Frieren 47

Title: Terror Upon the Empire

It was impossible for the Empire alone to kill the Demon King. Even defeating demons was beyond their reach. In the future, they only managed to reclaim their territory because the Southern Hero invaded the demons’ heartland and severed their supply lines.

Without other human nations and the emergence of numerous heroes, the Empire would have no future. But the threats of the past were no longer threats, and those who once helped them naturally became new threats.

Even then, Frieren and her companions saved the world (humanity). Serie, too, followed Flamme’s will, leaving to teach human magic and continue Flamme’s work.

Was the result of killing demons to feel sorrow for others and discard the arrow once the prey was dead? The people who contributed most… only those who died early could truly retire in peace. Those who lived too long were destined to face frustrating things. Thinking of this tragic future, Ash couldn’t help but sympathize with the two elves—perhaps the last in the world—who would be betrayed.

However, in a world where they used their own children as cannon fodder, both in the past and now, he wasn’t entirely surprised by this.

And the longer someone lived, the more likely they were to face such frustrating things… After all, one couldn’t expect every generation of emperors to be normal or to remember others’ sacrifices.

But this was only one reason Ash wanted to target the Empire. It was something Schlacht mentioned when explaining the future. The main reason was… before coming to Aura, he passed through a battlefield where two nations were clashing.

The Empire always harbored ambitions to restore its past glory. Thus, they were highly aggressive toward other nations.

This also caused other nations to deeply resent the Empire, not hesitating to strike from behind when the Empire was under attack.

From above, the forces of both sides were already locked in combat, and the battle was fierce.

Arrows and magic flew across the battlefield. The scene was spectacular.

But what stood out was… in the snow of the northern plains, around the main battlefield, there were many frozen remains of bodies.

And more strikingly, among those remains were many children.

“Truly unexpected. They’re fighting us upfront, but behind the scenes, they’re fighting among themselves? Humans are really fascinating yet barbaric.”

As Aura observed the human civil war from the air, her gaze unconsciously fell on the corpses of children still clutching weapons. She asked, puzzled: “Ash, if I’m not mistaken, human children don’t have combat abilities, right?”

“No.”

“Then why are so many children armed?”

“Maybe they exploit people’s sympathy, thinking the enemy won’t attack children? These kids are war orphans or abandoned for other reasons. It also reduces the food burden within the country… probably.”

“I see.” Aura nodded in understanding. But she still didn’t grasp why her brother brought her to this battlefield. She asked: “So, what are you going to do?”

“Because I despise the meaningless waste of lives, and now… I’m going to stop actions like this completely.”

Muttering words Aura didn’t understand while staring at the center of the battle, Ash told her to wait there and not move. Then, he plummeted to the ground in a free fall.

His speed grew faster and faster.

The people on the battlefield initially didn’t notice their presence. But as the sky’s color changed, the soldiers instinctively glanced up, and their expressions froze.

Because… a blazing meteor, tearing through the sky, accompanied by purple lightning, was hurtling toward them.

“M-Meteor! It’s a meteor!!”

“D-Defeat it! Hurry, defeat it!”

“R-Run!!”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

The already chaotic battlefield descended into further chaos.

Many, terrified of the “celestial phenomenon,” only screamed and fled for their lives. As a result, the scene was utterly disordered, with no discipline left.

And all the magic attempting to stop it, like the spells of the undead army and demons before, was deflected and shattered.

Then, in the next second…

*BOOOOOM!*

With a thunderous roar as if tearing through space, time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The ground at the center of the battlefield was suddenly swallowed by the meteor’s impact, as if it carried destructive power. Dust, flames, and flying lightning merged, creating a chaotic apocalyptic scene.

The soldiers at the battlefield’s center appeared tiny and helpless before this sudden disaster.

Their armor and weapons were useless against this strange “meteor.” Their bodies were easily torn apart, turning into arcs of blood, scattering like dry leaves blown by a fierce autumn wind, pitiful and despairing.

The light of the flames reflected on everyone’s faces, vividly depicting fear and hopelessness.

The soldiers farther away, thrown back by the shockwave, only realized as the dust settled that the meteor’s core was a man in a black cloak and mask.

Before they could comprehend the situation, several dark purple orbs of light appeared beside the man.

“Zoltraak!”

Ash slowly raised his hand. The orbs instantly transformed into beams of purple light, sweeping through the remaining soldiers around him.

Whether from the kingdom or the Empire, before the speed of those beams, their armor, shields, and bodies were like paper.

Hundreds of soldiers were effortlessly torn apart by Zoltraak. The blood scattering in the sky bloomed like flowers, coloring the surrounding air.

And across the entire battlefield, not a single person could stop this human-shaped disaster that kept moving.

The battlefield, already like hell, turned into a battle royale in an instant.

The sounds of wails, screams, and roaring flames blended into a tragic apocalyptic symphony.

The forces of both sides in the distance, attempting to assist, were forced to halt their conflict and temporarily retreat in shock at this overwhelming power.

…Allowing those without fighting ability to be used as fodder was, after all, unnecessary. To uphold this principle, Ash decided to use this incident as a warning to all nations. To let them know there was someone who would punish such actions, and that such actions would only lead to loss.