Magic Academy.
Waking up in the familiar room, Frieren's first sight was Melina, guarding by the bed. Their eyes met; one was dazed and blurry, the other slightly averted her gaze, feeling a bit embarrassed to be stared at so directly by the Tarnished.
"Is something the matter?"
"Just curious about your slumber. While some Demigods do have a habit of long sleeps, yours was the most profound… Anyway, it's good you're back. You rarely take such a long rest, given how hard you've worked previously."
"It wasn't hard; exploring the Underground World was a good thing."
Frieren got out of bed, combing her hair as she asked, "Has anything special happened while I was away?"
"The plan you instructed is proceeding as usual. Furthermore, the Full Moon Queen's body creation is nearing completion. For the final stage, your presence will be needed for safety."
In actuality, she could choose for time in this world to halt or slow down while she slept. But there was no need; time is abundant in The Lands Between, so it's fine to let them act for a bit. Besides, this departure was brief. See? She was already back in Raya Lucaria.
Servants entered the room to help Frieren change and dress. On such matters, she naturally preferred to remain still if possible.
Especially since everyone always advised, "Your Majesty should have attire befitting a monarch." She might as well listen to them. Now, in addition to her existing mage robes, cloak, and circlet, her loyal servants had added belts, medals, and other accessories.
She didn't understand them and wasn't inclined to delve into such minor details unrelated to magic.
Whoosh—
The long chime rang out, signaling the awakening of the Soul-Cinder Lord. This signal was renowned throughout the South, known to all: their King was ready to resume conquest.
"Are there any pending matters?"
D and others had separately explored the Underground World from two meteorite craters; her help wouldn't be needed for a short while. They were efficient and experienced, bringing their elite troops, truly the essence of the Southern Army's strength. She merely needed to await their reports.
After much thought, she decided to complete what she should have done last time:
"I'm going to the Roundtable Hold. You all continue your tasks. The priority is protecting the Full Moon Queen."
"Understood."
With a simple incantation, the silver-haired girl headed to a Site of Grace, disappearing with a ringing sound. Her subordinates, left behind, exchanged glances, marveling at her swiftness.
The Erdtree Sanctuary, Twin Fingers' Audience Hall.
Finger Reader Enia, whose head was always bowed, slowly lifted it, meeting the gaze of the silver-haired girl who strode in.
"Long time no see, Your Majesty. I heard you defeated Astel, Naturalborn of the Void."
"So I came to extract its Remembrance. And, of course, to hear the opinion of the Two Fingers of the Roundtable, since their colleague died," Frieren asked meaningfully, "Is there anything you wish to convey to me?"
If they sought revenge, a fight would simply ensue. The All-Knowing Sir Gideon Ofnir's rule against conflict wouldn't prevent that.
How many pawns do the Two Fingers of the Roundtable have?
Hearing this, Finger Reader Enia looked at the divine emissary, who seemed worn out, and whispered a few words, as if exchanging information.
A moment later.
"Your Majesty, the Two Fingers say that although they are of the same kind, everyone holds different views and strives for different missions. There will be no revenge among them, and they sincerely congratulate you on your victory."
With words to this effect, there was indeed nothing to pursue. She merely smiled it off.
Frieren was very sensitive to hostility and murderous intent. Since the Two Fingers showed none, they at least didn't intend to start a war.
Very well, there was no need for grand gestures. Confirming this unstable factor was appeased was enough; she could proceed to the next step.
"I wish to exchange Astel's Remembrance."
Using the archive module, she could exchange three times. First, it converted into Runes, but unfortunately, it didn't trigger a new module extraction. Presumably, only the energy containing Great Runes from the Demigod-Kings could achieve that. Never mind, just using it to enhance basic attributes was already substantial.
Though the Tarnished account was causing widespread destruction, it hadn't actually reached the Demigod level yet; she was a top-tier hero, still one divine creature tier away. The reason being that subsequent upgrades required more and more Runes, so she had to scrape by.
[Ash of War: Dark Flow]
[A Weapon Skill that, after thrusting the weapon into the ground, generates three dark waves around the user.]
[After activation, a strong attack can be chained into a sweeping spin attack.]
[Usable with Greatswords, Greataxes, Greatspears, and Colossal Weapons.]
It felt familiar.
This was the Gravity Wave Astel had used before, capable of continuously crushing everything around it. Combined with a large body, its range was also wide.
Even in Frieren's opinion, it was quite useful.
As for the Ash of War's limitations, it was not an issue. There were ways to use Ashes of War like magic, as they ultimately led to the same result, and their two natures would not conflict with each other.
Overall, it was a remarkable new move, though not particularly outstanding given the large collection of spells she currently possessed. It should be useful within the Gravity Magic system. She would consider its specifics later.
After exchanging for another item, the silver-haired girl held a new flail. She had never been adept with this type of weapon, so she politely declined it.
[Naturalborn's Stars]
[A weapon crafted by connecting the multicolored stars that form the body of the Naturalborn of the Void.]
[Possesses a Weapon Skill that, when infused with magic, performs a sweeping attack while forming a dark nebula.]
[The nebula explodes and disappears after a short time.]
That's it!
Frieren recalled Astel's move where it unleashed exploding nebulae with a flick of its hand, simultaneously emitting disrupting Gravity Waves. To some extent, this could serve as a defensive deflection against incoming magic, making it very difficult to hit. Thus, in the later, intense stages of their fight, she simply opted for mid-range combat.
Truly a creation from beyond the stars, impeccable in both durability and skill set. It would still take some effort to fight it again.
Both exchanged items were good.
Most importantly, they both fell under the umbrella of Gravity Magic, offering powerful and comprehensive utility that aligned with her consistent combat style. Paired together, they could be considered The Lands Between's premier destructive combat style.
Frieren had repeatedly experienced its convenience, enough to advance further.
"The real reward isn't the Dark Moon Greatsword?" Such statements were common.
It seemed the distinction between the two was once again evident here.
"Thank you, Finger Reader Enia. I will make good use of the Naturalborn of the Void's magic."
"A genius like you will surely comprehend it quickly. I look forward to your good news. One day, you will reach the inner parts of the Golden Order."
Suddenly, Frieren turned her head towards a room at the other end of the Roundtable Hold. A scent of blood wafted from there.
Why was there a murder in the Erdtree Sanctuary? That was D and Fia's aura!
The sun's rays were intense.
When in doubt, cast a Heal and Dispel.
Golden light enveloped the Roundtable Hold, and everyone felt a surge of warmth. The light was so bright that many shielded their eyes and stepped back a few paces, fortunately seeing Frieren half-crouched, patting D, who was barely clinging to life on the ground.
"Good thing he still has a breath. Though it was an assassination, timely rescue means he'll be fine."
The two had some acquaintance, and acting on the principle of not standing idly by when witnessing something, she decisively used her healing. Saving his life was no big problem.
Then Frieren calmly looked at the woman in the black robe. Fia and D seemed to have concluded their business, so she found it inconvenient to interfere with complex entanglements.
"Outside, you can do whatever you want. But being seen by me here means you're out of luck."
She stopped them, but she didn't take any forceful action, nor did she even stir a wisp of magic. She displayed no hostility, showing full sincerity. There was no need to start fighting.
In contrast, she was more concerned about Fia's faction, motives, and other information. She had previously bestowed a blessing from her bed, yet she still resorted to assassination.
People cannot be judged by appearances.
In her mind, Melina gently admonished, "Frieren, I told you before that this woman isn't trustworthy. So mysterious, yet she harbors assassination methods. Truly ruthless..."
"Am I not fine? This level of assassination, even if it hit, wouldn't matter. The key is to investigate this incident."
The silver-haired girl released a wisp of pressure, enveloping the room.
Although she showed no killing intent, she wouldn't let them leave until she got her answers. She was no judge; she wouldn't make decisions based on some personal grudges or emotions. What was important was gathering intelligence.
"Your Majesty, do you intend to punish me?"
"I have no such authority, nor do I intend to complicate matters. I'm merely curious."
"The stolen holy mark of the great one has finally returned to its rightful owner. It's time to bid you all farewell. Please convey to everyone at the Roundtable Hold: My name is Fia, the Deathbed Companion. Do not disturb the death of the great Godwyn. We are born solely from death. One day, we will obtain our King. People, the weak, will uphold their own King. Who would then raise an objection?"
Hmph!
With that, the black-robed woman's figure vanished. Although Frieren immediately looked in one direction, she didn't pursue.
There was no grudge between them. Rather, letting Fia advance matters might create an opportunity. Was the Prince of Death's faction causing trouble?
She wasn't afraid of complications.
What she feared was factions representing different demands in The Lands Between not emerging. That would be truly troublesome.
The Deathbed Companion served Godwyn, representing, in a sense, the followers of the Prince of Death's faith. According to scattered remarks from previous players, it seemed related to a specific Rune of mending. If so, that was excellent.
Just then, a crowd, drawn by the commotion, gathered. Leading them were none other than Sir Gideon Ofnir, Rogier, Nepheli Loux, and Roderika.
"D!"
Rogier, who had the closest relationship with D, rushed forward to check his pulse. After confirming it, he finally let out a long sigh of relief. D was unconscious, but his life had been saved. He would recover with some rest.
"Please thank Her Majesty for him," otherwise, the cursed assassination would have succeeded, unlike now where he was out of mortal danger.
"Replying to Your Majesty, your slumber this time was relatively brief, so not many official duties accumulated."
"However, D will need to sleep for a while. Let's get him settled."
Rogier and Nepheli Loux moved the heavily armored man aside. With Roderika, they first confirmed if there was any further damage from body to soul.
Their rescue efforts could cover any omissions.
"Ofnir, do you have any leads on the Prince of Death Fia mentioned?"
"After the first deceased, Godwyn, appeared, a group of followers believed that he would one day return, and they have been waiting ever since. For example, the Death Knights under the Demon King, and Deathbed Companions who wish to become the King's consort. I don't know the details, but it definitely points to the Deeproot Depths."
"At the bottom of the Golden Order?"
"Yes. It's also the source of the two great underground rivers. With your intelligence, you should already know it's quite far."
"According to you, should I pursue this immediately?"
"No need, because a key item they require, Ranni's Cursemark of Death, is in your hands. And the Prince of Death's faction will take a long time to prepare. You can certainly focus on other matters first, and only pursue this once you reach the Altus Plateau."
Sir Gideon Ofnir's attitude was very serious this time, showing extreme candor. He fully disclosed all the information he knew and also provided feasible advice.
So kind?
Frieren tentatively believed him. After all, she was never afraid of being deceived.
Moreover, the information corroborated with what the Southern Army had investigated. Both sides pointed to the Deeproot Depths as the source. Sooner or later, she would have to go there and deal with it.
"I understand. Thank you for the information."
"It's nothing important. I assume you've already received the news that there are even traces of the Lord of Cinder there..."
"Indeed. I have both some acquaintance and a grudge with Yhorm the Giant. It's hard to say."
Based on the Onion Knight's connection, they were friends of a friend, which could be said to have brought liberation to that Lord of Cinder. But being dragged to burn as fuel was painful. How much did that spiritual torment distort him? He must hold hostility towards her.
Even the relatively friendly Undead Legion only became allies after receiving her treatment. Currently, Yhorm the Giant's state is likely quite frenzied.
Let's wait.
"Ascending the Altus Plateau is not easy, especially with your sensitive identity," Sir Gideon Ofnir warned.
"Couldn't I just take the Ruin-Strewn Precipice route?"
Frieren had already thought of this. Entering the Royal Capital's territory too conspicuously was definitely not an option. The other elevator was even heavily guarded by the Golden Lineage. She could only find another way. Although that area had become a stronghold for Volcano Manor monsters, it could at least serve as a path.
Taking the path through the Volcano would inevitably lead to a confrontation with Rykard's forces.
"Since you've thought it through, I won't ask further. By the way, congratulations on finding your own God, Frieren, the future King."
"And good luck to you, Ofnir."
The two exchanged courtesies, and then Sir Gideon Ofnir willingly departed. There was nothing more of note for him here. For him, knowing the Tarnished's progress was enough.
Meanwhile, D's breathing gradually stabilized, and he slowly recovered under the rescue efforts.
Rogier sighed in relief, wiping sweat from his forehead, and said, "Alright, I'll move him to a room to rest. He should wake up in a few days. Everyone, go about your business. We'll be sure to notify you if there's any new information."
Nepheli Loux, always swift and energetic, waved and left. Lately, she had been active in the South, clearing scattered monsters. She would likely focus more on the Those Who Live in Death next.
The remaining Frieren then gave Roderika a request:
"My subordinates are collecting a large quantity of Grave Glovewort. They will send it to you regularly. Use them to reinforce these Spirit Ashes of mine, the higher rank, the better..."
"So many!"
The red-capped girl's eyes widened in astonishment. The quantity of these reinforcement materials was immense. Roderika had indeed heard news of large quantities of Grave Glovewort in the Underground World, but she hadn't expected such abundant reserves.
The Eternal City was as rich in Grave Glovewort as the Golden Royal Capital was in Smithing Stones. Both were top-tier strategic resources. If utilized effectively, they could forge a powerful hegemonic army.
It was widely known that the Golden Army was the strongest.
Even the seemingly dominant Southern Army, strong as they were, couldn't claim to compare in mid-to-low tier troop numbers, and might even collapse at the start of a war.
The Elden Lord's victory could not solely be personal; it could not be separated from an army.
Thus, while the world acknowledged the Soul-Cinder Lord's power as comparable to the First Elden Lord, they didn't believe she was currently qualified to attack Leyndell.
Still a bit short.
Roderika, understanding the background, knew well that the large quantities of Spirit Ashes and Glovewort in her hands would become the Spirit Ash Legion in the future, serving directly under Frieren to confront powerful troop types from the Royal Capital such as Ancient Dragon Knights, Tree Sentinels, and Heroic Gargoyles.
"Reinforce to the limit? Does that mean it will be your primary melee weapon from now on?"
"Yes."
She blushed with excitement just thinking about it.
"Understood. Thank you for giving me this task, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you."
"Don't call me that. Frieren is fine. You were one of the first Tarnished I met; we're practically..."
"In your opinion, is there any room for spirit tuning and reinforcement for her?"
Frieren's thought prompted the Mimic Tear to spontaneously materialize, a pure white figure, identical to her master. Only, her brow held a hint of wildness, and her lips curled into a smug smile.
"How can those rotten other Spirit Ashes compare to me? At best, they're cannon fodder on the battlefield. Their intelligence is far inferior."
"The King of Night can command armies; even ordinary Demigods are no match for her."
The Mimic Tear stood with hands on hips, letting Roderika observe her all around, enjoying Roderika's exclamations of amazement even more.
"Frieren, you are strong, but your absorption of Glovewort is too crude. I can help."
"What did you call me?!"
"After all, you look very much like Lady Frieren, and people say you're the Crown Princess, and you have claims to the Eternal City. So calling you 'Her Highness Frieren' should be acceptable, right?"
The red-capped girl initially thought she had offended, but the Mimic Tear was overjoyed, letting out a loud burst of laughter, as if afraid people wouldn't know she had received a very satisfying new title.
Her nearby master wordlessly rubbed her forehead. Her child was too lively.
Oh well, a smile was a sign of health.
She asked, "Roughly how long will spirit tuning take?"
"Very quickly, because Her Highness Frieren has already absorbed most of it. I will merely guide her to further integration."
"Good. Once we're at your location, let's begin. Also, say hello to old man Hewg."
He sensed it. The long-bearded old man glanced at his guests, then continued forging as he spoke:
"You're very lucky, to have actually defeated Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. Not bad."
"So the armor is mostly ruined."
"Even if you didn't say anything, I'd know. Leave it to me. I'll fix it back to its original state in a few quick strokes."
Frieren took out a pile of tattered metal armor pieces. The breastplate was dented and chipped, with severe puncture wounds, thanks to Astel's tail stinger. Moreover, the pauldrons, vambraces, and greaves were shattered, essentially needing a complete re-forging.
Hewg took a rough look and knew how intense the battle must have been, full of peril, teetering on the edge of death. Indeed, only Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, could cause such damage.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't believe they could wound Frieren to this extent.
The forging hammer struck fiercely, incorporating the power of high-grade Smithing Stones.
As long as she asked, there would be plenty of Smithing Stones. Although the Southern Lands had relatively few Smithing Stone resources, a powerful individual like her was never short.
The Southern Army had to abandon the strategy of collecting large quantities of Smithing Stones to strengthen their entire army. No matter how they compared, they would always be outmatched by the Leyndell Army. They simply decided to overtake them by innovating in areas like magic, grafting, and dragons. So the excess Smithing Stones were handed over to the Soul-Cinder Lord to manage.
These resources are enough for you alone.
Frieren generously entrusted Hewg with a large amount of forging work, including, of course, the newly acquired weapon.
"Please reinforce this Dark Moon Greatsword to the limit of current resources."
"It seems the rumors are true. The Lands Between now has a combination of God and King," now before me is the Moon Princess and the Carian Royal Family's recognized consort."
Truly worthy of a faction second only to the Golden Lineage in wealth; they could always drop a few lines of praise anywhere. Their certification was very crucial.
The Dark Moon Greatsword, in terms of feel, strength, and symbolic meaning, was perfectly qualified. Even the usually critical players spoke highly of it, indeed making it suitable as a primary weapon. Especially its formidable poise-breaking ability; the Moonlight Wave combined with the blade could easily break the target's guard.
Damage output was secondary; her magic power was already excessive. A handy melee weapon was more important.
Reinforcing her staff could be postponed a bit, as Frieren had heard players mention the "Prince of Death's Staff endgame gear" theory. Stepping back, at her current level, a staff's influence on her strength was not decisive.
So she could certainly accumulate resources. The legendary Prince of Death's Staff was probably in the Deeproot Depths. One could tell immediately that it was closely related to Godwyn, and Fia's actions would eventually lead to that silent place.
Frieren quietly waited, lost in thought. The Elven race was never short on patience. As long as it wasn't a wasted effort, they could spend time with everyone. And so, moments passed in the forging room...
"Mother! I've grown stronger!" the Mimic Tear suddenly shouted.
"Hooray!"
Roderika, standing nearby, clapped enthusiastically, playing the role of an excited audience. With an audience, the Mimic Tear became even more animated, then saw the silver-haired girl solemnly nod in approval.
What she said was true; the pure white spirit's power had increased.
Meanwhile, Hewg spread out the renovated armor. It gleamed brightly, full of metallic luster. Moreover, it was now better suited to Frieren's slightly grown physique. She witnessed Frieren slowly put it on, twisting her waist and moving a few times.
"How is it? Does it fit?"
"Thank you. It's lighter and sturdier than before, won't hinder my movements, and contains quite a bit of Smithing Stone power."
"After all, you paid enough. Alright, I need to continue working. Don't disturb me."
Hewg always dismissed them this way. Frieren, understanding his style, exchanged a look with Roderika.
See you later.
"How is it? Does it fit?"
"Thank you. It's lighter and sturdier than before, won't hinder my movements, and contains quite a bit of Smithing Stone power."
"After all, you paid enough. Alright, I need to continue working. Don't disturb me."
Frieren, understanding his style, exchanged a look with Roderika.
She pulled the Mimic Tear, who was baring her teeth at the old craftsman, and they teleported away together.
As soon as they returned to the Magic Academy, they ran into a hurrying servant.
"What is it?"
"Her Majesty the Queen is looking for you."
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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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