Protecting the caster proved to be an overly cautious notion; when Frieren unleashed her ultra-high-output magic, all fell silent.
No one dared to make a sound.
Yharnam was already steeped in the fear of its master's return and her sweeping victory over the Old Gods, not daring to provoke the strongest Hunter while she was angered. Now, the appearance of this unexpected, supreme magic naturally terrified them into cowering, managing only a vague glimpse of a multitude of golden statues flashing in the sky.
The mental responses within them were gradually activating—a sign of their awakening.
"Easier than I imagined... Then we should be leaving as well." Frieren turned to the Doll. "I'll have to ask you to watch over this place. See you later."
"Hunter, I will wait for you, forever."
Lingering sentimentality was never her style; a knowing glance was enough. Both understood that the matter of Yharnam had come to a close, and the city of nightmare would be safe for a time.
Then, the silver-haired girl nodded towards Miriadel and Flamme and said:
"Reversing the Goldenization happens in an instant. The dream will be dispelled at the same time, and you'll feel a moment of dizziness.
"Since everyone's mental fortitude was strengthened in Yharnam—a blessing in disguise—the symptoms should be minor. Focus on the battle with the demons."
"Understood,"
the two replied in unison, readying themselves.
They surmised that some time had passed in the outside world, allowing various forces to establish a perimeter. This was part of the plan, as Elf Town had long anticipated that the demons would not pass up this opportunity—a vulnerability born from an internal crisis.
Reality would decide the victor, and it was destined to shift the balance of power between humanity and demonkind.
The next moment, Miriadel and Flamme closed their eyes and meditated, strengthening their minds to cope with the drastic shift from dream to reality, ensuring they retained sufficient combat strength.
All three were resolved. One way or another, this was the decisive moment.
As Frieren reversed the Goldenization, she simultaneously dispersed the dream, allowing the protected minds of the villagers to swiftly return.
Reality.
The enveloping city of nightmare faded.
The lingering shadows were replaced by the light of dawn. The town, once wreathed in a grey-black demonic aura, grew clearer. The hazy, drowsy sense of ambiguity vanished, accompanied by the rise of countless life forces as figures ceased to be shimmering gold...
"It's Diagold being reversed! Macht wouldn't and couldn't do this, so it must be Vice-Chair Frieren!"
The first to regain her senses was Zenze, who immediately issued an order: "Brace for psychic shock!"
Only then did they realize a soul storm was sweeping over them—the aftershock of the largest-scale illusion dispelling in history. It was well known that she favored a style of wide-range, high-power magic; they had to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Crack!
The many towering structures symbolizing Yharnam shattered like mirrors.
The first to fully manifest their presence were Miriadel and Flamme. The two of them emerged from the nightmare's afterimage and came face-to-face with the defending forces.
They had been on high alert, but upon seeing the familiar face of Wirbel, they relaxed their mana.
"You all should get back, quickly."
Even without their warning, the defenders began to disperse in an orderly fashion, because hundreds of elves, as well as the humans and dwarves settled in the town, were also recovering from the Goldenization. Looking bewildered, they were slightly panicked, and the crowd fell into disarray.
People pinched each other's faces, took deep breaths, and stared wide-eyed in disbelief. It took them a moment to organize their thoughts:
"The curse! We actually woke up from Diagold?"
"As expected of Frieren, she really analyzed it."
"...It feels like I just took a nap. I think I had a nightmare with lots of monsters, but as long as I'm back, it's fine. So, are we safe now?"
"Where are the demons?"
The next moment, a vast psychic power descended like a battlefield, and everyone held their breath as if they were being choked. Frieren was the last to emerge from the shadows, the colossal form of Yharnam vanishing behind her.
The silver-haired girl, hovering in the air, glanced from side to side before her gaze sharpened, locking onto the edge of the town.
She pointed from afar, and a surge of magic seemed to shatter.
Everyone followed her line of sight and was startled to see five demons, led by Grausam the Miracle-Worker.
"You broke my illusion?"
"The Magic of Paradise Passage? Too mediocre. It might have been interesting as an offensive spell, but you used it to escape. You can hide your mana, but can you hide your nature? It's too obvious. At this point, do you all still think you can leave?"
Frieren's calm words were spoken as if she were making small talk, devoid of any killing intent.
Though she was merely looking down on the group of demons, they were struck with terror. For some reason, even the flow of their mana became sluggish, and their bodies trembled. The experience of being killed in Yharnam still lingered in their minds.
Though they appeared normal on the surface, the mental damage had left deep psychological scars, to the point they didn't even dare to look directly at the master of the dream.
"Then let's fight again," Macht said. "I want to see just how strong the one who broke my curse is."
The silver-haired girl shook her head and replied:
"I still need to check if everyone is suffering from any aftereffects. Our battle ended long ago. All that's left now is the cleanup—"
She flew to the other side, revealing the clouds behind her as a purple-white light flickered.
Meteorite!
A massive sphere of rock descended from the horizon, tearing through the clouds, trailing flames, with smaller fragments constantly breaking off its surface, creating even more streaks of light. The attack had not yet arrived, but the demons were frozen in place, locked by gravity. Space itself was solidifying; there was no escape.
Even a soulless man-faced demon was shaken to its core.
The rough rock was over fifty meters in diameter; its impact radius alone was enough to seal off any possibility of retreat.
Macht immediately raised his golden shell.
However, with the caster himself wavering, the supposed invincibility of the metal was broken. The meteorite's surface slammed into it, denting the gold, and the enveloping flames melted it, causing it to shatter on impact.
It was too fast and too heavy. In the face of absolute mass, flashy magic was meaningless, to say nothing of the contest of wills between the casters behind it.
Diagold had already been broken, its absolutism dissipated, and now it was being crushed.
The one in the lead didn't even deign to return the favor with the same magic.
Instead, she chose to overwhelm.
The demons jointly raised a defensive barrier, but it couldn't hold as long as the gold and was instantly disintegrated. Even with all their strength, they couldn't delay it. It crashed down, making contact at point-blank range.
At that moment, the town's residents and defenders witnessed the magnificent spectacle of the meteorite's fall. The solid ground rippled like waves, forcibly carving out a deep crater.
Like a stone skipping across a pond, it splashed up hundreds of tons of earth and rock—
The searing flames crystallized the surface of the crater, within which lay the faint, charred silhouettes of figures. Yet, from beginning to end, Frieren paid them no mind, simply casting a Soul Healing spell over everyone to confirm the risk of aftereffects had been eliminated.
As for the battlefield that had drawn all eyes, it was already in ruins. This could hardly be called a battle.
"It's over."
The onlookers, including even Miriadel and Flamme, were stunned. They had thought another fierce battle would erupt in reality.
However, just as Frieren had said, it was merely wrapping things up.
Once she had regained her full strength and witnessed the power of the Seven Sages of Destruction, she no longer overestimated her enemies. She struck with the focus of one taking an exam, and her unrivaled power brought the demons a swift and miserable defeat.
It was a one-sided slaughter, over in a single round.
After completing a round of mental healing, Frieren slowly walked towards the crystallized crater.
At the last moment, she had mercifully left them with a single breath, just enough to be "grievously wounded beyond salvation, but able to speak a few words." As expected, the demons now lay wretchedly in the large pit, breathing out more than in, their bodies collapsing irreversibly.
Even if someone were to rescue them now, it would be meaningless. The real damage was not physical, but a blow to their very minds and souls.
The experience of death in Yharnam had completely crushed the core of their spirits.
Otherwise, a mage on the level of the Seven Sages of Destruction could have held out for a while longer, even if the outcome would have been the same.
"Why were you able to reverse the Goldenization?"
"Macht, in your eyes, humans are all just material objects. You don't grant them humanity in your cognition. Of course, you yourself don't understand due to your lack of emotion, so in your magic's logic, whether a person is golden is just a state. But I differentiate between people and objects, and so I can undo it."
"So, for my magic to evolve, I need emotion... How interesting. I am satisfied with this answer. Thank you."
"Receiving a demon's gratitude is indeed a rare thing."
From start to finish, the strongest of the Seven Sages of Destruction maintained a calm demeanor in the face of death.
Having expended the most mana, he was the first to lose his life force, vanishing completely in the crater's flames. The other, weaker greater demons were gone without a trace, annihilated by the meteorite from the very beginning.
The Sorcerer of the Golden Land had utterly fallen. The fear that accompanied him would also disappear, bringing this chapter to a close.
Grausam, left to stand alone, took a deep breath.
"You have lost."
"I'm curious, what did that demon prophet of yours say about me? In his eyes, I can definitely destroy the demon race?"
"Indeed. At the very least, you are a great threat."
"I've seen too many prophecies. They're either reversible and thus meaningless, or they become self-fulfilling spirals. Let him try. Schlacht's schemes are irrelevant. Only power can decide the outcome."
"The war between demons and your kind is far from over..."
Before he could finish, Grausam's mana could no longer hold. Unable to maintain his healing, he rapidly disintegrated, turning into a pile of ash that scattered in the wind.
Thus, the decapitation squad, assembled with the demons' utmost effort, met its end in Elf Town, with not a single one left.
Their loss was not merely one of high-end combat power; to be precise, it was the loss of "organized and deployable high-end combat power." Other greater demons were hard to find, let alone willing to take orders.
Furthermore, how much effort went into the operations, infiltration, and timing behind this? Only the demons themselves knew.
Their vitality was grievously wounded.
The significance of this victory was even more critical than the great battle at the northern fortress.
Frieren subconsciously rubbed her waist.
She was a bit tired from sleeping for so long. Although the situation had been critical, she had to admit that under the dual influence of Miquella's charm and the Moon Presence's dream, she had gotten a good night's sleep. It had been a long time since her brain had been able to relax and rest so thoroughly, and even the disparate energies within her body had fused to a higher degree.
It was a blessing in disguise. If she hadn't been able to accommodate more power, strengthening her main body even slightly, facing the combined Old Gods would have been much more difficult.
Meanwhile, the crowd cautiously looked around, finally confirming that all the demons had been annihilated.
She turned her head and said in a clear voice, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone. It's over now. This is a victory for all of us; together, we have foiled their plot."
The crowd was silent.
At first, they couldn't believe it, but looking around, they were finally reassured. The familiar, yet estranged, surroundings were still there. To be reunited after such an ordeal was enough to make them embrace each other, crying tears of joy.
"Thank you, Lady Frieren! We've won!"
"It wasn't just me. There was also the effort of Flamme and Miriadel. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to win either."
Hearing this, the two were flattered and were about to demur, but they were immediately drowned in a tsunami of cheers from the crowd.
"I'm still alive!"
"Move? Why would we move? Elf Town is still standing! We'll defend it to the end!"
"Only Lady Frieren could defend against an elite demon force of this intensity. Even a small country would have been wiped out. It's truly outrageous; this was on the scale of a nation-destroying war."
"Let them come! If they're determined to exterminate us, then we can only fight to the death."
"If even the Vice-Chair's hometown is like this, then there's no safe place in the world, is there? The only safety lies in striking back at the demons."
The crowd was filled with emotion...
For the change in the battlefield's situation, and for their fickle fate.
But when all was said and done, the bottom line was that humanity had won the war. With Frieren's decisive blow, and the foundation laid by Miriadel, Flamme, and everyone else in the barrier battle, they had pulled through a perilous situation.
Thinking back, every single step had been indispensable. Even if the seemingly insignificant barrier skirmish had been missing, if even one fewer demon had been killed, the situation could have turned dire.
Compared to Frieren, whose awe-inspiring aura and mana had yet to recede, the demons were not worth mentioning.
This was the dominance of a Mage of the Mythical Era.
As she sat on the ground and stretched her back, a bottle of wine was handed to her. She accepted Miriadel's gift and took a sip, the spiciness filling her mouth. It was strong liquor, but it did alleviate some of her fatigue.
She had grown stronger this time, but the cost had also been great. It was thanks to the accommodating nature of the Great Rune.
She had to return to The Lands Between as soon as possible to absorb as many Runes as she could to stabilize the energy conflicts after the great battle. The time she could rest here was shorter than expected. Now that the main issue was resolved, she would go back for a while. After all, the Land of Shadow and the Altus Plateau still needed to be conquered...
A plan for the future began to take shape in Frieren's mind.
So busy.
But seeing everyone safe and sound brought her relief. Although the elves' gratitude was a bit boisterous, having the energy to be loud was good news.
"Speaking of which, you really mastered Diagold," Miriadel remarked with awe. "Your talent has stunned everyone. To actually witness a curse be broken..."
"It was actually quite a lot of work. It only seems fast because my subconscious had already started analyzing it in the dream."
"Master, let me introduce you to the guest from headquarters."
Flamme led a new face, Zenze, and explained the situation. Another acquaintance, Wirbel, nodded a greeting before joining the elven village chief, Sharpe, to discuss reconstruction. After all, things had been broken and needed to be cleaned up.
The young female sorcerer exchanged pleasantries, her expression full of admiration for Frieren.
"I almost forgot. Chairwoman Serie asked me to pass on a message to you: when you have time, please visit the Magic Association headquarters for a research exchange."
"An elf's 'when you have time'?"
Nearby, Flamme's mouth twitched. In human terms, that was a non-committal invitation, entirely dependent on one's mood. Zenze, her fellow apprentice, also nodded.
"Her exact words were: I'm interested in Frieren's magic. When she's in the mood, she can come here for a chat."
"—So I don't know the specific time either. Vice-Chair, please arrange it at your convenience."
Hearing this, the silver-haired girl nodded politely.
"It's not a summons. Vice-Chair, just think of it as an invitation from a friend. Actually, from my master's attitude, I think any time is fine. It seems she was certain you would win from the very beginning."
"Serie must have seen something of the future, but what she sees is not like the All-Knowing's, nor is she someone who would be swayed by the future."
"Yes, the Chairwoman clearly saw a terrible possibility, yet she still believed in you."
Zenze's admiration grew even stronger.
It proved that the two Mages of the Mythical Era, who both refused to be bound by fate, were the ones who stood at the pinnacle of the world. This was a realm that Schlacht could not comprehend, and that was all there was to it.
The farther one sees, the more shackled by the future one becomes.
Their level was not one that could be shaken by foreseeing the future. It seemed her previous worries had been for naught.
"Also, please thank Serie for helping to transfer mana to Flamme. Without her help, the situation would have been very difficult. As a token of my gratitude, I will give her my research on Diagold. It should be useful."
"That's wonderful! I'll be staying here for a while anyway. Please rest for now."
With that, Zenze quickly departed. There was a mountain of things waiting for the mages to handle, such as dealing with the temporarily erected defensive lines:
Dismantle everything.
They had originally expected a fierce battle, as dispelling the dream inevitably meant facing the demon's Seven Sages of Destruction. But it turned out their intervention wasn't needed. The demons must have been thoroughly battered in the nightmare, and a single finishing blow in reality was enough to end it.
As they cleared the battlefield, they couldn't help but glance at the meteorite crater.
"It's similar to the one in the Labyrinth Kingdom, but the power control is much more exquisite. Otherwise, the crater would have been bigger, right?"
"The Vice-Chair's magic is unfathomable."
"It was a close call, but we didn't come for nothing. I finally had the honor of meeting the legendary Vice-Chair of the Continental Magic Association. Lady Frieren..."
Many of the summoned mages came to greet her, creating a clamor.
They even sought to connect with Flamme and Miriadel, who were after all influential figures. Upholding the principle of making friends far and wide, they socialized one by one. The latter even made a counter-pitch:
"Want to try some wine I brewed? The inspiration came from the nightmare; it reminds me of that experience."
The topic had inexplicably shifted to a drunkards' exchange meeting.
You've got to hand it to her.
No wonder she could build such a strong business. She had more talent for sales than for magic.
Having finally escaped the social pressure, Frieren was also well-rested. There was one matter yet to be handled: the Scarlet Rot contamination. Of course, before that, she had to repair the Water Mirror Demon.
With a beckoning gesture, she lifted a diamond-shaped crystal from the dust-covered soil. The next moment, it transformed into an identical white maiden.
The replica was unharmed and still usable.
The profound simplicity of the clone amazed everyone. Although they had heard the Water Mirror Demon had been subdued, they hadn't expected it to be so obedient, like an extension of her own arm. It was hard to imagine the resources and the caster's own power required to create what was essentially a powerhouse at the level of a Great Mage.
"You did well, both in decisively using the Scarlet Rot and in serving as my vessel. Here is a blessing as your reward."
A wisp of Rune power made the replica glow with a warm, golden light.
Even its inorganic face showed a hint of joy as it nodded enthusiastically.
Followed the right person.
Even though repeated modifications had nearly erased the Water Mirror Demon's original consciousness, that instinctive mental reaction was still necessary, like that of an ignorant pet.
Good work, of course, deserved encouragement. This trial also proved it was worthy of further investment.
"You can rest now. Digest it well."
A blessing was not given lightly. Even Frieren, who had mastered it completely, had to ensure the recipient was compatible. Fortunately, the replica had good affinity with her; with careful absorption, it could be strengthened.
A reliable and powerful gatekeeper was very important for Elf Town.
Of course, she didn't forget to place the red flowers back on the white maiden's two pigtails. The petals of Aeonia bloomed in the wind.
Preparations were complete.
The very existence of this ultimate weapon was enough to deter the demons, because they had been beaten and frightened by it before, and it was indeed practical. The Scarlet Rot had instantly eliminated two of the weaker demons and established an isolation zone to protect the town.
Otherwise, Frieren had no doubt that the enemy would have used some means to attract monsters to join the assault.
Those purely savage monsters would have further trampled the village, leaving no survivors, for the sole purpose of destruction. Due to the presence of the Scarlet Rot contamination, those monsters would mutate but would never dare to venture deeper, which inadvertently protected the town.
Now, its mission was over.
The silver-haired girl looked out at the devastation. The entire forest was in ruins, with flames flickering everywhere, a scorched earth stretching for miles.
A large number of trees had been felled to serve as materials for defensive fortifications. More had been broken, burned, or even uprooted and completely withered in the aftershocks of the war.
A pity.
But not worth regretting. This calamity was ultimately unavoidable.
The price for defeating the demon squad was already minuscule. Thinking long-term, Elf Town would continue to expand anyway. This could be considered clearing some space in advance, saving them the effort of cleaning up.
With this thought, Frieren held her staff with both hands, refining a vast and warm mana.
Though immense, it was filled with a sense of affinity for nature. This special quality made people stop what they were doing and watch.
The staff lightly tapped the ground. At the same time, she took an Aeonia flower from her head and placed it in the soil. Circle after circle of scarlet energy converged. The Scarlet Rot was being absorbed, completely devoured by a single flower, which she then placed back on her head.
Truly living up to her reputation.
This was the move that had annihilated the demon legion at the northern fortress, thwarting their strategy in Frieren's famous battle. To this day, the Demon King's army still cannot cross the great chasm in the center of the continent.
A Mage of the Mythical Era, full of vigor and fighting spirit, descended like a godsend.
When she put on the Aeonia flower, a rose bloomed at the tip of her staff, its core twining around the shaft.
Once planted in the earth, countless flowers of myriad colors bloomed on the purified land where the Scarlet Rot had been dispelled. The fragrant aroma masked the scent of war, and petals flying in the wind resembled an inverted rainbow bridge.
The Magic to Create a Flower Field was spreading!
With Elf Town as its center, it was like color being painted onto the earth, a brilliant stroke of oil painting written with ultimate mana, in a flash replacing the soil of the Scarlet Rot.
Mastery of control. Magic that can bring destruction can, of course, also bring new life.
Having witnessed this firsthand, they seemed to understand why Frieren could break the curse. Because in her eyes, destruction is always accompanied by reconstruction.
____
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