Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

'Divine powers, huh? That's a bit of a headache to deal with. Why the hell should I fight a battle of attrition with this amateur half-god? I'll just butcher him.'

Marina switched tactics, realizing Eren's divine powers were on par with her draconic might. At least to the extent that it could cause her some trouble.

Eren wasn't someone she could easily get rid of despite the obvious ranking difference between them.

She knew he couldn't sustain his God Spark usage for long with his mortal vessel. Instead of allowing him to wield his God Spark, she decided to rip him to pieces with her overwhelming physical might and weapon comprehension.

One could say that the dragoness hated being seen as a whetstone to sharpen a certain someone's divine abilities. With a powerful flap of her draconic wings, she appeared right in front of Eren in the blink of an eye.

"So you decided to get your hands dirty. Keke. You still have a head over your neck it seems. It would have been a good call if it was any other half-baked demigod.

Unfortunately, you are not that lucky.

Come. Let me see how a dragoness fights."

Eren wasn't surprised when his opponent chose close combat.

Swoosh. Zoom. Clang.

He had already summoned the Elder Seed Artifact made from his own hand using Demonmir's soul as an artifact spirit—Asura. It was an Elder Seed saber he could wield perfectly.

'Let me see your wrath.'

This was Eren's first time using Asura in a real death battle after he clashed with Eliza in Anfang. He channeled his Wrath Mana through it and tried to wake the artifact spirit completely.

Screeeeee!

As soon as the saber was summoned, it released a sharp metallic sound akin to an angry banshee's screech. It was clear that the saber hated being handled by Eren because it carried Demonmir's hate and anger for him.

Eren used Asura to parry Marina's S-Ranked spear, creating potent shockwaves that carved pits in the ground and generated huge sea waves around the island. This was not only the clash of the elemental forces but also of the weapon comprehension.

'This human doesn't look that old. How can he wield his weapon comprehension so well? Was he taught to wield weapons right after he was born?'

Marina was surprised when Eren managed to block her spear. She looked at his saber and immediately sensed a subtle threat from it.

She could tell the artifact Eren held was no ordinary weapon. She couldn't help opening her eyes wide in surprise when she realized what it really was.

"How? When? Where did you get this Elder Seed Artifact?" Marina asked in a low, threatening voice.

As a dragon that had lived on for centuries on end, Marina was already aware of the Elder Seed Artifacts. She had also seen some of them being used by the demi-god candidates, who were supported by their respective organizations.

"Hm? Shocked? Kekeke. I made it myself. This saber is a big headache I tell you. I can't completely control it the way I want to because of it.

So, you might want to protect yourself," Eren said casually, looking at Marina with a charming smile.

He could feel the draconic might enveloping her body in the form of her beastly aura. However, Eren used his own divine might to shield himself from her influence.

He decided to temporarily stop using his God Spark and enjoy close combat with a genuine dragoness.

Marina's eyes narrowed, and she lunged at Eren with a series of rapid strikes, her spear blurring with speed and power. She also used her free hand like a weapon itself, her draconic claws doing their best to tear through Eren's flesh.

However, Eren's weapon comprehension and his movements exceeded Marina's expectations. The way he moved, parried, deflected, and attacked using the counter was so flawless that they all seemed like one single action.

Eren met each attack with Asura, the saber screaming with every clash. Sparks flew as metal met metal, each impact creating shockwaves that sent ripples through the air and sea.

Of course, he had made use of the close combat profession to tackle the dragoness. With Asura accompanying him, he didn't even need to rely on Reen, his multi-profession abilities, and his sevenfold mana core.

'I can't believe this is merely an A-Ranked Ranker,' Marina thought to herself as she kept on attacking Eren and defending against his counters.

Eren grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "You're strong, but let's see how you handle this."

He spun Asura in a wide arc, channeling his mana into the blade. The saber glowed with a dark, ominous light, and Eren unleashed a powerful slash aimed at Marina's midsection. Marina twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the force of the attack created a deep gash in the ground behind her.

"You're not bad, but you're still just a mortal playing with powers beyond your grasp," Marina sneered. She thrust her spear forward with incredible speed, aiming for Eren's heart.

Eren sidestepped the attack, bringing Asura up to deflect the spear. The clash sent a jolt through his arms, but he held firm, using the momentum to spin around and deliver a counterattack. Asura's blade sliced through the air, aiming for Marina's neck.

Marina blocked the strike with her spear, but the force pushed her back, her feet digging trenches in the ground. She growled in frustration, her eyes blazing with fury.

"You're making this fun, dragoness," Eren said with a smirk. "But let's turn up the heat a bit."

Eren's emerald eyes glowed as he channeled more of his divine aura into Asura. The saber responded with a surge of power, its dark light intensifying. He launched himself at Marina with a flurry of strikes, each one faster and more powerful than the last.

Marina matched him blow for blow, her spear dancing in her hands as she parried and countered. The battlefield was a blur of motion, the two combatants moving with incredible speed and precision. Each clash of their weapons created shockwaves that echoed across the island, stirring the sea into a frenzy.

"Kekeke. This… This is good."

Despite the intensity of the battle, Eren's playful grin never wavered. He reveled in the challenge, pushing himself to his limits as he faced off against one of the strongest opponents he had ever encountered.

He used his divine powers as a protective shield against Marina's sheer physical power. It not only boosted his overall body stats but also bolstered his defenses.

Marina, for her part, found herself grudgingly impressed by Eren's skill and tenacity. He was no ordinary foe, and despite her initial disdain, she couldn't help but respect his strength and determination.

"You…. it seems you have done your homework well, Eren," Marina admitted. "But don't think for a second that I'm going to let you win."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Eren replied with a chuckle. "I am not here to score a win against you, my dear. I am here to dominate."