Mohg, roaring in fury, staggered back a few steps, enduring the Soul Burn as he unleashed a swarm of bloodflies, buzzing with an eerie hum.
Tiny, they could exploit any vulnerability in an enemy's skin, simultaneously emitting a reeking, sanguine odor that even the knowledgeable Frieren wrinkled her nose at, keeping her distance and dispelling them with fire.
It reminded her of the maggot-infested chambers beneath the church in the Painted World; truly disgusting. Though she was experienced, it didn't mean she wished to revisit such a sight.
Mohg stumbled backward, simultaneously activating the fragmented blessing of the Formless Mother upon himself. Even the agony of his soul was, in a twisted way, a Blessing of Pain, allowing him to endure the damage. At the same time, he began a soul siphon. The scattered souls on the battlefield became the price for resisting the First Flame's burning, allowing him to hold on for a little longer.
"As long as I win this battle and escape, I can still recover."
Another notable point was the Destined Death wielded by Melina. Until now, the Maiden had mostly fought from the rear, primarily using Incantations for support, yet no one underestimated the aura of that Death Rune, whose battle record was truly invaluable. It would surely be used when necessary.
As Mohg pondered, the Mimic Tear, which had been furiously attacking, pressed forward, its Night Magic Blade radiating a chilling aura.
The torment of his soul dulled his senses, preventing him from noticing this stealth assassination targeting mages.
Clang!
At the critical moment, Morgott's cursed sword automatically parried the attack. The Pale Elf's attack failed, and it immediately used Miriam's Vanish, resuming its elusive movements and employing Sorcery: Night Comet, seemingly determined to fully embody the sorcerer assassin's combat style.
Immediately after, Frieren charged forward, Glintblade Phalanxes guarding her flanks, both staves unleashing hands-free magic. Starfall, Sorcery: Adula's Moonblade, Ancient Death Rancor, and other spells continuously sang out, maintaining constant coverage.
Despite being a sorcerer, she dared to confront the attacks of two Demigods head-on, and yet her sheer firepower managed to suppress them. All these attacks were directed at the Formless Mother.
The blood-red giant wailed incessantly, its form forcibly torn apart, its power gradually fading. Mohg had not anticipated that every move Frieren made would carry soul damage, infused with the First Flame's burning power. He found it difficult to maintain his form, only able to preserve a fraction of his remaining Grace for his vicars, as the Outer God's will rapidly dissipated.
A perfect opportunity.
The Formless Mother's fading presence for just an instant allowed the silver-haired girl to seize a critical opening, unleashing a Sorcery: Comet Azur that sent Mohg flying.
The reason she didn't use Soul Stream was to first wear down his combat power; the fatal blow was reserved for Destined Death.
After this attack, she exposed her back.
Pain!
Another staff angrily struck the ground, summoning a Sorcery: Rock Sling that blocked Morgott's sword wave. She cursed silently, realizing that her gravity control had become so precise it could summon specific constructs. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of light: Melina's Incantation: Lightning Spear and the Mimic Tear's Surprise Glintstone Pebble.
He stomped his foot, preparing to dodge, but Frieren delivered a Storm Stomp, fiercely trampling Morgott's Omen tail, freezing it simultaneously.
The momentary delay caused Morgott to miss his chance and be struck by the two spells. With a booming explosion, his smoking, tattered robe vanished rapidly backward, crashing into a cloud of dusty ruins.
The battlefield transformed into a three-on-two.
The Outer God, pursued by Frieren several times, could no longer assist, its disappearance merely a matter of time.
The current situation had Frieren as the main attacker, the one with the greatest fault tolerance and strongest power actively charging forward to close the distance, while her companions provided support. They had never cooperated like this before, yet it felt as if they had fought together for ages.
When Morgott and Mohg finally managed to stand again, they were once more met by a flowing, synchronized assault, seamlessly linked, step by step, each strike leaving a fresh wound on their bodies.
Dreadful.
It was clear that Frieren had moved beyond merely aiming for victory; she sought complete mastery through 'controlled ignition kills' of her enemies.
Perceiving this, they attempted to halt her.
However, they couldn't grasp the silver-haired girl's combat rhythm, as she employed unprecedented moves like Chaos Flame, Soul Crystal Spear, and Angelic Pillars of Light, too numerous to count. Furthermore, with the Mimic Tear performing elusive assassinations and Melina providing rear support, they left no openings.
The decisive moment arrived concerning the Outer God: after about a dozen rounds of struggle, the blood-red phantom shattered, and with it, the Blessing of Blood lost its radiance.
Ugh!
Deprived of the Formless Mother's support, Mohg completely collapsed, his form flickering, eyes burning with residual fire. If not for the Omen Horn retaining a wisp of his essence, he would have been an empty husk by now.
Ironically, his status as a special race allowed him to survive a little longer.
Naturally, another factor was the Demigods' immortality.
Though they seemed utterly defeated on the surface, given enough time, or a chance to escape and recover, they might truly restore themselves. Morgott indeed thought so, already trying to support his brother, preparing to leave. Not even being bathed in the Mimic Tear's Sorcery: Night Comet could make him falter; he was fighting with all he had.
"Melina."
Frieren, standing before them, put away her two staves and jointly held the Dark Moon Greatsword. With her other hand, she grasped the Maiden's delicate hand, upon which the mark of Destined Death appeared. Together, they channeled energy into the Death Rune.
Completely awakened, it exuded a terrifyingly cold aura, making one feel as if bathed in ice, like a blade tracing across their throat, ready to claim a life at any moment.
"We must leave now!" Morgott exclaimed, his face paling.
In his desperation, he was careless and his guard was broken by a Sorcery: Night Comet, causing him to falter and abruptly suffer an execution attack.
Thunk!
The Mimic Tear's sharp sword pierced his chest, a light pull carving open a gushing column of blood. No extra finishing blow was needed; this body was, after all, a clone, with limited endurance against powerful attacks, more fragile than a true Demigod. Wounded to this extent, the body began to disintegrate into particles, the runes that formed its shape gradually dispersing.
He was not only defeated by this devastating blow but also by the prolonged attrition; he could no longer sustain himself, utterly devoid of the strength to resist.
The merciless Night Blade carved open a gash in his body.
Mohg, whom Morgott had just been supporting, coughed and attempted to counterattack. His Blood Claw swiped out but was interrupted by Frieren's Star Shower. She continued to summon the Death Rune while maintaining pressure, an utterly astonishing feat.
Thus, he watched helplessly as the Mimic Tear pierced Morgott's chest, and the figure gradually faded.
It faded like his brother's determined departure from the Royal Capital Underground to face the Coalition of Lords in ancient times. Last time, he chose not to look; this time, he couldn't see clearly, as the Soul Burn had damaged him fundamentally.
"What a pity. I had wanted to invite you to guard my throne. Perhaps it's better for you to remain safely behind Leyndell's walls."
"You are truly foolish, Mohg."
The King of Grace, who could protect Leyndell, was now unable to protect his kin, he thought, turning his head away in sorrow, letting his clone vanish. Far away, in a room within the Capital, a solitary figure grew even deeper in their sorrow and despair, the walls echoing with sighs and regrets.
If even this attempt failed, how many in the world could still halt Frieren's advance?
Mohgwyn Dynasty Temple.
The Mimic Tear put away its staff and turned its head: "No one will affect us anymore."
It was a shame it couldn't inflict more soul damage and truly teach Morgott's true body a lesson. No matter, it would only grow stronger, and then the inhabitants of Leyndell, Royal Capital, would properly experience the might of the King of Night.
The two partners exchanged glances and nodded to each other.
The next moment, Frieren and Melina, jointly holding the mark of Destined Death, stepped forward and plunged it into Mohg's body.
In his final moments, he instinctively resisted, his hands attempting to ward off the sharp edge, but he watched helplessly as the black-red energy flowed in. He felt so powerless, so weary; absolute, silent death would envelop him.
"...Was this how Godwyn felt before he died? You're completely recreating the death of a Demigod, you audacious fools!"
"Your death is incomparable to the impact of the Golden Prince's death."
Frieren showed no mercy.
"If we had continued to guard the Capital, you would never have been able to cross that pass."
"Are you regretting it?"
"Don't get cocky. This body has been completely given over to the Formless Mother. After all, I'm just an Omen, aren't I? Then I'll uphold this curse to the very end! I curse you, I curse this land; my blood will permeate everywhere and contaminate everything!"
Mohg erupted in a roar, filled with indignation, resentment, and fury, echoing throughout the entire dynasty. Even the remaining remnants of his army knew that the war had come to an end.
Gah!
Before he could finish speaking, Melina forcefully plunged Destined Death through his noble body.
The Shardbearer, who had been leaping around moments before, collapsed, his robes torn and covered in dust, his body shattered, blood gushing forth. Even so, he continued to emit a blood curse.
Simultaneously, the Omen Horn continuously absorbed vengeful spirits, roaring. His skeletal head and the Blood Curse resonated with each other from afar, and even when Melina used a Purification Incantation to dispel them, she felt a chilling aura that was difficult to eradicate.
The lingering power of an Outer God was not so easily purged, much like the contamination of the Scarlet Rot Goddess.
"You should retrieve the Great Rune first."
The master of Destined Death needed to safeguard it carefully. So, after using it, Melina quickly moved away, cautiously resealing it, fearing she might harm her companion.
Frieren nodded and extended her hands.
As two Great Runes materialized, Mohg's own Great Rune actively flew towards them, intertwining and piecing together. At that moment, a supreme and majestic mana fluctuation spread outwards.
It far surpassed the combined power of two Elden Ring Shards, reaching the surface gaps where golden light rained down upon Caelid, and illuminating the darkness deep within the Eternal City, warming even the coldest winds.
Concurrently, she felt a massive influx of Runes, the reward for the death of a Demigod.
Whenever a Shardbearer-level Rune absorption occurred, Frieren would "draw" a new module, and this time was no exception.
[New Module Acquired: Infinite Respec]
[No longer will there be any need to run back and forth or consume materials to allocate stats. Respec at any time, anywhere, without cost, allowing for any combination. You can even seize openings in combat to instantly change your build, catching enemies off guard!]
[This module encourages diverse experimentation, allowing for freer allocation of Runes. As the Elden Lord, one should master all builds.]
[Sorcerer? Shield Poke? Bleed? Choose whatever you prefer!]
A huge gain!
Following modules like [Treasure Map], [Auto-Loot], and [Cloud Save], another heavyweight had emerged, proving incredibly useful for managing existing Rune points.
Since the total amount of Runes was insufficient, efficient utilization would still allow for trying out different new builds.
For example, Frieren's last move, the Rock Gravity Sword, could have inflicted Bleed damage, but she had no Runes allocated to Arcane, so she could only rely on brute force. If she had instantly switched to a Bleed build at that moment, Mohg wouldn't even have had a chance to utter a dying word.
[Infinite Respec] was truly a trump card.
If she encountered an unknown powerful enemy, switching builds on the spot, even if her power didn't fundamentally change, would disrupt the enemy's rhythm.
The style of dealing with sorcerers and warriors was, after all, different.
On the surface, Frieren mastered all weapons, but her actual pure warrior style could only primarily rely on blocking. This time, facing Mohg and Morgott, she was stretched thin. Her sorcerer's base stats couldn't keep up with theirs, forcing her to frequently block.
Parrying until her hands went numb.
If her dual-wielding self had respec'd into Bleed on the spot, the fight surely would have ended much faster.
Stepping back, even disregarding its practical combat value, Frieren liked [Infinite Respec] for the ability to try different styles.
She had always been cautious, opting for a specialized sorcerer build, neglecting other attributes. In reality, what others perceived as her warrior style was entirely compensated for by forced technical skill.
The new module allowed for even more advanced maneuvers.
Composing herself, Frieren looked at Mohg's corpse and declared:
"The residual power of the Formless Mother is deeply rooted here. This place is already its and Mohg's domain. We can only consider sealing it. But I'm not good at that; let the Sorcerer Corps handle it, or we'll think of other ways."
"That makes sense. I will cast Purification Incantations here to try and disperse the contamination."
"Mother," the Mimic Tear suggested, "why not use Night Magic to seal off the outside world, isolating the Bloody Dynasty?"
"All good ideas," the silver-haired girl inhaled deeply. "Let's discuss them in detail later. The immediate priority is to fulfill my promise."
She carried three Great Runes to the edge of the cliff.
All eyes were on her.
The Southern Army, having survived successive aftershocks and pursued the defeated, was ecstatic. To personally witness the Soul of Cinder King's triumph was even more thrilling. They had finally won! It had been truly difficult, but no matter what the Bloody Dynasty was, it was still a defeated foe.
"As per our agreement, I shall bestow Grace upon the valiant—"
Frieren's loud proclamation caused everyone to stir, barely daring to believe they would receive new Grace so soon.
Indeed.
After all, the siege battle was far smoother and more efficient than anticipated. The Soul of Cinder King's strategy and immense power forcibly accelerated the process and reduced casualties. Otherwise, by the standards of the Lands Between, it would have taken decades, at most.
They had perhaps jointly witnessed the largest and most efficient annihilation battle.
It was even more significant than the one at Stormveil Castle; this was a severe test of the Southern Army's overall organizational and cooperative capabilities, and everyone had endured it.
The silver-haired girl held up three Great Runes high above her head. Under her master's command, they merged even more closely, already forming a rudimentary Elden Ring.
The shard held by the Queen of the Full Moon was called the "Great Rune of the Unborn" and did not come directly from the main body of the Elden Ring. However, these current shards were all products of Marika shattering the Elden Ring, and their fusion represented a further step towards its completion.
Whoosh!
The re-aggregated Elden Ring Shards emitted a rippling golden aura, dispelling the cursed blood contamination, and the sky cleared. Even the world beneath the false sky regained its light, shining upon all 50,000 soldiers. The next moment, they uniformly knelt and bowed, sincerely exclaiming:
"Praise be to the great Majesty!"
Any other lord would likely have honored their promise, but perhaps not with Frieren's generosity. Every bit of energy within the Elden Ring was precious, yet her choice was straightforward. To use it all for Grace.
From above the mountain, dewdrops fell like spheres, exuding a fragrant, refreshing aroma. Catching them in their palms, they instantly merged into their bodies, a surge of power rising within, and their accumulated injuries and fatigue vanished.
Not only that, they distinctly felt an all-encompassing augmentation.
Ordinary soldiers had already received massive Rune Reinforcements, and now, shaped by the Elden Ring, they became even more formidable, laying the groundwork for future elites.
The foundation of a veteran army had appeared.
The Dragon Cultists felt their Dragon Hearts stabilize further, achieving perfect fusion, indistinguishable from their own. The lingering thoughts of the Dragon's Will gradually calmed. Even they seemed to recognize and accept Frieren's Grace together, deciding to serve her until she ascended to kingship, for their liege was worthy of that throne.
The rejection response of the Grafted Nobles was fundamentally suppressed; this was a transformation blessed and recognized by the Elden Ring.
The Carian Knights exchanged glances, filled with heartfelt emotion and nostalgia. They had once received Grace from the Golden Dynasty, but it couldn't compare to Frieren's generosity. Ultimately, it had to be a king of their own choosing, and there were no longer any burdens between them.
Simultaneously, the silver-haired girl cast another spell: Soul Sanctuary.
The cursed blood whispers that had echoed in their ears vanished, replaced by a profound sense of relief from deep within their hearts.
The prolonged siege battle had been a psychological test, with omnipresent contamination constantly seeking to exploit any weakness. Now, they had been purged by Her Majesty.
After the arduous process of bestowing Grace, Frieren let out a long sigh. The Elden Ring's light gradually dimmed; it wouldn't be usable again for a while, as granting Grace to 50,000 people in one go was no easy feat. Fortunately, her spirit was strong enough, or she would have collapsed into slumber long ago.
"Victory belongs to me, and it belongs to all of you. The Southern Army has achieved unprecedented feats, and this is your deserved reward. I hope we will continue to forge triumphs together."
"Now that the Bloody Dynasty has been completely cleared out, this place will be sealed and managed."
At her loud proclamation, everyone stood up and collectively declared: "We obey Her Majesty's wise judgment."
"Rest."
Frieren's command to rest was also a reprieve for herself, as manipulating the Elden Ring also demanded considerable mental energy. Immediately after a fierce battle, she had cast Grace, a clear act of self-exertion. Fortunately, her spirit was strong enough, or she would have collapsed into slumber long ago.
She slowly sat on a large rock, gazing around for a moment to rest.
The Mimic Tear and Melina stood by, vigilantly watching. Any ill-intentioned approacher would now face their severe retaliation.
In fact, Frieren had the least expenditure and preserved the most combat power, as she had dominated the early phase and remained elusive in the latter, incurring minimal damage.
Melina knelt beside her and suggested: "Do you need me to perform Rune Reinforcement for you? You should recover quickly, and it'll be safer."
"Yes..."
"How should they be allocated specifically?"
"I feel my sorcerer's basic attributes are sufficient. Let's allocate points to Faith, Arcane, and similar stats."
Following the mechanism of the new module, Frieren decided to allocate points to some less-favored options she had previously neglected. Relying entirely on temporary allocations would prove maladaptive and inevitably create openings in combat. Therefore, she should allocate points in advance to test their effects. So, she discussed with Melina reinforcing each of them.
As the Maiden, Melina did not ask further questions, providing her assistance obligingly.
A massive amount of Runes poured in, and the Astrologer's stats continuously climbed. Coupled with the Runes accumulated throughout the entire campaign, her level instantly rose by approximately 25 levels.
In the Lands Between itself, the main account was the fundamental source of combat power. This sense of solidity allowed Frieren to genuinely relax.
Whoosh!
An unconscious aura extended outwards, not targeting any specific individual. It was simply an elevation of her energy tier. At this moment, she stretched her limbs, dispelling all fatigue and impurities, ascending to the peak of her race. Statistically, she had finally stepped out of the Heroic Tier and entered the domain of Divine Beings, an entirely different life tier.
Frieren even felt a part of her elven race growing, an experience she hadn't had in a very long time, truly a rare occurrence.
Returning to reality, her body should undergo subtle changes.
Her true combat power's foundation was her body. Only when the vessel became stronger could she wield powers of different natures; otherwise, rashly channeling them would only lead to self-destruction, a futile effort.
"Mother, look!"
The Mimic Tear, brimming with enthusiasm, created an Ice Mirror, reflecting Frieren's appearance.
The silver-haired girl's skin became increasingly delicate and smooth, her figure subtly elongating, and the radiance in her jade green eyes grew brighter, her presence seemingly more substantial.
"Is this the realm of Divinity?"
"Yes, in the Lands Between, theoretical ascensions are all related to Divinity. It doesn't necessarily have to come from the Golden Lineage, but strong individuals will certainly possess some form of Divinity, manifested in a more perfect physique, formidable will, and a degree of immortality... Although you already possessed it, doesn't it feel different now?"
Melina added with a hint of relief in her eyes: "After all this journey, we have finally reached this realm, possessing greater resistance to erosion and completely unrelated to Hollowing. Boundless time now opens its gates to us."
"Feel it carefully, Frieren. This is the Lands Between's gift."
Upon hearing this, she channeled her mana, and indeed, it was far more pliable than before, allowing her to freely shape, modify, or reinforce spells.
Very convenient.
Previously, she achieved this entirely through technique, but now Frieren felt an instinctive command, as if it were an inherent talent, as natural as eating and drinking. Mana had merged with the essence of her being.
The greatest significance for her was the ability to accommodate higher上限 (upper limit) powers from multiple accounts.
In the Lands Between, she could apply more stats from max-level Chosen Undead accounts onto herself, effectively boosting the value of her trump cards.
In reality, the difficulty of fusing multiple accounts increased. Although compatibility in reality was the strongest, allowing her to simultaneously draw upon the stats of several accounts, as her power increased, it became harder to fuse them together. Forcing it would be no different from suicide; as an elf still in her growth phase, she lacked the necessary physical fortitude.
There were gains and losses.
Frieren had to be extra cautious when activating multiple accounts in reality.
However, the basic stats could nourish her body together, which was also a result, sufficient for dealing with the Demon Race.
Coincidentally, until now, the Sakura Dragon, Ancient God, and First Flame had opposing relationships, with underlying logics that possessed a degree of exclusivity, hindering the compatibility of her powers from progressing.
Yet, the Elden Ring embraced all things.
Its underlying logic was to accommodate various disparate powers, which was precisely what she currently lacked.
As long as she continued to collect more Great Runes, and eventually mastered the complete Elden Ring, she might be able to resolve the life-threatening issues that had plagued Frieren for a long time, at least no longer worrying about the risk of sudden explosions.
In reality, she wasn't actively absorbing them. The key was that these powers were too dangerous; it was better to sacrifice a part of herself to seal them away.
This didn't mean she should wait for the hidden dangers to explode; a solution had to be found.
The Lands Between system was the most inclusive; cultivating the Astrologer was very worthwhile. More Runes were needed, and the most direct method was to enhance the sorcerer character's power.
Coincidentally, the Bloody Dynasty was rich in Runes.
Even after multiple devastations, a large number of Albinaurics still remained.
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