Perfect Replicas ｢
Synopsis[]
Due to the Spiegel, a legendary monster that can create perfect replicas of others, the test-takers who would conquer the Ruins of the King's Tomb must first face the ultimate enemy: themselves.[1]
Plot[]
Genau and Falsch discuss Sense's exam.
In a study room at the Continental Magic Association, Genau explains to Falsch that the lord of the Ruins of the King's Tomb is referred to as the Spiegel, a monster from the mythical era that appeared in Ewig the Sage's heroic tales. He explains that the Spiegel reads memories and creates perfect replicas of those who enter the dungeon and compares it with the modern era Einsam, but the Spiegel's replicas have physical substance and mirror the targets' abilities, mana, and skills. Genau adds that this is why the Ruins of the King's Tomb remains unconquered. Falsch wonders why Sense would choose such a place for the exam, and Genau responds that the clones are perfect matches for their opponents, so to defeat them without losing anyone, the examinees have to calmly analyze themselves and cooperate as a team. He concludes that the test is one only a pacifist like Sense would devise.
At the Ruins of the King's Tomb, Denken's group prepares to face Frieren's clone, who descends to the floor of the hall and starts casting offensive magic. Denken calls for them retreat, and the mages flee the clone's barrage of attacks, taking cover outside. Denken observes the clone around the corner and wonders how they should proceed.
Frieren's clone attacks Denken's group, forcing them to flee.
Meanwhile, Übel and Land are trapped at a dead end in the dungeon, and a replica of Übel stands around the corner. Land is badly wounded, with his bottled escape golem in the hands of Übel's clone. Übel asks Land about how perfect her replica is, given he is an expert in cloning magic, and Land responds that Übel enjoys talking during combat but her replica is silent. She wonders if that means the clone does not have her memories or personality, but Land disagrees and says that it is likely just unable to speak. He recalls the clone's initial attack, where it slashed his chest and stole his escape golem, and Übel comments that she would have done the same thing. Land then speculates that the clone has information about them as well and is cautious of Übel's Sorganeil spell. Übel jokes to an unamused Land that instead of being cautious, maybe the clone just enjoys toying with them. Übel notices that Land is bleeding out, and she tells him that he will not last long. She also asks him if he is really the original Land, or if he is using one of his clones. Land gives her a vague response, and Übel brings out her escape golem bottle, telling him to use it. Land refuses and says her golem is meant for her survival. Übel leaves the bottle next to him and tells him to wait while she gets his bottle back.
Übel fights her Spiegel clone.
Before Land can stop her, Übel charges around the corner, and both she and her clone close the gap between them. She recalls that the condition to use Sorganeil is to see the target's whole body, and since they are equal in strength, the fight will depend on luck. The two of them fight in synchronicity, occasionally mirroring their attacks, which makes their slashes collide with each other and deflect onto the walls. Übel notes that she hates fights that depend on luck as luck has never favored her.
Land appears behind Übel's clone.
They continue to clash, but when Übel attempts to slash her clone, it blocks her and catches Übel with Sorganeil. Übel laments that she was unlucky, however, she tells the clone that it was even unluckier. Übel calls out to Land, who has just appeared behind the clone, and exclaims that he was faster than expected. The clone abruptly turns, disabling Sorganeil, and Übel takes the opportunity to slash and destroy it. Übel picks up Land's escape golem bottle as the replica disappears and comments that the bottle was fake too. Übel watches Land's wounded clone disappear, and Land asks why she took such a risk when his clone was dying. Übel replies that she knew he would save her, which prompts him to ask if he seemed that kind to her. Übel responds that he does not, however, he refused to accept her escape golem, and he appeared to be someone that did not want others to die because of him. Thus, she created a situation where she would die because of him. Übel then playfully thanks Land and adds that she learned something new about him. Land asks if she can sympathize with him better now, but she replies that it would take more time for that to happen.
Frieren discovers a hidden passage behind the wall.
In another part of the dungeon, Frieren's group continues venturing through. Frieren is suddenly distracted by a wall and asks Fern to see the map. Fern reminds her that they have already explored the floor, but Frieren has a feeling that there is a hidden room behind the wall and speculates about the discovery of a rare grimoire. Fern looks at the map with Sense and comments that there are no entrances, however, Frieren investigates the wall further and activates a mechanism. The monumental statues on the wall begin to move and shift away, which reveals a hidden stair passage.
The three of them scale the steps to enter a large chamber with a mural, which fascinates Fern. Sense describes the mural as one that depicts the achievements of the king of the Unified Dynasty era, who was buried in the tomb. She adds that she has never seen such a well-preserved mural from that time. As they leave the chamber, Fern notes that their progress has been unusually smooth and wonders if they will pass without any issues.
Frieren, Fern, and Sense discover the mural of the buried king.
Frieren's group proceeds through the dungeon and eventually arrives at a chamber, where they find Denken's group. Frieren asks why they are all here, and Denken states that according to his knowledge of the dungeon's layout, beyond the hall should be the depths of the labyrinth. He alludes to the threat behind the doors to the hall, and Frieren looks through the doors to see her clone. Frieren lights up and excitedly says that this is how conquering a dungeon should be. She notes that the clone is a perfect replica and appraises it to be equal in strength to her. Denken tells her that they cannot conquer the dungeon without eliminating the clone and asks her for ideas. Frieren remarks that, assuming the clone is a perfect replica, its weaknesses should match hers.
Methode attempts to use hypnosis magic on Frieren.
Richter brings up that restraint or hypnosis magic could be used to defeat a stronger mage, but Frieren tells him that she is resistant to both. Denken comments that it might offer them a small opening, which should be enough. He remembers that Methode is capable of such magic, but she tells him that it is not her forte. However, she decides to test the magic on Frieren and attempts to restrain her by wrapping her arms around the elf, but she notes that it is ineffective. She wonders about the result, as restraint magic should typically work if there is not a major difference in mana. Methode proceeds to test her hypnosis magic on Frieren, but it fails due to Frieren's mental defenses.
Fern is displeased by Methode being so close to Frieren and drags her master away from her. After Denken summarizes that Frieren is resistant to both types of magic, Methode reveals that Frieren's mental defense is complex and strong, but it seems to be an older technique, and an expert in hypnosis magic might be able to find a vulnerability. Denken asks if any of the examinees match that criteria, and Methode brings up second-class mage Edel. However, she shares that Edel has almost no combat ability and wonders if she could make it this far. Methode also adds that hypnosis only works if the target has a mind, and it is unclear if the clones have replicated that, which makes Denken lament their lack of information.
Edel explains that it is easier to use magic to manipulate objects over creating something.
In another area of the dungeon, Edel, Dünste, and Blei, hide behind a pillar in a large room in the dungeon. Blei asks Edel what she thinks while he glances at a clone of Sense, who is moving across the room in a lower corridor. Edel states that she does not know but claims that it is safe to assume it has all of the abilities of the first-class mage Sense. Blei tells them that they have no choice but to fight it, as they can only conceal their mana for so long. Edel questions their ability to do so and adds that the three of them cannot fight properly in the dungeon. Dünste notes that modern magic is not particularly helpful to fight in such a setting, and Edel points out that this is a side effect of most dungeons having been conquered during the era leading up to the Demon King's defeat. She also adds that creating powerful defensive spells has taken too many resources, so offensive spells now mostly rely on controlling natural elements as manipulating and transforming one's surroundings is more efficient than creating something. She explains that Sense's clone does this very well, as its hair is infused with multiple layers of magic, which would give it many ways to fight in the dungeon. Additionally, since magic is all about visualization, the clone's ability to manipulate countless strands of hair would mean that it has a superhuman imagination, making it the strongest mage in the room. Edel reflects that them evading the clone until now is a miracle, and they have done their best and should give up now since they are not fighters.
Sense's clone uses its hair to drill into Blei and Dünste's defense.
Blei asks Edel if her voice can reach Sense's clone, and Edel responds that although hypnosis magic is her family's calling, it is impossible to get the clone to meet the conditions of any high-level orders. She claims that at best she can make it kneel, and even then, she has to make eye contact and call out to it. Blei says that it is not an impossible task then, but Edel reminds him that it is only possible if the clone has a mind. Dünste asks how long they need to hold it off; Edel tells him fifteen seconds as that is all they can manage. At that moment, Sense's clone picks up on the group's presence and suddenly cuts their surroundings and the pillar they are hiding behind with its hair magic. The pillar collapses, revealing them, and as they float to the ground, Edel uses a telekinesis spell on the debris and launches it to attack the replica. The attack has no effect on the clone, as it easily cuts through the stone with its hair. Edel commands Blei and Dünste to prepare defensive magic in a sphere, and the two mages comply. She reveals that in modern magic, there are two ways to break defensive magic: either break through it with mass or slip past it with techniques. As Sense's clone manipulates its hair to take the shape of drills and press against the defensive sphere, Edel is surprised that it is overcoming the defense using both methods at the same time. The clone breaks the barrier, pushing them back.
Edel attempts to use hypnosis magic on Sense's clone.
Edel says to her comrades that she thought the defense would last the full fifteen seconds, but it managed to break it even sooner. However, she makes eye contact and notes that superior mages tend to keep their enemies in sight. Edel then commands the clone to kneel, but the clone immediately pierces through Edel with its hair. With this attack, Edel realizes that the clone does not have a mind and is just accurately imitating one, and thus, they are no match for it. Dünste casts an offensive spell but misses, and Edel tells them that they have no choice but to rely on others and says that they should use all their might to flee and find someone who can fight it. Edel adds that she does not want to get hurt anymore, so she is going home. She breaks her escape golem's bottle, which protects her against another attack by Sense's clone and escapes with her.
While the escape golem carries Edel out of harm's way, Blei tells Dünste that they should also run away. As they flee, Dünste asks if there is anyone who can safely reach the bottom. Blei brings up that Sense never intended for an examinee to pass the test from the beginning.
Ton appears crestfallen in a tunnel within the dungeon.
In the meantime, other groups continue their way through the dungeon. Übel and Land cross a small channel of water, Kanne and Lawine check their map and run through a passage, and Ton cowers in a tunnel, seemingly haven given up. Back in the chamber leading to the depths of the dungeon, Frieren tells the group that they lack information and they should assume the clone does not have a mind, which means they might have to take it down with brute force. Denken asks Frieren if she can do it, and she replies that she feels uncertain.
Wirbel attacks Ehre's clone.
At the same time in the dungeon, Wirbel's team continues combat against their counterparts as they hide behind the barrier that Scharf created out of metal petals. Scharf's clone protects Wirbel's clone with a similar barrier, and Ehre's clone attacks from above. Wirbel notes that it is unclear what the clones are thinking but considers that their matchup is not that bad. As he fires at Ehre's clone, he reasons that in a simple clash of mana, Ehre could easily take out Scharf or himself. However, he is sure he knows how to win and charges up a strong offensive spell that breaks the ceiling above Ehre's replica and sends debris falling down on it.
Back at the chamber leading to the hall, Denken dejectedly restates Frieren's words. Fern raises her hand and tells them that if they need to use brute force, she might be able to kill Frieren's clone. Frieren smiles at her apprentice and says that they should now come up with a strategy.
Fern suggests that she can kill Frieren's clone.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Locations in Order of Appearance[]
- Ruins of the King's Tomb
- Äußerst
- Mountain pass in the Wille Region (flashback)
- Grobe Basin (flashback)
Episode Notes[]
- The anime has Genau talking with Falsch about the Spiegel and Sense's exam before Denken's group escapes from Frieren's clone. This sequence happens the other way around in the manga.
- During Genau's description of the Spiegel to Falsch, the anime depicts the Einsam by reusing the confrontation between Fern and the Einsam conjuring Heiter's ghost from Episode 5, whereas in the manga, only the Einsam on its own is depicted.
- After Denken's group escapes from Frieren's clone, the scenes of Richter and Denken's remarks while the latter observes Frieren's clone from outside of the hall are anime original.
- In the anime, the dead end Übel mentions is created due to rubble, whereas in the manga, it is a wall.
- When Land brings up that the clone may be cautious of Sorganeil, he recalls how Übel bound him with the spell in an alley, which is a unique addition in the anime.
- The sequence of events depicting Frieren discovering the hidden room and her group exploring it is original to the anime.
- The hidden chamber with the mural of the King of the Unified Dynasty were designed by the anime's concept artist, Seiko Yoshioka, who coordinated with the authors of the manga, Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe, to incorporate important elements to fill in the backgrounds of the anime. Seiko Yoshioka states in an interview that it was enjoyable to work on the tomb as a representation of the Unified Dynasty era.[2]
- The anime slightly rearranges the dialogue of Edel, Blei, and Dünste before the fight with Sense's clone begins. Additionally, the fight with Sense's clone is extended upon in the anime.
- In the anime, Sense's clone slices through the pillars and the surroundings of Edel's group, which forces them to descend from a raised corridor to the lower corridor where the clone is located. In the manga, Sense's clone only slices through the pillars in the corridor, and Edel's team fights Sense's clone after it ascends to the raised corridor.
- The telekinesis spell that Edel uses to hurl debris at Sense's clone is not depicted in the manga.
- The anime shows the clone's hair forming thick drills to emphasize Edel's comment about the two methods to overcome defensive magic.
- The dialogue between Blei and Dünste while running away from Sense's clone is original to the anime.
- The montage that depicts Übel and Land, Kanne and Lawine, Ton, and the entrance of the tomb before cutting to Frieren's group discussing a strategy is original to the anime.
- The fight of Wirbel, Scharf and Ehre against their clones in before the strategy meeting among Frieren's group is not included in the manga. The next time the group is depicted in the manga is in Chapter 55, when they have already defeated their clones.
References[]
- ↑ Crunchyroll: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Episode 24.
- ↑ Interview with Seiko Yoshioka: Part 2.
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| Music | The Brave • Sunny • Anytime Anywhere • bliss • Original Soundtrack | |
| Spin-offs | Mini Anime | |