Determination

A Frieren/? Crossover Fic

As always you can contact me

My works are stored , A03, and mediaminer for older stuff.

As always, I do not own the rights to the characters or series within.

My first Frieren work. It's short and with a guest star.

This is an alternate universe that takes place before episode 7 for obvious reasons.

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Graf Granat stood in his son's bedroom, as he had many times since his death nearly five years ago. He stared out the window and looked off toward the horizon to the north. It was a bright midday and he could see a great distance, though not as far as he wanted.

An attendant dressed in resplendent regalia entered the room, bowing before the leader of the city. "Sir, you wished to speak to the peace envoy sent by the Demons."

"We'll be delaying that for now." Graf provided no other explanation, continuing to stare out the window.

"How long should I tell them they must wait?" he asked.

"Don't tell them anything for now. It's my hope we'll simply send them back without ever talking to them."

The attendant drew back. "But you were open to negotiations earlier. I informed them of that."

"Circumstances might have changed."

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The armored warrior walked north in a steady line. Nothing accosted him. despite the proliferation of hostile creatures in the area. He would be nearing the goal soon enough. His foe let all know its location, inviting attack, while encased in armor composed solely of self-assurance.

A poor choice of protection for turning a blade.

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"I came across him a couple of days ago," Graf told his attendant.

"Who, sir?"

"A warrior unlike any other I've ever met. Not in his outward appearance. He looked like any sell sword with a sword at his side and a spear on his back. No, it was an… aura about him. I felt compelled to speak to him. When I asked him his business, he said he sought a foe to kill."

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Aura the Guillotine stood patiently on the rocky terrain, rather than floating above it. She was surrounded by her host of spirit-controlled armor. Yet another warrior approached to challenge her, only to inevitably join her ranks. That was why she had allowed him to approach unmolested through the hostile territory. She was always open to increasing the numbers in her army.

And there he was. Encased head-to-toe in armor so no flesh was visible. That meant once she had ensorcelled him and lopped off his head, he wouldn't look that much different. The ones that wore silly half mail, or worse, the topless barbarians, once they started rotting they were an eyesore. She never bothered keeping those around any longer. She had enough troops she could pick and choose: this one was a keeper.

There was nothing outwardly remarkable about him. She sensed no magic weapon on his person, not that it would make a difference since it was all about personal mana when it came to her. He didn't rush to kill her like so many others. Instead, he approached with a slow, steady pace. There was a sense of inevitability about it.

She brought her scales before her and cast her spell of obedience.

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"He was new to this land. A result of some spell that hurled him from his home to this new one, but his quest remained the same. I spoke to him at length. It was then I realized he might succeed where others failed. He was different. So dedicated toward his goal that I thought he might overcome her magic," Graf said.

"You've sent an assassin, then?" the attendant asked.

"Is an assassin one who openly approaches with sword drawn? No, perhaps that is the word," Graf admitted. "There was only one problem: the foe he sought was not the one I wished him to seek out. However, it also became evident as we spoke that he was myopic in his vision. In order to manipulate him to my will, I misled him. Successfully. He agreed to take on the quest."

A hint of shame laced the attendant voice. "You didn't tell him about the Scales of Obedience?"

"Oh no. I told him about that. Rather it was about the true nature of his foe. If he succeeds and discovers my perfidy, I will accept his retribution. A small price to pay to save this land and avenge my son."

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Aura cast the spell and discovered he possessed no mana whatsoever. Remarkable. It was her most lopsided victory yet. Were she a lowly human, she might have giggled at the moronic simpleton who challenged her this day. At least she would put him to a useful purpose in her army.

Now that she had won the mana duel he had no idea he'd entered, she mentally urged him to stop approaching. When she ordered him to cut off his head, she didn't want the bother of being bathed in blood from the decapitation. At least not this time.

He continued on his straightforward path toward her.

She mentally observed the spell. He was ensorcelled. He should be obeying. Yes, those of exceptional will could *somewhat* resist her magic, but not like he was doing. As he futilely gathered all of his willpower to disobey, it should only have resulted in hesitancy to fulfill her wishes, not outright defiance.

She exerted the full force of the spell this time. Again, he didn't waver.

Her disbelief at being so casually confounded proved a mistake as he was now within striking distance. She switched mental tracks to form a spell to cut off his legs. The mana had just formed the necessary threads of magic, but her foe proved more able. Lightning quick he drew his sword from its scabbard and decapitated her with a single blow.

Her last thoughts were of the injustice of it all. Nothing should be able to ignore her spell on sheer willpower alone.

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"It was the name, you know. Anyone who changes his name to reflect his only cause possess determination beyond all measure. That is what is required to kill that creature."

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Goblin Slayer looked down at his deceased foe. Truly the goblins in this land were different from the ones in his. However. they were clearly clever just like his goblins were. They had not only learned language to trick and manipulate humans into believing they could be negotiated with, but had drastically altered their outward form to appear more human as well, making them less monstrous to people's eyes. Some could even appear female, like this one. It was probably the magic they had learned that allowed it. What fool had given them the tools to utilize magic on this level? These were the most dangerous breed of goblin yet.

In fact, he would have had no idea they were goblins had that noble not informed him of their actual identities. He felt a bit of disappointment in himself that he would have been tricked by his blood enemies' subterfuge as well, had the man not set him straight.

Now he would have to analyze this new breed of goblin in its tactics and determine how best to kill them. At least they cleaned up after themselves, as this one demonstrated by its body disintegrating.

It appeared a Goblins Slayer's work was never done.

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[End fic]

Yes, it's a Frieren fic without Frieren in it. But then again it was just a little idea I came up with when I asked myself who might have the willpower to overcome the spell of obedience.

Thanks for reading.