Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 25
葬送のフリーレン
Sōsō no Frieren 25

Spoiler Summary/Synopsis:

The severely injured Dünste stumbles into the chamber with Frieren and company. He lets them know that Edel discovered the shadow clones have no mind. Methode knows some goddess magic and thus heals him. As the group discuss the situation, Lawine and Kanne arrive. Lawine has more intel, thanks to her older brothers. She identifies the creature creating the shadow clones as a Spiegel.

Since they have to fight her shadow clone, Frieren decides to reveal one of her weaknesses via a practical demonstration. As they discuss strategy, Fern notices Frieren seems to really enjoy this. Frieren recalls a dungeon craw with Himmel’s party. Planning complete, Fern and Frieren enter the next chamber with Shadow Frieren. The others prepare to try to take out the other shadow clones.

A thousand or so years ago, Frieren pays Serie a visit, carrying Flamme’s will. In it, Flamme reveals that humans are now allowed to learn magic. Flamme wants Serie to lead this effort. She declines, which Frieren says Flamme predicted. Serie wants Frieren to go for a walk with her, where Serie talks about Flamme and her accomplishment as well as humanity’s growth as a race. Serie predicts that either the Demon King or a human mage will kill Frieren.

In the present, Fern dives for cover while Frieren battles her shadow clone. As planned, Fern uses the opportunity to fire a massive Zoltraak spell at Frieren’s back. Frieren rolls out of the way at the last second, leaving her clone to take the blast.

Thoughts/Review

While Frieren’s intense battle with her shadow clone is the highlight of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 25, it is the other elements that are of more interest. To a lesser extent is the lore behind the Spiegel, which I think in German means “mirror.” Fitting. Then there’s the strategy stuff.

However, the most interesting element is the extended flashback to when Frieren took Flamme’s will to Serie. It is interesting the Serie repeatedly notes that she only taught this human on a whim. Clearly, Flamme disappointed Serie by not becoming the mage Serie wanted her to be. And yet Flamme accomplished all she set out to do.

The lovely part of this flashback is how Serie honored Flamme when she walked and talked with Frieren. She respected what Flamme accomplished in her relatively short lifespan. Serie realized that humans would soon grow powerful enough to fight back against the demon armies, thanks to magic. Flamme may have disappointed Serie on one hand, but on the other, I think Serie was proud in her own way. Lovely stuff.

As to the Frieren’s fight, I’ll talk more about that next episode review.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

In the end, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 25 had the start of an intense, mage battle, some monster lore, and an extended character flashback for Serie and Frieren. Just amazing stuff that my poor words do no justice to.