Chapter 78: Echoes of the Forgotten Past
The weight of what Eren had just witnessed still clung to him like an oppressive fog. His body trembled as he leaned against the massive bookshelf, his mind reeling from the vision of Elric Von Helios.
The Cycle must not be broken.
That single phrase had burned itself into his thoughts, an inescapable truth that made his chest tighten. If Elric had fought against this so-called Cycle and lost, what chance did Eren have?
But giving up was never an option.
---
Shadows Watching from Afar
The air in the Grand Library's restricted section remained unnervingly still. Eren's instincts screamed that he wasn't alone, yet his mana sense detected nothing.
His fingers tightened around the book detailing Elric's erased history. If this was meant to stay buried, then he had just unearthed a forbidden secret.
And someone was bound to notice.
Taking a deep breath, Eren closed the book and slid it inside his coat. It was too risky to leave it behind.
Step.
A faint sound echoed through the stone corridor.
Eren turned sharply, his body instinctively lowering into a defensive stance. His eyes scanned the dimly lit path between towering shelves of ancient tomes.
Nothing.
But the unsettling presence remained.
They know.
Whoever was behind the erasure of Elric's history… they knew.
Eren swallowed the growing unease in his throat and forced himself to move. Staying here too long would make him an easy target.
He needed to leave.
---
The Chase Begins
As Eren stepped past the final row of shelves, the hairs on the back of his neck rose.
A sudden surge of mana.
Without thinking, he ducked.
A split second later, something sharp sliced through the air where his head had been.
His instincts screamed danger.
Rolling forward, Eren twisted to face his unseen attacker.
A figure cloaked in darkness stood just beyond the candlelight, their face hidden beneath a featureless white mask.
Eren's pulse quickened. An assassin? No… this was something worse.
The masked figure raised their hand, and an eerie glow pulsed around their fingertips. A spell.
Eren reacted instantly. He flung out his arm, and a tendril of darkness shot from his palm, lashing toward the attacker.
But before it could strike—
The figure vanished.
Eren's heart pounded. Teleportation? No, something faster.
He spun, just in time to see a blade descending toward his shoulder.
Clang!
He barely managed to summon a shield of shadow mana, absorbing the impact. But the force sent him skidding back, crashing into a bookshelf.
Dust filled the air as books tumbled to the ground.
The masked figure didn't hesitate. They lunged again, their blade shimmering with strange energy.
Eren gritted his teeth and countered. He twisted his fingers, calling forth chains of darkness from the shadows beneath them. The chains snapped forward, aiming to restrain the assailant.
But in the blink of an eye, the figure stepped between the gaps, weaving through the attack like liquid.
Eren barely had time to register their inhuman movement before—
Boom!
A shockwave of mana erupted from the masked figure's palm, slamming into Eren's chest. His body hurtled backward, crashing through another set of shelves.
A sharp pain spread through his ribs, but he couldn't afford to stop.
He forced himself up, breath ragged, mind racing.
Who the hell were they?!
The figure tilted their head as if observing him. Then, in an unsettlingly calm voice, they finally spoke.
"You were not meant to see what you saw."
The realization struck Eren like a bolt of lightning.
They had come to erase him.
---
A Desperate Escape
Eren didn't hesitate. If they were here to silence him, he had to move now.
Summoning every ounce of mana, he unleashed a burst of shadow energy into the ground, shattering the stone floor beneath them. The explosion sent dust and debris flying, creating a momentary smokescreen.
Without wasting time, Eren turned and ran.
His boots pounded against the marble floor, his breath coming in sharp gasps. He had no idea if the figure was still behind him, but he couldn't afford to look back.
The Grand Library's halls stretched endlessly before him. The exit was close—he just needed to—
A pulse of mana.
Eren jumped to the side just as a spear of energy pierced the air where he had been.
They were still after him.
His mind raced. He couldn't just keep running. He needed a plan.
---
The Turning Point
A flicker of movement ahead.
A second masked figure emerged from the shadows, blocking his path.
Two of them.
Eren clenched his fists. He was outmatched—but not helpless.
They wanted to erase him?
He'd make damn sure they remembered this fight.
Inhaling deeply, he focused, feeling the shadows converge around him.
Then, with a chilling whisper, he let go.
The library's candles snuffed out, plunging the entire corridor into complete darkness.
A domain of shadows.
His domain.
---
Author's Note
Eren has just uncovered a truth that was never meant to be known! And now, powerful forces are moving to eliminate him. Who are these masked figures? What is the true meaning of "The Cycle"? And can Eren survive this deadly encounter?
Find out in the next chapter!
— bloodyking99