Frieren in Danmachi

So, the fun began.

I started walking through the mountains, encountering monsters I knew well. Creatures that existed in the world when I was born but had become quite rare once the age of the gods began.

Back then, it was common to find monsters everywhere, but after the gods descended, monsters stopped appearing everywhere.

They took control of that.

99% of monsters began to be "born" inside the dungeon, and the world became a "clean" place. Monsters still appear outside the dungeon, but only in more isolated areas like this mountain.

'They're weaker than they used to be.'

I remember suffering a lot from these monsters in the past.

They used to be four or five times stronger than they are now.

Killing them was hard.

But now, even though I'm only in the first circle, taking them down is easy.

It's like the world stood still in time, and even my weakest spells have become far more powerful than they were supposed to be.

'Did the world's magic and general strength stagnate while I was asleep?'

Maybe I'm far stronger than I think I am.

"Serie, do you think I'm stronger than normal?"

"What do you mean? You've always been the strongest mage in the world."

"That's not what I meant. While I was asleep… do you think the world's strength stopped evolving? Do you think humans and other races stopped advancing?"

"I never paid much attention to that. But... I've never heard of anyone as powerful as you, even after all this time. I do feel like the world's level is stagnant. Maybe you're right."

"That's strange. Logically, humans and other races should be much stronger by now. Especially humans... They've always been power-hungry. They'll do anything to get stronger."

"That's why I hate them. They kill those close to them for power. They betray others like it's nothing."

"Yeah…"

Maybe someone betrayed me, and I don't even know it.

'I still haven't ruled out that possibility.' I looked at Serie, and our eyes met. She gave me a smile and then said:

"Ready to head back? Looks like you've had enough fun."

No, of course not. What am I thinking?

"Yes, let's go back."

####

A few kilometers from the village, I sensed something was wrong. I enhanced my vision with magic to check what was happening. I looked toward the tree's trunk and followed my gaze down to its base.

There were many trees in the way, but I managed to spot the trunk's entrance.

The first thing I noticed was that the door was partially open. I'm sure I left it closed.

"Serie, I need to hurry. I'll go ahead."

"What's going on?"

"Something's happening. I need to stop it."

If someone really came to the village, they were definitely humans. Probably from the same place as that man who appeared two months ago. They know I've awakened.

I can't let anyone leave here with that information.

I don't want the world to know yet.

My mana started draining rapidly, and my flight speed tripled.

I flew toward the tree and scanned the area as I approached the trunk. "They must be in the trees. They're hiding." I started surveying the forest from above.

It didn't take long to find them.

I spotted someone's arm.

He was hiding beneath one of the houses built in the trees—an abandoned house.

Right after I saw the arm, I noticed a bald man.

Is it the same man, or another one?

Doesn't matter. I can't let them get away.

I flew at full speed. I stopped above the tree where the house stood and conjured a massive rectangular rock beneath my feet using earth magic.

The stone cast a huge shadow over the trees, and the men noticed it—but it was too late.

The rock plummeted at high speed. It crushed everything beneath it—the house, the tree, and the people. I heard only a muffled scream before silence returned.

Silently, with a cold expression, I descended and stepped onto the stone.

Blood oozed from beneath the rock.

Everything has been crushed in a second.

I looked around to see if I could spot anything else, but found nothing. I left the place and flew around, looking for signs of more people—and I found them.

On the opposite side. Not just one, but two.

They had heard the impact of my magic and were running in a panic.

I flew after them and created a stone projectile that pierced through one of their heads. He fell instantly, lifeless, and the man beside him screamed, "Please, forgive me! Please!"

I sighed and flew toward him.

I passed through the tree's leaves and grabbed him by the back of the neck, slamming his face into the ground. I used magic to amplify the force. He hit the ground hard, nearly losing consciousness.

Dizzy, he trembled as I approached. I grabbed his unkempt hair and looked into his eyes.

The man began shaking with fear, forgetting how to speak.

"Did you come from Rakia?" I asked coldly.

"..." But he couldn't speak.

"If you answer me, I'll let you go."

"Do you promise?" His face lit up with hope.

"Yes, I promise," I said, voice cold as ice, like frozen thorns piercing his body.

"Yes, I'm from Rakia. I came to check the queen's body—your body. We didn't know you'd woken up. We all panicked the moment we found out. We were trying to leave."

"Why do you want my body?"

"I don't know. It was a request from Ares."

"Ares? That bastard. What does he want with my body?"

"I swear I don't know."

"Tsk!" I let go of the man, and he stood up.

But the moment he stood—

SWOSH!

Still smiling, his head fell off his body.

"Ares… that bastard." I clenched my teeth.

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Next Chapters: Chapter 15 - Ares / Chapter 16 - Creating an Elf.