A severed hand!
For a proud Demi-Human Sword Saint, such a grievous wound meant he was finished. Even his vaunted swordsmanship had been defeated by his foe.
Onze glared venomously at the pale elf, who simply offered a mocking smile, completely unfazed. Yet he knew all too well that this fellow, despite appearing arrogant, was actually very steady. The rhythm of the battle had been in her hands from start to finish.
He had been deceived by that casual air of pride; she was confident, but not conceited.
Meanwhile, Frieren approached gracefully. She saw the Mimic Tear holding up the vanquished foe as if seeking praise. Naturally, she had to inspect the captive, and she didn't hold back her compliments:
"Well done. Your ability to adapt is quite strong."
Hearing this, the pale elf beamed with pride, the corners of her mouth turning up in a laugh. She dangled the Demi-Human in her grasp like a chicken, utterly powerless to resist.
"What are you doing here?"
"..."
Frieren's question was ignored. The Mimic Tear, who had been smiling just a moment before, now flashed a vicious look. It grabbed the back of the captive's head and slammed it brutally into the ground, sending shattered stones flying.
Again and again, she ground his fragile features into the sharp, broken rocks. Cartilage cracked and splintered, and blood began to flow.
His nose, eyes, and ears were all bleeding, blurring his senses.
"Answer when you're asked. Honestly, why are there so many stubborn fools in the Land of Shadow who like to keep things to themselves? If you'd just spoken up sooner, couldn't we all have saved some effort?"
"You could never understand my cause..."
"It's likely related to the Fallingstars," Frieren said meaningfully. "Seeing your swordsmanship, I had a guess. The Lands Between has the Flowing Sword style, so it's not surprising for there to be a Fallingstar Sword style. Besides, these stars have an ominous feel to them."
"Correct."
"If you're willing to cooperate, we can heal you. Let's have a proper talk about the underground gaol."
"No need. I'm tired. Let it end here. But... perhaps you can make good use of this remnant of my soul."
As his words faded, the Demi-Human Sword Saint dissolved into a puff of ashen energy. The two exchanged surprised glances.
He had willingly formed into Spirit Ashes. He was truly a formidable warrior, his soul's power extraordinary even in death. If not for encountering a Demigod-level foe, anyone else entering the underground gaol would have indeed been walking to their death.
Even though he held no fundamental grudge against the Nox people, he had fought them and obstructed their excavation and exploration of this place. Otherwise, the Crusade Army would have at least sent someone to investigate.
His death was of little consequence; it was just another ordinary battle.
Frieren weighed the Spirit Calling Bell in her hand, resonating with the wisp of a soul. Combined with her magic, it could become a summon with a solid foundation.
[Demi-Human Swordsman Yoshi]
The name that appeared in the prompt made her pause. That wasn't right. How could the title and name be so mismatched? Could the Nox people have remembered it wrong? Or was it a moniker everyone had mistaken for his real name?
Frieren thought back and concluded he really didn't deserve the title of Sword Saint. If there were a stronger user of the Fallingstar Sword, the Mimic Tear wouldn't have dispatched him in just a few moves. True skill should have been able to compensate for a significant gap in power. His training was insufficient.
If he had truly demonstrated adequate skill, she wouldn't have given up the chance to fight him herself. Every powerful swordsman was worthy of a careful duel.
[Ashes that house a soul. Can summon the spirit of Yoshi, the Demi-Human Swordsman.]
[Onze was the Sword Saint who mastered the Fallingstar Sword.]
[He perceived a shadow of ruin at the end of the connected stars. To seal the Fallingstars, he willingly had himself imprisoned.]
[Yoshi took Onze as his master and trained in the Fallingstar Sword.]
[He staunchly disobeyed his master's instructions, never once leaving his side his entire life.]
So that's how it was! He had likely inherited the title. The true Sword Saint had been here so long that people had forgotten whether he was alive or dead, and Yoshi, being the one who was active, was assumed to be the man himself. By following the old path, he was, in a sense, also Onze.
Unfortunately, his swordsmanship was far from adequate. He lost not only in fundamentals but also in technique, falling short of the other powerhouses Frieren had encountered. If it had been Millicent fighting the Mimic Tear, the outcome wouldn't have been decided so quickly.
In any case, she had obtained the Spirit Ashes.
"You've gained a summon from this as well. You truly are a Tarnished blessed by fortune," Melina remarked. "Even in the depths of Belurat Gaol, you find unexpected surprises."
"Mother must be a person of great fortune."
"That might not be a good thing. According to the ashes' information, there's danger in the cosmos... Of course, it was already dangerous to begin with."
As she spoke, Frieren practiced a few of the Fallingstar Sword's opening stances, but she couldn't get it to work just yet.
She had suddenly learned a plethora of miscellaneous skills recently. After all, the Land of Shadow was a treasure trove. She decided to just commit them to memory for now; she'd be able to use them eventually.
The Fallingstar Sword style, the Demi-Human Spirit Ashes—this trip was well worth it.
After a short rest, the silver-haired girl looked around and asked:
"I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to wait here for a while, but a gaol is no place to stay. How about we move everyone to the upper levels first?"
"Is that alright?"
"We thought we'd just stay at the bottom of the gaol until you successfully called for aid."
"It's too much trouble. Although it's scary here, we've gotten used to it over the years."
"No." Hearing this only strengthened Frieren's resolve. "To the upper levels. To a place where the sun can reach, but without losing cover... In that case, let's just break through this land of suffering."
Her tone left no room for argument. Since that was the case, the Nox people didn't stand on ceremony. They would certainly welcome a land with sunlight, or at the very least, getting away from the bottom of the gaol.
"But, how will you move so many of us?"
"Just don't move around."
With that, Frieren raised Lusat's Staff with one hand, conjuring a gravity orb. Warm, purplish-white magic enveloped everyone, creating a zero-gravity field that made them float slightly. Then, she stepped onto the top of the gravity orb and ascended, carrying everyone with her towards the entrance.
So gravity magic could be this precise! The Nox people only felt their bodies become lighter, with no discernible point of force, yet they felt no panic, likely because the Grace they received was causing their magic to resonate.
However, individuals with stronger Rune energy were not so easily lifted. Thus, Melina and the Mimic Tear followed by leaping between the pots hanging from the ceiling, their movements as light as a swallow's, escorting the caster.
Truly amazing. Unconsciously, Frieren's mastery of magic had improved yet again.
As partners who often fought alongside her, they knew the value of this ability well. Even just making a group of grunts float up and fall to the ground would be enough to leave them dazed and confused, guaranteed to lose their will to fight.
A moment later, they reached the gaol's exit. More accurately, it was the very top of the upper level, as the exit was an arched gate, and the structure itself was buried within the mountain's rock strata.
"It would be a bit dangerous to open it up completely to the sky. What if it attracts monsters? It would also be inconvenient to defend..." Frieren muttered.
The others could only stare in shock. So Her Majesty could completely shatter the rock layers of a mountain?
"Let's just poke a few holes for light first, if you don't mind?"
"Whatever you say!"
The Nox people replied in unison, afraid she might cause another huge commotion.
Melina and the Mimic Tear, standing beside her, also agreed, saying that just letting in some light would be fine. They knew Frieren's style best; she was prone to using magic for experimental grand projects, so it was better to be a bit more restrained.
Before, she was either with the Southern Army or traveling alone. Now, with so few hands and a group to look after, prudence was paramount. After all, the only ones providing protection from now on would be the army of Spirit Ashes.
The silver-haired girl nodded, then waved her staff. The magic of Comet Azur materialized around her, perfect for creating piercing damage.
Whoosh!
Multi-casting!
A volley of azure beams shot forth, piercing straight through the thick rock layer. No matter how solid it once was, it was now as fragile as paper. It instantly exploded, and heavenly light burst forth, illuminating the cavern.
It wasn't over. As one beam after another blasted open the seal, warm light spilled in.
To Frieren, the entire Land of Shadow seemed to be veiled in a thin, hazy gauze. But for the Nox people, it was like rain after a long drought. They never thought they'd see the light again in this lifetime. They immediately burst into tears of joy, having finally survived those hellish years.
"Thank you, Your Benevolent Majesty."
"It was nothing, you're welcome. Wait a moment, I'll make a temporary platform for you to settle on."
The silver-haired girl then threw something towards the bottom of the large hole. The surrounding rock walls actively extended hardened chunks of earth and stone, piling, overlapping, and coalescing to completely seal off the area below.
The Horned Folk inside had all been annihilated, the Nox's cage had been destroyed, so it was better to just seal off that land of sorrow. It wouldn't be needed in the future anyway, and Frieren found it distasteful. Sealing it was for the best.
Rumble!
The rock gradually closed, covering the cold and bloody main body of the gaol. All the survivors were now settled on a brand-new platform.
Even Frieren had to catch her breath a few times. If not for using the Runes from the Divine Beast Dancing Lion to enhance her stamina, her damage output would have been fine, but her endurance wouldn't have held up. She wouldn't have been able to last long enough to complete this grand project. Fortunately, everything went smoothly.
In the Lands Between, using magic for construction was nothing difficult; it was quite common, and most magnificent wonders owed their existence to it. She had specifically studied the annals on this subject.
"Mother, you rest. Leave the rest to us."
The Mimic Tear answered resolutely, and the host of Spirit Ashes, including the newly joined Yoshi, nodded in agreement.
Their combat strength was sufficient. Though just a small squad, it included Demigod and Hero-tier units. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a legion, capable of conquering a nation.
Melina added a word of caution: "Now that the settlement has been raised, we must be wary of new threats. There are Ghostflame Dragons and Bloodfiends active nearby. Given the distance, they'll notice the change before the Crusade Army does, especially with the aura of so many living beings..."
"It's fine. We'll deal with them all."
"Even so, you should rest for a bit first. There's no need to be so rushed."
She suspected that Frieren was a bit disappointed that the Demi-Human Sword Saint hadn't been enough of a warm-up, and was hoping to get some practice in before the assault on Ensis Castle.
The silver-haired girl readily agreed. They then set up a simple camp. It was better than being idle, as they couldn't just leave the severely wounded out in the open. If something happened, it would only delay their treatment.
The Nox people were naturally filled with gratitude.
"If you're heading to Ensis Castle, that's a good choice. It connects to various regions of the Land of Shadow and serves as the simplest and most convenient transportation hub, with many main roads."
"But be careful. From there on, you will face the dangers that have accumulated in the Land of Shadow for millennia."
"Besides the Frenzied Flame Valley, Spiked Mountain, and Finger Ruins you already know of..."
"Fingers!"
Hearing the keyword, Frieren immediately gestured for them to continue. After some discussion, she learned that several Finger Ruins and numerous Fingercreepers were scattered throughout the Land of Shadow, seemingly linked in countless ways to the Mother of Fingers. Yes, she existed.
This bombshell left the trio from the Lands Between utterly shocked. Information that had been indecipherable in the Eternal City was finally seeing progress here.
The Two Fingers truly did have a superior. Or rather, the one who created them. If so, their so-called role as 'agents of the Greater Will' became fascinating. How much of the messages they conveyed was the Mother's 'will,' and how much was the Creator God's 'will'? It was hard to say.
It was no wonder they suspected the Mother of Fingers's position; the entity had been silent for years, not acting like it was functioning properly.
Unfortunately, the Nox people knew no more.
"...We heard that a sorcerer is trying to contact the Mother of Fingers, claiming to serve that great being."
"Mother, leave this to us."
"Go find him. There should be more information."
"Just give me a moment."
"Don't oversimplify things. We need to be wary of both the Academy faction and the Golden Dynasty."
"I'll remember that."
Frieren's mind raced, immediately connecting this to the state of the various Two Fingers. None of them were in good shape.
Could their poor signal be related to the Land of Shadow obscuring their connection? And was the Mother of Fingers unaware? Unaware that one of her children had been killed by Frieren.
"We'll know more once the scouting parties return."
The silver-haired girl glanced at Melina, who was sketching a map based on the descriptions. Melina met her gaze and nodded silently. The two tacitly agreed to conceal the news of the Two Fingers's demise and not bring it into the Land of Shadow. At the very least, they shouldn't let the Mother of Fingers know yet, or a battle of vengeance would be unavoidable.
They conversed in hushed tones:
"Assuming the Two Fingers's superior is very strong and will find out sooner or later, what if she comes and disrupts our plans?"
Melina was clearly worried, thinking entirely from Frieren's perspective.
"That's why we must take the initiative to find her as soon as we have an opportunity. Before the news of the Two Fingers's fall spreads in the Land of Shadow, we find the Mother of Fingers and kill her, regardless of what abilities she possesses."
"Alright."
"Do you think she's a god-level being?"
"That's what I'm afraid of. But status doesn't completely represent strength. For example, Lady Marika isn't known for her power."
Suddenly, the Mimic Tear interjected, "Is it possible—and this just occurred to me—that the Fingerslayer Blade once wounded the Mother of Fingers? If you think about it that way, a lot of things make sense, right?"
The other two froze, then their eyes widened as they stared at the brilliant one. This child had a gift!
They had suspected it for a long time, especially after killing the Two Fingers, but one thing still didn't add up: you think you're worthy of summoning Astel, Stars of Darkness to destroy the Nox civilization?
Although there were Finger Reader Crones all over the Lands Between, the Two Fingers's current power was a severe mismatch with the legends.
Unless they had never seen the full picture.
So, it was normal for the Two Fingers to have a higher-level leader. Assuming the Mother of Fingers was wounded by a creation of the Nox civilization, summoning Astel, Stars of Darkness in a fit of rage would make sense.
It was she who caused the largest-scale massacre in the history of the Lands Between, destroying a civilization.
Even the Horned Folk didn't suffer as much damage as the Eternal City, and they had endured at least two conquerors in Messmer and Frieren.
Could it be true? The trio's first reaction was disbelief, but after thinking through the logic, they found it plausible.
The Mimic Tear said resentfully, "I have a gut feeling that I've found the mastermind behind the destruction of the Eternal City. One day, I will kill her. This is my personal grudge."
"Yes, it's ours, too."
Melina's words were part support, part appeasement, lest this berserker who inherited her mother's personality charge straight for her target.
"That's right. If we don't get rid of certain schemers, the situation will never stabilize."
With Frieren's final word on the matter, the other two were reassured.
So far, nothing targeted by the Soul Cinder King had ever emerged unscathed; the recent example of Mohg's corpse was not yet cold.
She despised conspiracies, and even more so, she despised the culprits who had brought ruin to the Lands Between. Sooner or later, she would exterminate them.
The topic was dropped. After all, they couldn't get any more information from the Nox people, and it was clear this would require a long-term investigation.
They returned to casual conversation, mostly exchanging intel between the two lands...
One day later.
The brief rest rejuvenated the trio after their days of continuous travel. When sunlight streamed into the upper level of the gaol, even the Mimic Tear, who preferred the night's ambiance, stretched and yawned.
They had been on the move nonstop since arriving in the Lands Between, fighting all the way, and had finally gotten a moment's rest.
"Mother, leave this to us."
"Just give me a moment."
Frieren nodded and, along with Melina, prepared to depart.
Before leaving, she didn't forget to give the Spirit Ash army a massive, collective buff to ensure their combat endurance would last longer. Coupled with the Site of Grace that was already here, she could teleport back to defend at any time.
The Nox people waved goodbye with hope in their eyes, repeatedly telling them not to rush.
Honestly, they still found it hard to believe that a mighty Quasi-King would travel far and wide for a group of long-forgotten victims. But it was the truth.
It seemed nothing could trouble Frieren. She was happy to help, treating it as just something to do. Always on the road, yet never worn down or weary from her journey, she only grew more enthusiastic.
Perhaps it was better to say that her strength stemmed from the experience of traveling to all corners of the world.
She seemed to enjoy immersing herself in the relationships between people, even though she herself was like an iceberg.
Perhaps this was the legendary mindset of a monarch.
The recurring commotion in Belurat, Tower Settlement, had also unsettled the surrounding areas. The dense aura of magic it exuded was an irresistible lure to both monsters and the Horned Folk residents.
In Lookdown Town, countless Bloodfiends howled at the sky. Their once-slumbering, corpulent bodies rose again, roaring furiously into the long wind.
It was the aura of the Elden Ring. Who wouldn't crave that power?
The Ghostflame Dragon slumbering in the lake sneezed, spitting out gray-black flames that scorched its surroundings.
It cast a bored glance in the direction of the commotion, then, filled with apprehension, moved its body to hide itself away.
A bunch of slow-witted idiots. They only sensed the massive Rune reaction and the intense life force, but didn't stop to think about who was wielding it.
They failed to perceive the caster's towering rage hidden behind that supreme power. That benevolent Demigod was terrifying to behold; the other party would surely pay the price. Provoking her at a time like this was tantamount to suicide.
So the Ghostflame Dragon chose to steer clear, to pretend it didn't exist.
The monsters in the nearby Plagued Village also grew restless. Being closer, they could clearly feel the aura approaching.
Meanwhile.
The garrison of Ensis Castle was reinforcing its defenses. The Land of Shadow was vast.
The squad sent to the Tower Settlement had not yet returned, but they had sent a message outlining the basic situation. In any case, being on high alert was never a bad thing.
This was a potential visit from a Quasi-King, and the pressure was immense.
Their direct superior, Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, had not given a clear stance, only ordering them to be on high alert. However, she seemed a bit conflicted, which naturally led to some speculation among the troops:
"Have you seen the message? I heard it mentioned that the Lightless One, the outsider, has the Dark Moon Ring and the Dark Moon Greatsword."
"That's huge news!"
"Also, only Lady Rellana has seen the message."
"Could we have been in the Land of Shadow for so long that the main branch of the Carian Royal Family has a new heir? If they chose a Quasi-King, it's not a step down. It's a gain."
As soldiers from the Carian army, they were naturally concerned about the situation back home. What if they had entrusted their loyalty to the wrong person? How should they face this now?
And they vaguely guessed at one possible outcome: Both Dark Moon heirlooms came from Ranni. Could it be that the Moon Princess has already given her heart to someone? And is that person reliable?
It was a vexing thought, but it stimulated their minds, even reducing the risk of hollowing.
They felt they couldn't just let her pass easily. If she couldn't even handle Ensis Castle, how could she cope with the complexities of the Lands Between?
At the same time.
Having emerged from Belurat Gaol, Frieren took a deep breath, feeling the long wind on her face from the back of her speeding spectral steed. What spoiled the mood, however, was the persistent, strange scent of deathly pollution in the air.
"It's like Ghostflame, isn't it?" Melina stated with certainty.
"I only noticed it after carefully extending my mental senses. You seem to be quite sensitive to it."
"My perception has strengthened a bit since coming to the Land of Shadow. Perhaps I'm naturally adapted to the magic of the ancient era, or the seal on my Gloam Eye is weakening."
"This place is too close to the gaol. Let's go check it out."
Frieren scanned her surroundings. Torrent neighed spiritedly beneath her, galloping at full speed toward a distant lake, rapidly closing the distance.
Only on the great plains could his speed be fully utilized.
The two riders leaned down slightly, letting the wind shear past them, enjoying the brief, exhilarating rush. They kept their eyes fixed on the horizon, where they saw a village nestled beside the lake, looking dilapidated and decayed, entwined with vines.
"Wait, there's a gleam!"
Frieren, who always had her treasure map active, was extremely sharp in this regard. She immediately changed direction and, sure enough, found an Ash of War hidden at the base of a rock wall, one that contained considerable power.
She quickly collected it, and the Rune energy that met her eyes transformed into a new ability:
[Ash of War: Valorous Lion's Claw]
[A skill used by the most valorous warriors among the Redmanes. Leap forward while spinning to strike with your weapon.]
[Activate again to follow up with another heavy weapon strike.]
So, should this be considered a superior version of Lion's Claw? Not necessarily. In the Lands Between, there are rarely clear superior-inferior versions of abilities. Most of the time, each has its own unique characteristics. The only way to know is to try it.
Frieren dismounted, handing the reins to Melina, who naturally understood she was about to test another new ability.
Always so eager. A true collector.
While savoring the technique bestowed by the Ash of War, the silver-haired girl drew her Dark Moon Greatsword. When it came to size and poise-breaking ability, there was no better choice.
Crack!
Frost appeared on the blade's surface, released along with the user's sword ki, ready to be unleashed.
____
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