The Great Altar of Dragon Communion.
There, Frieren sat on the ground, having removed her armor, clad only in a thin layer of clothing. Before her, Florisaxx, in her human form, held up a heart.
At this moment, the [Heart of Bayle] was still beating wildly, brimming with life.
Separated from its body and deprived of energy, its vigorous throbbing was unaffected. It even craved a host, ready to devour any foolhardy enough to touch it.
The silver-haired girl took several deep breaths, adjusting her state.
After these days of rest and recovery, she had returned to one hundred percent of her full strength.
With Melina having allocated the Mad Dragon Bayle's Runes for her own enhancement, she was in even better condition than when she first arrived at Jagged Peak.
"Your Majesty, to be honest, I do not recommend performing the Dragon Communion with Bayle's heart, especially so soon after its death. A powerful resentment resides within it and will surely take this opportunity to cause trouble."
"It's fine, Florisaxx. If I can kill it once, I can kill it again under any circumstances. Besides, its power doesn't even rank among the energies within my body."
"That is also true."
Since they were to perform a specific Dragon Communion ritual, she had, of course, inspected Frieren's body.
Not knowing was one thing, but knowing was a shock.
It turned out to be a medley of terrifying, high-order powers. Any single one would be extraordinary, yet they were gathered together peacefully, not fighting? What kind of body could withstand that? What kind of will could tame them? How was it done?
What kind of experiences supported Frieren's overly abundant reserves? As expected of a kingly silver one from beyond the Lands Between.
According to the Mimic Tear, "Mother grew weary of being a king long ago," and had merely come to the Lands Between on a whim. "That certainly makes sense; no wonder she is indifferent to fame and fortune.
Her interest is only piqued when collecting rare treasures and restoring the Lands Between.
She is pure.
And purity is also a source of great strength.
After much thought, Florisaxx felt her own knowledge was insufficient to understand Frieren's situation. There was no need to worry; since she had proposed it, she must be fully prepared. All she needed to do was cooperate.
The High Priestess pointed from afar, and a flame ignited on the Great Altar of Dragon Communion, causing the surrounding magic to converge at a single point.
"Your Majesty, the preliminary work is complete. Do you have an incantation seal?"
"Gurranq, the Beast Clergyman, gave me one, and the Southern Army has collected some Sacred Seals... but I don't think I have one specialized for Dragon Communion. Should I go look for one?"
"I retrieved one for you while you were asleep."
Melina handed her a red seal, explaining that she had taken it from a hidden area in the Stranded Graveyard. She had made the trip herself to cover all bases, saving them a return journey.
She had anticipated it would be needed sooner or later, and the witch knew well her partner's obsession with full collection, so she decided to help out.
"Thank you."
At the mention of the Stranded Graveyard from the very beginning of her journey, a nostalgic look appeared on the silver-haired girl's face. Using it in this context created a sense of poetic connection, of things coming full circle.
A bond forged one step at a time.
Florisaxx added, "The Dragon Communion Seal will help Your Majesty better tame the power of the ritual. It seems you have prepared quite thoroughly. We can begin. Your Majesty, please maintain your meditation and accept my guidance."
Hearing this, Frieren obediently closed her eyes, calmed her mind, and gathered her magic.
"Generally, the Dragon Communion ritual would involve eating the heart, but that is too primitive. With my assistance, you can absorb the heart's energy more effectively. Come, we shall create the most perfect Dragon Communion in history."
A warm current of magic flowed into her body, and then Florisaxx's voice gradually faded into a blur...
ROAR!
An angry roar echoed in her ears. When she opened her eyes, she saw a bloody maw—it was Bayle, his vertical pupils filled with fury and resentment.
No wonder those who partake in Dragon Communion are so easily assimilated by dragons, or go mad, fall to corruption, or mutate. The dragon's will remains in the heart, and consuming it directly is tantamount to accepting that corruption.
This made the Ancient Dragon High Priestess's method all the more advanced.
Of course, she had also underestimated Bayle's tenacity; a sliver of his will still remained.
"I may have said the heart was yours, but I never said you could devour me so completely. Don't get ahead of yourself."
"Do you have no other new tricks? If it's just an attempt to frighten me, don't bother showing off."
"Die—"
Before Bayle could pounce, innumerable tentacles shot out from the darkness, instantly entangling the dragon beast and clamping its great maw shut like a horse's bit. Not only were these tentacles terrifyingly strong, but they were also extremely corrupting, carrying an erosion that pierced the very soul.
My spiritual energy is being devoured? Why?
In a daze, Bayle understood the source of the dissonance in Frieren's spirit from the very beginning. She had long ago assimilated with another evil entity—no, she had devoured it.
She has eaten beings like me before.
In the mental world, the silver-haired girl stood up and lightly tapped Bayle's head, and more tentacles began to envelop him.
He saw only a pair of emerald eyes revealing the utmost coldness, dispassionately watching as he was wrapped up bit by bit. With a single thought, she mobilized a vast, boundless spiritual power to crush him. She was unfathomable.
Wrong. He was utterly wrong. He had never expected his enemy's greatest strength to be her spirit.
"Your spiritual power is so chaotic... what kind of being are you? And you talk of saving the Lands Between? You are the very incarnation of destruction—"
Before he could finish, Bayle saw Frieren's soul:
Fire?
A raging, inextinguishable flame, warm and majestic, possessing an incomparable power of creation. It was all-encompassing, ever-living, and had somehow merged with her. It was inconceivable.
But this flame also brought the pain of burning, enough to obliterate souls, having already incinerated countless sacrifices.
Only one who offers their body as kindling can bear it.
At this moment, Bayle understood the meaning of the title "Soul Cinder King." She had already experienced a grand journey and created miracles, which explained her incredible spirit and her unwavering belief that she could save the entire Lands Between...
"I'll be taking your power. Farewell for good, Bayle."
Sensing that her opponent was no longer resisting, Frieren reached out and, with a gentle grasp, completely captured his energy, even erasing the last vestiges of his will within it. He knew full well he couldn't hold on, couldn't fight back, and might as well obediently accept the outcome.
She actively assimilated the power of the Dragon Communion, and it was more stable than she had imagined. She would only know the specific physical changes after leaving her meditative state, but she had mastered new incantations.
A moment later.
In the real world, the silver-haired girl slowly opened her eyes, her physical life force now even stronger.
Seeing this, a delighted Florisaxx asserted, "Success! It went very smoothly. Now, please accept the Ancient Dragon Incantations, Your Majesty. I will guide you, allowing you to embrace the power of the Ancient Dragon Knights and master the Dragonbolt."
"Alright, I'll leave it to you."
Although Frieren rarely experienced this feeling of being guided to merge with power, she absorbed most of it through intuition alone.
She instinctively summoned her three Great Runes to assist, and the progress was swift, completed in an instant.
It was purified.
After successively absorbing Bayle's heart and the power of the Ancient Dragon Faith, Frieren stretched and finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"How do you feel, Your Majesty?" Florisaxx asked eagerly.
"Very good. I feel much lighter, and I can sense the power of the Dragon Communion. If I were to face a physique of Bayle's level again, I wouldn't be easily injured, which means I can conserve some healing magic."
Everyone was genuinely happy for her.
The Soul Cinder King's body could now be considered on the level of a Demigod. While not as physically powerful as General Radahn, she was about on par with Melina.
At least she would no longer be held back by this weakness, and those who knew her could feel that her energy was even more stable.
The silver-haired girl tried to condense a spark of red lightning in her hand, which crackled and flashed.
"As you can see, this is the power of the Ancient Dragon's red lightning. Not only does it possess powerful conventional destructive force, but it can also reduce a target's magic protection, inflict paralysis, and chain damage. Some skilled Ancient Dragon Knights can create a Lightning Spear, but it requires long practice..."
Hmph!
Before she could finish, Frieren had already condensed a Lightning Spear and said with a smile:
"Let's call it Florisaxx's Lightning Spear."
Master and servant exchanged a smile. A careful sensing would reveal that it was different from a typical Ancient Dragon Incantation; due to their unique pact, its base attributes were higher. This was the power an Ancient Dragon High Priestess bestowed upon a single knight.
Moreover, Florisaxx was pleasantly surprised to find that Frieren had also fed back a wisp of soul power, nourishing her own after years of depletion.
The aftereffects of being transformed into an Ancient Dragon-Man for decades were being subtly healed.
She was the one who had truly profited. The mere power of Ancient Dragons was just icing on the cake for a powerhouse of the Soul Cinder King's level, nothing crucial. She, on the other hand, had been reborn. To show her gratitude, she would have to assist with all her might.
BOOM!
Frieren immediately tested a bolt of Dragonbolt, easily piercing through a small hill and carving a crescent-shaped, smoking hole through its center.
She had finally mastered the authentic Dragonbolt of the Lands Between.
It had good synergy with her Placidusax's Ruin. Perhaps she could use this to inspire Ranni's unique soul transformation. When she returned, the two of them, master and apprentice, could research and see if they could create a more universally applicable lightning magic. After all, it was an exceptionally powerful element.
"Congratulations on mastering it, Your Majesty, though it still can't compare to your Sunlight Spear."
Recalling that world-shaking power, Florisaxx was filled with awe. It had incinerated the Mad Dragon Bayle in a single strike.
"It's never wrong to have more options."
"Indeed, I was being a bit too pragmatic. As long as Your Majesty finds it useful, that is all that matters. At the very least, it will be convenient when facing other Ancient Dragon Knights in the future."
After all, the Royal Capital's army had no shortage of powerhouses who had mastered Dragonbolt.
They would sooner or later become stumbling blocks on the new Elden Lord's path to supremacy. It was best to prepare countermeasures early. With the help of an Ancient Dragon, they could surely avoid their surprise attacks, or at least allow the Southern Army to be on guard.
Her researcher's curiosity piqued, Frieren immediately began experimenting with various forms of Dragonbolt, unleashing a barrage of attacks.
Meanwhile, her companions rested quietly, recovering from their wounds from the battle on Jagged Peak. They were long accustomed to her boundless energy; it was nothing surprising. It was better to rest themselves.
"I almost forgot, I can also try to fuse with Bayle's incantations."
The silver-haired girl held her breath.
The next moment, she soared into the air, a phantom of the Mad Dragon materializing around her. It specifically manifested the sharp bone spur of its severed right arm, which she plunged into the ground like a spear with a deafening rumble.
Magma surged, and the super-heated air steamed. Her onlooking companions almost thought Bayle had been resurrected.
The same incantation could perform vastly differently in the hands of different users. Frieren, having received the highest level of Dragon Communion and possessing exceptional qualities herself, maximized its power, achieving what could be called a qualitative enhancement:
[Bayle's Flame Lightning]
[Among the Dragon Communion incantations, one of the most representative]
[Showcases the immense power of Bayle the "Mad Dragon." The caster transforms into the Mad Dragon, manifesting its right arm's sharp bone wreathed in flame lightning, and strikes directly.]
[The Mad Dragon's blazing heart, even when consumed, shows neither weakness nor submission.]
[Perhaps it awaits the right moment to burn the body and soul of the communion's partaker from within.]
The description itself confirmed its value, ranking it among the strongest in the entire Dragon Communion system. The reality was just as Frieren experienced: its performance, base power, and mechanics were all impeccable. The amplification at the moment of transformation meant its burst potential was extremely high.
A door to a brand-new system had been thrown open.
She tried another Flame Lightning, leaving volcanic ash on the flattened ruins of Jagged Peak.
Lightning and fire were already elemental strikes Frieren excelled at. Amplified by the Dragon Communion, they became even more terrifying. In the future, she would rely on it for single-target burst damage. And the other incantation was no slouch either:
[Bayle's Savagery]
[The caster transforms into the Mad Dragon, unleashing a roar while detonating a blast of hot wind, and spewing forth violent flames in all directions.]
Aside from a repeated summary, this single brief line encapsulated its characteristics.
Frieren, as was her custom, tested it out. Its power was equally beyond imagination. In nature, it was similar to Zamor Ice Storm or the storm from a beast's roar, but replaced with a searing wind of flames, which better suited her preferred elements. She now had another large-scale area-of-effect spell.
However, the players' evaluations were not unanimous:
[It has its pros and cons compared to Dragon Communion incantations, but its tracking is a bit weak, and the Faith/Arcane scaling is just okay. Nothing special besides the flashy effects. Overall, it's pretty mediocre.]
[Theoretically you can beat the game with anything, but Bayle's incantations just don't make the cut.]
[It's not great for clearing areas, and its poise damage is lacking.]
[It was probably adjusted in a later patch, the impact is decent. The key is that you can stack it with buffs like the Ancient Dragon-Man transformation to nuke stuff. One-shots anything, it's either you or them.]
[No wonder the Dragonlord wrecked and crippled you. You're trash, Bayle. These incantations aren't even close to T0.]
[Part of the strength of Dragon Communion is the aesthetics. Turning into a dragon is just cool.]
[You're a dragon, and that's good.]
[I originally thought a Dragon Communion incantation would let you turn into a dragon and breathe fire, even for a second. The dragon transformation I want isn't jumping up and hugging a dragon head while sprinkling water.]
[It looks a bit like a lion dance. This should be called a dragon dance.]
[I've seen enough 'what you ordered vs. what you got' memes. Take it away.]
...She didn't expect the players to look down on it; after all, they had many choices. On reflection, Frieren also felt that her high praise stemmed largely from its synergy with her. It might not be as easy for others to use.
In any case, she had plenty of spells and didn't need to fuss over the performance of one or two. The most important thing was opening up a new system.
"Florisaxx, do you have any other dragon heart reserves?"
"My apologies, Your Majesty, I do not. And I suggest that no matter how energetic you feel, you should rest now."
"—Let's return to the Lands Between."
Melina proposed solemnly, "The party should regroup and rest. Also, it's best to strike while the iron is hot and meet with the envoy from the sky city. The Ancient Dragons will certainly have reacted by now."
Above the Limgrave region.
Lansseax beat her wings and soared high, slowing her speed for the first time in a long while, letting the clouds drift past her body. The crisp sensation was like taking a bath.
After leaving Crumbling Farum Azula, she had been flying at full speed. Now she could finally catch her breath. The Lands Between were vast; even at an Ancient Dragon's speed, it took several days and nights of travel.
Moreover, she had to avoid the potential eyes and ears of Leyndell, the Royal Capital.
It would be rather awkward for them to discover that the Ancient Dragons had sent an envoy to proactively seek friendship with the Soul Cinder King.
After all, her status was quite significant.
The High Priestess of the Ancient Dragon Faith had long served as a bridge to the Golden Dynasty and had formed pacts with many Ancient Dragon Knights, making outstanding contributions to the spread of Farum Azula's faith.
Once she clearly chose a side, it would certainly cause a stir within the Ancient Dragon Faith, or at least within the "Leyndell-ized Ancient Dragon Faith" faction.
Politics are so troublesome.
Unfortunately, her other colleagues found it even more troublesome, and besides, they lacked the power, experience, and connections to serve as an envoy. So, Lansseax had to make the trip.
"Well, it's nice to get out for a stroll occasionally... The Lands Between have changed so much."
The Liurnia of the Lakes region she had just passed through had been an eye-opener. Large towns had sprung up around Caria Manor and the Magic Academy, bustling with people and traffic. Merchant caravans traveled unhindered through the forests, without fear of monster attacks.
On one hand, the monsters had been wiped out; on the other, they could now spare troops to ensure the safety of the main trade routes.
Hadn't the lake region been in decline for a long time?
Lansseax sensed a huge gap in her intelligence. She had transformed into a human to ask around and only then learned that this, too, was thanks to Frieren's work. She had completely rebuilt the Liurnia of the Lakes region, earning universal praise:
"Her Majesty's miraculous healing restored us from our living-dead state. It's like being reborn."
"The lands under Lady Frieren's rule are the only ones truly blessed now. The Golden Grace has long since faded; they are just impostors."
"The lake region has always been prosperous; it was merely in a temporary decline."
"Lady Ranni has returned, and Lady Rennala's sorrow has been healed. It's wonderful. This land of Liurnia has hope again."
"Praise the Soul Cinder King."
"How are we any worse off than the Altus Plateau? They just have more spoils from ancient wars and have been living off their reserves, which are nearly depleted. But we have been reborn in a new era. Who's the declining one now?"
"With the combined strength of the three southern lands and the underground Eternal Dynasty, why should we fear their Leyndell Knights?"
"Exactly. The Omen King hides his face. He is unworthy of occupying the Golden Capital."
"If he's really an Omen, he should just be open about it. Her Majesty is of Demi-Human blood, yet she never conceals it. The Lands Between should be ruled by strength."
"Lady Frieren is the one who should be Elden Lord..."
She was shocked by what she learned.
Lansseax keenly realized that the South had already completed its spiritual mobilization and was prepared to launch the Third Defense of Leyndell, vowing to reshape the Lands Between.
Material preparations were also increasing daily. As far as the eye could see, Carian Knights, Trolls, and Flying Dragons were countless.
She had originally thought only the Liurnia region was strong, or perhaps just relying on the foundation of the Carian Royal Family. But the south presented another scene entirely: Grafted Nobles, Dragon Communion Partakers, and Magma Wyrms were training in vast armies.
Their strength was not to be underestimated.
The military power that the Storm-King had failed to achieve in his time had been realized under Frieren's rule. The dense network of checkpoints, post stations, and warehouses on the main roads meant that troops could be transported on a large scale at any time, striking all the way to the Altus Plateau.
If they were to join forces with the army of the lake region, the lifts would probably be running for days and nights on end.
"I fear even the Royal Capital of Leyndell's state of readiness is not this high."
Having observed carefully along the way, Lansseax was certain that the Southern Army was currently the most battle-ready force.
Moreover, she hadn't even seen the soldiers from Caelid and the underground regions. Even if they couldn't compare to the frontline troops, they were more than sufficient as auxiliary forces. Their combined numbers would be considerable and not to be underestimated.
Only they were truly prepared.
But this was not to say that the Volcano or the Royal Capital were complacent. They simply lacked the material conditions for large-scale production, troop mobilization, and training.
Ultimately, the most crucial factor was manpower. Thanks to Frieren's healing of the living dead and spreading of Grace, a large workforce had been restored, making her domain appear prosperous and flourishing. Other regions lacked this unique foundation.
As she pondered, Lansseax spotted Stormveil Castle on the horizon.
She had arrived.
If Frieren were to return with Florisaxx, her first choice would most likely be the Limgrave region, with its advanced Dragon Communion techniques and Ancient Dragon Faith. Waiting here was the right call.
What greeted her eyes, however, was a massive corpse specimen. Its long, segmented body was draped over a spire like a statue.
"So that is Astel, Stars of Darkness, the destroyer of the Eternal Dynasty?" She clicked her tongue in wonder. "Farum Azula was also struck by a similar meteor once. And the Soul Cinder King killed it. Is this a tribute to Gransax in the Royal Capital? What do you think?"
The High Priestess had long been aware of a gaze upon her.
Atop the spire sat a blue-haired doll. Two hands were clasped in a spellcasting gesture, while the other two had just closed a thick tome.
"High Priestess Lansseax, if you would please come down and speak."
Ranni had also been waiting for someone and had unexpectedly run into the Ancient Dragon, putting her immediately on high alert.
She had to be careful.
For now, the other party's identity and allegiance were still with the Golden Order faction. It wouldn't be out of place if a battle were to break out immediately. When the Ancient Dragon's shadow fell upon the city, everyone grew tense.
Fortunately, there was a Demigod present who could hold her off in a worst-case scenario.
"Please rest assured, I have no hostile intentions. I have come regarding the commission from last time." The white Ancient Dragon poked its head out from the clouds, its tone sincere but also tinged with reproach.
"I knew the Ancient Dragons would honor their promise and express their friendship."
"...That is correct."
By stating it so plainly in front of so many people, she forced Farum Azula's hand, making it difficult to maintain an ambiguous stance of playing both sides.
Knowing this, Lansseax had no choice but to respond. Otherwise, it would be tantamount to hostility, needlessly squandering the chance for friendship.
A pity. If the defenses in the Limgrave region had been lax and no Demigod was present, she could have hidden her identity and spoken with Frieren alone later. Now, she had no choice but to openly represent Crumbling Farum Azula.
"Your unexpected arrival has left us with no time to prepare."
"It is somewhat inconvenient, but I have absolutely no hostile intent, especially not before a future god."
Lansseax transformed into her human form and entered the chamber. After the dragon's oppressive form disappeared, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, leaving matters to Lady Ranni.
Perhaps they would bring a surprise.
This chapter, The Lands Between
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