Phantom Demon

The three continued deeper into the forest, and the ground gradually became uneven. Every now and then, they would step on fallen branches and break them, making a "crackling" sound, as if bones were shattering.

"We're almost there; we should see it soon."

"I still have my doubts about Frieren's claim of 'not far'..."

"This time it's really almost here."

Galan shook his head helplessly.

They began to have doubts about this trip, which they had started on a whim.

Is it really worth it to look at a stone tablet...?

He looked up and saw...

The dense foliage almost completely blocked out the remaining sunlight reaching this area, obscuring it into the darkness of the forest.

Because it's getting dark sooner as winter approaches, if the group doesn't get back before sunset, it will inevitably be dangerous to stay in the desolate forest.

Moreover, the low temperatures at night are more lethal than some dangerous monsters.

If the body doesn't have enough heat, it is very likely to die from hypothermia.

"Hey, how about we..."

Before he could finish speaking, Galan felt a chill run down his spine, as if someone was gently blowing on the back of his neck, which gave him goosebumps.

He quickly drew his long sword and looked back, but found nothing.

The path they had come from had become a distant, dim point of light, like a small square of sky that could only be seen from the bottom of a cave, flickering with an eerie glow.

Is it just a hallucination? A psychological effect? Could there really be ghosts?

No, no, no, I'm a staunch materialist; believing in ghosts is simply against my beliefs...:::

However, if ghosts really do exist in this world, it seems there's really nothing wrong with that.

After all, if even supernatural abilities like squeezing fireballs with bare hands exist, then the existence of ghosts doesn't seem so outrageous.

He relaxed slightly, turned around, and suddenly realized that Frieren and Lia, who were walking ahead, had disappeared.

In the blink of an eye, they've left me behind?

Looking at the equally dimly lit Forest Path, as if shrouded in a thick fog, a bad premonition rose in his heart. "Frieren... who is she?"

Son

"They are Phantom Demon. They use illusion magic to create phantom images of the dead, specifically to lure and kill humans. Even among monsters, they are considered cunning and greedy."

"The phantom of the deceased... So that means the older woman in front of me is..."

The sudden rise of thick fog and the disappearance of Galan had already put the two on high alert. After hearing Frieren's words, Lia also focused her mind, gripping her Staff tightly and aiming it intently at the "monster" that had suddenly appeared before her.

But for some reason, she felt that Frieren was acting differently than usual, especially when she said the word "deceased." Frieren's aura showed a rare, subtle fluctuation.

Could this seemingly young woman be someone very important to her?

Thinking of this, Lia couldn't help but take a few more glances at the human woman that the monster had transformed into.

Her first impression was one of mystery and majesty, yet also a touch of detached detachment. When she saw Frieren, a smile touched her lips, and a faint melancholy flowed in her deep eyes, as if she were gazing upon a long-lost friend, or perhaps experiencing a reunion that felt like a lifetime ago. It was her... and it could only be her...

"Flamme... I never expected to see you again in this way..."

Even though she knew perfectly well that the person standing opposite her was the monster Frieren, a strange and indescribable emotion still stirred within her.

Even after hundreds of years, the days she spent with Flamme remained deeply etched in her memory, like a treasure a child hid in a tree hollow.

"Frieren."

[Flamme] called her name with a smile, and to Lia it felt like calling a cat; his voice was so gentle, like a spell, that it could easily captivate anyone.

To others, [Flamme] is the founder of the human magic system, a legendary human Mage. But to Frieren, Flamme is Flamme, her master, a living, breathing person, not just a fairy tale in people's mouths and picture books.

But now, besides myself, only Serie can still remember what her master looks like...

Over the relentless passage of time Flamme's original face has gradually faded from memory. Some cities have even commissioned a statue of Flamme with a male face. Had someone not pointed it out, Frieren wouldn't have recognized who it was.

You've become quite an excellent Mage. It seems I'll have to beg you for mercy again, teacher.

[Flamme] stood with his hands on his hips, looking genuinely pleased with his apprentice's progress.

Lia finally understood why so many people were so deeply entangled in the allure of the Phantom Demon without realizing it. The expressions and emotions he displayed were too real; they couldn't be faked. They were genuinely happy for Frieren. Even Lia, standing to the side, could feel that intense emotion.

Seeing a long-deceased loved one in front of you, chatting casually as they used to, most people would be completely overwhelmed by emotions and unable to make rational judgments, thus leading to their demise at the hands of the Phantom Demon.

"Lia."

"Qin?"

Just as Lia was wondering if Frieren would be able to bring herself to do it, Frilian suddenly looked at her.

Do you know how to deal with the Phantom Demon?

"Hmm, she looked at [Flamme] in front of her, whose entire body was emitting a fluorescent glow, like a holographic projection."

They didn't seem to have come up with any more ingenious methods.

"Should we... just destroy it with powerful magic?"

"Yes, it's that simple. So, for Mage, Phantom Demon don't really pose a threat; a high-density Mana shockwave is enough to disperse them."

A smile suddenly appeared on Frieren's face, as if she were showing it to Lia, and she pointed her Staff at [Flamme].

With such a decisive decision, she ended this farce. "Goodbye, Master."

She didn't give the [Flamme] in front of her another chance to speak, because what she was about to hear were pleas for mercy, just like the Flamme that the Phantom Demon had conjured before.

A powerful Mana coalesced into a mighty attack that engulfed [Flamme] in its dazzling brilliance.

The attack magic instantly destroyed all the trees in front of Frieren, and even completely dispersed the thick fog, allowing sunlight to once again stream into the forest.