Chapter 55: Veilwalker Strength
In a heartbeat, Eren vanished.
The arena fell into stunned silence. Maria’s eyes darted frantically, her blade raised in defensive position as she pivoted in place. "Where—"
"Here."
The whisper came from directly behind her. Maria whirled, bringing her sword up in a desperate arc, but she was a fraction too late. Eren’s fist, encased in compressed earth, connected with her sternum. The impact resonated through the arena with a sickening CRACK that silenced even the most veteran warriors in the audience.
Maria skidded backward twenty feet, her heels carving trenches in the sand. Blood speckled her lips, but her eyes blazed with newfound excitement.
"Finally," she hissed through clenched teeth.
Eren stood motionless, face eerily serene. The wind around him stilled, as if the very air hesitated to intrude upon his concentration. Sand began to swirl at his feet, rising in spiraling columns that hardened into jagged spears of stone.
"He’s abandoned his blades completely," Naia whispered, leaning so far forward she nearly toppled over the railing.
Lyra’s expression had transformed from cool assessment to genuine fascination. "He’s channeling earth magic directly now."
In the arena below, Maria wiped blood from her chin and launched into motion. Her sword flashed with blinding speed as she created seven perfect copies of herself, each attacking from a different angle. The air distorted around her, reality bending to her will as the illusions solidified into near-physical forms.
"Impressive trick," seven voices taunted in unison. "But can you find me now?"