Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 147: The Slash Emerging from Despair

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The petrified face and posture of Sense's replica inexplicably fit the image of a giant deep-sea octopus under the interweaving of dim light and shadow, especially those "tentacles" that seemed to extend endlessly, adding a bit of frightening meaning.

Looking from a distance, if you couldn't see the petite body clearly, this scene alone was enough to make people feel cold and send chills down their spine.

But while Ash only felt this faint discomfort, the three-person team that was nervously confronting Sense's replica was genuinely terrified.

Their tension had almost reached its peak. Every slight movement seemed as though it might trigger a fatal crisis. Cold sweat kept dripping down their cheeks like a steady drizzle.

Finally, Ash's figure came into view. The leading girl, who was wearing knee-length black stockings and had a strawberry blonde mushroom-like hairstyle, couldn't help but shout out, "Please! Save me!"

"…No, right? If I deal with Sense's replica like this, the exam will become too easy, and Sense will be angry, wouldn't she?" Ash said, spreading his hands in an entirely helpless gesture.

Sense's clone, which had originally intended to destroy the three people, now seemed wary of him because of his sudden appearance. It seemed to recall that they had once joined forces to confront him before.

This was also when the girl, the second-level magician Edel, immediately suggested, "If I remember correctly, you've been collecting magic, haven't you? In the last exam, didn't you also get magic from other candidates?"

"…I roughly understand what you mean, but please don't look down on me," Ash frowned slightly, shook his head sternly, and said, "If your lives are in danger, I'll help, but I won't destroy my principles just for magic. After all, Sense is my junior, and if she messes up the exam by accident, I can…"

"—Give me ten gold coins and help me deal with this guy, and I'll teach you the magic passed down in my family!" Born into a family proficient in spiritual(hypnosis) magic but living in extreme poverty, Edel had a great desire for money and to become a first-level magician.

Although she was reluctant to hand over her family magic, she was tempted by the "privileges" of a first-Class magician. To avoid being eliminated, she gritted her teeth, gave up her hesitation, and boldly asked for a reward of ten gold coins.

Even though Ash wanted to tell her that she was insulting him and tried to continue sticking to his principles, he hesitated. Despite being only a second-class magician with no combat ability, Edel's attainments in spiritual(Hypnosis) magic were better than those of any first-Class magician in the Continental Magic Association.

Therefore, Ash opened his mouth, but in the end, he couldn't utter any harsh words. Instead, he nodded silently and stood firm in his position and principles.

"…Alright. I'll give you ten gold coins when you get out. Now hurry up and leave. I'll deal with the clone."

"Okay! Then we'll retreat first. I'll leave this place to you!"

The unexpected deal left Edel feeling a little complicated, but she fled with her two companions without saying a word, leaving Ash standing there confronting the clone.

Just like that, the two of them stared at each other for a long time. Feeling that the other party didn't seem to have much intention of attacking, Ash silently stepped back.

The entire process went unexpectedly smoothly. There was no conflict at all, and he completed the transaction. It was so simple that he even started to wonder if he should give Edel some extra money or something.

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After separating from Edel, Ash continued wandering the dungeon.

This time, he tried his best to stick to his earlier resolve of not interfering in the exam as much as possible. He wanted to avoid facing Sense's accountability later or causing unnecessary casualties during the final round.

It wasn't long before he came across a scene that forced him to pause.

The silver-haired girl with the umbrella, who had been separated from Frieren by the mechanism, was running for her life, her body covered in wounds. Chasing after her was none other than a copy of Ubel.

Although they were both third-class magicians, Ubel's strength was clearly superior.

Moreover, Lawine, who specialized in matter manipulation, was at a clear disadvantage against Ubel's cutting magic.

After a brief attempt at resistance followed by a long chase, Lawine, exhausted and out of options, was finally forced into a corner. Gritting her teeth, she turned abruptly, raising her wand. Dozens of ice cones emerged in an instant, causing the temperature in the narrow corridor to drop sharply.

Under her command, the floating ice cones flew in interlaced patterns toward the approaching clone.

The sharp, pointed ends of the ice cones could have easily pierced through a human body. Yet, with seemingly effortless movements, the clone twisted its form and evaded the chaotic attack.

Fury overtook Lawine. Determined to fight to the death, she roared and aimed the tip of her wand, summoning a fierce white storm.

A barrage of dense ice cones poured out like bullets, raising a thick white mist that engulfed the narrow passage, leaving no room for the clone to escape. However...

When faced with this inescapable attack, the clone swung its wand with a calm and vigorous motion.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

In an instant, countless invisible slashes shot out like a sword dance, slicing through the barrage of ice cones. The once-lethal projectiles were reduced to glittering fragments that floated through the air.

The scene was visually mesmerizing... but unfortunately, Lawine was in no state to appreciate its beauty.

As the incoming slashes approached, she instinctively raised her wand to cast defensive magic. While the magic successfully blocked the slashes, it couldn't stop the damage around her. The statues on both sides of the corridor were cut down and began collapsing toward her from above.

Her eyes widened in shock. She turned to flee, but in her panic, she failed to notice a gap in the ground caused by the slashes. She staggered, lost her balance, and fell instantly.

I'm really done for this time! The thought raced through her mind as her cheek scraped against the cold, hard ground. The sudden, sharp pain drove the realization home—she had fallen helplessly, with no way to recover.

The clone, relentless in its pursuit, continued approaching slowly.

The fear of death gripped her like invisible chains, making even the slightest movement feel impossible. Her fingers trembled, unable to reach the escape bottle hanging from her waist.

Her body was covered in scars, as though slashed by sharp blades. The abrasions on her face burned with pain, eroding her senses further.

Her azure eyes, clouded with grief, reflected despair. A shadow of helplessness loomed over her pale, handsome face.

"Damn it!" she cursed through gritted teeth. In the last moments before succumbing to her fate, she closed her eyes, bracing herself for death.

But then, a new sound of footsteps echoed from behind her.

Before she could look back, a blade flashed through the air like lightning, leaving behind a dazzling silver-white arc.

In a single, precise stroke, Ubel's body was cleaved neatly in two, from the left shoulder to the right side.

The movements were so fluid, like the perfect lines an artist draws on a canvas.

The exceptional slashing technique was so precise and sharp that the severed "flesh" immediately lost all sensation.

It was as though time had frozen at the moment of the strike. Only after a few seconds, when reality caught up with the astonishing speed, did the dark "blood" gush from the wound, as if the body was waking from a dream.

The replica's form tilted, broke apart, and disintegrated, transforming into black debris that scattered through the air before vanishing completely.