The Mimic Tear gently took the scepter from Nanaya's embrace. A wisp of Frenzied Flame floated and danced at its tip.
Fortunately, it was very faint and within a controllable range. After a wave of Sealing Magic suppressed it, Melina finally felt it was safe, and placed it in Frieren's hand.
Indeed, a trace of warmth emanated from it, along with its description:
[Nanaya's Candelabra]
[A short torch made of spinal vertebrae. Its tip burns with a fading Frenzied Flame.]
[Born in an ancient age, from a distant land, the final fate of one who could not become the Lord of Frenzied Flame.]
[Nanaya gently embraces this item.]
The usual cryptic description, but it was certain that the era was quite remote... As Frieren understood it, it was the product of a failed believer who sought the level of the Lord of Frenzied Flame.
The Outer Gods aren't so indiscriminate as to accept just anyone; aptitude is very important. Had one been worthy, they would have been marked, even if they had clearly rejected the Frenzied Flame as she had.
[Weapon Skill: Frenzied Flame of the Feeble King]
[A skill that raises the torch forward, scattering the Frenzied Flame.]
[The user and all nearby beings will accumulate madness buildup.]
[Can be sustained by holding the input, and the user can move while activating it.]
Although she was eager to test her newly acquired weapon, Frieren saw Melina's extremely vigilant gaze and put the thought aside. Casually unleashing the power of the Frenzied Flame in Midra's Manor would be courting death; it would surely trigger something unexpected.
Better not to create more trouble.
Besides, based on player advice related to the weapon, she already had a general idea; it wasn't a particularly powerful weapon. Its craftsmanship was more important.
The related advice also focused on the birth of the Lord of Frenzied Flame, primarily concerned with the background lore. After all, the entire manor was an excellent treasure trove for studying the infection of Outer Gods, so precious information was left all over the place:
[Could it be that the Candelabra is made from Midra's spinal vertebrae? He fits the description: a feeble, unsuccessful Lord of Frenzied Flame.]
[It might also be the remains of a Lord of Frenzied Flame even more ancient than Midra.]
[The Three Fingers aren't picky, they'll experiment on anyone. I chose the Frenzied Flame, it's not like I'm lowering myself.]
[Whatever the Tarnished chooses becomes the strongest King. The key is their original strength. Perhaps it can be understood like the Lords of Cinder— the stronger they are, the brighter the flame burns. Only an Elden Lord embracing the Frenzied Flame can achieve the return of the world to chaos.]
[A Lord of Cinder reborn, still has to be kindling here in The Lands Between.]
[The other Frenzied Flames are too weak, I'm pointing at you, Three Fingers.]
[If the Candelabra is from a more ancient time, doesn't that imply Nanaya had premeditated this, using a series of methods to get Midra infected with the Frenzied Flame?]
[Not necessarily, I feel like they were a loving couple, and very honest. They don't seem like the scheming type.]
[It's hard to say. Conspiracies are often hidden in inconspicuous corners. Perhaps the Three Fingers of Frenzied Flame had long been scouting candidates through Nanaya, and things only got exposed and went out of control when the Hornsent intervened and sealed them.]
[If their feelings were fake, how could Midra have kept the Frenzied Flame suppressed?]
[Deception.]
[Here's a more romantic interpretation: only the power born of true love can suppress the Frenzied Flame, or make the Frenzied Flame powerful enough to destroy the world. I believe in love, I believe Midra and Nanaya's love was real.]
[A true love warrior, huh? Not bad.]
[An explanation that isn't dark enough doesn't fit the dark background of The Lands Between, but as an Elden Lord who chose the Frenzied Flame, I approve. Yes, this is our power, filled with true love!]
[Who understands all this stuff you guys are talking about? To hell with love, under my dual curved swords, it all turns to ash.]
[Frenzied? I'm even more frenzied than you. I'll single-handedly wreck The Lands Between!]
Frieren's gaze fell back upon Nanaya. To be honest, she hadn't been without suspicion that this person was involved with the Three Fingers of Frenzied Flame, but she lacked proof.
So be it. She would treat it as the romantic interpretation for now.
And most importantly, what mattered was Midra's own attitude. Until she met the lord of the manor, Nanaya's husband, the Lord of Frenzied Flame, nothing could be concluded. The crux of the conflict lay with him.
However, the player advice revealed other information: a considerable number of players chose the Frenzied Flame. What led to that? It must have something to do with Melina.
She looked at the witch, who was examining a burnt book, trying to read information from its tattered pages. Noticing her gaze, she turned her head and said:
"Another Lord of Frenzied Flame trapped by love, much like Vyke. It is still just as skilled at temptation."
"You mentioned before that you were prepared to assist more than one Tarnished of destiny until one succeeded. What if one of them had thrown themselves to the Frenzied Flame? What would you have done? What was your original plan?"
Frieren's casual question was arresting.
Would it be too heartless to directly answer that she would kill them with Destined Death? After all, the key to the question was not her contingency plan, but her attitude in replying to her current partner.
Even Melina was a bit conflicted. After a moment's hesitation, she could only answer:
"I would do everything in my power to stop them."
"I think Nanaya held the same conviction, unwilling to let Midra fall into the Frenzied Flame's grasp. She must have tried to stop him."
"Unfortunately, she didn't succeed. Not only was the manor massacred, but the entire Valleybottom Forest became a forbidden zone. It loves to grasp at the weaknesses of human nature. The best way to deal with it is to have no contact at all."
"But in The Lands Between, there are too many things one cannot simply avoid. For example, we still have to go see the Lord of Frenzied Flame now."
Hearing this, Melina's heart couldn't help but tighten. The critical situation didn't allow them the time to ponder and delay. If they dallied any longer, perhaps something would happen with Midra.
Yet, she always had a concern, a feeling of deep unease. After all, Frieren had already made an enemy of the Frenzied Flame. Both sides were trying their utmost to find ways to eliminate the other. What if this time, they walked into a trap?
It was very dangerous.
Her mind was filled with the question from just now: how to deal with a Tarnished who has been tainted by the Frenzied Flame? The real hidden question was, "If I chose the Frenzied Flame for your sake, what would you do? I have already made my choice." This also explained the tragedy between Vyke and his maiden; that was what was truly heart-wrenching.
There were too many things in the Land of Shadow that were questioning Melina, concerning Frieren, Messmer, Marika, and a series of other matters that were all about to find their answers...
"If you're tired, we can rest for a bit."
Her companion's gentle voice inexplicably made her feel a sense of guilt.
There's no need.
"Rest assured. Speaking of which, since the Lord of Frenzied Flame is no good, should we just rush him together?"
But the response that came was a shrill, miserable scream:
"Aaaahhhhhh—!"
A sense of sorrow that seeped into the soul swept over them, a sound filled with longing, grief, and unwillingness that echoed throughout the manor. The sound alone was enough to make one's heart lose control and sprout madness.
The Frenzied Flame welcomes you.
The three exchanged glances, seeing the grave expressions on each other's faces. They were already accumulating madness without even making contact.
The next moment, Frieren raised her staff, unleashing all the relevant magic she had learned up to this point, regardless of which world it came from. Spells like Sorcery: Lucidity, Incantation: Rejection, Incantation: Protection of the Erdtree, and Effect of Sorcery: Lucidity were poured out as if they cost nothing.
An abundant serving of buffs enveloped the entire team, finally alleviating the madness.
Melina was also casting spells, applying Barrier of Gold, while the Mimic Tear distributed anti-madness potions and materials.
Ready for battle.
No wonder the Hornsent didn't launch a full-scale assault. One reason was probably that numbers meant little against a Lord of Frenzied Flame. The more people there were, the more would go mad. The ensuing chaos would only amplify the losses.
After all, even a Demigod could be affected.
"Your current attributes are only equivalent to a divine being. Will you be able to hold on later?"
"It's fine, I have a backup plan."
Faced with Melina's concern, the silver-haired girl spoke with confidence. Given her consistently reliable track record, Melina could only feel reassured for now.
As for the Mimic Tear, it was eager to try, unafraid of the powerful enemy.
Honestly, Frieren really had no way to deal with the Frenzied Flame, but that was from the perspective of "eliminating it and curing people." If it was purely a matter of "a head-on clash of powers until they cancel each other out," it was actually easier.
The countless plans built upon countless battle experiences were the source of her confidence. Of course, a little bit of a dangerous display was unavoidable. So she didn't explain further; the key would depend on Midra's strength.
The three of them set off at a brisk pace.
The buffs resisting madness were temporary; they couldn't be wasted on the road. It was best to start the fight quickly, otherwise, things would get out of hand.
In her wide-range perception, it wasn't just the Frenzied Flame accumulated within the manor itself that was reawakening; the entire Valleybottom Forest was echoing with wails, as if everything that had been burned had come back to life, showing the utmost malice towards the uninvited guests, vowing to utterly destroy them.
They steamed forth with wisps of Frenzied Flame, and vertical lines of black and yellow flame appeared in mid-air. At the call of the Lord of Frenzied Flame, they converged at a single point.
The three, rushing towards a room deep within the manor, felt it most intensely, as if they were in a torrent, with the erupting Frenzied Flame right beside them.
THUD!
The Mimic Tear at the front kicked open the double doors with overwhelming momentum and charged in.
She was already prepared to be ambushed upon opening the door, but it didn't matter; she was here to test the waters. However, she only saw a lone figure:
A tattered old man was kneeling on the floor, his body rigid and face upturned. This was because a metal spike had pierced him from the crown of his head, running through his chest, abdomen, and lumbar spine, with branches splitting off to tear his flesh. He was already so emaciated that he was just skin and bones; in this state, he looked just like a living corpse.
Upon seeing the visitors, he slowly lowered his head, a stiff movement due to the long sword impaled in his body.
"Don't come near, don't come near the madness, ahhhhhh—!"
"You old man are really noisy."
Relying on her full body of buffs, the Mimic Tear went up and delivered a powerful kick, aiming for his front teeth and sending him flying backwards. He then tumbled and rolled on the ground. If not for the sword blade blocking him, he might have rolled a few more times.
The two who followed her in exchanged glances, a look of disbelief on their faces. This was it? The great Lord of Frenzied Flame in such a sorry state?
"His current weakness should be because of that sword. It has a very strong sealing power."
"Can we kill him while he's sealed?" Melina asked.
"Don't count on it."
Frieren had seen plenty of bosses with a weak first phase followed by a strong second phase; most were unavoidable. Just fight with the determination of a life-and-death battle.
The Frenzied Flame would not spare them, and they would not spare the Frenzied Flame. It was time to finish Midra here.
The two exchanged a look and began applying additional buffs, leaving the frontline to the Mimic Tear for now.
Understanding the tactical approach, she swung a Gavel of Haima at Midra. The frail, bony body was instantly sent flying, once again performing a sorry tumble, covered in dust.
The once stable magic was now leaning towards frenzy. It wasn't just because of the attack, but also because the entire Valleybottom Forest's energy was converging, fanning the flames. Today, he couldn't stop from exploding even if he wanted to.
Although the Mimic Tear held the absolute advantage, its expression was grave, its eyes flickering.
Still going mad...
Even its body of Spirit Ash couldn't be spared after a series of buffs; the contamination priority was quite high.
While it was pondering, Midra suddenly charged forward, dashing in low while frantically scratching with both hands, the air whistling.
An attack of this level was like slow motion in her eyes. With a light sidestep, she dodged it all.
He followed up with a leap, attempting to pursue, but was unsurprisingly knocked away.
After a few rounds of this, Midra grew more and more pained. The long sword impaled in his body was acting up; the seal seemed to sense something, sounding a loud alarm.
But the survival instinct of the Frenzied Flame's host also kicked in. No one would underestimate the ever-rising auras of the silver-haired girl and the one-eyed maiden. They were coming for him. This was a life-and-death battle.
"Good, let's act sooner." Frieren nodded and instructed, "Mimic Tear, as usual, you scout the way."
But for what reason? Could it be to release the Frenzied Flame? Or to grant him release?
"Next, I will cast magic specifically for Incantation: Protection of the Erdtree. Correspondingly, the power enhancement will be less. You need to adapt quickly."
If some ambitious person wanted to use even the Frenzied Flame, wouldn't that plunge the entire Lands Between into chaos? Absolutely not allowed.
Midra tilted his head back, hands upturned, and roared, "...A bunch of schemers...!"
This is bad, I can't hold on much longer. As the thought arose, he couldn't help but roar, and tangible ripples of Frenzied Flame spread out. The Mimic Tear in front of him was knocked back.
It was a psychic shockwave reverberating. Everyone felt a madness from the depths of their souls, stirring up their most evil desires. All their dark sides were about to burst forth, their magic on the verge of losing control.
THUMP!
Suddenly, Midra slammed his head on the floor, forcing a stop. His voice, hoarse, finally stopped roaring. A momentary pause did not mean improvement; instead, the coiled-spring-like madness accumulated even more.
He endured with all his might, terrified of once again letting the Frenzied Flame break its bonds.
His mouth was dry, his heart pounded wildly. The withered, inhuman figure was holding on by a single thread of will.
In his haze, a white shadow appeared in Midra's blurred vision. He saw her take out two staves, the surging magic power was terrifying. Then, she leaned forward slightly. A gentle and clear voice entered the depths of his mind:
"You don't have to endure anymore. We've come to help you find release."
Before the words had faded, a surge of Frenzied Flame energy was actively drawn away. The other party had done nothing; it was the will of the god that had locked onto Frieren.
The two sides would fight to the death in Valleybottom Forest, betting the future of the entire Lands Between.
Indeed.
After a long sigh of relief, Midra straightened up and sat up again. The three around him did not stop him, but rather seized the final opportunity to prepare and witness the true birth of the Lord of Frenzied Flame—
His hands grasped the Greatsword of Eternal Punishment, ignoring the sharpness of its branches, he gripped it tightly. Blood dripped from his withered hands. Then he pulled gently.
The golden edge was pulled an inch from the crown of his head, yet his expression showed no pain. He even seemed dazed and foolish, as if reminiscing.
"Forgive me, Nanaya."
The next moment, the greatsword completely left his body. His head transformed into a ball of Frenzied Flame, with a darkness at its center that stared out like an eyeball.
_____
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