Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Chapter 2010: “I’ll kill My Comfort Before It Kills My Dreams”

Marina looked at Eren, with complicated emotions. She studied him for a few seconds, then spoke in a low, even voice.

"So you're prepared to die by the hands of your enemies? Is this your way of preparing your funeral? Is the White Raven Island going to be your last bastion of resistance until your death?"

Her words echoed a little too well in the silence that followed. Azurea glanced between the two of them but said nothing, waiting for Eren's reply.

Eren didn't answer right away. He looked out toward the edge of the island, where the soft lights of the distant town shimmered like fireflies in the dark.

His expression was unreadable for a while. But then, he let out a quiet chuckle—dry, almost amused—and shook his head slowly.

"Although I know I'll come very close to death in the near future," he began, "it's not like I'm suicidal. What I'm doing right now… it's not preparation for my death. It's preparation for my comeback after I'm beaten."

He looked back at her, his smirk crooked and tired but still full of that familiar defiance.

"Kekeke. Do you think I was stupid enough to send out the beacon of my location to all my enemies without thinking of a way out?

I will never die. Not really. I have so many ways to run if there ever arises such a need.

But I have to admit, I'll probably be surrounded, cornered, maybe even left with no choice but to retreat for a while. I will probably get my ass whooped when the time comes."

He chuckled, as if he had nothing to do with the scenario he had just portrayed.

"And it's not that my enemies are any less powerful and resourceful than me. They–" the butcher paused, letting the weight of those two words sink in, "—are more than capable of pushing me to that point. They might force me to think about running away and embrace obscurity. Of course, some of them will also do their best to make me abandon everything to make me bend the knee and join their side."

His smile faded, and for a moment, his gaze turned serious again.

"I have no delusions of grandeur. I don't think I'm the strongest demigod in Labh Salem. Not yet. I know what's out there. And I know there are still many ways I can be hurt, beaten, or broken.

As such, they'll try everything, from brute force to clever schemes."

He exhaled slowly, voice quieter now.

"And since I know that's bound to happen, I have to prepare to lose. But not in a way that ruins me. I'll lose on my terms. I'll fall in a way that lets me stand back up stronger. That's the only kind of loss I'm willing to accept.

The reason I'm telling you all this in advance is because I'd need your help. This was why I wanted us to get to know each other quickly."

"All of this sounds so tiring, Eren," Azurea said softly, her eyes on the floor of the gazebo. "If I were in your shoes, I would've gone into hiding. I wouldn't even think about taking over an island or fighting back. Just… disappear. Live quietly."

She raised her eyes and looked at him seriously.

"Not to mention the outside enemies you've made, the Elder Ichor divinity itself is like a slow poison. It's trying to kill its wielder in a way. Don't you think life would be easier if you weren't chosen as God Aleph's true successor?"

Eren didn't take a moment to think—his answer came quick, almost instinctively.

"For better or worse, I never thought along those lines, Azurea. My status as the true inheritor of the Elder Ichor's divine throne is what makes me different," he said.

"Without it, I'd be just another demigod. One bound by the rules of his pantheon. Forced to obey, to bow, to follow orders. I'd hate it if that was the case for me.

I… love freedom. I adore every aspect of it. If being unique makes me not bound by the rules, so be it."

He sat up straighter, his tone rising with quiet passion.

"Why should I become a regular Ranker when I can become the best? Why should I stay weak when I have the power to be the strongest? Why sit around being scared of what's coming when I can rise above it all?"

Eren's emerald green eyes glowed slightly as he spoke.

"Instead of being destroyed by mediocrity, I'll destroy my limits," he said. "I'll kill my comfort before it kills my dreams."

Eren then suddenly clapped his hands, the sharp sound breaking through the quiet mood like a spark in a dry forest.

"Alright, that's enough doom and gloom for one night," he said with a grin. "We're sitting under the stars, we've got drinks, and we're the lords of this little island. That's reason enough to celebrate."

Azurea raised an eyebrow, her arms folded. "Celebrate? After all that heavy talk?

Are you fucking kidding me? You… you just told us that we'd get attacked by everyone and their nannies from all sides."

Eren shrugged, the smile never leaving his face.

"What can I say? Being surrounded is great. At least you don't have to look for your enemies. You can find them no matter where you go.

And I don't want the whole night to be swallowed by dread. Let's get back to your drinking game."

Azurea narrowed her eyes. "You mean the game you ruined by not getting drunk? You cheated, Eren."

Eren laughed. "I didn't cheat! I just… have a very unique situation in my hand right now."

"That's what a cheater would say," Azurea mumbled, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

"Fine. But this time, no pretending. If you're not drinking to get drunk, then at least drink like you mean it."

Eren raised his hands in surrender. "Although it sounds smart, what you said doesn't mean anything to me. But I'll go with your feelings. That's how you folks operate anyway. Keke."

To everyone's surprise, Marina reached out and picked up a cup of the glowing spirit. "I'll join too," she said softly. "Not often we get quiet nights like this."

Azurea blinked. "You? Didn't you hit your limit earlier?"

Marina gave a small smile. "I did hit my limit…. But that heavy talk killed all my buzz. And if we're going to be allies, I might as well get to know Eren better. For both of us."

Eren chuckled. "Now that's what I'm talking about."

They passed the bottle around, refilling their cups and laughing as they fumbled through the loose rules of the game. Eren might not get drunk, but he played along with full energy—making faces, reacting to the burn, and letting himself enjoy the moment.

After a few rounds, Eren leaned back and looked at both of them.

"Alright," he said, "we've talked about war, gods, and death. Now it's time for something light. Likes and dislikes. Let's hear them."

Azurea groaned. "That sounds like a childish game."

"Exactly," Eren grinned. "But it's fine to become a child sometimes."

He raised a finger. "I like grilled meat. I hate bitter food. I prefer swords over spears. Daggers over gauntlets."

Marina spoke next, a bit hesitant but honest. "I like quiet libraries. I like the sound of rain. I dislike strong perfume and people who interrupt when I'm reading."

"Fair," Eren nodded. He took note of Marina's likes and dislikes in his mind before looking at her younger sister.

Azurea rolled her eyes but joined in. "I like spicy food. I like flying above the clouds where the world looks tiny. I hate slow music and being told what to do."

Eren let out a laugh. "That last one wasn't a surprise at all."

They continued talking, going from favorite colors and childhood memories to things they found annoying about their own powers.

The night grew deeper, the stars shifting across the sky above them. The bottle of spirit kept getting lighter. The air felt softer, no longer weighed down by fear and responsibility.

By the time the first hints of dawn touched the sky, the three of them were stretched out on the grass near the gazebo.

They had yet to plan for the storm coming their way. However, Eren had already established a bond of trust with the twin dragons.

He knew he would need the help of both sisters if he wanted to prepare for what awaited him during the Witches' Sabbath. They were worthy allies despite the potential headache they brought him in the form of their Calamity Rank dragon.

Because of that, he paid extra attention to winning their trust.

Grimdawn used all his skills to make the two dragon sisters lower their guard around him. Of course, spending one night together wasn't enough to build a strong bond. But it was a good start.

And for now, that was all he needed.

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