After departing the fortress in Limgrave, the party journeyed nonstop towards the main gate of the Shadow Keep.
With Torrent's speed, carrying Frieren, Melina, and the almost weightless Mimic Tear, he moved like the wind, charging down from a high vantage point and circling around to arrive at the main gate in no time.
Unexpectedly, it wasn't as heavily guarded as they had imagined.
Strange.
Melina took out a map, pointed to a blacked-out area, and said, "Most of the forces should be concentrated in the precinct. They've opted for a focused defense."
"I sense it too. There are many people over there... but something else, something momentous, is about to happen."
Suddenly, Frieren's expression grew unprecedentedly grave as she looked up toward the sky.
Hearing this, Melina and the Mimic Tear immediately stood on high alert. Her Majesty was always the first to detect an omen; she was practically clairvoyant. In comparison, their own perceptive abilities were far too dull.
[A Great Rune has been shattered somewhere]
A thought suddenly flashed through their minds. A vast power was rapidly fading, vanishing without a trace from the depths of their spirits.
They looked around but noticed no major disturbances.
So it was a piece of energy buried deep within their own consciousness that had shattered, sending a chill through their bodies and covering them in cold sweat. The influence had never been eradicated, only the mental interference suppressed.
"Don't worry, it's Miquella retracting the hypnosis that was enhanced by his Great Rune."
"We've been defending against it all along, so we'll be fine. The main impact is on the follower squads. Some will probably awaken, others will be confused, right? But it's not a given that they'll have a change of heart."
Frieren acknowledged her opponent's charisma.
Whether as a master of psychology or a leader of a faction, he possessed the skill to unite the masses; his followers would not be easily swayed.
"How insidious..."
The Mimic Tear said through gritted teeth, feeling utterly disgusted and humiliated by the realization that a hidden seed had been planted in its consciousness all this time. Fortunately, the matriarch had been responsible for their mental protection; otherwise, who knew if Miquella would have decided to cause trouble at any moment.
He must have also been fully aware of Frieren's strength, which is why he hadn't initiated a battle prematurely.
"We have to speed up. If Miquella has relinquished his Great Rune, it means he is making an all-out sprint for godhood," Melina asserted.
"Indeed. Let's go in."
At this point, it had become a race against time.
The contest between the two sides was not about stopping the other. In fact, even if they had the chance to prevent the birth of the god-king combination, Frieren's opinion would likely be to wait, just for the thrill of defeating a powerful foe.
The real competition was the efficiency of deploying their forces—who could assemble their troops faster. It was a test not only of their top-tier combatants but also of their faction's organization, discipline, and a little bit of luck.
However, the main party didn't discuss this aspect; they were not worried at all.
Because it wasn't their forte. Since they had entrusted it fully to Ranni and Rellana, they had absolute faith. The training and quality of the Carian army made them more than capable of the task. They had placed their trust in each other.
Elsewhere.
"...There's no mistaking this feeling. The enchantment attached to the barrier has vanished."
Ranni concluded, staring at the Shadow's Veil.
She took a small, blue doll from her pocket and infused it with magic. The light scattered into the air and disappeared. This was a one-time communication, connecting to Blaidd.
The Shadow's Veil was so powerful it could even block information, so mobilizing troops after it was lifted would be too late; preparations had to be made in advance.
Rellana, standing beside her, witnessed everything, her eyes filled with admiration.
"You're already prepared?"
"Yes. I determined we would definitely need an army, so I've arranged for elite forces from Limgrave, Liurnia, and Caelid in The Lands Between to form the main expeditionary force and come as reinforcements. They will deploy upon receiving my message, which will at least save that much time."
"If we have a way to contact the outside world when the barrier is weak, then we must assume Miquella can do the same."
"Correct. The Haligtree army will likely be involved as well."
The two wore grave expressions, but there was no use in rushing now. They could only hope their allies outside the barrier would act quickly. All they could do now was stabilize Shadow Altus.
As they led their army to clear out wandering beasts and establish strongholds, the Shadow Keep received its guests.
The main gate.
Before the party stood a statue of Marika, majestic and tall, a rare sight in the Land of Shadow, which spoke to Messmer's respect for her.
However, the area was far too empty; it was clearly a ruin.
Broken walls and crumbling ramparts, piles of rubble and tiles at their feet, and even pools of standing water.
Looking around, everything was shrouded in a hazy mist. The humidity was considerable, and touching their skin revealed beads of moisture.
Light shone down from above, consistent with a castle's structure, but it grew dim as it refracted through the water vapor.
The three immediately raised their guard.
Having adventured together many times, they had at least accumulated experience. A place like this was obviously hiding a powerful enemy with ill intentions.
The Mimic Tear pointed to the weapon racks lined with spears on both sides and asked, "Could it be a trap?"
Though phrased as a question, it had already fired a Night Comet.
The fragile weapon racks naturally shattered on impact; it wasn't a trap.
But the ground quickly began to vibrate, ripples spreading across the water, accompanied by a rumbling draconic roar. A shadow emerged from behind the statue.
It was quite large and very stout, its reflection shimmering in the mist.
[Golden Hippopotamus]
The powerful monster charged in a low stance, its cavernous mouth wide open, revealing sharp, yellow tusks and a reek of blood. No wonder it was fed so well; it had likely eaten its fair share of intruders.
On closer inspection, it even had a rhino-like horn, hair growing on its back, and a long tail swaying from side to side—a true chimera.
"Since it's so rare, I'll leave it to the matriarch."
The Mimic Tear stepped aside. Frieren, overjoyed at the prospect of a hunt, was already poised to strike, her body alight with the glow of an incantation, faith-based magic highly concentrated—
As always, she had to use what she got, but this time, the enemy, as if by some鬼使神差, opened its great maw.
The Golden Hippopotamus's jaw opened to an astonishing degree, and it actually caught the silver-haired girl's charge cleanly.
Bang!
As its upper and lower jaws tried to snap shut, Frieren was seen bracing against its teeth, using her terrifying strength to plant her feet on the lower jaw and a single hand to prop up the upper one.
She still had a hand free to launch a Sorcery: Collapsing Stars, sending the Golden Hippopotamus flying.
The behemoth crashed to the ground, while she landed lightly, patting the corner of her sorcerer's robe.
"I'm still not used to it, this being the first time I've used it."
Melina and the Mimic Tear watched, breaking into a cold sweat. That was truly dangerous. It was only because her strength was so overwhelming and her margin for error so high that she could brute force her way through; otherwise, it would have been disastrous.
The brief exchange made the Golden Hippopotamus realize its opponent was no pushover. The impact from that Sorcery: Collapsing Stars had left its head spinning. It couldn't fall for her tricks; it had to be careful.
That said, that inexplicable flight was also quite strange.
Why? The simple-minded monster couldn't think that far.
Instead, it submerged itself in the water to create distance, ready to charge at any moment.
It was only when the Golden Hippopotamus was half-submerged that the party realized what lay before them was a pool; the illusion of standing water was a trick.
So the ruins at the main gate were actually its designated hunting ground. No wonder it wasn't heavily guarded; the Golden Hippopotamus's prowess was such that one of it was worth a thousand men, making extra security unnecessary.
Furthermore, even if the battle went poorly, it could make enough noise to attract reinforcements.
This had to be a quick fight.
Understanding this, Frieren proactively waded into the water, pursuing it without hesitation.
How dare she? What a brainless, reckless fool.
Seizing the opportunity, the Golden Hippopotamus leaped forward, tracing an arc out of the water. With the added force of gravity, its charge was even more ferocious. It could smash through a castle gate, let alone snap its jaws shut—
Clack!
Its teeth slammed violently against a greatsword, a bone-chilling frost spreading from the impact, even disrupting the flow of magic within its body.
It was Frieren, dual-wielding the Dark Moon Greatsword, who had blocked the attack. She even took a step forward, meeting force with force and pushing it back, driving the Golden Hippopotamus into a steady retreat.
How is this possible?
It simply couldn't comprehend how the disparity in size and weight was being compensated for.
There was no time to think. A force struck its lower jaw from below, the upward angle of the blow sending a dull thud through to the top of its skull.
Its vision went black as its body was thrown onto its back, almost flipping over completely, which would have exposed its vulnerable underbelly.
The Golden Hippopotamus managed to stabilize itself on its four hooves at the last moment.
But Frieren was an relentless attacker. When it looked around, she was gone—she was above.
Aspects of the Crucible: Wings sent her plummeting down from above like a meteor, the tip of the Dark Moon Greatsword leading the charge.
The speed was terrifying; a fleeting glimpse was all it got before it was right in its face.
Crack!
In its haste, it used the horn on its head to counter, sending sparks flying as neither gave an inch.
After the strike, Frieren teleported to the other side.
The chimera had its advantages. Despite being a hippopotamus, it had the sturdy horn of a rhinoceros, likely the hardest part of its body.
There was no need to waste energy trying to brute force it; cost-effectiveness had to be considered. She hadn't forgotten that her strongest opponent was Messmer; she needed to conserve her strength for him.
The Golden Hippopotamus had no such considerations. It swam rapidly through the pool, using its horn as a pivot point for a ferocious charge, like an unstoppable war chariot about to sweep through everything.
However, Frieren effortlessly dispelled the attack with Miriam's Vanishing, teleporting behind it and countering with a Sarcophagus Mud.
Grayish-black clods of mud filled the space, piling up into small hills and even engulfing the pool.
What is this?
Upon first contact, the Golden Hippopotamus felt nothing unusual.
It was even happy, as hippos enjoy bathing in mud to cool off. Even in this humid habitat, it wanted to cool down.
But then, the mire splattered on its body began to ignite with eerie blue flames.
A meteor shower of death-infused fire, carried by the mire, enveloped the hippo's body, instantly engulfing it. Before Frieren stood a super-sized torch, screaming and thrashing about.
"No matter who uses what, you shouldn't touch things so rashly. Too reckless."
She could see it clearly now. It was just a large pet, appearing foolish but in reality having little combat experience.
Sorcery: Rancorcall.
Pressing her advantage, a swarm of soul-damaging magic pursued it. With the Golden Hippopotamus's size, it was impossible to dodge in time.
As a result, the searing of the ghostflame and the pain in its soul enveloped it in an instant. This was more than just physical torment; its very soul was gradually being burned away.
It couldn't delay any longer, or it would die a miserable death.
Making a final, desperate gamble, the behemoth charged once more.
This time, Frieren didn't intend to dodge. She stood her ground, took her stance, and held the Dark Moon Greatsword with both hands, charging its power, waiting for the enemy to pounce—
In that instant, the silver-haired girl allocated all her stats to strength, her entire body driving the sharp blade forward, aiming the edge at its head. It was less a slash and more a slam, less a counterattack and more a perfect prediction of the Golden Hippopotamus's move.
A deafening clang resounded as she smashed it on the forehead. It instantly collapsed, its four hooves sinking into the ground.
The ghostflame and soul attacks continued to take effect, leaving it in a weakened state.
Even Melina and the Mimic Tear, who were familiar with Frieren's fighting style, stared wide-eyed. This round of attacks was ruthless and violent.
It certainly saved mana for a sorcerer.
Only for Her Majesty.
Because no one else could substitute damage output with an efficient, barbaric warrior style. What she was doing now was clearly killing it with continuous status effects while maintaining pressure with melee attacks.
The Golden Hippopotamus had fallen into the powerful enemy's combat rhythm.
But they all knew it wouldn't end so simply, because the large creature was beginning to glow with the power of the Crucible.
The next moment, its skin grew "golden stalks," densely covered with spikes. Some parts even shot outwards, but the three of them parried them without taking any damage.
Aspects of the Crucible: Needles.
The attack aimed at Frieren was slightly different; all the spikes rolled towards her at once.
That's right, the Golden Hippopotamus was now rolling, an avalanche of force.
It wanted to strike with a heavy impact, but its opponent gave it no chance. With a single use of Aspects of the Crucible: Wings, she soared into the air, already forming a weapon skill the Golden Hippopotamus had never seen before.
Dragonwound Slash!
A single strike cut down a large swath of the needles formed by the Crucible's power, leaving that patch of skin completely bare.
It wasn't over. Frieren floated in the air, continuously unleashing Dragonwound Slashes, her aim perfect against the large target.
The oppressive force she displayed now was just like the style of the Black Blade Kindred when controlled by Maliketh.
Sword beams rained down from the sky.
The struggling Golden Hippopotamus could not hold on. Its stamina depleted rapidly, its body swaying, unable to dodge, almost taking the full brunt of the physical assault.
Moreover, the soul attack remained attached to its body, continuously inflicting damage.
With all its might, it barely managed to lift its head, only to see the silver-haired girl looking down coldly from above, unleashing one Dragonwound Slash after another—ruthless, efficient, unstoppable.
"Ooo—"
The Golden Hippopotamus let out a mournful cry, but it was cut short by a fresh wound on its throat.
"Quiet. Don't disturb everyone."
Frieren had no intention of revealing their infiltration too early. If the Crusader Army swarmed to the entrance, it would be no different from a siege. So, if possible, she preferred to sneak deeper.
Unable to call for help, the Golden Hippopotamus grew even more desperate, and despair was fuel for the ghostflame.
The wounds it had accumulated until now erupted all at once. When its will weakened, they served as the perfect finishing blow.
The time was right.
Seizing the opportunity, Frieren lifted the Dark Moon Greatsword with both hands, putting her full weight behind a direct chop, driving the Moonlight Wave weapon skill straight into its head.
She was seen standing on its horn, driving the blade into its neck and carving a circle, sending blood splashing everywhere.
The Golden Hippopotamus's life force rapidly dwindled.
At the last moment, the Golden Hippopotamus still struggled to rise. No, it had to. It had to at least send a signal with all its might.
However, Frieren stomped down with her foot, her small frame unleashing an unshakable force. With her power alone, she forced the behemoth onto its side, completely helpless, the light in its eyes gradually dimming.
Even being blessed with the power of the ancient Crucible Aspects could not change its fate.
She clapped her hands and announced, "Done."
Melina said with lingering fear, "As a gatekeeper, it was already very strong. An entire army would have taken some time to deal with it."
"This is the first time I've seen the matriarch finish a fight entirely with weapon skills. Has your power grown again?" the Mimic Tear's eyes sparkled.
"You could say that."
Thanks to the significant increase in her body's base attributes, she could support such an extravagant fighting style. The continuous chain of Dragonwound Slashes just now might have looked easy, but it actually involved a comprehensive application of power; not a single aspect could be lacking.
Of course, the rewards were also noteworthy. She had obtained the Golden Hippopotamus's special ability.
As expected of a land blessed by the ancient Erdtree, it was indeed rich with ancient Incantations related to the Aspects of the Crucible:
[Aspects of the Crucible: Needles]
[An Aspect of the Crucible that manifested in the Golden Hippopotamus.]
[Forms a multitude of sharp, needle-like hairs on the back. While rolling on the ground, it sweeps the surrounding area. Can be charged to increase its power.]
[In the ancient past, before this land was veiled by shadow, the life of the Crucible truly pulsed.]
[It is said that related signs can be found in the ancient ruins.]
Reading the description, Frieren's mouth twitched. So that thing was essentially hardened body hair, like quills.
How could a hippopotamus have so much body hair? You're basically a giant porcupine.
Would the user also grow an excessive amount of body hair? That was an important question.
She'd put off testing it for now.
Having made up her mind, Frieren stood before the Site of Grace to rest for a moment, while also giving instructions:
"Melina, help me allocate the Runes for leveling up. This time, it's Intelligence and Vigor. I want to face Messmer with optimal stats."
"—Leave it to me."
Achieving victory wasn't difficult; the hard part was not overdoing it, which meant controlling the pace of the fight throughout. That was more challenging than simply defeating the opponent.
Besides, someone called a blasphemous existence like Messmer was sure to be extraordinary. She had to be fully prepared.
As his sister, Melina was naturally concerned for her brother's safety. The stronger Frieren was, the more likely things would go smoothly.
Even without meeting him, she knew his temper would make a fight inevitable.
No one would underestimate the strength of the Crusader Army's commander.
Even without a Great Rune, he was an elder, deeply experienced, and battle-hardened golden scion—a top-tier demigod without a doubt. His already terrifying talent had been steeped in this ancient land for years. During his time in the Land of Shadow, Messmer had most likely grown even stronger. She had to be careful.
Whoosh!
The hum of the Site of Grace accompanied the flow of Rune power into Frieren's body. She could clearly feel a significant increase in her magic power, and her physique had also been slightly enhanced.
All the Runes collected since arriving in the Land of Shadow had now been cashed in.
There was another reason for this power-up: the upcoming tactics would be quite mana-intensive.
So, the two of them mixed a Flask of Wondrous Physick together for the first time in a while as a supplement. Even the Mimic Tear at their side was prepared.
"We can't force our way in, or we'll inevitably have to fight, which will cause them unnecessary losses. Therefore, we will adopt stealth tactics, trying to get deeper without engaging in combat, at least until we reach the Specimen Storehouse."
Frieren made the final decision.
Difficult as it was, it was actually more efficient.
Fighting their way through would be time-consuming, and the situation could easily spiral out of control, possibly ending up much slower than sneaking. So they had decided from the start to minimize combat and slip in quietly.
"My Night sorcery excels at concealment. I can provide cover for everyone."
"I'll also maintain Unseen Form on you all, along with illusions and other methods to distract them. Just follow me."
"We'll follow your lead."
In reality, the most skilled at stealth among the three was Frieren herself. Back when she was weak upon first entering the world of Dark Souls, she relied entirely on stealth and backstabs, fighting in a thoroughly猥琐manner.
Though it had been a long time, she hadn't lost the skill. The memories of her past life had been reawakened after a long slumber.
"Let's move out."
As Frieren gave the command, a series of invisibility spells descended. Combined with their light-footed movements, they were almost silent.
If supplemented with methods like throwing stones, dealing with the relatively weak defenses of the Shadow Keep wouldn't be difficult.
Passing through the room where the Golden Hippopotamus was, they came across a white spirit.
"......That's impossible. We haven't been abandoned. Lord Messmer is Lady Marika's son, how could he be abandoned......"
The shadow of a knight knelt on the ground, seemingly weeping, its sorrow etched into the projection.
What a pity.
They had a basic understanding of the situation. The Crusader Army had experienced despair and was now just holding on.
But it didn't matter. Sooner or later, the Land of Shadow would regain its freedom. That was why the party had come.
As expected, patrolling soldiers appeared on the path ahead, on high alert, checking every corner.
They knew a great enemy was at hand. The Soul Cinder King who was stirring up trouble in the Land of Shadow would come for them sooner or later.
The Crusader Army controlled the main thoroughfares of the Land of Shadow, like a nail driven into the junction of every road, impossible to bypass.
And Messmer had also ordered them to prepare, adding a layer of tension to the city.
"Did you hear? The Grace the Soul Cinder King gave to Castle Ensis is the real deal. Their Great Rune's response has grown much stronger."
"Grace... Haven't heard that word in a long time. We were abandoned long ago."
"Fighting to exterminate the Hornsent is right, those bastards deserve to die, but I can no longer fight under Marika's banner. She betrayed all of us."
"It's an insult!"
"The Soul Cinder King has already incorporated the Carian army. This time, they're coming for us. Could it be a recruitment attempt?"
"A king's way should be conquest, but the outcome is not much different."
"It won't be that easy. Lord Messmer's stance is still unclear, and he is very strong."
"Why worry so much? Just wait. I bet there will be a battle of demigods soon to decide our stance. Either we fight for Marika to the last, or we raise a new banner but still take out the Hornsent first."
"Our mission must be completed."
The three who had been eavesdropping exchanged glances. They hadn't expected the Crusader Army to still be adhering to their mission after so many years, though their object of loyalty had begun to waver.
After all, Marika's actions had left everyone disheartened.
They were uncertain about the path forward, already foreseeing a great change but not knowing how to choose.
The choice wasn't even in the soldiers' hands; a soldier's duty is to obey.
Frieren took this opportunity to quietly slip past the patrol, and along with Melina and the Mimic Tear following close behind, arrived before a desolate Minor Erdtree.
____
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