Defeat

The battlefield was divided in two by the massive rock wall that Lichta had raised. On one side, Rabiñe, Kanne, and Lichta were locked in a stalemate, while on the other side, Duncan and Frieren had already exchanged blows several times.

Frieren and Duncan exchanged blows with each other using both Ordinary Attack Magic and Defensive Magic, seemingly evenly matched. However, Duncan knew all too well that Frieren's magical power was more than ten times his.

"No... If this continues, I'll definitely lose... I need to strike first!"

He raised his staff, his magical power surging like a whirlwind, a low whistling sound echoing in the air. In an instant, several violent tornadoes materialized around him, whipping up dust and grass from the ground, like several giant gray pythons, carrying an aura of tearing everything apart, and strangling towards Frieren from different directions!

"Tornado Formation Magic!"

Despite the overwhelming attack, Frieren remained unmoved in mid-air, holding the Birdcage in one hand and raising her staff downwards towards Duncan in the other, her emerald eyes calmly watching the approaching tornado.

However, this was only the beginning! Just as the tornado was about to engulf Frieren, Duncan swung his staff again, and the magical attribute suddenly changed. Within the pillar of wind, blazing flames appeared out of nowhere. The wind fueled the fire, and the fire borrowed the power of the wind. The originally blue tornado instantly transformed into a firestorm that would burn everything in its path! "Wind-Transmuted Karmic Flame Magic" complete!

Meanwhile, examiners Sense and Genau were leisurely drinking tea.

A small bird perched on Sense's head. She stared at the towering pillar of fire, her eyes drooping, her face expressionless. "Quite a commotion, old man. Is the barrier alright?"

Genau confidently sipped his tea. "A foolish question. This barrier was personally set up by Great Mage Serie; it's not something that can be destroyed by brute force alone."

Sense: "I see, that's great. But, since yesterday evening, someone has been analyzing the barrier."

Genau raised an eyebrow. "Purpose?"

Sense: "I don't know."

Genau said confidently, "It's all a waste of effort anyway. Do you think there's ever a mage in the world who can surpass Serie?"

In the distance, Lowell, sitting in a tree, commented. "Goodness, first Lichta used Earth Release: Earthquake Core and Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall, and now Duncan has unleashed a combination of wind and fire ninjutsu? You still dare to say this isn't ninja? Ninja rule number twenty-five: Never show your emotions under any circumstances. And Frieren, most of the characters in the whole series have very little emotional fluctuation... tsk tsk."

Above the rock face, Lichta, seated on the rock, also sensed the terrifying clash of magic. "That old fool... he was actually forced to use magic of this scale..."

Rabiñe reminded Lichta again, "Hey, I told you we have a trump card, aren't you going to prepare it?"

Lichta didn't turn around, his tone indifferent. "Oh, please do as you please." His attention was more focused on the battle between Duncan and Frieren.

In the center of the battlefield, facing the sweeping destructive energy, a seamless honeycomb-shaped Defensive Magic barrier instantly unfolded, firmly protecting Frieren behind it.

"Boom--!"

The fiery storm crashed violently against the defensive wall, unleashing a deafening roar! Flames soared into the sky, heat waves radiated outwards, and even the ground was scorched black. However, the seemingly thin defensive wall stood firm like an ancient rock, unmoved by the ferocious attack, with only its surface rippling with intense magical energy.

Frieren's figure was blurred in the firelight, but the magical output maintaining the defensive barrier was astonishingly stable. Although this kind of all-around, Absolute Defense was extremely demanding on magical power, it seemed to be just a normal consumption for her, who possessed vast magical power.

Duncan's pupils contracted slightly. "Ugh...!"

Although he anticipated that the combination magic would be difficult to defeat his opponent easily, he did not expect her to defend so easily. Without a moment to catch his breath, he immediately changed tactics, his staff flashing repeatedly, several sharp "Light of Judgment" attacking Frieren from different angles like precisely guided arrows! The pentagram-shaped beams of light, carrying the properties of purification and penetration, drew deadly trajectories in the air and detonated one after another!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The smoke and dust from the explosion temporarily obscured visibility, but it was clear that the attack was being temporarily blocked by Defensive Magic. However, the attack was still effective; the Light of Judgment magic had penetrating power against Defensive Magic, and as long as the attack continued...

But in the next instant, Duncan's expression changed drastically. His magical perception clearly "saw" —Frieren's figure moved!

"Well!?"

"Impossible... those are uninterrupted arrows of light! How could there be a gap in the counterattack..."

Before he could finish his thought, Frieren appeared before him in an instant! She still had that calm and expressionless expression, but the beam of magic gathered at the tip of her staff made Duncan feel a deadly threat.

It's just Ordinary Attack Magic.

But the distance was too close, and the speed too fast! Duncan had no time to think. He could only hastily pour all the remaining magic power in his body into the Defensive Magic without reservation!

"Boom--!"

The beam of light slammed into Duncan's shield with a deafening roar. The immense impact propelled Duncan's feet, carving two deep furrows in the ground, and he slid backward for dozens of meters before finally coming to a stop.

As the light faded, Duncan knelt on the ground, panting heavily, his face pale, his staff trembling slightly in his hand. "My... my magic is exhausted..."

He looked up at Frieren, who was spotless and whose breathing was perfectly steady, his face filled with bitterness and disbelief.

"This is... unbelievable. Until the very end, you only used the most basic Ordinary Attack Magic and Defensive Magic... Isn't this... like a training match for an apprentice mage...?"

Frieren looked at him quietly without saying a word.

Duncan, panting, wore a complex smile, a mixture of self-mockery and relief. "Truly astonishing... I, Duncan, have already attained the rank of Imperial Court Mage, yet... the gap between us remains so vast..."

Frieren then spoke calmly, "So, you weren't bluffing, you really thought you could beat me. Although I haven't fought in a long time... I'm still very strong."

Duncan gave a wry smile, "Haha... who knows. Maybe... it's just resentment."

Frieren asked, "So? Why do you want to become First-Class Mage?"

Laufen, who was tied to a tree nearby, couldn't help but ask, "Yes, old man, why are you working so hard? You're already this old, and you have everything you need in terms of wealth and power, haven't you?"

Duncan glanced at Frieren, then at Laufen, paused for a moment, and slowly said, "If it were the old me, I'd probably be happy to talk to you, stall for time, so that Lichta could have a chance to succeed. But now..." He changed the subject, reminding Frieren, "Aren't you going to save them? Lichta is a man capable of making ruthless decisions; he really will kill those two girls."

Frieren's tone remained unchanged. "It's alright, they will win."

Duncan looked at Frieren's resolute gaze and sighed.

"Alright, since you put it that way..."

"My homeland is located in the Northern Plateau. Although I am Court Mage of the empire, the pass leading there is now the territory of the Central Kingdom, not the empire. Because Demons roam there, the kingdom stipulates that only First-Class Mages are qualified to apply for passage and action... I... must go to rescue my wife, that's all." He paused, seemingly unwilling to elaborate. "Alright, I've finished. Even if you think they will win, you should go and see for yourself. I have no magic left and pose no threat."

Frieren remained standing, gently shaking her head. "I said, I don't need it."

Laufen was shocked by Duncan's words. "The old man's... wife? I've never heard of the old man having...!"

Duncan closed his eyes, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation. The battle was over, and his defeat was undeniable.

Above the rock face, Lichta sensed that Duncan's magic was completely exhausted and shook her head helplessly. "I didn't expect Duncan to really lose, and lose so decisively... It seems that the gentle playtime of watching the child is over."

But the next moment, he saw Rabiñe, who had tightly wrapped himself and Kanne in an ice wall.

"... What's the point of this? Soil is everywhere, and ice is your creation; this won't last long."