Under Frieren's feet, wisps of Frenzied Flame aura emerged from the ground. Heat steamed, scorching her skin, and the high temperature was compounded by a sense of frenzied agitation.
Fortunately, she had prepared her resistances early, otherwise, she might have revealed a weakness.
The dominant Vyke relentlessly unleashed a maddening aura. Rather than actively planning an attack, it was more like he couldn't control himself.
Wherever the aura reached, it boiled relentlessly, melting rocks that bubbled and gurgled.
A streak of frenzied flame shot up from his eyes, connecting heaven and earth, his momentum immense.
The previous battleground transformed into a stage of red lava. Those not strong enough couldn't even stand, naturally preventing reinforcements from intervening. This was a true killing field, directly targeting the host candidate.
It was practically a combination of the Chaos Bed and Iron Keep.
She ran.
Frieren cast Invisibility, temporarily moving a hundred meters away, watching Vyke flail around. She decided to temporarily avoid the brunt of his power.
The opponent showed no intention of pursuing. He had completely become a highly assimilated host entering a new phase. What she would face next was a special enemy, half Frenzied Flame, half Red Spirit.
On the other side, Melina summoned a small Erdtree to replenish their strength.
This light suppressed the subtly accumulating madness, but she dared not be careless.
"Since you love using fire so much, I'll just use my own flames first," she thought, "to not give you any openings."
Incantation: Flame, Grant Me Strength.
With that thought, Frieren actively cast a Reinforcement, which indeed made it harder for the Frenzied Flame, a magic of the same fire category, to penetrate. Her line of thinking was correct. After all, there was no shortage of different types of fire in The Lands Between, and they were often incompatible, allowing for a greater margin of error.
Then she gripped the Sword of Night and Flame. All was ready.
In the sea of fire, Vyke finally stopped his indiscriminate, frenzied attacks. He shook his head, somewhat regaining his wits. His wounds hadn't been fully replenished; he should drink....
Hmph!
Loretta knocked away the Flask of Crimson Tears, causing the Red Spirit to let out a furious, sharp howl, which continued to accumulate his madness.
"Why is it that every time I meet a Tarnished they get possessed by an Outer God and burst forth with unexpected power?
"Too bad it's still lacking. You're not the true body; you have the power, but not the skill."
The Flowing Water Sword style was unleashed once more. The silver-haired girl, with her exquisite technique, actually cut through the fierce flames, boldly and proactively charging into the sea of fire, forcing Vyke, who was attempting to drink his potion, to stop his actions.
The sword split a path.
Even the user herself hadn't expected it to be so effective against the Frenzied Flame. This allowed Frieren to follow up with a Comet Azur, the blue stream of light striking dead center.
The unprepared Red Spirit was sent flying backward, crashing into a giant rock.
Yet, he still didn't forget to unleash his inner flame.
Having become familiar with this pattern, Frieren calmly and proactively enveloped it with her Chaos Flame. Her Gravity magic then wrapped around it, immediately shattering it. As a concentrated mass, it was a threat, but as long as she guided it to disperse elsewhere, it was no problem. It was better to guide than to block, not to meet force with force.
Under the guidance of multiple spells, a long serpentine fire suddenly appeared in the sky, stretching for hundreds of meters, continuously roaring, intimidating those below.
It slithered and surged, dropping a rain of fire and meteors, like disintegrating fragments of scattered meteorites.
Beautiful and deadly.
The move, on which the Frenzied Flame's will had pinned high hopes, was steadily caught by Frieren. She seized the opportunity to transfer and dissipate it into the air, preventing any intent from coalescing, and it completely vanished.
This final flame, though appearing incredibly arrogant, was unable to harm its target.
Only with absolute control over magic and precise judgment could this be accomplished. At this moment, she used no seals, yet it was as if she had, preventing the rampant Frenzied Flame from wreaking havoc. Even if something recklessly charged, it would be dispersed.
Her effortless response stemmed from adaptation, whereas Vyke was losing energy within the Frenzied Flame.
Checkmate!
His body, which had been struggling to stand, now collapsed weakly. There was no need for the enemy to land a finishing blow; he couldn't support himself any longer. Ultimately, it was the corrupting power of an Outer God.
He picked up his long spear, facing the enemy.
Even at this point, his weapon remained unmoving, possessing a resolute will, as if it could still unleash an exquisite combat art.
So, this was no time for hesitation. The silver-haired girl drew her Moonveil Katana, assuming a charged Iai stance. Then, like an arrow released from a bowstring, she dashed forward, her footsteps blurring into afterimages as she reached her target.
He watched helplessly as Frieren's blade pierced his heart.
Vyke took a long, deep breath and looked up at the Church of Inhibition.
"Don't worry, I won't dishonor the dead." The silver-haired girl stood with her sword sheathed, devoid of killing intent, and said, "My Finger Maiden never even met me alive. I was the one who buried her remains. So, the one in the church will also be properly handled. I will grant protection to her soul."
The Red Spirit still stared at the dilapidated structure, then lowered his spear and vanished, his battle-hardened weapon still held its ground.
Frieren stretched her limbs and calmed her heartbeat. This was quite suitable as rehabilitation for her return to The Lands Between.
At the same time, Melina withdrew the Erdtree, her heart still cautious, and said:
"That last bit of Frenzied Flame earlier carried a very strong will of the Three Fingers, or rather, the collective will of the Frenzied Flame's adherents in this world, desperately seeking a new host. Your fates are entwined now, aren't they?"
"It's fine. If it doesn't come for me, I'll find it eventually. Besides, there's an unexpected gain..."
Unfortunately, it was a contaminated weapon she couldn't use:
[Vyke's War Spear]
[The war spear bearing scorched fingerprints is the weapon of Roundtable Knight Vyke of the Roundtable Knights.]
[This weapon, like Vyke himself, is tormented by the yellow Frenzied Flame, burned from the inside out.]
[Combat Art: Frenzied Flame Thrust]
[A combat art that wraps the Frenzied Flame around the spear, then allows the user to leap forward and stab downward, causing a violent explosion. The caster also accumulates madness.]
Frieren raised an eyebrow after grasping the war spear, then pulled a wisp of soul aura from the void. A painful howl actually emerged.
"It's the will of the Three Fingers!" Melina immediately warned.
"Hidden on the spear, attempting a sneak attack... Although the aura is very faint, its general direction is toward Leyndell, Royal Capital. The most prosperous and absolute center of The Lands Between actually conceals Frenzied Flame? What kind of capital is this? Is it being utilized or sealed?"
After the soul aura in her hand dissipated, she looked toward the light on the Altus Plateau; it was the golden reflections of Leyndell, Royal Capital's architecture.
Things were already complicated enough.
Now it was involved with the Frenzied Flame; truly restless. Its seemingly prosperous exterior was actually sitting on a powder keg. It seemed her choice to conduct peripheral investigations first was correct.
"It should be sealed. Otherwise, the Royal Capital would have already faced trouble, and I would have noticed."
Melina knew how much her partner distrusted the capital of the Golden Lineage. In Frieren's mind, any royal capital was naturally a gathering place for monsters, to be approached with maximum malice, deduced, and then cleared.
Changing her mindset was impossible, so at least she could offer a defense.
Frieren made no comment. Anyway, important figures always liked to dabble with strange dangerous items.
For example, there was also a new special discovery:
[Fingerprint Grape]
[The burned, yellowed eyeball of Roundtable Knight Vyke. Like the widespread burn marks all over his body, the imprints of the fingerprints are clearly visible.]
[Simply offer it to a Seer Maiden, and it will guide her towards the light of the other shore.]
[To let her become a Finger Maiden.]
The feel was very strange. A sinister and profound aura washed over her. Even while grasped, it restlessly released temptations, eager to find a new host and flourish.
It must be some kind of quest item. What exactly was going on?
Frieren, checking the player messages, frowned slightly. Information about "Irina is Hyetta", "Maiden of the Lord of Frenzied Flame", and "Shabriri's Conspiracy" flooded in. It turned out things had changed long ago; the daughter of the Lord of Castle Morne was now alive and well.
Oh well.
She had seen too many questlines get cut short. It didn't matter; she would eventually find the hiding place of the Three Fingers and settle the score then.
"Never mind. Investigating that is still too early. For now, I'll clear away the Frenzied Flame contamination. I'll need to expend a bit of magic."
Frieren switched to her staff and gently tapped the ground.
Woosh!
Overpowering magic, in the most direct and efficient manner, washed over the land. All Frenzied Flame it touched dissipated completely, leaving not a trace.
At the same time, bolstered by the power of two Great Runes, her magic resonated with the root of purification, dispelling all corruption. How to deal with the various strange contaminations in The Lands Between? She was already well-versed in this; it was effortless.
As the purification spread, the vitality within the soil was further awakened.
Lush grasses flourished, and vibrant flowers bloomed, even climbing onto the ruins of the Frenzied Flame stronghold. Verdant walls adorned the hillsides, and even the crumbling earth and stones were
reshaped and restored by gravity magic.
They regenerated at a visible pace. Compared to destruction, creation was a greater display of power.
The highly vigilant Liurnian army sent out a signal.
Everyone almost thought something major had happened again. But a Demigod's battle wasn't that easy. It looked like a powerful hero had fought Her Majesty, most likely a Red Spirit.
In any case, as long as the disturbance didn't continue, it was fine. Otherwise, the newly established Lake region might face another wave of losses.
One could even say it was a blessing in disguise. The Frenzied Flame hotspot was now completely cleared. As long as Frieren was there, no demons or monsters could manifest. Now, from a distance, it looked lush and green, and in the future, new towns could even be established, just like the Lands of the Dead were purified in Limgrave.
"Her Majesty's purification has grown stronger," Moongrum murmured.
Edgar beside him echoed, "From the south to the central lake region, her magic recovery is becoming more complete, with the added blessing of the Great Runes."
"Yes, many people wondered why the Tarnished, despite holding two Great Runes, didn't display the special activation effects of their original owners. Now I'm gradually starting to understand."
"Why?"
"I guess the direction of the Great Rune's enhancement depends on the user."
"I see. For Godrick, it was an all-around stat increase; for Radahn, it was an increase in his warrior-mage abilities."
Moongrum said with genuine admiration:
"What effect does it have on Her Majesty? It's unrelated to combat; it's a miracle that can bless souls and heal living beings. Even if it means sacrificing its power boost, she will still save this broken world..."
"There's one thing that's not quite right," Edgar chuckled. "It's not about sacrificing, but about embracing a stronger power: a steadfast heart."
"Can spirit and will determine a King's stature? Perhaps..."
AWAY
As expected of Frieren, she'd just find any excuse to bestow blessings. If she kept this up, she'd be even more proactive than the Erdtree. Sure enough, those who felt the warmth cheered:
"Praise be to Her Majesty!"
The silver-haired girl on the high ground put away her staff.
Bestowing blessings was just a casual move; after all, it was the power of the Great Runes, so why not use it if available? In reality, she didn't rely on it for her daily battles; at least not until she obtained the complete Elden Ring, she didn't need it to intervene too much.
After calming the magic within her body, Frieren strode toward the Church of Inhibition.
Years of neglect had left the church mottled, but the sturdy stone still fulfilled its mission of guardianship, ensuring the tranquility of a deceased soul.
However, she was more interested in a lingering White Spirit at the entrance, which she hadn't had time to examine earlier.
"Who are you?"
Frieren tried using Soul magic to actively awaken more of the White Spirit's memories, calling its name to activate it, but unfortunately, it had been dead for too long.
Such lingering spiritual obsessions, occasionally found in The Lands Between, could provide information, just as it repeatedly uttered: "Lord Vyke, aren't you the King after all? Our King, our Lord of the Frenzied Flame, where are you?
"Please melt away all that separates us! May chaos fill the world."
So, Knight Vyke isn't the Lord of Frenzied Flame? Is there someone else? Or has one not truly been born yet? Pondering this, she shook her head. This White Spirit had no more information.
The silver-haired girl walked up the slope, stepping over broken bricks and rubble, and reached a high yet narrow main hall.
On a chair facing her sat a white-robed maiden, her body stained with blood.
"Rest in peace."
Frieren clasped her hands together, performing a priest's ritual. Although the culture of The Lands Between might be nonchalant about life and death, at least basic respect was essential.
"As a Tarnished's maiden, you did very well. By my standards, you were outstanding. It's a pity this land has too much evil. The fruits of your creation will not disappear; they will all become nourishment for those who come after."
"Someday in the future, I will grant Vyke release. If he is unwilling to accept my purification, leaving with you would also be a form of release."
As she enveloped the remains, a wisp of soul aura seemed to emanate, completely returning to the distance and vanishing.
Farewell.
The traces of the maiden and the Tarnished's shared experiences also vanished. Although life in The Lands Between is long, there are also many instances of paths crossing and diverging. The past was no more; a difficult chapter finally came to a close.
Frieren made a brief check of the surroundings, then dug a grave outside the church, burying the maiden's remains and erecting a tombstone.
A simple grave marked the end of this magnificent journey.
The secluded church fell completely silent, with only the gentle breeze remaining.
Looking at the still praying White Spirit, she couldn't help but sigh with emotion. How could the combination of Elder Vyke and his Finger Maiden come to such a tragic end, as if foretelling a difficult road ahead, warning with their own experiences?
"Can the Three Fingers be strong enough to casually possess a would-be monarch?" Frieren muttered half to herself, half as a question.
"Unless he was willing."
This unequivocal answer made Melina pause slightly. Although she truly didn't understand the process, she surmised that the Three Fingers might be used for something against the Erdtree. After all, if everything had gone smoothly, there should have been a third generation Elden Lord by now.
The intelligent Frieren probably had her own suspicions too; she excelled at discerning the logic of things.
The silver-haired girl returned to the church and carefully examined the messages on the ground.
They were mostly fragments of speech. Clearly, Vyke's story wasn't something that could be resolved with a few hints. Rather than relying on player information, it was better to find out herself. However, one point was worth noting: the messages mentioned a keyword:
[At first, I didn't understand Vyke's story, nor did I grasp its depth. It wasn't until I reached the Mountaintops of the Giants that I came to my senses. Everything was irreversible.]
[Elder, I understand!]
[Don't misunderstand; you've gone mad!]]
[Theoretically, you could suppress the Frenzied Flame with a Pure Gold Needle and then continue on other paths. However, from a lore perspective, it would eventually lead to the Frenzied Flame spiraling out of control.]
[If you become the Lord of Frenzied Flame, you also have a predecessor as an example, in the Land of Shadow, that astonishing old man!]]
[Destroy it!]
[The Frenzied Flame is hard to hide. This broken The Lands Between needs a thorough cleansing!]
[I choose Miquella. What's wrong with a world of illusions?]
Although the information was sparse and fragmented messages, Frieren deduced that the Frenzied Flame was related to a bad ending. Though not necessarily, it was full of hidden dangers and a perilous path.
If one chose to break everything, would The Lands Between still have a chance to restart? Hard to say.
In the previous world, even if the First Flame of Lothric was extinguished, a new flame would inevitably emerge given enough time. The world was tenacious. Having the flame-linking save and having discerned the succession, she knew this future; there was always a glimmer of hope...
How should The Lands Between choose?
She could only take it one step at a time, gathering as much information as possible to avoid being trapped, and only then could she make decisions about the fate of this realm.
Therefore, Frieren continued to examine the next set of messages:
[Mark this: Mohgwyn Dynasty side quest related!]]
[Calling it that is too formal. Call it the Mohgwyn Bank. I'm back to farm runes! I missed you guys so much!]
[I've been to the underground world, but why can't I access your bank? It's driving me crazy! Which step am I missing?]
[The guiding character is White-Faced Varre. One step requires "bloody finger proof," which is soaking a Pureless Cloth in the blood of a dead maiden. You can substitute Vyke's maiden's blood...]
[Thanks!]
[If you miss it, you can only enter the Mohgwyn Dynasty via the teleport gate in the Consecrated Snowfield.]
[If you don't do the side quest, you can't go early. You'll have to wait until the Forbidden Lands behind the Royal Capital, but that's a late-game process. It'll be too late, not very meaningful. Recommended to go to the bank early.]
[I wondered why there were sudden invasions and maiden corpses. Turns out it's related to this questline.]
[Don't forget that the grape Vyke dropped is related to the Frenzied Flame questline. You should give it to Hyetta to make her the Frenzied Flame's Finger Maiden. Missing it will result in fewer clues and affect a final ending choice.]
[What, so Irina turned out like that? Who killed her? This is The Lands Between; only the Elden Lord has the right to kill others!]
[The Elden Lord can kill whoever they want, but they can't save whoever they want.]
[That hit hard.]
[Don't mess up! All these questlines are making my head spin!]
[Missed it again!]]
[It's just about when you enter the bank; it doesn't matter much. It's not too late to conquer the Mohgwyn Dynasty later; the area isn't that big anyway.]
The sudden news made Frieren reflect for a moment, but she quickly accepted it, being accustomed to such things. After all, there were too many questlines and events one could accidentally miss. The world was alive; it wouldn't specifically wait for an encounter. To date, she had certainly changed many things and interrupted some questlines.
What's more, unintentionally preventing someone she knew from dying a tragic death was good news.
The main issue was priority. According to the messages, going to the Mohgwyn Dynasty was important, and indeed it was. She had roughly located it last time.
Other players couldn't go there due to game mechanics.
If it truly didn't work, then the soul-will Frieren controlled back then wouldn't have been able to find Mohg. There must be a barrier or ward there, but brute force could still break through it.
Furthermore, even if she were to pretend that the grudge from the battle of the four gods had never happened, the other party would still cause trouble, because the Lord of Blood, aiming for a Great Rune, didn't have many optional targets.
Kill the Queen of the Full Moon? Facing the absolute home ground of the Raya Lucarian Academy and the elite southern army?
A battle between the two sides was inevitable; they had long been eyeing each other. One reason for opening up the underground world's conquest this time was precisely the Mohgwyn Dynasty.
As long as she reached the edge, she would definitely be able to enter Mohg's stronghold.
Other than that, Frieren saw no more useful information. It was merely fragmented information about Vyke and his maiden, mostly revolving around the phrase "sacrifice for love," full of tragic overtones.
Fates are fickle.
No matter how many times she experienced it, this sense of sadness always touched even the usually aloof elf. It was a pity. Nevertheless, Vyke and his maiden would eventually reunite at the Erdtree, and this world too would change. As the path continues, it will surely revitalize The Lands Between.
"Melina, I hope you and I can witness The Lands Between in its second era of abundance together."
"Of course. We must not repeat the past mistakes."
"Let's go back. We don't want Moongrum to worry too much."
Frieren, moving via the Site of Grace, quickly returned to the Raya Lucarian Academy. The atmosphere there was still bustling.
The worried and expectant crowd quickly expressed their relief. After all, the Frenzied Flame cultists were notorious; being targeted by them was often very troublesome. They were always adept at manipulating hearts, and even the usually lazy Frieren might not have high resistance in that regard.
Only after hearing her detailed account did everyone relax. It seemed the matter of the Frenzied Flame stronghold was concluded and no longer posed a threat.
Her Majesty, as always, brought trouble wherever she went, but also resolved hidden dangers.
Frieren added, "Send a small squad to guard that area and rebuild the church. It's next to the main road, so it needs attention. Also, don't forget to investigate the movements of the Frenzied Flame. I'll give you a hint: the Three Fingers might be sealed in the Royal Capital. Perhaps that's a clue."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Though shocked by the new information, her subordinates still responded loyally.
The fact that the Three Fingers dared to take such a risk indicated that the potential Tarnished had immense potential among the Shardbearers, just one step away from the throne. An enemy's recognition only added to one's value.
As long as she overcame these challenges, she could reshape The Lands Between.
"Does Her Majesty need rest?"
Heide, who had not yet returned to Stormveil Castle, asked with great concern. If only she could go south, it would be better.
"No, I've had enough rest. The long-term plan is to explore the civilizations of the underground world." Frieren glanced in the direction of Caria Manor. "Before that, I'll go ask Ranni. Perhaps she has some information."
Her subordinates, left behind, exchanged glances. They thought to themselves, "She truly is the most adventurous King." She bothered to say little, simply indulging in her travels.
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