The Ultimate Confrontation
The silence in the cathedral was deafening, a tension hanging in the air like a taut string ready to snap. Eren stood tall, his gaze locked on Azrael, while Lyssandra remained in the background, faint runes glowing softly around her.
"You're ready to risk everything, aren't you?" Azrael asked, a hint of respect in his voice.Eren nodded, his expression unyielding. "Not for me. But for the world I'll rebuild with this power."
Azrael raised his right hand, and a wave of dark energy erupted, cracking the ground beneath their feet."Then prove it. Show me you're not just another failure in this eternity of bearers."
Eren didn't reply, but a fierce light ignited in his eyes. He summoned Astral Veil, his radiant aura contrasting sharply with the oppressive darkness that engulfed the room.
The Duel of Immortals
The fight began with an explosion of power. Azrael struck first, his dark blade carving deadly arcs through the air. Eren dodged skillfully, countering with strikes of surgical precision. Each impact echoed through the cathedral, making its walls tremble as if the very structure feared their power.
Lyssandra watched the duel with both fascination and worry. She knew Eren's capabilities, but against Azrael—an adversary with centuries of experience and raw strength—the odds seemed almost insurmountable.
As Azrael unleashed a flurry of devastating attacks, Eren employed a new technique he had honed in the Forest of Nyx. He activated Stellar Blades, energy constructs that whirled around him like a swarm. These blades struck Azrael from all directions, forcing him to retreat for the first time.
"Impressive," Azrael admitted, a thin smile on his lips. "But you've yet to see my full power."
He raised his arms, and the shadows in the cathedral coalesced, forming an army of monstrous specters."Can you overcome the weight of my sins, Eren?"
The Trial of Shadows
The specters attacked in waves, and though Lyssandra wanted to intervene, Eren raised a hand to stop her."No, this is my fight."
With unwavering determination, he plunged into the horde, each strike of his Stellar Blades dissipating the specters like smoke. But for every shadow he destroyed, two more took its place.
Then, the System manifested, its radiant interface appearing before him.
Quest: Defeat the Shadows of the PastReward: +50 stat points, unique ability unlocked.
Eren gritted his teeth. "I don't need your rewards. But if you want to test me, so be it."
He pushed himself to the limit, using not just brute strength but tactical brilliance to divide the shadows and exploit their weaknesses. After what felt like an eternity, the final specter was vanquished. Though sweat-drenched and slightly wounded, Eren still stood tall.
A Heart-Wrenching Choice
Azrael, still seated on his throne, clapped slowly."You are more resilient than I expected. But now comes the real test."
He extended a hand, and a vision appeared before Eren: his former life, the faces of those who had betrayed him in the Forest of Nyx. But instead of seeing them as enemies, he saw fragments of their humanity.
"To wield this power," Azrael declared, "you must abandon all hatred. You must forgive them or be consumed by this very power."
Eren hesitated, his fists clenching. Forgiving those who had betrayed him seemed impossible, but he understood that this burden would only hold him back. With superhuman effort, he whispered, "I forgive. Not for them, but for myself."
Azrael smiled faintly, a touch of sorrow in his expression. "Then you are ready."
The Legacy of a Bearer
Azrael placed a hand on Eren's shoulder. A blinding light enveloped them, and when it faded, Eren felt transformed. His aura was different, brighter yet tinged with darkness—a perfect balance of light and shadow.
"The power is yours," Azrael declared. "But remember: it is not a blessing. It is a responsibility."
Eren nodded, his eyes now glowing with a golden brilliance."I won't fail this world."
To Be Continued…