Agusheed just said...
That... the Bloodstained Warlord?
And from what Agusheed implied... he's watching us?
Then why hadn't she sensed his mana?
For a brief moment, Frieren thought Agusheed was just trying to scare her for fun.
If Livale was truly nearby, there's no way she wouldn't have felt even a trace.
She sensed him five kilometers out last time—otherwise she'd have never escaped.
But Agusheed's next words shattered that illusion.
He stood up calmly, smoothing the Spell book in his hand.
His deep eyes fixed on a small hill ten kilometers away.
"Livale, how long are you planning to keep peeking from over there?"
The moment Agusheed spoke—
Frieren felt a surge of immense mana flood her senses—
And it was coming fast—
No, "fast" didn't even begin to cover it…
It was the fastest thing Frieren had ever witnessed.
In just three breaths, no more than five seconds—
She didn't even have time to cast or react.
As she instinctively tried to retreat toward Agusheed—
That towering figure who had hunted her for a whole month—
Forcing her to flee from the Etwas Mountains to the Imperial Capital to seek help from Flamme and Agusheed—
Landed right in front of her.
The ground near Frieren shattered under black military boots, carving a trench three meters deep.
A dark red cloak flapped in the wind.
Scattered stones exploded into dust from the sheer pressure of his mana.
As Frieren's eyelashes fluttered—
The wind swept up by a demon lord's pressure flung her bangs skyward.
Livale, the strongest warrior among the demonkind—The Bloodstained Warlord—
Stood only ten meters away—
And he was smiling brightly.
"At this distance, I'm dead—"
Was the only thought remaining in Frieren's blank mind.
Agusheed's hand gently rested on her head.
That usually cold hand now brought a surprising comfort as he pulled her behind him.
His familiar figure shielded her—
"You're scaring my child, Livale."
For the first time ever, the Magic Sprout found Agusheed's voice and presence truly reassuring.
Shocked by Livale's speed and aura—
She instinctively shrank behind Agusheed.
Across from them, Livale paused noticeably at the phrase my child.
But only for a second. As a demon, such words held little meaning.
He cheerfully looked at his old friend and spoke as if reminiscing:
"Agusheed, your mana sense really is as sharp as ever...
When did you notice me this time?"
"Before you were born."
Agusheed had no intention of playing along.
"So cold. Is that really how you greet an old friend after a hundred years?"
"Even worse than Todd's temper…"
Agusheed said nothing—
But Livale didn't seem to mind.
He looked at the severed dragon head of the Imperial Hell Dragon and sighed in admiration:
"Your Spatial Severance has gotten this powerful?"
"Even the strongest dragon of the North didn't stand a chance—"
This time, Agusheed cut him off coldly.
"Finished with pleasantries?"
Compared to Livale's enthusiasm, Agusheed was frost itself.
"If so, explain why you're here."
"Coincidence—or… something else?"
He glanced at the white-haired elf behind him. The implication was clear.
Livale didn't even hesitate.
"And frankly, it should be me interrogating you, Agusheed."
He stared at the severed dragon head again.
"You're the intruder to me."
"And you took the prey that should have been mine—"
Following his gaze, Agusheed understood.
"So you came for the Imperial Hell Dragon?"
Livale walked to the dragon's massive head.
He grabbed it, tilting it slightly to show the massive crack in its horn.
"I first found this dragon in the Etwas Mountains. Nearly shattered its horn with a strike, but it fled."
"I tracked it here from that path…"
"But clearly, I was late."
He didn't seem the least bit angry that his target had been taken.
"You're not going to ask for my Icicle Cherry Blossom Tree Dragon as compensation, are you?"
Livale's eyes gleamed as he smiled and stretched—
Warming up like a warrior before a fight:
"No need for compensation—"
The strongest Demon General faced the strongest Demon Mage—
A war-hungry smile stretched across Livale's face.
"One Imperial Hell Dragon doesn't compare to the thrill of meeting you again…"