The Ranni doll on her shoulder slowly lowered its head, its magic dissipating.
While re-injecting energy would allow for further dialogue, her true self likely had no time for pleasantries. Tracking the Two Fingers was no simple task, especially with the underground world now stirring trouble.
"See you," Frieren replied indifferently, not caring if it heard her, and proceeded straight towards the distant Uhl Palace Ruins.
The intelligence was correct; the ruins above ground were even more massive below, forming a veritable underground city.
Water plants extended towards a massive arched gate.
Along the way, bug-like monsters swarmed, but for such minor foes, a single spell from Frieren was enough to wipe out a large area. Every cast struck true, every strike was lethal, and in moments, she cleared a vast, safe space.
She didn't forget to leave behind magical traces for any who followed.
She didn't mind if allies or enemies found her. Either the fights would be easy, or they would be satisfying. Either way, it was a net positive, truly good news.
"Mother is in such a hurry; is it because the person behind this doll is very important?"
"Sort of."
"Can you elaborate?"
"Don't disturb Frieren. This concerns the stability of the God-King dynamic. We must ensure the safety of the Law-Bearer."
Two different voices echoed beside her, but they didn't affect Frieren's precise movements in the slightest. Whether distracted or not, these monsters couldn't harm her. Besides, multi-tasking in combat served as good training.
The Mimic Tear pondered with its limited knowledge, connecting cause and effect to deduce:
"Since the Two Fingers control the authentication of the Great Runes, isn't offending them now a dead end? I believe we only have one solution left."
"Go big or go home: kill all their agents…"
"Wrong."
Frieren shook her head and added, "The Two Fingers aren't a single entity. At least for now, they act as if their intelligence isn't shared, and their interests aren't necessarily aligned. Losing one won't matter much. We'll deal with the primary source of conflict first; there's no need to expand the scope."
She stopped the Mimic Tear's eager stirring. That child was always so full of fighting spirit.
Of course, even if they truly broadened their targets for retaliation, it wouldn't matter. Taking care of everyone wouldn't be an issue; who they might offend wasn't a concern.
People would simply see the monarch as upholding their authority, unlike in reality, where an overly aggressive king might provoke a rebellion.
In The Lands Between, claiming kingship wasn't about diplomacy; it was about fighting and killing.
ROAR!
Suddenly, from the empty Uhl Palace Ruins gate, a massive insectoid monster descended. It had translucent, starry wings on its back, a slender body, and a skeletal, horned head. Its dark eye sockets were fixed on the silver-haired girl.
A monster with a starkly different aesthetic from those on the surface?
As usual, she didn't initiate the attack, instead waiting for her opponent to make the first move. Sure enough, the restless, clear-winged monster unleashed a barrage of fire, engulfing a hundred-meter radius around it.
"Decent power."
Unfortunately, such thoughtless area-of-effect fire was useless, easily nullified by Frieren's few nimble leaps. Not a single attack landed.
All power, no perception.
The agile silver-haired girl enraged it, making it snarl viciously, its mouth wide open in a continuous roar. Its inverted body descended to the ground, revealing its full form, which stretched over ten meters. The larger its size, the richer its Rune power. This was her first roadblock.
"Comet."
A fully charged counterattack struck precisely as the clear-winged monster moved, accurately hitting its head and erupting in a burst of fire.
Frieren's attack seemed casual but contained immense magical power. A tremendous boom exploded on its face, followed immediately by another. She had no time to practice on roadside wild monsters; she needed a swift resolution.
Consecutive Comet shots.
The demigod-level barrage instantly blasted it, sending it sprawling to the ground, dazed and disoriented.
Sword of Night and Flame, Flame Sweep.
The legendary weapon's flames burned it to ash, and a Level 7 Smithing Stone appeared—a pleasant surprise.
However, she didn't linger further. After acquiring the treasure, she continued on her way. Ahead was a narrow tunnel, with a slight rush of water flowing beneath her feet. The path sloped steeply downwards, making it easy to slip.
And then, predictably, humanoid monsters wielding long spears emerged from all sides, along with giant ants...
"Leave the monsters along the way to you, Mimic Tear. Move out."
"Understood."
An excited reply, along with a Night Comet, was unleashed, piercing through the giant ant in a single strike. Simultaneously, the pale girl appeared, decapitating a spearman with one sword swing.
Her movements were clean, decisive, and filled with lethal intent. Every strike aimed to kill, embodying the surprise attack nature of Night magic.
The strongest Spirit Ash escorted them through the tunnel.
Night Comet barrages.
If Frieren's style leaned towards planning before acting, advocating for counterattacks with a relatively slower and cautious initial pace, then the Mimic Tear was all about blasting first and asking questions later. It didn't care for magical diversity; you had to survive its initial onslaught before it even considered using different spells. Mother needed to practice various magic, but it didn't like such bother, so it simply... Still not satisfied, it raised its staff, unleashing an endless barrage of surprise "Glintstone" Shards, attacking indiscriminately along the path.
The tunnel walls along the way became riddled with holes.
SPLASH!
After a long stretch of watery slide, the two arrived at a new architectural complex. Arched gates, worn by millennia, still stood firm, awaiting the explorer destined to arrive.
New Site of Grace: Eternal City, Nokstella.
The same title? Perhaps it's a general term for the superstructures that already exist in the underground world?
If true, it would be the most massive architectural complex Frieren had ever traversed. A city built upon such a vast area indicated the incredible brilliance of its past civilization and the immeasurable resources expended.
The Ranni doll on her shoulder slightly raised its head.
"You've already reached Eternal City, Nokstella. You're faster than I expected. Things went smoothly, I presume…?"
When she saw the pale girl curiously observing her, she paused slightly.
"A Spirit Ash?"
"Yes, she was created from the Mimic Tear prototype, merged with much of my power. She is my other self."
"You are the Stars' Law's Empyrean?"
"Indeed, but I once refused the Empyrean's duty, which led to the Two Fingers' pursuit. This is their retaliation, an unforgivable grudge…"
"That's too strange. If you and Mother partner up to enact the Stars' Law, aren't you still existing as an Empyrean? What conflict is there with the Two Fingers' demands? Why fight to the death? Or is there something I don't know?"
The Mimic Tear crossed its arms, openly displaying its caution.
In its eyes, the mastermind behind the Night of Black Knives was even more dangerous than their companion Melina. Melina, at most, harbored secrets, but the Moon Princess's secrets had plunged The Lands Between into chaos.
Frieren's expression remained silent.
"You're very intelligent, and you prefer to speak plainly, unlike her who'd rather figure things out herself than ask, even when in doubt."
"I'm primarily hunted because I abandoned my body and rejected the Golden Order's Law. Whether a doll's body can truly govern as a god is still unknown. At least, from the Two Fingers' perspective, retaliation is necessary."
The Mimic Tear's mouth twitched as it muttered:
"So the Two Fingers are truly bothersome. You'll objectively become a god in the future, yet they hunt you simply because you subjectively refused them once? It's absurd."
"Are you pouting?" Ranni asked, confused. This child's emotions were so straightforward.
"No, they'll die like court jesters. They'll gamble their lives and change nothing. Later, The Lands Between will record: 'The lovesick charlatan dared to disrupt Elden Lord Frieren's plans and died.'"
"I will kill them, then carve a Centipede Mark of Wounds to settle the score."
"Lady Ranni, remember to leave their corpse somewhere conspicuous, like the Capital preserves the remains of Fortissax."
Suddenly, the Mimic Tear shook its head.
"No, the Two Fingers are too weak. Not intimidating enough. Let's hang Godfrey's head instead. Radagon isn't even worthy. The second choice would have to be Placidusax, but we can't find him. He's been hiding all this time, the Celestial Dragon…."
It began to seriously consider what kind of corpse would best commemorate the great Frieren Dynasty.
It had to be massive, famous, and boast significant achievements to display their martial prowess. First, it should be placed in the legendary stronghold of "Stormveil Castle", then moved to Golden Leyndell, Royal Capital.
Only a corpse stood between them and perfection.
"Don't mind that silly child, Ranni. Where do we go next?"
The blue doll pointed into the distance and replied, "Go to that building over there and take the lift to the pond. Along the way, there will be many poisonous insectoid monsters, so be careful. Also, I can sense that the Two Fingers seem to be using some kind of blessing to empower their pawns. After all, they've been preparing for a long time. Hurry."
"Are you referring to the Baleful Shadow?"
"Probably not just that. The path ahead is very dangerous. There's Scarlet Rot, and deep within lies the traces of Astel."
"I know! Mother, we'll kill Astel, Stars of Darkness, and display its corpse!"
"Good then."
Frieren's bold words made the three listeners secretly flinch; they had expected a more subdued, de-escalating remark.
Deep down, she was still a monarchical powerhouse. Crisis only stirred her fighting spirit. Since her enemies were right before her, why not eliminate them all and use them as stepping stones?
Having made her decision, the silver-haired girl continued her journey.
As Ranni had said, Eternal City, Nokstella was indeed teeming with monsters.
The density was higher than both Eternal City, Nokron and "Night's Sacred Ground". Mimic Tears and giant ants were everywhere, incredibly ferocious, pouncing with outstretched claws the moment they heard footsteps from afar.
And then, they encountered something even fiercer.
"Senseless abominations! Do you truly think yourselves worthy of fighting Mother?"
The Mimic Tear spammed Night Comets, none missing their mark. Each deep blue beam took down a monster, even in multi-hit barrages.
A fan of light appeared behind it, each section firing off magic.
The Night school of magic flourished in its hands, leaving enemies crying out in agony, turning to ash before they could even react.
Though it was a special stealth magic that typically consumed more stamina and magic, in the Mimic Tear's hands, it was even more convenient, perfectly adapted, producing an effect greater than the sum of its parts, as if truly befitting its identity:
"The Black King".
Originally, Eternal City, Nokron's technology couldn't achieve this; at most, it could create prototypes. But with Frieren's King's Soul boosting it, it fully matured, unleashing astonishing power.
"All of you, die! I'll purge you all from "Eternal City"!"
Seeing these bizarre creatures brazenly infest their birthplace, how could it not infuriate it? Thus, it showed no mercy, every spell a charged explosion of energy.
Often, a single blast produced a vast cloud of blood mist.
BOOM!
The colossal boom echoed throughout the underground caverns, faintly audible even at the Ainsel River entrance.
Especially for the reconnaissance-skilled vanguard exploration team, it was like a marching band.
The mages at the entrance carefully sensed the magic and reported: "Confirmed, it's Her Majesty's magic signature... though a little different. But at this time, the only one fiercely battling underground could be her. Many monsters must have already perished."
"There are traces of Her Majesty's magic here, no mistake. Its persistence also indicates that no living creature has passed through since, meaning it's been cleared."
"It's truly her! Has she already carved out a safe path?!"
At the same time, the "Carian Knight"s drew their swords from the corpses of spies, wiped off the fresh blood, and resheathed them.
That settled it.
As Frieren had expected, assassins sent by the Two Fingers indeed attempted to track them, but they ran into the fully equipped Carian elite warriors. Naturally, they lost their lives in a single encounter. Assassins were no match for organized warrior units.
"Moongrum" nodded.
"Send word to the follow-up units about the good news, and have them take over entrance defense. We estimate the next 3 kilometers ahead are safe. We'll continue exploring forward and establish outposts if necessary."
He calmly commanded the squad forward, step by step. Though the underground was dark, the booming sounds provided a strange sense of security.
Just knowing that the Soul of Cinder was wreaking havoc made them feel incredibly at ease.
Deeper into the river.
With the Mimic Tear's aid, relentlessly throwing explosive spells, Frieren could explore freely. Thanks to the treasure map and automatic loot module, her gains were substantial.
"Here, I found quite a few Level 8 and Level 9 Ghost Gloveworts."
"Thank you, Mother. The timing is perfect…"
The Mimic Tear immediately swallowed the Ghost Gloveworts. Unlike ordinary Spirit Ashes that relied entirely on a Roderika the Spirit Tuner for enhancement, it could now evolve autonomously, for instance, by consuming Gloveworts.
The next moment, a halo of light appeared around the pale girl. Her materialized magic was released, then reabsorbed, growing even stronger.
Its aura grew even more potent. The world's only Level 9 Spirit Ash had been born.
The Mimic Tear naturally incorporated and fused various powers. Now, with its basic physical attributes strengthened, it was equivalent to increasing its output limit, allowing for the flexible use of higher-tier magic.
"Well done. If we fought again, it wouldn't be so easy to defeat you."
"I will strive to catch up to you."
"There are many Ghost Gloveworts here; we should be able to collect more later. You only need one per level; leave the rest to me."
Before Frieren could finish speaking, it playfully attached the Gloveworts to its two ponytails, smiling triumphantly. Then it lifted the hem of its mage's robe and twirled around. It was exquisitely graceful, stunningly beautiful, outshining even the deep underground starry sky.
The pale girl's demeanor became even more flamboyant, lively, and utterly dominant.
Originally, the two were carved from the same mold, lacking distinct differences in some details. Now, those were perfectly supplemented.
"How is it?"
"That's fine. It can be an extra distinguishing mark between us." Frieren patted its head and urged:
"Alright, collection and clearing are mostly done. Head to the lift; we can't afford any more delays."
The two stepped over the stairs, the river below carrying away countless corpses.
For two kilometers around, there was no trace of monsters left.
Nokstella's Pond.
Frieren, newly arrived, frowned slightly. She glanced around the area, which was filled with waist-high insects entwined in spiderwebs. Life pulsed from the ground, walls, and even the ceiling, while large bugs lurked in the darkness, eyeing them like hungry tigers.
They hadn't seen intruders in too long, especially a demi-human-featured being, which filled them with novelty.
Amidst dull roars, ant monsters gradually appeared. The hanging cocoons of insect eggs also stirred, attempting to hatch, their presence generating a palpable wave of oppressive energy.
"Let's clear them out, otherwise, the follow-up units will have trouble."
"Understood."
The words barely left its mouth before the Mimic Tear lightly tapped its staff on the ground, instantly unleashing the Fell God's Flames. Crimson heat waves billowed, boiling the lake water to a fizz, melting the surface of the rock, let alone the bodies of mere insectoid monsters.
Using fire was the most efficient way to exterminate them, but for any followers, it would be extremely dangerous. In such a confined space, using flames was no different from shutting oneself in.
Fortunately, Frieren and the Mimic Tear both possessed the highest fire resistance, allowing them to wield it freely.
They had even braved the First Flame; this was nothing to fear.
In contrast, the cave ant monsters had never encountered such flames. They turned to ash on contact, then were swept away by the current with a gust of wind. There were no exceptions. Determined to clear the path, the two left no survivors, turning everywhere they passed into scorched earth.
Two silver-haired girls strolled leisurely through the flames, as corpses continuously fell and turned to dust beside them.
All gone within three breaths.
From start to finish, the ants didn't even have time to shriek. First, they were incinerated, then their eggs were swept clean.
The river water actually parted for a brief moment, as the extreme temperature vaporized vast amounts of water, which then condensed and fell from above, creating a small rain shower deep underground.
The Mimic Tear, still unsatisfied, continued to hurl fireballs into the cave openings.
Casting with both hands, it murmured, "I can still sense monsters in the branching tunnels. Let's finish them all off."
Seeing the path paved with blood-red dried bones on the ground infuriated it. How many residents of the "Eternal City" had suffered this fate?
The scent of blood lingered in the air, seeping into the rock walls; some crevices actually wept blood, as if with the silent pleas of people. Bones were picked clean, all flesh consumed as food. A rough estimate put the number in the tens of thousands.
Pathetic and lamentable, the remnants of a once-powerful civilization reduced to such a fate.
This was something the "The Black King", whom they worshipped, would not permit.
WOOSH!
The flames swiftly raced through every crevice, finding every opening. As long as air could pass, it could burn, creating a super-furnace that incinerated everything.
The scene of the Iron Keep reappeared before Frieren's eyes, the temperature absurdly high.
Regardless of whether they could burn, the drastic temperature change alone was enough to make the insect eggs die in their cocoons, making further hatching impossible. In a sense, the ant monsters here were almost extinct.
Occasionally, sizzling and crackling sounds echoed.
Corpses first charred black, then dissolved into bone, merging with the soil and disappearing completely. No one would even know that monsters had once swarmed here.
However, Frieren sensed that the cave system was complex. The ants' burrowing ability was not to be underestimated, and as the Mimic Tear's search range was not as vast as her own, it would likely take some time to clear it entirely.
"I'll go ahead. Catch up once you're done clearing."
"Alright."
Creator and created shared a telepathic understanding, a single glance conveying their meaning.
Frieren passed through the cavern, which was still a vivid scarlet. The Aionia flower on her head pulsed with excitement. It was the aura of corrupting magic's presence, similarly accumulated over thousands of years. The level of contamination was likely no less than the Lake of Rot in Caelid, making it quite troublesome.
Fortunately, this place wasn't directly subjected to the gaze of the Outer God of Rot, likely due to its extreme distance. Or perhaps another reason was that it was Astel's territory?
She surveyed her surroundings, pondering whether she could purify the area. Unfortunately, the timing wasn't ideal; an intruder had appeared.
"It's the Baleful Shadow!"
Ranni's warning rang out as, not far away, a cloaked wolf red spirit wielding a greatsword rose. It resembled "Blaidd" somewhat but was clearly more malevolent and ferocious, radiating an oppressive aura.
The assassin arranged by the Two Fingers had finally arrived.
"I can sense it's received some degree of blessing. It won't be easy to deal with. You'd best also be mindful of the Scarlet Rot power."
"So this is the Baleful Shadow you've been wary of? Let's see about that."
The silver-haired girl unleashed a sword beam, and the red spirit opposite her responded with a sweeping greatsword slash.
CLANG!
Two forces clashed fiercely, neither yielding. A single casual swing unleashed a shockwave that forcefully parted the lake water between them, creating a hollow pit. Massive waves then surged to fill the void.
The first exchange instantly revealed the opponent's caliber. Clearly, the Baleful Shadow's strength, skill, and reactions were all impressive.
The next moment, it charged with immense force.
However, Frieren was one step ahead, predicting its path. She waved a hand, locking a Comet onto it, and it indeed struck the red spirit. Then came a sickening crunch, and it surprisingly shrugged it off.
The opponent seemed to smile triumphantly as it charged forward.
But its swing met empty air. The silver-haired girl vanished into thin air, leaving behind a cloud of mist. It was a simple trick, yet it created a momentary opening.
"Did you really think my Comets were only that powerful?"
BOOM!
A super-massive "Glintstone" projectile, over two meters in diameter, slammed into the Baleful Shadow's back. This time, Frieren had tried to emulate the Night magic style of feints and surprise attacks, and it worked with one strike.
The powerful impact combined with the solid Glintstone sent the assassin flying backward. It quickly rolled to its feet.
Something was wrong. It rolled again.
A Sorcery: Carian Slicer flew past its scalp, but it couldn't evade the star-infused kick that followed. A simple, unadorned combat art, yet devastatingly powerful in Frieren's hands.
With a sickening crunch of bone, the Baleful Shadow's movements faltered.
Almost simultaneously, the Sword of Night and Flame in her other hand swept towards its neck, but was blocked by its greatsword. The force of their clash generated a repulsive shockwave, pushing both combatants back and carving deep furrows into the ground. The power was terrifying, but it finally created some distance.
This was good for the assassin, who clearly hadn't expected its opponent to be so powerful.
Sword beam sweep!
A fan-shaped shockwave expanded outwards, rushing straight towards Frieren, kicking up the Scarlet Rot on the ground. The surging wave seemed unstoppable. Yet, she moved later but arrived first, activating Sorcery: Zamor Ice Storm.
Ice shards blocked the lake water and were also cut apart by the sword beam, but these fragments instantly became excellent projectiles, rocketing towards the Baleful Shadow.
It lightly leapt to avoid them.
But that momentary elevation became its weakness. From the silver-haired girl's hand, a wave of purple-white light swept forth. A terrifying Sorcery: Gravity Well vortex sucked in the river water, bones, and magic, pulling them all in a single surge. What awaited them was fire!
One hand wielding Sorcery: Gravity Well, the other the Fell God's Flames—a double high-intensity casting.
Combined with the previous freezing effect, it made shattering hard objects easy, sending shivers down the assassin's spine.
"Truly terrifying."
At the critical moment, it swung its greatsword and plunged it into the ground, half-buried, forming a solid anchor. The force was enough to support a moving shack, or even pull a castle gate.
Unfortunately, it was still insufficient before the strongest mage.
The flames, guided by the gravitational vortex, arrived first!
-
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