She dared to make this decision because Frieren and Melina were always paying attention to the advice left on the ground.
One of them indicated that a map fragment was just ahead. It had been a while; since becoming a shardbearer monarch, the part where she personally collected maps had become a rarity.
The small team set aside their unease and advanced quickly.
After seeing the great lantern-headed creature from a distance, they were certain this land was filled with dangerous beings that could not be underestimated, making intelligence all the more crucial. If they still hoped to simply rush to Midra Manor and clear the area, they would likely pay a heavy price.
Before the stele.
Melina took out her scroll, a rare action for her these days, and carefully traced the map engraved upon it. Only then did they finally know their location.
"We are now in front of a ruined church, where we can temporarily rest our feet."
"Heading south does indeed lead to the manor, so our general direction is correct... Valleybottom Forest must have once been very prosperous, but it has become a desolate ruin. I wonder if you'll be able to restore it someday?"
She looked toward the silver-haired girl, who took out two Scadutree Fragments and had just applied a blessing to herself.
Frieren pondered for a moment before speaking frankly:
"It's difficult. The Frenzied Flame has been rooted here for too long. However, I have experience restoring Caelid, so fixing this valley shouldn't be a problem; its area is smaller than that eroded by the scarlet rot. But not now. I need to prepare properly, and at the very least, eliminate the source of the contamination first."
"Miss Witch, is there any information about the Lord of Frenzied Flame recorded on it?"
"No, but from past records, this was just a quiet forest inhabited by people who secluded themselves to pursue knowledge. How did it get involved with the Frenzied Flame?"
"Shabriri was merely a proselytizer in the past. The criteria the Outer God of Frenzied Flame uses for its corruption are likely very unique," the silver-haired girl replied.
It was common knowledge that Outer Gods loved to stir up trouble.
She continued to explore the other corners of the ruined church, and as guided by the treasure map, she unsurprisingly made a new discovery:
[Frenzied Flame Perfume Bottle]
[A weapon held by the Perfumers of the Land of Shadow.]
[A modified perfume bottle used as a weapon. When swung, it releases aromatic powder, forming the Frenzied Flame.]
[In search of new aromatics and gardens, the Perfumers embarked on a journey.]
[This is true of Perfumers everywhere.]
Finding a perfume bottle with Frenzied Flame properties in Valleybottom Forest was reasonable enough. However, the special characteristic of this weapon was that it had to be used in conjunction with Spark Aromatic, which didn't align with Frieren's fighting style.
A pity.
Its attribute scaling looked quite good, and its power was decent when she tested it casually. It would surely be even more terrifying if she found the right aromatics.
As she suspected, even the usually chaotic and inconsistent player advice was unanimous on this:
[A super weapon that has surpassed wheelchairs and ambulances.]
[This is too absurd. Paired with the Hefty Spark Aromatic, it deals multi-hit damage from a single attack. You don't even need buffs to watch health bars melt. This isn't about power; it's a design flaw.]
[Enjoy it while it lasts. Use it first to be king.]
[Just when I thought the Bloodfiend's Arm was already a wheelchair, now there's an electric wheelchair. It's definitely going to get nerfed, so I'll use you to clear the game first and mercilessly beat you stat-bloated freaks.]
[For the Land of Shadow, rampant with high-poise stat-monsters, one should use even more violent weapons.]
[Excellent! After being beaten down for two days, I finally found it. Use it quickly, sooner or later the Frenzied Flame Perfume Bottle will become a relic of a bygone era.]
[You guys started it.]
[I never thought the Perfumer build would become popular this way. I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but it's better than being ignored.]
[I blasted my way through the game with it. Mainly because I didn't want to use a shield, which feels like a dishonorable win. The perfume bottle is still better; just keep throwing ash, and you win before you know it.]
[You yourself said "throwing ash," how is that honorable?]
[Against cheesy enemies, one must use even cheesier weapons. The psychological trauma from the Land of Shadow is all healed. Time to kill you all for another playthrough to feel good. Hehe, I must win.]
[Elden Lord: Since you have shown your monstrous nature, I shall greet you with a wheelchair.]
[Just as I was feeling smug, I ran into the unbeatable Untouchable Old Man up ahead. What an astonishing old man, I can't even get a parry on him.]
[I'm going to revert my game version to this patch...]
The difficulty of the Land of Shadow certainly drew a lot of complaints from everyone, so choosing more pragmatic weapons was only natural.
Frieren tested the perfume bottle for a moment before setting her interest aside. It was really not her style and had little to do with her own attribute build, so she decided to just keep it as a collectible. As a weapon that dominated an era, it had commemorative value.
She turned to look at her companions. The Mimic Tear was guarding the surroundings, appearing particularly sharp, perhaps due to its spiritual nature.
Melina, on the other hand, was examining any inscriptions or carvings in the ruined church.
"How is it?"
"In the past, this was just a common Omen faith church. It was abandoned after the Frenzied Flame disaster and, over time, became what it is now. Some Omen must have taken refuge here during that time, like the Executioners. It's remarkable they can still move about."
"They probably came to monitor the situation. After all, the Omen are responsible for the birth of the Lord of Frenzied Flame."
"You seemed to be meditating for a while. Did you learn anything?"
"That big-lantern-headed, many-eyed monster is called the Untouchable Old Man. It seems you have to parry it, but I'm not sure about the specifics. We should encounter it again up ahead."
The Mimic Tear chimed in, "I'll go scout ahead and test it out later."
However, it was met with doubtful looks from its two elders. This child was usually reckless in a fight; could it handle a gimmicky enemy?
"It's not that I insist on taking risks, but one of you is a proxy maiden with Marika's seal, and the other has all sorts of hidden issues. What if the Frenzied Flame causes some complications for you?"
"Alright then."
"She's right. Besides, I can recall her with the Spirit Calling Bell at any time, and I have plenty of ways to heal her soul."
Frieren gave the final command.
The only plan now was to let the Mimic Tear, with the highest margin for error, test the waters. Although not as strong as the other two, it was at least a demigod-level creation with sufficient stats. Thus, it took the lead as they advanced toward the manor.
With Melina constantly correcting their course based on the map, their progress was much smoother than before.
The guide led from the middle, while Frieren guarded the rear, maintaining her maximum range of psionic perception.
The three-person team coordinated seamlessly, each performing their duty, growing more proficient. They stayed within a distance where they could support each other at any moment, allowing for quick reactions to any sudden situations. Even in the bizarre valley thick with Frenzied Flame, their path was unobstructed.
They traveled a great distance this way. Besides the occasional sound of stepping on leaves and branches, there was no other movement. It was deathly silent.
It's here.
Frieren gestured for silence to the others who had turned back.
Although she was at the rear of the group, her super-wide-range perception was the first to detect the obstacle. Following the direction the silver-haired girl pointed, there was indeed the hunched back of a figure on patrol.
The great lantern—no, it should be called the Untouchable Old Man now—was looking around. It was on the only path to the manor.
It seemed to have an intuition for detecting opponents as well.
How sharp.
Crouching low, Melina and the Mimic Tear's hearts tensed. They couldn't help but feel thankful for Frieren's exceptional perception; otherwise, not discovering the Untouchable Old Man in advance would have been dangerous.
Although they hadn't fought it yet and had very little intelligence, the dense aura of Frenzied Flame was unmistakable.
Just its release was enough to give them a hard time.
In terms of raw power, what place in the Lands Between could make three demigods so timid? The main issue was that the Frenzied Flame was too bizarre and happened to be a direct counter to them, so they had to be cautious.
"Shall I go test it?" The White Maiden rubbed her hands together, getting ready.
However, she still looked to the other two for their opinion. Melina looked at Frieren, who pondered for a moment.
"Use the advantage of your Night sorcery to sneak up for a backstab. If you fail, run immediately. Don't use your legs, teleport. Also, I suspect the Untouchable Old Man deals magic damage, so Melina, you give her a layer of protection. I'll be the backup, ready to support at any time."
"Alright."
As they replied in unison, a Barrier of Gold enveloped the Mimic Tear.
She immediately set off with silent steps.
Though the child usually acted rashly, her stealth operations were as smooth as flowing water. She quickly reached a position behind the Untouchable Old Man. Just a step away, ready to strike at any moment.
The target was still wandering around cluelessly, unaware of the blade of Night sorcery at its back.
The Mimic Tear gathered its strength for a moment and then lunged forward.
Whoosh!
The sharp blade passed through its body as if through air. It seemed to be in some kind of ethereal soul form. The three observing this all frowned.
Having failed her attack, she quickly stepped back to prepare a teleportation spell, but the Untouchable Old Man was faster. It lunged forward, grabbed her with both hands, and delivered a throw, unleashing a mad torrent of Frenzied Flame energy.
Wisps of flame erupted from the Mimic Tear's eyes as it collapsed with a thud.
But the next moment, Miriam's Vanishing spell enveloped its body, and in the blink of an eye, it reappeared several dozen meters away. Even after taking a direct Frenzied Flame throw, it hadn't lost its ability to fight.
"It's magic damage! A spell! It can be mitigated!"
She shouted while continuously teleporting, yet the Untouchable Old Man's speed actually kept up with her teleports. The two of them flickered back and forth.
It was clear the Mimic Tear was attempting a parry, but it couldn't find the opportunity. Right in front of its two elders, it took another solid throw, looking utterly disheveled. The situation turned into a stalemate where neither side could quickly finish the other.
Carian Retaliation!
Suddenly, Frieren intercepted them, swinging out a deep blue ripple that precisely parried the Untouchable Old Man, causing it to stagger and slip.
At the same time, the Mimic Tear thrust its blade forward.
Then, the silver-haired girl stepped in to finish it off, turning it to ash on the spot.
Their coordination was flawless. One entered the fray without any warning yet seized the perfect moment; the other could perfectly synchronize with a teammate for a joint execution.
"Are you alright?"
The Mimic Tear was enveloped in an aura of Frenzied Flame, so Frieren and Melina rushed forward, freely bestowing various healing spells upon it. They finally managed to forcefully lower the madness status effect, which could have otherwise led to a rampage.
A moment later, the patient let out a long sigh of relief, stretched, put her hands on her hips, and announced, "I'm fine now."
"Your parry technique is too poor. You should practice it; it's useful in many situations."
"My apologies, Mother. I'll work on it."
Her pathetic performance just now made her scratch her head in embarrassment. Although she had taken several hits, it was actually quite dangerous. If the infection had become too severe and she had entered a berserk state, it would have been difficult to handle.
"You don't have to blame yourself too much. I would have recalled the ashes and healed you at the critical moment. I'll take over the scouting from now on. Don't be too reckless."
"Then you'll be the one facing danger. Miss Witch has Marika's seal, I'm an ash creation... in the end, aren't you the most targeted, Mother?"
"I'll be on guard."
Frieren had long anticipated this situation. Ultimately, the strongest had to clear the path.
The two looked at each other and had no choice but to change their formation again.
Safety and risk coexisted. If a quasi-king level powerhouse were to be infected by the Frenzied Flame and go mad, no one would be able to stop them. Wouldn't that create a second Vyke? No, she would be even worse. It was truly unsettling.
Fortunately, the rest of the way was smooth sailing. Under Frieren's lead, another Untouchable Old Man was eliminated.
Unlike the grape she had obtained before, this was a new talisman she hadn't seen in a long time: its appearance was that of a monstrous statue, cool to the touch in her palm.
[Old Man's Exultation]
[Its appearance is like a ripe grape.]
[A talisman crafted in the likeness of the Untouchable Old Man's exultant madness.]
[Raises attack power when a nearby character succumbs to madness.]
[We shall, for the sake of the King, offer up madness. Let everyone have a grape, and let everyone's grape ripen!]
Even its description was maddening. It had to be used with a Frenzied Flame build, something Frieren would avoid at all costs. It was even less useful than the pestilence talisman she had encountered before. She stored it away; at any rate, it was one more item collected.
Who knows how much time had passed...
In the sunless forest covered in the ash of Frenzied Flame, no one could tell the passage of time, but it felt like no more than three days. The exact duration was unclear.
Relying on their demigod constitutions, they advanced without rest. Besides, the valley was hardly an environment for resting. So, regardless of day or night, the team kept trekking, their pace growing faster and faster.
As their proficiency increased, they could clear out monsters along the way without delaying their journey.
Although they lacked the speed of the spectral steed, a demigod's stamina was not to be underestimated.
In Valleybottom Forest, what was needed most was endurance, combat power, and magical experience. Several times, they were on the brink of madness, only to be pulled back by incantations and sorcery. They faced danger but emerged unscathed.
The Mimic Tear could finally parry the Old Man.
With two top-tier sorcerers and incantation users providing full logistical support for trial and error, it was hard not to grow stronger.
Another half day passed.
The path ahead gradually widened, the giant trees on either side receding into the distance. It seemed an open area was about to appear. And indeed it was. At that moment, Frieren gestured a warning: there was a suspicious life signature.
In an environment like Valleybottom Forest, a life signature was basically synonymous with an enemy.
Over the past few days, they had also encountered Executioners. They had hoped to communicate, but in the end, they were still forced to fight. The land infected by the Frenzied Flame was thoroughly dead. This was a clear indication that the world of chaos advocated by the followers of the Frenzied Flame was unacceptable.
"We're almost at the manor."
Melina put away her map and solemnly warned, "No one knows what's inside, but I can feel the Frenzied Flame gathering."
Theoretically, this period of time should have been enough for them to leave the forest, but they absolutely could not let it be.
The Mimic Tear took the lead again, and Frieren returned to the rear guard position. She and Melina together used protective buffs to augment the vanguard, whose aura continuously rose. This was a tactical formation specifically for dealing with the Frenzied Flame. They were ready.
The three continued forward with full concentration. After passing a large boulder, they finally saw the manor.
A great house!
They had originally thought it was a small cabin, but what came into view was an area comparable to a small castle, nestled in the quiet valley forest. One could imagine that years ago, when the vegetation was lush, with a waterfall at its back and a clear stream flowing by, it must have been a poetic and picturesque scene.
Unfortunately, today only a charred blackness remained. Luckily, it had maintained its basic architectural integrity, looking like a silent, dark beast in the abyss.
Even stranger, there was a row of odd figures standing in front of the courtyard.
The Mimic Tear was now covered in buffs, and with the continuous support of two top-tier assistants, its confidence soared. It immediately strode forward with great purpose. Duty called; stepping into a trap was a gain.
However, when they saw clearly, a chill ran down their spines. It was a row of headless corpses, their hands bound, kneeling on the ground, facing the direction of guests.
"Is that what a human spinal column cross-section looks like?"
Frieren pointed at the bodies. A section of bright yellow material protruded from the neck stump of each one.
From a distance, they had thought it was the eyes of some beast, or the Frenzied Flame itself, but they never expected it to be so bizarre.
Melina knelt on the ground to observe carefully, simultaneously using a Golden Order incantation to investigate. Her extensive knowledge of the Lands Between was greatly diminished in the Land of Shadow, but there were always commonalities.
A moment later, she murmured, "This glowing substance is metal."
"We are standing in an execution ground. They were all killed to serve as a warning... no, it must have been a massacre of the entire household, including the whole manor."
The three couldn't help but look at the black building together. It now carried an extra layer of dread, as if countless spiritual wills remained, watching them. It was clearly a place of burning flames, yet only a chilling cold remained.
"Were the killers Omen?"
The Mimic Tear circled the remains of the executed and finally came to a hypothesis.
"It should be." Frieren nodded. "This was an organized slaughter, carried out cleanly, efficiently, and meticulously. And it wasn't a simple killing..."
The other two looked puzzled as they witnessed the silver-haired girl cast a touch of Omen spirit-calling magic, revealing a horrifying scene before them:
The headless corpses actually twitched slightly, as if coming back to life.
"As I thought. They aren't completely dead. After being deeply infected by the Frenzied Flame, they still have the potential to resurrect as monsters. The metal object in their neck stumps is a kind of sealing material, which can actually suppress the Frenzied Flame. Doesn't it seem a bit like the Unalloyed Gold Needle?"
"I certainly didn't expect that. Could the principle be the same as what suppresses Millicent's condition?"
"We'll only know after studying it, but I guess it could be forged into a weapon. Since it can seal, it must also have the property of detonating a target's energy."
"Wouldn't that be very dangerous?"
"Yes, so we need to be mentally prepared."
As her voice fell, she gave the Mimic Tear a look. It immediately understood it was time to take the lead and strode forward.
The main gate of the manor was very thick, seemingly reinforced. The arched shape gave off a sense of pressure, as if countless gazes were fixed on them from the other side, giving them goosebumps.
Clang!
The White Maiden pushed the gate with both hands and strode across the threshold with a swagger. She looked around; the place was empty, with scorched marks everywhere. The ground was uneven, and it was impossible to tell what the debris was from.
Continuing up the steps, spiderwebs were densely spun, having become a peculiar form of decoration.
It had been in ruins for a very long time, spanning unknown ages. One thing was certain: since the Omen were indirectly responsible, it must have happened before the holy war, a history even more distant than the sealing of the Land of Shadow.
To be cautious, the Mimic Tear even took out its Brass Shield.
Its current mission was not to fight, but to test for errors with its life, especially to be wary of the enemy's special mechanics.
The three looked towards the reception hall.
Countless books were scattered on the floor, with paintings and door couplets beside them. Above, a second-floor railing overlooked the area. In the very center stood a white spirit, one hand placed on its chest in a polite posture, exuding the air of a servant.
"Do not approach... Do not approach the madness."
Oh, uninvited guest, welcome.
"Please, heed my master, Midra's, warning: Do not approach the madness."
If they touched the white spirit again, it would start repeating itself. They had seen similar situations many times and weren't surprised. The key was the goodwill expressed in its message.
The team members looked at each other, thinking that a place like this should be trying to lure them in. But instead, it did the opposite, politely warning visitors not to approach.
And it was very likely this command was given after contact with the Frenzied Flame.
In other words, a Lord of Frenzied Flame who had retained his sanity. Should they say his willpower was extraordinary, or were other means at play?
With curiosity, they explored the hall and simultaneously fixed their gazes on a mural. The door on the other side had the aura of a seal and probably couldn't be opened easily. In contrast, this painting gave off an illusory feeling...
Whoosh!
Frieren tried touching it, and sure enough, the mural vanished, revealing a new path.
She then stepped aside, letting the Mimic Tear take the lead as usual to explore, their roles clearly defined.
She and Melina guarded the flanks. They seemed to be in a study, with tall bookshelves everywhere obscuring their view, forming a maze. Numerous ladders were placed to the side, likely for servants to clean regularly—a home of scholars.
"Omen Warrior ahead!"
They turned around to see the Mimic Tear clashing with a spirit-form guardian. Its greatsword struck the Brass Shield but couldn't shake it.
As the summoner grew stronger, the ash creation was a different being from before, with enough stamina and strength for a head-on confrontation.
Immediately after, a blade of night sliced across the Omen Warrior, splattering blood.
But the heroic warrior, known for its resilience, would not fall so easily.
The two began to fight at close quarters, but it was really a battle of movement. The Mimic Tear would teleport, then turn invisible, then parry. Several Carian Retaliations staggered him, allowing it to firmly control the battle's rhythm. Amidst flashing blades, bookshelves toppled, floor tiles were torn up, and fierce winds raged...
No need to worry.
After confirming the battlefield situation, Melina and Frieren withdrew their gazes and continued exploring. This was, after all, the team's division of labor. Besides, not looking didn't mean their perception wasn't covering the area; they could provide support for any situation in time.
The two entered a room on the other side and encountered a group of pitch-black Omen, some of whom were staring at a Shabriri Grape above.
The silver-haired girl cleared them out with a wave of scattered Glintstone Pebbles.
There were hardly any Omen outside, yet they kept running into them in Midra Manor. It was clear how important this place was to them. Whether they were survivors or remnants, they were undeniably connected. They bore a share of the responsibility for the disaster in Valleybottom Forest.
"There's information about the Untouchable Old Man recorded here." Melina picked up a torn diary page. "The author writes that they were able to touch and defeat it after accidentally parrying it."
BOOM!
Suddenly, a huge explosion erupted from the direction of the Mimic Tear and the Omen Warrior!
_______
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