The Demon Race?
Although she didn't know what kind of beings they were, for someone as composed as Frieren to speak the word with such stern anger, it was likely her equivalent of a curse. It was hard to imagine the silver-haired girl swearing.
The camp's squad exchanged glances; it seemed the quasi-king's attitude towards Messmer was leaning towards friendly.
Of course, Witch Melina was also a factor. Love for the house extends to the crows on its roof; in any case, any outsider could see their relationship was that of a family.
The relationships Queen Marika left behind are truly complicated.
"Alright. Many were abandoned in despair and came to blame Messmer. Even if some raised their blades against him, they were only driven out of the Shaded Castle. In truth, we have always considered ourselves part of the crusade army, loyal to the Marshal... It's a pity. We hope Your Majesty will liberate the Land of Shadow."
"To be honest, the Lands Between right now may not be what you expect."
"Yes."
"Then why do you want to go over?"
"Because we believe in the King of Soul Cinder. We believe you will soon reshape the entire Lands Between. Didn't you arrive here by defeating countless powerful foes? That is why we believe in Frieren."
"As you wish. You're not wrong. As long as the key conflicts are resolved, many problems will solve themselves."
"We will surely help spread the word for you. Everyone will know."
The traces of Grace upon the members of the camp squad were more effective than any evidence. One could tell at a glance that this was a special blessing from a new monarch who held the Elden Ring, different from that of the Golden Dynasty.
The traces left by the caster can greatly reflect their character. Clearly, she was tolerant, noble, and powerful.
To set foot in the Land of Shadow is to come and change everything.
"Please accept this Flask of Marika's Blessing. It is a treasure we collected from that cave over there, so Your Majesty won't have to trouble yourself with the trip."
"Thank you."
Frieren carefully examined the long, slender flask, which contained a healing power.
[A special spiritual flask said to have been personally blessed by Queen Marika of the Golden Order]
[Can fully restore HP and cure all abnormal statuses]
[Marika created several flasks for Messmer, but after that, never made them again]
She slightly opened the seal of the golden flask and smelled a clear, refreshing fragrance that was soothing to the heart, containing an astonishing power of blessing. Considering its rarity due to no longer being produced, it couldn't be treated as a consumable item, but it would make for a fine collection piece.
After some thought, she accepted it.
The squad was very grateful. Accepting the gift was also a return gesture for the healing they received. Although it was far from comparable to the help given to them, their sentiment had to be conveyed.
"Since you're the crusade army, do you have any special weapons? Like this Beast's Roar. We can trade."
Her collector's desire piqued, Frieren did some shopping.
They were certainly ancient.
But their strength and design were hardly outstanding. Some of the crusade army's weapons were even tattered and broken. The nearby Mimic Tear unabashedly appraised them as antiques. Long in disrepair, their armaments had fallen into neglect, a shadow of their former glory.
"Your Majesty, on your way to the Tower Town, you will encounter a Royal Grave Evergaol."
"A Gaol Knight is sealed inside. He has a heavy greatsword that fits your requirements and should be worth exploring."
In truth, they didn't understand why a sorcerer would like weapons other than a staff, but there was no harm in having a few quirks.
Hearing this, Frieren's eyes lit up. She nodded her thanks; this information was very useful.
Finally, the two parties bid each other farewell.
The silver-haired girl recalled the Tear lifeform, and with the witch, mounted her Spirit Steed and advanced in the indicated direction.
"Looking again, I've confirmed it. That is the beast that chooses kings."
The captain murmured as he gazed at the departing figures, his tone filled with alarm. That Spirit Steed was no small matter, further confirming the connection between Melina and Marika.
Receiving the acknowledgment of an intelligent beast is a mark of legitimacy in the Lands Between.
A monarch.
The current King of Soul Cinder held half a dynasty, and she hadn't been lying earlier; her bearing was not something that could be cultivated by one who speaks carelessly. But she had indeed avoided one point: as the future Elden Lord, what law have you chosen?
Since it was inconvenient to tell the crusade army, and she wielded the power of the Carian lineage, it must be another law.
Fortunately, Her Majesty was understanding and did not press the issue.
Otherwise, as Knights of Leyndell, it was their duty to eradicate supporters of heretical laws. Wouldn't they have had to meet on the battlefield?
Were they completely opposed?
Not entirely. After all, there were many traces of Marika's direct or indirect influence on Frieren. In the Lands Between, things are always intertwined; it's difficult to determine who is an enemy.
"Forget it. We'll wait for the news to spread and let Lord Messmer decide."
"In his eyes, Frieren is a Tarnished without Grace; a fight is inevitable. If you add the identity of a monarch outside the Golden Order, it will likely be a battle to the death."
"Then we can only wait for them to sort out their grievances."
After a brief discussion, the group decided to first contact the various outposts to at least ensure the intelligence was passed up the chain.
The one thing they were certain of was that the entire Land of Shadow was about to undergo a dramatic change, its tranquility shattered by the waves the King of Soul Cinder was about to make.
Elsewhere.
Riding at full speed, Frieren soon arrived at the Royal Grave Evergaol the Knight of Messmer had mentioned. It was less a building and more of a gaol. Descending the stairs, it grew increasingly dark, and there stood a tall, caped figure in full heavy armor.
Its most iconic feature was the black greatsword slung over its shoulder, its entire body a clean, simple curve, its edge sharp and exposed.
The sword was indeed excellent, but why was this person's mind completely devoid of fluctuations...
Bang!
Before she could think carefully, the other party had already moved. An oppressive aura was released, brimming with killing intent as the Gaol Knight leaped high into the air and brought down a devastating jump attack.
Clang! With a loud crash, the Dark Moon Greatsword collided with it, the force numbing her hand. Fortunately, Frieren had instantly mobilized her attribute-reinforcing power; otherwise, her poise might have been weakened, exposing an opening.
A simple probing move was on par with Lion's Claw.
The ground was split by the sword's energy, bricks and tiles cracking in two. Even the Royal Grave Evergaol's ceiling was gouged with a deep trench.
He immediately followed up with swift attacks. Frieren, intending to test him, reverted to her sorcerer attributes and began to maneuver, deflecting Glintstars that clashed with the greatsword. Explosions rang out frequently, constantly kicking up dust and dispelling the years of accumulated silence.
Strange.
The Gaol Knight behaved like a heartless monster. Not only were its attributes formidable, but its movements were agile, tireless, and fearless of pain. Every move was nothing short of perfect.
"His physical foundation is completely different from the people of the Lands Between. It's filled with an active Grace."
Melina, who had been standing guard on the surface, actively walked down to remind her.
"It is the ancient era, after all."
Although the opponent's assault was ferocious, Frieren moved with ease, even having the time to turn back and chat.
Even the heartless Gaol Knight quickened its movements, unable to resist launching an even fiercer offensive. His opponent was a sorcerer fighting in a confined space; the victor would soon be decided.
However, he had misjudged the silver-haired girl's destructive power.
A fully charged Glintstar boomed, collapsing the ceiling. Light shone down, and the Royal Grave Evergaol that had stood for many years became an open-air pit.
The Royal Grave Evergaol shattered.
In the sky above the graveyard plain, a mushroom-shaped cloud of dust appeared, a blue stardust mixed with rubble. The long-standing structure was pulverized. She actually felt it was a bit of a pity, but it wouldn't have held up anyway.
Because the Gaol Knight's power was also immensely destructive.
He leaped up from the ruins, bringing down another jump attack, crossing a hundred meters in the blink of an eye with boundless might. Yet, Frieren's actions were faster.
Sorcery: Loretta's Greatbow.
Seizing the moment the enemy was airborne, a Glintstone Greatbow materialized, instantly drawn to its fullest without any delay, and the arrow shot forth.
The unexpected move caught the Gaol Knight off guard, and he took the hit squarely. The blow shattered his heavy armor. Thanks to it blocking that fatal shot, he seized the opportunity to roll and dissipate the force, narrowly avoiding death.
That was close. What a powerful strike. For a sorcerer to be so fast.
I was careless! I must focus on a defensive battle.
An ordinary sorcerer would always have weaknesses like wind-ups, charging times, and stationary casting. Yet, none of these applied to the silver-haired girl. She moved as if on wings, with no incantation, no cooldown, and no wind-up. Her magic was all instantaneous.
Frieren's sharp movements and precise judgment showed she was a battle-hardened expert. He had to be careful, or he'd die without knowing how.
And to top it off, there was a one-eyed girl with an equally formidable aura observing from the side.
Pow!
Time waited for no one. Another Glintstar interrupted his thoughts.
The Gaol Knight swung his greatsword to shatter the glintstone, then closed the distance, raising both hands high to condense a white wind pressure.
The sudden change made Frieren raise an eyebrow. This move was immense; for a warrior to be able to charge such an energy attack was a testament to his power. And it had quality. It wasn't something a normal block could handle. She might as well test its mettle.
She switched to the Dark Moon Greatsword, similarly raising it with both hands to charge. The next moment, the cold wave of sword energy clashed violently with the white light.
With a thunderous boom, a shockwave spread out.
Snowflakes fell from the air. The Dark Moon Greatsword had the upper hand. Almost simultaneously, Frieren unleashed a Carian Piercer, its long, thin blade finding the enemy precisely through the mist.
Caught off guard, a small hole was torn in the Gaol Knight's chest.
So fast.
But his reaction was not slow either. He raised a hand to deflect the glintstone blade; otherwise, a little more force would have pierced his heart and decided the battle.
The perilous situation sent a chill down his spine.
But for some reason, a heroic feeling surged within him. Exhilarating. How long had it been since a fight like this, so utterly satisfying? The clash of moves was a pinnacle of skill, spirit, and power. This is how it should be.
The days of being sealed in the Royal Grave Evergaol are over! Even if it costs his life, he would have a proper bout with his opponent.
His movements became faster, white sword energy flowing ceaselessly. His frequency finally matched the rapid-fire Glintstars, even grazing past Frieren, cracking the ground wherever it passed.
Just now, her shoulder armor had scraped; it was the howl of the wind pressure.
Now this is more like it.
The combat power the enemy displayed now was worthy of the magic that had sealed the Royal Grave Evergaol.
So Frieren also began fighting with weapon-based sorceries, subtly suppressing the Gaol Knight with her combat skills. The latter was secretly astonished, not expecting a sorcerer to change their fighting style right in front of him, her experience clearly superior.
He could only rely on the power of his greatsword and the defense of his heavy armor to hold on. He couldn't rush; he needed to find a suitable plan.
Suddenly, a few figures appeared in the distance.
In the direction of the Fire-Kissed Ruins, some black, ash-like shadows glanced over. They were the Charred, attracted by the loud noise, though they had taken on this strange appearance due to being burned by flames.
The silver-haired girl glanced at them, feeling that the lingering aura of fire was very special, more corrosive.
Could it be Messmer's so-called curse-laden serpent flame?
Crescent Moon Slash!
Seizing this opportunity, the Gaol Knight used his full-power weapon skill, striking in an instant, certain it would cause a fatal injury. However, Frieren's movements were far faster than his eyes could follow.
She wasn't looking at the main battlefield, yet she parried with perfect precision. With a crisp clang, the Dark Moon Greatsword stood vertically like a shield, completely blocking the surprise attack.
An attack of this level won't work.
The entire battlefield was within her perception; no movement could escape her. At the same moment she blocked the attack, she advanced with Bloodhound's Finesse, followed by a flurry of Carian Slicer strikes that slashed through the gaps in the Gaol Knight's armor, sending blood splashing.
In Frieren's hands, the slender sword became a deadly, ever-successful weapon.
In an instant, the tables turned, and he stumbled back in a roll to create distance, barely earning a moment to breathe.
Hmph!
The moment he steadied himself, the Gaol Knight suddenly took out a bow. The silver-haired girl, who was about to press her attack, froze for a moment, watching him draw the string.
A flaming arrow came speeding towards her.
The fast and accurate attack forced even her to dodge, sheathing the somewhat cumbersome Dark Moon Greatsword and drawing the nimble Moonveil. But she never expected that to be just the first shot; what followed was an endless volley of arrows.
The flaming arrows surprisingly formed two parallel, thin lines, their numbers astonishing as they assailed her with absolute superiority.
The Gaol Knight was certain this move was enough for a surprise attack.
And it was. Even Frieren's armor was grazed by a few arrows. It was quite a counter-tactic, not very knightly at all, making it hard not to think of a certain famous sword saint who would suddenly pull out a gun.
Pow, pow, pow!
Although the arrow assault was fierce, she flicked them away one by one with Moonveil, parrying with perfect precision, watertight.
She stood her ground, her blade dancing like a paintbrush, its lines flowing like water, her posture light. Every time, she could find the weak point in an arrow's trajectory and shatter it with a single strike. With flicks of her wrist, the ground was soon littered with broken arrows.
The silver-haired girl walked through the blazing fire of the plains.
It was simply divine skill. By the time the round of arrow rain was over, the Gaol Knight was deeply shaken and could only raise his sword again.
"A surprise attack, huh? Then I'll try one too." As soon as she finished speaking, her staff lit up.
Sorcery: Comet Azur!
A torrent of azure energy rushed out without warning. Unprepared, the Gaol Knight's reactions couldn't keep up in the face of a caster whose magic had reached perfection. He just felt a terrifying impact pierce through him, as if a city wall had slammed into his body, shattering all his armor.
The aftershock threw him in an arc, and he crashed down with a boom. He reacted at once, grabbing his greatsword, trying to support his body to stand again.
But Frieren was already upon him, so he had no choice but to roll away to dodge a Glintstar.
They had reached the moment of life and death.
Knowing this, the Gaol Knight unleashed Crescent Moon Slash without reservation. It grazed the girl's face, cutting a few strands of long hair, but couldn't stop her from closing in with the speed of lightning.
Moonveil stabbed down from above, piercing his heart, then flicked up to create a gaping wound.
Hiss!
Even the sturdy armor was sliced into fragments. The knight, of course, instantly lost all signs of life, becoming motionless.
"The people of the Land of Shadow are really tough. There were several times I thought I'd done enough damage, but I still had to land a few more finishing blows."
Frieren sheathed her weapon, lost in thought.
"Are you going to re-evaluate the strength level here?" Melina asked.
"Yes. None of them are easy to deal with."
______
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