"ROOOOOAR—!"
A prolonged, imperious roar echoed through the skies above Liurnia, its force most intensely felt by the distant Magic Academy. The entire complex shook violently, glass shattering everywhere.
Even ancient stained glass crumbled to pieces, the marks of bygone ages disintegrating.
Who could possibly cause such a massive commotion?
People looked up to behold the figure of Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, its form silhouetted against the radiant Golden Order, casting a shadow that enveloped the Academy and all living beings.
The immense, unrivaled gravity waves were undeniable; only it could produce them.
A true avatar of destruction!
Its grotesque appearance made one's scalp crawl, stirring deep, soul-shaking dread. Were they finally to face the judgment of the Greater Will? Had the Soul Cinder King ultimately lost to Astel?
Boc the Seamster in his tailoring shack hunkered down, clutching his head in terror, while those around him scattered in panicked flight.
In his laboratory, Thops swayed precariously, as fervent sorcerers around him frantically recorded data, deeming it worthwhile even if they were to die afterward.
"Run!"
"Everyone disperse! Stay away from all buildings; beware of collapses."
"Where can we go? We'll be treated as the next Eternal City."
"Frieren, Your Majesty, are you still well...?"
Liurnia's most prosperous region devolved into chaos, while Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, ostentatiously soared above, using gravity waves to ascend into the clouds to summon, all the while savoring the terror of the populace.
"This is how it should be, perfectly so!" From beginning to end, it had represented the most terrifying power in The Lands Between.
Being provoked was the anomaly.
How unlucky to encounter such a formidable foe who would just aggressively pounce on it?
"I almost thought the world had changed, but it's nothing of the sort." To actively seek out formidable enemies with a killer's intent, like Frieren, was sheer madness. How dared she?! Unacceptable!
It was overjoyed at this moment, wishing it could gorge more on their fear.
However, hearing everyone shout "Long live Frieren!", "She must be fine!", "We'll be safe!" made it incandescent with rage.
Damn it.
Even the Eternal City, which had united and dared to challenge the Greater Will, hadn't been this resolute; facing a meteorite, they'd been terrified out of their wits. Had they been enchanted with some mind-addling potion that made them forget fear? No matter. It would help them remember.
The Lands Between should know: its power, combined with that of the Two Fingers, would once again control everything.
Therefore, Astel resolved to unleash destruction upon the Liurnia region, as a symbol of its return and an act of retribution.
Gravity coalesced into a gigantic stone sphere, its diameter expanding like a balloon, exceeding 30 meters...
BOOM!
Suddenly, the void from which it had leaped forth was flooded with torrents of lake water, engulfing tens of thousands of tons of surging waves in a collapsing cascade. The crashing sounds struck terror into the hearts of listeners. What was happening there?
Even the panicking populace turned their gazes towards it.
"Could it be Her Majesty?"
Nonsense. Could a mere swarm of ants suddenly find hope?
Astel roared, launching a meteorite larger than itself. With a deafening crash, it plunged into the waterfall void, refilling it as if to bury its opponent alive.
This method wouldn't kill a Demigod, but it was enough to delay.
CLANG!
Enraged, Astel extended its numerous limbs and unleashed a Meteorite of Astel, directly barraging the Magic Academy. This was judgment, to make the rebellious factions of Liurnia understand the severe consequences.
The stone projectiles shot forth, but mid-air, Glintstone Sorcery suddenly flashed, intercepting them one by one, leaving not a single stray untouched.
The magical reactions came from the top of the tower, where Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon held her Carian Regal Scepter, gazing at the enemy, her body shimmering with the radiance of a Great Rune.
If necessary, she would use the fragments of the Elden Ring to empower herself for a desperate struggle.
But it wasn't needed.
The keenly perceptive Astel suddenly turned its head, glaring at the converging water flow with gritted teeth. Could a collapse of such confined space only delay for a moment?
Loretta's Greatbow, fully charged!
A Glintstone arrow pierced the air and passed through its body. Had it not evaded, it would likely have been impaled.
Still wary, Astel quickly flapped its wings and flew higher, maintaining as much distance as possible. How had its opponent done it? To precisely judge the distance and force through layers of obstructing rock was terrifying perception indeed.
It had no choice but to patrol the Academy's perimeter, avoiding another ambush.
And that gave Frieren an opportunity.
With a thunderous crash, all the rocks blocking the cave entrance shattered and scattered, leaving only debris.
Accompanying this was a silver-haired figure ascending into the sky, treading on flower petals, her sides guarded by a Carian Phalanx. Aside from some damage to her sorcerer's robe, even her gauntlets and greaves were perfectly intact. Even a layman could tell she was in superior condition. Now, even with wounds, she exuded an added sense of heroic madness, her expression sweeping away its usual placidness, her eyes burning with passionate light.
Frieren declared loudly: "Thank you, Rennala. It won't have a chance to harm the Magic Academy anymore."
"I also have a duty to protect this place. Let us all do our best."
"—Indeed, Her Majesty has returned!"
"Those wounds were inflicted by Frieren! So Astel, Naturalborn of the Void can be hurt, can bleed. Then you're nothing special!"
"Victory to Her Majesty! No matter the punishment, we will fight to the very end!"
A significant portion of the earlier panic among the populace was due to the absence of their core leader and the overwhelming presence of a powerful foe. Now, seeing the Soul Cinder King alive and well, and even gaining the upper hand, how could their confidence not soar? Fight!
They could no longer stand idly by. In The Lands Between, those blessed by Grace were bound to follow and fight. They would witness it to the very last moment.
Damn it!
Astel hadn't even had a chance to savor that fear before it transformed into high morale. It was practically a slap in the face.
Sensing the unfavorable turn, it quickly flapped its wings and maneuvered away. After fighting for so long, it had figured out Frieren's style: it had to utilize its speed advantage to break her combos, otherwise, it was susceptible to being killed by a single chain attack.
Frieren was adept at seizing every opportunity to gain an advantage. It had to be careful.
Ancient Death-Spirits locked on!
Masses of grey specters pursued it against the wind, each capable of inflicting soul damage. Astel, battered and aching, was extremely wary.
Originally, it could have endured most of the damage.
But combat always involved attrition, mana depletion, and declining states. Up until now, it had been continuously weakened, its prized defenses stripped away, forcing it to adopt a conservative fighting style, holding on until its summons arrived…
However, Frieren's continuous magical attacks quickly inflicted several more wounds.
She was certain Astel's state was declining, so she began using slower but homing attacks, which proved quite effective.
But she also had to admit that her opponent was incredibly tough.
Then, slowly it was. On one side, there was the short-term burst damage of magical explosions; on the other, the corrosive damage of Scarlet Aeonia.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The ruins above were covered in traces of magical explosions; a single shockwave was enough to reshape city walls. Yet, such power was merely standard in the hands of the Soul Cinder King, who wielded it like an extension of herself, relentlessly pursuing Astel and causing it to bleed profusely.
Could she truly kill an extraterrestrial being? The thought sent shivers down the spines of the onlookers.
Now, it was clearly the silver-haired girl pursuing the grotesque monster.
The spectators were not just the Academy residents. Further away, on the Altus Plateau, the Leyndell Knights with their telescopes were utterly astounded. So Astel, Naturalborn of the Void was real, and it had been provoked. Was fighting the monster that destroyed the Eternal City not seeking death?
Was the Royal Capital about to lose?
However, the truth was not so simple. In a flash, it turned into Frieren cornering and beating Astel, one dodging awkwardly, the other fiercely pursuing, a stark reversal.
From higher up on Mt. Gelmir, the epic battle could likewise be observed, silencing even the mindless snake-monsters and slimes.
They trembled inexplicably, feeling a wail deep within their souls.
The battlefield between the two further expanded.
Liurnia of the Lakes boiled, forests were swept by flying petals, trees uprooted. Even the Altus Plateau felt the howling winds, as the magic of both sides furiously exploded against each other, an inextricable struggle.
High-speed combat also meant an increased frequency of trading blows, and unfortunately, every one of Frieren's attacks inflicted soul damage.
Astel was wracked with pain, yet it could only watch as its opponent completely healed all fatal wounds.
But it was time.
Suddenly, a lightning vortex expanded at the highest point of the clouds.
With the momentum of a crashing thunderbolt, crushing like a mountain, even before the attack arrived, its shadow already enveloped the Academy. The clouds split into a void, and beneath the Golden Order's light, its true form finally became clear:
Meteorite!
A massive, colossal stone, estimated to be over a thousand meters in diameter, emerged.
The wind pressure locked onto the entire area. Below, Astel, extending its limbs, let out a maniacal laugh. How magnificent, how terrifying! How beautiful those terrified expressions were! Now it was truly the undisputed avatar of destruction, ready to replicate its past achievement.
It squeezed every last drop of its magic into the meteorite, which was surrounded by purple-white light, further expanding its volume and accelerating its descent.
"What is that?"
Morgott, the Omen King, from his high vantage point on the Royal Capital's watchtower, was utterly shocked.
Even Stormveil Castle in the distance could see a thick trail of dust. If that thing hit, wouldn't everything be completely ruined?
The first target directly beneath the meteorite was none other than Frieren, surrounded by swirling flower petals. She gazed at the meteorite, observing it meticulously, her expression so detached that Astel couldn't discern a single emotion. Was she scared senseless?
"Dodge, Mother! We can start over even without the Magic Academy."
Melina echoed: "The Liurnian architecture will collapse atop the Eternal City once more. Let's survive this ordeal first."
As she spoke, the meteorite pressed down further.
The surface rock layers ignited from friction, black smoke billowing. Looking up, it was an endless expanse of land! Heaven and earth pressed down, humanity was so minuscule. Before absolute mass and speed, all things submitted, prostrating themselves before Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.
"No."
Frieren shook her head, adamantly refusing.
"Leaving aside the grand words about a monarch's duty to protect, I just want to see: where is the limit?"
The silver-haired girl slightly pulled at the gloomy sky, causing lightning to appear, flowing across her body to form black leaden armor, with a burning black sun fire ring on her chest.
This brief Soul Cinder King transformation was the decisive moment. She had been prepared.
The power of the monarchs who had sacrificed themselves for the world's continuation manifested here, making Frieren's aura stronger than ever before, breaking through the limits of an Astrologer and revealing a whole new level.
She remained small, yet she stood between the meteorite and the Academy.
The crowd below had stopped fleeing. Since it was one death whether they ran or stayed, all that remained was to prepare for the doomsday calamity.
But Frieren would not sit idly by.
The lightning in her slender hand surged, and with a single resounding crash, it pierced the heavens and earth, reaching over a thousand meters. This lightning bolt unfurled like a tree, resisting the meteorite, then rapidly condensed into a long spear.
The caster's aura was highly contained, without a single wisp leaking, poised for attack.
The thunder of the heavens gathered in her hand. The dazzling golden light tore through the mist, illuminating the shadows. The brilliant glow made Astel lose its smile.
It watched helplessly as black bony armor enveloped Frieren's right side, her right hand held high with surging lightning.
For caution's sake, she only mobilized a small fraction of her energy, both to avoid conflict with the world's laws and to stay within her tolerable limits. According to her estimation, a partial Soul Cinder King transformation was just right. This was risky, but the pressure from Astel was enough to make the decision.
CRASH!
Finally, a thunderclap announced its birth; the most lethal energy was complete.
A phantom appeared mid-air, a similarly black-armored giant striking a throwing pose. As she moved, everyone stood frozen, as if already paralyzed by lightning.
"It's just a meteorite, isn't it? Let's push it back."
"Sunlight Spear."
Different from any of Frieren's previous Sunlight Spears, this one was unleashed in her Soul Cinder King form, igniting the First Flame. Its mere presence now made Astel recoil, yet its lingering hope compelled it to witness the destruction.
Then let it behold.
The two rapidly closed the distance. First, the sharp tip punctured the meteorite's surface, then tore a small opening, from which hundred-meter cracks extended.
Hold on! At this moment, Astel poured all its magic into it.
But it could only watch as Frieren, clad in half-black armor, held the spear with both hands and thrust upwards. The lightning unexpectedly merged into the meteorite. Was it assimilated, devoured, or dissolved? For a moment, it actually wished for a miracle.
SNAP!
The next instant, the Sunlight Spear pierced through the meteorite, exploding at the rear into fragmented rock and spreading lightning. The clear sky, thousands of meters up, was suddenly laced with electricity.
It was as if a lightning bolt had been shot upwards, impaling the target. Who was more insignificant now?
Even after repelling the enemy, the Sunlight Spear didn't vanish; instead, it solidified into a physical form, truly a long spear being wielded. Its end was in Frieren's hand, casually toying with the meteorite. This super magic, supposedly capable of destroying civilizations, had now become a skewer.
It wasn't over. The phantom and the caster once again raised the spear, along with the impaled meteorite, aiming at Astel.
How could this be?
It paled and frantically flew at full speed, but it was too late.
The lightning locked on, guiding the meteorite back along its original path. In a single breath, it arrived, engulfing Astel, Naturalborn of the Void's figure while exploding into a fiery cloud that dyed the boundless sky.
BOOM!
The thunderous roar made the lake boil, churning up splashes, and also resonated in everyone's hearts.
No frills, just absolute power overwhelming.
The Academy residents, recovering from their shock, erupted in cheers, their blood boiling as they gazed at the black-armored, white-robed figure. The sky had cleared, the sky-obscuring meteorite had vanished, but the brilliant lightning continued to bloom.
It transformed into countless shooting stars, trailing threads like cosmic orbits, adorning the vast sky. Such a massive entity would take a long time to fully disintegrate; this wondrous spectacle would last for a while.
Golden lightning, like the radiance of the Golden Order, echoed above the clouds and thunder. Waves churned, and a long wind sang its praises.
The so-called Sunlight Spear lived up to its name, a resounding symbol of Her Majesty's power.
It had previously flashed in Liurnia and Caelid, settling the conquest of both regions. Now, the underground world would also fall under the Soul Cinder King's control.
However, Frieren did not relax.
With seemingly infinite magic at her disposal, she could fly directly. She simply bypassed the dust cloud, flicked her finger to unleash a shockwave that dispersed the dust. As expected, it revealed a severely wounded Astel, its aura so weak it could barely float.
It struggled to look at its opponent, clenching its teeth.
Its grotesque face was full of venom, yet it lacked even the strength to roar. Surviving was already a stroke of luck.
The previously arrogant destroyer hung its head in dejection. One pair of wings was half-shattered, the other still feebly flapping, having completely lost its agile mobility and ability to soar through the sky.
SWISH!
Frieren, holding the Sword of Night and Flame, conjured flames. She infused a wisp of First Flame energy, perfectly suited for burning souls while preserving the physical body. Then, she thrust her sword.
With a crisp clang, its stinger collided with the blade, the entire tail wrapping around the sharp edge.
"Truly tenacious, but you retreated too much earlier. Otherwise, you could have held on longer…"
Severed in two.
The stinger, Astel's hardest part, shattered into fragments. Its sharp barbs scattered in a wide arc from Frieren's sweeping strike, like wheat being mowed down with a hum, even leaving a completely bald patch.
It no longer had the magic to actively reinforce its body. In contrast, Frieren, infused with the First Flame, was unstoppable, every strike still at its peak.
Sensing the unfavorable situation, Astel unleashed a Gravity Well, attempting spatial relocation.
"You're so desperate you're making amateur mistakes."
Suddenly, the silver-haired girl firmly grabbed the edge of the Gravity Well, and with a similarly repulsive gravity, disintegrated it, forcibly dismantling the magic.
The same technique!
Although still primitive, if Frieren were given time, she might learn all of its magic. This realization made Astel even more terrified. Had all its efforts been for naught? Now it couldn't escape, nor could it win.
Next, she beckoned, and a crimson magical link connected to two Scarlet Aeonia flowers above its head.
At that moment, Astel felt the corruption it had barely suppressed in its wounds actively tearing itself open, draining a massive amount of its life.
All of it became nourishment for the Scarlet Aeonia flowers.
It flew frantically, trying to shake them off, but found that no matter which direction it went, the contaminated magic would be drawn back. In principle, Frieren hadn't absorbed anything, and similar techniques were not limited to a single use. But drawing back the Scarlet Aeonia meant maximum damage, utterly destroying the enemy's physical structure.
In normal circumstances, like Radahn's situation, one could coexist with corruption, barely clinging to life.
That wouldn't work with her.
The Scarlet Aeonia unleashed could be contained within the target for a period, then drawn back to unleash even greater damage, equivalent to pulling out a sword to make it bleed.
No matter how sturdy the body, it seemed it couldn't withstand such torment.
CRACK!
Hearing its body disintegrate, Astel almost lost its mind. It charged furiously towards the silver-haired girl, its pincer-like maw agape.
With a resounding crash, the Night-and-Flame Stance retaliated fiercely, knocking out a few of its bony teeth.
Next, Frieren conjured a Carian Greatsword, its azure light descending through the air. Astel struggled with all its might, its grotesque face showing alarm. All its limbs guarded its front, shrunken pitifully into a ball, and a whimpering sound emanated from its throat.
Even without understanding, one knew it was full of pleas and terror.
But her response was only a look reserved for the dead.
THWACK!
The sword tip pierced its torso. Though unharmed, it shrieked hysterically, its cries of pain echoing, then drowned out by cheers.
The future Elden Lord of The Lands Between should execute powerful enemies publicly like this. This was true prestige.
In contrast, Astel's performance was abysmal.
The death of the mighty Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, was truly pitiful. Its spirit was erased by the most lethal soul magic, leaving an empty shell, then impaled like a shrimp, nothing more than a toy.
Frieren let out a long breath, gradually retracting her Soul Cinder King form, her aura subsiding.
The black sun fire ring extinguished, the black bony armor vanished, revealing her sorcerer's robe. Her entire body ached and throbbed, but she had endured. Surviving longer than her opponent was victory.
Her performance was the best sign of conclusion.
"Mother is the strongest!" The Mimic Tear cheered excitedly in her mind. "You even took down that guy! Unprecedented, you've avenged the Eternal City!"
"Tell them something," Melina's voice was filled with pride.
"Listen, everyone—"
Her plain opening silenced the crowd. Tens of thousands of witnesses leaned in, listening to the declaration from the sky:
"The Two Fingers' conspiratorial minion, the heinous culprit who destroyed the Nox civilization, has been brought to justice. Its crimes will be remembered. The underground world will also see recovery. The oppressive presence of the old era, a symbol of brutal pasts, will one by one recede from the stage of history."
As she spoke, Frieren casually tossed Astel's corpse aside. With a resounding thud, it hit the ground, sprawling like a dead dog.
The crowd witnessing this scene cheered for victory.
"I'm alive! This isn't a dream, nor a nightmare."
"She actually defeated Astel, Naturalborn of the Void! I thought it was just a legend. First, the legend came true, then I saw the legend broken down like this."
"Look, a meteor shower!"
Astel's meteorite, previously shattered by Sunlight Spear, transformed into countless stardust meteors, tracing brilliant trajectories across the sky. Beautiful beyond compare, it gave off an ethereal, epic feel.
Everyone couldn't help but gaze, watching until it vanished.
The calamity from Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, was over.
The victor's judgment was final. In the Soul Cinder King's words, it was a grave crime, not a mere punishment, and it also denied the legitimacy of the Two Fingers. But what did it matter? In The Lands Between, victory determined all. If you lost, you lost.
The Eternal City failed, so it was defined as punished. Now that Astel, Naturalborn of the Void failed, its past actions were all crimes.
They were effectively exonerated; bards would now change their tunes to sing of their great deeds against the Two Fingers.
Frieren's will was the definition. On this matter, even Leyndell, Royal Capital, couldn't interject, because the victor held the power of decision—unless they could defeat Frieren again.
Phew!
The silver-haired girl arrived at the Academy entrance, a faint smile gracing her lips as she saw the faces of those who had survived the ordeal. It wasn't easy. Had she failed, or even just lost control of the battle, all her efforts would have been wasted, causing severe losses to The Lands Between's foremost magical institution—that would have been a true pity.
"I'll leave the cleanup to you for now. I'm going to rendezvous with Ranni."
Her figure descended directly into the Great Cave, vanishing in an instant, appearing quite anxious.
Almost forgot.
The excitement that had just risen in the crowd's hearts was doused with cold water. If the Moon Princess suffered any misfortune, it wouldn't count as a complete victory. After all, she was being hunted by the Two Fingers, and the outcome was uncertain.
From a certain perspective, this entire affair began with Ranni. How would this grudge, stretching back to the Night of Black Knives, conclude?
They could only trust in Frieren's assistance.
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Unfortunately, two of our stories were removed... so I created a new account to post them: MikuDayo.
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I'm counting on your support <3 the director was very sad and scared by what happened...
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