Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Eren commemorated his ascension to the Master Rank by unleashing a deluge of bloodshed.

The Adept-Ranked elves from Layos found themselves utterly outmatched. Eren's assaults annihilated them the instant he closed in. He granted them no opportunity to muster a Battle Formation. To him, these Adept-Ranked adversaries were mere nuisances, distractions to be swiftly eradicated. Only Expert ranked entities could serve him as his test subjects.

Fiery explosions. Flesh-cutting tempests. And the lethal buzz of lightning arcs.

Eren's elemental incantations resonated with newfound potency, overwhelming his foes and casting doubt upon their decision to target him. Their commander's directive was to eliminate Grimdawn, yet how could they carry out this order when their lone adversary remained unperturbed by the instability of his Ranking Status?

Thanks to the State of Epiphany, Eren had unlocked the Master Rank versions of his spells. This allowed him to unleash his spells with the full force of his newfound rank.

However, he quickly realized that this wasn't as straightforward as he initially thought. Breaking into the Master Rank had fundamentally evolved his mana core. Due to his unique Ranking Path and the attributes of his bloodline, his mana core now operated without traditional runes—a phenomenon he had never read about before.

The ease with which Eren could cast his multi-elemental spells was exceptional, channeling the utmost prowess of each respective element, all due to his runeless mana core. It was as if he could tap into his Elemental Attainments with privileged access.

Yet, he grappled with controlling the output of these spells as he desired. This unconventional method of spellcasting was unfamiliar territory for him.

Simultaneously, the instability in his Ranking Status posed a conundrum. Even by his standards, it would likely take a week or two to harmonize fully with his new Rank and its attendant advantages.

Further complicating matters was the debuff levied by the space-element runes, a hallmark of Sansara Sage's space-element runes. The potency of this debuff had amplified following his ascension.

Eren could make use of the space-element runes with increased proficiency. And yet, it appeared that the very proficiency in space-element runes was inversely proportional to the ability to harness elemental might. This, in turn, intensified the spatial pressure emanating from these runes, an unexpected consequence of his Promotion.

However, Eren remained resolute in his decision to confront his adversaries, recognizing that the sooner he acclimated to his new Rank and capabilities, the better. He understood that facing real challenges in battle was the most efficient way to swiftly harmonize with his current Ranking Status. In essence, he aimed to employ his enemies as tools to hone the newfound weapons in his arsenal.

Opting to diversify his approach, Eren chose not to solely rely on elemental spells.

Instead, he resolved to harness his Bloodline Abilities to their fullest extent. His ascent to the Master Rank had refined his bloodline, unlocking its latent potential. Among these abilities, the power of Shapeshifting held paramount importance, a core facet granted by his slime bloodline. Eren had exploited this capability on numerous occasions. Yet, certain constraints necessitated meticulous control to achieve seamless transformations.

Following his elevation to B-Rank, these limitations governing Eren's Shapeshifting Bloodline Ability had significantly eased. He now possessed the capacity to selectively adopt partial characteristics from any previously assumed form.

***

Eren harnessed his Summoning Class prowess to conjure a small contingent of summoned creatures, each springing into existence under the sway of his powers. These ethereal entities became his tactical pawns, diverting the attention of the other Rankers while he zeroed in on a specific male Tanker within the Layos army.

From skeletal warriors of the netherworld to almost-sentient Woodland Creatures, and from fiery Hatchlings to formidable Earth Arachnids, Eren summoned an eclectic array of creatures. Elevated to the B-Rank echelon, these summoned entities experienced a substantial augmentation in their Base Stats, courtesy of Eren's upgraded status.

Eren, however, was not inclined to let his summoned allies dispatch his foes entirely. Instead, he instructed them to engage his adversaries, restricting them from delivering fatal blows and maintaining a strategy to hinder their escape.

The butcher planned to methodically eliminate each foe on an individual basis.

As one of the Layos army's Expert Rankers, a shield-bearing and spear-wielding Tanker, advanced, his voice dripping with vitriol, Eren acted with swift resolve. Employing the Fist Arts techniques acquired from Ken Riverine, Eren's bare hands met the Expert Ranker's form mid-charge, delivering a relentless barrage of punches.

Yet, a discernible transformation marked Eren's arms from their previous state. They now bore a monstrous aspect, muscular and formidable. These limbs encapsulated the strength and physical traits of an Ogre, a race native to Echidna renowned for their prodigious physical prowess.

Eren's arm skin had thickened, acquiring the resilient constitution of an Ogre's hide. His bones had undergone a metamorphosis into the robust skeletal structure of his Ogre counterparts, affording him enhanced bone density that elevated the potential of Ken's Fist Arts to a new zenith.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

'Kekeke. This power, this unadulterated physical prowess coexisting with human agility... It's intoxicating,' Eren ruminated inwardly while locked in combat, his gaze mirroring the euphoria of battle coursing through his veins.

Confronted with Eren's assault, the Expert Ranker from Layos brandished his shield in defense. A succession of Eren's forceful punches rent the air, producing sonic ripples as the sheer momentum cleaved through the atmosphere.

The impact against the Tanker's shield triggered the activation of its embedded runic symbols, though they soon crumbled under the relentless assault. Within moments, both the shield and the defensive mana barrier it projected succumbed to the might of Eren's unyielding fists.

Boom.

In an instant, Eren's blow connected with precision. A solitary strike. His fist collided with the Tanker's visage, and in that fleeting moment, his face caved, obliterated into fragments by the force of the impact.

'This is just one of the many combinations. What can I accomplish with these newfound Abilities?' Eren pondered as he observed the crimson droplets of his adversary's life drip from his tightly clenched hand. A curious smile tugged at his lips.

For the first time, his hands emerged unscathed even after wielding Ken's Fist Arts.

'But that's not the question to ask, is it? The better question would be this: Do limits exist to what I can achieve with these Abilities?'

Eren chuckled inwardly, addressing the query to the void within his mind.