In a corner of the Shadow Keep.
Most of the Follower squad had gathered, moving stealthily and with extreme caution. They had to remain vigilant, their senses sharp in all directions. This was the main encampment of the holy war army, its absolute nerve center.
Before entering, they had thought that millennia of erosion and betrayal would have weakened the warriors' will, but that was not the case. They had to admit, Messmer was a skilled commander. His subordinates remained highly organized and disciplined, their ranks orderly.
This was the worst possible news.
"Be especially careful to avoid the fire knights."
Leda, formerly of the Haligtree Army, had a better eye for these things. She surmised the enemy had altered their patrol routes on short notice, likely a targeted response based on new intelligence.
The blow to their morale might have diminished the holy war army's capacity for field battles and sieges, but they were more than capable of defending their position.
If the Follower squad were to launch a surprise attack here, in the enemy's absolute stronghold, they would undoubtedly be crushed. Annihilation was a secondary concern; the primary objective was not to delay Lord Miquella's plans.
"Halt!"
Ansbach, at the head of the group, gave a hand signal, indicating they should use mimic stealth.
Sure enough, a fire knight passed by on the adjacent path. Thanks to the premier Sanguine Knight's experience in stealth, they went completely unnoticed, successfully clearing another hurdle.
The Specimen Storehouse was not far now.
Leda advised, "We must shorten our planned stay in the Shadow Keep. A short while ago, Lord Miquella issued a summons, urging us to get into position as quickly as possible. If necessary, we are to cooperate with the Horned Folk army of the Spiral Tower. A great war is coming."
"Understood, but our time here is not entirely our own."
"Sir Ansbach, since you understand ancient scripts and are well-read in the classics, it would be more fitting for you to investigate further here."
"Speaking of which," the Redmane Knight, Foya, asked in confusion, "Isn't the Land of Shadow quite peaceful right now? What great war? Are we fighting Messmer?"
The others fell silent.
In truth, the more astute among them had their own suspicions. The holy war army and Miquella's forces had coexisted for many years, so why hadn't they fought before? There had to be a key variable. That variable was Ranni's various legions—a battle-hardened host hungry for glory, eager to cross the barrier.
One could argue about the quality of the southern army, but it was undeniably the only offensive-oriented military force to emerge in the five millennia since the Shattering.
Of The Lands Between's top legions—the Royal Capital Army, the Haligtree Army, and the holy war army—how much offensive power did they truly have left? Many experienced veterans had already returned to the Erdtree.
No, to simply call them the "southern army" was no longer adequate for this reborn force. In fact, many had begun calling them the "Cinder King's Army," a title that could barely encompass a coalition including the remnants of the Storm-King, Carian Knights, mages of the Eternal Dynasty, and the Redmane remnants.
Its complex composition had not hindered its combat effectiveness in the slightest; on the contrary, it grew ever stronger.
According to intelligence, with the aid of Ancient Dragon priestesses, the number of Dragon Communionists in the Cinder King's Army had surged, and they were now preparing for war.
Furthermore, the number of powerful Demigods Ranni could mobilize was staggering. Once set in motion, their momentum would be world-shattering, providing a clear motive to prevent the formation of a rival god-king.
"Keep moving."
Leda urged them on, interrupting their thoughts. Now was not the time to bring the conflict to a head.
She held a certain reverence for that quasi-king; it was best not to push them into opposition. Did Lord Miquella's bewitchment still have an effect? Had it been dispelled? Or perhaps it never worked in the first place?
The dangers of the Shadow Keep were no place for contemplation. The immediate priority was to enter the Specimen Storehouse.
They had to bypass this chokepoint and rendezvous at the Spiral Tower.
In a meeting room in Castle Ensis, the two travel-worn parties assembled.
Both Ranni's and Rellana's squads showed traces of fatigue. After all, a forced march through day and night was arduous, especially after a battle. But there was no time to rest; time waited for no one.
The two sides shared their respective intelligence, uncovering a series of explosive revelations. Miquella's actions, in particular, were shocking.
"On a side note, while investigating the Finger Ruins, we passed through Boni Village—the other location with Numen victims. They have been rescued."
Hearing Rellana's news, Melina breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's good."
"So the priority is to stop Miquella? But we lack an army," Rellana stated the difficulty. "And we aren't familiar enough with the Land of Shadow. The path to the Divine Gate is not easy to travel; it's heavily guarded."
"It would be much more convenient if we could persuade Brother Messmer to help," Melina suggested.
"In truth, his control is not as strong as you might think."
Ranni shook her head and added, "Setting aside the fact that Marika's betrayal left the holy war army without its faith, many of the outlying soldiers are wary of Messmer's blasphemous status. They remain detached, nominally under his command but not his direct control. His influence is concentrated only within the Shadow Keep."
"The others are rebels?"
"It's not that severe. For example, the Punishment Fortress and Mist Valley Fortress in the Shadow Altus region are still under his control, but they are disunited in spirit... It's complicated."
"We cannot cooperate with a holy war army that cannot even control itself," the Mimic Tear offered a rare, proactive rebuttal.
Ultimately, they had to rely on their own.
"It will take time for your Cinder King's Army to arrive, and the barrier is a problem."
"Don't worry, Ranni. The analytical spell I left behind will continue to erode the barrier. Soon, the 'many eyes' above will be dispelled first. Then we will burn the Shadow Tree and let the entire land return."
Frieren already had a plan; it was just a matter of whether the holy war army would cooperate.
Since this was the case, Ranni had no other comment, merely nodding.
In the end, her own forces were merely united under the banner of a holy war, not part of the holy war army itself. The soldiers of Castle Ensis were the Carian Army, the Twin Moon Army. At the critical moment, they had to be clear about their allegiance.
Ranni warned, "We cannot be optimistic and assume that dispelling the Shadow Barrier will only benefit us. Looking at the map, the Haligtree Army also has a supply route. They can at least organize an elite rapid-response force to provide support. I believe Miquella will absolutely do this."
Everyone agreed. As long as there was time, he would not hesitate to raise the stakes.
And it was highly likely there would be time, because their own side also needed to wait for the Cinder King's Army to be fully in place to secure an advantage. Both sides would be laying their cards on the table.
The Mimic Tear cracked its knuckles and remarked:
"Our Cinder King's Army, the Carian Army, the holy war army, the Horned Folk army, and the Haligtree Army all joining the fray... how lively will that be? We might just smash the Divine Gate to pieces, won't we?"
Upon careful calculation, a total of five armies would be participating in the battle. This staggering scale surpassed even the defense of Leyndell, Royal Capital, a rare sight in the world.
It was hard to imagine that The Lands Between, a world in decay, could still muster a war of such magnitude. But it was indeed highly likely to happen, and the logistics, coordination, command, and destruction involved were beyond estimation.
No one had any experience. No one had ever attempted such a complex feat of social and military engineering, and so everyone present wore a grave expression.
"There's no point in us deliberating here. Let's get moving."
Ranni made the final decision: "I will scout ahead to Shadow Altus first, then proceed to chokepoints like the Punishment Fortress to ensure stability. Regardless of the situation, the holy war army maintains the current order in the Land of Shadow. We must make them cooperate."
"Your forces from Castle Ensis must also be on alert. A portion will be stationed on the Gravesite Plain, which will be the entry point for our army."
"Another portion of the army will maintain patrols in Shadow Altus. We must keep this region firmly under control."
She looked around and heard a chorus of responses:
"As you command."
When a monarch of The Lands Between spoke of 'cooperation,' it was not a gentle negotiation, but conquest. At this point, there was no time to play games with the holy war army; they had to be brought into this grand strategy.
No one was allowed to remain on the sidelines, because any outsider could become an interfering factor. It was safest to bring everything under control.
"Same as before, we'll stick to the previous team assignments."
The main force was the reconnaissance team consisting of Frieren, Melina, and the Mimic Tear. Though fewest in number, they had been active in the Land of Shadow the longest, possessing foundational experience and the majority of the combat power. At critical moments, they would have to overcome difficult obstacles to secure the army's path.
The rest, of course, were Ranni and Rellana.
In truth, their mission also included revitalizing the combat strength of this Carian army, restoring morale, and advancing to Shadow Altus.
They would advance on two fronts. This meant the main force would handle reconnaissance and infiltration, while the Carian army would serve to attract attention. Yes, in a sense, they were treating the holy war army as a potential enemy, or at least with caution, until Messmer confirmed his cooperation.
"Has Lady Ranni not written to her brother to inform him?"
"I urged him to join Lady Ranni's side, but he insists on meeting you all first. Furthermore, he will not lower the guard of the Shadow Keep."
"No matter. I will convince Messmer."
Frieren looked towards Ranni and Melina, and they nodded with reassurance.
It was just a battle, nothing more.
Mere words could not win over the commander of the holy war army, and besides, Her Majesty had promised not to kill anyone. They could only watch and see how they 'communicated.' As long as everyone lived, a sound beating was a trivial matter.
With the general plan decided, the two groups went their separate ways. Ranni and Rellana's side required detailed planning, while the main team just needed to continue exploring.
There were no superfluous pleasantries; focusing on their respective duties was what mattered most.
However, Frieren's pointed reminder for the "Carian army not to forget the collectibles while searching Shadow Altus" was, of course, also a core part of the mission. After all, everyone knew Her Majesty enjoyed a thorough, scavenger-style adventure.
The fact that she was willing to partially forgo her exploration and gathering was a testament to the immense pressure she was under. Miquella, it seemed, was truly capable.
The three of them advanced towards the Punishment Fortress.
The reason they chose it as their first stop was because Frieren was moving directly through the air, using gravity magic to crudely fly her companions over. The wind pressure and mana flow here were more familiar.
Furthermore, the Punishment Fortress, much like the Valley of the First Flame and the Jagged Peak, commanded a vast region from its high vantage point and could not be left unsecured.
RUMBLE!
The trail of a meteor streaking across the sky drew attention.
Frieren didn't descend immediately, instead observing their destination from high above as much as possible.
The Punishment Fortress was not large, but its strength lay in its treacherous location. Built upon a steep cliff, it was easy to defend and difficult to assault.
Even an army of tens of thousands would struggle to conquer it. Moreover, its field of vision was vast, enough to survey most of the troublesome regions…
The alarm sounded.
The soldiers below sprang into action, raising shields and nocking arrows in an orderly fashion, quickly forming ranks.
Although they recognized this figure from the battles of the balefire and the greatwyrm, making her a familiar face, they did not know if she was friend or foe.
"You should have heard of me by now. I come with no ill intent, only to invite you to join us."
Despite her words, Frieren's imposing aura did not relax in the slightest.
While it might seem arrogant, this was, in fact, the proper dignity of a monarch. In The Lands Between, persuasion was not the preferred method; one had to display sufficient strength.
"You surely know of the blessing bestowed upon Castle Ensis. I can give it to you as well."
She revealed the radiance of her Great Rune.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, a flash of gold rose from the corner of her eye. A tall black knight unfurled a pair of brilliant golden wings from his back and took to the sky, a sight that made even Frieren's eyes light up as she couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
So cool. Is that an incantation from the Aspects of the Crucible line? How's its performance?
The next moment, a wave of sword energy swept towards them, but the gravity orb beneath her feet shifted slightly, carrying the three passengers out of the way. Only then did she get a clear look at her attacker.
"My name is Ered, lord of the Punishment Fortress." The white-haired man held his twinblade horizontally. "For Your Majesty to expect us to submit without a fight is a bit hasty, wouldn't you say?"
"Very well. Come at me as you please."
Frieren, of course, hadn't expected it to be so easy and was already prepared for battle.
Although Ered had accepted the challenge, the silver-haired girl in his eyes had no intention of landing. Was she planning to fight the entire battle from above? It certainly had the intimidating presence of a monarch, exuding dominance. But if she were to fall, it would be quite embarrassing.
"Let's test her."
If they were fighting in a familiar cliffside area, it might work. He wondered just how capable the Soul Cinder King was.
The Radiance of the Crucible Aspects flared, erupting with magic.
Ered, along with his twinblade, charged forward, actually managing to leap onto the gravity orb in mid-air. Frieren calmly met his attack with her Dark Moon Greatsword, and with a sharp clang, sparks flew.
Both felt the unexpected power of the other and retreated a step.
On one side was a statistical monster enhanced by multiple powers, capable of adjusting her attributes at any time. On the other was a warrior blessed since ancient times, his heroic spirit undiminished.
SWISH!
Suddenly, an arrow came speeding towards them.
Before Frieren could react, Melina and the Mimic Tear effortlessly cut it down, then leaped down to assault the fortress.
They had already begun the siege. Though they held back and avoided lethal force, they still sent men and horses flying. The ordinary soldiers of the Punishment Fortress were simply no threat to a Demigod, especially with their commander occupied with the strongest opponent.
The silver-haired girl shifted her gaze back to Ered.
As a warrior known as a "black knight," he certainly had some skill, easily dodging the auto-targeting Glintblades.
However, Frieren intended to end this quickly and would not dally. She switched from defense and counterattacks to an absolute onslaught. Dense clusters of glintstone rose around her, lancing out like spears.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The overwhelming firepower forced Ered to retract his wings and land on a rooftop.
What followed was a storm of roaring fire, lightning, and earth, not aimed at him alone, but blanketing the entire Punishment Fortress with constant explosions.
With her power alone, she made an entire fortress tremble.
So that was it. The Soul Cinder King's power wasn't meant to defeat a single person or a group, but to utterly crush them.
CRACKLE!
In a matter of breaths, Frieren had churned the sky above, creating dark clouds. Electrical charges built up within the black currents, crackling audibly.
The intermittent flashes of white light were blinding.
At this point, Ered no longer dared to activate his Aspect of the Crucible: Wings to take flight. Otherwise, wouldn't he become a living target, to be electrocuted until he was charred black? On the contrary, he now had to dodge.
A bolt of fiery lightning as thick as a tree stump struck the spot where he had been standing a moment before.
A tingling numbness spread through his armor. The dispersed electrical charges continued their pursuit, not fully dissipated. Upon closer inspection, he noticed his armor was gradually changing color…
"Ancient Dragons' Lightning!"
"Correct. I've encountered a few Ancient Dragons, so I tried to replicate it."
"That's not something you can explain away by just having seen it."
The Soul Cinder King's magical talent shocked Ered. She couldn't be an Ancient Dragon Knight who had chosen the path of dragon faith... no, this lightning felt as if it came from a true covenant with an Ancient Dragon. Could it be she had earned the complete allegiance of one?
He immediately thought of the High Priestess Florisaxx and was certain. She must have chosen to side with Frieren after the battle of the greatwyrm.
How enviable. It was a record unprecedented in the history of The Lands Between.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
Suddenly, the lightning besieging Ered lessened. Instead, the dark clouds in the sky gathered even more energy, shimmering like a dragon-serpent behind the silver-haired girl. It coiled through the heavens, a bolt from the blue, continuously expanding the storm's radius.
Frost from the Dark Moon's magic even condensed upon the garden below, only to be melted into rain by the lightning.
Just moments ago, the sky had been clear, but under Frieren's absolute power, the environment had been reshaped, giving one the sense of helplessness of a small boat adrift in the deep sea.
They had no way to fight back.
They could only watch as red lightning blasted the shields and weapon racks on the fortress walls to dust. They were not her equal. More importantly, lightning was still pursuing Ered at astonishing speed.
He hurriedly swung his twinblade, whipping up a vortex of storm magic to counter, but his opponent remained unmoved.
The nature of her magic was too stable. The difference was like heaven and earth.
This failed counterattack completely tipped the scales of victory. In an instant, several bolts of lightning struck Ered, and a paralyzing numbness stole all sensation. The hero's physique could not resist it in the slightest.
Frieren, in mid-air, nodded with satisfaction and slowly descended.
"Your Majesty seems to be in a hurry."
"Correct. We are in a race against time with the enemy. You must cooperate and participate. That is an order."
"...As you command. Perhaps it is time for the holy war army to truly return."
Ered looked out and saw that his subordinates had also been subdued. With the skill of Melina and the Mimic Tear, a few soldiers were no problem. The situation was already under control.
VMMMM!
The light of three Great Runes appeared in Frieren's hand, shining brilliantly, the power of the world's highest law pulsing within them. Every living being in The Lands Between possessed an unimaginable sensitivity to them; they were an absolute symbol of power.
Even if an ordinary person obtained one, it would be useless. Only a Shardbearer could wield it.
They had seen Frieren use this from afar to restore the valley floor of the balefire. Seeing it up close today left them utterly dumbfounded.
"As promised, I will grant you my blessing."
She gave them no chance to respond, and with a light tap of her slender finger, a radiant light descended.
The blessing of a Great Rune.
This was not the blessing of the Golden Lineage, but a more unique baptism that reached deep into the soul. As expected of a blessing specially granted by the Soul Cinder King, it was extraordinary, a power that belonged to her alone.
The fatigue accumulated over many years was swept away, and even signs of zombification were reversed. Their once-weary bodies were revitalized.
"Praise be to Your Majesty! May you be ever victorious."
"There's no need for such ceremony. I'm actually here to be a peacemaker. The coming war requires a complete holy war army, not one scattered all over."
"But many still take issue with Commander Messmer, and he himself may not accept..."
"You will all accept."
Her decisive words carried the unquestionable will of a monarch. This was not a negotiation, but a notice. No matter what, the holy war army had to be reunified and rally under a new banner.
At this point, Frieren couldn't be bothered with their old legalisms. She didn't care whose soldiers they used to be; she was conscripting them all.
"Your Majesty, you truly have the air of the First Lord, Godfrey."
How could a queen with three Great Runes and the witch of the Golden scions not be the legitimate ruler? Moreover, even Caria had fully sided with her. This was the choice of a new age.
Even if the First Lord were to return, he would be but an echo of a bygone era.
So be it.
In the land where Marika and Godfrey rose to power, for a new monarch to take up the heavy burden and reshape The Lands Between—was this not symbolic in itself? Ered and his men were thoroughly convinced and would watch Frieren's future conquest for now.
"Your Majesty, who is our enemy?"
"In the Spiral Tower. The last army of the Horned Folk, controlled by Miquella."
"Then our holy war army's mission is not yet over. After a thousand years, this final crusade has been long overdue."
The rest of the conversation went smoothly.
However, Frieren didn't forget to collect everything in the Punishment Fortress; she couldn't have come all this way for nothing. So she gathered what she could and, as expected, received rewards like the [Fire Dragoncrest Talisman +3] and [Ashes of Messmer's Soldier].
She especially asked Ered to teach her the incantation that had now become her favorite:
[Aspect of the Crucible: Wings]
[When equipping a twinblade, the charge attack becomes a spinning attack]
So it was an incantation that enhanced a corresponding weapon. Quite rare, and somewhat restrictive. But for Frieren, it wasn't a big problem; the power depended mainly on the user.
"What are Your Majesty's plans next?"
"I may have to go to Mist Valley Fortress. My goal is to unify Shadow Altus."
"You need not trouble yourself. According to what you said earlier, the Carian army is also on the move, correct? I will go and persuade my comrades. With Lady Ranni and Lady Rellana, we should be able to stabilize the situation. Your Majesty has more important matters to attend to."
However, Frieren fell silent. The others were puzzled. Wasn't that an excellent suggestion? It would save a lot of time.
"Good. Then we'll go to the Shadow Keep."
So that's what she was hesitant about all this time! It seems the Shardbearers all have their quirks. To still be concerned with scavenger-style exploration? They didn't even know if she herself was in a hurry.
In Her Majesty's eyes, both were probably of equal importance. The witch truly understood her.
"By the way, Lady Melina is Commander Messmer's sister, correct?"
"I am."
"You must help him rally his spirits. The holy war army still has an unfinished mission."
"You have my word."
_____
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