That really raised their spirits.
Indeed, only the people of The Lands Between truly understand their own, or perhaps it's Melina's extensive experience and unique insight at play.
Frieren had expected everyone to be terrified, their fear lingering for days. Instead, the people of Raya Lucaria responded with booming morale: "It's just one fight, at worst. We believe Her Majesty will be victorious!"
At this point, it would only be settled once one side was completely gone.
They knew full well that the grave sin of assassinating the Two Fingers would inevitably invite severe retribution. So what good was fear? Didn't the Eternal City fight to its very last breath?
Besides, the power Frieren displayed might not even be inferior to Astel, Stars of Darkness. Let them bear witness.
So, as she descended from the sky towards the Site of Grace, she was met with an unending chorus of cheers. These were the people blessed by the Soul Cinder King, freed from their revenant state. All tied to the same fate, their full support was a given.
Such grand stakes always stir people. Either they would conquer the underground world and end their fear, or all their prior efforts would be for naught.
Swoosh!
The silver-haired girl materialized at the teleportation point within the underground Lake of Rot.
"That power... that's what you intended to use against the Goddess of Rot back in the Aeonia Swamp, isn't it?" Melina asked, a hint of trepidation in her voice.
"Indeed. The situation was dire back then. Had Millicent not given me the Unalloyed Gold Needle, I truly would have had to risk it.
But it's fine. With the experience of having released it slightly last time, I can now wield it much more effectively within The Lands Between.
"You're going to use it against Astel?"
"Not necessarily. If I can avoid using it, I will. Consider this just a warm-up."
Even if Frieren doesn't transform into the full 'Lord of Cinder' form, she can still greatly increase her magic output, allowing her to inherit more of her accumulated power.
All in all, it's far more potent than relying solely on the Astrologer build.
"The tricky part is Astel's mastery of Gravity Magic. My Astrologer's power isn't enough to contend with that alone, so I'll need to find another way,
but I'll manage it, one way or another."
*Gurgle gurgle!
Suddenly, the vast, curving Lake of Rot began to boil. Countless Kindred of Rot surged forth: humanoid, insectoid, bestial, even winged dragons, all rising in unison and marching in a grand, overwhelming tide towards the deepest reaches of the underground.
They utterly disregarded the aura of a top-tier Demigod, driven solely by instinct to relentlessly march, running at full tilt.
The Two Fingers had issued a summons, commanding all available forces to converge.
Similar disturbances erupted throughout the interconnected caverns.
The sprawling underground tunnel system became the ideal route for troop movement. All that could be heard was the horrifying sound of countless chitinous legs scraping against the ground, surrounding the visitor, a sound that made one's scalp crawl.
Melina's expression shifted, and she murmured, "I never imagined such a massive concentration of Scarlet Rot existed down here, and what's more—
it has devoured countless lives. While I don't currently sense the aura of the Outer God of Rot, the Two Fingers could certainly exploit it."
"And so can I."
Frieren, thoughtfully, pointed to the two dozen Aeonian flowers on her head—they had grown even more vibrant.
Since her Astrologer build was effectively countered, she had to find ways to compensate by drawing upon other powers, such as manipulating the surrounding environment.
Other power sets, however, couldn't be easily called upon; they were prone to spiraling out of control.
Not to mention the compatibility issues.
Constantly collecting Great Runes was akin to undergoing a 'legal certification process' through the established rules of The Lands Between, allowing her to unleash greater power. But if she were to suddenly unleash energy beyond the scope of this certification, the consequences would be unpredictable.
She was here to mend the Elden Ring and revitalize The Lands Between, not to wreak havoc.
In contrast, Astel was likely far less scrupulous. After all, it existed solely for conquest, perfectly capable of wreaking indiscriminate destruction and smashing everything to dust.
"Mother," the Mimic Tear's voice was utterly devoid of warmth, "I can feel the lingering echoes of many Nox people.
Their souls are like those trapped within decaying bodies. Unfortunately, the Two Fingers are once again using them as mere cannon fodder."
"Then you shall free them."
"As you command."
"Don't let anyone interrupt my battle with Astel. It's a formidable adversary that requires my full, strategic attention."
With that directive, Frieren stepped directly into the immense Lake of Rot. She didn't even bother using gravity magic to leap across, as that might prematurely provoke Astel's frenzy. Besides, she had a more elegant solution.
Scarlet magic coalesced into two flowing ribbons around her Aeonian flower headpiece, pulled taut and vibrant against her temples.
While it looked odd, it was remarkably effective, and the corruption didn't touch her true form.
The lake water beneath Frieren's feet effectively transformed into ordinary water. Simultaneously, two 'super bombs' were charging, and she was also beginning to a preliminary purification of the underground Lake of Rot, hitting multiple birds with one stone.
Around her, countless more monsters continued to surge forth.
Yet, they coexisted in peculiar peace.
The result was a surprisingly harmonious sight: everyone charging together towards the depths of the underground. Why fight now? They'd settle matters once they reached their destination.
The sprawling, monstrous horde swept past a colossal gateway formed by two towering statues.
Perhaps, once, beneath the lake, lay a complex of Uhl Dynasty architecture, but alas, it had been gradually submerged by the long underground river, then further blighted by the Scarlet Rot, transforming into today's grotesque and deadly landscape—a true breeding ground for monsters.
Nevertheless, Frieren continued to stroll through the Lake of Rot with unhurried steps, reaching a lengthy stairway.
The Grand Cloister.
After she lit the Site of Grace, its full, sprawling expanse unfurled before her eyes. Below, it was utterly swarming with Rot-infested insects, endlessly gathering there.
Unlike the creatures in the lake, these swarms weren't single-mindedly seeking Astel, Stars of Darkness. Instead, they had fixed their gaze upon the newcomer, whose aura of corruption was strikingly potent.
A strong aura of corruption, yet no discernible mark of an Outer God?
"What a truly troublesome bunch," Frieren muttered.
With prescient foresight, Frieren executed a swift leap. The very spot she'd just occupied was instantly engulfed by a spray of insect webbing.
Godslayer Flame!
Fire has always been the optimal choice against the Kindred of Rot. With a casual flick of her wrist, a sea of flames erupted, engulfing the Grand Cloister. Stairs, drainage channels, and towering structures alike were swept clean, bathed in crimson inferno.
In a single pass, dozens of Rot-infested creatures were reduced to ash, yet this only served to provoke countless more, who began to howl.
They howled to the heavens, their murderous intent fixed upon Frieren.
This level of threat, however, held no sway over a Demigod. What met the surging monsters was a colossal fireball, its cohesion maintained by Frieren's absolute control, which then rolled down the stairs, rumbling as it pulverized every target in its path. And the caster continued to unleash more fireballs.
"Mother," the Mimic Tear's voice was firm, "Leave this to me. You go find the path to the next area."
"Alright."
"Just in time for a little practice."
The Mimic Tear then actively separated from Frieren's body. The pristine white girl let out a booming laugh as she conjured a fireball a full ten meters in diameter, even more potent than Frieren's own.
She harbored no notions of preserving ancient ruins. Instead, she deliberately sought out dense monster concentrations, unleashing devastating fireball explosions. The raging inferno reduced everything to dust and ash. The sheer force of the explosions caused structures to crumble, burying targets, leaving not a single one alive. Anything struck was unequivocally annihilated.
Below, hundreds of frenzied Kindred of Rot swarmed, but the Mimic Tear's killing efficiency was terrifyingly high, clearing vast areas with each attack.
Under such overwhelming suppressive fire, Frieren was able to descend the stairs and survey her surroundings.
Yet, none of the paths seemed viable.
Odd.
From her observations, Frieren surmised that the way forward here was not straightforward. Otherwise, why would the monster hordes have paused their relentless march? They should have simply charged straight through, shouldn't they? Instead, they seemed to be milling about, utterly lost.
She maintained her psychic scan, yet found no direct signs leading to the next area.
Impossible. There had to be a hidden path.
She had encountered similar phenomena many times before. Experience told Frieren that there was almost certainly some special trigger item nearby, one that typically couldn't be found.
Or perhaps she was missing a crucial clue, like how without the Carian Inverted Statue, the Carian Study Hall was pointless... But she doubted this was the case. There were no meticulously designed hidden traces around, which meant the path likely needed to be forged by the explorer herself.
Roar! Scratch!
Suddenly, a Kindred of Rot lunged, accompanied by gravity stone projectiles.
Before it could even get close to Frieren, a Glintstone Arrow precisely struck its grotesque head. It was, unmistakably, the Mimic Tear's doing.
The force of the blow even sent the creature tumbling down a cliff.
"It wasn't just charging at me..." Frieren mused.
Following the monster's trajectory, Frieren discovered a waterfall. The Scarlet Rot-infused water halted its flow here, plunging with a tumultuous roar into the boundless The Abyss.
It had once been a road through the ruins, but a calamity had severed it, leaving only a broken bridge.
How utterly peculiar.
Notably, resting above the flowing water was a coffin, so massive and sturdy that the current couldn't dislodge it. It lay open, utterly empty of any corpse, and strangely pristine. She wondered what special significance it held.
Fortunately, that Kindred of Rot had been eliminated in time; otherwise, wouldn't this crucial clue have been destroyed?
A memory stirred within Frieren. After all, locations like the Mountaintops of the Giants and the Consecrated Snowfield all featured similar 'coffin travel' mechanics.
Could this be another instance of that familiar trick?
Roar!
Suddenly, not only did the Kindred of Rot howl, but Rot-infested creatures and Revenants alike surged forward, as if to prevent something. The silver-haired girl, however, didn't even spare them a glance, continuing to stride forward with purpose, enemies around her precisely dispatched one by one.
With the Mimic Tear providing cover, Frieren could proceed with complete peace of mind.
At this very moment, the Mimic Tear herself plunged into the monstrous horde, unleashing a furious massacre. Her blade was the Carian Greatsword, her magic Night Comet—both spells enhanced for wide-area effect, each blast incinerating a vast region.
A continuous, thunderous roar echoed.
Though hundreds of monsters swarmed, they were utterly outmatched before the pristine white girl.
The Mimic Tear had truly found its stride, its magic growing ever more active. Its senses were acute, able to perceive every movement, even extending its mental faculties to sense distant presences... This was precisely what 'Mother' meant by anticipating the enemy's moves.
Regardless of their numbers, these enemies were all sluggish and predictable, posing no threat whatsoever—merely a flock of lambs awaiting the slaughter.
Frieren finally reached the edge of the waterfall cliff.
Leaning over, she peered down, and the boundless The Abyss stretched to the very limits of her perception.
Had it not been for her extraordinary mental scan faintly discerning solid ground, she might have suspected the chasm's depth extended to the planet's core or even led to another world entirely.
"It's here, then?"
Melina, too, peered down, a quiet unease settling over her. This gaping void was impossibly vast, dark, and profound. The mingled sounds of wind and the Lake of Rot's currents emanated a terrifying howl, a ceaseless lament that had echoed through the Eternal City for Millennia.
This colossal cavern was a testament to the awesome power of Astel, Stars of Darkness!
"It must be. I can sense its threatening presence," Frieren said, looking up. "And directly above us is Liurnia, yet the rock layer here is remarkably thin."
"You mean it could collapse?"
"Hard to say. It largely depends on the scale of the battle's aftermath. It's difficult to predict right now."
"Given your combined power with Astel, you'll most likely reshape the very geography of Liurnia." Melina understood the extent of her companion's strength.
"Regardless, we have to fight. Besides, the news has already reached the surface."
Her own mental preparations were long complete, and so were those of the three southern territories. Everyone understood clearly: as long as Astel, Stars of Darkness, remained a pawn, the Two Fingers would sooner or later wield it against Ranni, which in turn meant targeting the hard-won Demigod-King alliance.
They had no choice but to fight.
Frieren turned her head and instructed, "You, use this time wisely. Clear this area thoroughly and quickly, then proceed to the next region."
As it responded, the Mimic Tear cupped a sphere of primal darkness in its hands. A swirling vortex violently drew in hundreds of surrounding monsters, which it enthusiastically 'dealt with,' the two white bellflowers atop its head seeming to sway with childish glee.
The power of the King of Night was gradually growing stronger with 'Mother's' feedback. The blood, flesh, bone, and soul bestowed upon it were still fermenting, as if enveloped in that boundless embrace. There was no sensation more exquisite.
Moments later, the Mimic Tear had utterly purged the Grand Cloister.
The area that had just been a chaotic, monster-infested free-for-all instantly fell silent, with barely any corpses remaining.
The reason for such a merciless culling was the impending arrival of subsequent forces. It was best to clear a safe zone for them in advance, preventing any potential losses.
Yet, from unknown depths, more monsters continued to emerge, frantically hurtling themselves towards The Abyss. The winged ones flew, while those that could only crawl—
scorpion-ants and Revenants—also rushed madly, allowing The Abyss to swallow them whole, yet their only sound was a zealous roar.
They appeared to be driven by some overriding will, hurtling towards a destined battleground, compelled to use every ounce of their strength to corner and slay the Soul Cinder King.
Fortunately, this particular horde of monsters was single-mindedly intent on burrowing deeper underground, utterly ignoring the cloister area. Thus, the arriving Carian Knights would, at most, only encounter a few scattered enemies, allowing them to gather treasures unhindered.
"That's a trap laid specifically for you, Frieren."
Melina sighed softly.
"Precisely. So, let's not keep our enemies waiting too long. To arms!"
The silver-haired girl, for the first time in ages, lay herself down in the coffin. Beside her, the Mimic Tear, with a silent understanding, gently closed the lid, then slowly began to push.
Why was it so eager, even?
Unaware of the intricate history of the Tarnished, Melina couldn't grasp the mystery of 'Coffin Travel.' Nevertheless, she transformed into a spirit form, and along with the Mimic Tear, she attached herself to Frieren's form, plummeting together into The Abyss.
*WHOOSH!
The Scarlet Rot waterfall roared past, inverted as it plunged from the heavens to the deepest hells, and the stone coffin rode its tumultuous descent, picking up speed with every passing moment.
Moments later, even the sound of rushing water vanished. Only the lone coffin remained, soaring through the void before crashing heavily onto solid ground.
Frieren pushed open the coffin lid and surveyed her surroundings. She found herself in a deceptively tranquil pool of water, yet it teemed with countless monsters.
Upon recognizing the enemy they were ordered to slay, their eyes immediately glowed crimson, fixated on her with palpable anticipation.
"You are not worthy to welcome Mother," the Mimic Tear declared, its voice cutting. "You shall not disturb her."
From a nearby cavern, a monstrous silhouette began to emerge.
The host of this abyss possessed a mouth like a colossal rhinoceros beetle, its body slender, multi-limbed, and multi-legged, resembling a gargantuan shrimp. Its back was humped with a scorpion's tail, bristling with barbed, vicious thorns. Roughly estimated to be over 30 meters long, it was unimaginably massive, its aura as profound as an abyss, as suffocating as a prison. A single glance revealed it to be an unfathomable mass of dark, swirling mist.
It was a creature from the Outer Stars, a destructive force capable of annihilating civilizations: Astel, Stars of Darkness.
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