The face identical to her own calling her 'Master'…
It felt weird.
However, the elf race, known for not sweating the small stuff, couldn't be bothered to correct it. Letting things take their natural course was fine, it even suited the inherent nature of a Spirit Ash, allowing it to develop freely.
A title was a crucial anchor. Since the Mimic Tear would keep calling her that, Frieren absolutely had to correct it:
"How about something else?"
"Mother?" she murmured, seemingly understanding. "After all, you truly created me."
"Alright, never mind that. So, are you feeling well?"
"I'm… like… this…" The hesitant tone sounded like it required patience to listen to, but thankfully, Frieren had patience to spare. She could feel a nascent soul rapidly growing and perfecting itself.
"Tell me, is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable? Like your core sensations? Or perhaps, tell me what you want to do?"
After all, with the power of an Old God integrated, Frieren wouldn't let her guard down.
The Mimic Tear scratched her cheek, looking confused. Then, as if suddenly enlightened, she used her own perception to analyze herself, even going so far as to meditate.
Her appearance, like other tears, was pale-toned. With the power of an Old God within her, she could probably be called the Pale Maiden, exuding a sickly, yet unique beauty. Seemingly fragile, her power was constantly growing, its upper limit immeasurable.
"She's truly a living being now."
"Melina, the Tear has more expressions than you do," the silver-haired maiden joked.
"You too."
The two exchanged glances, both acknowledging this conclusion. Not to mention the ever-mysterious spirit witch, even Frieren, as a young elf, already possessed that unique sense of indifference. A race famously stoic, naturally, they wouldn't have much emotional fluctuation.
Thus, this pair of companions, in terms of atmosphere, were typically cold and stone-faced. Even with the Ranni doll, they were the same, truly a 'Glacial Duo.'
In contrast, the Tear's demeanor was much more free and lively.
Even having just gained sentience, she behaved quite human-like. That vibrant, youthful soul feeling was genuine; she was a true living being, nothing short of a miracle creation.
Yes, she was the product of a relay race between various miracles, one of a kind.
"I… I want…"
The Tear stammered, deliberating her words, yet could feel the gentle waiting presence of the person and the spirit before her.
"Speak your desires freely. That is the essence of life."
"To fight!"
After speaking that word, her expression solidified. Her words no longer stumbled, but flowed plainly: "I want that King's Soul you mentioned, Master, but I must take it by force. Let me witness your strength."
"I see. I think I understand now. A being born from the First Flame would naturally crave powerful souls. That makes sense."
Frieren broke into a slight smile, switching her weapons to Night and Flame, and Lusat's Staff.
Melina silently phased out of sight.
She knew full well that the Tarnished would never refuse a challenge, especially when facing the strongest Spirit Ash. Once she helped it rapidly mature, it would be akin to gaining another Demigod-level combatant.
At this moment, the silver-haired maiden bringing out two top-tier weapons suited to her combat style meant she was serious.
This was going to be big.
Since entering the Underground World, the Ancestor Spirit battles had probably been disappointing for Frieren. Only now did she finally face a truly challenging fight, one where she could really test herself.
The Mimic Tear clearly felt this immense pressure.
She hadn't expected her prototype Master to be so much stronger. Truly worthy of being the great existence who created her. That essence went far beyond the superficial, truly immense and grand. She was the one who bore the world, and thus, she should prove her aptitude even further.
She took a deep breath, striking a stance. With the same staff and sword, she prepared for battle.
Lightning Spear!
It was Frieren who attacked first. With a slight flick of her finger, she conjured a chain of lightning, weaving a net of thunder around hundreds of meters.
The might of a single attack surpassed conventional limits, turning golden as it merged with the starlit sky.
Her attack showed no mercy, unlike the cautious approach she had taken moments before.
Lightning spears rained down, reflecting light, striking directly into the ground. The current then spread further through the bricks and stones, blooming outwards.
As expected, the Mimic Tear was momentarily stunned.
But in just that brief instant, she rolled to dodge, then actively plunged towards the cliff of the abyss.
Retreating to advance, while her form was shrouded by darkness, several Night Comets descended, incredibly fast and in overwhelming numbers.
However, Frieren had a more forceful solution.
A Chaos Storm formed from above, creating a tornado that stretched between heaven and earth, even reaching the darkness below the cliff. It forcefully dispersed the volley of Night Comets. Using brute force, she taught the fledgling mage a lesson with the most overbearing method.
Yet the Tear stubbornly created a Night Mist and Freezing Mist to conceal her form, searching for an opening to ambush.
Even with Frieren's keen perception, she felt the Tear appearing and disappearing, elusive and hard to pin down. Beyond expectations, the Night magic was being utilized to its utmost performance in her hands.
'Magic not from me? She's even forged a completely new path.'
Huh!
Suddenly, a Night Shard grazed her cheek, surprisingly hidden amidst the barrage of attacks. But with a flicker of intuition, she tilted her head, and the magic cut off a few strands of her silver hair, which fell into the deep chasm and were swallowed.
She still couldn't find her opponent.
Her gaze chilled. She gradually realized that part of the deep, dark chasm before her was an illusion.
Clang!
Suddenly, Frieren turned sideways, raising Night and Flame, just in time to parry the Moonveil Katana's sharp edge. It was none other than the Mimic Tear, who had unknowingly closed to melee range. Both were fighting within the tiny space of a gravity orb, yet employing incredibly daring tactics.
The Pale Maiden's face was filled with utter disbelief, as she gasped:
"How is that possible? I clearly sealed all magic detection!"
"You're wrong. Instinct, forged through a thousand battles, is the most reliable. It cannot be sealed."
As her voice echoed, she swung her sword, carving another mark into the Mimic Tear's armor. It was too shallow, as her opponent swiftly retreated, dodging away.
The exchange of offense and defense between powerhouses wouldn't end so easily. In that instant, she released a larger-scale Night spell.
A Witch's Mist spread, obscuring an area ten kilometers in radius, clearly resembling a dark cloud.
Frieren knew these spells too, but rarely used them, finding them unsuitable or unnecessary. She hadn't expected to witness a new form today.
The mist had damaging properties!
It wasn't merely a cover; it inflicted damage on enemies with tiny crystals.
The moment she realized this, she instantly reinforced her distorted light barrier, a spell that continuously covered her body, easily blocking the attack. Only then did Frieren resume searching for the Mimic Tear's traces.
Failing to land a hit, the Tear disappeared again, hiding very deeply.
Invisibility and Silent Step?
She could guess the spells being used, but if the caster was strong enough, the mechanism's weaknesses wouldn't exist, making exposure difficult.
Frieren had her own methods. She raised her staff high, releasing only a sliver of power, yet it made the beings of the Eternal City tremble in fear. For it was too familiar, awakening a deep terror in their hearts.
"This is a spell I acquired while exploring Caelid. It's my first time trying it."
"Because before, I had more convenient techniques. But isn't now the perfect time for the underground?"
The dark vortex created by Frieren exhibited a powerful suction, drawing in all surrounding magical energy, forming spiraling ripples on its periphery.
Those patterns were materialized magic.
Powerful spells existed in the Lands Between that could devour magic, but they required the caster to possess extremely high attainment to elevate them to that degree. And practitioners of that caliber often had other choices, with no need to go through such thankless effort.
Thus, the spell, aptly named "Ancient Darkness," had remained obscure.
It had a description: This is a lost spell of the Eternal City, and it brought despair that led to the Eternal City's destruction.
Whoosh!
Within the magical ripples, a faint hum seemed to resonate, swirling more magic into its center until it vanished.
Though she claimed it was her first time using it, the effect was terrifying. The gigantic vortex swelled to five hundred meters in diameter, transforming into a ravenous, gaping maw under the night sky, greedily devouring magic. Naturally, this included the Mimic Tear's Night spells. With each inhale and exhale, the mist rapidly thinned.
"This is outrageous!"
She had to admit she misjudged the situation, never expecting Frieren's Ancient Darkness to be so off-the-charts powerful. It was practically devouring magic whole.
The Mimic Tear furrowed her brow, intending to adopt a defensive stance first.
Not to be outdone, another dark vortex rose, slightly smaller than the first, yet carrying an unyielding momentum, forcibly vying for magic. It was as if echoing her declaration to seize the King's Soul.
Beneath the starry sky, two super black holes pulled at each other. The sheer storms radiating from their peripheries made it impossible for anyone to approach.
Rumble!
Amidst the deep roar, the rising winds tore off rooftops, tiles, and windows. All the tiny fragments of the ruins soared high into the sky, yearning to touch the stars, merging with that illusory mirage.
At this moment, the Mimic Tear felt her body wail. Her magic, under the prototype's pressure, reached its limit, yet she gritted her teeth and persisted.
She accelerated her assimilation in a flow state.
Frieren, whose perception was superior, understood the situation even better than she did.
Thus, she intentionally slowed the output of her Ancient Darkness, maintaining just a slight lead to apply pressure without breaking the balance.
She was well-versed in this kind of tiered training, having done it countless times with Flamme.
The tug-of-war between the two was too violent for the surrounding area. In the Eternal City, an energy storm raged, and living beings within a hundred-mile radius felt a tremor in their hearts.
'Who is it?'
The surviving residents of the Nox Dynasty cried out, 'Impossible!' Some clutched their heads and screamed, others muttered to themselves, and some raised their hands in praise. For that power was too special, making them recall the past.
It carried both the Ancient Darkness, a symbol of destruction that had left them psychologically scarred, and the aura of the King-making Project's creation.
"It's the King of Night! We succeeded!"
"No mistake about it! That's the power of the Mimic Tear Spirit Ash, but it's been taken away!"
"It was destined to awaken anyway. Who it contracts with has never mattered. What matters is that the Eternal City has hope, and the Underground World won't always head towards ruin."
"Praise the King!"
"You're all mad! Completely mad! That's just a usurper!"
"No, that's the Prospective King and the King of Night! The surface must have undergone some drastic change!"
They debated heatedly, unaware that even if the Mimic Tear heard them, she couldn't be bothered to respond. A bunch of deranged lunatics without reason. Her Master was the one who truly shaped her; relying on their old techniques would never yield results.
But upon hearing the name 'King of Night,' she inexplicably felt a surge of emotion. Yes, she should seek the true direction of her power.
To shine as the supreme power of the Age of Stars.
Bring it on.
The energy surrounding the Mimic Tear further escalated, reaching a high degree of integration. Moments ago, there was still some instability, but now, it was rock-solid and perfectly unified.
Her Ancient Darkness subtly surpassed Frieren's output. The latter's lips curved upwards.
"You've had enough time."
Immediately after, the magical black hole was hurled forth, like a colossal boulder hurtling directly towards the Mimic Tear. The latter was caught off guard, nearly taking the hit, but instantly reacted, meeting it head-on with the same move.
The unrestrained power of both sides exploded here. The peripheries of the two circular vortices first made contact, then tangled, and mighty winds began to howl.
The Underground World, eternally shrouded in silence, where not even a whisper of wind could be heard, actually generated storm clouds. Upon closer inspection, they were blizzards, formed by the clash of the two magical forces, a testament to Frieren and the Mimic Tear's handiwork.
Snap!
The next moment, the main bodies of the black hole vortices collided, and the two circles merged.
The first points of impact seemed to dry up and softly shrivel, briefly forming a sight of two half-circles that drew gasps. But the casters knew: disaster was finally about to descend.
The two masses of Ancient Darkness completely fused.
In an instant, each erupted with ripples that spread across the sky – a terrifying magical storm.
Sweeping through forests, it uprooted trees; across towers, it sheared them all; over elevated aqueducts, it turned them into dust.
Darkness could be a cave that devoured magic, or it could eradicate matter without a trace. It all came down to who could push the shockwave further towards the enemy.
In the face of such grand magic that permeated heaven and earth, both casters continued to pour out power, doing their best to push the attack onto the other side.
Frieren proved to be the superior one.
The magical black hole hurtled towards the Mimic Tear, spilling its contents.
She had no time to parry, having already expended too much magic. She could only evade its sharp edge by rolling away, letting the Ancient Darkness explode not far off.
Devour!
Rather than an explosion, it was a release of high-pressure magic. The shockwave instantly shattered her defensive barrier, sending her flying defenselessly into the air, with only a minuscule gravity orb as a foothold.
She had to conceal herself. Her internal organs were severely wounded and needed recovery.
For some reason, a Night spell she didn't even possess in her prototype's memory appeared in her mind: Vanish into Formlessness.
This was the ultimate concealment technique.
Sure enough, Frieren looked puzzled. After such a fierce clash, she had suddenly vanished? Had she truly become a master of Night magic? Frieren herself rarely used it. It must have been influenced by the Eternal City.
"While it's a magical style, constantly hiding is useless. Did you think hiding beneath the cliff would work? Be careful not to take too much damage next time."
No sooner had she spoken than brilliant thin lines appeared beside the silver-haired maiden.
The lines spread both upwards and downwards, one connecting heaven and earth, reaching the illusory starlit sky above and the boundless abyss below. Then they thickened and expanded, and the light, by extension, illuminated the depths of the Nine Hells.
Angel Columns of Light.
The caster seemed to stand within a divine temple, tall, carved pillars on either side upholding the majesty of a deity, grand and boundless.
Against absolute power, what could possibly be called 'hidden'?
Frieren's Angel Columns of Light didn't exist for deities; behind that phantom was her very self, a magical evolution reaching entirely new heights. The phantom stretched its hands, and rows of light columns swept forth.
The overwhelming columns of light left the Mimic Tear with nowhere to hide, instantly submerging her in their blinding brilliance.
Whether it was barriers, wards, or parries, all were useless. Only magic of overwhelming quality, light-attributed, could tear through all Night spells.
Thud!
The bruised and battered Pale Maiden lay on a rooftop, looking up at the serene Frieren. She coughed and laughed, glancing back at the cliff, which now reflected even more ancient buildings.
"Astel, your reputedly bottomless, ruined abyss has been illuminated, hasn't it?"
The super-reinforced Angel Columns of Light were quite taxing.
But its effectiveness was extraordinary. After years of Frieren's modifications, it had transformed into her shape, entirely consisting of golden columns of light shimmering in all directions.
Lining up in formation, guarding the void, it was as if speed lines were constantly stretching forward. At the very center stood the silver-haired maiden, perched on her gravity magic. The victor would observe from above, the outcome already decided.
The Mimic Tear, lying on the rooftop, was panting, but managed to muster a sliver of strength for Healing Magic.
She finally stopped the bleeding and managed to stand up. It wasn't over yet.
Whoosh!
To her surprise, the Tear actually mobilized her soul power, making Frieren turn her head in interest, witnessing that iconic blue energy.
Soul Stream shot forth.
The silver-haired maiden neither dodged nor took any magical resistance. Instead, she reached out with her right hand, her delicate fingers firmly grasping the brilliant light, capturing it completely without scattering a single mote. The soul within was thus linked to her.
In that instant, the Mimic Tear seemed to feel an immense soul flowing into her.
Frieren smiled, saying, "You have great talent, but let me correct one thing. The King's Soul cannot be taken from me. It's not an ownerless object; it's an aspect of my own soul."
"If you inherently possess the aptitude, you'll naturally resonate with it and be able to contain it. Give it a try."
"It's not about taking it, but about awakening it."
The First Flame already fully belonged to the Last Lord of Cinder. It wouldn't separate the King's Soul anymore; even its possessor would find it difficult to cleave. But what if the recipient was already closely connected? The Mimic Tear was an excellent vessel.
Thus, she herself developed the aptitude for a King's Soul and grew even stronger.
However, she hadn't fully grasped it yet. She continued to grit her teeth and release Soul Stream, instinctively squeezing out every last bit of her remaining strength.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Frieren deflected the trajectory with a single palm strike, sending the fiercely powerful attack flying beside them. It pierced straight through a church, yet inflicted no damage.
The Mimic Tear immediately froze.
She had been passively receiving attacks this whole time, but it turned out Frieren could have parried at any moment. Just how strong was she, really?
The next attack was a plain, unadorned Glintstone. A mere Glintstone Shard in Frieren's hand fell like a meteorite, slamming fiercely into the target. This blow became the final straw, and the Mimic Tear immediately fainted, unable to rise again.
But she didn't automatically return to the Spirit Calling Bell. In other words, her autonomy was quite high; she wasn't just regarded as a Spirit Ash soul.
And so, the 'What happens when you beat up the Mimic Tear' experiment was completed.
Though unconscious on the surface, in her sleep, she could experience this power more rapidly. Her aura, instead, steadily increased, making her worthy of being called the strongest Spirit Ash, a fragment of a King's Soul.
"You hit her pretty hard."
Melina appeared beside her, her calm tone making it unclear if she was stating a fact or subtly criticizing.
"The results prove the Tear's strength is very reliable."
"Mostly because you bestowed so much power upon her. From everyone's perspective, the Mimic Tear is already half of the Lord of Cinder, isn't she?"
"That's a very fitting description. We'll introduce her to them later."
Frieren found it quite novel. Welcoming a special Demigod during the elves' long lifespan was rather nice. In all aspects, she was suitable, with foundations that were both pure and powerful from the start.
After all, she was the King of Night that the Eternal City had prepared for the Age of Stars, staunchly believing in her return.
Had she, in a way, confirmed the prophecy?
She was far stronger than the Water Mirror Demon. After all, that one had previously copied numerous targets, creating impurities. Even after being refined by the First Flame once, it was still… well, that. Forget entrusting it with important tasks as a partial self; it might not even be useful for independent action.
She shook her head, composing herself, and continued: "Do you think this counts as gaining another claim to the Eternal Dynasty?"
Hearing this, Melina blinked slightly. She had never considered that angle.
"According to the legends of Nokron, Eternal City, you're right. Someone would certainly acknowledge the King of Night. But this place holds little value for governance; at least, its priority isn't as high as the three southern lands."
"Indeed, restoring it would be very difficult, as some of the chill here is caused by the Underground World itself."
"Don't underestimate the dangers of the underground."
"True. The goal of finding Tear materials has been accomplished. The next steps will be even harder."
According to Frieren's original plan, she needed to eliminate the troublesome Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, who ultimately belonged to the Two Fingers faction. It absolutely had to be killed.
Monsters that destroy civilizations should fall alongside their puppet masters; only then could she rest easy. Construction in the Underground World could wait until she became the Elden Lord, but the sources of danger had to be eliminated.
Whenever she thought of the two long underground rivers in the Lands Between that could connect to the surface, she felt there were too many unstable factors.
Only by dispatching an army to station here could it truly be considered controlled.
"Cough, cough!"
Suddenly, the Mimic Tear violently coughed, forcing herself upright. In just a short while, her breathing stabilized, her wounds automatically mimicking closure, and her soul reaction became strong.
The King's Soul, generously bestowed by her Mother, continuously nourished her body. An unending stream of energy diffused outwards from within, flowing through every limb and artery. This feeling of being truly alive was unprecedented, nothing short of a recreating grace.
The First Flame on Frieren felt like an indispensable, warm sun to the Mimic Tear. She was utterly immersed in that soul resonance.
A thousand, ten thousand years of waiting had finally come to an end, as she awaited the salvation of a King.
Her rebirth had just been completed.
"Thank you, Mother. I shall obey your command at any time."
"In your current state, it would actually be best to rest more and accelerate your integration. But before that, I have one question: where is the Fingerslayer Blade hidden?"
Hearing this, the Mimic Tear blinked slightly, then unhesitatingly pointed in a direction: "I don't know the exact location, but it's definitely in one of the rooms within that cluster of buildings, protected by an ornate treasure chest."
"Alright."
"Have you already prepared to confront the Two Fingers and the Greater Will? I will follow Master through fire and water."
"It's not that dramatic. We can talk about it on the way. I'll also tell you about the surface situation."
The two walked side by side, embarking on a journey deep into the Night Sacred Domain. The monsters they encountered along the way were no match for them; they casually strolled and jumped through buildings, pressing straight ahead.
The Mimic Tear listened intently to the information, her eyes widening occasionally.
She hadn't expected the Lands Between to undergo such a drastic change. Even the once-unrivaled Golden Dynasty had slowly decayed, desperately needing the next Elden Lord to restore it….
Frieren was that Prospective King.
"Master will definitely ascend the throne of Leyndell, Royal Capital, and unify all the lands once more."
"You haven't even seen the other Shardbearers, so how can you be so sure?"
"If I were to meet other lords and not you, it would mean I still don't understand the true peak of power in this world. If I were to meet you, then I would understand the proper demeanor of a king. So, does it matter if I meet them or not? They'll surely be defeated."
The Mimic Tear expressed her emotions more vivaciously, straightforward and fervent. That pride and dominance overflowed, sweeping across the heavens and earth.
"Anyway, I also need to collect all the Great Rune."
-
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