Diego had long held a grudge against Macht of the Golden Land, and the events involved could not be simply glossed over with the excuse that Sui was sealed.
The initial conflict even dated back to eight years before Diego's erasure from history—after Diego broke into Flamme's ruins.
(PS: Timeline connects to the conversation with Serie in Chapter 90)
...
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
—Central Nations, Foll Basin—
In the endless sea of trees, a golden figure leaped continuously from trunk to trunk. The towering trees serving as footholds trembled with each impact.
Birds nesting on the branches were startled into flight from the canopy, their cries mingling with the quaking wood to form a bizarre symphony.
"Damn... damn it!"
"It has to... be right here!"
"Damn, it should be close!"
That golden figure was Diego, searching for Flamme's ruins. He panted heavily, pupils darting as he scanned every qualifying tree with intense focus.
Three straight days of sleepless travel and searching had left Diego's mind exhausted.
"Rest for a bit. No need to rush. Flamme's ruins are sheltered by a great tree, protected by powerful barrier magic on the perimeter. Ordinary thieves couldn't break in."
"A thousand years have already erased any trace of Flamme's existence. Dinosaur sense of smell is useless for finding ruins, but..."
Diego looked at the countless little dinosaurs scurrying everywhere and curled his lip. The heavy stone in his heart lightened considerably...
With the little dinosaurs around, it saved a lot of trouble. The Foll Basin was only missing a carpet search of the western side—it shouldn't take much longer.
Thinking this, Diego leaned against a trunk and slowly closed his eyes to rest—until...
"Gah—!"
A little dinosaur crashed into the barrier.
!!!
Joy surged in Diego's heart. He snapped his eyes open and flashed toward the injured little dinosaur.
Soon after, a colossal towering tree appeared before Diego. Beneath its dragon-like coiling roots lay a hidden cabin, and the injured little dinosaur sat in front of it, looking pitifully up at Diego.
Pat...
Diego dropped to the ground, strode quickly to the little dinosaur, scooped it into his arms, and gently stroked the bruised spot. His voice was soft: "Thank you—and thank you to the Scary Monsters. You've worked hard."
Diego snapped his fingers. The tens of thousands of little dinosaurs in the forest vanished, gradually dissolving into leaves, branches, and the like.
The little dinosaur in his arms was actually a rabbit. It looked around in confusion, then hurriedly hopped away at the sight of the blond man before it.
"Hmph..." Diego grinned and watched the rabbit disappear.
Once the rabbit was gone, Diego dropped his gentle demeanor. His eyes turned cold as he stepped up to the barrier.
"A hero of ancient times, the first great mage of humanity? What a joke—can it compare to Serie?"
Staring at the powerful barrier set by the legendary great mage Flamme, Diego didn't take it seriously at all. To him, mages were divided into only two categories: Serie and everyone else.
With a contemptuous smirk, he spat out Ugly Treasure and drew the Inverted Spear of Heaven from its mouth. With a clean slash, he pierced straight through the barrier.
Forced release of active magic!
Crack!
The barrier that had guarded the ruins for a thousand years was forcibly dispelled. A massive tear was ripped open by the Inverted Spear of Heaven. The roots shot skyward, splitting left and right, revealing the true face of the ruins.
The ruin's door opened automatically. Flamme's notebook appeared before Diego. Magic activated, rapidly flipping to the page about conversing with the dead.
Thus, the preparations Flamme had left a thousand years ago—believing her disciple Frieren would one day regret her mistakes and begin to understand humans—were seized by the intruder Diego.
"The record of conversing with the dead... where is the Land of Eternal Soul Sleep?" Diego stepped inside, eyes fixed on the notebook before him. He let out a startled cry. "Eh? The first page that opened is already it—what's going on?"
[At the northernmost end of this continent, I reached what the people of this world call Heaven—the Land of Eternal Soul Sleep.]
[In that place where countless souls gather, I spoke with my former comrades.]
[This discovery of the century will surely bring major progress to soul-related research.]
"The northernmost end of the continent... Erde—that's exactly where the Demon King's castle stands today?! Why would it be in a place like that?" Diego's brows furrowed, expression grave. His hands clenched involuntarily.
The Demon King's castle... If I want to speak with Mom, I'll inevitably have to confront the Demon King. I don't believe the demons will just let me waltz into their headquarters.
If things get any worse, it won't just be the Demon King—I'd have to fight its Seven Sages of Destruction, the Great Sage, and the generals at the same time. In the worst case, even those unknown archdemons would join in!
These are still minor problems. The real issue is the Demon King's confidant—the omniscient Schlacht, the one who can use magic to foresee a thousand years into the future!
How am I supposed to defeat these guys?
Things were different now. After breaking free from Mahoraga's violent influence on his mind, Diego deeply understood what would have happened if his old self had blindly charged into the Demon King's castle.
If Serie hadn't beaten him half to death, if he'd led his dinosaur legion rampaging straight into the Demon King's castle like that, the one who would have died would be him!
Diego's mind was in chaos. Even the known intelligence from the human side was already overwhelming.
The massive stone in his heart grew heavier again, pressing down until he could barely breathe. Cold sweat poured off him.
Calm down, calm down. There is no invincible enemy. Everything in the world has its weakness—even Serie isn't unbeatable.
Diego took several deep breaths to steady himself, recalling the heartfelt conversation with Serie before he left.
[Diego, do you know why you lost back then?]
[Because from start to finish, you were alone. As they say, those with the Way gain many allies; those without lose them all. What you truly need to learn is how to release goodwill, attract allies who can help you, and gather them by your side. That will be your most precious asset in overcoming fate.]
[Though Mahoraga interfered with your normal thinking, your plan to charge single-handedly into the Demon King's castle to die also shows your arrogance.]
[But that's understandable. Everything you have was seized by your own hands. You have that solitary pride—it's not unwarranted. In your eyes, everyone else is worthless, so you treat them all as disposable burdens.]
[I won't judge your actions too much. After all, your insatiable hunger for victory is your greatest weapon. But remember this: humans' ability to cooperate far surpasses that of demons.]
"...Allies, huh?" Diego murmured thoughtfully. Soon after, he let out a soft laugh, the corner of his mouth curving again. "You were wrong, Serie. It's subordinates with absolute loyalty to me, Dio."
Perhaps he could even fulfill his promise to Mom along the way—bring a daughter-in-law to meet her.
Thinking this, Diego flipped through Flamme's notebook again, checking for any important information worth noting.
Rustle...
The next page was...
[Have you seen my disciple? She didn't run off—she's just so cute I wanted to show her to you all, hahahahahahaha!!]
ꐦ≖ ≖
Why is Serie's disciple so carefree?!
Damn it!
This pissed Diego off considerably. He casually infected a few little dinosaurs and specifically ordered them to catch a Mimic.
Soon, the little dinosaurs brought the Mimic into the ruins. Diego casually placed it beside the table—after all, if that disciple ever came back, he, Dio, could vent his anger.
Just thinking about someone opening this chest and getting eaten by the Mimic made him want to laugh.
Let you show off how cute your disciple is!!!
After finishing that, Diego shifted his gaze. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the portrait Flamme had personally drawn of Frieren, instantly awakening long-buried memories.
Diego gently stroked Frieren's portrait, his voice soft and full of surprise: "Eh... isn't this the white-haired elf I met after escaping the imperial capital guards' encirclement? So her name is Frieren."
That means she's Serie's grand-disciple. If it's her, she barely qualifies to become a member of my, Dio's, team.
Then, before setting out, I'll go recruit her first.
Diego let out a soft laugh and quietly resolved himself. He continued flipping through Flamme's notebook, carefully committing its contents to memory.
There were Flamme's insights and records on magic, everyday trivialities between Flamme and Frieren, and also Flamme's worries about her master Serie.
"Didn't expect that guy Serie to have times when she was so harsh on her disciple..." Diego murmured softly, eyes lowered.
Damn woman—she wouldn't be taking out her guilt toward her disciple on me, would she?
"Fine. Since I owe Flamme a favor, I'll help you fulfill your regrets!" Diego's eyes flashed as a faint smile curved his lips. "Just the technique for braiding flower crowns—I, Dio, can master this in no time."
With several flowers in his mouth, Diego began clumsily practicing.
...
After completing all preparations, Diego turned to leave. The disheveled notebook was not closed but left carelessly open—to the page recording the soul magic that could unseal memories.
Whether Diego would regret this carelessness years later was unknown.
But at least for now, Diego felt indescribably refreshed. He walked out of the ruins, heading beyond the barrier, planning to return to that forest and properly bid farewell to his mother before his journey to subjugate the Demon King.
"Hmph hmph, big haul—"
Thud!
"The barrier Flamme set up... actually has an auto-repair function..." Diego crashed headfirst, dazed and seeing stars. Clutching his head, he let out a wail.
After a moment to recover, Diego stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, drew the Inverted Spear of Heaven again to tear open the barrier, and flashed southward.
...
—Border of the Southern Nations—
After a day's travel, the familiar little wooden cabin appeared before Diego.
Diego gave a knowing smile, sighing slightly: "Back here again. Who knows when the next time will be—maybe I'll never return in this lifetime..."
"Whinny... whinny..."
Just then, a horse's neigh drew Diego's attention.
"Hm?"
Diego turned. From behind the cabin emerged a fine steed staring straight at him.
It was a light chestnut Arabian purebred, eyes bright and spirited, mane and tail snow-white, a distinctive five-pointed star mark on its forehead. Its stance was graceful and imposing.
This struck Diego as somewhat comical. With a smile, he teased: "I was only gone a few days, yet this lifeless place has grown a horse."
The Arabian walked up to Diego, affectionately rubbing against his hand. Its head-shaking antics pleased Diego greatly.
"Too bad I'm leaving, or raising you would be fun." Diego gently stroked the mane on its head, eyes soft, half-smiling. "Until we meet again."
With that, Diego withdrew his hand and followed the familiar path to his late mother's grave.
Sniff...
"!"
No... wrong! Why are there two demons near Mom's grave!
Diego halted. The feedback from his five senses was shocking—he clearly realized one thing.
A trap!
This was the demons' scheme to lure him in!
Screech screech screech...
But Diego still half-dragonized. After infecting several little dinosaurs, he sprinted, breaking the sound barrier. In an instant, he reached the forest where his mother was buried.
The sight before him instantly shattered his good mood. His raised lips fell. His eyes froze, gradually turning to raging fury.
The thorn barrier protecting the grave from beasts had been destroyed. Huge pits had been dug everywhere around it.
Two demons hovered in midair. Their vast magical power seemed to confirm they were archdemons. They were using magic to haul soil outward—the next target clearly being the hidden location of Diego's mother's grave.
"You court death—how dare you disturb my mother's eternal rest?!"
Under normal circumstances, Diego would never choose to face two archdemons head-on—especially with one whose abilities were unknown.
Forget whether he could win—in this situation, strategic retreat was the best option.
But with a roar of fury, the next moment, razor-sharp dinosaur claws lunged straight for the two demons' heads.
Diego still retained some reason, but in the face of this, running away was no different from suicide.
No one—no one—could stay calm in such a situation.