Eren could see that it wasn't just Yelen or Celeste who had stopped. The winds were also stopped abruptly.
The dry leaves from the tree that were falling towards the ground were levitating mid air now. The world itself had come to a halt.
There were only two times he had seen a phenomenon like this, and both times, it was because of the arrival of the author.
He observed his surroundings, but the author didn't make an appearance.
"I see... So he isn't here for me." Eren gazed towards the distant peak, where the thread was leading him.
He had already expected a possibility of this happening, but this time, he was able to confirm it. He wasn't the only person who had received question vouchers and the meeting opportunity. He was only the first one.
There was still something that didn't make sense for him though. Why was he able to move if the author didn't come for him? Was it because he was a transmigrator?
"If that's the case, Aster should have been able to move as well."
He remembered the second time he had called forth the Author, right when Aster had found him. At that time, even Aster was stuck in time, unable to move.
"Why am I free of his restrictions?" He wondered.
He turned to Yelen and picked her up in his arms. He couldn't waste time here. Carrying Yelen, he continued on his journey towards the distant peak.
....
"It seems you have succeeded..." A mysterious being appeared atop the mountain, his face being impossible to see.
He gazed at the young man who was holding onto the question voucher. The young man was yet to use the forceful question effect of the question voucher.
"Of course I do. You said that after you told me how to use Feng Yu's desire to find her father's killer against her and sneakily defeat her. You said that although I can defeat Feng Yu, but I shouldn't try to do it if I care about my safety."
"Honestly, did you think that scaremongering would work on me? You were just worried that within a few months, I would become the absolute ruler of this world!"
He didn't take his warnings seriously, as if already realizing that the man wasn't a friend.
He believed that the man just wanted him to be weak so he could be manipulated easier. But now, he was able to achieve everything in a single step.
"It that's what you believe." The mysterious being didn't say anything else. The man had already gone ahead and done it. Whatever happened next had nothing to do with him.
"That's enough nonsense. I didn't call you here to reminisce about the past," the young man calmly said. He activated the forced question effect of the question voucher.
"My question is still the same. Tell me how to defeat the next Overlord without getting hurt!" he commanded.
The question voucher disappeared into thin air, as the effects were applied to the unknown being. Being forced by the effect, he couldn't resist the answer.
"The next Overlord you can defeat is the Holy Priestess. As for the method to defeat her without getting hurt, all you have to do is..."
"..."
"..."
The mysterious being told the young man the answer that he was looking for. With that, the purpose of his arrival was completed and he was freed of the effect.
He stood up, preparing to return. Slowly, his body started disappearing. Just like before, he left one last sentence before disappearing.
"It seems no one can change fate. I still wish you best of luck... You might need it."
His figure completely disappeared, leaving the young man confused. What did he mean by that? He didn't understand.