"Master, this fellow is about to give out, it'll break."
Flamme actively loosened the seal, allowing magic to flow while expanding the barrier to the size of a normal human. Yet, Qual's impending collapse remained irreversible, just like the day before.
To be precise, it was the copy.
The demon's original foundation was shattered, reforged into a different form under Frieren's flame, destined to remain fixed in that one posture. Logically, it should have been stable, but it looked precarious, on the verge of collapsing.
Though she didn't know what power her Master truly held, a mere Mirror Demon was clearly insufficient to fully replicate it.
"As expected, a few more materials will do."
"Its fetal framework is complete enough. I'll provide the Blood, flesh, and soul. You just focus on keeping the seal stable; don't let it fluctuate."
The silver-haired girl deliberately severed her right index finger and tossed it to the pale white shadow, which promptly devoured it.
"Huh?"
Flamme, knowing her Master's healing magic was miraculous, wasn't worried about the injury. Instead, she was startled by the fleeting glimpse of that finger, which seemed like an anglerfish tendril. Had she seen it wrong? Or was it from some mysterious ritual Frieren herself wasn't aware of? The atmosphere just felt odd.
Frieren thought, I can't find any better flesh. I might as well sever a part of an Ancient God's remains and put it in. As long as it's separated from me, it poses no danger and becomes an excellent alchemical ingredient.
The effect was outstanding. In an instant, the pale shadow stopped swaying, rapidly stabilizing and transforming into the appearance of its prototype.
However, its pallid appearance looked rather eerie.
"A little more Blood."
She cut her wrist, and fresh blood with a faint floral scent flowed into the shadow. The power of the Divine Dragon was relatively weaker but more suitable than the Blood of an Ancient God; for safety, she chose it to facilitate the copy's energy flow.
After this step, the phantom even gained a flush of color. Aside from the ghostly white mist clinging to its skin, it was only slightly shorter than the original body.
"Very good. But it seems you can't bear the Royal Might. Let's add some fragments then."
Frieren's re-grown index finger tapped her temple, pulling out a wisp of flame, symbolizing a strand of the First Flame's Soul separating to enter another vessel.
With three distinct powers integrated into its framework, Qual ceased to exist. Only the strongest phantom in history slowly rose to its feet. Its eyes shone brightly, its aura was commanding, its mana vast, and it was utterly flawless.
However, it couldn't speak, and its expression was generally blank.
Never mind. Copies aren't meant to speak anyway. As long as its combat power is sufficient to stand on its own, it has a naturally suited task, truly meant for it—
—Guard duty.
The ever-expanding Elven Village needed an additional powerful guardian on standby 24/7.
"You can release the seal now, Flamme."
After the seal was removed, it remained remarkably agile. Its blinking big eyes surveyed the surroundings, making anyone who felt its gaze feel a tremor in their heart.
It showed no emotion, only fundamental vigilance. It seemed not to be an aggressive type, yet its power was not to be underestimated; it was like the roar of a fierce beast, though its might was still far inferior to that of a Great Demon.
Just as everyone was shocked, they suddenly saw Frieren hand the Water Mirror Golem a staff.
Immediately after, she charged power on the spot and unleashed a surging torrent.
Sorcery: Comet Azur!
Almost simultaneously, the Water Mirror Golem unleashed an identical spell in response. The two torrents of energy resonated throughout the surroundings; though they were single-target linear attacks, their shockwaves were terrifying.
The Grave of the Unknown King rumbled and collapsed during this exchange of blows, the ground cracked, and buildings disintegrated layer by layer.
All of this was merely the residual effect of the two Comet energies. No one dared to imagine the sheer, highly concentrated power contained within. If wielded carelessly, it could probably wipe out an entire street, comparable to the previous…
"That's enough power. Let's test its defense now."
No sooner had she spoken than Frieren's Comet, which had been evenly matched a moment ago, decisively overpowered its opponent and struck the Water Mirror Golem hard.
Many didn't even notice that it had created a defensive barrier, but it couldn't hold for even an instant. The terrifying energy wave sent it flying, tearing through the mounds of sealed rock and debris, completely revealing the full appearance of the temple.
Is she trying to kill it? Doesn't she care about her newly made treasure at all?
Whoosh!
The Water Mirror Golem sprang up from the rubble with a carp-like flip. Its arm was fractured, its thigh scraped, and a bloody hole marred its torso. Any human or demon would have died several times over by now.
Born only to die so soon?
However, everyone widened their eyes as they witnessed the White Maiden summon a golden miracle. Sunlight Healing at maximum power. In the blink of an eye, it was perfectly restored. Its casting speed, activation time, and healing performance were second only to the original.
"Don't be too surprised. Its body is specialized for healing; it's only highly effective on itself."
Even so, everyone remained deeply shaken for a long time.
The copy's demonstrated offense, durability, and recovery were already extraordinary, not to mention its other techniques.
Unfortunately, Frieren made a gesture, and the Water Mirror Golem stood with its staff held before it, closing its eyes to rest, entering a dormant state. It probably wouldn't open its eyes again unless it was in combat, and its master seemed unwilling to continue experimenting and reveal more of its capabilities, implying it had a significant use.
"See, Flamme? You need to practice your barrier sealing magic and high-power spells more, or else you won't be able to defeat the Water Mirror Golem in the future."
"I've already beaten it once, and next time won't be an exception."
"We'll see."
What was awe-inspiring to ordinary people was merely a goal in Flamme's eyes.
She realized that even if her Master was asleep, it wouldn't stop her from finding the copy to hone her skills. After all, there were few in this world who could consistently be her sparring partner.
"From now on, the Water Mirror Golem will guard the Elven Village and can also help everyone practice. It should be very convenient."
It was a sudden idea, but Frieren was quite satisfied with the outcome. With an extra layer of security, she felt more at ease managing the Borderlands. An Elven Village with fundamental safety would rapidly develop.
The second team arrived late.
Fenton, the overall manager, was among them. He had made sure to appear diligent, fearing a bad impression, and only relaxed when he saw everyone was safe.
He had just heard about what happened in the Royal Capital:
The credit for annihilating the two Demon Sages belonged to Frieren, assuring her immeasurable prestige. Furthermore, her claim of possessing a list of demon spies effectively gave her leverage over all high-ranking nobles, making her overwhelmingly powerful, flawless in both strength and status.
Henceforth, she would be able to decide the selection of the new royal successor, an unavoidable center of power for anyone.
"Chairman, I will certainly provide generous compensation for this incident. What do you think...?"
"These things are unavoidable in dungeon exploration. But I suppose if I don't ask for anything, you wouldn't feel at ease, would you? Just leave any records, like magic books, to me."
"As you command."
"We've been busy enough today. Let's just tidy up and then have a celebration. Everyone deserves a toast."
"Absolutely, it's on me."
Frieren nodded approvingly, openly showing her appreciation for this perceptive noble official. The latter, sensing the superior's gaze, immediately stammered and chuckled, finally feeling that the dust had settled.
The prestige gained and the exchange of benefits from this battle would leave an indelible mark on the Magic Association within the country.
By forging good relations and strategizing in advance, their family would continue to prosper.
Outside the Grave of the Unknown King, at the excavation site's resting area.
On the night of the second day after the great battle in the Royal Capital, the lights blazed brightly, cups clinked, and the orchestra played melodious tunes. Laughter and cheer filled the air, momentarily casting worries aside.
Although the Labyrinth Kingdom had endured the heavy blow of the demon unrest, it had ultimately pulled through. Moreover, the new super-large dungeon was akin to a gold mine, enough to swiftly restore its vitality. Regardless, tomorrow still called for looking forward.
People honored the heroes.
As the primary force that defeated Qual, Flamme became the absolute focus of the entire gathering, constantly receiving tributes:
"If it weren't for you, I'd probably be dead several times over by now."
"Thankfully, Qual's power didn't escape, or the entire excavation site would have been ruined."
Everyone felt a lingering fear, yet their relief was accompanied by praise for the young genius. This powerful child, free from arrogance and impetuosity, was destined to shoulder great responsibilities, filling them with emotion for all they had witnessed today.
On a land deeply scarred by demonic destruction.
The future leader of the human magic world had found her battle that would make her name. From this point, she truly began to stand tall.
The ways of the world are unpredictable.
Their machinations not only failed to halt the development of magic but instead accelerated the process of the central nations uniting against a common enemy, even leading to the appearance of a true Hero. Not just Flamme, but also Vain's legendary experience of remaining vigorous in old age and achieving new merits, and the promising new talent, Caimann the Great Mage.
This land remembered their names, which would be carried far and wide.
As for Frieren, she was an exception. She had long since amassed a reputation that few could achieve in a lifetime. What she lacked wasn't fame, but the pinnacle of battle achievements.
Defeating a squad of demon powerhouses, including two Demon Sages, single-handedly — her worth was beyond measure.
An unprecedented feat.
In verifiable combat records spanning centuries, she was undoubtedly the strongest. The mark she left would surely be remembered.
After a series of major battles, Frieren was too lazy to socialize further. She sat alone in a corner of the hall, flipping through magic books. Some records related to Qual, found in the Grave of the Unknown King, stated that refining it further should make it stronger.
"…I hope you can copy more techniques."
The silver-haired girl cast a glance at the Water Mirror Golem kneeling beside her, resting with closed eyes.
Ordinary movements were not enough to activate it, as Frieren had set it to be a rather passive type, to prevent it from being too active and causing destruction. This also happened to align with the demon's original nature, emphasizing defense.
That's good.
If it were like the high-aggro, pursuing monsters from the Dark Souls 2 world, she wouldn't dare let it run loose and attack people. So, guarding the Elven Village was its best placement.
Additionally, she had discovered some inspiration for ancient magic.
"It should be useful."
After quickly finishing one book, she continued flipping through others. Piles of magic books were thus brought back into the world by Frieren's hands.
The celebrations from the banquet didn't bother her. She might as well leave the stage entirely to Flamme.
Now, the red-haired girl was being crowned with a flower wreath, the center of everyone's attention. At least for the excavation team, she was truly a great Hero. Not only did she avert the spread of the demonic fire disaster, but she also ensured everyone kept their pay and their jobs; otherwise, if it had gotten out of control, they would have lost everything.
It was good for her to experience such acclaim.
Flamme was certainly destined to achieve greater feats in the future; her current level was still far from her potential, and her future was limitless. Moreover, this disciple was even better at theoretical research and teaching, making her an excellent pioneer for the age of magic.
"Speaking of theory, I need to deduce the Demon-Slaying Magic and Flight Magic now."
Frieren took out her notebook and scribbled, continuously writing fragmented magic runes, her thoughts leaping rapidly.
It's feasible!
Since she had already successfully used two spells, there must be a possibility of codifying them into knowledge, but they would need to be rewritten to fit the human magic system, with minor adjustments…
The silver-haired girl, immersed in her work, rapidly composed, hoping to summarize the teaching materials before returning to the branch.
It was easier than she thought, often allowing her to draw inferences by analogy.
As she pondered, the Water Mirror Golem on the other side was also scribbling strange, seemingly incoherent formulas. They were primitive spells, but they very much resembled the demons' logic for expressing magical knowledge.
"Interesting. Let's try this together."
She didn't know much about specific demon spell formulas; they could complement each other.
Frieren, completely absorbed, paid no heed to the banquet's lively atmosphere. As the laughter and chatter gradually faded, her vast experience (literally 'billions of moments') provided even more insights, accelerating her deductions.
A moment later, she gently closed her notebook and murmured, "Next are the derivations and annotations, Phantom. How about you…?"
Unbeknownst to her, an uninvited guest had arrived.
Flamme placed her hands on the Water Mirror Golem's shoulders, pressing her chin against its head, and stared with puffed cheeks.
"What about me?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Usually, I assist you with your theoretical deductions, Master, don't I? Even if I was socializing, you should have called me. We have the best synergy."
"Alright, alright, I won't do it again," Frieren said with a faint smile. "It's just that today was special. Consider it your true debut victory celebration, perhaps? Don't forget your starting line; the encouragement of today will become the strength of tomorrow."
"It's too exaggerated. Some people even said I'm a Hero," Flamme said with a shrug.
"I haven't even found the legendary Holy Sword. Even if it exists, there might not be a Hero capable of wielding it to save the world."
"To them, you already are their Hero. It's just a title; what truly matters is the essence of one's actions. Above all, never give up, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in," the silver-haired girl said profoundly.
"Master, lately you've been giving off a very emotional vibe."
"Hm, it's also my first long journey where I've encountered such a major event. I find it quite fascinating. So, this is what a realistic adventure is like… I guess there's no real difference."
Frieren let out a long sigh.
The world she was in was always a little better than Dark Souls, but she couldn't let her guard down. She had to stop the demons.
No matter which side, she would pour her heart into it, without any sense of belonging. As long as she saw injustice, she wouldn't stand idly by. As an elf who had lived for so long, she figured she should find a cause to dedicate herself to.
"Master is so much more active now! It's like she's really fired up!"
Flamme clenched her fists and gesticulated, stars sparkling in her eyes.
"I am not," she said, smiling as she stroked the red-haired girl's head and reminded her, "It's time to rest. Tomorrow we still have to depart for the Royal Capital."
"Alright then, I'll allow you to rest your head on my lap while I lull you to sleep."
Seeing Flamme's demeanor, Frieren understood. She patted her kneeling thigh, and the red-haired girl grinningly lay down, her breathing gradually evening out. Clearly, the frequent socializing had exhausted her. Young people had good stamina; she fell asleep instantly.
The silver-haired girl quietly continued writing in her notebook, while the Water Mirror Golem vigilantly surveyed its surroundings.
The night deepened, and the bustling day came to an end.
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