Monsters
"This day has finally come."
Hearing the news, Frieren wasn't surprised. In fact, the demons should have found traces of the elf village much earlier if the chaos of war hadn't destroyed many trade routes. In peaceful times, simply asking merchants could have determined a vague location. After all, they never intentionally hid themselves away from the world, occasionally exchanging goods and materials, not completely isolated.
Oh well. The reason she temporarily saved and left the world of <
With this thought, Frieren increased the power output to the barrier magic in her hand. What was initially a tiny rhombus of magic quickly split into two, then four, growing exponentially, instantly protecting the underground part of the workshop.
Millialde and the other assistants beside her were instantly dumbfounded. How was it so fast? They had clearly witnessed her research over the past few days, discussed and studied together, yet somehow she suddenly expanded the defensive barrier to this extent? Unbelievable!
Omm!
The barrier's expansion continued unabated, leaping out of the small surface cottage. The elves, busy discussing the demon attack, clearly saw the white rhombus rapidly spreading. Unmistakably Frieren's mana fluctuation, familiar to everyone, so they weren't worried about problems. Sure enough, it quickly enveloped the outer perimeter of the village. It basically formed a mana barrier circling the very edge of the settlement, specifically identifying demons to ensure defensive strength.
"Great! Now we have another line of defense! This works too!"
"As expected of Frieren."
"Looking closely, the structure isn't actually complex, but who told her to have so much mana? Trying to analyze such a massive input directly is probably asking for trouble..."
Making up for structural shortcomings with raw power. This was the caster's current solution for barrier magic: reinforcing defensive strength with immense mana reserves, making even analysis difficult because one had to directly face millennium-level super energy. Ordinary mages would tremble just standing before it, let alone the ceaseless pressure, experiencing the suffocating shock of being amidst raging waves.
Yes, Frieren's current actual mana level was millennium-grade accumulation, thanks to buffs stacked from different accounts and countless souls/Runes converged into one body. Millennium-grade was the current limit of her physical strength, not her true mana limit. She herself didn't know how terrifying the mixture of things like the Moon Presence, First Flame, and Divine Dragon truly was. Suppressing her own mana signature was partly to feign weakness to the enemy, but more crucially served to seal her mana for increased safety; otherwise, she didn't know if this young elven body would explode. If someone at Frieren's level had a mana overload accident, the surroundings wouldn't fare much better than Caelid.
In short, the energy supplied to the barrier was more than sufficient.
"It's still strengthening." The elves under its protection couldn't help but marvel. Speaking of which, the village actually had no barrier experts; everything resulted from Frieren leading the research. In terms of talent, even among elves, she was exceptionally rare.
After a moment, the barrier's reinforcement and expansion finally stopped, ultimately stabilizing at a range exceeding ten meters from the edge—a veritable super fortress. When the silver-haired girl's figure appeared, people couldn't help but cheer, almost lifting her up in celebration. However, she made a silencing gesture.
"I sense it. At the very edge of the forest, there's the aura of a demon general. The number of companions isn't small either."
"The intelligence was correct. They're definitely heading for the village. Prepare for a defensive battle. Don't make noise now, minimize activity to avoid exposure. I will add illusion magic." As she spoke, the silver-haired girl raised her staff, scattering a mist. From the outside, it looked like fog rising in the forest after rain, combining with miasma to obscure vision, yet the elves within remained unaffected.
Let's begin. Understanding the signal to prepare for battle, the elves immediately started bustling with activity. But they faced a dilemma: how exactly should they arrange their defenses? Ultimately, Frieren and the village chief had to plan together, arranging basic defenses and patrols. The firing angles, trenches, and fortifications she deployed were practically watertight, even considering drainage and fire prevention for the village settlement... How do you suddenly understand trivial matters like military deployment too? It seemed every time Frieren underwent a long slumber, she brought back a surprise. Unbelievable. Magic learned in dreams? Regardless, her professionalism was impeccable, as if she had truly handled complex army deployments before. Otherwise, given the elves' lax military discipline and lack of organization, they probably couldn't even mount a decent defense.
Actually, she herself hadn't expected the experiences from Limgrave's series of wars could be applied to the elf village. Knowledge truly is interconnected, always easier than learning from scratch. Those experiences were also arming her.
"Today, everyone just familiarize yourselves with guard duty. Don't be too nervous. Calculating the distance, even if the demons pinpoint the village's location, it will still take them some effort to arrive."
"We just need to conserve our strength for now." Frieren said no more, finally allowing her companions to breathe a sigh of relief. But regardless, the village entered a state of readiness. They had to exert one hundred and twenty percent effort; what if a weakness was exposed? Thinking of the consequences, they gripped their weapons tighter, donned armor, prepared arrows. As for the mages, they kept their staves close, constantly using mana sense to probe corners; no one could sneak in unnoticed.
In reality, their combined sensory abilities didn't match Frieren's passive intuition; the demon auras at the forest edge were clearly perceived. Wait a little longer. Ultra-long-range sniping from this distance wasn't impossible, but stragglers could easily escape, which wasn't worth the risk. Moreover, Frieren didn't want to alert the enemy too early; their exact target couldn't be fully confirmed yet. What if they just circled around and left? Wishful thinking was wrong, but circumstances mattered. If she were alone, she could just charge over. For the elf village, "avoiding battle is better than engaging"; conflict avoidance was best. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn't act rashly. The real choice lay with the demon general.
Boom!
Suddenly, a magical explosion erupted from the other end of the forest. Birds startled into flight, the earth trembled, trees and plants fell. Amidst the rumbling, flames shot skyward, thick smoke billowing. This strike was merely to ignite the forest itself? Troublesome.
Fire fueled by wind, and today was particularly gusty. Flames, carried by the fierce wind, spread rapidly, engulfing everything with lightning speed. True, it was still far from the depths where the elf village lay, but everyone's face turned cold. The enemy's revealed determination to exterminate felt like a blade pressed against their necks.
"Quite the grand gesture." Frieren had already confirmed the enemy's unwavering resolve. What is destined cannot be avoided. The well-prepared demon army was clearly bent on annihilating the elf village. Frieren witnessed the momentary mana fluctuation at the forest edge just now; it likely belonged to some explosive power suitable for breaching defenses, wide-area effect, and burning damage. Indeed, somewhat concerning for her, but she needed to beware of secondary damage from the battle's aftereffects. Can the barrier withstand it? Should I proactively strike? No, that contradicts her usual cautious approach. The enemy might be intentionally probing; reinforcements could follow...
Compared to Frieren's calm judgment, many companions were already panicking, shaking their heads frequently, looking around frantically, only fear remaining in their eyes. "What do we do? The extermination order is real?" "We should leave this forest, otherwise they'll find a weakness sooner or later." "Go where?"
The clamorous discussion further sowed chaos. The only commendable point was that at least no one abandoned their defensive posts. What lacked was morale, already plummeting to freezing point, difficult to recover. Expecting people with zero military experience to immediately participate in this level of conflict was indeed asking too much, but they shouldn't lose heart.
"We can't go anywhere. We can only stand firm and defend." Frieren glanced around, simultaneously releasing her aura. Each elf felt momentarily suffocated, heart seized by a large hand, finally stopping its frantic pounding.
"The forest terrain is complex, and I've added illusions and miasma to interfere with exploration. Besides, setting fire indicates they're also uncertain, so reaching us takes time. Conserve your strength before the war begins."
"No more talk of fleeing or any discouraging words. Otherwise, I will certainly punish waverers." Silence fell all around. The cold words and substantial pressure left the elves unable to think clearly, shocked as if Frieren had become a different person. No, more accurately, she finally revealed a fraction of her true capabilities.
"What are you all standing there blankly for? You should have a response for me."
"Yes, ma'am!" Meeting her gaze, they instinctively straightened up, muscles tensing, not daring to slack off in the slightest.
"Good. Maintain the current stability. Remember, order helps us win. Continue patrols according to the routes I planned earlier. Rest assured, I will react immediately to any disturbance. You will absolutely not be the first to engage the enemy." Hearing this, everyone relaxed slightly. They weren't cowards, just lacked a backbone. Turns out elves need a push; lounging around all day won't do. Frieren now endowed them with needed unity, and they immediately began acting in an orderly fashion.
Begin. Most people's task was reinforcing the settlement. Even with the external barrier magic, fortifications shouldn't be abandoned; the more, the better. The conspicuous silver-haired girl, however, proactively walked out of the village gate, took out a magic book, and sat down on the spot. She positioned herself at the very forefront of the battlefield yet read calmly, a staff placed casually beside her, her relaxed back showing no sign of the impending life-or-death battle. Regardless, it reassured everyone somewhat. Let nature take its course.
Honestly, besides Frieren, likely no one else could withstand this pressure, especially since the legendary demon general Azart had been active for at least a century. Leading the troops personally, he was definitely not easy to deal with; fleeing was equally perilous.
The newly ordered elf village methodically prepared its defenses, constantly reinforcing fortifications under the village chief's command. Frieren continued reading the magic book on barrier knowledge. Although it was the <
Boom! Another explosion sounded, accompanied by falling trees and plants, dispersing the miasma. The demons likely wouldn't let the forest fire burn slowly; adding more fuel satisfied them. Some elves flinched in fright but ultimately continued working, trying to numb themselves. Frieren also shortened her estimated time to enemy contact. Commander Azart came with a mission; he wouldn't let his army waste effort in an uncertain direction, likely pushing forward while preserving strength, occasionally blasting out more fire.
"Looks like this time, at best, we just resolve the invasion." The long trek to find Serie might have to wait. After all, she couldn't detach from game magic for too long, lest she return rusty and need rehabilitation.
As she pondered, a short-haired figure approached from behind. Millialde handed her a dinner plate, casually taking her own portion and digging in without ceremony. Most importantly, she brought wine, its mellow aroma bringing a hint of intoxication. "Even on watch duty, can't forget to eat. Come, have another drink. Might be the last time."
"Don't think negatively." Frieren tasted the food, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity. True, she barely ate or drank in the game world, relying entirely on Rune energy. After returning, she immediately began researching barriers nonstop, lacking even a proper meal. The food culture in the Lands Between was far inferior to reality; after all, everyone was practically immortal, with minimal need for sustenance.
"You know? Right now, you're just like the strongest guard before the Demon King's room."
"Isn't there a better comparison?"
"If we get through this smoothly, you should go travel and relax. I have a feeling the elf village shouldn't bind your steps."
"I will, provided it's safe here."
"Even among elves, you're an anomaly. We rarely care about our kin, let alone a bunch of strangers. Indifference is the essence of elves. You're more like a human."
"Do you think I'm good like this now?"
"Good."
"Then that's settled." If not for the passion brought by game magic, Frieren too would eventually become detached, cultivating some quirk to last forever, heart like stone, indifferent even to life and death... Not about good or bad, just that she didn't want such blandness. As long as the elf village existed, humanoid forms would persist within, experiencing love, hate, passion, reproducing. If this social structure were missing, destruction would be inevitable. So the demons' plan was simple: not necessarily killing many elves, just crushing the village was enough.
"You're getting better at talking," Millialde smiled radiantly. As she said, not only did she not dislike it, she quite liked it. Her friend's passion changed her too; otherwise, she'd just be the drunk elf.
Unfortunately, relaxed times are always brief. The next moment, another series of explosions sounded, closer than before. Fire spread with unexpected speed, reaching deep into the forest.
"Can't wait any longer. You head back."
"Letting them burn on will make the forest uninhabitable, destroying the village just the same. So we must fight proactively." Frieren stood up, staff in hand, clad in light armor, ready.
Roar! A bellow shattered the silence. Before the demons, enraged monsters attacked first, definitely disturbed or controlled, actively spreading through the forest, relentlessly seeking elves. A boar monster appeared abruptly at the settlement gate, charging viciously. The next instant, a lightning spear easily paralyzed the target. Another soul attack turned it into an empty husk, collapsing with a thud, motionless.
An elf tried to approach for inspection but was stopped by Frieren. She picked up a stone, tossed it forward. The moment it touched the beast's fur, it exploded violently. Fortunately, the sealed barrier contained the blast, preventing major disturbance, yet the resulting blood mist was still chilling. "Don't touch it casually. It's booby-trapped with explosive magic, also a type of signal flare." Truly despicable.
The villagers frowned, thinking if not for Frieren's cautious elimination of the target with the simplest, most efficient means, they would have been exposed already. But the situation remained grim. In contrast, the silver-haired girl remained composed, further activating illusion magic. The mist enveloping the village grew thicker, almost impenetrable. Sure enough, several monster auras reacted, moving away; even creatures tracking by smell or hearing were confused.
Millialde added, "Hold the outer defense line, but don't all retreat into the barrier. We need to intercept the enemy here." If necessary, she still possessed some combat capability to contribute.
Boom boom! Distant explosions continued incessantly. Clearly, demons actively drove ordinary monsters forward, likely employing some control methods. Faced with such crude, carpet-like searching, finding the village's location was merely a matter of time. And their fate would be no better than the humans', because the demons explicitly stated extermination; no chance even to surrender and serve. No torture either, just simple annihilation.
The elves exchanged glances, fear flickering in their eyes, the atmosphere extremely heavy.
"Waiting here is pointless. We must eliminate the enemy scouts first—these monsters. Only then can we launch a surprise attack," Frieren stated calmly.
"Specifically how?"
"You all remain inside the defensive line. I will sally out."
"You alone? Are you mad? That's a veteran greater demon and elites selected by the Demon King." Millialde strongly opposed her friend's risky plan, shaking her head repeatedly, trying to dissuade her. "Just defend."
"If we wait for the demons to assemble, a single concentrated volley could potentially breach the defensive line. The barrier might hold, but people will definitely die."
"Aren't you afraid of dying then? Frieren, you haven't fought this kind of war properly before."
"Consider it talent, perhaps. Anyway, I'm leaving like this. See you later."
Whoosh! The next moment, the silver-haired girl's figure vanished into thin air. The elves about to stop her were dumbfounded. Gone right under their noses? Some invisibility magic? But that shouldn't erase her mana signature completely too. Did she truly hide a trump card? Regardless, everyone felt slightly more at ease, holding their posts under Millialde and the village chief's leadership. On a small scale, they were protecting their homes. On a larger scale, the world's only remaining elf settlement directly represented the continuation of a species; without this social structure, they would eventually slide towards total extinction.
Frieren indeed used Invisibility Body, Mimic Veil, and other magic synergistically, but the core mechanism was her long-term mana concealment, hiding even her aura, leaving no openings. Basic skill for an assassin-style combatant.
Hunt monsters. She temporarily ignored the demons, because her senses indicated they were still at the forest edge, very cautious, relying entirely on scouts. "...The one controlling the monsters should be that adjutant, but the number is certainly limited, and summoning more quickly isn't feasible. Deal with the puppets first." Having decided, the silver-haired girl entered the dense fog of the forest.
Outermost Perimeter.
Azart and his group advanced slowly in a defensive formation. Encountering no resistance along the way, they easily crossed the burnt ruins, devoid of any living beings.
"Lord General, are we being overly cautious? Isn't it too troublesome? Why not just charge straight in?"
"Don't underestimate the elves."
"Since strong individuals might exist among the elves, why didn't we dispatch Seven Sage-level demons from the start?"
"Idiot. We're still searching uncertainly now. If found, letting us wipe them out in one go is naturally best. If not, we can retreat and report to Shurahat the All-Knowing. He will understand how to deploy forces." Azart had considered the details thoroughly. Mission first, but escaping alive with intelligence was also important. Anyway, he didn't believe any elf powerhouse could prevent even escape.
Hearing this, the demons relaxed their tense hearts, continuing steadily forward.
"Halt!" Suddenly, the adjutant gestured caution. "Just now, lost contact with one puppet."
"Shouldn't happen. Did other monsters do it? Don't your puppets share vision? Don't you know who the culprit is?"
"Too fast. Felt like just a flash of lightning before contact was lost... Some monsters possess lightning attributes, but not capable of such precise one-hit kills. Definitely something wrong deep in the forest."
"Everyone, be careful. Drop your contempt." Even Azart felt a chill down his spine. What was lurking in the shadows, waiting for the demon squad to fall into its net?
"The hunt continues. The opponent is too fast. Uncertain if it's group action or one individual... If the latter, perhaps we should wait for reinforcements."
"Regardless, release your puppet control. Let them rampage blindly. We continue advancing."
"Yes, sir." Though the omen wasn't good, as soldiers, they couldn't return empty-handed; otherwise, other demons wouldn't show mercy. Besides, His Majesty the Demon King's orders were absolute; the legendary elf forest must be investigated.
Elsewhere, Deep Forest.
Monsters rioted together but died the next moment to a touch of scarlet mana, their corpses blooming Flowers of Aeonia. Frieren pulled the Grafted Blade Greatsword from the head of a giant wolf monster.
"...Contact seems severed." As long as she killed quickly and efficiently enough, she could disrupt the enemy's battlefield vision without revealing herself. Now, the demons could only advance. She glanced back at the numerous monster corpses. Turns out soul-killing and Scarlet Rot's defense-breaking, quick-kill methods were very successful, efficiency top-tier among known reality magic, and both controllable.
However, demons were better test subjects. Just wait for them to deliver themselves. As for the monsters, leave them to the village.
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