The interlude with the Gaol Knight brought an epiphany to the pair: The Sword-sworn and red spirits they had met upon arriving in the Land of Shadow weren't strong enough. In truth, it was Messmer's soldiers, with whom they hadn't fully engaged, and the Gaol Knight they had just defeated who represented the ancient power.
Potent Runes and Grace still existed in this land. Several texts from The Lands Between had recorded that in an age far more ancient than the Age of Plenty, humans were large and powerful. Not like the Giants who worshipped a god, but a people rich in Runes.
So that's how it was. The Land of Shadow allowed Frieren and Melina a glimpse of the iceberg's tip; the past splendor of the flourishing Erdtree was still harbored here, or perhaps the Scadutree was also bestowing its Grace. They had to re-evaluate their power.
The silver-haired girl pulled out the greatsword stuck in the ground.
[A steel greatsword used by the Gaol Knights. They erased their own hearts through a secret art to elevate their combat abilities to a higher level.]
[Two emblems are carved into the blade—]
[One represents the light of birth, the other represents solitude.]
[Weapon Skill: Lone Moon Slash]
It had no special mechanics, but it certainly lived up to the recommendation of Messmer's soldier. It was a formidable weapon; its weight and sharpness were evident, as she had just witnessed.
Frieren nodded with satisfaction, discovering that the reward also included the Gaol Knight Set. It was rare to be given a complete armor set directly, saving her the trouble of farming for it repeatedly.
Unfortunately, it wasn't her preferred style; it was too cumbersome. Full plate armor didn't suit her usual combat approach.
A sorcerer needed mobility and flexibility; minimal armor was sufficient. In fact, the breastplate, vambraces, and partial tasset she currently wore already constituted a heavy load for her profession. Were it not for the sake of caution, she wouldn't want to be weighed down.
Back in Limgrave, she often wore pure sorcerer's attire. As the level of combat escalated, she had been gearing towards heavier armor; carelessness was not an option.
A moment later. After clearing the battlefield, she looked at Melina, who was gazing into the distance.
"That's the Fire-Kissed Ruins over there, on the required path to the rendezvous point in Tower Town... What a tragic sight. It's completely a scorched ruin."
"From the looks of it, it was first reduced to ruins, then burned again. That's a very particular kind of fire."
"Indeed, it's incompatible with the power of the Erdtree."
"The Lands Between rejects the Fell Flame, considering it a curse. Messmer was probably heavily influenced by public opinion, but he handled the matter of the Horned Folk quite well."
If they hadn't known the story behind it, they might have felt sympathy for the Fire-Kissed Ruins. Now, they shared only one thought: they deserved it. It was vengeance, and righteous vengeance at that. They deserved to be eradicated.
"Didn't you say before that Messmer's work wasn't thorough enough?"
"Yes, after all, with the Land of Shadow being sealed, he couldn't attend to it. It's fine. I'll finish what he started. So how it was handled in the past doesn't matter."
Though she spoke in a relaxed and matter-of-fact tone, Frieren's words carried an air of unquestionable authority. This was a decision.
Her experience as a monarch had influenced her to some degree, but Melina quite liked this feeling.
Sooner or later, they would conquer the Land of Shadow. How many Horned Folk were left, and how much power had they preserved? It didn't matter. They'd best not get too deeply involved in Miquella's schemes. If they remained on the fringes of the conflict, they could be dealt with later. If not, then a thorough purge was necessary.
Even the Lord of Cinder, renowned for his mercy, showed no quarter to the staunchly opposing nobles when he took over Stormveil Castle.
After a brief rest, the two headed straight for the nearby Fire-Kissed Ruins. The moment she set foot in this unfamiliar new area, Frieren activated her modules, refusing to miss any collectibles, hoping they would bring some unexpected gains.
Treasure map, on.
Auto-pickup, on.
Maintaining these two functions, combined with her own perception, ensured at least the scattered collectibles wouldn't be missed. Of course, this high-profile activity also drew the malice of the ruined city's inhabitants, who snarled and bared their claws.
However, their target wasn't Frieren. Their bloated eyes locked onto her companion, and they uttered blurred sounds:
"It's a Witcher... to think there are still Witchers..."
"You should be made into a..."
Whoosh! Before she could act, a golden blade flew past her, spreading across the ground. The wide-area holy damage vaporized the Horned Folk before them.
Turning her head, she saw it was Melina, clutching her Blade of Calling, her brow furrowed in a rare frown.
"Let me help a little. You focus on searching. I'll handle things here."
Frieren nodded and continued her work. Her willingness to love and hate fiercely was part of her charm; those who didn't know their place deserved to be taught a lesson. To be honest, her sense of belonging to the Nox might not be that strong, but for the Horned Folk to harbor malice for that reason alone could only be met with a counterattack.
Whoosh! Suddenly, a puff of ash emerged from the Spirit Calling Bell at her waist. It was the Mimic Tear, appearing of its own accord. It spoke with a look of disgust:
"The Horned Folk have chosen the path of death. They must be purged."
Even she couldn't stand it anymore. How dare they provoke both the Matriarch and the Maiden, and with such talk of processing Witchers? They had crossed a line. Their crime was unforgivable.
"Since you're in the mood, go ahead. It's good to get more experience."
"I'm just bored."
"No, be serious. You might have to become the Elden Lord one day."
Frieren spoke these astonishing words while picking up a Scadutree Fragment. If any members of the Southern Army were present, they would likely bow their heads in salute, praising the confirmation of the heir apparent.
After all, she didn't know if she would journey to another world again after her work in The Lands Between was done; some arrangements had to be made. If she left it to the Mimic Tear, she would have absolute peace of mind, but it needed a bit more training.
Hearing this, the Mimic Tear nodded solemnly. Though often dazed, it could at least feel the high hopes the silver-haired girl had placed in it. It absolutely could not be negligent.
With the Mimic Tear and Melina clearing the way, the enemies in the Fire-Kissed Ruins vanished quickly. Even if they weren't skilled in large-scale magic, dealing with mere mobs was effortless.
As Frieren expected, she had a new harvest:
[Revered Spirit Ash]
[Can enhance the damage reduction of Spirit Ashes and the Spirit Steed, limited to the Land of Shadow.]
So it's another form of blessing level? It seems complicated on the surface, but it's really just a buff.
She used it immediately, but the Mimic Tear reported no change other than feeling the seal weaken, as it had long surpassed the level of ordinary Spirit Ashes.
She'd just consider it a way to keep Torrent safer. After all, it also existed in a spirit form, and it would be a shame if it suffered heavy damage and needed repairs. The Land of Shadow was perilous; she couldn't let her long-time companion mount suddenly meet an untimely end. It was an important member of the team.
"So I have to collect both Revered Spirit Ashes and Scadutree Fragments..."
Frieren grew a little impatient, wishing she could quickly resolve the seal separating the two lands. She couldn't help but look towards the majestic Scadutree.
Would she need to burn it?
Frieren was now seeing it more and more clearly: the seal isolating the continent had a crucial anchor point: the Scadutree.
Theoretically, burning it down would naturally lift the restriction. But the consequences were unpredictable; it was just speculation. Moreover, what powers in the world could destroy such a colossus? It was certainly not as grand as the Erdtree, but it wasn't something that could be easily destroyed either.
She had a few methods, but they came with the risk of losing control.
After a few lightning-fast thoughts, she dismissed the idea. She'd deal with it later. Once the investigation was complete, she would naturally know what to do.
The silver-haired girl continued to wander through the ruins. After a full circuit, the small items were auto-collected, and the treasure map guided her to a gap between houses on the upper level.
[Kaishaku Dagger]
[A dagger with a short, curved, bloodstained blade, no longer usable as a weapon.]
[Increases attack power after landing a critical hit.]
[An item used by the Horned Folk to grant release to their suffering kin.]
[After taking many lives, the blade is chipped and carries a faint, sinister aura.]
A talisman? Frieren, who hadn't collected a talisman treasure in a long time, carefully held it up. A few casual swings confirmed it couldn't be used as a weapon; it was light and twisted. Its enhancing effect was also mediocre, limited to attack power after a critical hit.
Who needs your buff? If I can land a critical hit, I'm not lacking in damage. Besides, there are always better choices for a precious talisman slot.
The talisman contributed by the Horned Folk was too ordinary. Other than that, they hadn't left anything particularly good, which was inevitably disappointing.
But on second thought, what high-value items could there be in the Fire-Kissed Ruins? Even if anything was left, it would have been destroyed over the long years, or simply taken by the Holy War Army as spoils.
It was all too common for warriors in The Lands Between to claim their own spoils, especially when the opponent was a complete loser.
Meanwhile. The Mimic Tear, having had a satisfying fight, was no longer content with just hunting the stragglers in the main ruins. It even wandered around the periphery, entering a small grotto and dealing with those hiding inside as well.
After a while, it returned with a wide scroll.
"Matriarch, I have a new discovery here. The Horned Folk have decent artistic taste."
The pale elf unrolled a painting, which depicted a towering structure soaring into the clouds, gleaming brilliantly under the illumination of a golden light.
Built in a style dominated by arched gates, it was magnificent and grand, filled with a sense of sanctity. Combined with its posture of monopolizing the light of Grace, it also exuded an inexplicable sense of oppression.
"Tower of the Gods"
Ancient script was written on the back of the painting.
Melina explained: "It should be the work of a wandering painter. It doesn't look like the style of the Horned Folk; it's different from the murals and carvings in the ruins. But it is indeed a realistic painting, so its content is worth referencing. The residents might have collected it out of simple nostalgia."
"I don't know much about art. In short, are you saying this painting the Mimic Tear found is a scene from somewhere in the Land of Shadow?"
"Yes, and it's most likely a product from before the sealing, perhaps even a record of that very moment."
"That's right, I can feel a faint soul."
Frieren gently touched the painting. What appeared to be pigment was actually mixed with a trace of a soul's aura. The painter had depicted it when the Land of Shadow was sealed.
A pity. If the soul reaction within was strong enough, she could have asked it some questions, but it had worn away.
She accepted the spoils of war from the Mimic Tear. She had collected similar paintings in The Lands Between, especially as a quasi-monarch who often received various works of art like portraits and religious paintings.
Normally she would just pile them up, but this painting had some intelligence value, so she would store it for now.
The three of them continued their search. Or rather, the Mimic Tear and Melina remained on alert after clearing out the enemies, while Frieren was engrossed in exploration, trying out any collectible that wasn't junk.
The silver-haired girl's figure moved back and forth among the broken bricks and tiles, bringing a hint of life to the land that had been sealed for years. With her teammates standing guard, she could focus more on treasure hunting.
However, the remaining two soon discovered that there was no such thing as a free lunch.
BOOM!
It had been hard not to notice a giant Wicker Man striding in the distance, just as Leda had described, but they hadn't expected it to be so large. It could probably crush a Flying Dragon with a single step.
Its entire body was woven from thick, sturdy wicker, though it had the texture of steel. Trickles of fire maintained the forging and strengthening of its body.
One step created a crater. It crossed the ruins in a single stride and was now heading this way at a great pace.
Sensing the unusual aura, it subconsciously came to investigate. After all, its implanted commands were similar to a golem's; it would act as soon as new enemies appeared.
Its footsteps were like an earthquake.
Seeing that a confrontation was unavoidable, Melina and the Mimic Tear braced themselves.
At this moment, Frieren, having finished her search, walked to the entrance and looked out, murmuring, "That's a big one. I've always wanted the manufacturing technology for the Caelid Golems, but unfortunately, they're one-of-a-kind. I wonder about this Wicker Man? Can it be mass-produced?"
"We should be considering its threat right now."
"Melina, although it looks very sturdy, the weak point of a body maintained by magic is its head."
"Ordinary people can't exploit that weakness. Be careful—"
WHOOSH!
Before she could finish, the Wicker Man bent down, and the huge torch on its head suddenly spewed flames. The diameter was so large it was clearly a horizontal fire tornado, providing all-encompassing coverage that was difficult to dodge.
Adula's Moonblade clashed with it head-on, its frosty aura blasting outward fiercely. Frieren's reaction was faster than anyone's, and the magic she released was powerful enough to contend with it, firmly holding back the fire tornado's shockwave.
A light rain began to fall from the sky, a trace of the mighty power.
One exchange was enough to gauge its depth. The three exchanged glances, each raising their assessment of the Wicker Man.
It wasn't just about raw strength, but its large size, high poise, and long-range, wide-area damage gave it a significant advantage. Brute force often works wonders.
For those not at the Demigod level, advantages stemming from factors like size and magic properties are indeed difficult to deal with. For example, golems always shine in warfare. In a sense, the Wicker Man was a creation of the Furnace Golems.
"It's a bit hot," the Mimic Tear said, touching the flames and exclaiming, "It's the fire of a Flying Dragon's breath!"
Melina asserted, "There are Flying Dragon skeletons on the torch, no doubt about it. It must have burned many Flying Dragon corpses for fuel in the past and cultivated its own flame. Don't let your guard down."
"A clever method."
After expressing her admiration, Frieren whistled to summon her Spirit Steed.
"Mimic Tear, come back. You'll ride with me. We can't outrun it on foot. We need to start mobile combat."
At her words, the pale elf dissolved into a pile of ash. At the same time, Melina grabbed the silver-haired girl's hand and pulled herself onto the saddle. Torrent immediately let out a spirited neigh.
They galloped at full speed like a gust of wind. In close pursuit was the Wicker Man's great fire whirlwind, like a disaster erupting from a volcano.
BOOM!
The flame tornado grazed past the horse's hooves; fortunately, Torrent made a timely double jump to evade it. The two passengers on its back also felt a violent jolt as a wave of heat swept past their cheeks. It was dragonflame of a considerably high temperature. For an ordinary caster to release such a spell might drain their magic, but the Wicker Man, with its large size and high magic reserves, could afford to be extravagant.
After its two consecutive attacks missed, it simply stood up again and gave chase to the Spirit Steed with great strides. Even if its opponent was small and agile, it had no intention of letting them escape.
A rumbling vibration echoed. The sound of the relentless pursuit put a hint of pressure on Melina.
Not being skilled in heavy offense, she found this kind of enemy rather troublesome. Putting herself in that position, she could only think of whittling it down slowly.
Fortunately, one person was definitely skilled at it.
As Frieren spurred her horse on, she raised her staff, condensing Gravity Magic. The terrifying purple-white energy stirred up a howling gale; it had been accumulating for a long time. Once released, its power would be unimaginable.
Anyone familiar with her style knew she wouldn't cast this spell quickly; she would test the waters first. She charged the Gravity Magic while simultaneously casting Glintstone Sorcery.
A technique that would seem miraculous to an ordinary sorcerer was commonplace for the Lord of Cinder; she was fully capable of dual-casting, casting opposing attributes, and maintaining spells with her bare hands.
Incantation: Pest Threads!
Countless thin white threads flew towards the Wicker Man. This multi-hit ability was perfect for large targets. As expected, the ability from the Kindred of Rot hit the massive body and dealt full, continuous damage.
Unfortunately, the giant golem only swayed slightly. It did stumble, but it ultimately steadied itself without losing balance, and its imposing aura remained unchanged.
If it were a creature of mere flesh and blood, it would have been covered in wounds by now, perhaps even on the brink of death. After all, Frieren hadn't held back, reaching the peak damage that Shard Spiral could achieve.
This showed that the Wicker Man possessed a formidable "physique" that was difficult to break through. This was directly reflected in its poise, resistances, and health. No wonder the Horned Folk were so brutally tormented back then. It was truly a top-tier weapon of war.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Wicker Man's massive torch head emitted black smoke, seemingly in rhythm with its steps as it chased them ever faster.
Frieren used the same trick again. Pest Threads slowly accumulated damage while she charged her ultimate Gravity Magic, carefully observing the golem's weaknesses during this time. She hadn't found anything special yet, but that was also good news; it would be boring if its weaknesses were too easy to find.
If she had to point something out, it would be that its feet were slightly weaker. So she immediately changed her strategy, using a fully charged Great Glintstone Shard to blast the Wicker Man's heels. The powerful magical fluctuation and mass made its steps unsteady.
"ROAR!"
Though it was a golem, it let out an angry roar, and even the face on its torch twisted. The corpses and souls burning in the flames constantly emitted resentment. The smoke grew darker and greyer, all of it staring at Frieren with hatred, wishing to flay her alive and burn her to ashes.
It was aware that it was being kited; even the dullest golem would understand what was happening.
"It's behaving like a normal living creature," Melina murmured.
"Yes, there's a soul reaction."
"It's less its own and more from its fuel. There are auras of Horned Folk, Flying Dragons, animals, and even soldiers..."
"The Wicker Man must also function as an incinerator."
Frieren had been puzzled by one thing before: why did a massive Holy War that destroyed a civilization not leave behind many corpses? Compared to the Eternal City, where a large number of bodies were deposited in the ant caves, it showed the extent of the pillaging back then.
Yet the Horned Folk civilization was clean. The bodies were probably disposed of uniformly; after all, the Erdtree would not spare such an ill-omened existence that could absorb souls.
Dismissing her thoughts, she focused on the Wicker Man's movements as the distance between them gradually shortened.
Fire tornado!
One trick to rule them all. This time, combined with its close range and large size, it was incredibly powerful, enveloping the Spirit Steed in one go. The flames vaporized the ground, and a mushroom cloud of black smoke obscured their vision.
However, it watched as the flames curved in a circle and dissipated on their own. It didn't know that Frieren possessed numerous fire spells.
The ones she could cast instantly included Hellfire, Chaos Flame, the Fell God's Flame, and Death's Ghostflame. It wasn't difficult to redirect the flames with magic of the same attribute, and she effortlessly neutralized the attack.
The Wicker Man roared with fury. The resentful souls in the black smoke shrieked and cried, once again quickening their pace.
Sitting behind, Melina faced this resentment head-on, but she felt completely secure, confident that Frieren's strength was more than enough to handle it.
The golem even kicked up a massive rock like a catapult. The Spirit Steed nimbly dodged it.
The chase took on a playful aspect. The Wicker Man behind pursued furiously but always missed. The movement of that massive body was like a landmark swaying erratically. Both Messmer's soldier patrols and Miquella's blessed followers saw it.
Who? The Holy War Army couldn't be sure if the golem had lost control; it was hard to imagine who could be toying with it.
Leda's group guessed that the Lord of Cinder was actively probing the monster. Only she had both the leisure and the strength to repeatedly dodge the Wicker Man. An ordinary person would have lost their life several times over by now.
Suddenly, they all saw a cloud of purple dust rise, unleashing a gravitational ripple around the Furnace Golem—
Weapon Skill: Nebula.
The multi-hit gravitational shockwaves distorted its form, shattering the wicker on its surface. In an instant, several chunks were missing, and it was about to fall.
Astel's gravity magic was even more potent in Frieren's hands. Just as the golem managed to regain a sliver of balance, another gravity blade pierced through its body, exploding mid-air into a burst of fire and charred corpses.
Fast, precise, and ruthless. Once she attacked, she aimed to destroy the enemy.
"It seems that's the extent of your abilities," the silver-haired girl said with regret. "Out of my way."
Along with her words came a volley of six large meteorites, slamming into the Wicker Man's body with a thunderous crash. The concussive blast left one's ears ringing, and the target fell heavily to the ground.
THUD!
The dull thud left the distant observers dumbfounded. That fast? It was as if they had seen an impatient caster finish off an enemy with a single combo. Once she confirmed the target had no special tricks, she mercilessly struck it down. The mighty Furnace Golem became a lamb to the slaughter, its poise broken and its weak point exposed.
Frieren spurred her horse into a gallop while switching to the Dark Moon Greatsword. As she reached the Wicker Man's torch-face, she leaped up from Torrent's back and drove the blade through for an execution.
Strength from a full stat spread. At that moment, the extreme size difference had no bearing on the outcome. The petite, silver-haired girl's execution moved the tower-like monster's body, and a single strike sent wicker flying as it disintegrated.
It lost all signs of life without a doubt. It proved that with the right method, it could be defeated quickly, especially since it was acting alone without army support, leaving it full of weaknesses.
The monster blocking their path had vanished, and the way forward was clear.
As she sheathed her sword and observed, she noticed a point of light. The treasure map was reacting.
____
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