Impaler's Catacombs.
This labyrinthine cave, like the nearby Bridge of Sacrifice, connects the Weeping Peninsula to the Limgrave region, forming one of the world's few natural chokepoints.
Therefore, the noble armies could absolutely not tolerate any destabilizing factors here, lest their front and rear lines be cut off.
However, someone was even more proactive than they were. As soon as Frieren heard about the labyrinth, she eagerly delved inside. Occasional rumbles echoed out, accompanied by surges of residual magic – things seemed to be going quite smoothly for her.
Commander-in-Chief Edgar ordered the troops to rest where they were.
"According to plan, we will make a full stop to rest here at the Bridge of Sacrifice, and again at Stormhill Shack. After that, we must push straight through to Stormveil Castle and not stop until we conquer it."
"Sir, some wandering Tarnished wish to join us. Should we accept them?"
"Of course. Lady Frieren has already stated her intention to welcome them. Establishing contact with the Roundtable Hold is also beneficial."
"Understood."
While mainstream society indeed ostracized the Tarnished, their own faction was different. It was common knowledge that their leader was a newly arrived Tarnished, naturally attracting others of similar origin who wished to join this rising power.
Although the Tarnished were pushed to the fringes of society, their numbers were not insignificant. This complex group constituted a valuable potential reinforcement. Many hailed from beyond the Lands Between, each possessing unique skills.
Only when actively recruiting did Edgar realize just how numerous they were. Goddess Marika's call had summoned them over many years, forming a sizable population – enough to supplement their army, a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Among them were even some well-known figures, such as Rogier, Nepheli Loux, and D, Hunter of the Dead.
They had just arrived, and D claimed to have met Frieren once before.
"...Our leader welcomes all Tarnished, but she's currently exploring the labyrinth. It might take some time. You'll have to wait a bit to see her."
"That's no problem."
Another envoy warned, "Many are watching, wondering how your army reached twenty thousand. Be wary."
"It's hardly a secret. You must have heard about the soul magic, which is why you're interested, correct?"
Edgar gave the envoy a deep look, and then both sides returned to their respective duties.
In the decaying Lands Between, simply mustering a large army was already difficult, especially from a relatively weak region like the Weeping Peninsula. To suddenly produce a fully armed force of 20,000 was astonishing.
Many were intensely curious about how it was achieved.
In reality, Edgar thought, while the numbers were surprising, the truly reliable core wasn't that large. The actual human troops fielded by the nobles numbered only about 12,000.
The remaining 8,000 were essentially cobbled together from various sources, including dragons, Misbegotten slaves, and the like.
They could be counted on when things were going well, but if the tide turned against them, they would undoubtedly waver. A portion of their strength had to be dedicated just to keeping an eye on this motley crew. Thus, what looked like a massive army to outsiders wasn't quite so formidable up close.
Boom!
Suddenly, dust billowed from the exit of the Impaler's Catacombs, and a figure with silvery twin tails strode out purposefully.
[Demi-Human Ashes] obtained.
[Ashes imbued with spirits.]
[Summons the spirits of 5 demi-humans.]
[Spirits of small stature but ferocious disposition.]
[They seem to possess some degree of intelligence.]
[Become agitated and fight more fiercely at night.]
Effortlessly obtained. A single sweep through the dungeon yielded a full 5 combat units. For Frieren, who was short on manpower, this was good news. Her collection of Spirit Ashes now officially reached 19 units.
By knightly standards, it was just a small squad, but their key advantage was their undying nature, allowing repeated use. With her own enhancements, they could serve as a surprise attack unit.
She glanced around, noticing that part of the army had also arrived from eastern Limgrave.
Over ten thousand soldiers stretched out endlessly, and combined with the forces on the southern bank, the total exceeded twenty thousand. Fortunately, Edgar was handling the logistics; she lacked the relevant experience to manage this herself.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, D?"
"Good to see you again. Actually, we're here representing the Roundtable Hold to offer greetings. After all, you're currently a popular candidate for the next Shardbearer..."
While offering polite compliments, he also introduced his good friends, the sorcerer Rogier and the warrior Nepheli Loux. The group chatted amiably, exchanging information about the Roundtable Hold: Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing, one of the organization's elders, extended a warm welcome.
An invitation from one of the Roundtable's founders, laden with high praise.
Sir Gideon Ofnir?
Frieren immediately recalled him as one of the major figures mentioned in the introductions. Does he possess the strength of a demigod? Or at least comparable influence?
However, she had no time to visit the Roundtable Hold for now, so they continued with pleasantries.
The Tarnished group wasn't planning to immediately recruit anyone either. Overall, they were grateful that a fellow Tarnished who controlled a region was willing to offer sanctuary, making things much easier for many of their companions operating in the Weeping Peninsula.
Rogier smiled, "If I hadn't heard you were planning to attack the castle, I probably would have infiltrated it myself to investigate first. This works out perfectly; we can thoroughly investigate Stormveil Castle together."
"Is there something special about it?"
"The information is uncertain, supposedly related to the castle's underground areas. Let's talk more once we have results."
Despite the vagueness, Frieren made a mental note. When it came to exploring fortresses, the Farron Undead Legion naturally came to mind. She decided to have them keep an eye on it. Their full Cinder Lord strength wasn't needed for the main assault; it was better to disperse their power to protect the rank-and-file soldiers.
"Right, based on the introduction earlier... Miss Nepheli, are you perhaps a descendant of the Storm Lord lineage?"
"Please don't misunderstand, I don't actually have deep ties to it."
"I'd be happy to hear the old stories sometime."
"Of course. Also, don't worry about legitimacy or claims. A powerful warrior once said: Strength is the only reason to be king."
Normally, the Storm Lord lineage might pique the nobles' interest, but now that they had pledged themselves to Frieren, it was irrelevant.
What mattered most was strength.
Even if Nepheli truly possessed a strong claim, she couldn't protect them. The sense of security Frieren offered was far greater. Moreover, Frieren didn't just represent herself but also her formidable retinue: the Black Knife Assassins, the Farron Undead Legion, and the Ancient Hero of Zamor.
Ultimately, Frieren the Slayer, the Tarnished, was the only candidate worth betting on in years.
"Speaking of which, how does your soul magic manage to heal hollowing?" Rogier finally asked. When it came to magic, he found it hard to suppress his thirst for knowledge.
"It's merely a type of magic that acts upon the soul. Don't worry, once it's complete, I intend to disseminate it."
"Aren't you afraid enemies will use it to create more 'normal' soldiers?"
"What I want is a prosperous world. There's no point in slaughtering each other amidst ruins."
Aiding the enemy?
Frieren had anticipated this possibility long ago. When the time came, the version of soul magic provided to her own army would undoubtedly be the best iteration. Besides, knowledge should be exchanged; disseminating it was the way to give it life.
She believed that in a land teeming with talent, others would contribute to and refine the magical system. Why wouldn't she encourage that?
Her listeners looked on, awestruck. They could see Frieren was serious. Such a mindset truly possessed a kingly aura.
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