Chapter 80: Whispers of the Abyss

The silence in the Grand Library was deafening. The battle had ended, but the air remained thick with the weight of what had transpired.

Eren stood amidst the ruins, his golden eyes flickering in the dim light. Shadows swirled around him like a living entity, restless and hungry.

His grip on his blade tightened. The masked assassins… They had come prepared—not just to kill, but to test him.

And that meant only one thing.

Someone knew.

Someone out there knew about his growing strength, his control over the abyss, and the path he was treading.

"You should have remained ignorant."

The final words of the retreating assassin echoed in his mind.

A warning?

Or a threat?

Eren exhaled slowly, his breath steadying. He couldn't afford to lose focus. Not now.

---

Traces of the Unknown

His eyes drifted toward the blood splattered across the floor—a trail left by the injured assassin.

He followed it, his senses sharp. Though they had escaped, they weren't flawless.

The blood carried mana residue.

A signature.

Eren knelt, pressing his fingers against the crimson stain. The moment he did, a surge of dark energy flickered to life, connecting him to the lingering trace of his enemy's essence.

A vision flashed before his eyes—

A vast underground chamber. Torches casting eerie shadows. Figures in dark robes kneeling before a monolithic stone altar.

A name whispered in the abyss.

The Obsidian Covenant.

Eren's eyes snapped open, his pulse steady despite the revelation.

A cult? An assassin organization? Or something worse?

Whoever they were, they were powerful enough to send trained killers after him.

And that meant they were afraid.

---

The Academy's Unseen Dangers

Eren wiped the blood from his fingers and turned away. He had seen enough.

There was no doubt—this went deeper than he had imagined.

And yet, he couldn't afford to make rash moves. Not when he was still navigating the dangerous game within the Academy itself.

Speaking of which…

His eyes narrowed as he felt a presence approaching from the corridor outside.

Footsteps. Calm. Measured.

Someone had sensed the disturbance.

Eren straightened, his expression unreadable as the massive double doors creaked open.

A tall figure stepped inside—

Professor Alistair.

One of the Academy's most feared instructors.

And one of the few people Eren hadn't yet decided whether to trust or kill.

---

A Game of Words

The professor's sharp gaze swept across the ruined library, lingering on the collapsed shelves and shattered pillars.

Then, his eyes settled on Eren.

"I assume you have an explanation."

His tone was calm. Too calm.

Eren met his gaze, offering a slight, almost amused smirk. "A simple disagreement."

Alistair didn't react. He took slow steps forward, his presence suffocating.

"With ghosts?" he asked, his voice laced with something unreadable.

Eren remained silent.

The professor's eyes gleamed as he observed the traces of darkness still swirling around Eren.

"You're attracting attention, boy."

Eren tilted his head. "Am I?"

Alistair exhaled through his nose. "You were not supposed to make enemies so soon."

So soon?

Eren's gaze sharpened. That was an odd choice of words.

It meant Alistair knew something.

Something about him.

And the people after him.

But instead of pressing, Eren simply let a slow, knowing smile creep onto his lips.

"I never had a choice, did I?"

Alistair studied him for a moment longer, then turned toward the destruction. With a flick of his wrist, magic surged through the air, and the shattered remains of the library began to restore themselves.

Bookshelves lifted. Cracked marble mended.

It was as if nothing had happened.

A clean slate.

Alistair's gaze slid back to Eren. "If you die too soon, it would be… disappointing."

Then, without another word, he turned and left.

The doors shut behind him with a resounding thud.

Eren stood in silence.

Alistair had revealed more than he intended.

He wasn't just some professor. He was watching. Waiting.

And that meant one thing—

The real battle wasn't in the shadows.

It was right here, within the Academy itself.

And every move Eren made would be watched by unseen eyes.

"Let them watch."

A smirk ghosted across his lips as he vanished into the darkness.

This was only the beginning.

---

Author's Note

The tension inside the Academy is rising! Who are the Obsidian Covenant? What does Alistair really know about Eren?

The pieces are falling into place, and Eren is about to make his next move.

Stay tuned for Chapter 81!

— bloodyking99