Chapter 128: The Selection Process (3)

Eren's heart pounded in his chest as he maintained his magical barrier, refusing to yield to the relentless pressure emanating from Vlad, the Scarlet Scoundrel. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, but his resolve remained unbroken. The room seemed to close in around him, and the weight of the confrontation pressed heavily on his shoulders.

In the intense silence that filled the room, the elderly representative from the Tower of Wisdom continued to observe the standoff with an air of serenity, her eyes reflecting a deep understanding of the underlying dynamics at play. Her presence, despite her silence, added an extra layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere.