Just as old general Edgar had predicted, this siege of the Mohgwyn Dynasty had become protracted and entered a stalemate phase, with neither side giving way but progress was difficult.
Rumble!
A fierce trebuchet bombardment covered the Earth Dragons as they charged, but the defenders atop the mountain were no pushovers. They frantically unleashed rolling logs and boulders, even collapsing sections of the mountain slopes into precipices, leaving no opportunity for ascent.
Although several Earth Dragons clung to the slopes like ants, their heads were constantly being struck.
Given their physiques, they were, of course, unharmed, but it was enough to impede their climb, allowing them to reach only the mountainside at best.
Another probing attempt concluded for both sides.
However, the Flying Dragons had not retreated, still carrying mages to conduct high-altitude reconnaissance and surveying. Despite the intensifying blood aura within the temple, maintaining distance ensured their safety.
The defense maps they drew of the Mohgwyn Dynasty were all concentrated in the main camp's headquarters tent.
Edgar and Moongrum, along with the other officers, were seen gathered around a sand table, pondering intensely and chattering amongst themselves, trying to find weaknesses for a swift breakthrough, repeatedly simulating and debating...
In a corner, Frieren sat quietly, her spellbook resting on her joined knees, occasionally turning pages, reading with considerable focus.
Professional matters were best left to professionals.
In any case, she had gradually adapted to the rhythm of this month-long war.
For a full 30 days, bombardments were constant, accompanied by clashing blades and bloody battles, yet there was no sign of it ending. Every day brought endless repairs to siege equipment, endless hauling of ammunition, and endless sharpening of weapons, all amidst a busy and noisy atmosphere.
The camp was filled with clanking and banging sounds, non-stop, day and night, as they sweated profusely.
The air was thick with the smell of scorching, blood, and body odor... The last one was originally supposed to be a stench, as it's inevitable when a high-density population stays in an environment for too long.
Fortunately, there was Magic to Create a Flower Field.
When idle, Frieren created a flower field on the outskirts of the camp, adding a touch of beauty to the blood pool region.
It served as a small diversion in the current siege.
Otherwise, she couldn't tolerate the increasingly deteriorating environment. As the battle bogged down, the accumulated garbage, bloodstains, and waste became incredibly foul. It was thanks to the high tolerance of the people of the Lands Between that they could endure it.
In reality, a great plague would have broken out long ago; forget about fighting, disease would be the primary killer.
"Let's attack from the northern mountainside. The geology there is hard and won't easily collapse. We can use bombardment to clear out a ramp and go up."
Moongrum also nodded in agreement, saying, "The Carian Knights should be able to serve as the vanguard. With aerial cover, there's a possibility of reaching the temple summit, but the resistance will definitely be immense."
"That's right, the enemy will undoubtedly counterattack fiercely then."
"Then let's take them by surprise. Typically, sieges don't start an all-out assault this early. I estimate they anticipate it about a year from now."
"We can't drag it out that long. If we're held up, Leyndell or Volcano Manor might make a move."
"But we must be prepared for losses..."
Melina's reply reassured everyone. In the battles so far, she had demonstrated extraordinary power in Healing Incantations, ensuring the casualty rate remained within a controllable range, even achieving a miraculous combat personnel survival rate, truly unprecedented.
As long as the Minor Erdtree shone, even the dark underground world gave people a sense of warmth and surging spirits.
In a sense, it was already a part of morale, and crucially important.
Since she would fully unleash her healing, the tactical arrangements could be bolder. As for leveraging Frieren's power, that was not considered, after all, King vs. King was the law of the Lands Between.
Even excluding the unnecessary, they hoped to save Frieren's combat power for later.
They couldn't rely too much on the King. Otherwise, what would they do in the future Battle of Leyndell? By then, she would most likely be unable to attend to other matters, with each having their own assigned battlefield. They needed to adapt to this rhythm beforehand.
"Relying only on them might not be enough. Let the Mimic Tear lead the charge."
Frieren, closing her spellbook, gave the order.
She was somewhat weary. A protracted siege was not the solution; delays would breed trouble, and it was best to end it quickly.
Upon hearing this, the bored pale elf sprang up, excited, and replied, rubbing her hands together eagerly: "Mother, rest assured. I will smash them to pieces, no matter what stands in the way."
The one most thrilled by this was naturally the vivacious Mimic Tear. The clone and the original were complete opposites, one fiery and one cold.
Couldn't wait.
Everyone expressed support for Frieren's decision.
After a moment of contemplation, Moongrum nodded and said, "Let's begin. Initiate the all-out assault!"
At the temple summit, a great blood-light flared.
Mohg, his Outer God summoning ritual concluded, finally emerged from the blood pool. What was different was the runic symbols floating above his head, ready to unleash the power of the Formless Mother at any moment.
He cast a glance at the Empyrean's slumbering cocoon; all was well, with no anomalies.
He truly couldn't understand why Ansbach had suddenly attacked Miquella and injured him; Mohg hadn't even reacted in time then.
However, with one gone and one asleep, neither was bothering him for now.
Now Mohg couldn't care about anything else, because as soon as the ritual ended, he sensed a massive surge of magic and numerous life signs.
To think they had assembled 50,000 elite main forces—a grand gesture.
From atop the temple, he could look down upon the dense army below, their camps stretching endlessly, extending for dozens of miles.
Only the Southern Army in the Lands Between could field such an offensive force.
Moreover, at this moment, the entire large force was mobilizing, clearly brewing up something extraordinary. Even Mohg felt a chilling aura. Was Frieren using a super-large-scale mental power scan for advanced reconnaissance, clearing the way for the all-out assault?
Although he had gained the power of an Outer God, he dared not underestimate them. After all, they were an entity that had defeated three Shardbearers and mastered their Great Runes.
He had to go all out. Once this powerful enemy was defeated, the path ahead would be clear.
"Stop congratulating yourselves! Immediately concentrate our forces on the gentler slopes; they will certainly launch an attack. Send all the Sanguine Knights there; they must hold the mountain pass."
The Nobles, receiving their orders, immediately sprang into action, directing the vast legions to their designated positions.
Mohg had calculated correctly; sure enough, the Southern Army's target was the gentle slope, the only area traversable by a large army. After all, the prolonged bombardment had left the highland riddled with craters and gaps, leaving few options, so there was nowhere to hide their intentions.
Their cards were on the table.
Both sides, without prior agreement, thought of a decisive battle, and thus massed their forces.
Inside the camp, Frieren suddenly looked up at the temple summit, clearly perceiving the unique reaction of an Outer God.
The aura from beyond the stars could not be concealed. It was likely that the legendary Formless Mother's power had merged with that of the Lord of Blood, meaning they would face an unprecedented Outer God's agent.
"Is there anything unusual?" Melina asked with concern.
"Nothing, just that our enemy is also ready. Let's finish this cleanly."
Thoom!
The first to speak were the trebuchets, but they weren't hurling massive boulders, as that would damage the ground and create more obstacles. Instead, they launched giant fire pots.
They were incredibly fragile, exploding mid-air and scattering scalding molten metal. The Mohgwyn Dynasty soldiers who were hit instantly cried out in agony. If they wore metal armor, they were even more easily roasted; being doused from head to toe was torture.
The pots contained the molten liquid accumulated by the Southern Army's artisans so far, a repurposed waste.
At this point in the war, there were no fresh recruits; all were quick-reacting veterans who immediately raised their shields.
Their tight defense blocked the projectiles.
The chaotic phenomena only appeared among the Albinaurics and Blood creatures, but they weren't at the front lines. In the upcoming fierce battle, organization and discipline would be key; it was time to compare elites.
Sure enough, figures of Carian Knights appeared in the boiling steam. They stood in a line, steadily advancing.
"They're asking for death!"
However, before the Sanguine Nobles could order a counterattack, they heard a howling wind above their heads.
"Hold your ground and stand by!"
Alas, it was too late. The Flying Dragons spewed flames, scorching the sturdy fortifications, making them hiss with steam, or simply used their entire bodies to violently crash into them, collapsing them before sweeping away.
The quick-reacting Sanguine Knights shot arrows and threw spears, occasionally hitting, but not enough to kill.
The role of Flying Dragons on the battlefield was repeatedly magnified; working together, they became a top-tier harassment unit that enemies had no choice but to divert energy to counter. The oppressive feeling caused by their aerial superiority made the hearts of the Mohgwyn Dynasty army pound wildly as they watched the Carian Knights advance.
Moongrum, at the head, never gave the order to charge.
He remained composed in the face of the sea of blades and fire before him, maintaining his pace, not wasting a shred of stamina or magic, trusting his allies.
The Earth Dragon unit attacked from the flank, being the first to collide with the enemy's positions.
Since the Flying Dragons had previously shattered the fortress clusters, they only needed to use their large bodies to tear apart the lines while spewing magma, with boiling red currents spreading across the ground and radiating heat.
"We also picked up the pace."
Moongrum cleared the way with his Carian Greatsword, instantly sweeping away several Mohgwyn Dynasty soldiers, clearing a path with his teammates.
Seasoned veterans, they were bound together in unity, invincible in attack. The very front lines of the battlefield were now solely occupied by the Carian Knights.
With such a fierce vanguard, the follow-up units achieved even more brilliant results.
Following closely, the Sanguine Nobles with their multiple arms wielded various weapons, slaying the remaining soldiers. No one could adapt to such agile enemies, and they fell one after another in regret.
At the same time, spectral dragon heads shimmered in mid-air, spewing auras of Rot, Frost, and Lightning.
Dragon Incantations.
The diverse elemental attacks kept the Mohgwyn Dynasty's mages preoccupied.
They were well aware that the Southern Army had a complex composition of troop types, but they never imagined the scale would reach this degree.
Just some of their special combat forces exceeded 3,000, so how vast were the resources poured into them?
The Mohgwyn Dynasty had experimented with various modifications, often ending in failure, as the subjects would first go mad and then their bodies would become corrupted.
How many corpses were sacrificed to build up the Southern Army's vast elite forces?
The frequently cast Soul Sorcery of Grace ensured mental stability, preventing them from easily going mad or berserk. This made maintaining physical stability even easier, with virtually no after-effects.
Even if there were, she would insist on dispelling the contamination and healing it. As for grafting complications, at worst, they could just cut it off and restore it.
The margin for error was extremely high.
Frieren was the greatest support for the Southern Army's elite troops. The people of the Mohgwyn Dynasty could never imagine that someone would use a Great Rune for the purpose of healing others.
The sweeping offensive pushed all the way to the upper reaches of the mountain.
However, from even higher up, torrents of blood suddenly began to pour down. The trickling streams widened, and in an instant, it burst its banks and cascaded down like a waterfall.
"Something's wrong, quickly get clear!"
Moongrum's warning was swift enough, but some were still too slow to react and were washed over by the corrupting blood. It instantly pierced armor and defenses, their skin festering and bodies twisting, as withered monsters appeared before their eyes, indistinguishable from those wandering around the blood pool perimeter.
It was the Mohgwyn Dynasty deliberately dumping the accumulated contaminated blood; they had calculated this in advance.
They laughed as they deliberately carved out openings, letting the cursed blood wash over the ground, no longer caring about the spread of contamination, as long as they could.
Behind them, Edgar quickly sounded the horn to halt the advance.
Stopping on a steep mountainside, wouldn't that just allow the enemy to exploit their weaknesses? It would be certain death. This was a clear mistake in command.
Unless Edgar was setting up a countermeasure.
Sure enough, the next moment, a dark vortex appeared in the sky, immediately swallowing the contaminated red mist, even causing the cursed blood waterfall to roll back upwards into the sky, forcibly sucked inside and vanished without a trace.
Wherever it illuminated, magic was instantly drained, preventing any harm.
Eternal Darkness.
The caster was none other than the Mimic Tear, hovering in mid-air. With overwhelming momentum, she pushed the dark vortex towards the mountain summit. Along the way, all the cursed blood began to flow back, attacking.
"Since you enjoy unleashing contamination, then have a taste of your own medicine."
No sooner had she spoken than the Eternal Darkness continued to expand, reaching a diameter of fifty meters, effectively dubbed the Mouth of the Abyss, devouring all. A terrifying suction force formed a storm at its outer perimeter. Some fragile Albinaurics were simply swept away, the terrifying sight before them resembling a rift that had appeared in the void.
The Mohgwyn Dynasty mages clearly felt their magic weakening and even being drained. They were greatly alarmed, realizing how overbearing this was.
The Mimic Tear then cast another spell: Night Ice Mist.
All this blood froze, forming a crimson glacier in place, which ironically created a direct path to the temple summit.
Of course, she didn't forget to casually freeze hundreds of unfortunate Mohgwyn Dynasty soldiers. "Who told you to be so weak? If you can't dodge in time, you become part of the Cursed Blood Glacier. You deserve to become a permanent attraction."
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a surge of blood-light magic streaked forth, forcing the Mimic Tear to defend.
Ash of War: Thops's Barrier collided with it. A terrifying force transferred through her body; it even came with such immense mass! It forced her to forcefully deflect it, and the flying blood-light evaporated the top of a nearby mountain, its power terrifying.
It was Mohg's doing.
The power of that single strike caused this body to be afflicted with cursed contamination and bleed continuously. Regardless of life form, it was a malevolent Blood Curse corroding her.
"Come back. He's mine."
Since Frieren had spoken, she no longer needed to linger in battle. The pale elf quickly descended, filled with a sharp intent, arriving at the rear.
The moment she landed, Melina rushed forward to cast Incantation: Erdtree Heal. This warmth slightly eased the Mimic Tear's worries. Although that fellow was indeed very strong, their side was no pushover either.
"Don't always be so reckless. Frieren, you should tell her too."
"It's good to let her test the enemy. If you don't take a hit, how will you know their strength?"
"That's right, Miss Incantor, don't worry about me. This little injury is nothing."
It seemed both the Mimic Tear and Frieren approved of risking themselves to test the enemy, considering injury as one of the necessary costs, completely unconcerned.
They truly were carved from the same mold.
Melina continued healing without a word. Hoping to change their mindset was impossible; she just had to do her duty. So, she carefully maximized the Incantation's effect, meticulously cleansing the contamination from the injured.
Tremor!
No matter how she used Erdtree Heal, she felt the lingering aura of an Outer God's curse, which was very stubborn. She further mobilized her power, so fiercely that the one-eyed seal faintly crackled.
The overwhelming Erdtree light startled both the Mimic Tear and Frieren, but they ultimately refrained from asking, letting Melina continue.
After a moment, the stubborn gash on her shoulder finally disappeared.
"This isn't the power of the Lands Between. I first dispelled it, then healed. Mohg is now in a state of Outer God possession. Every one of his attacks will carry cursed blood's corrosive nature."
"He'll even grow stronger the more he's injured, the more he bleeds, the more he suffers. Although he should face a price himself, there's no doubt Mohg is prepared to fight to the death."
The silver-haired girl nodded.
The Mimic Tear, meanwhile, flexed its healthy body and exclaimed in wonder, thanking her repeatedly.
Both Mother and Miss Incantor gave her a sense of security. As long as they were together, they were omnipotent. The power of an Outer God to that extent, she had never taken seriously from the beginning; it was merely a stumbling block that would inevitably be annihilated.
"Do you have any other plans?"
After Frieren spoke, she immediately began casting a series of buffing spells: Golden Vow, Inner Potential, Profuse Sweating, and more.
Never mind if the medicine fit the ailment; applying a full set was never an issue.
She mainly activated powers from outside the Lands Between. After all, Mohg might have researched and developed targeted lethality against native systems, so for caution's sake, she stacked her buffs, preparing for the decisive battle.
Not far off, Edgar saw that the three Demigods were already busily preparing, signaling that the war was about to enter its white-hot phase. Now was not the time to hold back.
At his command, the remaining tens of thousands of main forces advanced together onto the road leading up the mountain.
Moongrum and his front-line group swept through them. Thanks to the Mimic Tear breaking the spreading cursed blood, a full-speed charge was possible!
At this moment, they had but one thought, their steps swift, blood boiling, invincible as they cut down foes.
The Mohgwyn Dynasty soldiers attempting to block them fell one after another, becoming stepping stones. They could only watch the Black Sun Fire Ring banner advance step by step up the mountain.
The siege entered its most bloody and brutal phase.
"They absolutely cannot be allowed to advance further!"
Mohg, inside the temple, ordered his subordinates: "At least half their fighting force must be consumed. Unleash all monsters!"
His brief clash with the Mimic Tear made him conclude that the Formless Mother's power was sufficient, boosting his confidence.
If this continued, it would end before Morgott even arrived, allowing him to witness his own victory.
But the Southern Army was truly conspicuous.
The dignified Lord of Blood ought to achieve a victory with full dignity. How could he let the enemy simply sweep straight into the temple headquarters? It would be rather undignified. At the very least, he needed to exhaust their forces. This would also serve his future conquest of the Southern Surface Lands.
As long as he defeated this ranged army, which condensed the essence of three regions, their rear would be easily obtained. He needed to prepare in advance.
Roar!
The unleashed cursed blood monsters roared skyward, full of violence.
They included, but were not limited to, blood-modified versions of Crows, Living Corpses, and Albinaurics. Their muscles bulging, massive in size, they effectively formed a wall when they stood up, and first roared at the Mohgwyn Dynasty soldiers.
The commanding officers, their scalps tingling, quickly ordered: "Send them all onto the inevitable path up the cliff."
The next moment, monsters poured out.
Seeing them roaring and rushing forward, the Sanguine Nobles smiled. These creatures feared no pain and knew no fatigue; they were using their reserve monsters to wear down the first wave of charging troops. As long as they could break their morale, it would be simple...
On the cliff path appeared a squad of pale-white soldiers, their steps steady, their entire bodies glowing, infused with numerous buffing spells.
Spirit Ashes!
"Why are *these* guys charging first?"
No, they were directly summoned to the front lines by Frieren, the Soul of Cinder King, to separate the most berserk monsters from the foremost Carian Knights. The former, caring nothing for reason, launched their attacks with claws bared.
A Blood Crow swooped down but was slammed hard on the head by the Headless Knight's great hammer, its body tumbling into the monster crowd.
The remaining monsters immediately swarmed forward but encountered the resistance of the Greatshield Soldiers.
"What immense strength!"
They couldn't comprehend it. Leaving aside the Headless Knight, why were the other Spirit Ashes in the form of Living Corpses and lightly armored soldiers also incredibly strong, as if they could smash a mountain?
Little did they know, every Spirit Ash warrior had been massively enhanced with Grave Gloveworts.
During the development of the Eternal City, Frieren had been collecting relevant materials, all handed over to Roderika for Spirit Tuning. Supported by vast resources, she effectively "fed" a top-tier Spirit Tuner into existence. The little red-hooded girl's skills grew day by day, and her creations became increasingly powerful.
Now, Frieren had also added "enhancement effective on soul bodies" magic, specifically designed for Spirit Ashes.
Their burst power was sufficient for short durations.
The Spirit Ash Legion numbered barely twenty, but they were no less formidable than a heroic squad. Coupled with their soul body characteristics, they stopped most physical attacks, curbing the ferociously unleashed monster legion.
The two forces fought fiercely, vying for supremacy and clashing, with soldier Spirit Ashes and crow monsters falling at every encounter.
But they firmly held the inevitable path up the cliff.
They didn't let a single enemy charge down, otherwise, with the advantage of the high ground, they could have swept away a large section.
The two sides surprisingly formed a temporary stalemate, leaving the Sanguine Nobles dumbfounded. The imagined suppression of the path did not materialize; instead, it gave the Southern Army a moment for preparation.
Woosh!
A blue sword light rose into the sky. Moongrum, with both hands raised in magic, leaped high, stepping on the Headless Knight's shoulder and soaring upwards, unleashing a strike imbued with the full power of the Carian Head Knight, accompanied by a roar from the depths of his being.
The streaking light surged directly. Where the sword's edge pointed, blood evaporated. The unwilling shrieks of the monsters were drowned out by the whooshing sound.
The full-power strike of a top-tier hero cleared a large area.
Woosh!
A blue sword light rose into the sky. Moongrum, with both hands raised in magic, leaped high, stepping on the Headless Knight's shoulder and soaring upwards, unleashing a strike imbued with the full power of the Carian Head Knight, accompanied by a roar from the depths of his being.
The streaking light surged directly. Where the sword's edge pointed, blood evaporated. The unwilling shrieks of the monsters were drowned out by the whooshing sound.
The full-power strike of a top-tier hero cleared a large area.
Immediately after, Frieren, commanding the Spirit Ash Legion, ordered them to spread out in an arc to guard. Seizing this opportunity, the Southern Army's vanguard entered the summit area. The long siege had finally reached this stage: the first ascent.
They now faced the Sanguine Knights, Sanguine Nobles, and Bloody Fingers, waiting in rigid formation behind the monster horde.
A fierce slaughter was imminent.
______
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