The weapon skill of the Greatsword of Eternal Punishment, once seen, is hard to forget—a union of splendor and danger.
When Midra used it, Frieren clearly felt a pulling force. Fortunately, her poise was strong and she was agile enough to dodge it. Otherwise, she would have been impaled from head to toe, her scalp barely spared.
Even if it failed to directly hit a person, it could still raise a dense thicket of thorns from the ground, covering a considerable area.
Curious, she checked the skill's description:
[Golden Impalement]
[A skill where one leaps gently into the air, then thrusts downward from the head.]
[When piercing an enemy, barbs open up from within, dealing grievous damage. If it fails to pierce, activating it again will form barbs in the surrounding area.]
[The appearance when piercing an enemy is somewhat similar to the Golden Order.]
Frieren had originally thought the name would be in the Hornsent style, perhaps something that embellished execution as 'making someone a good person.' Instead, it was a power related to gold. Could it be that the rudiments of the golden system already existed in ancient times? Unfortunately, there were too few clues.
She tried using it on the spot, and sure enough, barbs grew out like a blooming flower. With more magic, the range could be even greater. It was quite commendable. All that was left was to see the player messages' evaluation:
[So good! It's a cheat weapon.]
[The designated wheelchair for PvP. Terrifying suction; if you're in the frontal cone, it's basically a guaranteed hit. Shoves it right into their brain, feels so satisfying. Landing a hit is pure stress relief.]
[The hitbox is ridiculous. I clearly dodged, but it still sucked me in.]
[This is obviously a design flaw. The moment you jump, it's like it forces the opponent to start playing the 'getting hit' animation, and then you both meet in the middle. But even if they patch it, it'll still be a top-tier PvP weapon.]
[Sweet!]
[The power is secondary. The key is how cathartic it is when it skewers someone. Body and mind feel refreshed. That's what I come to the arena for.]
[I never want to see the Greatsword of Eternal Punishment again. It's given me PTSD.]
[Everyone's been using this thing since it came out. It's a contest of who reacts faster, has higher resistance, and quicker fingers. Just keep impaling people, it's a constant high. I don't even think about other moves anymore. Just hold down the weapon skill button—either you die or I die. It's like a Wild West duel.]
[Everyone's just spamming it.]
[Actually, Elden Ring has so many builds, it's rare for one playstyle to dominate forever. Once the trend passes, people will go back to their own fun builds.]
[It performs well in PvE too. Jumping to use it can dodge a lot of attacks.]
[Strong opener with great priority. Landing a successful skewer is even more satisfying. I've decided, I'm using this to clear the game. I don't care if you're a boss or a mob, I'll pin you all down until you behave.]
[The Greatsword of Eternal Punishment just feels good to use for some reason. So cathartic.]
...The rave reviews were an acknowledgment of its power. Even Frieren, who didn't fight players often, could recognize its convenience.
However, she had rarely fought Red Phantoms since the courtyard behind Irithyll. She had learned many strange techniques back then, but they were not fond memories.
Unless her opponent was a dishonorable Omen Red Phantom, she would act as if those learned techniques didn't exist, sealing them away forever.
As expected, in an age of darkness, even the invaders were dark, resorting to any means necessary.
She pulled her thoughts back to the present.
Frieren weighed the Greatsword of Eternal Punishment a few times and ultimately decided to store it away for now. It wasn't that she didn't want to try it, but Smithing Stones were a scarce resource. It could only remain at a low level, its damage unimpressive. She'd keep it as a collectible for the sake of variety.
So far, the weapon with the highest upgrade level that she found most comfortable to use was still the Dark Moon Greatsword. Staves didn't count, as the power of sorcery depended mainly on the caster's skill.
After tidying up, she surveyed the battlefield.
It was much quieter than before. The unsightly towering, withered trees were gone, and the embers hidden by fallen leaves had vanished.
The traces of the Frenzied Flame rapidly faded from this land, leaving no sign.
It was, after all, an infection, not a natural change in the environment. Once it lost its host, it would quickly decline.
It wouldn't take long before this land would be reborn and bloom with flowers.
At the very least, the air no longer carried the scent of burning, so much so that the Mimic Tear lay down contentedly, closing its eyes to rest. A proud smile hung on its lips, as if it were still savoring the epic battle.
Elsewhere.
Melina pushed aside a pile of rubble and picked up the only remaining fragment of a portrait. On it were clearly the faces of Midra and Nanaya, but it was stained by tears and touched by embers. A gust of wind turned it to ash.
In the end, nothing could be left behind. Even in a world ruled by the eternal Golden Order, there are still endings.
"Does the Frenzied Flame always find a king rich in emotion?"
She looked at the silver-haired girl approaching gracefully, as if asking a question yet also affirming it. The other had also come with questions, and though she didn't speak, her face showed curiosity.
"Perhaps, in the eyes of an Outer God, you are just now finding emotion, Frieren."
"Just now? I've found it. In my homeland, an elf like me is already considered one of the most emotionally rich. They say I'm very passionate, always full of drive, and know what I want to do."
The dull senses of the elven race had been overcome.
At least, that's how everyone saw her. She had never met another elf who was more emotionally expressive, so she couldn't be sure.
Melina shook her head and replied, "You have passion, fighting spirit, ideals, and valor, but like me, you are dull to one point, even unaware of it, yet it is the most important of all—love. A life that has never tasted it is incomplete. You may need to spend more time on it."
The silver-haired girl's brow furrowed, clearly not understanding what was happening.
However, when she saw a faint smile on Melina's lips, she knew things were going well; the solid ice was melting.
"You're not going to ask me?"
"I'm not curious. I prefer witnessing secrets to prying into them. But this seems very important to me. If you want to say it, then say it."
"What if I told you that the necessary condition to enter the Erdtree is my sacrifice?"
Unexpectedly, Frieren didn't even blink.
She had a look on her face that said, "Is that all?" as if she had been prepared for a much harder choice, like everything she knew being destroyed, or everyone dying. The outcome wasn't the worst-case scenario.
This world was still gentle, just as the weather-beaten Altus Plateau still retained its golden scenery.
"I will find a way to save both the Lands Between and you. It doesn't matter what responsibility I have to bear or who I have to defeat. I have always been prepared."
"Melina, you and the Lands Between are equally important to me."
She looked directly into the girl's single eye.
"—Because you are the one who gave this journey its meaning. You asked me to seek the Great Runes, to become Lord, to reshape the Southern Lands. Otherwise, I would be no different from those wandering monsters."
Ultimately, Frieren's goal was to collect everything; whether she became Lord or not was of little consequence.
She could have just beaten everyone up and left, and in the end, nothing would have changed, or it might have even gotten worse.
By now, Melina completely understood her partner's thoughts. Power and status could never bind her freedom.
Should she feel honored?
"Even if guidance is shattered, please, become the Elden Lord."
"—The moment I arrived in this world, I saw my Finger Maiden die, leaving behind those words." Frieren gazed towards the Chapel of Anticipation and murmured, "She emphasized the second half, but I was more focused on the first half and the name. Since the one guiding me was gone, it didn't matter. I could just play around as I pleased."
"Thanks to you, Melina. You're the one who made me truly notice the beauty of the Lands Between."
"Your life is also a part of it. A Lands Between that requires your sacrifice is not what I want. So no matter how difficult, I must find a solution that satisfies both."
Her straightforward voice carried an undeniable authority.
Fate is not immutable.
Even an Elden Lord might not be able to make the world run according to their will. That was not just a realm of martial prowess, but a manifestation of rules, at least on the level of a true god. Only one who controlled everything could execute their will. That was too difficult.
And yet, Melina didn't feel it was distant at all. Instead, she couldn't help but nod.
"So, what was the original plan?"
"I would pass through the sealed gate in the Royal Capital into the Forbidden Lands, reach the great cauldron guarded by the Fire Giant, and use my power as a Kindling Maiden to set the entire Erdtree ablaze."
"That must be quite a scene." Frieren was eager to try.
"That's not all. The burning of the Erdtree alone might not be enough to undo the Thorns of Rejection that shield its interior. The complete release of Destined Death is also required. Neither can be omitted."
"So I need to use the great cauldron of flame to reach the city in the sky and defeat Maliketh, the Black Blade, who is stationed there?"
"I'm not sure. Because if the plan went smoothly, I would already be dead by then. The path forward from there is the Tarnished's choice."
Melina fell silent.
Only now did she realize she hadn't thought that far ahead at all.
It was only through her interactions with Frieren that a desire to live had sprouted, making her feel this world was worth seeing more of. She said she had given meaning to the king's journey, but had she not also been influenced by her? Unconsciously, the two of them had come this far.
"...I've said too much, I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to hide it from you for so long."
"Don't make any more self-righteous decisions about sacrifice, and don't talk about reasons like duty. The only one who can decide whether you stay or go is you. If you decide to live, I won't let Maliketh harm a single hair on your head, even if he attacks."
Suddenly, the silver-haired girl took Melina's hand and murmured, "So these burns on your hand... are they a characteristic of a Kindling Maiden?"
"I don't know. They've been there as long as I can remember."
"Back then, at the Gatefront, you, Melina, took my hand and truly brought me into the Lands Between. Now, I'll take you into the Lands Between of a new era. Come see what I will mend it into. The throne will be empty without you by its side. Otherwise, I will never sit on it."
Her words were as plain as ever, but they were the proclamation itself, the irrefutable decision of a king.
"If you put it that way, I really have no choice. I can only tell you—"
"As you command, my Lord."
To change this decision, one would first have to defeat the Ashen One. Yet, at this moment, she gave Melina a sense of being unfathomable, deeper than when she defeated the Outer God of Frenzied Flame, her aura like an abyss, like a prison.
If it were to protect her maiden, Frieren would surely use even more methods, such as revealing the secret of what energy lay hidden within her body.
Once she played her trump card, it would surely shake the heavens and earth.
Melina felt her resolve, and the kindness within it made her a little embarrassed.
"I'm not yet worthy of you making such a momentous decision..."
"Have I not made myself clear? I have very much enjoyed and been very happy traveling with you so far. I want this feeling in the Lands Between to continue. We must reach the end. We are partners who made a pact long ago."
Even now, Frieren had not let go of her hand. For once, she was being forceful, even a little angry. How could she not have spoken of such a great sacrifice sooner?
She had never answered whether she forgave Melina's apology. To earn that forgiveness, she would have to use her actions: Accompany me as I become Lord.
At first, she was a bit hesitant to respond. And what if she didn't ignite herself to burn the Erdtree? What about Marika's plan? What about the future of the Lands Between?
But she felt a strength transmitting from the hand that held hers, bringing an inexplicable sense of peace.
Even if the sky falls, she wouldn't face it alone.
So far, they had defeated four Shardbearers and carried three Great Runes. Looking back, they had made the impossible possible.
They thought Starscourge Radahn, the strongest demigod, was so powerful? Didn't they defeat Radahn all the same?
They thought the Lord of Blood, entrenched deep underground for years and backed by the Mother of Truth, was so powerful? In the end, Mohg was dead and his nation destroyed.
They thought the Lord of Frenzied Flame, who targeted the world's weakness, was an incurable disease and so powerful? Now Midra was lying in the ruins.
As the two of them continue on their journey, they will surely create even more miracles.
"I promise you."
Melina added with conviction, "I should say, thank you for saving me, Frieren. I want to witness the new era of the Lands Between that you create."
"That's good. Without your assistance, there's a lot of work I wouldn't be able to complete."
"Don't tell me that was your real objective?"
The two looked at each other and smiled. The Mimic Tear, watching from the side, opened its eyes from its meditation, a look of astonishment on its face. These two were actually joking around. It was unheard of. Had the Frenzied Flame fried their brains?
In any case, the development was a good one, better than them being wishy-washy all the time.
Feelings and love were meaningless to a Spirit Ash, but seeing Frieren's heartfelt smile and sincere emotions still made it happy. Good, Mother has finally grasped a sliver of it. From cluelessly searching for all sorts of emotions, to capturing the most ardent one.
Love?
The relationship between a Tarnished and their Maiden was perhaps more complex than that, especially for a duo that had reached the quasi-monarch level after so much experience.
But it was indeed a good thing that these two blockheads were finally figuring things out for once, so they wouldn't keep up a wall between them, which would only lead to them missing each other completely and ending in tragedy.
"Three Fingers of the Frenzied Flame, I really have you to thank for this."
The Mimic Tear glanced with a cold smile in the direction the Outer God had fled in disarray. When they finally broke into the Royal Capital, it would have to pay it a visit and properly thank it for staging a drama of 'true love fears no flame.'
She retracted her gaze to see Melina performing a Rune empowerment for Frieren.
The number of Runes from the Lord of Frenzied Flame was enough for a few levels. Even for a divine being for whom leveling was difficult, it was better than nothing.
"Did your Faith increase?"
The silver-haired girl nodded seriously, a flash of red lightning in her hand—a trace of the Ancient Dragons' Lightning Strike. With increased Faith, she had a flicker of inspiration for higher-tier incantations, but she was still missing something, unable to pierce through that final layer.
Just as fighting the Crucible Knight gave her an understanding of the Aspects of the Crucible incantations, sparring with someone of Lansseax's level wasn't enough to deepen her comprehension.
But she already had an idea: Jagged Peak. The mad dragon there would inspire her to master the ancient dragon incantations.
Perhaps she could even become an ancient dragon knight for a while.
After the Rune empowerment, Frieren felt refreshed, her magic power even more vigorous.
Although the weak Lord of Frenzied Flame didn't provide as many Runes as expected, the benefit was overcoming a major weakness. At least she no longer had to worry about the Frenzied Flame affecting her at every turn. The madness status effect was now greatly diminished.
Having never despaired, how could she leave it a weakness to invade?
Hearing Melina's heartfelt confession and her promise to witness her coronation together had, on the contrary, resolved a great knot in her heart.
It was impossible to say she didn't care about the maiden's secret. After all, she was her closest partner, and she had given her absolute trust throughout their journey. She hoped for a good ending.
Now that she had been open, Frieren was at ease.
As long as she was certain of Melina's own will, that was enough. As for whether Marika's seal would cause complications? That didn't matter. If trouble arose, the blame could be shared with the one who set the seal. They still trusted each other, which was a rare thing in the Lands Between.
Frieren's skill and boldness made her unafraid of betrayal, schemes, and conspiracies, but that didn't mean she disliked sincerity.
She now felt more relaxed than ever before.
The silver-haired girl moved her joints, stretched, and then looked around, her hand on her chin.
Melina immediately understood and couldn't help but ask, "You have an idea?"
"I was just thinking, since the Frenzied Flame has completely left the Valleybottom Forest, doesn't that mean that what's under our feet is just an ordinary forest after a wildfire? It left very cleanly, giving all its remaining energy to Midra, and I killed Midra. The curse has dissipated..."
"So this land is cleaner than Caelid?"
"Yes. Theoretically, the difficulty of restoration is less than the Swamp of Aeonia. And don't forget, the Land of Shadow is rich in ancient magic. The effect of the Great Runes will be even better."
Seeing her eager expression, Melina nodded.
Of course, she couldn't possibly object. Any method that could restore the Lands Between was worth a try. Using the Great Runes was the safest and most effective method, not to mention the caster was very experienced in this area.
At the same time, the Mimic Tear also sat up and replied, "I'll stand guard. Mother, feel free to experiment."
"Alright."
Before her voice had even faded, Frieren planted Lusat's staff into the ground, mobilizing the magic in the natural environment.
Three weighty Great Runes appeared in mid-air, their pieced-together form already showing the traces of half an Elden Ring, blooming right there in the Land of Shadow.
All living beings felt a jolt in their hearts, a desire sprouting within them.
They couldn't refuse the temptation of the Rune energy, the ultimate treasure of the Lands Between, but most couldn't even discern the direction, only able to look at the sky and the ground in confusion. Only the truly powerful could instantly send their perception towards it—the Valleybottom Forest.
Truly restless.
Didn't she just fight an unending battle with the Lord of Frenzied Flame and the Outer God of Frenzied Flame?
Whether it was through the Wondrous Physick or incantations, everyone had a new appreciation for the Ashen One's vigorous stamina. It was absurd. Still not satisfied after continuous battles, she was now attempting something as fanciful as restoration?
"What a boring notion. Whether the Lands Between decays or not is completely irrelevant." Bayle dismissively went back to sleep.
He thought she was a battle maniac solely focused on becoming stronger, but it turned out she was obsessed with restoring the world. Not pure enough. It didn't fit his aesthetic of battle, but it did bring one piece of good news: she was very strong.
No matter what happened to the Lands Between, one who could wield half of the Elden Ring was certainly extraordinary.
The battle would surely be exhilarating when it began.
At the Fortress of Reprimand, the Crusader sentry posts passed the news up the chain. They were the first to notice:
The withered trees were sprouting anew.
For some reason, the evil thoughts, searing heat, and madness that filled the valley had been swept away. The year-round scorching wind was gone, replaced by the fragrance of flowers. How could it be possible? But looking at the sigil of the Ring floating in mid-air, they had no choice but to believe.
The soldiers were dumbfounded, from the commander to the troopers, all in shock. They never expected the battle with the Frenzied Flame was not yet over.
"Indeed, only multiple Great Runes could achieve this."
"Not necessarily. Don't forget how many years the Frenzied Flame has been corroding this place. The forest was already ashes before the Holy War. Could life truly be tenacious enough to be reborn?"
"That's why we lack the magnanimity of a king. The caster must believe in the hope of life more than anyone else."
"Is this really possible?"
"The Valleybottom Forest is probably the most polluted area in the Land of Shadow. The Finger Ruins are just eerily empty. This place is hell."
Most of them didn't think a single restoration could solve it, but they held anticipation in their hearts:
As expected, the first halo of light had little effect, only dispelling the lingering warmth of the Frenzied Flame. But the next moment, the floral fragrance grew stronger, and vibrant colors burst forth from the depths of the valley:
Petals?
They could hardly believe their eyes.
A genuine miracle was unfolding. After countless years of being covered in ash, the valley floor was now filled with a field of flowers. Peeking down, they saw it spreading at a visible speed, instantly dyeing the earth and stretching into the distance, with no end in sight.
The Valleybottom Forest was actually quite large, with a northern and southern section divided by the path to Jagged Peak. It had been an affliction for many years.
Now, a young quasi-monarch had challenged it, not only to defeat the Frenzied Flame, but also to cleanse all the pollution it left behind.
She was absolutely serious.
In fact, a dramatic change had already occurred in the valley. To be able to see the flowers stretching out from such a height showed how vast the area was. And it continued to spread, from the heavily afflicted southern part of the valley towards the north, where restoration would only be easier.
It turned out that so many tenacious lives, seeds waiting to sprout, were hidden in the deep soil.
"You've finally gotten your chance. Will we get ours?"
The Crusaders, too, had been struggling in the Land of Shadow, waiting for the seal to be lifted. But now it seemed the Golden Dynasty had truly abandoned them. They would probably never get their chance.
What came instead was the Ashen One, who raised a banner of rebellion against the Order. It was she who was actually restoring the Lands Between.
Hah!
Even this was not enough. The fragments of the Ring continued to radiate light, seemingly receiving the caster's immense magic power. The two resonated, releasing a warm, golden radiance.
Sunlight Healing enveloped the entire burning valley.
From below, Frieren saw more than just blooming flowers. Even as the flower field magic spread rapidly, it couldn't change the darkness of the towering, withered trees. Though she tried her best to make them sprout new buds, it was far from enough.
She took a deep breath, infusing more magic into her staff and mobilizing the power of the Great Runes.
"Be reborn."
With her command, magic flowed through the tree roots. Countless ancient, towering trees shed their charred bark, grew new trunks, and new buds turned into verdant leaves.
Some terminally ill, charred giant trees fell directly, making way for the sun while turning into mulch to nourish the earth.
Everyone could smell the scent of fresh earth, like after a rain in an empty mountain, gradually emerging from the shadow of the Frenzied Flame disaster.
It would truly grow into a lush, primordial forest, vast enough for ancient dragons to roam within.
______
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