A teardrop monster?
Within the super-large range of perception, what appeared was indeed a soft, squishy teardrop life form. Why did it give Frieren such a strong feeling?
For Frieren to consider it a threat, it had to be at least on par with a peak Hero.
Her lips curled into a smile. "There's a promising teardrop creature up ahead; its aura is quite strong. If it's truly suitable, perhaps it could become an excellent candidate for a physical vessel."
"The technology of the Eternal City truly is special. Let's give it a try."
"Then the goal is capture. Fully restraining a strong opponent without heavily damaging it will be a bit difficult. I'll need to prepare a little…"
The Spirit Calling Bell continuously swayed.
Yet, it didn't summon any Spirit Ash Warrior; instead, it absorbed Frieren's continuous enhancement magic and buffs.
That's right, the tactic was to win by numbers, especially since she had just acquired the Greatshield Soldiers.
The usage mentioned in the player messages inspired Frieren. Yes, her Spirit Ash army could perfectly serve as an excellent encirclement net to finally capture the target.
Done.
With so many specialized enhancement spells piled upon them, it was hard for them not to be formidable. Even Frieren felt invigorated by the joyous souls within. Perhaps one day, a certain boss would need to summon multiple Spirit Ashes to fight alongside them.
For instance, when she fought against Margit, the Fell Omen, it wasn't just a clash of Demigods; there were also personal guards involved in the battle.
"Melina," Frieren said, "later, use that Small Golden Tree more often."
"Understood."
"I mean indiscriminate healing. Whether it's our own people or the enemy, the latter shouldn't be too heavily injured. Besides, healing itself is a step towards cultivating magical affinity."
"Won't that be a bit difficult? This tactic is too hard to manage."
"No matter how strong it is, this is one of our biggest goals for this trip. We must secure it."
Frieren rarely showed such determination. The escalating pressure, just to acquire a potentially ideal teardrop life form, moved even Melina.
She had always remembered to search for a body for the maiden, keeping it close to heart. Any resources at hand, she was ready to pour into it.
Putting everything else aside, just the magic academy's related research projects alone had burned through an untold amount of money. Fortunately, the Shardbearers were wealthy and their resurrected territories provided sustenance; otherwise, so much magic research wouldn't have been possible.
Before Melina could even suggest more preparations, Frieren eagerly ran across the ruin corridor.
The roadside was piled with rubble, as if foretelling danger.
Aside from the path beneath their feet, there were no bridges connecting to distant areas. In a sense, it was a necessary path, so a battle was inevitable.
So many player messages on the ground?
Seeing layers upon layers of messages, she frowned. Her intuition told her that the path ahead wouldn't be simple; countless players had issued warnings. However, getting spoiled with information beforehand wasn't her style. She would have to face it herself to truly understand its depth.
Whoosh!
The moment the silver-haired maiden stepped over the threshold, a killing intent washed over them.
At this moment, she held Lusat's Staff in one hand and the Moonveil Katana in the other—a standard high-tier setup, ready for battle.
Ahead, in the passage, a teardrop appeared. It was larger than average, its aura stronger, and its vitality incredibly robust. Such a powerful foundation was undoubtedly good news.
But then, a twist occurred:
The Mimic Tear actually began to distort, reshape, and transform, imitating the intruder's appearance to create a body. It was distinctly pale in tone, yet identical to Frieren in form, even replicating her weapons completely.
Wait, not that Crumbling Royal Grave trick again!
Frieren's brows furrowed. She didn't act immediately.
The opponent also remained patient, opting to keep moving and maintaining a standoff. Their auras clashed, but they didn't engage. However, Frieren was already applying buffs to herself, while the enemy seemed oblivious to this.
In Melina's eyes, it was as if two Frierens were dancing, making the scene incredibly strange.
Ring!
After the Spirit Calling Bell swayed, the Spirit Ash army appeared. Almost simultaneously, the Mimic Tear finally moved, and its Moonveil Katana unleashed a swift arc of light.
Frieren countered with a clang of her blade, matching the attack with the same move and force.
Her hand tingled. Not bad.
Indeed, some of her own attributes had been replicated, even certain techniques. It was somewhat similar to the imitative mechanism of the Water Mirror Demon. She needed to prepare more thoroughly.
For instance, just now, Greatshield Soldiers, Lhutel the Headless, Ancestral Followers, Noble Soldiers, and Latenna, among other Spirit Ashes, appeared one by one. A small squad immediately surrounded the target, their presence like a mighty army, exuding an overwhelming pressure.
Standing together, they formed an unyielding wall.
Glint!
The Mimic Tear used Glintstone magic to fiercely strike Lhutel the Headless's shield. The latter staggered back half a step, but ultimately held its ground.
Immediately after, it swung its Moonveil Katana, its sharp edge drawing near. With a sweeping strike, it brought the blade down. In that critical moment, the Greatshield Soldiers braced themselves. However, with a resounding clang, they were sent flying backward, the force terrifying.
If Frieren hadn't been continuously casting enhancement magic from the rear, they might have already suffered losses.
"Its strength isn't small. The replication's upper limit must be quite high."
The silver-haired maiden's face showed delight.
She simply put away her magic. After all, all her techniques were grand and destructive, prone to excessive collateral damage. Breaking valuable items was out of the question; she decided to save her magic for later.
This was a good opportunity to test her Spirit Ash army and suppress the Mimic Tear clone with sheer numbers.
She deliberately stayed back, allowing her summoned creatures to perform, using it as a test of the enemy's strength. Otherwise, if its performance was too poor, there would be no need for it to serve as material for Melina's new body; it would be better to just kill it.
Ash of War: Storm Stomp!
The Mimic Tear suddenly stomped the ground, unleashing a storm of icy shrapnel. The front-line shielded soldiers, already heavy-bodied, were instantly frozen.
The tide had turned.
The clone leaped, stepping on Lhutel the Headless's shoulder. Its staff unleashed Ancient Death Rancor, immediately causing the slacking Noble Soldiers and the Wolf pack to suffer severe injuries and nearly vanish.
Its power surpassed Frieren's expectations. The true disparity wasn't in overall strength, but in its more refined intelligence.
At the critical moment, Melina cupped her hands and planted a Small Golden Tree.
Golden branches extended from the ground, forming a trunk, then ascending high into the sky, spreading Finger to form a canopy of light.
At the same time, Frieren also used an enhancement spell. The two of them worked together, forcefully restoring the Spirit Ashes that were moments away from vanishing back to full health. Even the Mimic Tear clone felt a sliver of its magic recover due to the indiscriminate healing.
Thus, it launched an even fiercer assault, charging forward.
"Are you sure this will work?" Melina asked uneasily. "If we let the Mimic Tear run wild, this Spirit Ash army won't be able to hold out. After all, its prototype is you; your abilities are too numerous."
"It's fine. The Spirit Ash army's formation is just beginning," Frieren stated confidently.
Before she finished speaking, the fully restored Lhutel the Headless snatched up its weapon and clashed with the clone. As one of the legendary Spirit Ashes, its combat power was astonishing.
The remaining Greatshield Soldiers also found their rhythm, encircling the area and tying down the Mimic Tear alongside the ordinary soldiers.
At this moment, Latenna drew her bow and notched an arrow.
Thwip!
A sharp arrow struck the Mimic Tear.
The magic archery of the Albinauric was truly worthy of its reputation. The enemy's first injury came from this arrow, which pierced directly into its neck.
The clone's movements faltered, its face showing surprise, as if it hadn't expected to be suddenly hit.
Both far and accurate.
However, it quickly rolled to evade Lhutel the Headless's pursuit, simultaneously pulling out the arrow embedded in its body. It then seamlessly received a Healing Magic spell, and its shoulder wound healed, leaving it as good as new.
Its recovery speed was truly worthy of the Lands Between's foremost healing mage.
"I've never seen you suffer such a critical injury. Can you also move almost as if ignoring your wounds like that?"
Melina was surprised by the Mimic Tear's resilience. It had been shot in the neck by Latenna's arrow, yet it evaded attacks flexibly, showing no sign of serious injury.
Frieren nodded seriously.
"Actually, my body is quite special. You can think of it as having no vital points for critical hits," she explained.
She also found it difficult to explain what happened when her flesh merged with ancient divine power. In truth, even without actively using Healing Magic, her injuries would eventually recover over time during prolonged battles, not to mention the continuous nourishment from the Divine Dragon's blood.
A mere Mimic Tear definitely couldn't replicate that, but some of her characteristics had been preserved.
Troublesome.
As the two talked, new activity emerged on the battlefield. The Mimic Tear used Gravity Magic, Gravitas, to pull the Spirit Ash Soldiers toward it, then flipped them over. The moment they lost balance, it brandished its Moonveil Katana, charging into the enemy lines and unleashing arcs of light. Beautiful blue streaks flowed across the scene.
In an instant, the Wolf pack was annihilated. There was no longer any thought of harassing it with numerical superiority; this was an instant kill under absolute power. "Go back to the Spirit Calling Bell."
The sword strike continued its unyielding momentum towards Latenna.
In that critical moment, she raised her longbow to parry. With a dull thud, both recoiled a step. But being mobility impaired, she half-knelt on the ground, revealing an opening.
The next strike was imminent.
Suddenly, a Glintstone magic spell flew from the side, forcing the clone to roll away. Its power was too immense; its intuition told it that any attempt to block it head-on would result in heavy damage. It had to keep its distance.
Frieren, her face impassive, lowered her staff, thinking to herself, 'This fellow's movements are getting faster.'
"My apologies, I almost held you back."
"It's fine. Just maintain this current pace and suppress the enemy."
Although some of the Wolf pack Spirit Ashes had already returned to the bell's storage, the Mimic Tear's unique magic was fading. Thus, its endurance wasn't as dramatic as it appeared; ultimately, it lacked a soul, like rootless duckweed.
She just needed to continue wearing it down until its state deteriorated. She preferred a steady approach, aiming to end the fight without causing excessive damage.
Flash!
This time, the Mimic Tear switched tactics, conjuring a bolt of golden lightning in its hand, poised to strike. A Lightning Spear was about to be unleashed.
Streaks of light flashed as the straight bolt of lightning shot forth, leaving a rain of light in its wake.
Lhutel the Headless reacted first, supporting its shield with both hands and charging forward to meet it. The two energies collided, refusing to yield, clashing and vying for supremacy. A lightning shockwave erupted from their center, leaving scorched craters on the ground.
Any more force, and the bridge would collapse.
After the strike, Lhutel the Headless stood rigidly in place, its body sparking with electric crackles. It had underestimated the paralysis attribute's lethality; now it was under crowd control, unable to help for a while.
Fortunately, Latenna's arrows continuously struck the Mimic Tear with pinpoint accuracy, preventing it from pressing its advantage.
The Ancestral Follower archers also dutifully provided suppression.
The remaining awakened Spirit Ash soldiers quickly advanced, covering each other. Their layered formation left the clone with no opening.
This isn't good.
If this dragged on, the margin for error would only decrease. Something would go wrong eventually.
That Lightning Spear just now showed that pure firepower suppression might not work. This annoying Greatshield Lhutel the Headless kept getting in the way. It had to be dealt with quickly.
Suddenly, the Mimic Tear swung its staff, pulling several rock spheres from the ground, which continuously accelerated under Gravity Magic.
Its body flew into the sky, transforming into a meteor. Accompanied by smoke, dust, and fire, it streaked across the underground starry sky, circling and looking down upon the land, gathering more and more rock fragments to accumulate power.
The Spirit Ashes on the ground quickly scattered.
"I didn't expect it to learn even that move," Melina murmured. "The creations of the Eternal City truly are miraculous."
"Keep your distance. Its target isn't the Spirit Ash army."
Frieren called out a warning, simultaneously leaping onto a tall pillar. Almost at the same moment, the meteor shower that had been circling in the sky for so long descended.
Boom!
Leading the charge was the Mimic Tear's core body itself—the largest and most brilliant meteor. It slammed into Lhutel the Headless, submerging it entirely. In an instant, it vanished without a trace. From its center, several companion meteors also descended, trailing fiery tails.
The ground that had just moments ago been the Spirit Ash army's footing had now completely collapsed, falling into The Abyss.
Directly below was the meteorite calamity that had destroyed civilization in the past. The pitch-black crater swallowed everything, including these caught-off-guard Spirit Ashes.
The bridge collapsed, and dark winds surged upward.
The sheer magnitude of the impact seemed to reawaken the ancient ruined city. The corridor, which had endured for ages, finally caved in, plunging into the bottomless The Abyss. The Soldier Spirit Ashes fell with it. Not only that, but flames born from super-high-speed magic friction poured in, clearly aiming for complete annihilation.
Sorcery: Gravity Well.
In an instant, Frieren used Gravity Magic to pull Latenna, Lhutel the Headless, and other Spirit Ashes that possessed self-preservation abilities to safety. The others had to be recalled, their formation already broken.
She promptly returned the two most crucial Spirit Ash Warriors, then immediately re-summoned soldiers still capable of fighting.
The strategy of a war of attrition remained unchanged; she just needed to be more careful.
The silver-haired maiden stood on a pillar, facing off against the Mimic Tear clone on the other side, a confrontation ready to ignite.
Thump!
Frieren's staff lightly tapped the ground. Her magic flowed from the pillar to the broken bridge, absorbing surrounding rubble to reconstruct it. This wasn't just for this battle, but also for the convenience of the future exploration party.
The enemy wouldn't allow this.
However, just as the Mimic Tear began its move, it was repelled by Latenna's arrow. Seizing this opportunity, the Spirit Ash soldiers crossed the newly rebuilt bridge one by one.
Nomadic Noble Spirit Ashes, 5 lightly-armed units.
Siric Soldier Spirit Ashes: 2 fully armored soldier units.
2 Greatshield Soldiers.
As well as the Magic Archer and the leadership of Lhutel the Headless.
They united as one, easily traversing the most dangerous part of the path, forming an encirclement once again. Moreover, their movements became even more agile, and their strength increased.
After repairing the bridge, Frieren immediately began enhancing them, giving the entire Spirit Ash army a soul buff. Coupled with Melina's continuous Small Golden Tree healing, they were already significantly stronger than when the battle first began.
Even the Mimic Tear felt a surge of pressure. Facing multiple enemies alone was certainly not a good idea. Retreat?
No.
This body's replicated power still had more that needed to be awakened. It decided to try boldly.
Its staff condensed a deep blue torrent—it was none other than Sorcery: Comet Azur, rushing with lightning speed toward the front-line Lhutel the Headless.
Head-on collision!
With no other choice, Lhutel the Headless met Sorcery: Comet Azur with its shield. The moment they connected, it felt an incredibly immense power—too strong. In that instant, its shield was knocked aside, exposing half its body.
In an instant, the exposed portion of its body was obliterated by the comet's hue, creating a large gap. The shockwave continued its trajectory with undiminished power.
Amidst the thunderous roar, it casually swept away two Godrick Soldiers.
The Mimic Tear frowned.
It had originally intended to annihilate them in one go, but its energy suddenly cut out. It was indeed too strained; its mastery of magic was far from the prototype's finesse.
If it had successfully unleashed a multi-directional Sorcery: Comet Azur, the entire squad would have vanished.
Thwip!
Even as it hesitated, Latenna's arrow flew swiftly, reaching its target. This time, it had prepared to roll, yet the arrow, guided by magic, precisely locked on, embedding itself in the gap between the shoulder armor plates.
How is this possible? There's a weakness? It can be hit?!
Even Frieren, who was observing the battle, couldn't help but look sideways in surprise.
The Mimic Tear had replicated her equipment. Although it was light armor, it wasn't something one could easily find a breakthrough in, yet Latenna had precisely hit the weak point between the armor plates.
The Magic Archer had found another opening.
Hit by an arrow, the Mimic Tear immediately rolled back, but it was continuously pursued. The movements of the arm holding the staff, which had been struck by the arrow, also slowed.
Even so, both sides were in a stalemate, only able to slowly advance by relying on the other Spirit Ash soldiers.
"Too bad," Frieren mused. "The Spirit Ash army lacks suitable mages."
The experienced Frieren immediately spotted the weakness. This small squad's inherent power alone wasn't enough; there was a severe shortcoming: a lack of magical firepower. Thus, there was no continuous attack to aim at the enemy.
In contrast, the Mimic Tear, with its powerful magical abilities, suppressed them single-handedly.
Small Golden Tree.
Melina guided her light toward Lhutel the Headless. Its injuries visibly healed at an incredible speed.
"There's a limit to repair," she reminded seriously. "During this summoning period, you won't be able to do it again."
"But the Mimic Tear still has fight in it. Lhutel the Headless might not hold up."
"Right, which is why we need to create a winning opportunity."
While she had to avoid excessive magical damage that might ruin the target, Frieren had other techniques. Especially her energy-manipulation magic, which made it easy to control its power.
The silver-haired maiden raised her arm, creating a Glintstone Magic Bow. She drew the string back taut like a full moon.
Sorcery: Loretta's Greatbow!
The sheer amount of magic contained within this single action was astonishing. The Glintstone bow and arrow, conjured from thin air, was dazzlingly bright, its texture and luster impeccable. It was impossible to estimate how much magic it held.
In that fleeting moment, the Mimic Tear's scalp tingled. It couldn't find a counter-strategy.
A force field? No, this move's sheer mass was too great to be stopped.
Parry with the blade? That wouldn't work either. That technique wasn't fully mastered yet; using it recklessly would be no different from suicide.
Thwack!
As it pondered, Lhutel the Headless charged forward once more, faster than expected. "But you alone, how dare you risk it?"
Immediately after, a Glintstone arrow swept across its breastplate. This wasn't a display of exquisite skill, but pure magical manipulation, specifically designed to bypass armor. Only Frieren could do it—removing the armor without harming the enemy. The true main attacker was coming from the front.
The shield slammed fiercely into the Mimic Tear clone, now unprotected by armor. Not only the shield, but the surrounding Godrick Soldiers and Nomadic Nobles also swarmed it.
They fully encircled and sealed off the enemy.
The Spirit Ash army moved in perfect unison, immediately forming an overwhelming offensive. Once the battle entered mid-range, the Mimic Tear, stripped of its magical range advantage, was at a disadvantage. This was Lhutel the Headless's domain.
The great hammer swept horizontally, catching the blade's edge. In that crucial moment, the clone raised its sword to parry.
Not enough.
The disparity in strength was vast. In just one exchange, its arm trembled and went numb, not to mention its injuries.
Although the Small Golden Tree equally healed every target, the Mimic Tear's consumption was far greater and unsustainable. Unlike the Spirit Ashes, which essentially drew upon Frieren's soul and magic, its own resources were finite.
Over time, its natural state would deteriorate.
Lhutel the Headless, its first strike failing, pressed its advantage. The great hammer and blade clashed rapidly with clanging sounds, sending shockwaves in all directions. Even the weaker Noble Spirit Ashes that had rushed forward were torn apart, directly reduced to dust and ashes by the collateral damage and returned to the bell.
Where their footsteps fell, deep craters appeared. Every clash left deep cutting marks on the surrounding architecture.
Two storms continuously clashed, centered around Lhutel the Headless and the Mimic Tear.
One, even with its staff hindered and forced to use a blade against a large weapon, still fought with ease. The other, cooperating with its squad, gradually gained the upper hand, yet found it difficult to convert this into a timely victory.
Although it was a clone, its resilience, skill, and reaction speed were top-tier among warriors. After all, its prototype, Frieren, was proficient in all weapons.
Truly tenacious.
In Lhutel the Headless's combat career, opponents like this were rare.
Nevertheless, they continued to advance unhurriedly. Gradually, the Mimic Tear's movements slowed, its resistance weakened, its footing became unsteady, and its poise was almost at its limit.
Yet, the opponent persisted, gritting its teeth, waiting for the arm holding the staff to recover. Whether its poise broke first or its arm recovered first, either would mean a massive shift in the scales of victory. It was a critical moment.
"Is it finally ending?" Melina took a deep breath. "It really is your clone."
"This merely proves it has a solid foundation."
"So, you've already decided to use it as material?"
"Worth a try."
Throughout, Frieren maintained ultra-high precision perception, observing the Mimic Tear. She intended to first familiarize herself with its structure from a magical perspective. This step actually consumed no less effort than the battle itself.
She needed to fully understand the material before starting. This was a researcher's pride, and also to support her partner.
Melina watched the silver-haired maiden's serious expression, and couldn't help but feel touched.
She was far too invested… all for such a minor matter.
Before, Melina hadn't cared whether she had a body or not. However, Frieren's growing concern made Melina herself start to pay attention. Now, having arrived at the Eternal City and truly found a shred of clues and possibilities, how could she not be excited…?
"Wait," Frieren suddenly murmured. "It's not over. This guy has a second phase?"
"What is it?"
Before she finished speaking, a fireball exploded on the ground. The Mimic Tear unleashed a torrent of Blasphemous Flame, forcefully repelling the Spirit Ash army.
Its injured arm had already recovered. Now, it was its turn to counterattack.
The clone's blade surged with Glintstone light, and then a cold aura intertwined around it, forming a flowing ice-shard blade. Its other hand, holding a staff, did the same. Dual-wielding Weapon Skill: Moonlight Greatswords, it became even more terrifying in the underground world's cold, and its body coiled as it gathered power.
Crap!
All surviving Spirit Ash Warriors raised their shields to block, simultaneously covering their comrades. But they all underestimated the enemy's magic activation.
A Chalk-white Orb of Light materialized almost instantly, then surged forward with terrifying force, crushing everything in its path.
Full Moon Magic once again surged across the ground, unleashing a magic-breaking radiance.
An icy shockwave knocked everyone off their feet.
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