They couldn't fight him head-on. In their current weakened state, there was no need to stubbornly clash with a madman; let him continue to fight the air.
Even the once-invincible, powerful demons were forced to avoid his ferocity.
The five demons retreated toward the cave entrance. Grausam was now quite glad he had chosen to create an illusion of Frieren, as it had instantly driven the Holy Blade completely insane—a better result than any magic could have achieved.
"She has left a profound impact on this city."
"There's one possibility you're avoiding, and it's the worst news of all: that Frieren is powerful enough to create an illusory world that could be called a miracle of the gods. After all, we can't even defeat the monsters she controls right now."
"We don't have time to think about that, Macht. Our current situation is difficult enough..."
"Don't think you can escape!"
As if sensing something, Ludwig suddenly turned and roared, his ferocious equine face making the demons' internal alarms shriek.
He struck his own head hard a few times, and a sliver of clarity returned to his eyes.
"How laughable, trying to deceive someone with that kind of illusion? You contemptible wretches. Although I have a grudge against Frieren, we are at least fellow Hunters, and hunting non-human monsters takes precedence. Since I have been summoned back, it must be to answer the call to hunt you."
In an instant, his sword's energy crossed dozens of meters.
He brought his blade down vertically on the most heavily wounded demon, splitting it from head to groin. The cross-section revealed a gory mess of bone, flesh, and organs spilling onto the ground.
It died instantly, its corpse becoming part of the cave's decor.
The survivors' brows furrowed at the sight. It was terrifying. A Ludwig who had regained some sanity was now using actual swordsmanship—highly skilled at that. Otherwise, they could have easily dodged the simple, artless attack paths he had used before.
He furiously pursued all non-human existence. This was the duty of the Church, and the eternal goal of a Hunter.
Clang!
At the critical moment, Macht and another demon warrior managed to jointly block the Moonlight Greatsword. However, the head-on collision revealed its immense weight and sharpness, and a chilling aura that seemed to freeze their blood.
This was not good. The weapon was incredibly strange; they couldn't fight its wielder directly.
But they had no choice in the matter. Ludwig lifted the hooves of his horse-like lower body and kicked out viciously.
The two demons staggered back a few steps.
He had actually integrated his mutated form into his fighting style, not rejecting it but making it his own. It was this obsession that made him so powerful.
Suddenly, several more illusions appeared, surrounding them.
A moment's hesitation caused Ludwig to miss his chance to press the advantage. Instead, he was struck by a golden blade that severed one of his hooves, while another demon's sharp weapon slashed across his body. This combined, murderous blow would have decapitated any ordinary warrior.
But he continued to swing the imprecise Moonlight Greatsword as if nothing had happened, and the illusions appeared once more.
"We're not running anymore."
Grausam suddenly made a decision. "Our squad has lost another member and can't endure a long journey. We'll kill him here, occupy the cave, and wait for Frieren to awaken."
The demons could no longer risk trying their luck finding shelter in the city of Yharnam. They would gamble on eliminating the cave's master now.
The next moment, they swarmed him.
The shockwaves of the battle spread beyond the area, kicking up dust from the surface with a rumbling sound.
For Flamme and Miriadel in the distant chapel, the commotion was quite conspicuous. They immediately used a telescope to watch the spectacle—a chaotic blur of flashing blades.
It was clear the demons wouldn't be able to take down the Holy Blade quickly.
"Although those guys have been severely weakened, they should win in the end. I've encountered Ludwig before. His sanity is insufficient and his state is unstable; he can't last for long."
"Such a dedicated hunter must have been formidable in life. What a pity. Is he to be killed by demons once again?"
The red-haired girl's gaze grew colder. She absolutely could not let these creatures escape. Of course, after this battle, they would likely be so battered that they'd be unable to accomplish much in the dream. They couldn't even handle a single hunter who had lost to her master, let alone anyone else.
The power Frieren could exert in reality was vastly different from what she could on her own home turf.
Ordinarily, she had to consider the compatibility of different energies and the limits of her physical body. In Yharnam, she could fully unleash her power as an Old God. The two situations were incomparable.
As long as her main body awakened, all would be well.
Miriadel held the telescope, watching the aftershocks with excitement.
"...Of all the places for those directionally-challenged fools to go... they could have ducked into any building, but they had to provoke the Holy Blade. They're in for it now. There will definitely be more casualties."
With that, she lowered her gaze and muttered, "It doesn't matter. The priority is to awaken Frieren. Let's go check on the situation."
The two returned to the chapel room.
By now, the Doll had finished purifying a large amount of blood, leaving only a small quantity in a test tube.
It seemed like a trivial amount of essence, but it radiated a terrifying energy. A single fingertip-sized drop was enough to contaminate an entire city. It was hard to imagine the consequences if it were unleashed, yet now it was being handled so casually.
A moment later, the Doll finished her work and gently pushed Frieren before the surgical table.
"Should we inject it?"
"No, Lady Miriadel. As a precaution, a Hunter entering a state of slumber will reinforce their physical body to the utmost. Moreover, the flesh of an Old God is not easily pierced."
"Then how do we give the blood to Master? Why is there another hurdle?"
They then watched as the Doll raised the test tube and drank it all in one gulp. The purest of Old God's blood did not affect her in the slightest.
The next moment, she slowly cupped the silver-haired girl's chin, aimed for her lips, and gently touched them. A vibrant splash of crimson spread as a deep and bewitching magical power connected their spirits.
She was feeding it to her mouth-to-mouth!
A curious smile appeared on Miriadel's face. She reached out, intending to cover Flamme's eyes, but her hand was sharply slapped away. For some reason, the red-haired girl had an inexplicably indignant look on her face.
In a single breath, the Doll completed the feeding and gently wiped the blood from the corner of Frieren's mouth.
She then knelt on the floor in a prayer-like posture, murmuring something unintelligible. It was faint and unclear, but it seemed to be some kind of profound and ancient mental spell.
As she chanted, the silver-haired girl's eyebrow twitched slightly.
Then, she slowly opened a pair of emerald eyes. The hazy weariness vanished in an instant, replaced by the imposing pressure of a superior being that weighed on their hearts. Even a single, non-malicious glance stirred terror within them, and the entire chapel felt as if it had been plunged into an ice cellar.
She's awake!
But everyone's heart tightened. Given the pile-up of terrible circumstances, it was hard to tell who had woken up. If the Old God was playing tricks, wouldn't they all be doomed...
"Don't be so wary. The plan was a success. Thank you for waking this splinter soul of mine."
"Success, my ass. Your apprentice followed you here."
"You must have been frightened, Flamme."
Before she finished speaking, the red-haired girl threw herself onto her lap, putting distance between her and the Doll, and nodded. "Master, I'm the great hero!"
Knowing that the splinter soul's consciousness was synchronized with the main body's and would share its thoughts, Flamme immediately reported her good news. Her large eyes sparkled, and as expected, she saw a genuine smile on Frieren's face.
The latter patted her head and replied:
"Well done. To have reached the highest assessed rank for a human mage at such a young age, I am proud of you."
"Genius is merely your starting line. A single era cannot contain all of your brilliance. Flamme, you are destined to be remembered in history for an age even the elves will not forget."
"You've graduated. I'm afraid I have nothing left to teach you."
The red-haired girl quickly shook her head and said seriously:
"I'm still far from that level. I've been dealing with great elven mages, mages from the age of gods, and the Seven Sages of Destruction. You all are my goal."
At the same time, the Doll added, "This child has a portion of the Old God's blood in her. She does indeed require a Hunter's guidance."
"Alright."
"I will teach you for as long as you wish. I hope my knowledge can keep up with your talent."
A weary expression appeared on Frieren's face. "Looks like I'll be busy. I'll have to be careful you don't trick me into something."
The familiar demeanor made her two acquaintances breathe a sigh of relief. That expression was the final confirmation that it was really her.
In reality, the distinction between the splinter soul and the main body wasn't so clear, especially when the main body was asleep. It was equivalent to thinking with an avatar.
Frieren's guidance at this moment would be very valuable.
"By the way, how did you know to rush back, and how did you make it in time?"
"It was Chairwoman Serie who helped..."
Flamme briefly mentioned her experience at the Magic Association headquarters, taking the opportunity to criticize the old senior's blatant attempt to poach another's student in front of her master. Does she like other people's disciples that much?
The legendary founder of magic was indeed unfathomably powerful, but her personality was also troublesome.
However, the topic of this little interlude quickly passed.
Next, Miriadel gave a detailed, step-by-step account of what had happened, even more specific than when she had cross-referenced intelligence with Flamme, including the hunt in Yharnam.
It turned out that as soon as she entered the dream, she had initiated a frantic hunt according to the original plan. Before Flamme's arrival, she had taken advantage of the differing flow of time to go on a killing spree, accumulating a large amount of blood.
At this point, another person joined the intelligence briefing: the Doll had already begun hunting even earlier, when the main body first fell into slumber.
She had reacted the fastest.
When Frieren's unstable main body manifested in the splinter soul, the Doll, with her deep understanding of the mind, anticipated this day and began collecting blood. Otherwise, it would have taken even longer to awaken the splinter soul.
In the end, all parties had acted in tacit unison despite the lack of communication.
Each person made their own judgments under the difficult circumstances of an information blackout, yet their actions converged. Not only did they avoid causing trouble for their teammates, but they also significantly advanced the plan. This sense of resonance was thrilling, and it had finally culminated in a decisive result at this very moment.
After listening, the silver-haired girl nodded and made the final decision:
"Rest assured, I can awaken the will of my main body. I'm not in any specific place. I just need to defeat the Old God and suppress it again to awaken."
"Once I awaken, I will immediately override the curse magic and then dispel the dream. We will crush the demons in reality."
Hearing this, everyone felt a wave of reassurance.
Indeed, there was no need to settle scores with the invaders in Yharnam. Dying in a dream wasn't true death, and they might even be captured by the Old God and used as pawns. It was better to wait and deal with them in reality.
Miriadel pressed, "Are you sure you can save everyone? They've all been turned into statues by Diagold..."
"If I let everyone stay that way, wouldn't I be guilty of letting the elves go extinct?"
Until now, she had been suppressing this anxiety.
She used hunting to numb herself and alcohol to distract herself, but before Frieren, she always let down her guard and confided her troubles. Thus, she couldn't help but ask the most fundamental question.
"I can."
"I have several plans: overriding it with the power of the Old God, protecting them with my splinter soul, or using Soul Healing. If all else fails, I'll just learn Diagold myself and then undo it for everyone. There's always a way, and I promise the worst-case scenario won't exceed a hundred years."
"You can learn even an absolute curse."
"If I believe I can learn it, I can definitely do it. Besides, if the other plans fail, I can still control Macht."
"Although I've heard that even the caster can't undo the goldenization, I believe you."
"It's a promise, then," Flamme chimed in repeatedly.
The Doll also added, "In this dream city, anything is possible. The mysteries of the mind are beyond imagination. It is not difficult for a Hunter of your skill to create a miracle. You will all succeed."
"First, give me some time to locate the target's position. You all go and rest..."
After speaking, Frieren closed her eyes and began to meditate, but a thick aura of blood emanated from her, extending beyond the chapel, along with a mental force that stretched to every corner of Yharnam.
So strong!
Everyone felt a mountainous pressure on their minds.
It was a brutally simple search, directly blanketing an entire city to drag the hiding Old God out for a beating.
Although it was a splinter soul left behind by the main body to stand guard, that didn't mean it was weak.
The ability to split off a king-level soul came from the First Flame itself, and the Hunter's avatar possessed a divine status on par with the 'Four Kings' Soul,' ensuring it couldn't be easily corrupted. This, combined with the Hunter's own power, created a double insurance that also brought formidable strength.
A half-ruler was showing her might.
The beast-men, rioters, and various monsters roaming the city suddenly tensed up and fell silent, all hiding in the shadows, not daring to make a sound.
When mental power is refined to its peak, a single gaze from a superior being can annihilate the mind.
Suddenly, Yharnam fell deathly silent. Far away in the cave, the demons finally seized this opportunity to kill Ludwig. His body, along with his iconic Moonlight Greatsword, vanished as if it had only ever been a projection.
Yet, he had still managed to kill one of the great demons while being outnumbered. The assassination squad had suffered heavy losses, and they still saw no hope of completing their mission.
Blood dripped from Grausam's eyes, nose, and mouth.
"That was her gaze that just passed over. Did she spare us because she has a more important target? Is Frieren the Slayer really that 'kind'?"
Macht said coldly, "She's just looking for a more suitable opportunity to kill us. Be prepared."
The hearts of the surviving demons tightened.
As expected of a nightmare. No enemy was insignificant. If they let their guard down, Frieren's omnipresent mental power would surely not miss a chance to cause trouble... and it was true. Ever since her gaze had swept past, they felt a rustling sound in the cave, a sense of stirring.
The monsters that had been dormant and slumbering seemed to have received a signal and began to whisper:
"The Great One has given the order. Torment them."
"Come, let us enjoy this endless nightmare together."
"Ah, we finally have guests."
As the chaotic, disjointed words rose in their minds, the survivors of the demon squad understood: there would be no peace before they awakened.
...
Around Elf Town, a bridge was erected with the help of magical engineering, rising high above the scarlet soil and leading straight to the entrance.
A detailed plan was drawn up overnight. To avoid being a hindrance, the Association and the Kingdom did not intervene in the battlefield itself. Instead, they used the bridge as a containment line to surround the original town and protected the site with a barrier to prevent any potential spread.
That was the original plan, but when Weiss and his party arrived at the town's entrance, they realized:
"We thought things were too simple."
The commander and his personal guards, representing the local fortress and the Kingdom, stared at the towering shadow of the city, dumbfounded, their mouths agape, filled with nothing but profound shock at the magnificent sight.
They couldn't believe humans could create such architecture.
Could a bridge be built so high as to span city blocks? Could a church spire soar into the clouds? Could mirror-like windows gleam with light? This city was the embodiment of miracles, a defiance of common sense.
Beautiful and majestic.
"Don't just stand there stunned. Steady your minds. Don't forget this is an illusion. Be careful not to get pulled into the nightmare."
Zanne's cool voice, carrying a magic-dispelling power, reached them. Everyone quickly thanked her. She was truly worthy of being the one sent from the Association's headquarters to oversee the situation.
It was clear that headquarters was also shocked. How could their own vice-president be sneak-attacked so inexplicably? It was like provoking a tiger in its own lair. The Association, now more powerful than the Church, would not tolerate such provocation. The demons had to pay the price. This had to be taken seriously.
No wonder Serie had ordered it to be handled with urgency.
However, it was said that she herself reacted calmly and made no move. Those familiar with her knew: when a truly out-of-control major event occurred, their master would definitely take action personally.
In other words, the high-profile actions were more of a political move to establish authority.
The Association had to make a statement, but there was no need for an overly drastic reaction. Proceeding with caution according to plan was sufficient.
She believed Frieren would handle it on her own.
This attitude at least proved that Serie hadn't foreseen a disastrous outcome. Although she couldn't see the other end of the timeline like an all-knowing being, her short-term divinations were very accurate; it wasn't difficult to calculate fortune or misfortune. Therefore, the main task of the Association party was to isolate potential contamination at the site, which was more important than directly participating in the battle.
Zanne explained, "We need the joint defense of the Northwind Fortress troops. First, we'll build watchtowers. If the dream spreads, send a signal."
"Understood."
Weiss naturally agreed. At this point, they had to act in unison. To have the demons attack on their doorstep was indeed a dereliction of duty for the garrison, especially concerning the situation of his friends Frieren and Flamme. He had to make amends.
He wished he had noticed the demons' plot sooner; otherwise, Elf Village wouldn't have been pulled into the dream.
Everyone moved with great urgency.
With the town as the center, they established a cordon of watchposts. The roads were set up with elevated bridges to avoid direct contact with the scarlet, rotting soil, maintaining a safe distance as much as possible.
At the same time, the mages led by Zanne carried out dispelling and purification work.
The successive great battles had left the energy in the elven forest chaotic and filled with various kinds of pollution that needed to be carefully investigated.
It also provided a glimpse into the battlefield. The investigation results quickly came in:
"It was Grausam the Miracle-Worker who attempted to infiltrate with illusions but was discovered, forcing a direct confrontation... The two sides engaged in a round of offense and defense centered on the barrier. As expected of Vice-President Frieren's barrier, it even withstood a curse. I imagine the demons were also quite surprised."
Thinking of this, Zanne smiled.
Everyone glanced at the remnants of glintstone falling from the sky. The traces of the automatic counter-spells were still there, exquisitely brilliant. The architecture of this barrier system alone was priceless, even if only in the research stage.
Who would have thought that Frieren the Slayer, known for her supreme firepower, also knew barrier magic, and at a level that even curses couldn't penetrate.
It was shocking.
"Unfortunately, it didn't help much for long. The well-prepared demons were very powerful."
"The barrier was quickly shattered, and then Diagold spread, turning everyone in Elf Village into statues. Although Lady Miriadel successfully resisted and was even strong enough to contend with the remaining demons, the tragedy had already occurred."
"The human kingdoms are all studying Diagold. Tens of thousands have died at the hands of Macht of the Golden Land, yet they are helpless. The curse is irreversible..."
Hearing this, everyone's heart sank.
The power of the demons' curses had always left people powerless.
Only a very few with exceptional talent could resist it, but that couldn't shake its status as an overwhelmingly lethal power.
Strictly speaking, the elven race was probably annihilated. The few who remained could not possibly continue to reproduce and thrive. The world would no longer have a homeland for them; they could only drift to the end of time.
It was hard not to worry about the mental state of the powerful elves. The long-lived without their kin would likely become lost and dull, left only to wander.
"Did the demons achieve their goal?" Weiss said through gritted teeth.
"No, we can't draw that conclusion when it comes to Lady Frieren. Think about it: if the elven race was truly beyond saving, why go through the trouble of pulling everyone into a dream? It must be related to breaking the curse."
Everyone looked towards the ashen city together.
The light and shadows were dim, with only a magnificent silhouette looking down from on high.
Its grandeur and miraculous nature were beyond mortal comprehension. Even knowing it was an illusion projected into reality, one was still awestruck by the caster's boundless level of imagination.
Imagination is a part of magical power, which is why Frieren can always create various new inventions and be invincible.
No wonder.
To be able to create such a dream was already enviable. Combined with the caster's own array of magical powers, she was unimaginably strong. Although the demons' all-knowing member had caught her at a vulnerable moment, she had adapted on the fly and managed to stave off a disastrous outcome.
Weiss pondered for a moment and said, "I believe Lady Frieren will return with the elves."
"May the Goddess protect them. I believe in her too."
"By the way, does the Association have any news on whether the demons on the front lines have made any other moves? It's been a while now; they should have received the news."
"I don't know. That's the front Lyman is responsible for, and Master is overseeing it. I guess they are also observing the situation," Zanne replied.
"It's truly a stalemate."
The two had no choice but to drop the topic and continue their busy work around Elf Town.
Perhaps due to the nature of Frieren's magic, many people began to show symptoms of drowsiness and had to be frequently rotated in shifts. Otherwise, wouldn't they just be causing more trouble by entering the dream?
Moreover, the black phantom was visibly shrinking, and everyone simultaneously thought of something but didn't say it: it was a nightmare.
Frieren had imprisoned all the invading demons and was going to torture her enemies severely inside. The decisive move would likely be made there; those outside just needed to maintain their vigilance.
Most likely, there would still be a final battle for cleanup in reality.
As the investigation deepened, the branch office submitted its report up the chain of command, and the news spread rapidly.
______
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