The Barrier Shattered
One week later.
Outside the Barrier, in the forest.
"That completes the analysis!"
Solitär smiled confidently and stepped towards the Barrier.
The armor that appeared after merging with the [Dark Aura] had already changed its appearance under its will.
The original heavy armor covering the entire body was transformed into a simple, close-fitting light armor.
It only covered the chest and those pert parts, leaving the rest of the skin exposed to the air.
Two strings of bells were tied around her ankles, jingling as she moved.
Soon, Solitär stopped just one step away from the [Large-Scale Composite Barrier].
Using the reflection from the [Large-Scale Composite Barrier], it saw its current appearance.
He paused for a moment, then his hand instinctively went to touch it.
'I never imagined that Mr. [Dark Aura] would have the ability to promote development.'
Solitär thought so.
The softness of the adult Demons made it somewhat infatuated.
But it quickly realized what was happening.
After shouting and cursing a few times, his hand moved again.
This time, however, the probe is directed at the [Large-Scale Composite Barrier] in front of us.
A hand, imbued with black, shimmering Mana light, landed on the [Large-Scale Composite Barrier].
The next moment.
Spiderweb-like cracks spread rapidly from the center of its palm across the [Large-Scale Composite Barrier].
The entire [Large-Scale Composite Barrier] is composed of several Barriers with completely different origins and techniques.
And it has now fully understood the magical theories behind it.
The clicking and snapping sounds echoed continuously through the forest.
After the cracks covered one-third of the [Large-Scale Composite Barrier], the entire [Large-Scale Composite Barrier], constructed by many First-Class Mages of the Continental Magic Association, finally could not hold on any longer.
'Snap, bang!'
"Click."
On the Cliffside.
Rienta took a bite of the apple, fruit he had just bought from a nearby town.
Just as I was about to swallow the crisp, sweet fruit pulp, I realized...
The Large-Scale Composite Barrier that sealed the Golden Land in the distance shattered in response.
Rienta on the spot, looking at the apple with a missing corner in her hand, and then at the Barrier in the distance that was constantly breaking apart.
An absurd thought suddenly popped into my head.
'No, could this apple be some key item for the [Large-Scale Composite Barrier]?'
'Just because I ate a bite of an apple, this [Large-Scale Composite Barrier] that sealed the [Golden Land] for decades was destroyed?'
The Mana tide triggered by the shattering of the [Large-Scale Composite Barrier] also attracted the attention of Frieren and the others inside the wooden house.
The group filed out of the wooden house and came to Rienta's side, looking together into the distance.
Just then, an immense and awe-inspiring Mana reaction also appeared in everyone's perception.
Rienta and Fern exchanged a glance. "?!"
Fern frowned, saying uncertainly, "This Mana... it seems to be from back then..."
A few days ago, she and Rienta also felt a fleeting Mana reaction.
It's very similar to the Mana we have today.
The difference is that this Mana is much stronger now.
Rienta also realized what was happening and nodded, agreeing with Fern's assessment.
Then, he slapped his forehead, dispelling the strange thought from his mind, and began distributing the fruit in his hand.
He went to great lengths to buy this.
After everyone received the fruit with bewildered expressions, Rienta took another bite of the apple in her hand.
"It seems the other party feels there's no longer any need to hide it."
"The Mana reaction is so powerful, it even surpasses that of Macht of the [Golden Land], who is hailed as the strongest of the Seven Sages of Destruction. It must be this that broke the [Large-Scale Composite Barrier] sealing the [Golden Land]."
Dunkel added, "Whatever that Demons's intentions may be, the outcome is that the shackles binding Macht have been broken."
Just then, Stark, who had been silent until now, suddenly pointed to the forest below the Cliffside and said:
"Rienta, look! Has the area of [Golden Land] expanded?"
Following the direction of Stark's finger, Rienta looked and indeed found that the [Golden Land] was slowly spreading outwards.
After finishing the apple in a few bites, Rienta said softly:
"It seems we can't wait for Serie's reinforcements."
After saying that, Rienta turned to look at Frieren: "Lady Frieren, let's split up."
"I'm going with Fern and Stark to deal with that newly appeared Demons."
"Frieren and Senior Dunkel are going to deal with Macht."
Both he and Frieren possess the ability to undo their Golden Transformation, but Frieren is more suited to it.
In addition, Dunkel has expressed his desire to deal with Macht himself several times, which is why this arrangement was made.
There's one more Rienta didn't explicitly say.
That newly appeared Demons seems to possess a strange allure.
His intuition told him that eliminating this newly appeared Demons would bring unexpected rewards.
Both Frieren and Dunkel had no objections to this arrangement.
Frieren took a bite of the apple in her hand, chuckled softly, and said, "Well then, let's go."
Inside the Barrier.
The central Plaza of the Fortress City of Weise.
Macht was sitting beside a fountain that had long since stopped flowing.
Even though the [Barrier] has been lifted, it has no intention of escaping.
Just then, footsteps approached.
Macht raised his head and looked in the direction from which the sound came.
Judging from the Mana reaction, the newcomer was undoubtedly Solitär.
After all, just a few days ago, Solitär was trying to break through the [Barrier] that had trapped her for decades.
But when Macht actually saw the person in person, it was stunned, and even its tone became somewhat unnatural.
"Sori... Tyr? What... what are you doing here?"
Solitär strolled slowly toward Macht, a smile on her face.
"Macht, have you found the kind of feeling we used to discuss?"
Upon hearing this, Macht remained silent and did not reply.
Solitär wasn't surprised; silence was her final answer. With her hands behind her back, she continued:
"Oh, I see. Looks like you still haven't found it."
"As expected, things have developed exactly as I predicted."
"We both want to understand humanity, yet we follow completely different philosophies."
"However... I don't dislike your inquisitive nature."
After saying that, Solitär found a spot to sit down by the fountain.
Macht turned his head, stared at the strange Solitär for a while, and then said calmly:
What are you trying to say?
Solitär sat on the edge of the fountain, swinging her bare feet and gazing into the distance.
There were several powerful Mana reactions there, and they were constantly getting closer.
The bells tied around her ankles rang out with a regular, crisp sound.
What I'm trying to say is that experiments are always accompanied by failures.
"If you keep repeating this failure, you'll eventually get the answer you're looking for."
At this point, Solitär paused for a moment, turned her head, and looked at Macht beside her.
"Macht, continue your experiment."
"I hope you can prove that the coexistence of Demons and humans is nothing but a pipe dream."
"Of course, I will do my best to assist you."
Macht also sensed several familiar Mana approaching.
These various Mana include Dunkel, the strangely behaving human boy from that day, and Frieren, who defeated the Demon King and was given the name "Slayer".
Oh right, there's also a human girl mage and a warrior.
Macht stood up, stretched his wrists, and said calmly:
"... Whatever you want."
Having said that, he walked toward the direction from which the Mana was coming from.
The clear, tinkling sound beside the fountain has disappeared.
Solitär stopped swaying her jade-like feet, chuckled softly, and followed in Macht's footsteps.
"Macht, you should be able to tell that I'm completely different from how I was a few days ago, right?"
"Hmm, I see. So, why is that?"
Because I embraced the darkness.
"Then what?"
"Then, I gained human emotions."
"?!"
No, this can be a reminder?