Half a day later.
After a long journey, Frieren and the Mimic Tear finally arrived at the Night's Sacred Ground's grace point, entirely thanks to the latter acting as a guide.
As the light of grace shimmered, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. It had been quite exhausting, as they constantly encountered
Nox along the way. Whether screaming accusations or hailing The Black King, they barely met anyone normal. Half a day later.
After a long journey, Frieren and the Mimic Tear finally arrived at the Night's Sacred Ground's grace point, entirely thanks to the latter acting as a guide.
As the light of grace shimmered, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. It had been quite exhausting, as they constantly encountered
Nox along the way. Whether screaming accusations or hailing The Black King, they barely met anyone normal.
Since these people might be needed for the future construction of the underground world, there was no need to kill them; merely observing was enough.
Most of them were probably mad.
Anyone with a brain would surely observe first, rather than immediately bowing to The Black King.
However, for Frieren, the gains were substantial. Just from this brief journey, she had already collected Larval Tear, Grave Glovewort, and other materials. The Eternal City was indeed generous.
They rested briefly.
The Mimic Tear pointed ahead and said, "There are too many low-level Mimic Tears over there, and they're sensitive. We'll have to fight our way through. See that long stair-tower behind us? The one by the portal, leading to the Ancestral Woods. The tower is where it's stored."
"Although it's come to this, let me ask, is it truly okay to entrust the national treasure to me?"
"I don't trust the Lunar Princess," the Mimic Tear replied, "but I trust my Master. As long as the Finger Hunter's Blade works, the entire Eternal
--" "Has it ever achieved any feats of battle before?"
Frieren originally wanted to ask about a potentially higher-level agent behind the Two Fingers, but unfortunately, it was too ancient, and no one knew the old tales. She would treat it as a mere guess for now and verify it later.
After all, the Mimic Tear's intelligence was too low before, it didn't know much.
"In the future, I might need you to make a claim as a part of The Black King, which would be beneficial for integrating Eternal City."
"As you command, Master."
"You know it then. That's for later. Let's go." Frieren rose from the grace point and looked straight ahead. "Your memory is correct. I sense a solidified killing intent from inside that tower. Let's finish this quickly."
The serious firepower of two demigod-level mages was hellish. Each strike instantly annihilated a Mimic Tear lifeform.
--Though monsters constantly surged from the roadside, their numbers were far outmatched by their kill efficiency.
They each covered a direction, holding the line, leaving no opening. These Mimic Tear lifeforms were instantly blown up by starlight as soon as they appeared. Even the highest spawn efficiency couldn't keep up.
Their synchronized steps and magic easily navigated the main path.
As Frieren stood before the steps, the Mimic Tear by her side unleashed a Night Comet, annihilating the last monster.
"Too weak for guardians of a national treasure," it commented. "Though that's also because we two are so strong. Otherwise, a typical party encountering
Mimic Tears with both unique mechanics and formidable stats would easily be wiped out."
Frieren performed a wide-range magical perception.
As soon as she stepped onto the stairs, she carefully searched the surroundings to avoid mimic chests or other traps.
"For a mage of your caliber, you're quite overly cautious."
Their short shared adventure had made the Mimic Tear understand its Master's style: very serious about exploration, enthusiastic about adventure, leaving no corner of the map untouched, and truly enjoying it.
Her seriousness wasn't rigidity, but an attitude, like a meticulous collector examining every treasure.
So it didn't disturb her, standing guard at the stairs. Moreover, shadows of Nox had begun to emerge from the darkness.
Peeking around corners felt strange.
Whoosh!
Inside the tower, Frieren cautiously opened a corner of the chest, then stepped back to dodge. Seeing no movement, she opened it further. Dust rose. An ancient, murderous aura enveloped her, as if welcoming her.
What met her eyes was a slender, curved blade, dark all over, with intricate patterns. It had no weight, yet gave off an unsettling aura of flesh interwoven into a weapon.
Finger Hunter's Blade
The secret treasure of Nokron, Eternal City, a blade born from corpses.
This is the evidence of Eternal City's great sin, and the symbol of its destruction. A blood-stained cursed item.
Cannot be wielded by those without relevant destiny.
Said to be able to harm the Greater Will and its various envoys.
No wonder.
The unsettling feeling was because the blade in her hand was forged from flesh. She swung it a few times, but there was no special energy resonance.
Her destiny wasn't aligned, so she couldn't use it. "So that's it. From the stars to Eternal City, everything is interconnected, pointing to one goal."
Frieren examined it again, feeling it was extremely dangerous. Even with such a weapon, Eternal City failed, so it must indeed be perilous.
But she wouldn't criticize allies. Instead, she poked the blue puppet's head with her fingertip.
A cool, dark moon magic surged, and Ranni's consciousness descended.
"Look, is this it?"
Ranni, upon transferring her spirit, instantly froze at the sight of the flesh-blade. She hadn't expected it to be acquired already, and her ally didn't seem to have been in a fierce battle.
"Yes, it's the real Finger Hunter's Blade. With it, I can kill the Two Fingers and resolve this hidden danger."
"Alright then, let's rendezvous at the sorcerer's tower."
"Frieren, be very careful on your way back. Get to the surface first, then long-distance teleport. I suspect the Two Fingers' assassins are closely monitoring the underground."
The two of them, as always, communicated with ultra-efficiency, without any wasted words. It was time to run; no need to linger in battle. The Two Fingers, with their eyes everywhere, must have noticed. This place was not safe to stay.
Although she wasn't afraid of mere assassins, she would stick to the plan for now.
The reminder from behind made her heart stir. She turned her head. Following the Mimic Tear's pointing, she saw a group of Nox, arrayed in a protective formation along the main road, quite imposing.
They silently bore witness, observing, revering, or fearing, but all eyes were on Frieren, who held the sharp blade.
"Are they going to fight?"
Doesn't seem like it, and even if they were, she wouldn't engage. The priority was to evacuate.
"Powerful Tarnished King!" A leading Nox stepped forward. Finally, clear, coherent words.
"If you truly understand what that means, then do it. In exchange, could you take good care of Mimic Tear?"
"She's my other half, of course. Besides, the Finger Hunter's Blade wasn't exchanged; I obtained it with my own strength."
"So that's it. She's more complete than she was in Eternal City. That's good."
"Anything else?"
Then, under many gazes, the silver-haired girl entered the portal and left.
No need for any extra communication, no need for sentimentality. If the next step failed, then everything was over.
If it succeeded, there would be plenty of time.
The Eternal City survivors remaining behind watched her leave for a long time, mixed emotions swirling. Regardless of whether Frieren was ambitious, this will to resist the Two Fingers had found an inheritor.
Will the world become even more chaotic?
Whoosh!
Frieren's figure appeared at the Ancestral Woods grace point.
As soon as the teleport ended, she touched her chest, feeling two soul entities with her. One was Melina, the other was the Mimic
Tear, currently in a state of slumber.
Unlike other Spirit Ashes, the more autonomous Mimic Tear usually stayed on its master, ready to fight at any time.
The reason for its current dismissal of summoning was for convenient teleportation, and the Mimic Tear indeed needed a period of slumber to fully digest the energy.
"You should rest well."
"Understood, Mother. If something big happens, you must summon me to fight alongside you."
The voice echoing in her mind was full of anticipation, eager to immediately confront the Two Fingers' assassins or even Astel, Stars of Darkness, as they were enemies. As a creation of Eternal City, it naturally rejected the perpetrators.
It hoped to settle the old grievances, to bring a temporary end to The Black King's revenge, and to completely align with Frieren.
--" "No, you're too strong; it would lower the challenge. I prefer to face strong enemies alone."
"Don't worry, I'll definitely summon you if needed."
As soon as she finished speaking, the soul aura returned to slumber. Accumulating so much varied power would keep the Mimic Tear busy for a while.
Frieren then released a large-scale magic sense to ensure no one was tailing them. Otherwise, any tracking spies or assassins would have to be dealt with. Fortunately, Ranni's Two Fingers hadn't reacted yet.
But they would soon. She needed to teleport again quickly.
Following Ranni's advice, it was best to reach the surface first before long-distance teleporting, as such actions generated strong magical reactions, making it easy to be detected.
Although she fully concealed herself, the unique aura of the Finger Hunter's Blade was probably still...
Whoosh!
Suddenly, an explosion sounded from a nearby cave. That was the only way to the surface, and there was no room for error, so
Frieren immediately performed a one-way, long-distance perception:
"It's a Tarnished squad, and there are a few familiar faces."
The Fallingstar Beast area.
Roaring winds surged from the giant pit, one after another. As if a giant beast was roaring with all its might, making the ground beneath their feet tremble, occasionally crumbling rocks, which disappeared into the darkness.
Even worse, Mimic Tear monsters constantly climbed to the edge of the rocks, mimicking the invaders' postures.
As a result, Rogier, D, and Nepheli all saw their own reflections.
Of course, there were also Mimic Tears of the accompanying squad soldiers; almost everyone was copied. Even if their power was slightly weaker, it was strange enough.
"Hold on a little longer!"
Not far away, elite Southern Army soldiers were arriving via a temporary lift. During this time, Fort Haight had
gathered forces for exploration, but transportation had become a new problem.
Large-scale troop transport was out of the question; they had to cautiously sneak through.
Especially beware of these Mimic Tears' interception attacks.
"We can't wait for reinforcements. Let's use our current forces to secure a foothold!" Nepheli swung her battle-axe and shouted loudly: "Charge!"
Boom!
The power of the storm responded to her war cry, sweeping the forefront Mimic Tears, sending the imposters flying.
This berserker-style burst power was perfect for breaking through. Nepheli then brought her blade down fiercely on a Mimic Tear, defeating it in one blow, smashing it to pieces and kicking it into the deep pit.
At the same time, nearby Mimic Tears swarmed them.
But D's longsword was a step faster, aiming at these monsters, sending arcs of light. Its sharp aura crisscrossed the battlefield.
One was a powerful, siege-breaking warrior, the other a nimble and precise longsword. Working together, their moves echoing each other, they forcefully pushed the Mimic Tears back.
Rogier, meanwhile, used ranged magic to precisely strike the enemies' rear.
With the three powerful Tarnished at the center, the remaining soldiers also followed their pace and advanced together.
Offense is the best defense.
Since the nearby bottomless Abyss was unavoidable, they might as well charge through.
Although the battlefield was not deep, both sides were undoubtedly giving their all, using their ultimate skills, pushing the battle into a fever pitch.
Swords and magic clashed, accompanied by frequent roars.
They suppressed the enemies all the way to a wide area, but unexpectedly, the Mimic Tear monsters continued to surge in waves.
--Rogier warned: "Be careful! They've spawned mage replicas! There might be an explosion—"
Crash!
Their reaction was a step too slow. The Mimic Tear still unleashed a magical explosion, instantly cracking the ground. In a single breath, the ground collapsed, sending everyone rushing towards the Abyss.
Wind howled in their ears; they couldn't control their bodies. It looked like a total wipeout.
Suddenly, they realized they weren't falling anymore; they were suspended in mid-air.
"Just made it!"
Not far away stood a dusty Frieren on a gravity orb. She must have heard the commotion and rushed over. Fortunately, her reaction was timely. She didn't even need to attack; the monsters had already fallen into the abyss with the collapse.
Luckily, it was the Tarnished King who arrived. Otherwise, even another demigod might not have been able to save them with such ease.
She manipulated gravity magic to return the squad to solid ground.
If it had been the Frieren from before, who hadn't further unbound her limits, it would have been difficult. Fortunately, her control over gravity magic had been greatly enhanced now.
"Thank you, you saved us."
Even the usually optimistic Rogier felt lingering fear.
D, as always, nodded solemnly: "I owe you one now."
"Long time no see!" Nepheli excitedly greeted her. "Have you explored everything ahead already? Is there anything we can help with?"
"Just a rough pass. Don't be formal; we're colleagues, just helping each other out. You'll help me a great deal by continuing
the exploration of the underground world, but be careful not to enter the Night's Sacred Ground for now. Stop at the Ancestral Woods."
This was to leave space for the Nox, and besides, the dangers of Eternal City were not for ordinary people to conquer.
Rashly deploying an army could lead to disaster.
"Also, I've left some magical marks along the way. If you pay attention, it won't be hard to draw a reliable route map. And there are some places to be careful of, like the Ancestor Spirit..."
Listening to her share the information, everyone took notes and marvelled.
After many years, they didn't expect that the land nourished by the two underground rivers of The Lands Between still fostered civilization, vibrant and ever-renewing.
They were finally seeing the light of day.
In this world, perhaps only a monarch like Frieren, combining strength, influence, and passion, could unearth them.
"That's the basic intelligence. Specific details need to be verified by you..."
"You look like you're in a hurry," Nepheli asked.
"That's right, it's very important, so I need to rush."
Frieren wasn't the emotional type, nor was she one to hide her feelings. She didn't disguise her urgency.
The squad members exchanged glances, guessing but not asking.
"In short, have the soldiers from Fort Haight relay a message to Kenneth Haight: maintain vigilance, build forward strongholds, dispatch an additional 2000 troops, and supervise the construction of lifts capable of large-scale troop transport."
"Colleagues of the Roundtable Hold, the most important thing to watch out for in the underground world is the complex and ever-changing environment. Remember to pay attention to your surroundings."
Rogier optimistically replied: "Don't worry, we're veterans."
Nepheli nodded as well.
"Oh, by the way," D said, "have you seen my brother? He looks roughly like this..." D described him briefly, a rare moment of candidness.
Unfortunately, Frieren shook her head, saying she hadn't seen him.
"Although I haven't seen him, I sensed a life aura similar to yours when I passed by a certain place. Now that I think about it, there might truly be a connection. It's roughly in that direction, inside a building, with railings nearby."
As D looked around, his intuition resonated. It should be correct. Truly a demigod, to sense it without even seeing it.
"May I ask a question?" Rogier's request was met with Frieren's tacit nod. "It seems related to the Lunar Princess.
Anyway, good luck."
"See you later, everyone."
The silver-haired girl gently tapped the gravity orb beneath her feet with her staff, generating a powerful propulsion.
The recoil propelled her upwards against the howling winds of the great meteorite pit. The lingering gravity waves had no effect on her magic's stability, like a soaring roc dancing through the sky.
Her speed was so nimble, even while countering the turbulent environment!
The people left behind exchanged glances. It was rare to see the usually indifferent Frieren rushing so urgently.
Considering the energy brought by her quasi-monarch status, her will would surely influence The Lands Between. Every move she made proactively...
--Finally, Rogier interrupted their thoughts, adding: "Nepheli and I will lead the team to garrison the wide area ahead and link up with the subsequent elite forces. D, if you need support, we can set off at any time. Don't be shy, just say the word."
"Mmm, I'm fine over here."
"In that case, let the construction of the underground world's exploration outpost officially begin."
Their very busyness declared a fact: the aftermath of the ancient destruction and punishment was gradually fading away with the wind.
Authority was gone, and a new great trend was rapidly forming.
As for the so-called revenge of the Two Fingers? A joke. Everyone already shared the same idea as the residents of Fort Haight:
"You've been useless for a long time. Useless things that can't save The Lands Between."
Behind the Carian Study Hall barrier.
Frieren's figure appeared at the grace point. She cautiously surveyed her surroundings, finding no trace of assassins. It seemed the last lesson...
--She strode purposefully up the tall, imposing sorcerer's tower. The attic, as always, was piled high with ancient texts.
In a lavishly carved chair sat a puppet in a white witch robe.
Ranni's four arms were crossed, her ghostly face showing a mix of relief and nervousness.
"Thank you, Frieren. With Nokron's secret treasure, all the conditions are met."
"It's yours," Frieren said. "I can't use it anyway."
"Don't worry, I will fully unleash the power of the Finger Hunter's Blade. I will walk a path only I can, deep into the darkness."
"How arduous."
The blue-haired puppet's eyes were lowered. Even her illusory spirit face felt heavy. Time had passed. The hiding that began on the Night of the Black Knives should end. The moment to face her mortal enemy had finally arrived.
Not just her own grievances, but also the conspiracies of The Lands Between, the god-king system—a tangled mess.
Regardless, she was ready.
Compared to Ranni's musings, Frieren, having delivered the goods, returned to her usual relaxed demeanor, still curiously observing the different ancient texts.
"I have something to give you. Please keep it safe."
She received a statue resembling a censer-like hourglass structure, upside down. She thought it was placed incorrectly,
but it was meant to be inverted.
"You once investigated Godwyn's Cursemark of Death, didn't you? Use it to go to the Divine Tower of Liurnia. My discarded body is stored there, engraved with the special mark left by the death of a demigod. You can dispose of it as you wish."
"It concerns Destined Death and the means to kill demigods. I'll certainly study it thoroughly."
"So neither of us is destined to walk the path of light, huh."
"It doesn't matter, Ranni. If you think the Two Fingers' ideology defines light or dark, then just kill them.
--" "You're trying to say, when you're done with the Finger Hunter's Blade, you'll let me play with it, right?"
Frieren's honest, murderous intent lightened Ranni's heart considerably. Facing great deeds, this one was always the most fearless.
Her optimism also infected her companion.
These words also represented a pact: they must return victorious.
"I must set off to fulfill my destiny now. Farewell for now. I pray we meet again."
As she spoke, the blue puppet's figure gradually became ethereal, then vanished.
The tower returned to silence.
Melina appeared, murmuring: "She's going to commit a great sin. She ran quite fast..."
She turned to find Frieren gazing in a certain direction. Melina could no longer sense any trace of Ranni's aura, yet Frieren kept her eyes fixed on the rapidly vanishing trajectory.
"Not fast, just good at concealment. After seeing Mimic Tear's Night magic, these methods seem all too similar."
"What? Are you going to chase her?"
"No need. She has her battle. What's urgent now is your matter."
"I think the Divine Tower of Liurnia might be more pressing."
"It'll all be sorted quickly. With such good Mimic Tear materials, you shouldn't need to remain dormant and synchronize with it.
Just hand it over to the Full Moon Queen, and with my two Great Rune, it's enough to create a demigod body."
At this moment, the light of a grace point appeared in Ranni's room, so Frieren stepped into it and vanished.
The next destination was the Full Moon Queen's chamber.
Iji downstairs looked up at the tower, seemingly sensing something, nodding and muttering to himself: "It seems the lower left has set off. The fate of the Carian Royal Family will soon be decided, I suppose."
"That monarch is certainly impatient, always rushing to endless major events."
"Blaidd, no matter what, you will find your release."
His gaze made the nearby Glintstone Dragon pace restlessly, unable to sit still, occasionally exhaling a jet of flame, and occasionally slapping its tail, breaking off lumps of stone.
Everyone was nervous.
Even though he had anticipated this day years ago, his heart still pounded. This was no simple assassination.
It concerned Ranni's fate, and The Lands Between's fate, because no one knew how the Two Fingers' master would react.
-
🔥 40% OFF! THE TIME TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY IS NOW! 🔥
That's right: a special 40% OFF offer for you to become a member! We're celebrating the arrival of new stories and we want you to join us.
Besides securing your access at an incredible price, your support helps us unlock much more content for the entire community. Our goals are still active:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone! 🎯 5 Reviews = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone!
🚀 And our main goal: 55 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters of ALL STORIES!
Take advantage of the discount, support our work, and get access to everything! Secure your spot with 40% OFF now: 👻 patreon.com/Walnutchan