BAMN: Chapter 176/177

Chapter 176: Fleeting Bloom

"Bounced back?"

On the battlefield, Saber Alter watched her attack be repelled. Although her eyes couldn't be seen, her dissatisfaction could be felt.

Artoria Lily, on the other hand, looked calm and collected, completely unfazed by her attack missing.

"What exactly are you?!"

As for Frey, she couldn't stand it anymore.

In her magic perception, whether it was Okita Souji who appeared first, or the current Black and White Sabers, they were undoubtedly tangible Demon Lord Seeds.

But their auras were somewhat unreal, making Frey difficult to grasp.

It was precisely because her magic perception had issues that Frey was unable to lock onto the Holy Spirits, repeatedly putting her in danger.

"And you!"

Frey looked at Artoria, who stood with her sword like a staff in the distance, exuding a kingly aura.

"What kind of Demon Lord Seed are you? Why have I never seen anyone like you?"

Frey didn't have a convenient skill like the Great Sage, so she didn't know that new races like Heroic Spirits and Holy Spirits had been born in this world.

Meeting them now truly caught her off guard.

Artoria, after all, was too righteous.

She didn't want to take advantage of Frey on such a detail.

So, as Black and White Saber's bodies began to dissipate, Artoria explained, "I am a Holy Spirit, evolved from a Heroic Spirit."

"Heroic Spirit?"

"How could something like that be so strong?"

Had she become disconnected from the world?

Such important information, and she was completely unaware.

Frey didn't think Artoria would deceive her.

Such a powerful individual wouldn't bother with such things.

"Although it's unfair, battle is never truly fair."

"Information advantage is also an advantage."

As Artoria's voice fell, she raised her holy sword. "Don't blame me for being despicable, after all, you are the Demon Lord Seed Frey!"

"This fellow!"

Frey gritted her teeth inwardly. She knew that in her current state, she was definitely no match for Artoria and Snow Empress.

To defeat the two women, she would have to use her true power.

[Magicule Release: Sky Queen Form]

Under the gazes of Artoria and Snow Empress, Frey's appearance began to change.

Her silver-white, ear-length hair extended to her waist, and the red jewel on her forehead extended to both sides, as if adorning the queen with a magnificent crown.

Behind Frey, her original single pair of wings split into a second and third pair in a burst of light, and even her feathers turned golden.

Invisible wind combined with the surrounding space, forming armor that adorned Frey's body.

Gone was her previous reservedness.

The fully unleashed Frey, to Rin, felt like a Valkyrie from the heavens, about to judge the rebels on earth.

"This magic recovery speed."

"It's completely different from before."

Artoria discovered the power of Frey after her magical energy release.

Her magicules hadn't changed much, still between 400,000 and 500,000.

But her magic refinement efficiency had greatly increased.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it doubled.

"Is this the power of a Ruler of the Sky?"

Not only did she control the sky and space, but she could also vitalize the surrounding space by infusing it with magicules.

Fighting Frey after her release was like fighting a living space.

"Let's switch."

"It'll be hard to fight without depleting her magic."

Snow Empress didn't wait for Artoria's reply before ten divine rings of various colors appeared on her back.

[Secret Art: Ten Rings of God]

Although she had just used it against Gilgamesh in the Type-Moon World.

But after this period of active replenishment by Rin, Snow Empress once again gained ten secret art-level skills that could be unleashed at any time.

"What is this?"

Artoria looked at Snow Empress, whose appearance had drastically changed, and said with slight dissatisfaction, "You were holding back such a move when we sparred before?"

She hadn't participated in Snow Empress's battle against Gilgamesh, so she didn't know this move.

Seeing it now, she felt her mind tremble slightly.

It was clear how terrifying the power contained within Snow Empress's Ten Rings of God was.

"You didn't go all out either."

After Snow Empress finished speaking, she waved her hand and used the authority of her Bounded Field to transfer Artoria to the distance.

Frey watched Snow Empress's actions and did not stop her.

No, it should be said that she couldn't stop her at all.

Her attention was completely drawn to the divine rings behind Snow Empress.

'What is this?'

Even Frey, who had been a Demon Lord Seed for hundreds of years, had never seen such a magnificent skill.

There was no way around it, Snow Empress's appearance after manifesting the divine rings was simply too sacred.

The seven-colored radiance revolved, and the elemental power contained within it.

Even a single leak would be enough to destroy an A-rank demon.

And such a power, Snow Empress actually carried it directly on her back, and could maintain it in such a balance.

Incredible, unbelievable!

'A new Unique Skill?'

'Or, a move she created herself?'

Frey was completely sour now.

It was too unfair!

Unseen abilities kept popping up, and Rin kept getting them.

Are you the protagonist of the Cardinal World? How can you be this lucky?!

Unfortunately, Frey no longer had time to consider these things.

Because, Snow Empress moved.

This time, Snow Empress did not use the colossal Cold Desolate Empress.

She wanted to completely defeat Frey in one go and strip her of her combat ability!

"Clang!"

A divine ring shattered, and a large amount of magicules converged in Snow Empress's palm.

However, this was just the beginning.

As Snow Empress's figure subtly moved, the entire Great Nature cheered for her every action.

This palm contained not only ice and snow, but also the entire cycle of reincarnation.

[Empress' Palm: Fleeting Bloom]

"Can't see it?!"

Frey only saw Snow Empress gently push out her palm.

There was no trajectory, no pattern, but Frey was completely locked onto by this palm, with nowhere to hide.

"Don't underestimate me!!"

Knowing she couldn't dodge, Frey immediately put all her energy into meeting Snow Empress's attack.

"Boom!!!"

Space shattered, and even the long spear in Frey's hand directly disintegrated under this palm from Snow Empress…

(To be continued.)

Chapter 177: Half-Awakened Frey

"This is?!"

Frey blocked it, but not completely.

She only felt time rapidly flowing over her.

Not to mention her as a Demon Lord Seed, the surrounding matter almost instantly experienced countless years, decaying, withering, collapsing.

"Time-based magic?"

The spatial barrier Frey had condensed before her eyes was corroded by the power of time at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Having no other choice, Frey could only continuously increase her magicules output, doing her best to resist.

However, the effect was minimal.

Time itself is a high-level rule. Without a corresponding Unique Skill, trying to manipulate it with just magicules would result in an enormous consumption, which was unimaginable.

Conversely, Frey's action of directly confronting the law of time with magicules already indicated her helplessness at this moment.

"As expected of a Demon Lord."

"But, it's not over yet…"

Snow Empress was very happy because she had once again encountered an enemy worthy of her full power.

So, she raised her hand once more.

The second palm strike descended!

"!!!"

"Why?!"

"After unleashing such an attack, you still possess such immense power?!"

Frey had never imagined such terrifying attacks. Snow Empress could unleash them one after another without even a gasp.

Even though Frey had already used all of her magicules.

Even if it was used to counteract the law of time, her magicules were enough to withstand two of Snow Empress's palm strikes.

But Snow Empress unleashed far more than just two palm strikes.

"Bang bang bang~"

Accompanying the continuous shattering of the God's Rings, following the first palm strike were the second, the third, all the way to the ninth palm strike.

[Empress' Palm: Eternal Regression]

Nine returns to one, experiencing immeasurable immortality, only then can one achieve Eternal Regression.

'I, I will die…'

'I lost?'

'I've, I've lost just like this?'

'Lost to a newcomer who appeared out of nowhere?'

Frey didn't want to admit defeat. She desperately squeezed the magicules within her body, trying to extract even more power.

But no matter how much magicules she poured forward, it was like a stone sinking into the sea.

'This shouldn't be.'

'How can her magicules be so vast?!'

Little did she know, this was precisely the terrifying aspect of the God's Ring.

It could store powerful ultimate moves in advance within the God's Ring, and then release the energy within them when needed.

Frey could block Snow Empress's full-power single strike.

But what about the second strike, the third strike?

Moreover, these attacks could even stack together, forming a resonant force.

Let alone Frey, even if she were twice as strong, she would absolutely not be able to directly withstand Snow Empress's Eternal Regression.

"Although it feels a bit like an unfair victory…"

Not long ago, Snow Empress had already unleashed the God's Ten Rings once.

Wasting 99.99% of her magicules to suppress Gilgamesh, she had also exhausted all the magicules stored within her God's Ring.

Therefore, before fighting Frey, Snow Empress specifically had Rin replenish her magicules.

"If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being alone."

In a one-on-one fight, Snow Empress might indeed not be able to defeat Frey.

However, Snow Empress had Rin behind her and Artoria by her side, while Frey was all alone.

Companions are also a type of strength.

The former Snow Empress did not understand the importance of companions.

Fortunately, she met Rin, who led her out of that narrow little world.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you."

Snow Empress had no intention of killing Frey.

If she truly intended to kill, Snow Empress wouldn't need to use the power of Nine Rings at all.

At most three rings, she could shatter Frey's soul core in an instant before Frey could even react.

However, it was Rin's command after all.

To ensure she was captured alive, Snow Empress needed more magicules to seal Frey.

"Clang!"

Thus, the Empress' Palm landed on Frey's chest, and an invisible temporal force began to envelop her.

Once this temporal force completed the cocooning process, Frey would be sealed, to be disposed of by Rin as he pleased.

'Unwilling…'

'Extremely unwilling.'

Frey looked at Snow Empress's indifferent eyes, and she felt endless humiliation.

'No! I don't accept this!'

Frey had a premonition of her fate.

With this palm strike, even if she could preserve her life, her body would be severely wounded, and she would completely lose her combat ability.

At that point, she would become Rin's prisoner, with no chance of ever rising again.

The thought of such a future sent shivers down Frey's spine.

She had dealt with many humans and knew what fate awaited defeated monsters.

Even though Rin was also a monster.

Yet, in the world of monsters, there were also slaves.

'If I lose.'

'What will happen to the Harpy Race?'

As the Queen of the Harpy Race, Frey had already foreseen the fate of her compatriots.

The Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia would surrender, and they would be treated as spoils of war, along with their Queen, allowing Rin to do as he pleased.

'No!'

'I absolutely cannot lose here!'

Not just for herself, but even more so for all the Harpy Race.

No matter what, Frey could not drag the Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia into the abyss.

"I will not lose here!!"

"Never!!!"

At this moment, under Frey's intense emotional fluctuations, her Unique Skill, "Transcendent", was completely ignited.

Six hundred years of accumulation.

At this moment, it transformed into fuel, beginning to help Frey break through to a higher realm.

"Hmm?"

Snow Empress's pupils constricted slightly, looking with some surprise at Frey, who was just one step away from forming a cocoon, yet forcefully reversed the process.

"Not good!!"

A sense of crisis surged into her heart, and Snow Empress immediately abandoned her attempt to seal Frey, hurriedly retreating.

"Boom!!"

Magicules, like a storm, swept out in all directions with Frey at its center.

Snow Empress's seal was completely shattered, and she herself was even pushed back several thousand meters before she could barely stabilize her footing.

"What's going on?"

This scene, not to mention Snow Empress, anyone observing the battle between the two felt it was incredible.

"This feeling, could it be…"

Rin, who was observing the battle from the mountaintop, his expression changed slightly.

"At a time like this, of all times!"

Kaede also thought of the reason for Frey's change. "She, she, under those circumstances, initiated the Demon Lord's Awakening Ritual!"

"What?!"

"The Demon Lord's Awakening Ritual?!"

Upon hearing this information, the most unsightly expression belonged to Snow Empress.

It was precisely the pressure she exerted that gave Frey the opportunity to advance further.

"Master?"

"It's alright, Xue'er."

Rin soothed Snow Empress's emotions. "Your plan was correct, use overwhelming power to make her lose her combat ability."

Snow Empress did not overextend but went all out, preparing to take down Frey in one fell swoop.

But what was unexpected was Frey's desperate counterattack.

(To be continued.)