The Sacred Sword Emerges

Aureole, Martial Realm, Pegasus Ranch.

Wearing a black and red riding outfit, Flamme looked dashing and spirited. Her fiery red hair flowed in the wind as she rode her celestial horse, galloping freely through the clouds, as graceful and unrestrained as the wind.

Frieren, Dugu Qing, and Fern rushed over, stopped, and gazed quietly at the figure in the clouds, a hint of envy rising in their hearts.

Though my body has died, I have become a heroic spirit, roaming freely and unrestrained.

Flamme, who devoted herself to humanity in life, can still be so carefree and happy in death. She truly deserves to be called one of the top archmages among humans; she has such a good mindset.

"That, that's it!"

Flamme turned around abruptly and saw a familiar figure on the ground below. She immediately pulled on the reins and jumped off her horse.

Frieren slowly stepped forward, letting Flamme look her over.

"A thousand years! You haven't changed at all!"

Flamme looked at Frieren, smiled with satisfaction, strode forward, opened her arms, and hugged her tightly in her embrace.

The girl's hair was as soft as cotton, which made Flamme linger. She patted Frieren's cheek, as if she had returned to a thousand years ago.

"Tell me! What happened to the world after my death! Where did the Empire's magical civilization go? How did you defeat the Demon King? Although I already know the outcome from others, hearing it from you personally must be quite an experience."

Flamme released the girl, smiled faintly, and looked at her with tenderness.

"That's a long story, please allow me to tell you slowly..."

Frieren and Flamme sat side by side on the grass.

She slowly began to speak, recounting the rise and fall of empires over the past millennium, the gradual decline of the Demons, the rise of the Hero of the South, Serie's founding of the Continental Magic Association, Himmel's annihilation of the Demon King, Dugu Qing's protection of Serie —one major event after another.

"That's really surprising! I never imagined that Serie would give so much magic to humanity in the end."

Flamme gazed at the distant clouds, a barely perceptible hint of guilt flickered in her eyes.

"I was shocked too! But I have to admit, Serie is a very tsundere!"

Frieren rested her chin on her hand and answered softly.

Flamme turned to look at Dugu Qing and Fern, who were playing in the distance, winked playfully, and then abruptly changed the subject.

"So, after all these years, you've found a boyfriend, haven't you?"

A faint blush rose to Frieren's cheeks, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards Dugu Qing. A sweet smile played on her lips before she gently shook her head.

"I'm still young! There's no rush for these things."

"Young!"

Flamme's brow twitched, and after several attempts, she finally suppressed the urge to hit someone.

The two chatted for a while longer, discussing everything from the rise and fall of the empire to Serie's personal hobbies.

"Clang!"

Suddenly, a deep, resonant bell rang out across the vast sea of clouds, echoing throughout the heavens and earth.

Flamme looked at Frieren and solemnly reminded her,

"You are about to ascend to Aureole. If you miss the time to leave, you may be trapped in Aureole forever and unable to return to earth."

Frieren nodded silently, waved goodbye, and turned to leave with Dugu Qing and Fern.

The three figures gradually disappeared into the distance, eventually swallowed up by layers of clouds and vanished completely.

"A thousand years! Still single! That's unbelievable. But that little fellow named Dugu Qing is really beautiful! And an elf at that. If he and Frieren were together, they would be a match made in heaven!"

Flamme gazed at the distant sea of clouds, she murmured softly, feeling an inexplicable surge of anticipation for their next meeting.

South Heavenly Gate, on the square.

Frieren, Dugu Qing, Fern quickly arrived and joined up with Stark and Sein. They then ascended the Stairway to Heavens and returned to the ground.

Just as the group left the long staircase, the boundless void Bright Mountain suddenly trembled, as if planets had collided, the world had overturned, and gravity had become unbalanced.

Ripples spread across the sky, as if time and space were collapsing, emitting a deafening roar.

Several people covered their ears and closed their eyes, enduring the tremors of the separation of heaven and earth.

A moment later, the Aureole ascended to the ninth heaven and gradually receded into the distance, and the surrounding space finally stabilized.

"They've ascended to Aureole! Finding Aureole again will probably be even harder in the future."

Frieren missed Flamme, her expression somber.

"Why would we go to Aureole if we have nothing better to do!" Stark patted his chest, still thinking about filling his stomach. "I think we should hurry up and leave the Demon King's Castle and have a proper meal!"

Sein nodded emphatically in support.

The group walked together, slowly descending the mountain path.

Suddenly, deafening shouts of battle erupted from all around.

Thousands of Demons soldiers surged forward in dense formation, their black currents forming a tidal wave that instantly surrounded the group.

Soren, clad in dark armor, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace, stood atop a blue stone, wielding the Demon King Sword, exuding a murderous aura.

"Frieren, I've finally waited for you! Everyone, listen to my command, charge!"

At Soren's command, the four demon generals of wind, fire, thunder, and lightning immediately unleashed their elemental magic.

The sky instantly darkened, and the weather changed dramatically.

Flames raged, winds swept across the land, thunder ripped through the sky, and lightning exploded—the four elemental magics clashed and collided, engulfing all directions.

Dugu Qing, Frieren, Fern, Stark, Sein hurriedly took cover.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Demons soldiers swarmed forward, swiftly cutting through the enemy lines and directly severing their defenses.

Dugu Qing, Frieren, Fern, Stark, and Sein were separated from each other.

"Frieren, prepare to die!"

Soren gazed at Frieren, who was surrounded, and with a flash of cold light, his Demon King Sword slashed down with immense force.

Frieren dared not be careless and instantly activated her defensive magic, forming a layer of crystalline magic barrier in front of her, forcefully blocking the fierce attack.

Soren looked at Frieren, his expression hardening, and then turned to the four demon generals.

The four demon generals exchanged knowing glances and quickly stood behind Soren, their four powerful demonic energies merging into the Demon King Sword.

The Demon King Sword surged with black energy, its body trembling incessantly. Its immense and terrifying power suddenly surged, causing the surrounding space to tremble slightly.

"Frieren, die!"

Soren roared angrily, wielding the Demon King Sword imbued with fourfold magic power, and slashed down with overwhelming demonic energy.

"What an evil sword."

Dugu Qing away the surrounding demonic soldiers, his figure flashed, and in an instant, he stood in front of the sword's edge.

"Bang!"

The Demon King Sword and the Clear Radiance Sword collided with a deafening roar that echoed throughout the heavens and earth.

The Clear Radiance Sword withstood the attack, and a hideous crack rapidly spread across its blade before it shattered with a bang, scattering in all directions.

Dugu Qing stared at the shattered sword, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

Soren's lips curled into a mocking sneer, and he swung his sword again, aiming at Dugu Qing.

Upon seeing this, Frieren and Fern immediately rushed to their aid, but the four great demon generals of wind, fire, thunder, and lightning also surrounded them simultaneously, intercepting them once again.

"Careful."

Frieren and Fern looked anxiously at Dugu Qing.

Dugu Qing stared at the Demon King Sword pressing down on her head, her heart filled with resentment, and she clenched her right hand tightly.

In the Sword Village, thousands of miles away, within the Sacred Domain.

The Hero’s Holy Sword trembled incessantly, its long, resounding sword cry echoing throughout the Sacred Domain. Suddenly, it soared into the sky, transforming into a flying goose that pierced through the clouds and shattered the sun, traversing tens of thousands of miles to head north.

The Demon King Sword, carrying overwhelming demonic power, crashed down.

Dugu Qing's heart tightened, and he was about to dodge when suddenly, wind and thunder surged, space tore apart, and a startling sword cry crashed down from the sky.

The Hero’s Holy Sword pierced through the air and landed steadily in Dugu Qing's palm, its blue light shining brightly as if it were cheering and jumping for joy.