Underground World.
In a blood-stained river, one after another, Bloody Finger assassins, Albinaurics, and Sanguine Noble fell.
They were merely scattered foreign patrol units, naturally no match for well-organized elite opponents.
In contrast, their adversaries were Carian Knights. Though few in number, each was highly skilled in combat, flawless in both sorcery and Weapon Skills. Moongrum, their leader, cut through the lesser foes like a hot knife through butter.
"Continue the advance, maintain formation."
The Carian Knights, covering each other, advanced steadily, leaving dozens of enemy corpses on the ground. Their entire movement was fluid and precise, like a finely tuned machine.
Eliminating these scouts would prevent news from quickly reaching the Mohgwyn Dynasty.
"Retreat quickly."
The Sanguine Noble leader, understanding the same, gave the order.
Who would have thought that a patrol would encounter a penetrating Southern Army reconnaissance team? Whether to engage or not was no longer important; the key was to deliver intelligence. Her Majesty must be informed that their position has likely been exposed, and the enemy is following the trail.
The determined retreating squad was remarkably fast, vexing Moongrum. What if they managed to escape?
"Roar!"
Suddenly, a surge of Dragonfire Magma from afar blocked their path. Fiery flames scorched the vegetation, and rapidly solidifying volcanic ash cut off the trickling streams.
It was indeed a Dragon Communion squad that had charged in from the other end, led by General Edgar.
The two allied forces exchanged glances, instantly understanding each other's situation, and with a tacit understanding, joined forces to begin the encirclement. The enemy couldn't escape; they could entirely attempt to whittle them down with numerical superiority to ensure a complete victory.
Leaping out first were the Grafted Scions. Several arms, each holding a shield, could efficiently form a shield wall even individually, let alone several acting in unison.
The enemies were completely surrounded.
"You cover me, I'll fire a signal flare for Her Majesty."
No sooner had the Sanguine Noble spoken than his subordinates formed a tight guard around him, two human walls grinding and colliding. Swords clashed, sparks flew, and the clanging echoed ceaselessly, reverberating throughout the Underground World that had been silent for millennia.
They all knew the enemy couldn't be allowed to succeed. If the Mohgwyn Dynasty detected them, the reconnaissance would fail, and they might even send troops to cut off their own forces.
However, this squad displayed considerable tenacity, suffering continuous casualties but firmly holding their defensive line.
CRACK!
Impatient, Edgar personally killed a knight with his halberd, then thrust its sharp point fiercely into the belly of the leading noble.
Yet, the motion of channeling magic for the signal flare did not stop.
"For Her Majesty!"
With blood spilling from his mouth, he laughed loudly and released a brilliant red light, which instantly soared dozens of meters, momentarily capturing the gaze of everyone on the small battlefield. It was over; it would attract the Mohgwyn Dynasty's army.
But from below, a Glintstone Arrow shot out at an even faster speed, abruptly cutting it off, annihilating it into nothingness.
Moongrum slowly lowered the Greatbow condensed with magic, then waved his hand, ordering: "Continue the operation; the enemy will no longer have the morale to resist."
As he said, the disheartened Mohgwyn Dynasty soldiers' combat effectiveness declined.
Everyone achieved victory with little effort.
CRACK!
A Grafted Scion cleaved the last Mohgwyn Dynasty Knight in half, holding the bisected corpse, announcing the end of the skirmish.
The two leading commanders exchanged relieved glances. Fortunately, they had met allied forces and successfully linked up; better to be opportune than early. Otherwise, if the enemy patrol squad had returned, they would certainly have summoned a large army for an encirclement, making their chances grim.
After this battle, no one relaxed in the slightest; instead, they spread out slightly to guard the surroundings.
Edgar was the first to speak: "We entered from the Stargazer's Ruin, captured a Bloody Finger, and made him lead the way. The general route passes through the Ancestral Woods. Additionally, Fort Haight has constructed a wartime lift, capable of transporting large armies and supplies, though transportation will take some time."
"What about you?"
Moongrum pointed to a shocking rift in the distant, illusory starlit sky. Storms howled, and gravity was in disarray.
That was created jointly by Astel, Stars of Darkness and the Soul-Cinder Lord.
It was vivid: the two supreme powerhouses fought to the death around the Eternal City, literally tearing through the ground and underground. Lake water hung inverted, and the roaring sound of torrents, now carried on the wind, could still be heard.
"Our path is not easy and unsuitable for large army movements."
"It seems the main force will be in Limgrave."
"Yes, for us, the biggest advantage is that we don't have to use the narrow lift entrance, nor do we have to detour to the Stargazer's Ruin."
"Who in The Lands Between doesn't know that Carian Knights are worth ten men? I trust your elites."
"You flatter us."
The two polite individuals exchanged smiles, quite satisfied with their colleague. His command ability, conduct, and demeanor were all impeccable; truly a general entrusted with heavy responsibilities by Her Majesty.
They had both served other lords, but under Frieren's banner, they saw greater accolades beckoning.
Only the Soul-Cinder Lord could lead them to new heights.
Aside from this, there were few places left in The Lands Between to achieve great deeds.
Altus Plateau? It's been ravaged to ruin, reduced to fighting snake monsters and slime monsters. Everyone there struggles in decay; even if they win, there's nothing to look forward to.
Fighting alongside Frieren truly brought about restoration, like in this Underground World. The original cold had largely dissipated, magic flowed, and vegetation flourished. Even the Ancestral Followers, usually dormant, had begun to stir, and they even amicably pointed the way, keeping peace with the Southern Army.
You too have changed.
It seemed that any land Her Majesty trod upon would usher in a brand new chapter.
"Report." A scout announced loudly: "Information confirmed from the captive. This path is correct; it leads to the Mohgwyn Dynasty."
"What exactly is the origin of that Shardbearer?"
As a member of the Carian Royal Family's forces, Moongrum was very concerned with matters of legitimacy; this was highly important.
"The Lord of Blood is named Mohg. He is a scion of Goddess Marika, brother to the Blessed King and the Golden Prince... an Omen. Thus, after birth, he was imprisoned in the Royal Capital's sewers until the Shattering War, when he left."
"He was the one who orchestrated the Blood Conspiracies, dismantling the Lordly Alliance by sneaking into Miquella's Haligtree and abducting the Empyrean."
"Now, in the Blood Temple, it's the two of them."
Shocking!
The highly impactful facts left everyone dumbfounded; the amount of information was overwhelming.
Why did the Demigod Alliance suddenly crumble during the Siege of Leyndell? And marked by the withdrawal of the Haligtree Army. Most likely, Mohg was behind it; his strategy, strength, and endurance were all remarkable.
Although his schemes were exposed to Frieren's intelligence network, it was far from a failure; the outcome remained uncertain.
Moongrum murmured, "Lady Marika is truly merciful. Giving birth to an Omen child must have been heartbreaking, yet she merely imprisoned him instead of killing him on the spot."
"But it also left us a problem."
Edgar was unconcerned. An opponent blocking the path of the future King was destined to die, especially with a long-standing grudge.
The grudges from the Caelid Four-Gods War should be settled.
Each member of the Underground World reconnaissance squad felt a heavy heart. After all, the opponent's caliber exceeded expectations; he was Godwyn's brother, ranking among the top tier of the Golden Lineage, despite their setback.
Inheriting the blood of Goddess Marika and Godfrey, the First Elden Lord, surely made him extraordinary and not to be underestimated.
No wonder he had the ability to establish the Mohgwyn Dynasty and develop it in hiding to this day.
Must be careful.
Moongrum pressed, "Is there any more information about Mohg? The more, the better. I don't believe his current strength is merely this level."
"Reporting, General. It is said that Mohg received the blessing of the Outer God, Formless Mother. She craves blood, suffering, and curses, evil and powerful. Combined, they far exceed ordinary Demigods, and Mohg is also a Shardbearer who can activate the power of a Great Rune. Truly terrifying."
Information about Outer Gods is indeed scarce.
But based on current information, the enemy controls an Empyrean and an Outer God, and is themselves a top-tier bloodline plus a Shardbearer. Their setup is supremely formidable, absolutely difficult to deal with.
Upon hearing this, the group's pressure increased further, completely losing any sense of complacency. This would be a tough battle.
Originally, they thought Mohg's strength was insufficient because Frieren had dealt with him repeatedly. Now, fighting on his home ground with all his trump cards revealed, the outcome was uncertain; no Outer God was easy to deal with.
But Her Majesty should be pleased.
It was well known that she liked all sorts of strange and unusual powers; if you didn't value them, she wouldn't even bother with you.
"Any more information?"
"Apologies, nothing else. Especially information about the Formless Mother; even the Sanguine Nobles aren't entirely clear about it. It's Mohg's hidden power."
Hearing this, Edgar and Moongrum exchanged solemn glances.
It was clear that the mastermind of the Blood Conspiracies was a very dangerous and powerful enemy. Even the Southern Army, whose power was growing daily, would have to exert considerable effort. He absolutely could not be underestimated, or their fate would be the same as the shattered Lordly Alliance.
"Information gathering ends here. The bodies have been dealt with; lingering longer might expose us." Moongrum proposed: "Let's all report to Her Majesty."
"Then let's go."
The squad hastened their departure from the outskirts of the Mohgwyn Dynasty, maintaining stealth throughout, leaving no traces.
They all knew that as time passed, the enemy would surely discover the missing patrolmen, inferring an impending war, and then a clash between powerful forces would ensue. In short, they had found the way and accomplished their mission; the immediate priority was to report back.
This elite squad galloped at full speed towards the Great Liurnian Chasm.
Soon after.
Ampach led his team to the engagement site, looking around and murmuring, "The patrol responsible for this area has been slow to report. Were they killed?"
"Sir, we can't find the bodies. They must have been ambushed, and the route has been exposed to the enemy..."
The Sanguine Noble' faces were tense.
Thinking of the Soul-Cinder Lord's ever-victorious army, they couldn't help but feel dread. That was an armed force that had leveled the three Southern regions and even ascended to the Eternal City. Now, it pointed its sword, full of killing intent, at the Mohgwyn Dynasty.
If they failed to intercept the enemy, then next time, a vast army would arrive.
Not to mention Frieren's incomparably formidable magic. Having just killed Astel and formed a covenant with Ranni the Moon Empyrean, her spirit, martial prowess, and prestige were all at their peak.
Attacking on the momentum of a great victory was clearly a fight to the death.
"Don't worry," Ampach said firmly. "This day was bound to come sooner or later. Prepare, assemble the entire army for defense."
At his command, the entire Mohgwyn Dynasty army became active, filling the crucial thoroughfares.
...
The squad returned to the Magic Academy.
Upon arrival, they immediately felt a lively atmosphere. While not as exaggerated as hanging lanterns and decorations, people were smiling and full of blessings. A rare banquet was being held, which was unprecedented for Frieren, who disliked extravagance.
"You're finally back." It was Kenneth Haight who greeted them: "Sir Moongrum, Sir Edgar, hurry and present yourselves."
Present themselves to whom? Their hearts were full of questions.
Following the guidance, the two walked into the wide hall, their gaze instinctively drawn to the steps above.
A Demigod!
Alarm bells rang in their minds. The undisguisable magic was too conspicuous; unlike Frieren's extreme restraint or the Mimic Tear's deep darkness of night, it was as brilliant as the Golden Order. Warm and vast, full of inclusivity, that purest and highest faith-based magic shone vibrantly.
The individual must be of the Golden Lineage bloodline and an expert in Incantations.
"Welcome."
As Frieren's voice rang out, Moongrum and Edgar respectfully looked up. On the main throne was the languid silver-haired girl, who had just closed a magic book.
Beside her was a girl in traveler's attire.
One-eyed, with a claw-mark-like tattoo on her face, fair-faced, short brown hair, and a cool, indifferent expression.
She stood guard at her side, looking only at the silver-haired one. Her demeanor held an unfamiliarity with the world, as if she hadn't interacted with it in a long time. Yet, no one could ignore the presence, the unique pressure of a Demigod-tier being.
"Just in time, you're all back. Allow me to introduce you: my Maiden, Melina."
"Our respects to you."
Everyone in the great hall immediately bowed in salute. Their feelings towards this simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar superior were complex, but overall, it was good news.
They had known for a long time that Her Majesty had an 'imaginary friend'.
Later, they gradually realized it was a spirit Maiden. So she was the one who accompanied Frieren the longest and gifted her Torrent. She brought the chosen beast of the King to the destined Tarnished. How profound was her background? How complex the situation? Unfathomable.
"Everyone, thank you for your continuous assistance to Frieren. From now on, continue to assist her together."
Melina nodded in return.
Seemingly arrogant yet actually adhering to etiquette, she was first in terms of addressing the King by name, seniority, bloodline, and strength, holding a position of immense power, with no one able to compare.
However, she was very modest, receding to the rear side of the throne after speaking.
Frieren added: "You've probably guessed that many of the commands issued were actually Melina's ideas, so have full faith in her wisdom. If the First Elden Lord had Chancellor Godfrey, then my most trusted Chancellor is Melina. She can execute my will. Is that clear?"
"Understood!"
The evaluation of her position was terrifyingly high; such was the Maiden's place in the King's heart.
What should be the status and rank of a Maiden to a quasi-King Tarnished who rules a region? There was no precedent, but likening her to a Chancellor was not wrong.
Clearly, Frieren had defined the relationships: Ranni was a collaborator, partner, and political ally, while Melina was a subordinate, confidante, and comrade-in-arms. At the very beginning of their long journey, they relied entirely on each other through life and death.
Originating from the Chapel of Anticipation, rising from humble beginnings, flourishing in Limgrave, all were forged by the two of them.
It was difficult to estimate the Maiden's importance in her heart.
Although both appeared somewhat stoic, their relationship should not be underestimated. The profound, hidden understanding between them made a thought arise in their minds:
They absolutely possessed the resolve to burn fiercely for each other.
"Oh, by the way, some of you must be curious about Melina's bloodline aura, right? Anyone have questions?"
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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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