Although the fight between Rellana and Frieren was spectacular, it was a catastrophe for the castle. As a fortress meant to defend against the resurgence of the Horned Folk and control a strategic chokepoint, it was certainly tough enough. But under their assault, it couldn't withstand the abuse.
At a visible rate, walls turned to stone, stone to rubble, and rubble to flying ash, filling the air with dust. It seemed to be competing with the Shadow Tree in size and height.
With the battlefield's center as the epicenter, violent tremors sent men and horses sprawling. Weapon racks toppled, banners tilted, and some men even tumbled from the battlements.
Fortunately, their bodies were sturdy enough that they wouldn't be seriously injured, though they couldn't avoid some scrapes and bruises.
Melina was perfectly composed. She had long expected this, and with the power of a Demigod, she could remain unscathed even at the closest point to the battle.
In terms of offensive output, she was lacking, but with a series of Golden Order protection incantations, she had more than enough defense against the aftershocks.
Right now, she was more concerned that as time went on, Frieren's unstable state would become more dangerous. Frieren herself had probably forgotten about it or simply didn't care.
But she cared.
After this battle, Melina decided she had to make Frieren rest for a while. Since the campaign in the Land of Shadow was visibly going to be long, they had to prepare for a protracted fight and coordinate with the southern forces in the Lands Between.
Even with herself, Frieren, and the Mimic Tear—a full three Demigods—they only had enough high-end power. In terms of numbers, they were far too lacking...
However, being on the land beneath the Shadow Tree also brought her some benefits.
"Is the seal weakening?"
It seemed the magic at the center of the battlefield was resonating, and the Shadow Tree, filled with Marika's divine power, was releasing a faint protection. Powers of the same origin could cancel each other out.
Melina found some ideas on how to break the seal on her eye.
Compared to her, who had the leisure to ponder, the castle's garrison was busy scrambling to evacuate. Although Frieren and Rellana were consciously holding back, not aiming their ultimate attacks directly at the castle, the overflowing explosions were not to be underestimated, practically creating a sea of fire right at everyone's heels.
Either scorched or frozen, occasionally interspersed with gales and lightning—all sorts of techniques were unleashed.
Even if both sides had exchanged ultimate attacks as a show of 'friendship,' it didn't mean the end was near. On the contrary, the battle had now evolved into a contest of 'endurance under poor conditions,' pushing the opponent even further. That's why it was so fraught with peril.
Two Carian Greatswords clashed, drawing a splash of blood with every other blow. Yet neither of them flinched, their poise unshaken. To this point, there was not a single sign of their guard being broken.
With the bodies of Demigods, it's hard to achieve a quick victory without a critical strike.
However, Rellana was very patient, confident that as a warrior, she had the advantage and would surely win. Frieren, on the other hand, was not in a hurry, her strength lying in the stability of her every move, interspersed with magical attacks ranging from Night Sorceries to Glintstone Sorceries, covering all bases.
This caused the battlefield to shift constantly, the area of effect expanding as the two moved at high speed.
"Fall back."
Muriel gave the order decisively.
"Sir, if we move to the outer perimeter of the castle, won't we be abandoning part of our defense, leaving this place vulnerable to danger?"
"Why don't you consider that with three Demigods here, it doesn't need defending?"
The men thought it over and realized it was true. With their current surplus of power, it would be a blessing if they didn't attack others. What force in the whole of the Land of Shadow could possibly attack them? They could retreat without worry.
Besides, this wasn't a life-or-death war. At its core, it was an internal affair of the Carian Royal Family.
Life has to go on.
They'd shake hands and make up after the fight anyway. In fact, the real disaster was happening right now. They needed to be careful that the aftershocks didn't cause casualties among the garrison.
As for the castle being a bit battered, it didn't matter. Out with the old, in with the new.
Thousands upon thousands of soldiers withdrew in an orderly fashion. Fortunately, the plains were right next to them, allowing them to form up and leave the stage to the Demigods.
Looking back, they saw purple and white magic gathering again; Gravity Magic was stirring once more.
"Huh? Has Frieren's magic recovered already?"
"How could it be so fast!"
"Could it be the Great Rune? But she hasn't used the Great Rune in battle at all, and she probably hasn't actively drawn on its magic, so she's been fighting with her own power this whole time..."
"Don't be surprised. This is purely Her Highness Frieren's power, the kind of dominance befitting a Quasi-King."
"The Land of Shadow is about to submit to a new royal authority, I fear."
"It's hard to say. Even now, we haven't completely conquered the Land of Shadow. The banners of the Golden Dynasty can't be planted at those shadowy fringes. It's something even Marika and Godfrey couldn't achieve."
"The dynasty of the Ancient Dragons couldn't do it either, but I feel like things are about to change."
The hearts of the garrison were leaping with excitement. This turbulent storm of magic was also stirring their fighting spirit, as if they had returned to the holy wars of the past. They missed it dearly.
Frieren's arrival told them there was no need for nostalgia. The reviving Lands Between still needed their strength. Perhaps a new holy war was calling.
Just moments ago, they were conflicted about the Golden Dynasty and their past allegiance to the Eternal Queen... Now, it no longer mattered. As long as they were dedicated to the revival of the Lands Between and the restoration of order, they were like-minded comrades, worthy of fighting for once more.
Meanwhile, on the main road from Castle Ensis to the Shadow Keep. Leda, having slipped away in the chaos, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking back, she saw an unforgettable sight: A fall of stars.
The meteor shower initiated by Frieren covered a vast area. Amidst it, a Carian Greatsword swung tenaciously, slicing the meteors one by one, turning them into fragments that ignited a sea of fire, burning everything in all directions—a calamity from beyond the heavens.
She must be getting serious now, causing such a huge commotion despite the shadow's seal.
Beside her, Ansbach murmured, "That's Astel's power. I was fortunate enough to witness a fraction of it in the underground world, and Frieren has learned it."
"And it's not the reckless feeling of a beast wielding it, but a precisely calculated magic, with far greater control."
Such talent is simply unbelievable. Could it be that the magic of the Naturalborn of the Void doesn't conflict with the systems of the Lands Between?
It's as if Frieren can replicate any magic she sees, regardless of the system, and even adapt it to suit herself. We've seen her use Blood Magic before; she's probably hiding many other unknown spells.
"...In your opinion, are Rellana and she truly fighting? Is it a mortal enmity?"
"Not necessarily. A warrior's spar can sometimes be fierce. Besides, Her Highness Frieren hasn't used high-lethality spells like Soul Magic or Blood Magic, has she?"
"So they might join forces?"
"It's more likely a relief. At least there will be less obstruction from the Carian army, making it easier for us to act."
"Mm."
Although the benefits Ansbach mentioned were useful, Leda also had to worry whether the Crusade Army would notice Lord Miquella's plan. Their attitude is unclear, which makes it difficult to advance many things.
Thinking about it differently, having Frieren to deal with them does buy some time.
"Let's go, let's rendezvous first."
The small party of followers left along the main road outside Castle Ensis, lying low for the time being.
They had to maintain a low profile and consider using the grace Miquella bestowed to teleport elsewhere to rest, because the subsequent investigation of the Shadow Keep could only be done bit by bit, especially now that the other side was on high alert.
Clop, clop!
The urgent sound of hooves made Leda and the others give a wide berth.
Black Knight messengers galloped at full speed along the main road, constantly delivering urgent military reports. In the sky, hawks cried uneasily. All beasts fled, and crows took flight in alarm.
Wherever the earthquake reached, even carrier pigeons dared not take flight, only trembling in fear.
Because the aftershocks of the great battle at Castle Ensis were too terrifying, they had to deliver the messages personally, to inform Commander Messmer.
Of course, with an energy collision of that level, the Shadow Keep had long since detected it.
The main force of the Crusade Army was on high alert. A heavily guarded formation blocked the main road, ready for anything. After all, it was hard to say whether Frieren was friend or foe.
Originally, they thought a Tarnished from the Lands Between was nothing to worry about. Even if the Shattering was real, she was just someone who got lucky in a turbulent situation. But the opposite was true.
When the Grace lit up in Castle Ensis, a stir went through the army. The real deal!
A generous Grace given without reservation. The precious Great Rune wasn't used for martial power at all; the indiscriminate light of Grace brought tears to their eyes. It was real. After so many years, they could see it again.
They couldn't help but envy the luck of the people in Castle Ensis, and it also confirmed that Frieren did indeed have a favorable impression of Caria. Her identity with the Dark Moon pact was genuine.
And she was indeed absurdly strong.
Even Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, couldn't defeat her after a long battle and was now gradually falling into a disadvantage.
This meant Frieren was the one controlling the tempo of the battle, creating a trend towards victory through her own power alone, despite a series of negative conditions like using primarily Carian magic, the shadow's seal, and the war of attrition.
Don't forget, she had no Grace upon her, wasn't using a Great Rune, and wasn't relying on any god's incantations. Her strength was clear and straightforward, so she wouldn't be controlled by others.
If she were willing to use the Great Rune, her power would be even more exaggerated. So now it was the Crusade Army's turn to carefully consider their position:
"What about Lord Messmer?"
"He's observing the Castle Ensis battlefield from the top floor, but has yet to give any orders."
"Perhaps the hope of leaving is right before our eyes, but I just can't bring myself to be happy," a Black Knight said, shaking his head.
"The Golden Dynasty is crumbling, Lord Radahn and Lady Marika are missing, and His Majesty Godfrey is exiled... Where do we go from here?"
"Who knows? But we'll find answers even in confusion."
"It's fine. We still have an unfinished mission in the Land of Shadow. As long as the Horned Folk haven't been completely purged, the holy war isn't over. We must win this war completely."
Although some were wavering, the Crusade Army still showed the self-regulation of an elite force. For now, just maintaining vigilance is enough.
BOOM!
Just as they were relaxing, they suddenly heard a loud noise from afar. A meteorite had fallen. Not surprising with Gravity Magic, but what was strange was that a Boar Knight came to the gate, stared intently, and murmured, "It's about to end."
"I can feel it. This is a powerful Gravity Magic, worlds apart from my own. The caster has adapted to the magical environment of the Land of Shadow."
"So this is the Quasi-King who defeated Radahn..."
As if in response to the Boar Knight's judgment, a brilliant purple and white light erupted, kicking up the largest earthquake since the battle began, which swept away the lingering Carian magic and Moon magic in the surroundings. The decisive blow was coming.
Deep within Castle Ensis, Frieren held her staff with both hands, gathering an unprecedented gravitational wave.
Without relying on any external medium like rock slings, she used pure, chaotic magic to forcefully interfere with another's magical circulation— domineering, direct, and yet harmless.
This forceful power annoyed Rellana.
Carian Greatsword!
However, the moment she refined her magic, it was crushed by the frequent gravitational tides. Even the physical glintstone shattered into fragments.
For a short while, she couldn't muster an effective attack, and even had to exert all her effort just to maintain her balance.
Even someone as strong as the Twin Moon Knight was at the end of her rope. Fatigue washed over her, her limbs weak, only her will holding her up.
Wasn't Frieren tired? It seemed not. From start to finish, her condition never declined. Apart from being unstable, she was basically full of vigor and vitality.
But she still had one last move.
Bracing against the gravitational turbulence, Rellana pushed her magic to its absolute limit—
For the glory of Caria!
An ultimate azure light erupted from her hands. The torrent of energy, charged to its peak, was only slightly deflected by gravity before it continued to rush towards Frieren, who had long been prepared. Gravity also swirled around her, but with the Carian Greatsword as its vessel.
Two spells of the same origin bombarded each other completely, locked in an inextricable struggle. Wave-like magic spread out, sending the entire castle reeling and shaking.
CRACK!
A shattering sound echoed between heaven and earth, first roaring through the eardrums, shaking the very soul, and then manifesting in reality.
As far as the eye could see, gravitational distortions appeared. Castle walls collapsed, eaves were torn off, and a swirling dust storm enveloped the Ellac Greatbridge. The main roads around the fortress caved in, and smoke obscured a radius of dozens of kilometers.
Immediately after, a figure in a blue cloak was sent flying backward, crashing into the ruins of a tower.
The next moment, Rellana stood up, leaning on her sword. Her constitution was indeed sturdy, but Frieren had expected this.
Almost simultaneously, the silver-haired girl used a gravity vortex to close the distance, striking with an initial blow: Moonveil Finisher.
The white blade went in, the red blade came out.
The piercing wound went straight through her body, causing her to collapse to the ground with a thud.
However, the defiant Twin Moon Knight still resentfully tried to rise. This stubborn act was naturally met with a heavy blow from a Haima's Gavel that made her see stars.
"It's finally over, huh?"
Frieren sighed, while also casting a Sun Healing on herself.
The wounds she had accumulated healed rapidly. Flesh grew, skin repaired, her face flushed with color, and her breathing became even.
However, her brow furrowed slightly. Why the sudden headache? Not a good sign. Perhaps Miquella's charm had seeped in a little more. She had been so focused on sparring with Rellana that she hadn't paid attention to that guy.
Of course, on the surface, the silver-haired girl's expression was as calm as still water.
At this moment, Melina also came over, her gaze shifting between the two before asking:
"The outcome?"
"I have lost," the dignified Twin Moon Knight declared honorably. "The Carian army in the Land of Shadow is at your command, to be driven by our King. Forgive me for greeting you only in this manner. Your Majesty is truly strong, just like the First King."
"You're tough enough yourself. I thought I could knock you out, but you can still talk."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
At the same time, Muriel arrived belatedly with his men. Seeing the harmonious scene, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. The greatest conflict had been resolved.
Of course, everyone tacitly avoided the issue of the Crusade Army's position, pretending for now that it didn't exist.
______
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