Frieren stared long in the direction where the Black Blade Kindred had vanished, a look of doubt on her face. Strange, that aura was inexplicably familiar, like that of Gurranq, Beast Clergyman. Something was afoot.
Besides, Maliketh also had a motive to collect Deathroot and push for the correction of the Death-born phenomenon. But that wasn't important. Whether the two were connected or not didn't change the fact that they were now enemies. A battle was inevitable.
It was as she always said: the former queen's most capable dog had to die.
Both she and the Black Blade had a clear understanding of who was friend and who was foe. This was about eliminating an irreconcilable conflict; today was merely a brief interlude.
The silver-haired girl gave a loud order:
"Thank you all for holding the line. Fortunately, the response was swift and the losses were minimal. Let's clean up the battlefield first."
With their king present, everyone had a pillar of strength and could finally breathe a sigh of relief. To put it bluntly, when Frieren was asleep and the attack came, the only ones with both the will and the power to desperately hold the line were Melina and Ranni, proving their status as true confidantes.
But mobilizing a large-scale force would have been difficult; the level of organization would have dropped a tier, as warfare in the Lands Between is built entirely around its king. The command structure here doesn't allow for breaking up into smaller units; it requires a head-on confrontation.
In any case, her safe return was good news.
The knights of Stormveil Castle hurried into action, simultaneously welcoming the reinforcements that had traveled from afar. They had prepared for a vicious battle, only to find the dust had already settled.
"It is thanks to Lady Ranni and Lady Melina that Her Majesty was protected."
"So the rumors about Maliketh, the Black Blade, were true. Is that fellow who sealed Destined Death targeting us now?"
"He still failed, didn't he?"
"True. No matter how strong he is, he's just an assassin, unworthy of being the King's enemy. Now that Marika is missing, he's nothing more than a stray dog."
"Since he failed, he won't be able to stir up trouble again anytime soon."
The crowd scoffed. In the mindset of the Lands Between, actions like sneak attacks and assassinations were dishonorable, so a shadow beast with the status of an assassin was naturally looked down upon. Now, to attack Her Majesty's companions was even more shameless; it was like a jealous lover's act.
The proper course of action would be to first defeat the monarch herself; then any subsequent actions would have legitimacy. Maliketh bypassing Frieren to directly attack Melina and Ranni was already a low move. A person so lacking in magnanimity, no matter how powerful, did not deserve a place in the Lands Between and was simply not worth mentioning.
As if we'd be afraid of you. They had followed the King of Soul Cinder through countless campaigns across the north and south, defeating four Shardbearers. This one probably had less dignity than the vanquished Mohg.
Soon, everyone stopped thinking about the minor disturbance and returned to their usual busy routines. The castle gates reopened, security was tightened, and all of Stormveil Castle returned to its bustling, marketplace atmosphere. It didn't matter who the attacker was; what mattered was the victory.
A room at the top of a tower.
Wind whistled through the jagged opening, lifting Frieren's long hair. She couldn't help but reveal a contented smile as she sipped her tea.
The Lands Between possessed a magnificent scenery unlike the real world, and she loved this about it. Just seeing the majestic Erdtree in the distance, the snowfield looming under the sea of clouds... it made her feel refreshed and joyful. A different environment meant a different mood; the two worlds served as places for her to recuperate from the other.
In contrast to her ease, Melina, Ranni, the Mimic Tear, and Florisaxx, who sat around her, remained tense. After all, the strongest assassin posed a considerable threat.
"He will be back, sooner or later."
The witch caressed the Rune of Death on her shortsword as she made her assertion.
"In terms of allegiances, both Maliketh and the First Lord have motives to protect the Golden Dynasty; they are our enemies," Ranni proposed. "Should we find an opportunity to go to Farum Azula and kill him?"
"No. Releasing Destined Death is a very important step and must be done in the correct sequence."
"Then we can only lie low for a while."
The situation was at a stalemate: Maliketh was strong enough that the threat couldn't be ignored, yet they couldn't kill him and disrupt the order of their plans. Restraining him would be even harder. The margin for error was too low; it would be a joke if they accidentally got themselves killed by Destined Death. So, all things considered, their only option was to take a softer approach.
Florisaxx said, "We Ancient Dragons can help."
"No need."
Frieren simply shook her head and refused. "What I need to do now is further prove that you've found a suitable ally, not demand you fulfill some ally's obligation. That would only push people away. He's just an assassin; it's not worth us being so cautious."
Her relaxed atmosphere allowed her companions to feel a bit more at ease. Indeed, there was no need to act as if facing a great catastrophe. The Black Blade was very strong, but he was ultimately not the threat of a top-tier army plus multiple demigods. The focus should not be on him; the strategic objective must not be shifted.
"As it happens, I have a way to make him unable to find us."
"The Land of Shadow?"
Everyone answered in unison, and as expected, the silver-haired girl nodded.
"I have already found a way to temporarily break the Shadow Seal. I can bring you, Melina, and Ranni, and also some Grafting Surgeons to treat those forlorn. The matter will resolve itself."
Her discussions with the barrier masters Serie and Flamme in the Magic City had not been in vain. By attempting to reconstruct the formula for the Shadow Seal herself, and then having them analyze a method to neutralize it, a temporary breach was not difficult.
That makes things easy.
Ranni immediately agreed. "The matter of the Land of Shadow cannot be delayed. Compared to First Lord Godwyn, whose return is uncertain, Miquella, who is gradually ascending to godhood, is more dangerous. I spent some time with him; he is a meticulous person who leaves nothing to chance."
She was very wary of this half-brother of hers. The seemingly gentle and tolerant God of Purity actually possessed the resolve to abandon everything. Just as she could abandon her own flesh, his deployments in the Land of Shadow must not be underestimated.
Melina naturally nodded as well. Whether it was her Tarnished brethren, her brother Messmer, or her mother's hometown, the Village of Witches, all these issues needed to be addressed one by one.
As for the Mimic Tear, it was indifferent as always, content to follow their lead.
"To be honest, I don't like the Land of Shadow. I don't want to go back to that place that trapped both the Dread Dragon and me for thousands of years... so I will stay behind to continue presiding over the Dragon Communion rituals and maintain contact with Farum Azula to monitor Maliketh."
After working for so long, Florisaxx had some psychological trauma; she would avoid going if she could.
Understandable. After all, being a priestess on Jagged Peak was not a pleasant post. After several millennia, even a top-tier Ancient Dragon's will had been worn down. It was better for her to continue adjusting.
"Since it's decided, let's prepare."
With that, Frieren stood up, intending to stretch her limbs. It had been a while since she was last in the Lands Between, and she needed to re-acclimate to her power. The emergency response had also left her with some internal injuries that needed to heal. Not a single day went by without some trouble.
However, before she could slip away, she was stopped by Melina and Ranni, who brought over a large pile of documents.
"There is still a lot of accumulated work waiting for Your Majesty's decision. Please take a look first."
"Alright."
The news of the small incident at Stormveil Castle spread throughout the south. Although there were no casualties, the castle gate was damaged and a corner of a tower had collapsed. It was impossible to hide, and besides, Frieren's style was always open and direct, so the truth was quickly made public:
On second thought, it wasn't surprising. After all, Her Majesty's witch and Empyrean had long ago grievously offended Maliketh. One wielded Destined Death to wreak havoc, and the other stole the Rune of Death to launch the Night of the Black Knives. They had practically climbed to their current positions by trampling on his professional ethics. Who could endure that? So, provoking Maliketh was bound to happen sooner or later.
Although Frieren herself didn't care, most people were still wary of the strongest assassin. After all, his battle record was glorious. He was the most loyal subordinate of Queen Marika the Eternal, defeated the Gloam-Eyed Queen, and even ascended to godhood. Now, he also controlled Destined Death, so he could not be underestimated.
If it were a powerful army, it could indeed shake the Southern Army's deployment, so any enemies hoping for a spectacle could only be disappointed. Maliketh's chosen targets were clearly Frieren and her two right-hand women.
He wished. And so, his first move in thousands of years was thwarted.
Today, the King of Soul Cinder had already established her power. Even without her personal intervention, the elite soldiers and fierce generals under her command were innumerable. To dare attack Stormveil Castle meant the fate of the sacrificed Kindred was already sealed.
Moreover, the great cause of becoming king was no longer Frieren's alone. Once the southern war machine started, it could not be stopped; it had to be unleashed. Therefore, Maliketh's attack didn't cause much of a stir; it only served to make everyone aware of the increased urgency.
However, a mother cannot help but worry.
In the Grand Library of the Raya Lucarian Academy, Rennala listened to Moongrum's report, which detailed the attack on Stormveil Castle. Of course, it also included information unknown to the public: that the Black Blade Kindred was actually an avatar of Maliketh. Its combat power was certainly not low, and the threat of Destined Death made it extremely dangerous.
The intelligence circulating publicly only suggested that the Black Blade had dispatched a subordinate, unaware that it was the main will that had descended and used the Black Blade Incantation.
"That was close."
Rennala wiped away a cold sweat. It was a good thing her precious daughter was unharmed, otherwise it would have been disastrous.
"You can rest assured. The next phase of operations will focus on the Land of Shadow. Even the Black Blade will be helpless for a while. Besides, the Ancient Dragons will be monitoring him. Such an event will not happen again."
"I trust in Frieren's ability to prevent it from happening a second time. For any action to succeed under her protection, it would require the Black Blade to appear in person and unleash the Rune of Death."
"Her Majesty also said that according to the plan, she will not actively seek to vanquish him, but she will absolutely not allow Maliketh to pose a threat again."
Frieren had already notified all departments to remain calm. She was as tranquil as ever, but those who knew her could sense a touch of defiance. If the conflict were to escalate further and provoke her, a war of the old generation would be unavoidable.
"So they are now preparing for the Land of Shadow?"
"Correct."
"Here is the research material I subsequently found on the Mother of Fingers and Ymir. Pass it on to Ranni. Tell her she must pay close attention to the Mother of Fingers' movements and not let that creature leave."
Moongrum accepted it carefully; of course, he would not dare neglect his lord's instructions. He also had a premonition that this journey to the Land of Shadow was of utmost importance. It seemed the top three leaders of the Southern Army had decided to stake everything on this one campaign. This battle's objective was aimed at Miquella's plans.
Just as he was about to take his leave, another messenger arrived.
"Report! An urgent notice, by order of Her Majesty: the possibility of organizing an army to enter the Land of Shadow is not ruled out. Be prepared."
Hearing this, both the Carian Head Knight and the Queen were slightly taken aback, looking at each other in disbelief.
How could that be possible? Logically, a seal set by the full power of the Elden Ring and the true god Marika could not be so easily broken. But a soldier's duty is to obey.
They believed Frieren's team was capable of resolving a thousand years of isolation.
Several days later.
At the ruins of the Mohgwyn Dynasty, the designated personnel had gathered, consisting mainly of Grafting Surgeons, with an emphasis on logistics rather than combat strength. The group ascended the steps of the ruined temple, and before them was still the giant Cocoon of the Empyrean Slumber.
It was as eerie as ever. The withered hand extending from the crack was motionless, yet it held a strange allure, as if tempting one to take it.
But Melina, having experienced it before, knew it was no good thing. She, along with Ranni and the Mimic Tear, stood at the front of the group, shielding those behind them while casting magical protections to prevent any possible mental hypnosis.
At the very front was Frieren, who was continuously releasing magic as she circled the cocoon, analyzing it. The work had been going on for some time, and it looked quite difficult. She had already activated the effects of three Great Runes to assist, requiring not just skill but also brute force to counteract a portion of the barrier.
"Will it work?"
Ranni, seeing this for the first time, felt a little uneasy.
"We chose Miquella's cocoon because the first teleportation was initiated by him. There must be a weak point where it connects to the barrier. It was the same when we came back last time; we should be able to trace it back."
Although Melina answered this way, she didn't know the specific principles. When it came to magical scholarship, Frieren was undoubtedly number one. At least others did not possess her ability to use a spell just by seeing it once. They both believed in the genius's wisdom.
In fact, Frieren did not keep everyone waiting for long. A moment later, a spatial ripple formed around the Cocoon of the Empyrean Slumber, becoming especially apparent as it was torn by the power of the Great Runes.
"You had the Southern Army pre-select elites for an expedition to the Land of Shadow because you anticipated that the barrier would be broken later, correct?" Ranni asked curiously.
"Of course."
The silver-haired girl held up two fingers and explained: "There are two key points: Miquella's hypnosis attached to the barrier, and the Shadow Tree that serves as the barrier's anchor. To advance on a large scale, we must deal with them. And I believe that Miquella, seeing us make our preparations, will take the initiative to show himself."
Melina added, "The Hornsent of the Spiral Tower have likely already been controlled. They are an army not to be underestimated. Back then, they were sealed away along with the Gate of the Gods at the first opportunity, and never had the chance to fight the Holy War Army. It's uncertain who is stronger, but in any case, they have probably retained most of their combat strength."
"Let's go. Prepare to teleport. Melina will lead the way, I'll bring up the rear."
"As you command."
Before her words had faded, Frieren swept her staff and opened a ripple like a doorway. Seeing this, the group moved quickly through it. They felt a wave of dizziness, but it was fortunately very brief. In the blink of an eye, the scenery changed dramatically.
A boundless plain of graves opened its embrace to the expeditionary party. Their shock was just like Frieren's when she first arrived. But there was no time to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Led by Frieren, the group hurried non-stop towards Castle Ensis. Thanks to her, Melina, and the Mimic Tear having cleared it out several times before, the entire graveyard plain was swept clean. The obnoxious Hornsent had vanished along with the collapse of the Tower Town, and the other monsters were also nowhere to be seen. All that remained along their path was the purest natural landscape.
"If you only look at the graveyard plain, you'd think the Land of Shadow was a peaceful place. My king, you've cleaned it up so thoroughly."
Even Ranni showed a hint of surprise. She had expected to encounter strange enemies, but the team of over a hundred people had traveled for so long in peace.
But she did not underestimate this ancient land. A closer look revealed traces of battle, bearing Frieren's magical aura. The Quasi-King's power had once bloomed freely across the graveyard plain. The Fire-Kissed Ruins, now just low walls in the distance, and the fallen Wicker Men all spoke of war.
The Tower Town of Bérat was especially incredible; a giant meteorite was simply embedded in the top of the ruins. Truly terrifying. Even from a great distance, one could feel the caster's fury towards the Hornsent. She had heard the general story; they were indeed a vile bunch. She would not have hesitated to punish them herself. But the King of Soul Cinder's methods were more shocking, which is why she could win people's hearts.
"There were never any tough nuts to crack here to begin with, so it doesn't count as cleaning up. Melina and I flattened it on our first pass."
Frieren answered nonchalantly.
"If I had to say what was more difficult, it would be the Valley of the First Flame and Jagged Peak. They were quite troublesome... It's been a while, they've changed quite a bit."
Looking in the direction she pointed, the horizon was lush and green. Where was the feeling of the First Flame? Once life breaks free from the shackles of restriction, its power will exceed imagination. To think it could fill the valley in such a short time; even from the plain, a faint shower of petals could be seen. The entire Lands Between was demonstrating what kind of miracles could occur during a period of recovery. The air was also filled with a fragrant aroma.
Looking past the war-torn forest region, one could see towering mountains. As their name suggested, sharp rocks pierced the clouds. But it was completely different from when Frieren had left. The clouds were white, nourishing the plants along with the mountain mist. The lightning, thunderstorms, and wailing dragons were all things of the past, leaving only a range of magnificent, imposing mountains.
If the rain continued like this, it would sooner or later become a green mountain. The Lands Between hadn't lost its normal ecological recovery ability; rather, various great powers had created stubborn afflictions that delayed natural healing. When Bayle the Dread fell, Jagged Peak was also liberated.
"What a massive dragon corpse, comparable to the ancient giants of legend. Is that the place where Florisaxx's subordinates conduct Dragon Communion?"
"Yes."
"The environment before was truly harsh, no wonder she doesn't want to come back. But she's also missed the new scenery of the Land of Shadow."
"It's fine. This time, we will completely lift the Shadow Seal. In the future, she can come and go as she pleases."
Frieren was looking forward to uniting the two continents. The return of ancient power could also neutralize some of the decay in the Lands Between. The benefits were many and would be good for everyone. She considered this the top priority of the trip.
In comparison, even Miquella and the other gods, or the Mother of Fingers, were not as urgent. How could dealing with enemies compare to the thrill of reshaping the world?
"That said, even though I've lived for so many years, this is the first time I've traveled so far from home. The scenery is wonderful. Thank you."
"In my opinion, we haven't even seen the truly magnificent parts of the Land of Shadow yet."
Ranni pursed her lips and said frankly, "I'm not just thanking you for bringing me on this trip, but also for allowing me to walk freely. Otherwise, I would probably still be hiding in Caria Manor, which is practically passive imprisonment."
"It's a small thing."
"To me, it's a matter of great significance. Now, my freedom cannot be shaken even by the Black Blade. I imagine you don't even see his threat as a concern, do you?"
The silver-haired girl didn't answer, but her calm and breezy expression was answer enough, radiating a sense of security. The Black Blade was only a bit troublesome due to his mechanics, but that didn't mean she would let him run rampant. If he became any more arrogant, she would eliminate him all the same.
"Didn't Rennala give you intelligence on the Mother of Fingers? Although we don't know what she did specifically, she must be one of the masterminds. Your confinement in the manor was partly her doing."
"I will have my revenge. As for the specific intelligence, I'll discuss it after meeting with Lady Rellana."
She was also looking forward to seeing her aunt, whom she hadn't met in a long time.
Two days later.
Even though the entire group was composed of extraordinary individuals and they were force-marching, it still took two days to reach the side of the grand bridge leading to Castle Ensis. They gradually slowed their pace.
Carian banners fluttered, rustling in the wind. Below, knights stood ramrod straight, their formation so uniform they resembled an honor guard. Clearly, the other party had been waiting for a long time.
The Holy War Army's intelligence network in the Land of Shadow was quite sufficient. A group of over a hundred people brazenly wandering around would have been discovered by their scouts long ago, which conveniently gave the Carian army time to prepare.
Emerging from the forest-like phalanx of lances was a tall knight in silver armor and a blue surcoat. Rellana removed her helmet and greeted them with a smile:
"Well met, Your Majesty." She first bowed to the de facto head of the Carian Royal Family, then turned and said, "Ranni, it's been a long time. You've changed... quite a bit."
As she said the last part, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly, her eyes filled with concern.
Although she had learned what had happened from Frieren and was mentally prepared, it was still hard to stomach seeing the same four-armed, blue doll in person.
Ranni curtsied slightly, the face of her spiritual projection showing a hint of an awkward expression as she replied:
"...A lot has happened, after all."
"It's alright, I've heard everything. I approve of your actions, Ranni. I didn't personally face the difficult choices of that time, nor did I make any decent contribution. Now that I have benefited from your plan, I'm certainly in no position to criticize. You are exceptional, more than capable of standing on your own."
Rellana had wanted to say these words for a long time. Back then, the Golden Dynasty was highly likely to suppress the Carian forces; a preemptive strike was understandable. Furthermore, as an Empyrean, Ranni's fate was one she had to fight for, to seize. One might even say that killing the Golden Prince was a stroke of genius.
It was a pity that a series of subsequent events derailed the entire plan. Even under such desperate circumstances, the little princess held the situation together and eventually received Frieren's help. Strategy, courage, and luck were all indispensable, and she had managed to turn it all around, weathering the storm.
From a renegade hunted by the Two Fingers to reclaiming her status as an Empyrean—not acknowledged by the Two Fingers, but by a King. Who would dare defy it?
A thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
Standing before Rellana now were the future Elden Lord and the Goddess of the Stars.
____
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