once more, emitting an intangible ripple. The invading mental force shattered instantly, as if it had smashed against an impenetrable wall.
"Hmm?!" Eupheron grunted, sharply retracting his finger. He stared at Eren with a mix of shock and intense scrutiny, a dangerous aura beginning to emanate from him.
Eren immediately shifted into a combat stance, energy coursing wildly within him, ready to fight for his life.
Tension stretched taut between them.
— A Witty Diversion —
"Elder Eupheron!" At that moment, Johan's bulky figure squeezed into view, his face plastered with an earnest smile. "Are you done with that wooden sword of mine? Could I have it back? It's a memento from my mother."
Eupheron shot a deep look at Eren, then the chilling aura around him receded like a tide. He reverted to the disheveled, drunken old man. "Gone!" he declared, sticking his neck out stubbornly. "Turned to ash when I clashed with that bastard!"
Johan's face immediately contorted into an expression of 'utter devastation.' "But that was my mother's only keepsake, Elder!"
Catching on immediately, Eren chimed in, "Elder, that sword held immense sentimental value for Big Bear. As a senior of such immense power, surely you wouldn't take something from a junior without compensation? Perhaps... you could impart a single move or technique to him instead?"
Johan's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes! I'm not greedy—just teach me that move you used to slash that silver-haired bastard earlier!"
"You two little schemers..." Eupheron laughed in exasperation, his beard quivering. "Ganging up to trap me, are you?"
He casually waved a hand. An invisible force sent both Eren and Johan flying backward, tumbling several times on the ground.
"Consider that your punishment for being clever!" he snorted. Then, he crooked a finger at the scrambling Johan. "However, Bear, come here. In light of your 'loss,' I'll teach you a little something."
Overjoyed, Johan scurried after him. The others watched his retreating back with clear envy.
Eren picked himself up from the ground, watching the elder depart, and let out a long, slow breath. The brief confrontation had left his back soaked with cold sweat.
The secret of the Obsidian Sigil was safe for now, but he knew the old mage's suspicion was far from over.
The road ahead would undoubtedly be anything but smooth.