On the heels of yet another standout season, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End keeps its endearing fantasy going strong with the announcement of a third season slated for debut in October 2027. However, things won’t be so laid-back as fans have come to expect in Frieren’s next outing, as the elven mage and her party are set to come face-to-face with the series’ most menacing foe: Macht of the Golden Land.
If you’re not up to date on your Frieren lore, let me help you get acquainted. Thus far in Frieren’s journey, we’ve heard several mentions of the Seven Sages of Destruction, the strongest lieutenants of the Demon King assembled by Schlacht the Omniscient, the king’s confidant. Members of the group are often referenced by Frieren as wielding immense power, citing them as formidable opponents who once served the Demon King. In season 2, we learned that three of the Sages, along with Schlacht, were killed by the Hero of the South. Years later, Himmel’s Party killed two more, before decisively ending the conflict with the demons, taking the head of the Demon King.
In the present of the story, only two Sages remained. Judging by how swiftly Aura the Guillotine was dispatched in season 1, you might think they are not particularly dangerous. However, Macht of the Golden Land is a far cry from his predecessor. The imposing foe made his debut at the end of Frieren season 2, and now serves as the face of the next season, towering over all in the promotional artwork. Frieren calls him the most dangerous among the Seven Sages, leaving anime-only fans to wonder what makes Macht so different.
[Ed. Note: Spoilers for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End beyond season 2.]
In the manga, Macht is portrayed as the outlier among the Seven Sages. He’s far more passive and restrained than most demons in Frieren, a disposition that stems from his overwhelming power, one that has earned him a reputation as the strongest among the Seven Sages. Even Frieren later admits she can’t envision a way to defeat him.
This is due to Diagoldze, Macht’s signature curse spell that turns all matter into indestructible gold. It’s nothing like the magic we’ve seen thus far in the series. Diagoldze’s effects are not only considered irreversible but unavoidable, and the prowess behind the spell is put on full display in the total obliteration of the city of Weise, which you may remember as the hometown of Denken, the first-class mage who was featured prominently in season 1 and briefly appeared at the end of season 2.
For years, Macht served as the right hand to Lord Glück, the human overseer of Weise. The two struck a unique bond, coexisting for two separate ideals; Macht served Glück to further his understanding of humans, while Glück used Macht to gain more power and keep Weise safe. Of course, this experiment was fundamentally flawed. Since demons in Frieren can’t feel empathy, there’s no way for them to ever understand humans. It takes Macht several years to reach this conclusion, but when he does, it’s this very conviction that allows him to turn Weise (and most of the surrounding region) into solid gold without feeling a thing.
Following this betrayal, Serie, the head of the Continental Magic Association, recruited several mages to fight Macht on his home turf. However, at the urging of Serie’s apprentices, the group decided instead to seal Macht rather than defeat him. The Great Barrier of the Golden Land was erected in order to keep Macht at bay and limit the reach of his Diagoldze curse, which continued to grow out of the city like a parasitic mass of gold. The barrier over Weise required annual adjustments by the Continental Magic Association just to keep it stable.
Now, with the Frieren Party traveling through the Northern Lands in their journey to Aureole, and with Denken hellbent on freeing his hometown from the curse, the heroes of the story are set on a collision course with this mighty demon. Macht is not to be trifled with, nor underestimated. Like other demons, he has a suave demeanor, but his cold eyes hide devilish intentions.
I can’t wait to see Madhouse bring this incredible villain to life in Frieren season 3. Expect some nail-biting fight scenes, brilliant dialogue, and much more Denken when Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End comes back in October 2027.
