Chapter 66: Anticipation

Eren snapped a sunspore stem. Its illuminating brilliance lit his way through the dark tunnel.

This Burrow looked the same as any other. Biting cold air. Darkness ahead of him. Nothing but his footsteps echoing around him.

Ormann will hear him coming. Nothing he could do about that.

He’ll be hiding in the shadows, Eren guessed. Ormann will treat him as an annoying pest. A cockroach that just wouldn’t die. He’d want to deal with Eren as fast as possible.

The path widened into a large chamber. And yet, there was only one path forward. A thin walkway leading to an island.

Surrounding the narrow catwalk and the entirety of the cavern was a dark chasm. The luminance of his sunspore lit the sharp tips of the stalagmites growing from the bottom of the abyss.

Falling down assured a death by impalement. He’ll probably try to push me off.

Eren walked through the narrow path. Debris fell into the chasm caused by his footsteps.

He kept his focus forwards. The island at the center had more stalagmites growing from the slick limestone floor like trees. Some as thick as a mound. Some sharp as a spire.

Ormann hid amongst these stalagmites. Lying in wait for Eren to walk into a trap.

And Eren gave him that exact opportunity.

He walked onto the island. By its entrance were two large stalagmites. Big enough to obscure a man hiding behind it.

A searing hotness came from his right.

Eren immediately ducked to the left as Ormann’s hands grasped his shoulders and pushed him back.

His awkward posture deflected the force and he was able to back himself onto the stalagmite for safety.

"Tsk," Ormann clicked his tongue. "I don’t know how you were able to catch up to me. But you should have backed away."

Eren pushed himself off the stalagmite and found steady footing. "What can I say? I’m all kinds of stubborn."

He’s underestimating me. He’s about to punch.

A red blur whizzed towards Eren’s head. He barely moved his head to the side.

Ormann’s Reinforced fist struck the stalagmite behind Eren, cracking it. The mineral splintered and fell backwards into the chasm below. It crashed into the sharp stalagmites, sending a thunderous boom echoing through the cavern.

His punch missed me, but landed on the stalagmite. His next move is a grapple. I have to be wary of his reach.

Ormann extended his Reinforced hand towards him.

Eren backed away a step. Ormann’s grasp seemed like it was one foot too short.

But he knew that it was still within Ormann’s reach.

The fiery chains covering Ormann’s hands unfurled and extended into five individual limbs. It clawed like a hand towards Eren.

But an anticipatory step back from Eren avoided that entirely. The chains arced down, hitting nothing but the ground before dissipating into motes of red particles.

Ormann’s combo failed.

Eren immediately shuffled sideways and reached the center of the island. It removed the dangers of the chasm. It’ll be harder to push him off, and he’d be able to keep his distance from Ormann.

He’s surprised. That look of shock was evident in Ormann’s face. He’s not accustomed to people expecting his grappling chains.

"Don’t make this any harder than it needs to be," Ormann warned Eren. He clicked the flashlight open on his shoulders. Its light aimed directly at Eren, blinding him momentarily.

He’s going to hide again and replenish his Ræzoň. He thinks he can ambush me while I can’t see him.

The radiance from the flashlight grew intensely as Ormann approached Eren. Hiding behind the ray of light, Ormann’s figure was unseen. His movements, obscured.

But neither darkness nor brightness stopped the instincts Eren learned from the [Masochist’s Dream].

He knows I’ll dodge. So he’s going to come from the side and take out my legs.

The fiery heat in his knees confirmed his guess.

Ormann’s foot swept at his legs. It was slow. He’s not that proficient with kicking.

Eren shifted his lower body, barely avoiding the sweep. But his awkward posture allowed Ormann to move closer towards him.

Punch, grapple, palm thrust. That’s his combo. I just have to make sure none of them hits me.

It was too late. Eren could only raise his hands and cross them over his head as Ormann’s punch landed. It rocked him back into a stalagmite.

Heishtå, he cursed. If he didn’t reinforce his hands, his bones would have shattered. Still, it was painful.

Chains grappled his wrists and pulled him forwards, directly into Ormann’s reach.

He’s going for the kill. I have to get ahead of him.

Eren wrestled his arms away from the chains. Then, he immediately squatted and let loose a Primal Strike.

Ormann ignored his attack. He wanted to tank the hit and finish his combo. A mistake.

The Primal Strike landed in Ormann’s chest, knocking him back several feet and interrupting his combo. He fell to his knees, clutching his heart in pain.

He looked up at Eren. Surprise and fear flashed in his eyes. He didn’t think a Primal Strike would hit that hard.

"You... you’re more dangerous than I thought. I knew there was something weird about you... you were too quiet. I should have dealt with you when I had the chance."

He’s wary of me now. The same trick won’t work again.

Ormann replenished the Ræzoň in his hands before rushing Eren with an aggressive punch.

Eren couldn’t see his attack. But he anticipated it. He dodged again, letting Ormann’s fist crash onto a stalactite behind him.

By now, he knows I know his combo. He’s going to weave a feint in between.

Chains unraveled in Ormann’s hands as he tried to reach towards Eren.

But it didn’t extend fully. Ormann waited until Eren stepped back before advancing forwards and using his grapple. The chains extended two meters forward.

Eren ducked aside at the last moment, letting the chains jam itself onto a stalagmite behind him.

But Ormann pulled the chains back, yanking the stalagmite off of its base. It fell down towards him before pushing it towards Eren with his palmed strike.