Gravity Well.
Under the precise gravitational pull, the silver-haired girl lightly leaped into the interior of the giant sarcophagus. Her two companions followed the same route behind her. The three-person team was in tight coordination, moving with practiced ease without needing any verbal communication.
They had already conducted a similar exploration once before in the Mohgwyn Dynasty.
Once deep inside the sarcophagus, one would discover it was more like an architectural style, but unfortunately, it was too severely damaged, its original purpose lost to time.
Moreover, the sarcophagus was fused with the cliff face, and the interconnected karst caves wove into a massive labyrinth.
It was far too easy to get lost.
If not for the trio's outstanding perception, they would have likely lost their bearings long ago. But the route remained intricate and complex, the light was dim, and the path was rugged, forcing them to frequently leap across chasms.
Even after traveling a great distance, there was no sign of the so-called "purple velvet garden."
Instead, they encountered quite a few monsters blocking their path.
As usual, these were handed over to the aggressively eager Mimic Tear. With her strength, dealing with these slimes and bloodfiends was child's play; the seemingly ferocious and flamboyant creatures couldn't even last a single round.
Melina, meanwhile, recorded information and drew a map, striving to understand as much as possible about every place they visited.
She had been writing tirelessly since they entered the Cerulean Coast.
It was no wonder she had gathered so much information after years of wandering The Lands Between. The Land of Shadow was no exception; the level of detail in her intelligence likely already surpassed the years of reconnaissance by the crusade's army.
Frieren, for her part, maintained her perception.
Her mental power had the widest range, the highest accuracy, and penetrative properties, making her an exceptional guide.
Another batch of irksome slimes dropped from the ceiling, buzzing as they launched an attack on the small party.
Even grouped together, they posed no threat. Frieren was more focused on a point of light, and while clearing out the monsters, she walked over to investigate:
[St. Trina's Umbral Sword]
[A white sword of a saint, dyed a dark purple.]
[Has the effect of triggering the abnormal status of eternal sleep.]
[After Trina was abandoned, the pale purple, illusory mist matured into a potent poison.]
[Weapon Skill - Misting Slumber]
[A weapon skill that forms a large area of dark purple mist ahead, capable of inducing eternal sleep.]
It appeared to be a shortsword, slender in form, with a guard resembling a blooming flower. Its entirely purple body gave off a dangerous feeling. A light graze against her arm immediately induced a sense of drowsiness; the effect was quite potent.
Even with Frieren's physical fortitude, she would be affected by the eternal sleep status if she didn't specifically bolster her resistance, which showed how powerful the check was.
It was too much of a shame for such a treasure to be lost. Could its master have intentionally discarded it?
Even the blade itself held a deep-seated resentment.
It was impossible for her to feel no dissatisfaction after being abandoned as a half-self, but Trina had likely restrained her power; otherwise, the great cavern of sarcophagi would have probably been filled with a deadly poisonous mist.
Melina came closer to observe, saying, "So, St. Trina was also skilled in a sleep-inducing, hypnotic poison?"
"Yes."
"We should be careful. We still don't know if she's hostile. What if her stance is the same as Miquella's?"
"We'll know once we ask at that purple velvet garden."
Although she said that, Frieren had already mostly determined that the other party was at least a neutral character, because the tone of the player advice clearly showed no hostility; at the very least, she had never been an enemy.
Both sides shared a common enemy: Miquella.
After stowing the shortsword, she signaled to continue forward. With the party's strength, they pushed through the narrow cave passages with ease. Mere slimes didn't even have a chance to spot them before being eliminated from a distance.
A moment later, the view suddenly opened up.
Exiting the cave, they were greeted by a cliff where a long wind howled. An even deeper pit awaited its guests, from the bottom of which emanated a faint purple light and a subtle fragrance, particularly striking in the dark space.
The three exchanged glances, realizing they were likely close, but they couldn't act rashly.
"A direct airdrop would be too dangerous; the gravitational field here is unstable," Frieren cautioned. "Let's jump down bit by bit."
"Alright, Mother."
The Mimic Tear leaped onto the surface of a sarcophagus ahead, dispatching a few Carrion Crow in the process.
Their appearance meant this was indeed a burial area, ruling out the possibility of it being some kind of wondrous architectural site. The question was, what size of being would require this? Unfortunately, it was impossible to verify.
The cliff face opposite them gradually revealed its true form to the guests.
Echoes resounded from the cliff, sealed for thousands of years. The vast, empty area gradually awoke as if in welcome. Before them were colossal suspended sarcophagi.
It was uncertain whether their predecessors had specifically embedded the sarcophagi or if it was the result of crustal sedimentation.
Regardless, witnessing the sarcophagi, strewn about horizontally and vertically, fused with the cliff face, it was hard not to feel a sense of awe. How many years had it been? The number of people who could walk here alive, with the leisure to admire the view as they were, was likely infinitesimal.
Besides the flowers, the greatest landmark of the Cerulean Coast was probably these structures, part boat, part coffin, possessing a kind of confounding beauty.
Stepping on them felt incredibly stable.
Despite being a bridge spanning the chasm, its immense mass made it completely unshakeable. The airflow from below rushed against their faces, with a bottomless abyss beneath. Their foothold was a large slope, requiring them to control their speed to avoid sliding down; they had to remain alert...
Suddenly, a "string of stone beads" resembling Rock-Lice rose up ahead.
It arched its head up, and the bead at its very tip actually opened a pair of eyes.
A mimic? Or a golem? In any case, it was an enemy!
Whoosh!
The moment the purple ray shot out, the three dodged in unison. An ambush of this level was ineffective, serving only to reveal its position.
On the other hand, the treasure map was also a useful reference. For instance, some scattered items collected via auto-pickup helped confirm their position. By now, they should have descended more than 50 meters...
Frieren, the fastest magic user, had already launched her counterattack. A compressed, high-speed Comet accurately pierced the head of the Rock-Louse, which shattered on impact, dead in one hit.
Shu-tong!
On the surface, it was stone, but in reality, it was very fragile, no match for them at all.
However, this action seemed to have stirred a hornet's nest, attracting a large, lively swarm of Rock-Lice, all raising their heads to watch.
For this group, to watch was to aim.
In an instant, a dense barrage of purple rays shot towards them. Even as they subconsciously took cover, Frieren couldn't help but want to laugh at the numerous player messages behind the rock; they were practically overflowing.
Placing this kind of monster in a sarcophagus area where it's easy to fall must have elicited a storm of curses.
Melina and the Mimic Tear to her sides showed hesitation, not because they couldn't fight back, but because their foothold was rumbling, suggesting a risk of collapse.
"You two just dash towards the opposite cliff. I'll cover you."
"Okay."
Now was not the time for deferrals. It was best to have Frieren, the strongest and the one with multiple flight abilities, lead the way.
The next moment, the two of them leaped forward in a charge.
Almost at the same instant Melina and the Mimic Tear appeared, a dense web of purple rays provided full coverage.
Bang, bang, bang!
However, the ambush was completely blocked. Frieren was following behind, continuously projecting ripples of force fields. Not only did she precisely defend against every tricky attack, but she also sent them back to shatter their casters.
"Here's a taste of your own magic."
The stronger the ray, the stronger the rebound. She didn't even need to intentionally enhance it; its original power was sufficient to finish them off.
As a result, the scene turned into a firefight of rays, the mid-air filled with streams of light.
Bathed in the light, the party members strolled leisurely. As they walked, they witnessed countless Rock-Lice being struck by their own attacks, letting out a cry before disintegrating on the spot, shattering just like stones.
This showed that the rays were quite powerful.
When they coordinated their attacks, they indeed formed an excellent defensive system, but unfortunately, they encountered an exceptional powerhouse.
Had an ordinary sorcerer engaged in a magical duel with them, they might have destroyed their own foothold and met their doom. But it just had to be Frieren, a master of every kind of parry.
The defensive measure that was supposed to secure victory through surprise had a breach torn in it.
"We're here."
Melina felt a sense of security as her feet touched solid ground. As she turned to give a heads-up, the Mimic Tear, having lost its patience, retaliated.
A barrage of Night Comets provided blanket fire.
Her large-scale firepower combined with the rays Frieren reflected back, weaving together into a dazzling curtain of projectiles. The barrage arced through the air as if across the entire cave's abyss, precisely sniping every Rock-Louse that dared to show its head.
Unsurprisingly, their ears were filled with the sound of cracking and shattering, with not a single shot missing its mark.
The powerful mental fortitude of the two sorcerers made them as accurate as divine archers. Even after reaching safety, they showed no mercy, clearing out the enemies with thunderous force.
A few Carrion Crow tried to fish in troubled waters.
They overlooked Melina's presence and died in a single exchange from the ranged attack of her golden blade.
The firepower of the three Demigods enveloped the entire area, leaving no survivors. The previously menacing monsters all became spoils of war. The Rock-Lice, in particular, turned into round stone balls after disintegrating, rolling all over the ground.
It was quiet now.
The world was finally still, with no ambushers left within the range of their perception.
They had seemed formidable, but their actual attack power was limited. They could only achieve maximum deterrence in conjunction with the sarcophagus terrain; even an army would not be able to cross easily. But once the invaders established a foothold and fought back, the tables turned, rendering them meaningless.
"Whether it was Miquella's doing or not, these monsters were definitely tasked with clearing out intruders."
Melina asserted.
"Everything he does is to imprison his other half."
"So Trina must be a key part of the plan. At the very least, she can provide us with intelligence."
"I can faintly sense a hypnotic, poisonous magic. We're not far now."
Frieren's ultra-wide-range perception detected a peculiar energy in the air, highly integrated with the natural environment. If not for the inspiration from St. Trina's Umbral Sword, she really wouldn't have been able to distinguish it.
The route was now clearer.
As usual, she led the way. With multiple sources of information for reference and confirmation, the group quickly traversed the rugged sarcophagus area and entered another small cave. As expected, a point of light appeared ahead again; having collectibles meant they hadn't strayed from the path.
Walking up to it, it seemed to be a lump of purple mud, yet it possessed a magical aura.
Although the Mimic Tear wore a disgusted expression, Frieren never refused any magic-related items:
[Sarcophagus Mud]
[A sorcery derived from the mud of a sarcophagus. Can release a large clump of melting mud, which explodes on a delay after hitting, spraying Ghostflame.]
[In ancient times, all who died received a baptism of Ghostflame.]
[Even the melting mud formed from the most defiled corpse was no exception.]
[In the past, death was an equal affair.]
I see. No wonder it had a special resonant energy with the sarcophagi; they shared the same origin and possessed the Death attribute. In terms of energy properties, it was a usable sorcery, just that the mud form was a bit odd.
The act of throwing a sticky object was especially reminiscent of invading players...
Perhaps it could have some use when combined with earth-based magic, but Frieren decided to shelve it for now. Its true value was likely as an omen:
"We'll probably encounter melting mud monsters."
Hearing this, Melina bent down and slowly caressed the ground, her brow furrowing slightly. "There are indeed traces of Ghostflame. Ghostflame Dragons on the surface, and the soil from extinguished Ghostflame mud underground. This environment is very peculiar."
"It's likely due to the concentration of death energy from large-scale burials, having accumulated since ancient times."
"That's right. It's basically confirmed that this place is a super-tomb."
Even the Mimic Tear said with great interest, "Not bad. At least they built it themselves. Unlike Nokstella, where a large part of it passively became a tomb. That was the Mother of Fingers' doing... though the Nox people weren't up to any good either."
Swoosh!
Suddenly, she caught an arrow in her hand. A closer look revealed it was from a skeleton archer.
The white-haired girl coldly sneered as she crushed the arrow to dust.
"Doesn't Miquella have any other pieces down here? All he does is send circus performers to block the door."
The impatient Mimic Tear retaliated with magic, sending the skeletons away with one precise shot each. These mobs summoned by necromantic power were utterly fragile.
To be honest, they were all getting a little frustrated. The journey was simply too long.
They had no idea how many scattered stumbling blocks they had encountered on this trip, yet they still didn't know how deep their destination was. It was inevitably infuriating; the end of this sarcophagus-drifting was just too far away.
They went a bit deeper.
The Mimic Tear, walking at the very front, suddenly stopped and pointed below, exclaiming, "This thing is literally a pile of shit."
Following the sound, they looked down from the stone steps to see a massive slime.
However, it was over 3 meters in diameter, perfectly spherical, and its dark-toned body pulsed as if breathing, even emitting the rotten smell of melting mud.
She was right. When the sight, smell, and intuition all line up, then that's what it is!
Chaos Flame.
Faced with this kind of blatantly disgusting creature, Frieren had never been one for mercy. A single blast of crimson flame vaporized the slime before it could even cry out, incidentally vitrifying the ground.
Stepping on it was finally no longer sticky.
The rising steam from underfoot actually calmed their heads a bit. In any case, they were almost there, it wouldn't take much longer...
"Will this ever end?"
The Mimic Tear stared impatiently at the path ahead. A brilliant golden, spirit-like Lion-maned Dancer blocked their way, holding a longsword, its posture upright, its killing intent already locked onto the party.
It bore the aura of Miquella's magic and a Great Rune; it had likely received a blessing.
They had finally met a confidant of the mastermind. To have reached this deep, it must have been entrusted with a heavy responsibility and could not be underestimated.
Night Comet!
The Mimic Tear's greeting shot swiftly towards the Lion-maned Dancer. The latter ducked its head and easily dodged, using its low stance to its advantage.
"Did you really think I couldn't guess what you were going to do?"
The next moment, enhanced by Miriam's Vanishing, she teleported in front of it, opening with a Gavel of Haima that slammed down on its longsword. The Lion-maned Dancer was forced to block but couldn't help but stagger.
Immediately followed by a dual Carian Slicer assault, covering it in wounds in an instant.
In desperation, the Lion-maned Dancer quickly rolled back, and its body actually assumed a Golden Order stance to cast an Incantation—
Comet Azur!
The blue torrent, not yet at full power, was interrupted. The Mimic Tear then dashed forward, this time with an unseen Sorcery: Carian Slicer in one hand and a Carian Slicer in the other, beating the Lion-maned Dancer back until it cried out in pain.
Her attacks were seamlessly linked, closely monitoring the enemy's movements while even calculating its poise.
Thus, in a single exchange, it was completely suppressed.
Nearby, Melina and Frieren had no chance to act. It turned out that an angered ace Spirit Ash was astonishingly powerful. The Lion-maned Dancer, possibly the final guardian, was in a sorry state.
Pfft!
The edge of the Sorcery: Carian Slicer finally dealt a piercing wound, a blow that went from its abdomen through to its back that even the Lion-maned Dancer couldn't withstand.
In a sense, both were considered spiritual bodies, but their base attributes were worlds apart.
The Mimic Tear pressed its advantage.
A Night Shard exploded from the Lion-maned Dancer's chest. At point-blank range, the scattered crystal fragments tore through its surface, ripping through skin, bone, and organs alike, offering no resistance.
It then followed up with a charged Carian Greatsword execution, kicking the corpse away and turning it into Runes.
"That's it? Just a grunt. No wonder it was with that pile of crap."
The victorious Mimic Tear waved its hand, incidentally bringing back the lingering traces of the Incantation, which was what was emitting Miquella's magical aura.
"Well done. This is a new clue."
Frieren praised her, patting the Mimic Tear's head, and the latter revealed a brilliant smile.
She then turned her attention to the newly acquired Incantation. It turned out to be an ability related to Golden Order Fundamentalism. If the Lion-maned Dancer had finished charging just now, it probably could have unleashed a radiant golden incantation.
[Ring of Accord]
[An incantation of those who serve Miquella.]
[Forms a golden ring of accord that is released forwards. Upon hitting a target, it deals continuous damage.]
[Can be charged to increase potency.]
[Not based on Golden Order Fundamentalism.]
[A ring-based art developed through the study of a different system.]
Judging from the degree of magic resonance alone, it was commendable, a usable Incantation, and a bit more reliable than the Sarcophagus Mud from before. Defeating the Lion-maned Dancer wasn't in vain; the dropped item was even from Miquella's system. He had actually invented an ability that also possessed the Holy attribute.
Melina, however, was carefully sensing the spot where the Lion-maned Dancer had died. She suddenly spoke up: "There's also a hypnotic magic here. Could it have had contact with Trina?"
"Perhaps it was responsible for bringing Miquella's other half here, and then served as a guard."
"A pity it was too weak."
"He doesn't have many other pieces to play. Besides, the real difficulty of these defenses was on the path. Once past that, it's much easier."
It seemed now that the team of followers was of high quality, often possessing the strength of a Hero. To exaggerate a bit, one could even count Frieren, who was the true mainstay Miquella invested in to ensure his plan for godhood.
After abandoning his other half, she was no longer as important.
After a brief exchange, the three strode forward, as there were no living creatures left within their perception range.
The temperature continued to drop, the air currents feeling slick and flowing, clearly indicating they had entered a very deep underground area.
It felt like they were deeper than the Mohgwyn Dynasty, and in any case, far below sea level.
The remaining stretch of road was also bizarre, littered with fainted birds and some dead ones, blocking the path haphazardly.
Hypnosis?
Perhaps they were affected by the hypnotic magic. After all, the three perceptive individuals could feel it too. There was no mistaking it; it was just below. The hypnotic fragrance, carried by the air currents, washed over them. Anyone not paying attention could become drowsy; it was very subtle.
Following the steps all the way up to the end of the sarcophagus, they saw another white spirit, kneeling and looking up at the abyss.
Its posture was devout yet hesitant, with only a soft mutter remaining:
"...Lady Trina."
Seeing this, Melina and the Mimic Tear showed conflicted expressions. The abyss below was extremely deep, shrouded by layers of purple mist, with no bottom in sight, as if it led to the lowest point of the land. Was it reliable?
What if it was a trap?
Even a Demigod's body couldn't underestimate fall damage; from high enough, it could still be fatal.
However, when they looked at the silver-haired girl, they saw a firm nod. "Jump. You won't die."
This was both the answer and the guidance from reading the player messages.
Whenever Frieren saw this particular line, she would feel an inexplicable surge of fighting spirit. A brand new area awaited exploration, and of course, it would be accompanied by powerful enemies.
Regardless, the long exploration was finally coming to an end.
Frieren stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing out. The deep, quiet valley echoed with roars, whether from monsters or the wind, it was unclear. But her intuition told her this was the right way, and she had already prepared Gravity Magic for support at a moment's notice.
"You two, grab my shoulders. We'll jump together. I'll react immediately if anything happens."
"Okay."
The two agreed in unison without the slightest doubt, such was their absolute trust. In all of The Lands Between, only a Lord of Cinder was worthy of making such a guarantee, and was certain to deliver on it.
Melina and the Mimic Tear grabbed Frieren's left and right shoulders respectively.
They leaned their weight against her, simultaneously feeling a gravitational pull. The caster was using herself as the center to generate gravity for stability.
The three exchanged a firm answer with their eyes.
"Let's go."
As soon as the words fell, Frieren stepped forward, letting her center of gravity shift as she fell towards the purple mist below.
A fierce wind rose again, blowing the girls' long hair, even carrying bits of gravel. However, Melina and the Mimic Tear noticed that any debris would curve around them; it was Frieren's Gravity Magic protecting everyone, while a magic barrier also provided all-around coverage.
This sense of security gradually calmed their heartbeats, allowing them to admire the scenery instead.
The mist parted, revealing massive sarcophagi below. So there were still more this deep down. They truly lived up to the name 'drifting coffins.'
And below them seemed to be a shattered, torn-open gap, from which wisps of smoke seeped out. In a fleeting glimpse, they saw purple flowers.
"We came to the right place!"
Frieren smiled brilliantly and accelerated. Under the effect of gravity, the three of them shot past the opening. Immediately, a fragrant aroma washed over them, and a vast, flat space stretched out before them. It was the ground.
They had finally reached the very bottom of the cave sealed by Miquella.
If he was to hide his other half, this was the only place left.
____
🔥 New chapters are up! 🔥
New Story: COTE: Natsuki Subaru Returns to School, but as the Purge King
✅ Read 40 chapters ahead of everyone else.
✅ Get cool exclusive stuff and updates!
Let's hit these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = 1 extra chapter for the public!
🚀140 MEMBERS = 5 extra chapters on all stories for supporters!
👻 P - Walnutchan