— Sacred Light Awakens —
Lung Pan's body, encased in hardened concrete, lay among the ruins.
Feng knelt beside him, her trembling hands and hollow eyes betraying a pain too deep for tears.
Eren sighed softly. "Feng," he murmured,
"Lung Pan wanted me to tell you he has been freed from his suffering. He wanted you to live on."
Her body trembled. A faint golden light flickered in her once-lifeless eyes. "I will live on, carrying Lung's will... I don't want him to suffer in the afterlife. I will do good deeds, to atone for his sins."
Eren's heart stirred—even after such tragedy, this girl's innate kindness remained pure.
Then, something miraculous happened—
A soft, holy, white light blossomed from within her. The radiance shone pure as spring water, washing away the filth and filling the ruins with peace and warmth. It was like a beacon in the darkness, dispelling the shadows and illuminating hope.
"What... is this?" Eren stared in astonishment. Bathed in the white light, his mind felt unprecedentedly calm, and even the air seemed fresher.
The others gathered around, drawn by the phenomenon. Even Eupheron was stirred. He paced around Feng, eyes wide with wonder, "Remarkable, truly remarkable! To awaken the Sacred Light after such great sorrow and enlightenment!"
"Sacred Light?" Eren asked.
Eupheron stroked his beard, explaining, "The Sacred Light can dispel darkness, purify all corruption, and ensure one's heart never falls to darkness. It can also be transformed into a force of pure Yang to smite foes, making evildoers repent. This light is both a blessing and a covenant."
"Feng, congratulations," Eren said with a gentle smile. "You wished to do good, right? Now, with the Sacred Light shining within you, you can use it to protect the innocent and purge wickedness."
Feng stared blankly at the luminous energy flowing around her, both fearful and confused.
"Don't be afraid," Eren said softly. "If you don't know how to wield it—join the GVA."
"Miss Feng," Nadia stepped forward, a rare softness appearing on her usually cold, beautiful face. "On behalf of the GVA, I welcome you."
Feng bit her lip, then nodded faintly. "Then... alright."
— The Invitation —
Nadia's gaze shifted to Eren. "And what about you?"
Her eyes now held an unprecedented seriousness.
"Eren, I formally invite you, on behalf of the Global Vigil Wyrm Alliance—the GVA—to join us."
The air grew still.
Eren remained silent. His heartbeat echoed rapidly in his chest. Instinctively, he looked toward Aveline, who stood nearby.
She read the struggle in his eyes and stepped forward, her tone resolute. "Eren, both as your warden and as your comrade—I support this."
She paused, her voice softening slightly. "Prison doesn't have to be your end."
"Come on, Eren!" Johan blurted, his round face brimming with excitement. "What's there to think about? Wouldn't it be great to fight side by side? Your silver threads, plus my... uh, future sword skills, we'd be the ultimate team!"
Eupheron chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder. "Kid, true 'elite' isn't about innate talent; it's about the courage to lay down your life for others. The GVA needs that kind of spirit."
Ethan added pragmatically, "Here, you can find a place to belong. And perhaps—find the truth."
Their words struck Eren like a warm current, impacting the icy defenses around his heart.
He looked around at the familiar, sincere faces of those who had struggled alongside him in the miasma, supporting each other in desperate moments.
For the first time, he had felt trust and camaraderie that transcended the label of his identity.
The GVA—once distant and cold in his eyes—now felt different. No longer just a cold institution, but a place that might truly accept him, where he could truly be "useful".
But...
Would the path ahead truly be so bright?
Could this invitation really help him clear his name?
The weight of the future and the fleeting warmth of the present warred fiercely within him.
Finally, he took a deep breath, met their collective gaze, and nodded solemnly.
"I'll join."
— Seven Millennia Seal —
With the immediate crisis over, the group set up camp to rest. The rear base was relocated, and efforts began to clear the ruins.
Eren walked alone to the upper reaches of the Blackwater River. The towering mountain that once stood there was gone, leaving only a massive stone pit.
Unbelievable—this place had imprisoned a divine demon for seven millennia.
Why was he imprisoned?
Who had sealed him away?
What did he mean by "Forsaken Land"?
And why did Eupheron classify this as a Level SSS Top Secret?
Countless questions swirled in Eren's mind.
Suddenly, he noticed a section of incredibly complex array markings carved into a corner of the stone pit—and they looked strangely familiar.
His heart leapt. He hurried over for a closer look. Unfortunately, only a fragment remained, seemingly part of a larger formation that had relied on the mountain itself. Destroyed along with the peak, the rest was lost.
Frowning in thought, the markings seemed more and more familiar the longer he looked, yet he couldn't recall why.
"See something clever, kid?" Eupheron's voice came suddenly from behind.
Eren jumped. "Elder, must you walk so silently?"
Eupheron chuckled. "I've been standing here for two minutes. You were just too engrossed." He pointed at the markings. "Well? Recognize this thing? This should be the array that sealed that silver-haired bastard, right?"
Eren rolled his eyes. "Couldn't you tell?"
"Of course I know it's a sealing array. The question is, did you grasp its underlying principle?"
"If even you can't see through it, how could I, with my limited knowledge?" Eren said this, but the sense of familiarity grew stronger within him.
This was an array capable of sealing a divine demon! If he could unravel its secrets, what fiend in this world couldn't be contained?
"So, nothing after all, eh? Got an old man's hopes up for nothing," Eupheron muttered before leaping into the air and vanishing with a hiss of wind.
— The Gears of Fate Turn —
Under the low-hanging night, the camp tent was dimly lit by a single lamp. Eren sat cross-legged, flashes of battle and near-death moments replaying in his mind—each fall, each awakening, felt carved into his blood.
The greatest gain from this mission was the complete transformation of his body into a massive energy core. Though it was less than two-fifths full, his power was now on a completely different level.
His consciousness focused on the Obsidian Sigil within his mind.
Why had it appeared then? Why could it suppress the silver-haired man?
Did it only activate autonomously when he was on the verge of death?
If so... did that mean he had nothing left to fear?
The thought arose, only to be coolly suppressed.
He knew he couldn't control that power.
Throughout the mission, he'd been in mortal danger multiple times, yet the Sigil only triggered in the presence of the silver-haired man.
What was the key catalyst?
Was it the man's status as a divine demon, or the "Annihilating Power" within the crimson-black miasma?
"—Celestial Tome... Terrestrial Tome..."
The silver-haired man's final scream echoed in his memory.
Was the Obsidian Seal related to the two legendary texts?
Was it truly an artifact formed from the "Celestial Tome" and "Terrestrial Tome"?
A realization stirred within him—if he could unravel this mystery, he might seize that ultimate power.
At that moment, the vague pattern in the void of his mind seemed to sharpen slightly, its luminous lines flickering. A massive, ancient book materialized above it. Two words were faintly visible on the cover—"META" and "I." The runes between its pages gleamed coldly, like ancient pictographs.
He tentatively reached out with his psionic awareness.
Instantly, agonizing pain ripped through his mind.
Eren understood immediately—these runes were untouchable, unusable.
But they were undoubtedly extraordinary, containing power beyond comprehension.
Perhaps only when he became strong enough could he unveil their truth.
He opened his eyes and let out a long breath.
The mysteries were too deep, the power too distant.
He was still weak—but the will to grow stronger burned within him like a raging fire.
---
The next morning, Eren, Ethan, and Aveline boarded the helicopter bound for Ovalis Sector.
Before departure, Nadia gave Eren a firm reminder.
"I'll report to GVA Headquarters as soon as possible to confirm your clearance.
If anything urgent arises in Ovalis Sector, go straight to the Kairos Estate."
The helicopter lifted off, blades cutting through the morning air.
Sunlight streamed through the cabin window, spilling across Eren's face.
He closed his eyes. The title of death-row inmate still clung to him like a lingering shadow—cold, heavy, unshakable.
Yet deep within, he could sense it clearly:
the gears of fate had already begun to turn.