Labyrinth and Chanting
Time flowed like a stream, carrying everyone's footsteps quietly northward. After the unpleasant interlude with the snow-capped mountains and Earl Tahe, the journey seemed to return to a peaceful rhythm. Along the way, they passed through an ancient ruin known locally as the "Echoing Labyrinth."
The entrance to the labyrinth is hidden behind a waterfall. The internal passages are intricate and filled with ancient mechanisms and elemental Golems born from the accumulation of magic. For ordinary adventurers, this place is fraught with danger, but for the current Hero Party, exploring the first few levels is more like a moderately intense practical exercise.
Himmel's sword flashed as brilliantly as ever, accompanied by his powerful incantation of his attack name, precisely shattering the core of the rock Golem.
Eisen remained silent as a rock, his battle axe swinging with overwhelming power, cleaving through any enemies that stood in his way.
Ruby the air. Although she would occasionally call out the wrong names in her excitement, the power of her magic was becoming more and more formidable.
The holy light of the Heiter sometimes illuminated the darkness ahead, and sometimes healed the minor scratches of its companions.
Lupa gripped her spear tightly, and under the suppression of Gravity Magic, each thrust was imbued with sweat and determination—the cold glint of her spear tip was already capable of accurately deflecting the wings of small magical bats.
Linié followed closely behind, her deep blue eyes flashing constantly. Imitation the fighting techniques of Sam, Eisen, and Himmel, combining the axe skills and sword moves she had learned to improve her combat prowess.
Lowell and Frieren remained at the rear, one strolling leisurely, occasionally snapping away attackers who pounced from the shadows, while the other was more interested in the ancient writing that occasionally appeared on the maze walls, stopping from time to time to almost press her face against it to study it.
Thus, their exploration of the first few levels, though occasionally fraught with setbacks, proceeded smoothly overall. Until they reached the depths of the labyrinth, at an extremely spacious circular altar. In the center of the altar stood a colossal hybrid Golem composed of countless metal fragments and writhing mud; the ominous magical energy emanating from it was almost tangible, clearly the final guardian of this place.
Just as Himmel prepared to step forward and challenge, Eisen gripped his battle axe, and Ruby began to gather her magic—
A silver figure took a step faster than all of them.
It's Frieren.
Her usually languid, seemingly uninterested emerald eyes now shone with an indescribable, almost fiery light, like a child who had discovered a rare candy. The gem at the tip of her staff began to emit an unprecedentedly intense brilliance.
Then, in her unique, clear, and even voice, she uttered a long string of complex, tongue-twisting incantations, yet strangely rhythmic and possessing an astonishing power:
"A faint, murky emblem, an untamed and arrogant talent; a surge, a denial, a paralysis, a fleeting moment, hindering eternal slumber. The crawling steel princess, the self-mutilating clay doll, uniting, rebounding, extending to the ground, knowing your own powerlessness!"
As she chanted, immense magical power surged forth, instantly forming a massive cube-shaped barrier around the Golem, its edges shimmering with ominous black light, completely trapping the Golem within. Inside the barrier, countless fine magical blades were visible to the naked eye, frantically cutting and grinding, Golem to emit a piercing mixture of metallic twisting and boiling mud sounds, its movements instantly becoming sluggish.
That's not all.
Frieren raised her staff high once more, her chanting rising even higher, carrying an almost aria-like certainty:
"At the edge of a thousand hands, the unreachable dark hand, the unilluminating archer of the heavens, on the path where light falls, the wind that ignites the spark, when we gather, there is no need for confusion, follow my command—Light Bullet, Eight Bodies, Nine Lines, Heavenly Scripture, Swift Treasure, Great Wheel, the gray turret, draws its bow into the distance, and vanishes in a radiant glow!"
In an instant, countless dazzling orbs of light appeared around Frieren, as if she were being volleyed by invisible archers, transforming into a dense barrage of magical energy that bombarded the trapped Golem! The explosions were incessant, and the light illuminated the entire altar as if it were daytime. The energy shockwaves even forced Himmel and Eisen to squint and take a half-step back to avoid the attack.
Thanks to her meticulous study of "The Bluffing Magic" and the double blessing of the magic that "never mispronounces long sentences or rhymes," she recited these two ridiculously long and extremely "dazzling" incantations with exceptional fluency and steady breath, without the slightest stumble, perfectly achieving the explosive aesthetic effect she sought. "Long chant! Bright light! Loud sound! Lots of smoke!"
Of course, it doesn't actually increase the power at all; it's just a lot of Ordinary Attack Magic.
The aftershocks of the explosion gradually subsided, and the smoke and dust cleared. The powerful guardian Golem had been completely shattered under such a terrifying magical bombardment, turning into a pile of lifeless rubble and mud.
Frieren slowly lowered her staff, exhaled softly, and a faint blush of exertion rose to her cheeks. She stretched out her small hand and patted the dust-free hem of her mage's robe with satisfaction, then placed her hands on her hips, puffed out her small chest, and her silver twin tails seemed to stand even higher in contentment. Her emerald eyes swept over the pile of wreckage, and a satisfied hum escaped her nose.
"Hmph! The effect is outstanding."
Clearly, she was very pleased with the effect of the attack—especially the unparalleled momentum and visual impact of the lengthy incantation.
"Wow--!"
Ruby's gasp broke the brief silence. Her large, bright blue eyes practically sparkled with excitement, and like a puppy seeing a new toy, she rushed to Frieren's side, grabbing her sleeve excitedly, her voice high-pitched with excitement:
"Lady Frieren! That was amazing! So cool! That black cube! And those light blasts like rain! That... that's real magic! Teach me! Please! Ruby to learn this time! I'll even give you all my allowance to buy pudding!"
However, Frieren was still basking in her self-satisfaction, ignoring Ruby's pleas. Her gaze bypassed the agitated Ruby and locked precisely on something that had appeared on the platform behind the Golem after it had vanished—
It was a magnificent treasure chest, almost half a person's height, cast entirely from dark gold metal, inlaid with various dazzling gems, and radiating an alluring magical aura!
Frieren's emerald eyes lit up instantly, the slight smugness from her "powerful" magic being replaced by a purer, more fervent desire.
"Such a huge treasure chest! It must contain a magic book!"
She gasped softly, and almost instinctively raised her arms again. Like a bear seeing honey, she moved with such light steps that she almost floated off the ground, "floating" towards the treasure chest, unconsciously repeating, "Treasure chest~ treasure chest~ my darling! Oh ho~"
Under the mixed gazes of Ruby and the others, a mixture of "I knew it" and "I can't believe it," Frieren "floated" to the treasure chest. She stretched out her small hand, filled with anticipation, and cautiously touched the chest's seemingly intricate lock...
Click.
A slight clicking sound from a mechanism.
The treasure chest lid suddenly popped open, transforming into a gaping maw filled with sharp teeth. With lightning speed, it swallowed up the entire upper body of Frieren, who was bending over and peering with gleaming eyes!
"Aaaaah! It's so dark! It's so scary! Help me, Lowell!" From inside the Mimic came Frieren's muffled, panicked cry for help, her legs kicking helplessly outside.
Everyone: "..."
The scene was completely silent, save for the slight trembling of the Mimic's closed lid and Ruby's finally bursting into laughter.
Ruby clutched her stomach, laughing so hard she could barely stand up straight, "I knew it... hahaha... where would you find a treasure chest this big normally! Frieren, you really are... hahaha..."
Himmel gracefully touched her forehead with her hand and let out a helpless chuckle.
Heiter, on the other hand, burst into laughter, pounding the ground without any restraint.
Eisen: "How about we leave this elf here?"
Lupa was already used to this adult being so easily Mimic, and simply sighed silently.
Linié tilted her head, seemingly unable to comprehend how such a powerful mage could be so easily trapped by Mimic.
Lowell sighed, resignedly walking towards the Mimic, his face clearly saying, "I knew this would happen."
On the altar, only the satisfied swallowing sounds of the Mimic and the varied expressions of the crowd remained, bringing this labyrinth exploration to a dramatic close.